The Official Holiday World Podcast

It's Sharkey Week for the #PodSquad, as longtime Holiday World Entertainer Robert Sharkey talks about his road to Roy G. Biv and Mysterio. Which ICEE flavor takes the "most popular" honors, perfect score for our Rides Crew, a slam dunk from the NBA, and a new treat called Frychos. Recorded 7/13/18 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby, and Leah Koch Special Guest: Robert Shark...

It's that patriotic time of year, and the #PodSquad is all about fireworks, John Adams, and red, white and blue treats! IT Guy Steven Weedman guests, with loads of behind-the-scenes stories, including how to sync music with fireworks. An A+ for our lifeguards, a Holimpics event for our staff, and a half a million downloads. Oh, and bacon. And pickles. Recorded 6/29/18 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Wern...

The British are coming! The #PodSquad gets continental when the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain visits Holiday World (again)! A recap of HoliWood Nights, a Give Kids the World donation, the Tony Awards, Nanocoasters, and so much more! Oh, and a Big Green Hand. Recorded 6/15/18 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby & Leah Koch Special Guest: Andy Hine 00:00 – Intro and Wel...

He managed to get his foot in the podcast's door once before via phone, but this time Coaster Crew's Jon Robbins brings the Big Green Foot to the table, as the #podsquad readies for Holiday World's annual HoliWood Nights event for coaster enthusiasts. Leah gets her MBA, Matt gets training in the proper preparation of pepperoni pizza, and Lauren gets no sleep. #HoWoPo is back! Recorded 6/1/18 Hoste...

New Santa Claus Land and roller coaster shirts, NanoCoasters come to Holiday World's shops, Daily Deals, Fudge Bites, and more for the #PodSquad, who also learn about a visit from Miss America, a Tony nomination, a Bacon Diet, and the allure of Big Red and pickles. Recorded 5/3/18 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne & Matt Eckert Special Guest: Matt Blumhardt, VP of Revenue Operations 00:00 – Intro and...

The Holiday World #PodSquad meets Controls Freak Brian Pastor, of Irvine-Ondrey Engineering, and learn about his work on the park's three wooden coasters. A tribute to Give Kids the World's founder, Henri Landwirth, ICEE mania, the health benefits of riding coasters, a sweepstakes, a promo code, and more! Recorded 4/20/18 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby Special Guest: Br...

Meet the "track smoother" from The Gravity Group, who nipped and tucked Voyage's track over the off season to provide the best ride possible on Holiday World's 1.2 mile wooden coaster. The #PodSquad also talks about what it takes to develop a new stage show, plus a new sweepstakes and a scolding text to author Stephen King. Recorded 4/6/18 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert & Lauren Crosb...

Tammy from Food & Beverage is back to talk about this season's new menu items at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari. Next the #PodSquad slows down to review an error from the last episode. A new sweepstakes, favorite children's books, and a good "bye girl." Recorded 3/23/18 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby, Leah Koch & Eric Rentz Special Guest: Tammy Berg 00:00 – Intro and...

Industry great Rick Hunter joins the #PodSquad to talk about his journey to starting ProSlide in 1986, his friendship with the late Will Koch, creating the world's two best water coasters, and his advice to young designers. This episode also includes foot-long corn dogs, Big Red ICEES, a new sweepstakes, and endless cleaning tips. Recorded 3/9/18 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren...

What does it take to drone on and on? The #PodSquad learns from our FAA-licensed drone operator. Leah is back for this episode - with her oboe and purple hair! Dippin' Dot flavor ideas (including bacon, of course) and sweepstakes, a Cornelius Van Snoodle clone, and a wedding like none other. Recorded 2/16/18 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby & Leah Koch Special Guest: Step...

The Holiday World #PodSquad gets the ultimate sweet talk from The Dippin' Dots Gal, who spills the D on Dots' past, present, and future. Hear why we launched Thunderbird just once in January, a sad birthday for June, and a long-awaited Twitter War. Plus bacon. Recorded 2/2/18 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby & Eric Rentz Special Guest: Billie Stuber 00:00 – Intro and Welc...

The Holiday World #PodSquad welcomes Paint Shop Manager Tommy Johnson, who talks about all the projects his crew has in store during the winter months, including repainting the Legend trains and the new tubs for the Scarecrow Scrambler. Next, the topic is weather - with a snow-laden park producing beautiful photography and drone footage. Plus, it's Edgar Allan Poe's birthday! Recorded 1/19/18 #HoW...

The Holiday World #PodSquad kicks off the new year with a look at Safety School for Ride Operators. Cindee Huddy from International Ride Training explains how iROC training makes a difference. A Lifetime Movie comes to town (sort of), pun appreciation, Voyage track-work update, and a new game! Recorded 1/5/18 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby & Eric Rentz Special Guest: Ci...

It's nearly Christmas and the Holiday World #Podsquad has loads of stories about favorite Christmas gifts, oddly familiar Christmas-movie characters, and a very wary Christmas parade participant. We also get a Voyage track-work update, and complete the final 33 Degrees of Separation challenge ever. Recorded 12/15/17 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby & Eric Rentz Special Gu...

VP James joins the #PodSquad to talk through off-season track improvements for The Voyage, plus other roller coaster news. Matt and Leah turn us green with envy talking about their IAAPA Expo experience, plus the group learns about yak hair. Recorded 12/1/17 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Leah Koch, Lauren Crosby & Eric Rentz Special Guest: James Olliver 00:00 – Intro and Welcome the...

Holiday World's #PodSquad celebrates topping 1/4 million listens on the park's podcast with the reveal of 2018's chosen theme for HoliWood Nights. Matt makes a tasty "tentative, not definitive" announcement and the group takes a call from a coaster enthusiast who decided to step it up during his last visit. Recorded 11/10/17 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Leah Koch & Eric Rentz 00:00...

WWE Hall-of-Famer Mick Foley joins Holiday World's podcast with stories from his new memoir, "Saint Mick." The podsquad then talks Halloween, candy, pumpkin carving, the Mountain Dew Defense Plan, and bacon breath. Recorded 10/27/17 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby, Leah Koch & Eric Rentz Special Guest: Mick Foley 00:00 – Intro and Welcome the #PodSquad 02:13 – Saint Mick...

This episode, Holiday World's #PodSquad takes a look inward with a SWOT analysis of the podcast, then outward to share top picks for Happy Halloween Weekend must-dos. Recorded 10/13/17 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby & Eric Rentz 00:00 – Intro and Welcome the #PodSquad 02:27 – Amusings 18:28 - Boost or Bust 26:56 - SWOT Team 54:34 - Being Punctual! 36:53 - Sweepstakes, T...

It's all things Halloween on this episode of Holiday World's podcast, plus memories of Will's Colbert Report interview, and our original roller coaster from Santa Claus Land days. Recorded 9/29/17 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby, Leah Koch & Eric Rentz 00:00 – Intro and Welcome the #PodSquad 09:22 – HoWo History 20:19 - Halloween 25:43 - Treats 38:59 - Important ACE Info...

The #PodSquad gears up for Happy Halloween Weekends, shares Golden Ticket Award stories, relates a story about a very special birthday, and celebrates Donut Delivery Day! Don't miss the sweepstakes and promo code! Recorded 9/13/17 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby & Eric Rentz Surprise Guest: Gary Werne 00:00 – Intro and Welcome the Donuts 06:58 – Golden Ticket Awards 22:4...

Holiday World's latest podcast episode includes more than you've ever wanted to know about Moola Moola, plans for the 2024 eclipse, a State Fair blue ribbon, new fall foods, bacon banter, and loads of listener feedback! Recorded 8/31/17 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby & Eric Rentz 00:00 – Intro and Welcome the #PodSquad 09:22 – Amusings 21:37 - Fall Foods 39:43 - Upcomin...

The #PodSquad discussed ride-naming challenges from over the years, rockin' the World, eclipse plans, bitterness for Pluto, wooden "nickles," and a Norwegian blog post. Recorded 8/17/17 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby & Eric Rentz 00:00 – Intro and Welcome the #PodSquad 02:44 – Amusings 31:33 – The Name Game 58:20 - Upcoming Holidays 1:11:18 - #HoWoPo Feedback 1:23:01 –...

Tips (and even a recipe) for keeping cool, a new sweepstakes, Travel Channel's "Xtreme Waterparks," a gross toenail story, "educated animals," and the park's 71st birthday. Recorded 8/4/17 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby & Eric Rentz 00:00 – Intro and Welcome the #PodSquad 01:34 – Primal Fear 15:31 – Rock the World 18:06 - Back to School 29:26 - Dole Whip Emergency 32:23...

The heat is on and there are just a few more weeks of daily operation to go! The #PodSquad checks in with Leah during her internship and finds out if she's ever coming home. Don't miss cooling off with a new sweepstakes! Recorded 7/21/17 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby & Eric Rentz Special Guest: Leah Koch 00:00 – Intro and Welcome the #PodSquad 02:22 – Phone Home 17:19...

It's Christmas in July and Santa himself stops by to share stories with the #PodSquad. Learn the true origin of Firecracker (at last!), a cheeky hashtag, a light saber-wielding security officer, a beef with Facebook, and a home run of a sweepstakes. Recorded 7/7/17 #HoWoPo Hosted by: Paula Werne, Matt Eckert, Lauren Crosby & Eric Rentz Special Guest: Santa Claus 00:00 – Intro and Welcome the #PodS...