The Themed Attraction Podcast

The Themed Attraction Podcast

By McGowan, Martin & HillBusinessArtsVisual ArtsCareers
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The Themed Attraction Podcast episodes

  • TA Podcast E25: Jesse Crawford

    Our guest this episode is Jesse Crawford from WhiteWater West in beautiful Vancouver BC, the award-winning slide and water ride design firm responsible for many of the most incredible “immersive” (pun intended) attractions on the planet. Jesse is a sales engineer which means his work has taken him around the world to help theme parks add water parks and water parks add more thrills.

    Show hosts: Mel McGowan  & Freddy Martin

    Show design & production: Barry R. Hill

    Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs.

    Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com  for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

    48 min
  • TA Podcast E24: John Kelton & Jon Taylor

    Our guests today have thought hard on how to tell great stories within a museum context and have the battle scars to prove it. John Kelton and Jon Taylor are veteran museum exhibit designers leading creative projects that educate while they entertain. They’re also buddies in real life so that means they’re a lot of fun to hang out with.

    Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin

    Show design & production: Barry R. Hill

    Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs.

    Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

    1 hr 8 min
  • TA Podcast E23: Denise Chapman Weston
    Get ready for fun! In this interview we are going head-to-head with one of the themed entertainment industry’s top “playologists,” Denise Chapman Weston of Infinite Kingdoms. Like many in this industry, Denise has been thinking up ways to create fun for other people since she was just a kid. She’s developed tons of innovative attractions, introduced gamification in surprising applications, and created wet and wild play experiences for families around the world.
    41 min
  • TA Podcast E22: Jesse Kamm

    Let’s go behind the temporary wall barriers into the construction zone with Dr. Jesse Kamm. Jesse is a 20 year veteran in the construction industry, leading teams as a construction manager, project manager and general contractor on projects inside and outside of the theme park berm. He is also a scholar with degrees in Engineering Management, Architectural Design, Engineering Technology Design and a PhD in Construction Technology Management. Let’s just say he knows what he’s doing.

    Connect with Jesse on LinkedIn and read his work in the Academia section of ThemedAttraction.com.

    Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs.

    Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin

    Show design & production: Barry R. Hill

    Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

    46 min
  • TA Podcast E21: Anthony Esparza
    Our guest this episode is the Chief of Guest Experiences at Carnival Cruise Line, Anthony Esparza. At Carnival, Anthony navigates the fun on the surface of the ocean, and before that he took guests deeper as the Chief Creative Officer for SeaWorld Parks. Anthony is as comfortable on land as he is at sea having spent a dozen years guiding guest experiences at Herschend Family Entertainment and 8 more years designing world class attractions and environments at Paramount Parks. Anthony is one of those unique leaders who brings a natural understanding of people and place that continues to transform the experience industry.
    51 min
  • TA Podcast E20: Mike West
    Mike West is Senior Director and Executive Producer for Universal Parks and resorts around the world. With the first 25 years of his career spent at WDI, and a second half underway at Universal, Mike is one of those guys you can’t help but geek out over. All the while he hasn’t lost his joy and passion for the experience design industry. Mike treats his own expertise with an open hand, always willing to pass down knowledge to the next generation. Mike has a deeper desire to see this industry become better and better.
    42 min
  • TA Podcast E19: Kevin Sherbrooke
    Kevin Sherbrooke is an AIA Licensed architect and show set designer who lives at the intersection of creative, blue sky concepts and the rigid structure of architectural design. Kevin’s background gives him a unique perspective on the ins and outs of an industry on the move. You can see his work in familiar environments and attractions at Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Islands of Adventure. And Kevin has worked together on projects with some of the industry’s current heads of state like Scott Trowbridge and Mark Woodberry.
    1 hr
  • TA Podcast E18: Sean Chung
    Our guest this episode is Senior Project Director for Miziker Entertainment, Sean Chung. Sean is part of a new generation of brilliant creatives making waves in themed entertainment these days. Sean has an amazing story that runs parallel to the story of modern China’s own transformation into the world’s fastest growing theme park and tourism market. Sean's resume includes the design of a half-mile-long night-time parade that is a direct genetic descendant to the Main Street Electrical Parade - Journey of Lights Parade at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom which was honored with a TEA Thea Award in 2018.
    58 min
  • TA Podcast E17: Chris Lange
    Our guest is Creative Director and project consultant, Chris Lange. Chris began his career in a scenic fabrication workshop in Germany before being tapped to design and implement an impressive string of major tourist attractions worldwide. Chris has been Creative Director for Merlin Entertainments, Mack Solutions, and the Genting Group. He’s led projects in California, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and served as Senior Art Director for India’s first theme park project, Adlab’s Imagica. Most recently he headed up the resort development for Europa-Park’s new water park, Rulantica.
    1 hr 17 min
  • TA Podcast E16: Lou Prosperi
    We’re taking a different route through the design jungle today as we interview a friend of the show, author Lou Prosperi. Lou isn’t our typical guest, but you'll soon see why we asked him to join us. Lou develops curriculum for a large enterprise software company during the day. But his secret super power is studying the work of theme park designers and breaking down the principles that guide great spatial design. 
    Lou’s books, collectively titled “The Imagineering Toolbox," explore core themed entertainment design concepts like kinetics, forced perspective, and storytelling through environmental cues.
    1 hr 11 min

About The Themed Attraction Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Mel McGowan, Freddy Martin & friends discuss theme park design with themed entertainment industry experts.