Info

Creating Disney Magic

Lee Cockerell, former Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World, shares his wisdom and experience from his time with Disney, Marriott, and Hilton. Lee joins show host Jody Maberry to discuss how you can apply lessons in leadership, management, and customer service to create magic in your organization.
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Creating Disney Magic
2026
May
April
March
February
January


2025
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2024
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2014
December


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: December, 2025
Dec 30, 2025

“People like to go where they’re happy to be seen.”

Notable Moments

[01:19] Why people want to go where they feel welcome

[04:29] Making your people the brand

[06:49] Reliability as a leadership advantage

[10:28] Reducing turnover by focusing on how people feel

[15:49] The responsibility that comes with caring deeply

Great leaders don’t try to serve everyone. They find their people and take care of them. In this episode, Lee Cockerell and returning guest Liz Wilcox, an entrepreneur and email marketing educator known for building a people-first business. They explore how knowing your audience, simplifying your work, and showing up consistently builds trust and long-term success.

Read my blog for more from this episode. 

Connect with Liz Wilcox

Lizwilcox.com/

Resources

CockerellStore.com

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

 

Dec 23, 2025

“Knowledge is the key that opens all the doors ahead of you.”

Notable Moments

[03:55] Why making people feel important changes everything

[06:42] The emotional root of most leadership problems

[09:20] How exposure reshapes perspective and confidence

[12:29] Reputation and the danger of untold stories

[15:06] Why intentionality separates leaders from managers

Knowledge is more than information. It’s influence, credibility, and trust. In this episode, Lee Cockerell, retired Executive VP of Walt Disney World, explores how learning shapes leadership in high-pressure environments, why everyone needs to feel valued, and how reputation is built through intentional actions. 

Knowledge doesn’t just make you smarter. It makes you steadier, braver, and more useful to the people around you.

And that’s the kind of currency that never loses value.

Read my blog for more from this episode. 

Resources

CockerellStore.com

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

 

Dec 16, 2025

“There’s no upside for not being nice.”

Notable Moments

[02:32] What “being nice” actually means in leadership and daily interactions

[03:20] Why raising your voice causes you to lose respect

[04:12] How organization and stress management affect how you treat people

[07:12] Handling tough conversations while still being respectful

[09:47] The influence leaders have, even when they don’t realize it

Being nice is often misunderstood in leadership. In this conversation, Lee explains why kindness is not weakness, how respect builds long-term influence, and why managing your emotions matters more than managing other people. He shares practical examples from daily life, leadership roles, and personal experiences to show how being nice strengthens relationships, protects your reputation, and improves your own well-being.

Notable Moments

Read my blog for more from this episode. 

Resources

CockerellStore.com

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

 

Dec 9, 2025

“Every decision comes down to one question: is it worth it?”

Notable Moments

[00:01:19] Examples of shifting customer value

[00:04:11] Industries where customers feel “stuck” with rising prices

[00:05:11] What Lee learned by switching grocery chains

[00:07:17] The three-legged stool of pricing decisions: customer, employees, bottom line

[00:10:26] The importance of awareness and knowing what things really cost

[00:17:18] Inflation, habits, and the slow creep of change

In this conversation, Lee Cockerell shares practical stories about rising prices, customer expectations, and how businesses can make thoughtful adjustments without creating resentment. He explains why experience matters more than price, how awareness leads to better financial decisions, and how small changes - good or bad - accumulate over time. 

Read the blog for more from this episode. 

Resources

CockerellStore.com

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

 

Dec 2, 2025

“Anytime you can do more than everybody else, you’ll stand out.”

Notable Moments

[01:20] Persistence pays off

[03:34] Creative ways people get noticed

[04:45] Why showing up still matters today

[07:23] Networking as a strategy, not luck

[13:59] How persistence shapes careers over time

This episode explores the power of persistence and how small, consistent actions can open opportunities others miss. Lee Cockerell shares stories of people who refused to give up and ultimately built successful careers. The conversation also touches on practical strategies for standing out, networking with intention, preparing for interviews, and using creativity to earn visibility in competitive environments. Take a listen and walk away with simple, timeless advice for getting noticed and moving forward in careers.

Read my blog for more from this episode. 

Resources

CockerellStore.com

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

 

 

1