Episodes
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Passenger 35: Former technical director and senior show & ride executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, former president of Spectra Entertainment and Auriga Entertainment, and current president of Contour Entertainment, Chris Brown.
Chris Brown is what happens when technical prowess, extreme creativity, and business acumen all collide in a purple explosion of talent and humor! Plan now to witness the final flight of year three as this accomplished former Disney Imagineer and president of Contour Entertainment climbs aboard the time machine to share his history and wisdom acquired from such projects as Spaceship Earth and the Imagination pavilion at Epcot, Star Tours at Disneyland, the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, Tokyo Disneyland, Magic World (Dubai), Sony Music Box (Berlin), Doha Entertainment District, Star Trek: The Tour, Imagica Park (Mumbai), and many more! -
Passenger 34: Former Disney Imagineer & creative exec at Universal, Sony, SpectraFX & Contour involved in such classic projects as EPCOT Center, Catastrophe Canyon/Disney-MGM Studios, Blizzard Beach, Poseidon’s Fury/UIOA, & The Beatles' Yellow Submarine simulator, Richard Vaughn.
Richard Vaughn is an artist, a designer, and an articulate creative leader who has been involved in some of the most exciting immersive entertainment projects around the world. He has lead teams and overseen projects for big owner/operators like Disney, Universal, and Sony, as well as two start-ups, SpectraFX and Contour Entertainment. Richard has brought his clever and intellectual artistic abilities to EPCOT Center, the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Sony’s Metreon and its German sister in Potsdamer-Platz, Berlin. He developed a longstanding relationship with Apple Corps that lead to a number of Beatles-themed projects. And he lead his father’s band, The Billy Vaughn Orchestra, on multiple tours of Japan. Set your clocks now to travel back in time with one of our industry’s most talented designers! -
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Passenger 33: Former creative leader at SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Herschend Family Entertainment, Paramount Parks, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Landmark Entertainment Group, Anthony Esparza!
Few have so successfully established and executed the creative vision for so many owner/operators in the immersive entertainment world as Anthony Esparza. One of the industry’s few Latinx executives, Anthony began his career in the model shop at Landmark Entertainment Group in 1980. He was soon elevated to oversee the company's design department before moving to Charlotte, NC to head up the theme park development division for Paramount Parks. Anthony then moved to Atlanta, GA to do the same for Herschend Family Entertainment before relocating to Orlando, FL to modernize the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks. As if that wasn’t enough, he then helped to bring the first roller coaster to the high seas for Carnival Cruise Lines! Plan now to join us as Anthony climbs aboard the time machine for a journey back to all of these iconic roles, stories of the hundreds of projects he's developed, and the wisdom he’s collected throughout his illustrious 40+ year career. -
Passenger 32: The long-awaited return of the former Disney Imagineer responsible for leading the design of such beloved parks and attractions as EPCOT Center, Star Tours, Sleeping Beauty Castle and Fantasyland at Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Carsland at Disney California Adventure, Tom Morris! Our very first time machine passenger climbs aboard again to complete the incredible journey we began back in 2021! Plan now to join us as we transport Disney icon Tom Morris back to where we left off in the 1980s and onward to the present. Along the way, Tom will share untold stories and insights into his many built and never-realized projects, including Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, DisneyQuest, Carsland, Radiator Springs Racers, and his upcoming book on the history of Walt Disney Imagineering and the design of Disneyland! Don’t miss this epic adventure with one of Disney’s most prolific (and funny) Imagineers!
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Passenger 31: Forty-year industry veteran; writer, director, and producer of over 80 themed entertainment projects for both Walt Disney Imagineering and Universal Creative, Mike West.
From The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, to the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, The Simpsons Ride to Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Mike West is one of just a handful of creatives who has contributed to the global success of both Disney and Universal theme parks. Set your watch now to join us as Mike climbs aboard the time machine to discuss his quarter century as a writer, director and producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, as well as his 14 years as an executive producer at Universal Creative - including leading the initial blue sky development of the upcoming Epic Universe theme park! -
PASSENGER 30: Veteran art director, designer and illustrator of physical and virtual worlds whose projects include Mickey’s Toontown, Splash Mountain (WDW), San Francisco’s annual Dickens Fair, and theme parks and attractions for Universal, THG, The Jim Henson Company, Herschend Family Entertainment, and Walkabout Mini Golf for Mighty Coconut, Don Carson.
Few designers have the talent and skills to find success creating both theme parks and video games, but Don Carson easily transitions between physical and virtual; pen and stylus; concrete and pixels. Starting his career as a show set designer at Walt Disney Imagineering in the 1980s, Don soon traded the glamor of Hollywood for the backwoods of Oregon where he began freelancing for the major owner/operators and design firms in the location-based entertainment industry. Then he played the CD-ROM game “Myst” and discovered a whole new medium in which he could use all his storytelling techniques in an experience that could last for days! Join us as Don climbs aboard the time machine for a fascinating journey through his unique career of marrying the freedom of exploration found in video games with the design process used for creating physical environments! -
PASSENGER 29: Former senior vice president of concept design at Walt Disney Imagineering, whose projects include Main Street USA at Disneyland Paris, Space Mountain, trackless dark rides, and consulting to Virgin Galactic, Porsche and Aston Martin, Eddie Sotto.
The hair; the voice; the sweet seduction of another brilliant idea. Of course we’re talking about Eddie Sotto, who got his start at Knott’s Berry Farm and Landmark Entertainment Group before shaking things up at Walt Disney Imagineering with his blacklight-bathed office, vision for pushing Main Street USA in Paris from the turn-of-the-century to the 1920s, reimagining the Theme Building at LAX to Encounter Restaurant, and work on Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, Mission Space, and Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom. Join us as Eddie climbs aboard the time machine to revisit these groundbreaking projects, as well as the award-winning work he’s done since 2004 at SottoStudios for the likes of Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, Aston Martin, Porsche, and Universal Studios. -
PASSENGER 28: Walt Disney Animation director (“Oliver & Company," “The Prince & the Pauper"), Walt Disney Imagineer (“Mickey’s PhilharMagic,” “Gran Fiesta Starring the Three Caballeros”), and fine artist (Panama Canal Expansion, Shanghai Disneyland, Disney Cruise Lines”), George Scribner! Renaissance artist George Scribner lives three distinct lives: traditional animator and former Walt Disney Animation director, responsible for the classic “Oliver & Company,” Walt Disney Imagineering attraction director, whose projects include “Mickey’s PhilharMagic” worldwide, the Magic Lamp Theater at Tokyo Disneyland, and “Gran Fiesta Starring the Three Caballeros” inside Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion, and fine artist extraordinaire, who from 2007 to 2016 documented in breathtaking oil paintings the expansion of the Panama Canal (his place of birth), the construction of Shanghai Disneyland, and now the Disney Cruise Lines. Plan now to join us as George boards our time machine for an unforgettable journey through his fascinating career, including stops for leading the story and concept designs for Disney’s “The Lion King,” and “Fantasia 2000,” and working for legendary animators Chuck Jones and Hanna-Barbera!
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PASSENGER 27: Industry icon, Thea Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of the Arts, tutor of 3rd grade reading at an underserved inner-city school, and the founder and namesake of Cincinnati's JRA, part of RWS Global, Dr. Jack Rouse. Jack Rouse rides a motorcycle, holds a Ph.D., founded the musical theater program at the University of Cincinnati, ran live entertainment for Kings Island, founded JRA (Jack Rouse Associates), created award winning experiences around the globe, sold JRA, and now teaches at Columbia University in New York. And that’s just the beginning! Set your favorite timepiece now to experience the energy, creativity, and leader amongst leaders that is the co-founder and namesake of one of our industry’s most prolific experiential design firms!
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PASSENGER 26: Thirty-three year veteran of Universal Destinations & Experiences who served as creative lead on dozens of groundbreaking parks and attractions, including Universal’s Islands of Adventure, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, and the upcoming Universal’s Epic Universe, Dale Mason. Dale Mason is often referred to as “the Tony Baxter of Universal.” He is a creative visionary in his own right who has played a significant role in transforming Universal from a regional studio tour to an owner/operator of world-class immersive experiences around the globe featuring attractions that push the boundaries of storytelling and technology. Set your timepieces now to be there as Dale boards the time machine and takes us back to experience first hand how his talents, skills, and intuition resulted in some of the most beloved and successful parks, rides, and shows on the planet today!
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Flight 26: How do you time travel to all of the milestone moments in Tony Baxter‘s nearly five-decade career in one hour?
You don’t.
Join us as we continue our journey with the most famous theme park and attraction designer in the world in a special two-hour adventure full of untold stories and infinite wisdom!
Passenger 25: Forty-seven-year Disney Imagineer, Disney Legend, Thea Lifetime Achievement recipient, and Main Street Window honoree responsible for creating some of Disney’s most beloved parks and attractions, Tony Baxter. For nearly five decades, Tony Baxter has been the most famous theme park designer on earth. Starting as an ice cream scooper at Disneyland when he was 17, Tony moved north to WED Enterprises to join first generation Imagineers for the design of Epcot Center and to share his model for what became Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Over the decades, Tony’s inspired intuition, artistic talents, endless creativity, and unequalled attention to detail allowed him to create more successful Disney attractions than any Imagineer before, including Disneyland Paris, Disneyland’s New Fantasyland, Indiana Jones & the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Star Tours, and Journey into Imagination. Plan now to journey back in time with our longtime colleague, friend, and mentor for what promises to be one of the most viewed Spirit of the Time Zoomcasts ever! -
PASSENGER 25: Forty-seven-year Disney Imagineer, Disney Legend, Thea Lifetime Achievement recipient, and Main Street Window honoree responsible for creating some of Disney’s most beloved parks and attractions, Tony Baxter. For nearly five decades, Tony Baxter has been the most famous theme park designer on earth. Starting as an ice cream scooper at Disneyland when he was 17, Tony moved north to WED Enterprises to join first generation Imagineers for the design of Epcot Center and to share his model for what became Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Over the decades, Tony’s inspired intuition, artistic talents, endless creativity, and unequalled attention to detail allowed him to create more successful Disney attractions than any Imagineer before, including Disneyland Paris, Disneyland’s New Fantasyland, Indiana Jones & the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Star Tours, and Journey into Imagination. Plan now to journey back in time with our longtime colleague, friend, and mentor for what promises to be one of the most viewed Spirit of the Time Zoomcasts ever!
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PASSENGER 24: 40+ year former Walt Disney Imagineer who served as a creative leader on such classic attractions as The Great Movie Ride, Muppet*Vision 3D, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Toy Story Midway Mania!, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and many, many more: Eric Jacobson. If time is the most valuable thing that a man can spend, then Eric Jacobson has spent wisely. Eric began his Disney career as a Disneyland performer and moved on to WED Imagineering to help design and produce attractions and pavilions for EPCOT Center and Tokyo Disneyland. He retired over four decades later as Senior Vice President Creative Development overseeing the Walt Disney World Resort including: The Magic Kingdom, Disney Springs, water parks, multiple hotels, and other resort-wide entertainment experiences, and mentoring the Imagineers constructing Shanghai Disneyland. Plan now to spend your time equally as wisely as we invite this elusive creative leader aboard our time machine to hear first-hand accounts of his adventures, including recording Barack Obama for “The Hall of Presidents,” reinventing “Star Tours” with ILM, and presenting the legendary Gene Kelly with his animatronic figure for "The Great Movie Ride!”
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PASSENGER 23: Award-winning live entertainment producer with over $1 billion in produced live spectaculars and events over 40 years for Disney, Universal, and arenas and stadiums around the world, Mike Davis. Mike Davis is the only immersive entertainment industry executive ever to spend two decades each leading live entertainment teams at both Disney and Universal. Across his 40- year career, Davis produced “Fantasmic” and “The Lion King Celebration”, earned 12 IAAPA Brass Ring awards for his productions at Universal Studios Japan, and oversaw all live entertainment for recently opened Universal Studios Beijing, including “The Untrainable” - named Best Theme Park Show in the World in 2021 and soon to receive a Thea Award. Beyond the berm, Mike’s love of sports came into play by producing halftime shows for Disney Pigskin Classic, overseeing entertainment for the NHL’s Mighty Ducks and MLB’s Anaheim Angels, and spearheading Disney’s presence in numerous Tournament of Roses Parades. Set your clocks now to join us as we journey back through the amazing career of one of our industry’s most celebrated live entertainment producers!
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PASSENGER 22: Oscar-nominated master storyteller, inventor, writer, producer, TEA Lifetime Achievement recipient, Bob Rogers, inductee into the IAAPA Hall of Fame, and founder and chairman of BRC Imagination Arts.
From "Impressions de France" (in the France Pavilion at Epcot) to “Rainbow War," “Back to Neverland,” Space Center Houston, Mystery Lodge, the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, the Heineken Experience and the Museum of the Bible, Bob Rogers has been one of the immersive entertainment industry’s most prolific creators and mentors, combining scholarship with showmanship for dozens of award-winning attractions and brand experiences worldwide. Join us as Bob boards our time machine to share insights gained from, his work on Epcot Center, world expos, the Disney-MGM Studios, international visitor centers, and his 42 years leading the talented team at BRC Imagination Arts! -
PASSENGER 21: Celebrated founder and president of Garner Holt Productions (the world’s largest animatronics company), philanthropist, and TEA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Garner Holt. From designing and building haunted houses in his parents’ backyard, to creating Halloween exhibits at the local mall, to being handed the Audio-Animatronics torch by Walt Disney Imagineering, Garner Holt personifies the notion that dreams really do come true. Join us as Garner climbs aboard our time machine for a journey through his entrepreneurial history, stopping to talk about his greatest projects, his collection of antique vehicles (and trains), and his inspiring Education Through Imagination program.
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PASSENGER 20: Iconic former Disney Imagineer, Chief Experience Architect for Virgin Galactic, Recipient of the TEA Lifetime Achievement Award, and Explorer’s Club Member, Joe Rohde!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Aulani Resort, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout!, and The Adventurer’s Club at Pleasure Island are just some of the signature themed entertainment experiences created by veteran former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde. Join us as we transport Joe to one of the few places he hasn’t traveled — back in time — to explore his early beginnings, how he became an Imagineer, the stories behind his greatest achievements, how he envisions the future of space tourism, and of course, how the whole earring thing started! -
PASSENGER 19: Location-based entertainment art director, illustrator, and attraction designer, David Damron. The minds behind the magic aren’t always the names you know. Case in point is location-based entertainment art director, illustrator, and attraction designer David Damron, who has spent 40+ years behind the scenes, conceiving, designing and illustrating hundreds of theme parks, attractions, resorts, restaurants, and retail experiences. His projects have included Shanghai Disneyland, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk, Lotte World (Korea), Land of Oz (Kansas City), Paramount Hotels, and hundreds more, including many with our co-host Ryan Harmon, including Gold Rush City, The Vans Experience, Top Gear World, and the Marvel Superhero Superstore! Set your clocks now to join us as one of our industry’s most unsung heroes climbs aboard the Time Machine to share stories you’ve never heard about some of your favorite parks and attractions — many still on David’s drawing table!
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PASSENGER 18: Former executive creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering and 2022 Disney Legend, Rob't Coltrin. What do Mystic Manor, Radiator Springs Racers, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, and Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin all have in common? These beloved Disney rides were all conceived over the past 32 years by former Walt Disney Imagineering executive creative director Rob’tColtrin. A "storyteller, writer, choreographer, artist, designer, theatrical showman, engineer, musician, architect and scientist - all wrapped up into one,” according to a colleague, Rob’t will be the 18th passenger to climb aboard our time machine for an hour-long journey through his illustrious career. Don’t let the change to daylight savings time spoil your opportunity to join us for this exciting episode of The Spirit of the Time Zoomcast!
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PASSENGER 17: Former Disney Imagineer, writer, set designer, inspirational speaker, and the voice and vision of Universal’s Epic Universe, Steve Tatham From the Jungle Cruise to the comedy stage, architecture school to theme park design, Steve Tatham has spent over 30 years walking the path of creative leadership. And boy, are his feet tired! Set your pocket watch to join us for the 16th timely and timeless episode of The Spirit of the Time Zoomcast as we invite longtime Disney Imagineer and current Vice President/Executive Creative Director at Universal Creative aboard our time machine to relive milestone moments in his illustrious career in Los Angeles, Orlando, Paris, Tokyo, and Osaka - and his current role as the voice and vision of what could be America’s last major theme park — Universal’s Epic Universe — scheduled to open in 2025!
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