Brad Bird is the director behind some of our favorite animated films. The prominent director was only 11 years old when he made his first film and caught the attention of Disney at the age of 14. Bird went on to make some of most memorable animated films of recent history, including The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille. In this podcast, Bird sits with funny lady and Ratatouille leading lady Janeane Garfaloto discuss a memorable childhood experience that inspired him to pursue filmmaking and animation, his passion for creating family films, and his recent shift to sci-fi with his upcoming film Tomorrowland.

Bird shares stories about his first experience working on a live-action film, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, which he describes as jumping into the “deep end of a very shark infested pool.” Bird also sheds light on his time working with Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and George Clooney and his natural tendency to gravitate towards uplifting stories.