Live with Sondra

Sondra Shannon
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"Live with Sondra" is hosted by Sondra Shannon, the CEO of Gatemaster Technology. In this engaging series, Sondra explores the latest attractions and amusement park trends, offering invaluable insights to owners and operators. Each episode features discussions with industry experts, focusing on enhancing guest satisfaction through innovative technology and legendary service. The show aims to provide practical solutions and creative ideas to improve the overall guest experience and operational efficiency in amusement parks and attractions.

  1. 8h ago

    Strategy Beyond the Berm: Driving Cross-Sector Growth ft. Liz Sanchez Rasking

    🎙️ Join us for “Live with Sondra” featuring Liz Sánchez Rasking, Founder and Principal of Looking Glass Strategies. We’re diving into how to take elite themed entertainment design principles "beyond the berm" to drive strategic clarity and cross-sector business growth. She'll cover: ▶ The Strategy Gap: How to objectively bridge the disconnect between an organization's corporate assumptions and actual consumer realities. ▶ Systems Over Content: Why businesses constantly default to buying more marketing when what they actually lack is foundational structural clarity. ▶ Reverse-Engineering Bottlenecks: Using a chemical engineer’s rigor and a detective's eye to dismantle complex organizational friction. ▶ Building Regional Hubs: How the Mid-Atlantic ecosystem is positioning itself as the next great entertainment cluster—and how adjacent sectors can collaborate. 📅 Save your spot to learn how to turn high-level strategic intention into powerful, measurable business development! Want to catch up on past shows, connect with us or be a guest? Visit: https://lnkd.in/eW548Mjv Chapters: 0:00 – Opening & Giveaway Sondra kicks off with a live giveaway and sets up the topic of growth friction. 3:15 – Meet Liz Sánchez Rasking Introduction to Liz, her background, and her focus on reverse‑engineering systems. 4:19 – Strategy Beyond the Berm Liz explains the concept of thinking beyond sightlines and silos in themed entertainment. 7:10 – Universal Truths Across Industries Technology is neutral, misalignment compounds, and story is foundational. 10:42 – Diagnosing the Gap How to uncover disconnects between organizational belief and audience experience. 13:55 – Defining Brand & Story Your brand is what people say when you’re not in the room. 17:26 – Why Marketing Alone Isn’t Enough The need for foundational strategy, feedback loops, and rigorous analysis. 22:25 – From Engineering to Social Systems Liz’s chemical engineering lens applied to leadership, equilibrium, and team alignment. 27:26 – Authentic Story & Long‑Term Success Consistency, patience, and intentional branding as investments that compound over time. #LivewithSondra #ThemedEntertainment #BusinessStrategy #BeyondTheBerm

    Strategy Beyond the Berm: Driving Cross-Sector Growth ft. Liz Sanchez Rasking

  2. 1d ago

    Attraction Networking: Building the Global Deals Behind the Rides ft. Emily Popovich

    Are you building connections or just contacts? 🎙️ Join us for “Live with Sondra” with Emily Popovich, Director of Global Business Development at KMI International. We’re diving into how elite industry networks, strategic partnerships, and human connections shape the future of global entertainment attractions. She'll cover: ▶ Leveraging global relationship networks to unlock high-value attraction developments. ▶ Bridging communication gaps between creative visionaries and technical operators. ▶ How staying visible and present at global events transforms your business baseline. ▶ Balancing human-centered experience design with backend scalability. Chapters: 0:00 The Power of Showing Up 5:06 Meeting Emily Popovich 8:33 Curiosity Before Capability 14:25 The Art of the Long-Term Sale 20:26 Managing Dreams and Big Ideas 28:51 Navigating Partnerships 35:16 The Reputation Economy 39:54 Defining Corporate Values in Practice 44:01 Human-Centric Innovation 50:01 Closing Thoughts and Community 📅 Save your spot to learn how to turn your industry relationships into your most profitable operational asset! Want to catch up on past shows, connect with us or be a guest? Visit: https://lnkd.in/eW548Mjv #LivewithSondra #AttractionsIndustry #StrategicPartnerships #GuestExperience

    Attraction Networking: Building the Global Deals Behind the Rides ft. Emily Popovich

  3. 1d ago

    Guest Media: Scaling Revenue Through Automation ft. Francois Tremblay

    🎙️ Join us for “Live with Sondra” with Francois Tremblay, CEO of Kool Replay Inc. We’re diving into how to turn your attraction’s guest media into a high-margin, automated revenue stream. He'll cover: ▶️ Unlocking the "hidden gold mine" in your current photo/video operations. ▶️ Replacing manual, resource-heavy tasks with staff-free AI automation. ▶️ How guest-shared media acts as your most powerful organic marketing tool. ▶️ Strategies to scale digital asset monetization without sacrificing the guest experience. 📅 Save your spot to learn how to turn memorable moments into revenue! Want to catch up on past shows, connect with us or be a guest? Visit: https://lnkd.in/eW548Mjv #LivewithSondra #AttractionsManagement #GuestExperience #KoolReplay

    Guest Media: Scaling Revenue Through Automation ft. Francois Tremblay

  4. 1d ago

    Stop Payment Disruptions: Secure Your Software & ROI ft. Chris Wheeler

    🎙️ Join us for “Live with Sondra” with Chris Wheeler, President of Paystri Inc. We’re diving into how payment M&A affects your tech and how to fix your guest's checkout friction. He'll cover: ▶ Protecting your platform from payment industry M&A disruptions. ▶ Implementing Dual Pricing to reclaim your margins. ▶ Creating the "Frictionless" payment moment for guest loyalty. ▶ Why 10x thinking transforms your payment strategy. 📅 RSVP to ensure your payment stack is an asset, not a liability! Want to catch up on past shows, connect with us or be a guest? Visit: https://linktr.ee/livewithsondra Chapters: 0:00 – Audience Pulse Check & Intro Sondra opens with questions about checkout complaints and payment fees. 2:13 – Meet Chris Wheeler Introduction to Chris, President of Paystri, and his expertise in payments. 6:05 – How M&A Disrupts Payments Why mergers and acquisitions cause instability, fragmentation, and rising costs. 10:10 – Red Flags in Payment Partnerships Warning signs when payments shift from asset to liability. 14:21 – Evolution of Integrated Payments From dial‑up days to modern fraud prevention and seamless systems. 16:08 – Common Integration Mistakes Why treating payments as a technical add‑on instead of strategy undermines growth. 21:07 – Frictionless Payments & Disney’s MagicBand How seamless transactions build loyalty and confidence in guest experiences. #LivewithSondra #Payments #GuestExperience

    Stop Payment Disruptions: Secure Your Software & ROI ft. Chris Wheeler

  5. 1d ago

    The Fan Journey: Ticketing Strategies for Loyalty ft. Jenipher Kantor

    🎙️ Join us for “Live with Sondra” with Jenipher Kantor, Founder of Jenipher Kantor Consulting! Jenipher is a master of the "Fan Journey," helping venues turn ticketing headaches into loyalty wins. She'll cover: ▶️ How ticketing strategy shapes the entire event experience. ▶️ Removing friction in the purchase flow to build fan loyalty. ▶️ Solving pain points for venues, promoters, and global brands. ▶️ Navigating the "white space" of starting a niche industry business. 📅 RSVP for future shows by connecting with us and apply to be a guest here: https://linktr.ee/livewithsondra Live with Sondra is powered by Gatemaster Tech—the revenue ecosystem designed to drive peak-volume performance and operational clarity. See how we help world-class attractions scale at Gatemaster.com Chapters: 0:00 – Opening & Checkout Friction Sondra frames the episode with a question about drop‑off points in ticketing. 2:18 – Introducing Jenipher Kantor Her background in ticketing strategy and fan experience. 3:27 – From Theater Major to Ticketmaster Jenipher’s unexpected path into ticketing and early industry lessons. 9:23 – Ticketing Shapes Fan Emotion Why the purchase path is the first emotional touchpoint. 15:05 – Biggest Friction Point Lack of communication and clarity as loyalty killers. 18:02 – Clear Paths & Fan Perspective Marketing, presales, and seeing the journey through the fan’s eyes. 23:33 – Ticketing Represents the Artist How ticketing impacts brand perception and overall fan mindset. #LiveWithSondra #AttractionsIndustry #FloridaAttractions #GuestExperience #Leadership Development #Gatemaster #GatemasterTech #IAAPA #FloridaTourism #OperationalExcellence #RevenueIntelligence

    The Fan Journey: Ticketing Strategies for Loyalty ft. Jenipher Kantor

  6. 1d ago

    50 Years of Insights: Scaling Florida’s Best Attractions ft. Bill Lupfer

    🎙️ Join us for “Live with Sondra” with Bill Lupfer, President & CEO of the Florida Attractions Association! With 50 years of experience, Bill knows exactly what it takes to make an attraction thrive. He'll cover: ▶️ The power of connected industry communities for better outcomes. ▶️ Strategies for workforce recruitment and retention. ▶️ Navigating advocacy and policy to protect your interests. ▶️ Delivering high-value programming under budget pressures. 📅 RSVP for future shows by connecting with us and apply to be a guest here: https://linktr.ee/livewithsondra Live with Sondra is powered by Gatemaster Tech—the revenue ecosystem designed to drive peak-volume performance and operational clarity. See how we help world-class attractions scale at Gatemaster.com Chapters: 0:00 – Welcome & Opening Questions Workforce retention + industry associations. 1:20 – Introducing Bill Lupfer Why Bill matters to the attractions industry. 4:11 – What the Florida Attractions Association Does Advocacy, safety, and industry support. 9:00 – Inside the FAA Annual Conference What makes it unique and who attends. 15:12 – Collaboration Strengthens Attractions Shared learning, better operations, stronger outcomes. 20:37 – Sharing Without Losing Competitive Edge “Share the thinking, not the trade secrets.” 23:19 – The Risk of Isolationism Why staying connected matters. #LiveWithSondra #AttractionsIndustry #FloridaAttractions #GuestExperience #Leadership Development #Gatemaster #GatemasterTech #IAAPA #FloridaTourism #OperationalExcellence #RevenueIntelligence

    50 Years of Insights: Scaling Florida’s Best Attractions ft. Bill Lupfer

  7. Jul 8

    Haunt Design: Scoring 15M+ Views with Emotional Storytelling

    Welcome to this episode of Live with Sondra, where we explore the art, psychology, and emotional power behind haunted attractions and immersive storytelling with Norman Gidney, Owner and Creator of Horror Buzz and Creative Producer in Themed Entertainment. From lifelong haunt fandom to building Horror Buzz into a platform with more than 15 million views, Norman has spent decades studying what makes fear memorable, experiences immersive, and audiences deeply connected. Join us for an informative episode of Live with Sondra. In this session, Norman Gidney and Sondra will dive into: Emotional Storytelling in Horror: Why the most successful haunted attractions aren't built around scares alone, but around anticipation, emotion, and memorable storytelling that stays with guests long after they leave.The Psychology of Fear and Surprise: How effective haunt designers use audience insights, distraction techniques, and perfectly timed surprises to transform an ordinary scare into an unforgettable experience.Designing Immersive Haunted Attractions: The challenge of balancing creative vision, operational realities, guest throughput, and storytelling without sacrificing the quality of the experience.The Art of Haunt Performance: Why great scare actors are much more than performers, combining character development, improv, timing, crowd management, and storytelling to bring haunted attractions to life. Building a 15-Million-View Horror Brand: How authenticity, community engagement, audience understanding, and a genuine passion for horror helped Horror Buzz grow into one of the most respected voices in horror media.The Future of Year-Round Horror Experiences: Insights into immersive entertainment, horror-themed attractions, escape rooms, and the growing demand for horror experiences beyond the Halloween season.Creating Experiences People Never Forget: Lessons from haunted attractions, immersive theater, and themed entertainment that any attraction operator can use to create stronger emotional connections with guests.Tune in for an exciting session on haunt design, immersive storytelling, and emotional guest experiences. Connect with Norman Gidney on LinkedIn: Connect with Sondra Shannon to learn more about Gatemaster’s role in improving the guest journey and supporting immersive attraction experiences: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sondrashannon/ Want to learn more about Live with Sondra or apply to be a guest? Visit: https://gatemaster.com/media/live-with-sondra/ 💡 Your all-access pass to actionable insights from Live with Sondra is right here. Click this link to view recap blogs, catch up on previous live shows, be our guest, and more! https://linktr.ee/livewithsondra

    Haunt Design: Scoring 15M+ Views with Emotional Storytelling

  8. Apr 28

    Stop Losing Profit: The Power of Embedded Payments ft. Mark Passifione

    🎙️ Live with Sondra: Stop Losing Profit — The Power of Embedded Payments ft. Mark Passifione Welcome to this episode of Live with Sondra, where we uncover one of the most overlooked revenue leaks in attractions, venues, and entertainment businesses: payments. Joining Sondra (and Bron) is Mark Passifione, SVP of Integrated Payments at Explore Pay, a payments expert who helps software platforms and operators turn frictionless transactions into scalable growth engines. Join us for an informative episode of Live with Sondra. In this session, Mark Passifione and Sondra dive into: Embedded Payments Explained: What embedded payments really mean—and why keeping guests inside your ecosystem dramatically improves conversion, speed, and satisfaction.Checkout Friction & Lost Revenue: How slow checkouts, declined cards, and disconnected systems silently cost operators money every day.Speed as a Guest Experience Strategy: Why faster, “invisible” payments reduce lines, increase per‑cap spending, and create what Mark calls the yes experience.Chargebacks & Dispute Protection: How integrated payments centralize proof of purchase, entry, and data to dramatically improve chargeback win rates.Fraud Prevention by Design: The role of tokenization, card‑on‑file updates, and automated approvals in protecting margins during peak demand.Payments as Brand Control: Why owning the payment experience protects your brand, simplifies staff workflows, and strengthens guest loyalty.From Online to In‑Park Spending: How mapping the full guest journey—from ticket purchases to wearables and mobile payments—unlocks predictable revenue.Tune in for an exciting session on embedded payments, revenue protection, and payment infrastructure as a growth strategy. Connect with Mark Passifione on LinkedIn (leave blank for manual addition) Connect with Sondra Shannon to learn more about Gatemaster’s role in embedded payments, revenue protection, and integrated commerce architecture: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sondrashannon/ Want to learn more about Live with Sondra or apply to be a guest? Visit: https://gatemaster.com/media/live-with-sondra/ 💡 Your all-access pass to actionable insights from Live with Sondra is right here. Click this link to view recap blogs, catch up on previous live shows, be our guest, and more! 👉 https://linktr.ee/livewithsondra

    Stop Losing Profit: The Power of Embedded Payments ft. Mark Passifione
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About

"Live with Sondra" is hosted by Sondra Shannon, the CEO of Gatemaster Technology. In this engaging series, Sondra explores the latest attractions and amusement park trends, offering invaluable insights to owners and operators. Each episode features discussions with industry experts, focusing on enhancing guest satisfaction through innovative technology and legendary service. The show aims to provide practical solutions and creative ideas to improve the overall guest experience and operational efficiency in amusement parks and attractions.

Information

  • Creator
    Sondra Shannon
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    103
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or transmission of this content, is strictly prohibited.
  • Show Website
    Live with Sondra