West of Wonderland - podcast cover

West of Wonderland

Laura Westman and Bay LeBlanc Quineywestofwonderland.libsyn.com
What if we stopped trying to solve today’s problems with yesterday’s solutions? What if we focused forward, on a “great big beautiful tomorrow” and started creating the future we want for ourselves, our planet and our children? Join Laura Westman and Bay LeBlanc Quiney, two professionally certified coaches who deeply believe in the power of creativity, magic and imagination to transform leadership, and change our world for the better. Bay and Laura both love Disney everything and believe that the stories we love hold powerful messages and answers to some of today’s toughest questions. In each episode, we’ll be diving into conversations about things that matter, but don’t always make it to the table, and we’ll be bringing a lot of fun and laughter, along with faith, trust and pixie dust.

Episodes

Laura's Big News

How awkward are YOU when you have big news to share and don't want to bring it up even though it's the theme of today's podcast (hem hem, Laura)? Bay and Laura take a personal journey through Laura's big milestone. Here's the link to find and save: https://bit.ly/4i1A0jH

Mar 05, 20251 hr 10 minEp. 188

What Have We Learned?

If you had to make a Greatest Hits album from your personal/leadership development journey, what would be on it? Bay and Laura open up their treasure chests of personal development work to discuss the heavy hitters. Why does everything come back to boundary analogies . . . . the world will never know.

Feb 26, 202551 minEp. 187

It's Not the 1700s 👀

Why is it so hard to be a person right now (oh wait — we all know why) -- and what can we do to not feel insane? How many sentences will Laura start, but be unable to finish due to being worked up? To which companies, corporations or elected officials would you like to speak to your mind? Why can’t a big kitty stretch solve every single problem in the world? West of Wonderland would like to know!

Feb 19, 202542 minEp. 186

What Could Go Wrong? 👀🦖

Hold on to your butts! In this latest edition of "what fantasy realms do YOU escape into?" Bay and Laura discuss the epic, astounding and astute world of the Jurassic Park franchise. Why do humans feel the need to 'play God'? Why do we have to have Chris Pratt in all our favorite franchises? What are duranasauruses (did Bay just make this word up or is it a real thing)? Why can't we have a mosasaurus to gobble up today's billionaires at the perfect moment? This and more in today's episode! PS. T...

Feb 12, 202554 minEp. 185

Origins of Ontology

Have you ever wondered about where the heck ontological ideas even come from? Maybe you've wondered about the best way to get your spouse to OK turning a door blue. Either way, this episode is for you.

Feb 05, 202535 minEp. 184

Rest In Peace Mike Rinder

How would YOU explain the differences between taupe, beige and mauve? Inquiring minds want to know. Laura and Bay spend time in this episode honoring Mike Rinder, who passed away on January 5, 2025. Mike Rinder was a top Scientology official who famously defected and dedicated the rest of his life to building a different legacy and working to dismantle the harm done by Scientology. Laura and Bay also discuss the origins of Scientology, ontology and their favorite word that starts with E, Ethics....

Jan 29, 202553 minEp. 183

Ollivander's (2024 Edition)

How far would YOU walk to have homemade bourbon vanilla whipped cream on your pumpkin pie? How much cheese is the minimum amount of cheese, and why? Bay and Laura discuss their most recent adventures at Ollivander's Wand Experience at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. It was soooo much all at once: being chosen, magical moments, sincerity, feeling seen, feeling special-special. PS. Why is it so nice to see your friend's dreams come true in real time?

Jan 22, 202532 minEp. 182

How Was Your Meeting with Dumbledore?

Important question: what would YOU do with a ton of leftover heavy whipping cream? Additionally, what are your feelings towards turkish delight, whether a fantasy version or the real kind? Bay and Laura debrief A Meeting with Dumbledore together -- don't miss this behind-the-curtain look at their creation of the 5th Annual West of Wonderland New Years Gathering. Special thanks to everyone who attended! PS. Do you also black out when receiving acknowledgment??

Jan 15, 202531 minEp. 181

The Theme Park Angel

Welcome to the new year—are YOU obsessing over goals, planners and trying to stay grounded after the holidays, or is that just Bay and Laura? This week, join our heroes as they share about a West of Wonderland bestie from Orlando, Angel Sanchez of Wanderlust Photography, who shares her joy like no other. Laura and Bay revel in her magic and share all about how to follow her! Instagram @theverybusybee

Jan 08, 202532 minEp. 180

Piglet Therapy™

How would YOU be being if you got to frolic in your favorite place with your best friend? What kind of magical things would you do? Bay and Laura debrief the first part of their recent (as in, just got home yesterday) voyage to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios and share their tips for having the most magic ever. Spoiler alert: it has nothing to do with Lightning Lanes!

Jan 01, 202550 minEp. 179

I Yam What I Yam

✨Join us for this year's New Years Gathering, A Meeting with Dumbledore: https://www.laurawestman.com/new-years-gathering ✨ How do YOU interact with sweet potatoes, versus yams? Do you have sweet potato stories?Tell us everything. Bay and Laura have their annual discussion of favorite Christmassy movies, music and tv shows, and discuss Muppet-related news from Walt Disney World. PS. Clothesline bacon, yes or no?

Dec 18, 202436 minEp. 178

Symphony of Snores

✨Join us for this year's New Years Gathering, A Meeting with Dumbledore: https://www.laurawestman.com/new-years-gathering ✨Are you a liability in your dreams?? Are you a hard dreamer or something else? Bay and Laura chat about relationship to dreams and the dream realm. Watch out for Bay's ghost story. For more conversation from Laura about dreaming, check out her recent YouTube convo with Chelsea Cotton here: https://bit.ly/49oF6mE...

Dec 11, 202426 minEp. 177

Somewhere in the Loch

✨Join us for this year's New Years Gathering, A Meeting with Dumbledore: https://www.laurawestman.com/new-years-gathering ✨ In this episode of West of Wonderland, Laura and Bay debrief Loch Ness Monstering and being creatures with strangely functioning thyroids. Bay processes autoimmune news and Laura reflects on the journey with hers. PS. The original recording time was 44:44, say whaaaaat! PPS. The podcast Laura discusses is called Monsters Weekly and as of recording this, hasn't aired just ye...

Dec 04, 202442 minEp. 176

The Vibe Will Be the Vibe You Be

Welcome to West of Wonderland, AKA the Official Fan Club for (including, but not limited to): Jonathan Bailey, The Sound of Music, Wicked, Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, The Mirror Visitor, Harry Potter and whatever else you'd like to add to the list. What stories do you return to when times are hard, and why? What inspires you in this day and age? How many chairs would you climb over if you're trying to win the Sound of Music Singalong Prize? Just wondering 👀

Nov 27, 202436 minEp. 175

"In A Dance Way"

Content Warning: Politics, Loss of Parent. ✨ As the dust continues to get kicked up following the US election, Bay and Laura take some time to discuss their support for and solidarity with anyone who is impacted by it — in the future through policy, or in the present due to no longer feeling personal safety. Laura and Bay discuss the ethical practices and boundaries they set in their professional lives when it comes to things like voting, and shed light on white privilege in the coaching communi...

Nov 20, 202442 minEp. 174

"My Love Will Rise Slowly"

How do we process the world when the world disappoints us, even horrifies us? Bay and Laura discuss the power of connection, and share a devastatingly lovely poem about loving the self by Elena Menendez Sanchez, shared with permission. Follow Elena online at https://www.instagram.com/elenamenendezsanchez

Nov 13, 202447 minEp. 173

Civil Religion and Other Matters of Citizenship

A Political Science major and an Anthropology major walk into a bar, what do you think they're talking about on the first week of November? Bay and Laura delve into areas of expertise they haven't mined in awhile, discussing the concept of civil religion and other matters. This episode was recorded before November 5.

Nov 06, 202444 minEp. 172

Patience, Iago

Bay and Laura take a break from current events (previously recorded) to chat about the Wintering Retreat, a much-needed vacation and other "break from US politics" conversation, including but not limited to: breakthroughs in patience, marshmallow dream year, and the politics of microphones! Hello, survival mechanism city!

Nov 06, 202425 minEp. 171

Wintering Retreat & Overexplaining Streaming

Buckle up everyone, because today's episode is filled with hard-hitting questions, like: what's your preferred type of string cheese, and why? What's up with the new ticket offering at the US Disney Parks, and why aren't they just giving it to Laura and Bay for free? How did Netflix and streaming get to be so gosh-darn unwieldy, and what does it have to do with Disney? PS. Join our lovely, not-at-all-filled-with-rants-about-capitalism Wintering Retreat! https://wonderlandandcompany.com/retreat/...

Oct 30, 202433 minEp. 170

What is Home?

Since it's autumn, Bay and Laura turn inward to talk about all the *exciting intricacies of survival mechanism* in the most intimate of spaces: home. Breakthrough work is intimate, and doing it in the home is the most intimate of all - both the physical components of the home, and the intimate components of the self. Laura debriefs changes from Marshmallow Dream year. How do we grow boundaries in places that we love -- not just in places that we want to protect ourselves from?...

Oct 23, 202446 minEp. 169

Cosy Invitations from Bay and Laura

Who do YOU "be" when people call you obsessively who shouldn't be? Bay and Laura debrief some cool and silly stories — plenty of opportunities to lol about survival mechanisms today on West of Wonderland! Where are you laughing about your survival mechanism this fall? What are you up to next Thursday, are you coming to the West of Wonderland Academy for Magical Coaching? And are you coming to our magical online wintering retreat in November?! www.laurawestman.com/wow-academy...

Oct 16, 202456 minEp. 168

Rings of Poeurrrr

Oh, helleurrr, how much do you know about various Australian dialects? What did your dogs get up to this week? And are you watching Rings of Power?! Bay and Laura tried not to include spoilers, but they kind of did, so skip this episode if you haven't listened yet. Also: wellbeing as we transition fully into autumn. How are you experiencing this seasonal change? How can you take better care in the present moment? And what can we learn from the trees?

Oct 09, 202424 minEp. 167

Fencepost of Judgment

Okay, if you had paid a zillion dollars and waited over a decade for a membership to something, and then you behaved badly and got kicked out of it, how would you be being about it?! Bay and Laura debrief a VERY IMPORTANT Disney fan news item surrounding the illustrious Club 33, the not-so-secret secret club at Disneyland Park. Where do you sit on Fenceposts of Judgment? And what other wishes would you have for the WISH movie? Bay and Laura wanna know everything....

Oct 02, 202424 minEp. 166

In or Out? Volume 1

Why not play a ridiculous game of "what if"? Bay and Laura invite you to come along with them on a hypothetical Orlando-area theme park adventure with one critical question: IN OR OUT?

Sep 25, 202417 minEp. 165

Feline Poo-phoria

Rocket is at it again. Bay and Laura debrief his latest shenanigans to avoid getting ready for "back to school"! What's the real magic of autumn energy? How can we pay more attention to it (and ourselves) when everything around us feels crazy? What kinds of mind-blowing magic will happen at tomorrow's West of Wonderland Academy for Magical Coaching session? WHO KNOWS! www.laurawestman.com/wow-academy...

Sep 18, 202439 minEp. 164

Back 2 School & WoW Host in Training 🐕‍🦺

Let's welcome the latest West of Wonderland Team Member, baby shark pup Pongo! Bay and Laura squeeze in the latest West of Wonderland Academy for Magical Coaching session in September: Back to School Energy! Why does this matter? How can we seed it properly into our lives to make the next few seasons powerful? Ps. What advice should Universal parks take from Disney parks, and vice versa? Pps. What's your stance on Mrs. Doubtfire? Pps. How would you characterize Umbridge's leadership style?...

Sep 11, 202421 minEp. 163

Churros On Demand

What would you choose if you were designing the snacks in your own theme park? What would be in, what would be out? Bay and Laura swear this is relevant, as they debrief August's West of Wonderland Academy for Magical Coaching session! The Theme Park Map of Your Business was POWERFUL and Laura is reeling from how much her idea provided. Bay and Laura co-acknowledge and celebrate the beauty of the partnership they've created together! How often do you get to hear two business partners ideate toge...

Sep 04, 202421 minEp. 162

"People Are People, Right?"

SoOOoOooOoo what conversation are YOU in about boundaries these days? Bay and Laura check in about some funny exchanges but also about what to do when your boundaries are tested, disregarded or just truly not understood. Who do you be when the rules of the game are either not understood or disrespected? What kind of baseball game can you play if folks aren't on the same page? This and more juicy leadership/team development conversations today here on West of Wonderland!...

Aug 28, 202443 minEp. 161

The D in D23 Stands For DEVASTATION

Did you also get your heart broken by D23 this year or is that just Bay and Laura? 😭 What is it like to not be totally heartbroken about changes to the Magic Kingdom right now? B & L are dying to know! On the note of theme park design, 8/22/24 is the next Academy workshop - The Theme Park Map of Your Business! Register at www.laurawestman.com/wow-academy...

Aug 21, 202440 minEp. 160