Memory Makers Podcast

On this edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with the founder of Action Lab Leadership, Danny Gruening, to discuss finding new sources of inspiration. When you run a family entertainment center, it is remarkably easy to get stuck in the day-to-day grind and lose sight of your "why." Danny dives deep into how isolation drains our inspiration and why true leadership relies on cultivating optimism rather than waiting around for a sudden burst of motivation. "Every time that we do that, we're robbing ourselves of the opportunity to just let our brains think and be and come up with cool ideas." — Danny Gruening Danny shares practical ways to reframe your daily stress, how to hack your environment for better mental hygiene, and why the secret to scaling your business lies in your daily systems, not just your lofty goals.

On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Dennis McIntire, VP of Strategic Development and Innovation at B&B Theatres. With over three decades of experience spanning marketing, construction, and corporate development, Dennis delves into the realities of blending movie theaters with arcades, bowling alleys, and food services, explaining why traditional theater logic often fails in the entertainment space. "A movie experience is not exactly the same thing that it was 20 years ago, 30 years ago… It always starts as a 'what if'. What if we put a playground in a movie theater?" — Dennis McIntire Dennis also reveals the ultimate business philosophy that drives their constant innovation. B&B Theatres has had its doors open for 102 years, so it's important to stay fresh, exciting, and highly profitable. He recommends asking a lot of "what-ifs" questions, stop treating different business models like they are the same, and remain willing to fail fast.

iscuss how to beat the budget and outsmart the layout when designing your FEC. Katie brings over a decade of commercial and attraction design experience to the table, sharing insider secrets on how to turn physical spatial limitations into standout features, design with a "Pixar mentality" that satisfies both kids and parents, and phase out big projects to protect a budget while leaving room for future growth. "How do we take this idea that's living in someone's head and start to make that abide the laws of physics? It's a really fun puzzle to solve." - Katie Ross Stop settling for predictable layouts. This episode delivers the human-centric design tactics you need to scale up a new build or revitalize an old space, ensuring your guest experience remains unexpected, engaging, and absolutely never boring.

On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ is joined by Clint Novak, Owner of Novak Amusement Solutions and Planet Novak, to unpack the hidden opportunities within small-footprint family entertainment centers (FECs). As traffic patterns shift and large-scale buildouts become increasingly expensive, the mid-sized and smaller market models are having a massive moment. Clint shares his firsthand experience launching Planet Novak, a highly successful 3,000-square-foot claw arcade concept that is blowing past its first-year revenue projections. From treating your staff like hospitality Sherpas to optimizing the high-stakes world of premium plush inventory, Clint outlines what it takes to thrive in today's local entertainment economy. "Our staff is very intensive. They know when people walk in, they say hello. They're very welcoming. They play with the kids and adults... they want to make sure everybody's a winner." Clint also drops invaluable, easy-to-implement operational life hacks—like turning on hidden automated software features—that can instantly add six figures to an FEC’s bottom line. As traffic patterns shift and large-scale buildouts become increasingly expensive, the mid-sized and smaller market models are having a massive moment.

On this edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Paco Underhill, global retail expert, founder of Envirosell Inc., and bestselling author of Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping. Paco shares his journey from hanging time-lapse cameras off 60-story skyscrapers to discovering how minor physical adjustments radically alter guest habits. He shares the critical differences in demographic comfort, the psychological weight of time, and why the most impactful leadership requires getting out from behind a desk. “The ability to communicate an understanding of science and be able to match it to the art of design was something that was just very popular and telling. And part of what we also recognize is while there are a series of biological constants, things that don't change within the context of our physical behavior, part of what we know is whether we're talking about the design of a store, a home, a hospital, a website, [or an entertainment venue,] there are a series of things that are in flux. The degree to which we recognize that design, whether it's physical or cyber, has to keep track of the evolution of us.” -Paco Underhill Together, Russ and Paco peel back the layers of customer interaction in a post-pandemic landscape, illustrating why the ultimate customer journey begins long before a guest reaches the front counter.

On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Armando Lanuti to strip away the confusion and look at AI through a practical lens. As a business owner, you do not need to become a master programmer to reap the benefits of this technology. At its core, AI serves as an elevated search engine and a powerful time-saver, helping you tackle everyday challenges in your Family Entertainment Center (FEC). From optimizing your website for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to building custom internal databases for staff training, this conversation maps out actionable strategies to implement right now. "Your self-worth is tied up into not your actual outcome of what you're doing, but the process of how you're doing it... If you adopt and utilize and learn how to integrate that new tool, you're going to be able to do more, and you're going to be able to use the things that make you uniquely you to solve problems." -Armando Lanuti Instead of fearing replacement, learn how to leverage these digital tools to boost your efficiency, reduce burnout, and give your team the freedom to focus on what they do best: creating powerful and emotional memories for your guests.

On this edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ and Danny dive deep into the self-limiting beliefs and self-imposed boundaries that trap Family Entertainment Center (FEC) owners in the daily grind. Pulling insights from industry events like Amusement 360, the duo challenges listeners to take a hard look at how their own mindset, business identities, and daily habits directly dictate their venue’s growth potential. "How am I complicit in creating the conditions I say I don't want? Because we all have things that we say we don't want in our life and in our business… sometimes those things are showing up because of something we're doing or not doing." -Danny Gruening If you feel like you are constantly firefighting instead of thinking strategically, it is time to reassess your leadership. Growth requires building robust processes, executing core fundamentals, and intentionally stepping back to allow your team to step up.

On this edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Doug Wilkerson, Principal and Creative at Dynamic Designs Inc., to unpack the critical elements that transform a physical location into a living, breathing experience that generates deep emotional connections. With over three decades of experience designing immersive environments for global giants like Walt Disney World, Legoland, and Main Event Entertainment, Doug shares his wealth of insider knowledge. He reveals why the most successful entertainment venues root every single finish, texture, and layout choice in a deeper narrative. "When you create a concept that's story-based, it goes deeper… It brings a soul to the project, number one, and everything is connected. So every decision that's made is driven by this overreaching story." -Doug Wilkerson Doug shares why balancing guest flow with seamless operational functionality is the ultimate secret to building a venue that resonates with visitors and stands the test of time.

On this special edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Martin Kuntz, one of the longest-tenured employees at Creative Works to discuss how he designs the visual magic of attractions. Over his 15-year career with the company, Martin has worn nearly every artistic hat imaginable—sculpting, painting murals, and working as a key member of the design and engineering department. Martin shares what it was like to help grow Creative Works from a small team of 12 people into an industry powerhouse, and he takes us behind the scenes of some of his most memorable projects. "We've got our standard bread and butter themes, but clients always come to us with crazy ideas. Yeah, never would have occurred to me. We did a job in El Salvador where the client wanted bees versus wasps, which was very strange…" -Martin Kuntz Martin has built an incredible portfolio, including the meticulous digital fabrication work on the Peyton Manning statue outside Lucas Oil Stadium and a custom ice cream pig bench for a Michigan tourist town. He also dives deep into the recent refresh of the Mayday escape room experience, explaining how our team balanced paint, printed vinyl, and multimedia screens to achieve a truly authentic submarine environment without overdoing the weathering. Martin's insights offer a masterclass in collaboration, intentionality, and creative execution for anyone passionate about high-quality attraction design.

In this special edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ Van Natta sits down with a man who wears many hats in the family entertainment industry. Mike Whincup is the Chief Ride Designer at Galaxy Multi Rides and the COO of Do The Beach Franchising while at Amusement 360! Mike shares his unique journey from growing his family’s legacy as the world’s largest mechanical bull manufacturer to launching a highly immersive, beach-themed franchise. We dive deep into the intentionality required to move beyond generic "themed" spaces to create environments that transport guests. Whether it’s painting ceilings "Caribbean Blue" or designing custom fiberglass facades in-house, Mike explains how physical environments directly influence the emotional memories families carry home. "I want people to come in here and forget that they're in Chicago in the middle of winter, and it's going to be bright blue and bright colors." -Mike Whincup Mike reveals the secret to "Do The Beach"—creating a singular, efficient environment that blends soft play, inflatables, and classic attractions into one cohesive world where parents can relax while kids explore.

On this special edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ Van Natta sits down with Danielle Walker of Legacy 925 while at the Amusement 360 Event. Danielle shares her fascinating transition from the trade industry to the high-octane world of go-karting and multi-venue entertainment. We dive deep into the mechanics of managing sales for an entertainment district that houses everything from K1 Speed to exploring how to "value engineer" custom packages that protect margins while delighting guests. "I believe in question-based selling. There’s a difference between being an order taker and a salesperson. Our goal is guest experience, and if I can ask the right questions and put all the work on me, I make it easy for the guest to say yes." -Danielle Walker Whether you are struggling with point-of-sale fragmentation or looking to move from being an "order taker" to a "consultative partner," Danielle’s insights on question-based selling and community weaving offer a masterclass in growth.