Episodes

  • Ep. 145 - Finding New Sources of Inspiration with Danny Gruening

    Ep. 145 - Finding New Sources of Inspiration with Danny Gruening
    Jul 15 2026
    On this edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with the founder of Action Lab Leadership, Danny Gruening, to discuss finding new sources of inspiration. When you run a family entertainment center, it is remarkably easy to get stuck in the day-to-day grind and lose sight of your "why." Danny dives deep into how isolation drains our inspiration and why true leadership relies on cultivating optimism rather than waiting around for a sudden burst of motivation. "Every time that we do that, we're robbing ourselves of the opportunity to just let our brains think and be and come up with cool ideas." — Danny Gruening Danny shares practical ways to reframe your daily stress, how to hack your environment for better mental hygiene, and why the secret to scaling your business lies in your daily systems, not just your lofty goals.
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    37 mins
  • Ep. 144 - The Multi-Attraction Future of Cinema with Dennis McIntire

    Ep. 144 - The Multi-Attraction Future of Cinema with Dennis McIntire
    Jul 8 2026
    On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Dennis McIntire, VP of Strategic Development and Innovation at B&B Theatres. With over three decades of experience spanning marketing, construction, and corporate development, Dennis delves into the realities of blending movie theaters with arcades, bowling alleys, and food services, explaining why traditional theater logic often fails in the entertainment space. "A movie experience is not exactly the same thing that it was 20 years ago, 30 years ago… It always starts as a 'what if'. What if we put a playground in a movie theater?" — Dennis McIntire Dennis also reveals the ultimate business philosophy that drives their constant innovation. B&B Theatres has had its doors open for 102 years, so it's important to stay fresh, exciting, and highly profitable. He recommends asking a lot of "what-ifs" questions, stop treating different business models like they are the same, and remain willing to fail fast.
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    41 mins
  • Ep. 143 - How to Beat the Budget and Outsmart the Layout of Your FEC with Katie Ross

    Ep. 143 - How to Beat the Budget and Outsmart the Layout of Your FEC with Katie Ross
    Jul 1 2026
    iscuss how to beat the budget and outsmart the layout when designing your FEC. Katie brings over a decade of commercial and attraction design experience to the table, sharing insider secrets on how to turn physical spatial limitations into standout features, design with a "Pixar mentality" that satisfies both kids and parents, and phase out big projects to protect a budget while leaving room for future growth. "How do we take this idea that's living in someone's head and start to make that abide the laws of physics? It's a really fun puzzle to solve." - Katie Ross Stop settling for predictable layouts. This episode delivers the human-centric design tactics you need to scale up a new build or revitalize an old space, ensuring your guest experience remains unexpected, engaging, and absolutely never boring.
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    22 mins
  • Ep. 142 - Why Small Footprint FECs Are Growing in Popularity with Clint Novak

    Ep. 142 - Why Small Footprint FECs Are Growing in Popularity with Clint Novak
    Jun 24 2026
    On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ is joined by Clint Novak, Owner of Novak Amusement Solutions and Planet Novak, to unpack the hidden opportunities within small-footprint family entertainment centers (FECs). As traffic patterns shift and large-scale buildouts become increasingly expensive, the mid-sized and smaller market models are having a massive moment. Clint shares his firsthand experience launching Planet Novak, a highly successful 3,000-square-foot claw arcade concept that is blowing past its first-year revenue projections. From treating your staff like hospitality Sherpas to optimizing the high-stakes world of premium plush inventory, Clint outlines what it takes to thrive in today's local entertainment economy. "Our staff is very intensive. They know when people walk in, they say hello. They're very welcoming. They play with the kids and adults... they want to make sure everybody's a winner." Clint also drops invaluable, easy-to-implement operational life hacks—like turning on hidden automated software features—that can instantly add six figures to an FEC’s bottom line. As traffic patterns shift and large-scale buildouts become increasingly expensive, the mid-sized and smaller market models are having a massive moment.
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    45 mins
  • Ep. 141 - The Science of Shopping Applied to Family Entertainment Centers with Paco Underhill

    Ep. 141 - The Science of Shopping Applied to Family Entertainment Centers with Paco Underhill
    Jun 17 2026
    On this edition of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Paco Underhill, global retail expert, founder of Envirosell Inc., and bestselling author of Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping. Paco shares his journey from hanging time-lapse cameras off 60-story skyscrapers to discovering how minor physical adjustments radically alter guest habits. He shares the critical differences in demographic comfort, the psychological weight of time, and why the most impactful leadership requires getting out from behind a desk. “The ability to communicate an understanding of science and be able to match it to the art of design was something that was just very popular and telling. And part of what we also recognize is while there are a series of biological constants, things that don't change within the context of our physical behavior, part of what we know is whether we're talking about the design of a store, a home, a hospital, a website, [or an entertainment venue,] there are a series of things that are in flux. The degree to which we recognize that design, whether it's physical or cyber, has to keep track of the evolution of us.” -Paco Underhill Together, Russ and Paco peel back the layers of customer interaction in a post-pandemic landscape, illustrating why the ultimate customer journey begins long before a guest reaches the front counter.
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    41 mins
  • Ep. 140 - Why Your FEC Staff Needs an AI Force Multiplier Right Now with Armando Lanuti

    Ep. 140 - Why Your FEC Staff Needs an AI Force Multiplier Right Now with Armando Lanuti
    Jun 10 2026
    On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Armando Lanuti to strip away the confusion and look at AI through a practical lens. As a business owner, you do not need to become a master programmer to reap the benefits of this technology. At its core, AI serves as an elevated search engine and a powerful time-saver, helping you tackle everyday challenges in your Family Entertainment Center (FEC). From optimizing your website for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to building custom internal databases for staff training, this conversation maps out actionable strategies to implement right now. "Your self-worth is tied up into not your actual outcome of what you're doing, but the process of how you're doing it... If you adopt and utilize and learn how to integrate that new tool, you're going to be able to do more, and you're going to be able to use the things that make you uniquely you to solve problems." -Armando Lanuti Instead of fearing replacement, learn how to leverage these digital tools to boost your efficiency, reduce burnout, and give your team the freedom to focus on what they do best: creating powerful and emotional memories for your guests.
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    31 mins
  • Ep. 139 - How to Eliminate Self-Imposed Limitations and Scale Your Entertainment Venue

    Ep. 139 - How to Eliminate Self-Imposed Limitations and Scale Your Entertainment Venue
    Jun 3 2026
    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.
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    29 mins
  • Ep. 138 - The Power of Story-Driven Architecture and Design with Doug Wilkerson

    Ep. 138 - The Power of Story-Driven Architecture and Design with Doug Wilkerson
    May 27 2026
    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.
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    33 mins