What do you get when you pair an animated holiday tale with a heartfelt story about overcoming barriers? Two wildly different but deeply resonant films that remind us of the power of connection. This holiday season, Richard Curtis (Love Actually, About Time) brings us That Christmas on Netflix, while Judith Light (Who's the Boss?, The Menu) and Courtney Taylor (Abbott Elementary, Insecure) star in Disney+’s Out of My Mind. Both projects dive into themes of love, understanding, and the occasional mistake — be it Santa’s or our own — and all three filmmakers talk with Kyle Meredith about them.

Curtis says That Christmas started as bedtime stories for his kids. Starring Brian Cox as a slightly flawed but lovable Santa Claus, the film is equal parts heartwarming and hilarious, with intertwined narratives reminiscent of Curtis's Love Actually.

Meanwhile, Out of My Mind tackles a different kind of connection. Based on the bestselling novel by Sharon M. Draper, the film follows Melody Brooks, a sixth-grader with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair and is nonverbal. Light and Taylor play crucial roles in Melody’s life, offering advocacy and understanding as Melody challenges societal limitations.

Listen to the cast of Out of My Mind chat about all this and more in the new episode or watch it on YouTube here and here. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.