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Adventures in Vanderland

Adventures in Vanderland

By: Vanessa Manns (@mind.of.vanns)
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About this listen

Welcome to Adventures in Vanderland—a podcast for anyone bold enough to step through the looking glass and into the ADHD brain of host Vanessa Manns. Each week, she and co-host Sylvia explore the psychology of your favorite Disney films, characters, story arcs, and soundtracks. You’ll grow curiouser and curiouser as this dynamic duo speculate, educate, and debate the best and worst characters, which princesses are neurospicy, and who actually made it to the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Come for the chaos, stay for the analysis.Vanessa Manns (@mind.of.vanns) Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • I Wanna Be Like You: Who Wore It Best? (Pt 1)
    Jun 27 2025

    Vanessa and Sylvia dig into the evolution of storytelling, character depth, visual effects, and why some remakes hit... and others miss the mark. It's nostalgia vs. reinvention—who wore it best?

    In Part 1 of this two-part showdown, we’re diving into five iconic Disney tales and their live-action glow-ups: The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Mulan. From bold reimaginings to frame-for-frame retellings, we're breaking down what worked, what flopped, and what left us longing for the original magic.

    Stay tuned for Part 2, where we tackle The Jungle Book, Snow White, The Lion King, and Lilo & Stitch.

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Dos Oruguitas: A Conversation on Mindset
    Jun 21 2025

    Welcome back to the rabbit hole
    In this episode, we’re exploring what it means to grow, let go, and evolve. And for the first time ever, Adventures in Vanderland welcomes a guest!

    We’re joined by the brilliant Alexis Christy for a magical convo on growth vs. fixed mindsets, transformation, and how our neurodivergent journeys shape the way we see the world — and ourselves. From Disney metaphors to real-life metamorphosis, this one’s as vulnerable as it is empowering.

    Featuring: Alexis Christy
    🎧 Host of Life Talks With Lex
    📲 Follow her @alexischristycoaching

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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Colors of the Wind: The Stark Truth of Pocahontas
    Jun 13 2025

    This week, we’re stepping beyond the fairy tale and into the real—and often uncomfortable—history behind one of Disney’s most mythologized stories.

    From childhood nostalgia to adult realizations, we unpack the legacy of Pocahontas, the impact of storytelling on identity, and why representation without responsibility can do more harm than good.


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    57 mins
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