Franzese discusses her new co-edited volume on Disney and the transformative impact of study abroad experiences.

Alexis Franzese, professor and chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Elon University, was recently featured on the “In the FIELD” podcast hosted by Heidi James-Dunbar of the Foundation for International Education (FIE).
In the episode, Franzese discusses her new co-edited volume, “Why the Magic Matters,” and explores themes that shape her work, including authenticity, identity and well-being. The conversation also highlights the impact of study abroad and off-campus learning experiences, drawing on Franzese’s experience teaching in London through Elon’s Global Education Center partnership with FIE. The episode examines how immersive educational environments, including spaces like Disney, can function as powerful sites of learning and self-discovery.
The full episode is available at fie.buzzsprout.com and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.