Ep 201 Disney Entertainer Jodi Chase: The Voice Behind the Hill
The latest episode of the Rise and Run podcast started with a special celebration. They celebrated reaching episode 201. This marks the start of their third century of episodes. Hosts Bob, Greg, John, Alysha and Lexie highlighted this milestone. They bring the Run Disney community together through shared experiences. They also share training tips and race insights.
The episode begins with an introduction from Beckam, Thor Dog of Thunder and Ash the Bear. If you’d like to introduce an upcoming episode, please reach out to us on our social media. You can also email us, or leave us a message on our hot-line (727-266-2344).
Jodi Chase
We welcome Jodi Chase, a long-time Disney entertainer. Many runners will recognize her from her iconic position on the hill during runDisney races. Jody and her partner Angie have become famous for their “tailgating characters” routine. They intentionally act a bit annoying. This distracts runners from the challenge of climbing that hill. As Jodi explained, “We started realizing that we’re on this hill and people are like ‘who are these women? Why are they so annoying?’ So we went with it!” This clever strategy gives runners a different focus. As a result, they think about something other than their fatigue. It often brings smiles and laughter during a tough stretch of the race.
Jody’s entertainment background is impressively diverse. She started at Universal Studios in the Horror Makeup Show. There she met her husband, John Pelkey, who is a frequent race announcer for runDisney events. Her Disney career spans decades. She has had roles in Citizens of Hollywood at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for 20 years as the character Paige Turner. She performed in the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular and the World Showcase Players at Epcot. She was also “friends with” characters like the Italian storyteller La Befana during holiday festivals. She also revealed her work on the now-defunct Star Cruiser experience, where she played Captain Keevan.
Beyond entertainment, the podcast explored the physical demands of performing for hours during races. Jody described how she and Angie support each other during long stints on the course. They often become “punchy” with fatigue. Despite this, they continue to entertain runners until the balloon ladies arrive. Her improv skills and ability to use observational humor help keep runners motivated and distracted from their discomfort.
A touching segment of the interview revealed Jody’s passion for animal welfare. She founded A Better Life Pet Rescue. It is a foster-based organization she ran for about 20 years. She recently passed leadership to a new team. The rescue continues its mission of saving animals from euthanasia at shelters, rehabilitating them, and finding them loving permanent homes.
The Race Report Sponsored by Stoked Metabolic Coaching
In The Race Report Spotlight we are joined with Jake and his eight-year-old son Teddy. They participated in the Run to Home Base 5K at Fenway Park in Boston. This fundraising event generated nearly $4 million. These funds support programs for veterans dealing with PTSD. They also address other challenges of returning from deployment. Teddy’s enthusiasm for running at such a young age was inspiring. He proudly announced achieving a personal record. He improved by 40 seconds.
If you’re curious about the people behind those encouraging voices on course, this episode is for you. It offers motivation to push through summer training. It also helps you feel connected to the broader running community. This episode bridges the magic of Disney entertainment with the heart of the running experience. Join us for the kick-off of our third century of podcasts as we continue rising and running together!
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