Creating Disney Magic artwork

Management · Lee Cockerell

Creating Disney Magic

by Lee Cockerell

Lee Cockerell shares his wisdom and experience from his time as the Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World. Along with host Jody Maberry, Lee discusses how you can apply lessons in leadership, management, and customer service to create magic in your organization.

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Leaders Do Their Homework

"You'll never know what your team knows unless you ask them." Episode Chapters [01:06] What It Means to Do Your Homework [02:50] Relying on Your Team's Expertise

Sep 29
14 min

Be Candid and Save Time

"When you give people straightforward feedback, you're preparing them for the future." Episode Chapters [00:00:43]  What Leaders Are Asking Lee [00:04:00]  Why Bein

Sep 22
14 min

Become a Better Leader

"Are people getting better because they work with you?" Episode Chapters [00:56] What Lee Once Believed About Leadership [03:32] Learning Through Experience and Sel

Sep 15
13 min

Honoring Heritage Doesn't Mean Staying The Same

"What seems insignificant to you may carry tremendous meaning for your customer." Episode Chapters [00:01:27] Honoring Heritage Without Staying the Same [00:03:54]

Sep 8
14 min

Can Your Operation Keep Your Promises?

"The customer doesn't care about who did what. They want it to be right." Episode Chapters [00:01:41] Can Operations Deliver What Marketing Promises? [00:04:21] Kee

Sep 1
16 min

Little Problems Become Big Problems

"If somebody tells you something needs fixed and you don't do something about it, then you really lose credibility very quickly." Episode Chapters [00:01:19] When a S

Aug 25
15 min

Take a Position of Leadership on Safety

"Be the leader that steps up and narrows the odds of something happening." Episode Chapters [00:02:36] Taking a Leadership Position on Safety [00:04:53] Preparing B

Aug 18
15 min

Be a Good Role Model

"If you know something, you ought to be teaching it to others." Episode Chapters [00:01:36] When People Consider You a Role Model [00:03:23] Why Helping Others Chan

Aug 11
15 min

Advice for College Students

"Great people with a great attitude will always get noticed." Episode Chapters [00:00:58] Speaking to Disney College Program participants [00:03:16] Advice for land

Aug 4
15 min

Get Out and Walk the Front Line

"The problem you see is often three steps away from the real problem." Episode Chapters [00:01:52] Why Every Leader Should Walk the Front Line [00:03:19] What You Le

Jul 28
15 min

Use Customer Service Standards

"If you want great customer service, you need to start by defining what great looks like." Episode Chapters [00:01:12] A Customer Service Challenge in Local Governmen

Jul 21
14 min

The Real Cost of Turnover and Retention

"Don't hire someone just to fill a position. Hire the right person for the long haul." Episode Chapters [00:01:35] Looking Beyond Retention Rates [00:03:02] Why Gre

Jul 14
14 min

How to Stay Curious in a World of AI

"Curiosity grows when you expose yourself to new experiences." Episode Chapters [00:05:18] Keeping Kids Curious in an AI World [00:07:37] Using AI to Enhance, Not R

Jul 7
14 min

You Know What To Do, Now What

"Everything is hard until it becomes a habit." Episode Chapters [00:01:25] Why Most Training Never Changes Behavior [00:03:27] Turning Learning into Daily Action

Jun 30
13 min

Service Recovery Leads to Loyal Customers

"The goal is not to win the argument. The goal is to keep the customer." Episode Chapters [01:00] Why Service Recovery Creates Loyalty [03:13] Empowering Employees

Jun 23
15 min

Encourage Your Team to Take Ownership of Problems

"When people know their ideas matter, they want to do a better job." Episode Chapters [00:02:10] Should employees be rewarded for solving problems? [00:03:45] Why lis

Jun 16
14 min

Talk About Service Recovery With Your Team

"A lot of customers will point out things we don't even know we're doing wrong." Episode Chapters 06:46 Dealing with upset hotel guests 09:23 Handling difficult cus

Jun 9
15 min

Does Self-Confidence Improve Customer Service?

"If you're not getting exposed to those new thoughts or new ideas, then you're not effectively advancing the way you're serving." Episode Chapters [00:01:25] Does Sel

Jun 2
14 min

Dealing with Stress

"Anxiety grows when we avoid the hard things." Episode Chapters [02:34] Why Anxiety Continues to Affect So Many People [04:48] Recognizing Anxiety Instead of Explai

May 26
23 min

Hire the Right People

"The most important lever you can pull as a leader is hiring the right people." Episode Chapters [03:29] Why Hiring Right Solves Most Leadership Problems [06:17] Lo

May 19
21 min

Chart trend

Position in the Management chart (US), last 90 days.

#60
all-time peak
106
days in the top 100 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where Creating Disney Magic ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 1, 2026).

#99 ▲ 12 Management US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

Lee’s views on leadership are easy to follow and implement. It’s not complicated to do the right thing and I love how his podcasts remind us of this. We over complicate things. Thanks Lee and Jody for a great podcast.

JamieAne MVP · Feb 2024

Be the type of Leader Lee and Jody would hire I listen to two to four episodes a week depending how long it takes me to digest the episodes but this is not a bingeing podcast it’s a learning podcast. Maybe not every lesson applies to you but the ones that do Really do.

A. Maguire · Jan 2024

If you listen to this podcast and seriously apply the principles at the work place, you will have employees and managers that work well together and respect one another. Lee and Jody basically provide an MBA in Leadership if you listen to it and use it everyday. Lee has great stories on the why and how things were done at Disney to make it so special to the guests and cast members. Jody is a great guide to get you through the episode and to get Lee to explain his experiences. Thank you to both of you for a great podcast in business.

Dave W. 1 · Jan 2024

I’ve been listening to Lee’s podcast for years and have yet to tire of it. Each episode offers his professional expertise from his years at Disney, while embracing the humbling lessons he’s had along the way. Thank you Lee for the ongoing lessons in leadership, management, and customer service. You are appreciated!

MsKC2007 · Dec 2022

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About Creating Disney Magic on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Creating Disney Magic, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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