#085 - Tomorrow's Trends with IAAPA's Jakob Wahl and TEA's Melissa Oviedo

Walk through IMMERSE Fest with us in the latest episode of Experience Imagination! 🎨🎭 Special thanks to Cole NeSmith from Creative City Project for joining the podcast and giving our listeners an inside look at what it takes to create an epic interactive art festival.   We were thrilled to speak with a variety of guests who showcased exhibits at the festival, including Zachary Mailhot from the Orlando Science Center; Claire Johnson of New Cool Art; Nic Kessler from Hawkmooon; and our own team members Mikayla Winger and Caitlin Sprague from Falcon's Creative Group.   ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a design studio and media house that works to create immersive experiences around the world. Learn more about us at falconscreativegroup.com   FOLLOW FALCON'S ON SOCIAL: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/falconscreativegroup/ Instagram: instagram.com/falconscg/  Facebook: facebook.com/falconscreativegroup/  X: x.com/falconscg   The views expressed by our guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

In this episode of Experience Imagination, we sit down with Mitchell Magill, President of Falcon's Creative Group and a powerhouse in our industry. Mitchell brings a rich background in themed entertainment, spanning immersive attractions, live productions, and global destination development. We dive into his career journey, lessons on empowerment, standout moments from his time as Senior Creative Director, Executive Producer, and IP Guardian for SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, and yes… even his favorite marine animal. It's an inspiring, insightful, and fun conversation you don't want to miss.     ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a design studio and media house that works to create immersive experiences around the world. Learn more about us at falconscreativegroup.com   FOLLOW FALCON'S ON SOCIAL: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/falconscreativegroup/ Instagram: instagram.com/falconscg/  Facebook: facebook.com/falconscreativegroup/  X: x.com/falconscg   The views expressed by our guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

We're kicking off the ninth season of Experience Imagination with a deep dive of the themed entertainment industry. We sat down with Jakob Wahl, President & CEO of IAAPA, and Melissa Oviedo, CEO of TEA, to reflect on 2025, the evolving industry challenges, and the future of the industry worldwide.     ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a design studio and media house that works to create immersive experiences around the world. Learn more about us at falconscreativegroup.com   FOLLOW FALCON'S ON SOCIAL: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/falconscreativegroup/ Instagram: instagram.com/falconscg/  Facebook: facebook.com/falconscreativegroup/  X: x.com/falconscg   The views expressed by our guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

Coaster Studios and Park Pros join us for an ALL-NEW podcast episode, "Behind the Thrills with Content Creators"!  Learn the secrets of crafting great theme park content, trends in the industry we're continuing to see, and how channels like theirs are reaching audiences not just in the U.S., but the entire world.    ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a design studio and media house that works to create immersive experiences around the world. Learn more about us at falconscreativegroup.com   FOLLOW FALCON'S ON SOCIAL: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/falconscreativegroup/ Instagram: instagram.com/falconscg/  Facebook: facebook.com/falconscreativegroup/  X: x.com/falconscg   The views expressed by our guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

We're awakening the Curse of DarKastle on this spooktacular episode of Experience Imagination! Cecil Magpuri and Dave Mauck, the creators of this THEA award-winning dark ride, share their exclusive knowledge and behind-the-scenes stories that had never been told publicly...until now! Also hear how audio was used to help craft the mood of this terrifyingly memorable experience.    ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a design studio and media house that works to create immersive experiences around the world. Learn more about us at falconscreativegroup.com   FOLLOW FALCON'S ON SOCIAL: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/falconscreativegroup/ Instagram: instagram.com/falconscg/  Facebook: facebook.com/falconscreativegroup/  X: x.com/falconscg   The views expressed by our guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

🎙️ Make sure to "queue" up our latest podcast episode, all about theme park attraction queues! 🎢 Join the conversation as Audrey sits down with our team of experts to share how queues set the stage for the ride, immerse guests in the story before it even begins, and use clever design tricks to make the wait time fly by.   ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a design studio and media house that works to create immersive experiences around the world. Learn more about us at falconscreativegroup.com   FOLLOW FALCON'S ON SOCIAL: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/falconscreativegroup/ Instagram: instagram.com/falconscg/  Facebook: facebook.com/falconscreativegroup/  X: x.com/falconscg   The views expressed by our guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

🎢 So... How does someone land a job designing theme parks? In the latest episode of our Foot-in-the-Door series, we're talking with team members from various parts of our company to learn how they broke into the themed entertainment industry, the surprising skills that helped them succeed, and what they thought they'd do to earn a living back when they were young.   ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a design studio and media house that works to create immersive experiences around the world. Learn more about us at falconscreativegroup.com   FOLLOW FALCON'S ON SOCIAL: Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/falconscreativegroup/ Instagram: instagram.com/falconscg/  Facebook: facebook.com/falconscreativegroup/  X: x.com/falconscg   The views expressed by our guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

Casandra Matej, President & CEO of Visit Orlando, joins us in today's new episode! 🎙️ With the long-anticipated opening of Universal Epic Universe, Casandra shares how Visit Orlando is helping to position this monumental moment on the global stage. We also dive into the impact on the local economy and the power of the experience economy as a whole.  Plus, you don't want to miss our lightning round with our Media Production Coordinator Jaysa Ramirez ⚡   ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a design studio and media house that works to create immersive experiences around the world. Learn more about us at falconscreativegroup.com   FOLLOW FALCON'S ON SOCIAL: Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/falconscreativegroup/ Instagram: instagram.com/falconscg/  Facebook: facebook.com/falconscreativegroup/  X: x.com/falconscg   The views expressed by our guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

🎧 Our latest podcast episode is ALL about the engineering side of entertainment! Every unforgettable themed experience starts with brilliant behind-the-scenes problem solving. Great engineers turn ideas into reality. Hear it firsthand from our Falcon's Attractions team! 🎢    ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a design studio and media house that works to create immersive experiences around the world. Learn more about us at falconscreativegroup.com   FOLLOW FALCON'S ON SOCIAL: Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/falconscreativegroup/ Instagram: instagram.com/falconscg/  Facebook: facebook.com/falconscreativegroup/  X: x.com/falconscg   The views expressed by our guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

Season 8 of Experience Imagination is here, and our first episode focuses on the importance of diversity when designing successful themed experiences. Join Audrey as she leads the conversation with influential women in the themed entertainment industry and what they've learned through their careers. It's an honor to welcome special guest Jenefer Brown, EVP and Head of Global Products & Experiences at Lionsgate, whom we had the pleasure of working with when The Hunger Games was brought to life at MOTIONGATE Dubai. Also joining is our EVP of Marketing and Branding, Toni Caracciolo, who brings over 30 years of experience in the themed entertainment space.    ABOUT THIS PODCAST: "Experience Imagination" is a Themed Entertainment Podcast presented by Falcon's Creative Group, a design studio and media house that works to create immersive experiences around the world. Learn more about us at falconscreativegroup.com   FOLLOW FALCON'S ON SOCIAL: Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/falconscreativegroup/ Instagram: instagram.com/falconscg/  Facebook: facebook.com/falconscreativegroup/  X: x.com/falconscg   The views expressed by our guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.