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From Backyard Roller Coaster Dad to Building a Giant Sphere – Catching Up with Will Pemble
In this episode of Second Look, Claudine Wong reconnects with Will Pemble — better known years ago as “Roller Coaster Dad” after building elaborate backyard coasters. Since our first conversation in 2018, Will has been busy moving back to Connecticut, creating custom Sprinter vans, experimenting with geodesic domes, and—most recently—constructing an 18-foot wooden sphere that’s become both a neighborhood landmark and a surprise concert venue. With Will, there’s truly never a dull moment—we talk about his endless curiosity, his family’s patience, and the joy of building just for the sake of fun.
[00:00] Welcome back: reintroducing Will Pemble
[01:00] Flashback: the backyard roller coaster story
[02:30] Building the “Gold Boss” coaster with his son
[05:00] From Roller Coaster Dad to new adventures
[06:30] Life changes: moving East during COVID
[07:30] Custom Sprinter vans (including a $300K one!)
[09:00] The “Veggie Dome” idea that morphed into something bigger
[11:45] Sphere inspiration from Buckminster Fuller
[14:30] Engineering challenges & neighborhood reactions
[19:00] Acoustic experiments inside the sphere
[23:00] Costs, timeline, and effort behind the 18.5-foot sphere
[28:50] Live band performance inside the structure
[31:00] Why the Veggie Dome never happened (sorry, Liz!)
[34:00] Reflections on creativity, fun, and what’s next
Curiosity fuels creativity – Every project starts with a “what if?”
Family-centered decisions – Moving closer to his kids during COVID shaped his path.
Community connections – Projects drew fascination from neighbors, carpenters, and passersby.
Joy in the journey – These builds aren’t just about the end product—they’re about fun, learning, and surprise.
Unexpected outcomes – A greenhouse request turned into a giant sphere—and a concert venue.
Key Takeaways & Themes
Curiosity fuels creativity – Every project starts with a “what if?”
Family-centered decisions – Moving closer to his kids during COVID shaped his path.
Community connections – Projects drew fascination from neighbors, carpenters, and passersby.
Joy in the journey – These builds aren’t just about the end product—they’re about fun, learning, and surprise.
Unexpected outcomes – A greenhouse request turned into a giant sphere—and a concert venue.
Links & Resources
Connect With Me
Instagram: @claudinewongktvu
TikTok: @claudinektvu
Facebook: Claudine Wong KTVU
YouTube: @ClaudineWongKTVU
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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By KTVU Fox 2 (Bay Area)In this episode of Second Look, Claudine Wong reconnects with Will Pemble — better known years ago as “Roller Coaster Dad” after building elaborate backyard coasters. Since our first conversation in 2018, Will has been busy moving back to Connecticut, creating custom Sprinter vans, experimenting with geodesic domes, and—most recently—constructing an 18-foot wooden sphere that’s become both a neighborhood landmark and a surprise concert venue. With Will, there’s truly never a dull moment—we talk about his endless curiosity, his family’s patience, and the joy of building just for the sake of fun.
[00:00] Welcome back: reintroducing Will Pemble
[01:00] Flashback: the backyard roller coaster story
[02:30] Building the “Gold Boss” coaster with his son
[05:00] From Roller Coaster Dad to new adventures
[06:30] Life changes: moving East during COVID
[07:30] Custom Sprinter vans (including a $300K one!)
[09:00] The “Veggie Dome” idea that morphed into something bigger
[11:45] Sphere inspiration from Buckminster Fuller
[14:30] Engineering challenges & neighborhood reactions
[19:00] Acoustic experiments inside the sphere
[23:00] Costs, timeline, and effort behind the 18.5-foot sphere
[28:50] Live band performance inside the structure
[31:00] Why the Veggie Dome never happened (sorry, Liz!)
[34:00] Reflections on creativity, fun, and what’s next
Curiosity fuels creativity – Every project starts with a “what if?”
Family-centered decisions – Moving closer to his kids during COVID shaped his path.
Community connections – Projects drew fascination from neighbors, carpenters, and passersby.
Joy in the journey – These builds aren’t just about the end product—they’re about fun, learning, and surprise.
Unexpected outcomes – A greenhouse request turned into a giant sphere—and a concert venue.
Key Takeaways & Themes
Curiosity fuels creativity – Every project starts with a “what if?”
Family-centered decisions – Moving closer to his kids during COVID shaped his path.
Community connections – Projects drew fascination from neighbors, carpenters, and passersby.
Joy in the journey – These builds aren’t just about the end product—they’re about fun, learning, and surprise.
Unexpected outcomes – A greenhouse request turned into a giant sphere—and a concert venue.
Links & Resources
Connect With Me
Instagram: @claudinewongktvu
TikTok: @claudinektvu
Facebook: Claudine Wong KTVU
YouTube: @ClaudineWongKTVU
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices