Don't Swim With Shamu!

S2 -E4 Bristol Zoo Legend

For decades, one story has bounced around the attractions world like gospel:a mysterious man in a tiny booth outside Bristol Zoo quietly collecting parkingfees for twenty years… only for everyone to discover he didn’t work for anyone. A perfect scam. A perfect legend. Andcompletely untrue. In this episode, Mike Patrick dives intothe origins of the Bristol Zoo parking‑lot myth, why it spread across theglobe, and the strange family of “phantom employee” stories that have hauntedzoos, theme parks, airports, and government offices for years. From safariparks in South Africa to ghost workers in government agencies — and even a wildNinja‑in‑the‑night tale from Busch Gardens Tampa — this episode explores whythese stories stick, what they reveal about the attractions industry, and whywe love a clever outlaw who outsmarts the system. Plus: the answer to this week’s triviachallenge about the famous glass‑bottom boats of Silver Springs. If you enjoy unbelievable stories,industry folklore, and the hidden culture of theme parks and zoos, this one’s aride.

Suez Canal Caper

S2 • E3 — The Suez Canal Caper What happens when a determined dad in Cairo decides he’sgoing to surprise his son aboard a 900‑foot U.S. container ship… in the middleof the night… in the Red Sea? In this episode, Mike pulls off one of hisboldest adventures yet: a clandestine 1:30 a.m. boarding of the M/V Cyprene, a full transit of the SuezCanal, and a daring mid‑voyage extraction before the ship reaches theMediterranean. Along the way: Navy submarines in the dark, Egyptian Armyreenactments, the chaos of canal convoys, and a tattoo shop in Singapore thatonly opens when it feels like it. Plus — this week’s trivia answer reveals thesurprising connection between the Suez Canal and one of America’s most iconicmonuments.

Never Heard That Story

In this episode Mike Salutes Memorial Day and shares a harrowing story of Naval history and heroism that his family never knew before his Dad's passing in March. He also teases an upcoming story about a crashed B-17 heading for England in 1942 and is now on display in the National WWII museum in New Orleans. His Uncle was on that plane.

30 Feet - not 30 Meters..........

S2 E1 30 feet, not 30 meters…… Description A simple measurement error turns a 30‑foot dive tower into a 90‑foot monster— and suddenly Mike is the only one crazy enough to climb it. In this season‑openingepisode, Mike takes you behind the scenes of Everland’s massive waterparkproject in South Korea, where lifeguard shortages, cultural curveballs, and astunt team in over their heads collide with one unforgettable moment ofleadership… and gravity. From jetski mayhem on the Han River to a visa dash through Tokyo, this is astory about problem‑solving under pressure, earning trust the hard way, andstepping off a platform you never meant to stand on. Plus: this episode’s EPCOT trivia challenge — and a closing joke that provesMike is still Mike, even after a 90‑foot drop

Don't Swim With Shamu!

Podcast Description — Season 1, Episode 15: Don’t Swim Shamu A quiet July morning at SeaWorld Orlando turns into one ofthe most unforgettable moments of Mike Patrick’s career. In this grippingbackstage story, Mike—then Director of Operations—recounts the shockingdiscovery of a man who hid in the park overnight and attempted to swim withTilikum, SeaWorld’s largest and most unpredictable killer whale. From the first frantic radio call to the delicate recoveryoperation that unfolded as the park prepared to open, Mike walks listenersthrough every detail of that extraordinary morning. Along the way, he tracesTilikum’s turbulent history—from his capture in Iceland to the tragedies atSealand of the Pacific, to the unprecedented airborne transfer that brought himto Orlando. This episode blends operational insight, human tragedy, andthe complex legacy of one of the most famous orcas in the world. And as always,Mike closes with a trivia twist that connects SeaWorld’s origins to the birthof the modern waterpark industry. A tense, emotional, and unforgettable chapter in the real‑worldstories behind the parks we think we know.