The Coaster101 Podcast

Several weeks ago, we scheduled podcast recording time with Ryan Eldredge, Six Flags Great Adventure's Regional PR Manager. Ryan's been on the podcast before, talking Iron Menace at Dorney Park, wanted to get him on to talk about his other primary park that falls under his responsibility as PR Manager.  We were going to talk about the park in a pretty general sense - How great The Flash is - 2026...

Theme Park live entertainment is a sector that's only continuing to grow at your favorite parks. From musical acts to "streetmosphere" characters, the idea of "Live E" as it's known to many is becoming a mainstay in the industry, especially post-Covid.  This week, we're joined by one of the intellectual forces behind some of your favorite theme park shows over the year, Justin Mabry of JM Entertai...

It's officially 2026, and with a new year, comes roller coasters that go from opening "next year" to "this year!"  Eric and Evan join Andrew to discuss some of the new roller coasters opening in North America in 2026 - is it as big of a year as 2025? Overall, probably not! But that doesn't mean that there aren't some incredible coasters opening this year.  From Fast & Furious to Flying Fox and...

We're deep in the midst of the 2025 Holiday Season, and with not a lot of news going on - there are a few winter events here and there - we thought it might be fun to have a draft of our favorite holiday "things" at parks - decorations, food, entertainment, ride overlays, etc.  Except, Shane doesn't understand the concept of a draft and sent Eric and Andrew his list before we started recording - s...

When you don't get to go to the IAAPA Expo, you're usually stuck following along on social media as all of the new ride vehicles are revealed, news breaks, and other general excitement abounds on the Expo floor.  Luckily, we were able to connect with Jessica Gardner - an actor, audiobook narrator, host of the American Coaster Enthusiasts "Ride with Us" podcast, and above all - theme park fan, prob...

It's Thanksgiving Week, so what better time to talk about Food? As part of the Six Flags & Cedar Fair merger, a trend typically reserved for the Cedar Fair side of the aisle is making its way to Six Flags parks - the addition of an executive chef - including Chef Priscilla Hamilton, who joined Six Flags Over Georgia earlier this year. This week on the podcast, not only are we joined by Chef Pr...

Recently, the National Roller Coaster Museum was a topic of conversation in theme park internet circles - specifically when they held a fundraising campaign to raise money to bring four iconic coaster trains to the museum in Plainview, Texas. However, the sentiment was not "Wow, it's awesome that the organization is working to preserve roller coaster history." but rather "Wow. I can't believe this...

After several weeks of (fantastic) interviews with people in the industry - Andrew is once again joined by one of his Coaster101 co-writers, Evan, who recently made his first ever visit to Knoebels. (Evan did not invite Andrew, Andrew is only slightly offended as he writes this episode description.) Celebrating 100 Years in 2026, Knoebels has 60 rides and attractions, including six roller coasters...

Unless you've been living under a rock, you might notice that Zamperla's Roller Coaster department is on a bit of a hot streak in the recent past. This week on the podcast, we got to talk to one of the people who gets to sell these attractions - Adam Sandy, Roller Coaster Sales & Marketing Director for Zamperla.  Adam joins Andrew to talk all things Zamperla, including Top Thrill 2, the new Na...

As they say, everything is bigger in Texas - and in this instance, that includes our podcast guest this week. Six Flags Regional General Manager for the state of Texas, Jeffrey Siebert, joins the show this week!  With a nearly 30-year career in the industry, Jeffrey tells us about his career, what exactly a Regional Park manager does, and oddly enough, the promotional schedule for a minor league h...

It's officially the Spooky Season, and what could be scarier than two coaster content creators coming together to talk about roller coasters their local theme park haunt - SCarowinds!  Michael Dutterer - maybe better known by his Tiktok alias "Coasters Haunts & Dark Rides" joins Andrew to talk all things Coasters (Michael is a Southeast Assistant Regional Rep for the American Coaster Enthusias...

Can you believe that Dollywood is celebrating its 40th season? We can't either. Earlier this year, the park released a new documentary on their YouTube channel (and in syndication in their local television market) called "The Dollywood Dream." In just 40:00 - a clever easter egg, if you will - Director Devin Olson of Devin Olson Media (a familiar name to longtime Coaster101 readers) weaves a tale...

Yes, we know. It's been a while. (You try having any free time with a 3 month old puppy.) But we are back with a vengeance with an INCREDIBLE guest - the perfect person to bring us out of our hiatus.  If you've been following Coaster101.com's website, you'll know that we just celebrated our 20th birthday, and have been chronicling a number of notable coasters that opened in 2005, and like Coaster1...

In news that was somehow surprising and also not surprising, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced yesterday that the company would be closing Six Flags America at the end of the 2025 Season.  Evan and Eric join Andrew to talk all things Six Flags America, including previous visits, where attractions could end up, and if we think this is the last closure in the chain.  You can connect with...

Arguably the most important theme park opening in the United States in more than 25 years, Universal's Epic Universe officially opens in May. Fortunately, Shane has been able to visit the new park a few times during preview periods, and therefore has the scoop.  Shane joins Nick and Eric to talk all things Epic Universe on this week's episode. (At least that's what they told Andrew, who is writing...

As theme park fans who are chronically online, a fascinating story that has always eluded us with a conclusion was the disappearance of Buzzy - an audio-animatronic who was a central character in "Cranium Command" at Epcot's Wonders of Life Pavilion.  There is a new documentary currently on the "Film Festival Circuit" that unearths a little more about Urban Exploration, Abandoned Locations at Disn...

As the self-appointed "Roller Coaster Bureau Chief" of WGN-TV in Chicago, Marcus Leshock has seen it all, including a Double Rollback on Top Thrill "Cubs"ter at Cedar Point following a Cubs World Series win many years ago.  This week on the podcast, Marcus joins Andrew to talk all things coaster enthusiasm, his home park of Six Flags Great America, the demise of Kingda Ka, and the roller coasters...

Kentucky Kingdom is a park with a storied history - and they've recently announced one of the biggest investments in park history - the retheming of an area of the park, now known as Discovery Meadow. Three new rides, 10 reimagined rides. Two new dining concepts, the works! Best of all, this isn't the only thing to look forward to at Kentucky Kingdom in the next few years! Marketing Manger Logan S...

On episode 14 of the podcast, we interviewed Chris Foshee about all things social media. Now, five years and 146 episodes later (don't do the math, making a weekly show is tough!) - Chris is back, where he's now Regional Manager of Public Relations for Six Flags Over Georgia and Carowinds.  On this week's episode of the Coaster101 podcast, Chris joins Andrew to talk all things 2025 at both SFOG an...

If you follow theme parks on social media, you'll notice that a park in the Ozarks is built just a little differently. Interspersed with the "Buy your Season Pass Now" and "Hey, we're opening soon" graphics, you'll find a healthy dose of memes and the occasional shark reference. Funny enough the park prefers it that way, and you'll see why.  Joining us on the Coaster101 podcast this week are Silve...

Last week, Six Flags Over Georgia shocked the theme park world by giving their originally-new-for-2024-but-now-new-for-2025 roller coaster - formerly known as a Georgia Surfer - a new name and backstory, before the coaster ever gave its first rides.  It led us to think about other coasters whose names have changed and as coaster enthusiasts, we're inclined to pick one name or another. John and Eva...

As theme park fans, especially recently with D23 announcements, we're familiar with the term "blue sky," used to tease ideas that are just that - ideas. They might happen, they might not. Usually, the people making these decisions have an idea of what they're doing. This podcast...is not that.  Andrew is joined by his younger brother J.T., who took an idea he had over the holidays and ran with it...

Several years ago, we interviewed Broadway actor Nik Walker on our podcast, and talked all things theme parks. Many people claim to be theme park "nerds." Nik, who played Aaron Burr in Hamilton , Otis Williams in Ain't Too Proud , and Sir Galahad in Spamalot , not only "walks the walk," when it comes to being a theme park fan - he can "talk the talk." Folks, this man literally told People Magazine...

It's our first podcast episode of 2025 - so of course, we have to join the discourse of the news that dominated the last few months of 2024 - closed and closing roller coasters.  Roller coasters like Scorpion at Busch Gardens Tampa got a send-off, while others, like Kingda Ka and Anaconda did not. Did these coasters need to close? Did the parks owe fans a send-off? Are there probably plenty of fac...

Do you like the sound of Andrew's voice on the Coaster101 podcast? Well, sorry. Because this week, there's no Andrew, but there is the dynamic duo of Eric and Shane, who attended the 2024 IAAPA Expo in Orlando! You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram . We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.co...