All Episodes

Episode 457: Lauren Weaver talks about the impact of dark rides, reciprocal marketing and growing up in the industry

Episode 456: Paul Couch talks about theme park career stories, entertainment as the human experience, and working with Dolly

Episode 455: Walter Magnuson talks about legends and lore, steering the passion, and providing reassurance

Episode 454 - Niko Radjenovic talks about about pioneering conservation, nimble leadership, and cascading goals

Episode 453 - Melissa Felder talks about purpose-driven organizations, people-powered experiences and future of cultural attractions

Episode 452: Kathleen McDonough and Derek Williamson talk about recruitment technology, drawing a line in the sand with AI, and advocating for the applicant

Episode 451: Mike Whincup talks about modular attractions, profitability through efficiency and trends in inflataparks

Episode 450: Nick DiMatteo talks about changing the world, multi-sensory birthday parties and ambiverts

Episode 449: Ben Thompson talks about story-led experiences, connecting IP to operators and being a lifelong learner

Episode 448: Marc Dixon talks about technology in attractions, AI’s purpose in the industry, and learning to take risks

Episode 447: Anthony Sabo talks about maintenance and operations, figuring out the nuts and bolts, and dad-based leadership

Episode 446: Elizabeth Lugo talks about tourism in Mexico, creating a culture of learning and 18,000 collaborators

Episode 445: Kevin Williams about the next phase of immersive technology, transmedia, and embracing your audience

Episode 444: Marah Rodriguez talks about life’s twists and turns, listening and empathy, and women in leadership

Episode 443: David Contreras talks about architecture as entertainment, balancing fantasy and reality, and developing leaders

Episode 442: Mark Rosenzweig talks about integrity, transparency, and collaboration, stirring imagination, and being an operations nerd

Episode 441: Matt and Josh share their best presentation and public speaking tips

Episode 440: Melissa Lockwood talks boots on the ground, being comfortable being uncomfortable, and operating a luxury waterpark

Episode 439: Mike Denninger talks about attraction development, leadership as an introvert, and project management

Episode 438: Loren Barrows talks about helping people become better, common sense and hiring for culture

Episode 437: Clay Talley talks about intentional world-class experiences, vision-first, and staff as sherpa

Episode 436: Josh Henderson talks about being a student of the industry, community dictating the business model, and emerging natural attractions

Episode 435: 2026 Resolutionary Episode

Episode 434: Case Lawrence talks about the power of relationships, joy-based entrepreneurship and influencer-based experiences

Episode 433: Kim Welch talks about making digital ticketing better, tickets as a pre-show, and creating unboxing moments

Episode 432: Michael Acevedo talks about reliability & guest experience, being yourself, full circle career moments

Episode 431: IAAPA Expo 2025 Recap

Episode 430: Salma Abassaly talks about inspections and certifications, relationship capital, and normalizing diversity

Episode 429: Tyler Rizzo talks about bridging finance and operations, not chasing expensive pennies, and avoiding the doom spiral

Episode 428: Evan Barnett talks about cold, hard leadership, being unoffendable, and doing the basics really well

Episode 427: Nathan Caldwell talks about Empowering Kindness, developing leaders and beating the calendar

Episode 426: Phil Royle talks about being brick-centric, fantastical escapism, and teaching everything you can

Episode 425: 2025 IAAPA Thrival Guide Preview

Episode 424: Heather Doggett talks about the power of theater, co-designing experiences with staff and measuring fear

Episode 423: Faisal Mirza talks about the oohs and aahs, being cost effective vs better and it's okay to be nice

Episode 422: Gina Elliott and Jason Haycock talk about digital training transformation, immersive employee experience and investing in your team

Episode 421: AttractionPros LIVE at IATP 2025

Episode 420: Ron Romens talks about unstructured play, controlling your experience, boredom stimulates creativity

Episode 419: 10 GX Observations of 2025

Episode 418: Coen Bertens talks about starting with people, shifting culture and creating one fan a day

Episode 417: The C.O.A.C.H. Leadership Coaching Model Minisode

Episode 416: Connecting Employees to the Mission Minisode

Episode 415: Matt Cooper talks about a novel approach to lighting, theater realism and budget vs. coordination

Episode 414: Lessons from Coaster Nerd Con 2025

Episode 413: Olly Morgan talks about persistence over scale, staying true to the culture, and adapting the operations to the technology

Episode 412: Mark Shaw talks about CX vs customer service, the ACE framework and recognition isn't rocket science

Episode 411: Jeremy Hauwelaert talks about the Jungle Island experience, everything is marketing, and taking chances on employees

Episode 410: Michael Floyd talks about starting with respect, connecting employees to the mission and lessons from being a touring musician

Episode 409: Resources and best practices for job seekers

Episode 408: Harry Tomasides talks about dynamic pricing, shifting attendance and the every day is a separate event

Episode 407: Sondra and Jake Shannon talk about performance coaching, revenue strategy, and technology integration

Episode 406: Josh and Matt discuss their impressions of Epic Universe

Episode 405: Tyler Adams talks about bourbon as an attraction, creating connections with consumers and recovering before the crisis starts

Episode 404: Automated surveys minisode

Episode 403: Increasing dwell time minisode

Episode 402: Service culture beyond training minisode

Episode 401: The nuances of name tags minisode

Episode 400: Josh and Matt explore some amazing quotes from the first 399 episodes

Episode 399: Dameon Nelson talks about mindset, motivation, and mastery, embracing change and putting value in your team

Episode 398: Brian Stovall talks about operational design consulting, visualizing what doesn’t exist, and lessons from 30 years in the industry

Episode 397: Burton Heiss talks about brand-led businesses, disconnect to reconnect, and the future of escape rooms

Episode 396: Anne Shimerdla talks about balancing recreation with education, animal welfare standards, and who she believes is the least important person at the zoo

Episode 395: Matt and Josh talk about creating effective recognition programs

Episode 394: Matt and Josh talk about the importance of ongoing training

Episode 393: Allen Greene talks about building the ark, designing through the lens of the guest, and faith-based attractions

Episode 392: Tony Sanders talks about Wild West entertainment, immersion without technology, and the 4 P’s of leadership

Episode 391: Mark Moore talks about cabanas as daytime hotels, balancing demand with dynamic pricing, and free soft drinks

Episode 390: Shawn Whitman talks about saying yes to everything, exercising guest experience muscles, and looking through the lens of the guest

Episode 389: Francisco Nunez talks about themed design software, identifying issues before construction, and jillyfraz

Episode 388: Brian Kilpatrick talks about building a green space intentionally, being a good listener and getting to know the community

Episode 387: Clara Rice talks about your workplace vs. your worth place, the importance of transparency, and building marketing from scratch

Episode 386: Jim Futrell talks about amusement park history, putting context on history and sharing experiences across generations

Episode 385: Kyle Allison talks about haircuts and hospitality, overcoming staffing challenges, and serving the community

Episode 384: Richard Pretlow talks about solving complex problems beautifully, ultra accessibility, and shifting mindsets

Episode 383: Matt and Josh talk about Service Recovery Hero

Episode 382: 2025 Resolutionary Episode

Episode 381: Jim Howell talks about how pizza rules the world, not following the trends, and the importance of meeting everybody.

Episode 380: Takeaways from IAAPA Expo 2024

Episode 379: David Rosenberg talks about next-level hospitality, trends in sustainability, and a frictionless visitor experience

Episode 378: Mark Berlin talks about unexpected fun, embracing the introverts, and how life is a field trip.

Episode 377: TJ Christensen talks about wrestling with data, connecting the dots, and the four key metrics

Episode 376: Katy Enrique talks about describing the indescribable, seeking uniqueness, and how marketing impacts everything

Episode 375: IAAPA Expo Thrival Guide Preview

Episode 374: Ricky Spicuzza talks about treating every interaction like an interview, keeping history in every decision, and the Potato Patch Fries secret menu

Episode 373: Megan Hartman talks about seeing through the lens of a lifeguard, letting your team have the vision, and being comfortable with the uncomfortable

Episode 372: Bron Launsby talks about innovation excellence, building a franchise, and how culture is everything

Episode 371 - AttractionPros LIVE at IATP 2024

Episode 370 - Leadership Lessons from an Unexpected Source

Episode 369 - Val Syganevich talks about mixed-reality storytelling, competing with the digital world, and the power of “what-if"

Episode 368 - Impressions of Immersion from Italy

Episode 367 - Kile Ozier talks about moving people emotionally, creating global community, and the joy of connecting

Episode 366 - Kristy Tozer talks about a seat at the table, rebranding, and marketing & ops supporting each other

Episode 365 - Michael Browning talks about consolidating fragmentation, customers and users, and adventure slides.

Episode 364 - Samantha Palmer talks about historic tours, St. Augustine's tourism industry and taking chances on people

Episode 363: Chris Kearsing talks about a storied career, saying yes, and celebrating 70 years

Episode 362: Neil Dwyer talks about designing through the operator’s perspective, effective service recovery, and no challenge is unsolvable

Episode 361 - Nick Miller talks about being part of the show, the need for human connection, and trusting your crazy ideas

Episode 360 - Tim Murphy talks about high-quality food, repurposing retail, and the power of people

Episode 359 - Lessons from CNC24

Episode 358 - Minisode - The Cost of Not Recovering

Episode 357 - Justin Rink talks about the View Boston experience, entrepreneurial leadership, and the importance of starting with people

Episode 356 - Minisode - The Mid-Year Resolutionary Check In

Episode 355 - Mike Rotondo talks about the balance of art and process, avoiding brand creep, and pushing for what's possible

Episode 354 - Minisode - The Grocery Store

Episode 353 - Mike Lusky talks about embracing history, shifting culture, and the importance of mentors

Episode 352 - Melissa Oviedo talks about sustainable growth, building perspectives, and asking the right questions

Episode 351 - Denise Beckson talks about first jobs, recruiting as sales, and government relations

Episode 350 - Lessons from the AttractionPros Community