Episodes

  • Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 47: Tom Mehrmann

    Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 47: Tom Mehrmann
    Dec 10 2025

    Flight 47: Former President & COO, Universal Destinations & Experiences, Tom Mehrmann

    While the focus of The Spirit of the Time Zoomcast tends to be on the creative minds who have designed some of the world's most beloved theme parks and attractions, equal creedence must be given to those who operate these projects and ensure, day by day, that the design intent is not just maintained, but improved. Tom Mehrmann is one of our industry's most respected operators, having spent some five decades overseeing major theme parks around the globe — from Knott's Berry Farm and Six Flags Marine World to Ocean Park, Warner Bros. Movie World Madrid, and Universal Studios Beijing. Set your timepiece now and plan to join us as we welcome the nicest guy in the industry aboard our time machine for a master class in how to successfully operate a theme park and ensure that both guests and employees are your biggest fans!
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 46: Frank Stanek

    Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 46: Frank Stanek
    Nov 10 2025

    Flight 46: Iconic former domestic and international planning and development executive for both Disney and Universal, Frank Stanek.

    When you view construction photos or videos of Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Japan and other major themed entertainment projects around the globe, the focus is typically on those crazy creative folks — not the guys in the suits. But the truth is that if it weren't for the guys in the suits who secured the site and the funding, strategically planned the project, and oversaw the budgets and schedules, those crazy creative folks wouldn't have anything to design or build! Frank Stanek is probably the most famous "suit" in our industry today, having worked for Walt and Roy Disney on the New York World's Fair and Mineral King before joining WED Enterprises to oversee business planning and development. He helped to create Walt Disney World, Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris before working directly with Michael Eisner and Frank Wells as the Walt Disney Company's first Corporate Vice President of Planning. After a stint with the Japanese firm Dentsu, Frank was recruited to MCA/Universal, where he became President of International Business Development and oversaw the Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal projects in Spain, Korea, and China. Set your timepiece now and plan to join us as one of the themed entertainment industry's most storied planning and development execs shares his wisdom and tales from the trenches in what promises to be Zoomcast for the ages!
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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 45: Joe Garlington

    Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 45: Joe Garlington
    Sep 28 2025

    Flight 45: Former VP of Interactive Projects, Show Producer & Interactive Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, Joe Garlington

    By 1990, it was believed that Disney park guests were tired of passive attractions and so the company brought back former EPCOT Center "Arcade of the Future" designer and the owner of LA-based Art & Technology Joe Garlington to tap into the latest computer hardware and software and transform Disney experiences into communal, personalized, and yes, interactive experiences. If you've ever immersed yourself in Stitch Encounter, Turtle Talk with Crush, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Disneyquest or dozens of early interactive experiences at museums, aquariums and theme parks around the country, you've no doubt enjoyed the creative visions of Joe Garlington. Set your interactive calendar now and plan to join us as USC's Adjunct Professor and Advisor of Themed Entertainment Design climbs aboard the time machine to share his career highlights, collected wisdom, and predictions for the future of interactive technology in themed entertainment. It promises to be, well, interactive!
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 44: Bob Gurr

    Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 44: Bob Gurr
    Jul 10 2025

    Flight 44: If it moves on wheels at Disneyland, it was probably designed by 93-year old Disney Legend and Thea Lifetime Achievement recipient, Bob Gurr.

    Walt Disney was so impressed with his knowledge and skill, that he invited Bob Gurr to join WED Enterprises to design the very first Autopia cars that debuted at Disneyland in 1955. Over the past 74 years, Bob has made transportation magic worldwide, developing such legendary Disneyland ride vehicles as the Monorail, the Flying Saucers, the Haunted Mansion "Doom Buggies," the Submarine Voyage sub fleet, the PeopleMover, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. After "retiring" in 1981, Bob went on to co-found Sequoia Creative and design the massive King Kong animatronic for Universal Studios Hollywood. He designed the flying spaceship for the 1984 Olympics opening ceremonies, effects for The Jacksons' Victory tour, and dinosaurs for Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park." Plan now to join us as Bob climbs aboard a vehicle with no wheels for a journey across ten decades on one of the most incredible time travel adventures we've ever had!
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Zeitgeist's The Spirit of the Time Episode 43: Bob Weis

    Zeitgeist's The Spirit of the Time Episode 43: Bob Weis
    Jun 10 2025

    Flight 43: Forty-five-year industry veteran, Thea Lifetime Achievement Recipient, and former President of Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob Weis.

    When Bob Weis joined WED Enterprise in 1980, Disney owned two theme parks. Forty-five years later, Disney operates twelve parks worldwide and Bob Weis played a role in at least half of them, including Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney Studios Parc, Disney California Adventure, and Shanghai Disneyland. After a short stint at his own firm, (Bob) Weis Design Island (WDI!), and Gensler, Bob is now a successful author, having recently published his autobiography, "Dream Chasing," and his first work of fiction, "Ghost Dog." Set your pocket watch now to join us as Bob climbs aboard the time machine to relive the trials and tribulations of overseeing the design and production of multiple Disney theme parks and being one only four individuals to ever hold the title of president of the world's first and most beloved themed entertainment design company.
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    1 hr and 32 mins
  • Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 42: Valerie Johnson-Redrow

    Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 42: Valerie Johnson-Redrow
    Apr 12 2025

    FLIGHT 42: Veteran media, VFX, and show producer for Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative, Sony, MacGillivray Freeman Films and more, Valerie Johnson-Redrow!

    Today's immersive attractions feature tremendous amounts of media - often presented on tremendous screens. While owners and operators often take the credit for these groundbreaking E-Ticket experiences, it's the media and show producers who make the magic happen.

    Plan now to join us as veteran media, VFX, and show producer Valerie Johnson-Redrow climbs aboard the time machine to share stories and wisdom accumulated during her 30-year career, including show producing the "King Kong 360-3D" and "Reign of Kong" (media only) attractions at Universal parks, producing media for Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot and developing concepts for Conservation Station at Disney's Animal Kingdom, producing all media for Sony's Metreon in San Francisco, as well as her work on IMAX films, Chinese flying attractions, TV shows, and her latest project, "Adventures Beneath the Seas!"
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 41: Craig Hanna

    Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 41: Craig Hanna
    Mar 26 2025

    Flight 41: Writer, creative director, past TEA president, and founding principal and chief creative officer of Thinkwell Group, Craig Hanna

    From Iwerks to Kevin Biles Design to Jack Morton to Universal Creative to founding Thinkwell Group, Craig Hanna's 30+ year career in the location-based entertainment industry has been a thrill ride unto itself. Plan now to join us as Craig climbs aboard the time machine to share his stories, learnings, and humor from such groundbreaking projects as Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter, Ski Dubai, and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. **Apologies for the technical difficulties. You will notice 2 sections later in the podcast that cut out.
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 40: Christian Hope

    Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 40: Christian Hope
    Dec 28 2024
    Episode 40: Forty-year veteran concept designer and creative leader in the location-based entertainment industry, including both Disney and Universal, Christian Hope. For four decades, Christian Hope has been instrumental in the creative development of world-class theme parks and attractions around the world. His clever and witty drawings are reflections of his clever and witty brain — passionate, humorous, and always ready with another original idea. Plan now to join us as Christian boards the time machine to discuss his years as a Disney Imagineer, designing new lands and attractions for Universal Creative, as well as tales from the trenches on the dozens of innovative projects he's conceived, designed, and shepherded to successful realities! If you know Christian, you'll know this may be the funniest journey yet!
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    1 hr and 5 mins