Under the Influence

On this episode, Royce reconnects with friend and actor Greg Grunberg for a wide ranging conversation that moves from arcade games and old Hollywood side hustles to Star Wars, Disney, and fandom. What starts as casual catching up quickly turns into a deep discussion about careers, community, and what really lasts beyond the franchise.Greg shares behind the scenes stories from the Star Wars sequels, including why he wasn’t brought back for The Last Jedi, his thoughts on the lack of long term trilogy planning, and why he believes Dave Filoni stepping into a larger leadership role is good for the future of the franchise. The conversation also turns personal as Greg talks about his nonprofit and podcast Talk About It, which focuses on epilepsy awareness and grew out of his son’s diagnosis. He discusses stigma, emergency seizure medications, seizure alert dogs, and why sharing real stories matters. Greg also opens up about developing alopecia after knee replacement surgery, the shock of sudden hair loss, and adjusting to a new reality after decades in front of the camera.It’s a candid, funny, and surprisingly emotional episode about friendship, fandom, and finding purpose beyond the projects that made you famous. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roycedorazio.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I sit down with Teresa to talk about growing up as an “Xennial,” that in between generation with an analog childhood and a digital adulthood, and how that shaped her relentless work ethic and creative drive. We talk about social media, not as a strategy, but as an extension of her real life and how sharing that journey has quietly built a massive audience without ever chasing the “influencer” label.Teresa opens up about growing up in New York City, navigating both its magic and its danger, and how that environment forged the kind of toughness it takes to survive in the performing arts. From getting mugged as a teenager to navigating Times Square today, she reflects on how the city has changed, how COVID shifted public behavior, and how street smarts and self-awareness have become survival tools, especially as a performer who’s always moving between jobs, auditions, and late night commutes.We also dig into her early creative life from school plays and church programs to believing for years that she “couldn’t sing” because of one bad audition while sick. That self doubt pushed her into mastering multiple instruments, becoming a top student musician, and eventually circling back to singing in a big way, including performing at Carnegie Hall at just 17. It’s a powerful reminder of how easily we can write ourselves off, and how often teachers and mentors see potential before we do.At its core, this episode is about momentum: saying yes, staying in motion, and letting passion lead even when the path doesn’t make sense yet. Teresa’s story is a reminder that confidence is often built backwards, after years of doubt, and that sometimes the only real strategy is to keep going, keep auditioning, and trust that the work compounds, even when you can’t see it yet. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roycedorazio.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Rob shares what it’s really like working across Orlando Florida’s theme park scene. He brings Main Street, U.S.A. to life as a Dapper Dan at Walt Disney World, but he also shifts into a completely different gear performing as a mime at SeaWorld. Rob talks about how switching between these worlds sharpens his skills, protects his voice during busy seasons, and shows just how flexible performers have to be in a gig driven entertainment industry. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roycedorazio.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roycedorazio.substack.com/subscribe

In this morning’s AM Coffee, Royce dives deep into two parallel crises the loss of human value in culture and the accelerating fusion of tech and entertainment.The episode opens on tragic shootings at Brown University and a Hanukkah event in Australia, reflecting on how society’s “disposable culture” erodes our sense of life and legacy. Royce argues that we’ve stopped teaching the value of life itself, replacing meaning with consumerism, fleeting trends, and disposable relationships.From there, the conversation pivots to Disney’s new $1 billion investment in OpenAI and its integration with Sora, licensing over 200 Disney characters for generative AI use.Royce connects the dots between this deal, the ongoing Warner Bros.–Netflix merger battle, and the hyper consolidation, where a handful of tech oligarchs control all media, commerce, and even your digital wallet. A walled garden economy that trades freedom of choice for algorithmic convenience.Yet, amid this dystopian forecast, Royce leaves listeners with hope: opportunity still exists as long as we stay self driven and value authenticity over automation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roycedorazio.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Anne, Kim Taylor, and many others for tuning into my live video with Eng Scott! Join me for my next live video in the app.LEARN MORE ABOUT OSHI This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roycedorazio.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Jane B In NC🌼, Karlee-Wont-Give-Up, Kim Taylor, Teresa, and many others for tuning into my live video with World Ablaze! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roycedorazio.substack.com/subscribe

This past week, I took Under the Influence on the road to IAAPA, the global expo for amusement and attraction professionals. From playground design to dark ride innovation, I explored how the world’s most creative minds are fusing classic fun with cutting edge technology, and what it means for the next generation of play.SoftPlay — Where Childhood Memories Were BuiltI kicked things off with Kelly from SoftPlay, the team behind the iconic McDonald’s PlayPlace. For over forty years, SoftPlay has shaped the way we climb, crawl, and imagine, creating 40,000+ play structures worldwide.Their latest innovation, The Hive, blends physical adventure with interactive tech, a 20-foot gamified obstacle course using sensors and LED scoring to bring kids (and grown ups like me) into the action.When I mentioned my long time character Joe Coconut, Kelly confirmed SoftPlay could even turn him into a full scale themed playground. (Yes, a Joe Coconut jungle gym might actually happen someday.)Sally Dark Rides — Turning Stories Into WorldsNext up, I sat down with Lauren from Sally Dark Rides, a company with nearly 50 years of storytelling magic. What started as animatronic display work in the 1970s has evolved into immersive experiences like Justice League, SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride, and Sesame Street’s Cookie Parade.Lauren described how Sally balances heritage with modern tech from trackless vehicles to 360° mini dark rides compact enough for family entertainment centers. Every ride is still built on a core philosophy: story first, technology second.⚙️ Weigl Controls — The Brains Behind the MagicThen came Travis from Weigl Controls, whose team powers everything from animatronics to pixel lighting across major theme parks. Their ShowForge software makes show control as intuitive as video editing, helping even students program robots and lighting rigs.Travis revealed a new education bundle that lets young creators learn professional grade show control for around $1,400, proof that theme park engineering isn’t just for Imagineers anymore.Bandai Namco — From Pac-Man to GashaponTo wrap up, I caught up with Frank at Bandai Namco, offline. The legendary name behind Pac-Man and Tekken they are going beyond arcade nostalgia, and leading a U.S. revival of Gashapon capsule machines. They also continue expanding their portfolio of coin pushers, sports arcades, and family attractions.As we discussed fixing Epcot’s Gashapon machines, it was clear that Bandai Namco’s mission mirrors this episodes theme: bridging generations of play.The TakeawayFrom molded plastic to motion tracked pixels, the industry’s innovators are proving that play never gets old; it just gets smarter. The magic lies in that delicate balance between nostalgia and innovation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roycedorazio.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you TerribleSoftware, Keena Leonard, and many others for tuning into my live video with World Ablaze! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roycedorazio.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Royce sits down with Jon Roberts, Manager at PTZOptics, film-school grad, AV industry veteran, and co-host of the Worthy Podcast. What starts as a light reunion from their first meeting at Infocom quickly turns into a deep, nerd-level conversation about film history, Oscar upsets, live-streaming tech, automation, NDI protocols, and the future of interactive content. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roycedorazio.substack.com/subscribe