3rd, Nov 2025: The Rest Is History - the world’s most popular history podcast - is releasing a special four-part series exploring the life and legacy of Walt Disney and the cultural history of Disneyland, featuring a guest appearance from Disney CEO Bob Iger. The collaboration unfolds across a week of special episodes examining Disney’s creative and cultural impact.
The series begins with two brand-new episodes of The Rest Is History delving into Walt Disney’s life and legacy - the man who reshaped storytelling and helped invent the modern theme park.
-
Mon 3 Nov: Walt Disney: The Great American Storyteller - A deep dive into the life and times of Walt Disney, the visionary who redefined 20th-century culture.
-
Thu 6 Nov: Disneyland: The Modern American Utopia - From Victorian fairs and world expos to the creation of Disneyland and its lasting global legacy.
The week culminates in a double video release on Fri 7 Nov, featuring:
-
An exclusive interview with Bob Iger, recorded at Disney’s historic Burbank Studios.
-
A mini-documentary following Iger as he gives hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook a private historical tour of the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank and Disneyland Park - uncovering the park’s 1955 origins, cultural milestones, and the story behind its 70-year legacy.
This series features a rare podcast appearance by Disney CEO Bob Iger, who joins hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook for two special video episodes exploring how history, imagination, and pop culture intertwine. A longtime fan of The Rest Is History, Iger offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at Walt Disney’s legacy - from his influence as an animator and film producer to the cultural significance and enduring impact of Disneyland - alongside reflections on his own 18-year tenure at The Walt Disney Company ahead of his planned departure in 2026.
The Rest Is History Co-host Dominic Sandbrook said: “Everybody knows the name Disney. It’s an organisation with an almost unparalleled grip on the world’s imagination - particularly of children, when your imagination is most formative. Walt Disney himself is one of the most important cultural figures of the twentieth century, and anyone who says ‘Disney is just for children’ completely misses its impact in shaping the imaginations and therefore the cultural and political choices - of hundreds of millions.”
Fellow Co-host Tom Holland added: “Whenever we investigate a subject, we always want to do more - we’re frustrated we can’t carry on. With Walt Disney, we thought it only right to come to Disney - to Disneyland itself. Walt Disney, more than any other figure, embodies twentieth-century American culture, and Disneyland is a remarkable creation - one of the most influential architectural works of the mid-20th century.”
Speaking about his appearance on The Rest Is History, Bob Iger said: "There's mutual respect here. I've loved the lessons that both of you have taught me, and you've done so with such a great degree of humour and entertainment. And I thank both of you for everything you've taught me and the experiences you've given me.”
It marks another milestone for The Rest Is History, which now reaches 20 million+ monthly downloads and views, has 80,000+ paying members, and continues to grow internationally - with over a third of fans under 35. Tom and Dominic also recently appeared on Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, which sparked a wave of positive coverage across the US. They have also been profiled by The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Time Mag., GQ & recently featured on Jeopardy!, in Bloomberg and this year announced a TV production partnership. In August 2025, The Hollywood Reporter named Tom and Dominic of The Rest Is History among the Most Powerful Players in Podcasting - one of only two British names featured on the entire list.
