In the spirit of National Movie Night, we’re diving into a conversation with Rino Nakajima - a Disney superfan whose life has been shaped by the stories she grew up watching. Originally from Hiroshima, Japan and now living in Hawaiʻi, Rino talks about how movies like The Little Mermaid and Mulan have helped guide her through everything from studying Swahili in college to landing her dream job at Disney World, and even meeting her partner in a dating app meet-cute. With her heart in the ocean and her head full of Disney songs, Rino shares how these films have stayed with her over the years, offering lessons in perseverance and dreaming big. Now living her real-life mermaid dream by the sea, she reflects on what it means to carry a little movie magic with you, wherever you go! 🌊 Episode Highlights – Dive In! 🐚 0:22 Rino: Mermaid-in-training & Disney dreamer 0:55 Japan to Hawaiʻi during the pandemic 3:48 What makes your heartbeat? DISNEY! 4:31 The Little Mermaid & living her best ocean life in Hawaiʻi 6:22 Growing up a Disney Channel wave-rider 7:51 Learning English, one High School Musical song at a time 9:59 Circle of Life: Majoring in Swahili at Osaka University 13:43 Landing her dream job in Orlando 17:58 COVID: Goodbye to the happiest place on earth 18:31 Quarantined in Hawaiʻi = time to dive into the dating apps 19:05 A love story 22:56 Exploring Disney parks around the world 23:11 Shanghai and Tokyo 26:01 Treasure trove: Mickey ear headbands galore 26:40 Dream job in Hawaiʻi? 28:18 Ariel, the ocean, and the call of the sea 29:34 Go-to conversation starters (with a splash of magic) 30:31 Favorite song? 31:20 An imaginary conversation with Walt Disney 32:20 Believing in magic: Dreams really do come true 🌈 Show Art Photo Credit: Rino Nakajima
In the spirit of National Movie Night, we’re diving into a conversation with Rino Nakajima - a Disney superfan whose life has been shaped by the stories she grew up watching. Originally from Hiroshima, Japan and now living in Hawaiʻi, Rino talks about how movies like The Little Mermaid and Mulan have helped guide her through everything from studying Swahili in college to landing her dream job at Disney World, and even meeting her partner in a dating app meet-cute. With her heart in the ocean and her head full of Disney songs, Rino shares how these films have stayed with her over the years, offering lessons in perseverance and dreaming big. Now living her real-life mermaid dream by the sea, she reflects on what it means to carry a little movie magic with you, wherever you go!
🌊 Episode Highlights – Dive In! 🐚
0:22 Rino: Mermaid-in-training & Disney dreamer
0:55 Japan to Hawaiʻi during the pandemic
3:48 What makes your heartbeat? DISNEY!
4:31 The Little Mermaid & living her best ocean life in Hawaiʻi
6:22 Growing up a Disney Channel wave-rider
7:51 Learning English, one High School Musical song at a time
9:59 Circle of Life: Majoring in Swahili at Osaka University
13:43 Landing her dream job in Orlando
17:58 COVID: Goodbye to the happiest place on earth
18:31 Quarantined in Hawaiʻi = time to dive into the dating apps
19:05 A love story
22:56 Exploring Disney parks around the world
23:11 Shanghai and Tokyo
26:01 Treasure trove: Mickey ear headbands galore
26:40 Dream job in Hawaiʻi?
28:18 Ariel, the ocean, and the call of the sea
29:34 Go-to conversation starters (with a splash of magic)
30:31 Favorite song?
31:20 An imaginary conversation with Walt Disney
32:20 Believing in magic: Dreams really do come true 🌈
Photo Credit: Rino Nakajima
Episode Art: Molly Mamaril