Ep. 136 – Designing the Ultimate Guest Escape with Mike Whincup

Ep. 139 - How to Eliminate Self-Imposed Limitations and Scale Your Entertainment Venue

On this edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ and Danny dive deep into the self-limiting beliefs and self-imposed boundaries that trap Family Entertainment Center (FEC) owners in the daily grind. Pulling insights from industry events like Amusement 360, the duo challenges listeners to take a hard look at how their own mindset, business identities, and daily habits directly dictate their venue’s growth potential. "How am I complicit in creating the conditions I say I don't want? Because we all have things that we say we don't want in our life and in our business… sometimes those things are showing up because of something we're doing or not doing." -Danny Gruening If you feel like you are constantly firefighting instead of thinking strategically, it is time to reassess your leadership. Growth requires building robust processes, executing core fundamentals, and intentionally stepping back to allow your team to step up.

Ep. 138 - The Power of Story-Driven Architecture and Design with Doug Wilkerson

On this edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Doug Wilkerson, Principal and Creative at Dynamic Designs Inc., to unpack the critical elements that transform a physical location into a living, breathing experience that generates deep emotional connections. With over three decades of experience designing immersive environments for global giants like Walt Disney World, Legoland, and Main Event Entertainment, Doug shares his wealth of insider knowledge. He reveals why the most successful entertainment venues root every single finish, texture, and layout choice in a deeper narrative. "When you create a concept that's story-based, it goes deeper… It brings a soul to the project, number one, and everything is connected. So every decision that's made is driven by this overreaching story." -Doug Wilkerson Doug shares why balancing guest flow with seamless operational functionality is the ultimate secret to building a venue that resonates with visitors and stands the test of time.

Ep. 137 - Designing the Visual Magic of Attractions with Martin Kuntz

On this special edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Martin Kuntz, one of the longest-tenured employees at Creative Works to discuss how he designs the visual magic of attractions. Over his 15-year career with the company, Martin has worn nearly every artistic hat imaginable—sculpting, painting murals, and working as a key member of the design and engineering department. Martin shares what it was like to help grow Creative Works from a small team of 12 people into an industry powerhouse, and he takes us behind the scenes of some of his most memorable projects. "We've got our standard bread and butter themes, but clients always come to us with crazy ideas. Yeah, never would have occurred to me. We did a job in El Salvador where the client wanted bees versus wasps, which was very strange…" -Martin Kuntz Martin has built an incredible portfolio, including the meticulous digital fabrication work on the Peyton Manning statue outside Lucas Oil Stadium and a custom ice cream pig bench for a Michigan tourist town. He also dives deep into the recent refresh of the Mayday escape room experience, explaining how our team balanced paint, printed vinyl, and multimedia screens to achieve a truly authentic submarine environment without overdoing the weathering. Martin's insights offer a masterclass in collaboration, intentionality, and creative execution for anyone passionate about high-quality attraction design.

Ep. 136 – Designing the Ultimate Guest Escape with Mike Whincup

In this special edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ Van Natta sits down with a man who wears many hats in the family entertainment industry. Mike Whincup is the Chief Ride Designer at Galaxy Multi Rides and the COO of Do The Beach Franchising while at Amusement 360! Mike shares his unique journey from growing his family’s legacy as the world’s largest mechanical bull manufacturer to launching a highly immersive, beach-themed franchise. We dive deep into the intentionality required to move beyond generic "themed" spaces to create environments that transport guests. Whether it’s painting ceilings "Caribbean Blue" or designing custom fiberglass facades in-house, Mike explains how physical environments directly influence the emotional memories families carry home. "I want people to come in here and forget that they're in Chicago in the middle of winter, and it's going to be bright blue and bright colors." -Mike Whincup Mike reveals the secret to "Do The Beach"—creating a singular, efficient environment that blends soft play, inflatables, and classic attractions into one cohesive world where parents can relax while kids explore.

Ep. 135 - Mastering Multi-Venue Sales and Community Impact with Danielle Walker of Legacy 925

On this special edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ Van Natta sits down with Danielle Walker of Legacy 925 while at the Amusement 360 Event. Danielle shares her fascinating transition from the trade industry to the high-octane world of go-karting and multi-venue entertainment. We dive deep into the mechanics of managing sales for an entertainment district that houses everything from K1 Speed to exploring how to "value engineer" custom packages that protect margins while delighting guests. "I believe in question-based selling. There’s a difference between being an order taker and a salesperson. Our goal is guest experience, and if I can ask the right questions and put all the work on me, I make it easy for the guest to say yes." -Danielle Walker Whether you are struggling with point-of-sale fragmentation or looking to move from being an "order taker" to a "consultative partner," Danielle’s insights on question-based selling and community weaving offer a masterclass in growth.