Episodes

Aug. 7, 2025

Charting the Future of Epic Universe with Parklore’s Brian Krosnick (Ep. 63)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with a packed episode of the Epic Universal Podcast featuring news from Universal Orlando, Hollywood, and Las Vegas - plus a deep-dive interview with Brian Krosnick, the creative force behind P...
July 31, 2025

Epic Universe at Capacity: What Changes When the Park Sells Out? (Ep. 62)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return from a summer packed with parks, previews, and one sold-out Friday at Epic Universe. In this episode, the duo reflects on the dramatic changes between their April preview visit and a mid-July r...
July 24, 2025

When Jaws 3 Almost Became a National Lampoon Movie (Ep. 61)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with the latest from Universal Parks and the unbelievable story of how Jaws 3 nearly became a full-blown comedy. From Spielberg’s pivot to Close Encounters to the moment Universal almost partne...
July 17, 2025

The Studio, the Sequel, and the Great White That Ate the Budget (Ep. 60)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with a jam-packed episode that swings from Halloween Horror Nights updates to the troubled legacy of Jaws 2 . First, they unpack the latest HHN announcements, including the debut of the Terrifi...
July 10, 2025

When Universal Shut Down a Sequel: The Making of Jaws 2 (Ep. 59)

Eric is packing for his return trip to Epic Universe - but before he battles the Florida heat, Jim takes him on a wild ride through box office records, coaster rumors, and a deep dive into the troubled waters of Jaws 2. In th...
July 3, 2025

Why Apollo 13 Still Lands After 30 Years (Ep. 58)

In this explosive Fourth of July episode of the Epic Universal Podcast , Jim Hill and Eric Hersey ride the rails of ghostly New England folklore and land in the middle of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights house reveals. Fro...
June 26, 2025

Mike Aiello on Jaws, Halloween Horror Nights, and 30 Years at Universal (Ep. 57)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey welcome Universal Creative’s Mike Aiello for a special episode celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jaws and his own 30-year journey with the parks. From working as a teenage skipper on the iconic attr...
June 19, 2025

How Abbott & Costello (and a Baseball Bit) Saved Universal (Ep. 56)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey step up to the plate with the unbelievable true story of how a simple comedy sketch— Who’s on First —helped pull Universal Studios back from the brink of bankruptcy. Along the way, they cover the box ...
June 12, 2025

Slime, Slapstick, and the Secret History of Nickelodeon Studios (Ep. 55)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey rewind to the green-slime-soaked days of Universal Studios Florida with a deep dive into the rise (and fall) of Nickelodeon Studios. From Double Dare to the slime geyser, they break down how Nick turn...
June 5, 2025

Harry and the Hendersons, Spielberg’s Lost Alien Film, and the Birth of E.T. (Ep. 54)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey go deep into the surprising history behind Harry and the Hendersons —including how a scrapped alien horror film called Night Skies ultimately led to E.T. and Bigfoot comedy gold. From Oscars to animat...
May 29, 2025

Steven Spielberg’s Quest to Be the Next Walt Disney (Ep. 53)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey explore how Steven Spielberg’s early ambitions to follow in Walt Disney’s footsteps shaped both Universal Studios and modern theme park storytelling. From his failed pitch to Disney to his work on Ama...
May 22, 2025

Epic Universe Officially Opens: Live Coverage, Celebrity Sightings, and the Ghost of Universal Escape (Ep. 52)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey celebrate the long-awaited grand opening of Universal’s Epic Universe. They recap the TODAY Show broadcast, blue carpet livestream, celebrity sightings, and first-day feedback from guests inside the p...
May 16, 2025

Why Raptor Encounter Works (and Triceratops Didn’t) (Ep. 51)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey explore how Universal turned a high-maintenance animatronic failure into one of its most popular and shareable meet-and-greets with Raptor Encounter . From behind-the-scenes strategy to guest visibili...
May 9, 2025

Universal India Rumors, Tribute Store Props, and the Rise and Fall of Triceratops Encounter (Ep. 50)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey celebrate the 50th episode of the podcast by exploring Universal’s rumored expansion into India and taking a deep dive into one of Islands of Adventure’s most ambitious—and short-lived—attractions: Triceratops Encounter. Along the way, they talk tribute store props, Epic Un…
May 2, 2025

Epic Universe Ticket Drama, TapuTapu Retires, and Triceratops Encounter Origins (Ep. 49)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dig into the recent uproar over Epic Universe preview ticket availability—and why Universal quietly opened the gates to everyone. Then they dive into the surprising retirement of Volcano Bay’s TapuTap...
April 25, 2025

Epic Universe First Impressions: Experiencing Battle at the Ministry & Monsters Unchained (Ep. 48)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey share Eric’s full first impressions after visiting Epic Universe—just 27 days before its grand opening. From ride reviews to immersive lands, they explore how Universal’s newest park lives up to the h...
April 18, 2025

Hop and the Hunt for a Holiday Classic: Why Easter Movies Never Stick (Ep. 47)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey take a closer look at Hop , Illumination’s forgotten holiday hopeful, and why Easter has never quite found its Elf or Home Alone . From Universal’s big swings to nostalgic flops, they explore what mak...
April 11, 2025

Epic Universe Annual Passholder Details and Universal’s UK Theme Park Plans (Ep. 46)

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey break down the biggest stories in the Universal Parks universe, including new details on Epic Universe’s Annual Passholder preview days and Universal’s officially announced theme park in the UK. Plus,...
April 4, 2025

Aztec Dancers, Mariachis, Tequila, and Ceremonial Sacrifices?! (Ep. 45)

n this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast , Jim Hill and Eric Hersey take a wild detour into Universal’s 1960s event history—when guests could watch a ceremonial Aztec princess sacrifice as part of the “Mardi Gras to Mexic...
March 28, 2025

From Mariachi to Mardi Gras: The Forgotten Festival That Shaped Universal (Ep. 44)

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast , Jim Hill and Eric Hersey uncover the surprising 1960s Hollywood event that helped inspire Universal Studios’ Mardi Gras celebrations today. Plus, they unpack the latest rumors, ...
March 21, 2025

From SpongeBob to Slime: The Story of Nickelodeon at Universal (Ep. 43)

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast , Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive deep into the surprising and nostalgic story of Nickelodeon’s presence at Universal Studios Florida —from green slime to dark rides and beyond. Plu...
March 14, 2025

Universal’s Forgotten Past: Ma & Pa Kettle’s Hollywood Legacy (Ep. 42)

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast , Jim Hill and Eric Hersey take a nostalgic journey through Universal’s lesser-known history , focusing on the Ma & Pa Kettle film series and its unexpected impact on Universal St...
March 7, 2025

News, More News, and Even More News from Universal (Ep. 41)

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast , Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive into the latest news about Epic Universe as team member previews begin, along with rumors about the highly anticipated Wolfman coaster. Plus, they ...
Feb. 28, 2025

The Dark Crystal: Universal’s Jim Henson Experiment (Ep. 40)

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast , Jim Hill and Eric Hersey explore how Jim Henson’s Muppets found their way to Universal Pictures with The Great Muppet Caper and The Dark Crystal . Plus, they cover the latest Un...