Experience Imagination: A Themed Entertainment Podcast

What does it take to turn Saudi Arabia's desert landscape into a groundbreaking water theme park? At Aquarabia in Qiddiya City, the answer is 250,000 square meters of immersive storytelling, bold design, and record-setting attractions. As the first water theme park in Saudi Arabia, Aquarabia brings eight uniquely themed zones to life, each inspired by indigenous desert animals, and features 22 rid...

We are back with another episode of Experience Imagination!🎧 📸 We're coming to you straight from the 32nd Thea Awards & TEA Inspire with red (well, pink) carpet moments, big industry insights, and a look at what's next for themed entertainment. From the largest Thea Awards ever, to exciting global plans ahead, this episode is packed with inspiration from the people shaping the industry. Featurin...

Why Manila? 🗺️ Join our Falcon's Creative Philippines team and CEO Cecil D. Magpuri as we discuss the incredible talent in the Philippines that is shaping our world‑class experiences. Special thanks to our Senior Design Manager Miguel Antonio and Director of Business Operations Claire Jamias-Ricasata for being part of this episode!   ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Enterta...

Walk through IMMERSE Fest with us in the latest episode of Experience Imagination ! 🎨🎭 Special thanks to Cole NeSmith from Creative City Project for joining the podcast and giving our listeners an inside look at what it takes to create an epic interactive art festival.   We were thrilled to speak with a variety of guests who showcased exhibits at the festival, including Zachary Mailhot from the...

In this episode of  Experience Imagination , we sit down with Mitchell Magill, President of Falcon's Creative Group and a powerhouse in our industry. Mitchell brings a rich background in themed entertainment, spanning immersive attractions, live productions, and global destination development. We dive into his career journey, lessons on empowerment, standout moments from his time as Senior Creativ...

We're kicking off the ninth season of Experience Imagination with a deep dive of the themed entertainment industry. We sat down with Jakob Wahl, President & CEO of IAAPA , and Melissa Oviedo, CEO of TEA , to reflect on 2025, the evolving industry challenges, and the future of the industry worldwide.     ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Fal...

Coaster Studios and Park Pros join us for an ALL-NEW podcast episode, "Behind the Thrills with Content Creators"!   Learn the secrets of crafting great theme park content, trends in the industry we're continuing to see, and how channels like theirs are reaching audiences not just in the U.S., but the entire world.    ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast pr...

We're awakening the Curse of DarKastle on this spooktacular episode of Experience Imagination! Cecil Magpuri and Dave Mauck, the creators of this THEA award-winning dark ride, share their exclusive knowledge and behind-the-scenes stories that had never been told publicly...until now! Also hear how audio was used to help craft the mood of this terrifyingly memorable experience.    ABOUT THIS PODCAS...

🎙️ Make sure to "queue" up our latest podcast episode, all about theme park attraction queues! 🎢 Join the conversation as Audrey sits down with our team of experts to share how queues set the stage for the ride, immerse guests in the story before it even begins, and use clever design tricks to make the wait time fly by.   ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podc...

🎢 So... How does someone land a job designing theme parks? In the latest episode of our Foot-in-the-Door series, we're talking with team members from various parts of our company to learn how they broke into the themed entertainment industry, the surprising skills that helped them succeed, and what they thought they'd do to earn a living back when they were young.   ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experienc...

Casandra Matej, President & CEO of Visit Orlando, joins us in today's new episode! 🎙️ With the long-anticipated opening of Universal Epic Universe, Casandra shares how Visit Orlando is helping to position this monumental moment on the global stage. We also dive into the impact on the local economy and the power of the experience economy as a whole.  Plus, you don't want to miss our lightning round...

🎧 Our latest podcast episode is ALL about the engineering side of entertainment! Every unforgettable themed experience starts with brilliant behind-the-scenes problem solving. Great engineers turn ideas into reality. Hear it firsthand from our Falcon's Attractions team! 🎢    ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a des...

Season 8 of Experience Imagination is here, and our first episode focuses on the importance of diversity when designing successful themed experiences. Join Audrey as she leads the conversation with influential women in the themed entertainment industry and what they've learned through their careers. It's an honor to welcome special guest Jenefer Brown, EVP and Head of Global Products & Experiences...

🚨 Check out our all-new 25th Anniversary podcast episode! 🎙️✨ This episode features behind-the-scenes stories from our team over the years, showcasing what it was like to start and build a successful themed entertainment design company. 🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms and watch our director's cut video version on our YouTube !   ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed E...

We're kicking off the year with theme park LEGEND Bob Ward, in an all-new episode of Experience Imagination! With an illustrious 50-year career, including co-founding Universal Creative and earning the THEA Lifetime Achievement Award, Bob has shaped some of the most iconic destinations and attractions worldwide. 🌍🎢 Joining the conversation is Falcon's very own visionary founder, Cecil Magpuri, a...

🎙️ Join us for a fascinating chat with three of our talented theme park designers, where we tackle all things master planning. Buckle up and enjoy the ride! 🎢   ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a design studio and media house that works to create immersive experiences around the world. Learn more about us at  falc...

What's it like attending the premier event of the attractions industry?🎢🤔🎡 Well you're in luck! We're taking you with us to the IAAPA Expo in our latest podcast episode! Check out our insightful show floor discussions with Una de Boer of Whitewater, Benett Hays of CoasterDolphin, Shane Joseph and Eric Wooley of Coaster101, Brian Kirkwood of Briantreks, and Kim Murray from Virality Boost.  ABOUT...

Lights, camera, action!🎬✨ Check out our IAAPA Expo press event, "Late Night With Experience Imagination", where we announced our plans to become the exclusive worldwide provider of OES (Oceaneering Entertainment Systems) products and services!   ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a design studio and media house tha...

We have another theme park titan in the house! Bob Weis, former President of Walt Disney Imagineering joins us for our all-new podcast episode—out now! Give a listen to "Behind the Curtain with Bob Weis" for an insightful chat between him and our CEO Cecil D. Magpuri.    ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a design st...

We are excited to bring you another episode dedicated to answering student questions! This time, we're thrilled to feature students from Ringling College of Art & Design's Entertainment Design program. Jamie DeRuyter, the program's department head, helped us gather questions that several of our Falcon's answered. Whether you're interested in theme parks, exhibitions, or immersive experiences, the...

Uncover the emotional psychology that makes attractions so thrilling and captivating in our all-new podcast episode. 🎢✨ Discover how sensory engagement, emotional triggers, and immersive storytelling create unforgettable experiences that keep guests coming back for more. 🎙️🎧Tune in for an insightful discussion with former President of Universal Creative Mike Hightower and our CEO Cecil D. Magpu...

We're serving up something delicious for this month's podcast episode! 🍽️ Listen to "The Scoop on Themed Dining" to enter the world of immersive dining experiences and explore how the lines between restaurants and themed entertainment are blurring like never before. Whether you're a foodie, a theme park fan, or just curious about the latest trends in the experience economy, this episode is a must-...

This new episode is all about ✨FANDOM!✨ We are joined by three experts in the field, to talk through the impact and importance of fandom in themed entertainment. Our special guests are Jeff Gomez, co-founder and CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, and Gary Pope, co-founder of Kids Industries, joined by our EVP of Creative Development Eric Calderon. Give it a listen!   ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Exp...

Ever wonder how your favorite animated characters come to life? Check out this podcast episode to learn all about the character animation process with our Falcon's team! This month we are having a conversation with two of our talented animators, John Tamoria and Alexis Lariscy, as well as our Creative Director Patrick Finley.   ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment...

🎙️💥Get ready to be sparked with our all new podcast episode, "Sparking Creativity"! In this episode, we're talking through ways to keep the creative spark going, with helpful tips from various creative designers in the themed entertainment design industry.✍️ Tune in now and get inspired to unleash your creative potential, and to learn new ways to overcome creative blocks. Listen on your favorite...