Join me in Vegas TOMORROW (Fri 06/25) and San Diego on Saturday for an evening of legends, mysteries, and tales of adventure! There are even a few meet and greet tickets left for Vegas. See you at the show! https://t.co/1pEdfY3xP4
Meet "Peppercorn" 🐾 The news is out, and we finally get to introduce you to someone very special we've been caring for behind the scenes. Officially known to biologists as K528, this endangered Florida panther kitten was affectionately nicknamed "Peppercorn" by our veterinary and animal care teams. She was rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission after her mother didn't return, arriving at just under 3 pounds with a heavy parasite load, and we're happy to say she's now making a remarkable recovery.
Peppercorn remains behind the scenes and is not viewable by guests, where our teams can give her the focused care she needs. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be sharing her full journey with you from tiny, fragile kitten to thriving cub.
Read her full story at https://t.co/RnARnxUMxf.
In Indiana, what started as a simple maternity photo shoot quickly turned into an unforgettable moment—thanks to Buckshot, arguably the most photogenic horse in the county.
Amanda and Phil, the expecting couple, wanted their horses to be part of the shoot since they consider them family. But Buckshot wasn’t content with just being in the background. Instead, he posed front and center, flashed a grin, and completely stole the show.
Photographer Kristen Zaffiro shared that when she jokingly asked Buckshot to smile, he actually did. And the more she laughed, the more he played along—hamming it up like a natural in front of the lens. The result? A photo session no one could have planned, but everyone will remember.
HANG ON! #ExpeditionUnknown returns TONIGHT with an all-new season and a historic mission that’s breaking news. Join the hunt at 9pm ET/PT on @Discovery
In 1997, actor John C. McGinley’s son, Max, was born with Down syndrome. Shortly after, John's talent agent pulled him aside to deliver what was framed as practical advice: Do not talk about this publicly. Keep it quiet. People will stop hiring you.
For some, that might have sounded like reasonable career preservation. Protect the livelihood, avoid the spotlight, and pretend nothing had changed.
John’s response was immediate. He fired the agent.
Then, he did the exact opposite of what he had been told. He brought Max everywhere. Red carpets, talk shows, film sets, and public events. Wherever John went, Max was right beside him. At a time when society still largely preferred to keep individuals with developmental disabilities out of sight, John made a different choice. He made his son visible. Openly, proudly, and entirely without apology.
What began as a father's protective instinct grew into decades of fierce advocacy. John became one of the country's most recognizable voices for Down syndrome awareness. He spoke at global conferences, testified before Congress, and fought hard for employment law reforms that created real opportunities for people with disabilities to work, earn, and live independently.
During this journey, a reporter asked John a question that revealed far more about society's biases than it did about Max. The reporter asked if John ever wished his son were normal.
John didn't hesitate. He replied that Max was normal. The question wasn't. It was a blunt rejection of the idea that a person’s worth is measured by how well they fit into a narrow, conventional box.
Decades have passed since that conversation. Max is now 27 years old. He works, navigates his community, and lives an independent life filled with possibilities that the critics in 1997 never could have imagined for him.
Reflecting on their journey, John often says that Max never limited his life. He expanded it. Through his son, he learned what love, patience, and true commitment require.
The world signaled early on that it would have preferred Max to remain hidden in the shadows. John spent nearly three decades ensuring that the world looked Max right in the eye. Some fathers protect their children by shielding them from the world. Others protect them by refusing to let the world look away.
True inclusion begins when we stop treating differences as deficits. Max didn't need to change to fit into the world.
The world needed to change to make room for Max.
31 years ago today, Pocahontas released in theaters.
Known for its stunning animation, unforgettable soundtrack, and iconic songs like Colors of the Wind, the film remains one of Disney's most memorable releases of the 1990s.