Disney Villains! – How queer baddies helped save Disney in the ’90s episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 2, 2026 · 1H 1M

Disney Villains! – How queer baddies helped save Disney in the ’90s

from Talk ’90s to me · host Podmasters

Diving deep into all things ’90s. The Disney Renaissance is usually remembered for its big tunes and Broadway bombast, but one of its most long-lasting impacts is the strength of its villains. From a sea witch inspired by the most transgressive drag queen of the ’80s to a Shakespearean lion schemer voiced by Jeremy Irons, these characters defined the era. Louder, stranger and far more interesting than the nice, beige heroes they were supposed to lose to. This week on Talk ’90s To Me, we’re diving into the gay Disney villains of the ’90s with comedian and host of Welcome to Hell Dan Foxx. We explore why Disney’s baddies were allowed all the flamboyance its heroes weren’t, how queerness became shorthand for glamour, danger and excess, and why these characters have grown in popularity in the decades since. • Go to ⁠⁠https://surfshark.com/t9tm⁠⁠ or use code T9TM at checkout to get 4extra months of Surfshark VPN!⁠ • Want an extra mini-pod every two weeks, early ad free episodes and access to merch? ⁠Support us on Patreon Follow us on:  BlueSky  Instagram  TikTok  Subscribe to our Spotify playlist • Buy Miranda’s book Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs or Dan’s book Bedtime Stories for Privileged Children through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll be helping the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. • Advertisers! Want to reach smart, engaged, influential people with money to spend? (Yes, they do exist). Some 3.5 MILLION people download and watch our podcasts every month – and they love our shows. Why not get YOUR brand in front of our influential listeners with podcast advertising? Contact [email protected] to find out moreWritten and presented by Miranda Sawyer. Produced by Liam Tait. Audio and video production by Tom Taylor. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Soniq Branding from Artlist. Talk ’90s To Me is a Podmasters production.  www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Diving deep into all things ’90s. The Disney Renaissance is usually remembered for its big tunes and Broadway bombast, but one of its most long-lasting impacts is the strength of its villains. From a sea witch inspired by the most transgressive drag queen of the ’80s to a Shakespearean lion schemer voiced by Jeremy Irons, these characters defined the era. Louder, stranger and far more interesting than the nice, beige heroes they were supposed to lose to. This week on Talk ’90s To Me, we’re diving into the gay Disney villains of the ’90s with comedian and host of Welcome to Hell Dan Foxx. We explore why Disney’s baddies were allowed all the flamboyance its heroes weren’t, how queerness became shorthand for glamour, danger and excess, and why these characters have grown in popularity in the decades since. • Go to ⁠⁠https://surfshark.com/t9tm⁠⁠ or use code T9TM at checkout to get 4extra months of Surfshark VPN!⁠ • Want an extra mini-pod every two weeks, early ad free episodes and access to merch? ⁠Support us on Patreon Follow us on:  BlueSky  Instagram  TikTok  Subscribe to our Spotify playlist • Buy Miranda’s book Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs or Dan’s book Bedtime Stories for Privileged Children through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll be helping the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. • Advertisers! Want to reach smart, engaged, influential people with money to spend? (Yes, they do exist). Some 3.5 MILLION people download and watch our podcasts every month – and they love our shows. Why not get YOUR brand in front of our influential listeners with podcast advertising? Contact [email protected] to find out moreWritten and presented by Miranda Sawyer. Produced by Liam Tait. Audio and video production by Tom Taylor. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Soniq Branding from Artlist. Talk ’90s To Me is a Podmasters production.  www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Disney Villains! – How queer baddies helped save Disney in the ’90s

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This episode is 1 hour and 1 minute long.

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This episode was published on February 2, 2026.

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Diving deep into all things ’90s. The Disney Renaissance is usually remembered for its big tunes and Broadway bombast, but one of its most long-lasting impacts is the strength of its villains. From a sea witch inspired by the most transgressive drag...

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