Welcome Aboard Thrill Seekers and Adventure Lovers

Mike's Podcast

- If you’ve ever worked at a Theme Park, Waterpark or Guest Service Provider of any type, or had friends/relatives have. - If you’ve ever visited a Theme Park and wondered what it’s like to work there, and what goes on behind the scenes. - Have you ever wondered what it was like before, during and after the Opening of Walt Disney World in 1971? - Are you curious about attractions in other countries? - Did you ever dream about designing and building roller coasters or Waterparks? - Then this podcast is for you, and the E-ticket is free.

  1. Flying Over & On The WV Turnpike

    2d ago

    Flying Over & On The WV Turnpike

    Short Description — S2 • E7 Mike Patrick returns with two wild Summit Stories — a downhill bike crash that leads to a helicopter ride, and a high‑speed sprint down the WV Turnpike to reunite an injured camper with his interpreter. Plus, a legendary poker game at Thurmond’s Dun Glen Hotel that supposedly ran far longer than anyone would believe. Think you know how long? Tune in for the reveal.

    11 min
  2. S2-E6 Summit 1,000 Days to Jamboree

    Jun 23

    S2-E6 Summit 1,000 Days to Jamboree

    S2 - E6 1,000 Days till Jamboree A 3 a.m. call in Abu Dhabi. A $50 million gift. Ten thousandacres of raw wilderness. And a deadline: 1,000 days. In this episode, MikePatrick reveals the high‑stakes, high‑adventure story behind the creation ofthe Summit Bechtel Family Reserve — the permanent home of the National ScoutJamboree. Packed with behind‑the‑scenes details, massive engineering feats, andthe spirit of Scouting at its best, this is the origin story of a place builtto challenge, inspire, and transform

    14 min
  3. Formula Pizza

    Jun 16

    Formula Pizza

    The Pizza That Had to Be Perfect” In the fall of 2010, Mike Patrick arrived in Abu Dhabi tohelp open the world’s fastest roller coaster — but the story that stole theshow wasn’t about speed at all. It was about a pizza. This episode takes you behind the scenes of Ferrari World’sGrand Opening: the pressure, the precision, the legacy of Enzo Ferrari… and thehigh‑stakes quest for AVPN certification at Mama Stella’s, where a singleMargherita pizza had to meet standards as strict as any engineering test onFormula Rossa. From hydraulic launches to hand‑stretched dough, from safetydrills to Neapolitan tradition, Mike reveals how two teams — operations andculinary — raced toward perfection under the same question: Would Enzoapprove? Plus, the trivia answer you’ve been waiting for: whyFerrari’s iconic color is red. A story of craft, culture, and the pursuit of excellence —lived in a theme park kitchen thousands of miles from Italy

    12 min
  4. S2 -E4 Bristol Zoo Legend

    Jun 8

    S2 -E4 Bristol Zoo Legend

    For decades, one story has bounced around the attractions world like gospel:a mysterious man in a tiny booth outside Bristol Zoo quietly collecting parkingfees for twenty years… only for everyone to discover he didn’t work for anyone. A perfect scam. A perfect legend. Andcompletely untrue. In this episode, Mike Patrick dives intothe origins of the Bristol Zoo parking‑lot myth, why it spread across theglobe, and the strange family of “phantom employee” stories that have hauntedzoos, theme parks, airports, and government offices for years. From safariparks in South Africa to ghost workers in government agencies — and even a wildNinja‑in‑the‑night tale from Busch Gardens Tampa — this episode explores whythese stories stick, what they reveal about the attractions industry, and whywe love a clever outlaw who outsmarts the system. Plus: the answer to this week’s triviachallenge about the famous glass‑bottom boats of Silver Springs. If you enjoy unbelievable stories,industry folklore, and the hidden culture of theme parks and zoos, this one’s aride.

    11 min
  5. Suez Canal Caper

    Jun 2

    Suez Canal Caper

    S2 • E3 — The Suez Canal Caper What happens when a determined dad in Cairo decides he’sgoing to surprise his son aboard a 900‑foot U.S. container ship… in the middleof the night… in the Red Sea? In this episode, Mike pulls off one of hisboldest adventures yet: a clandestine 1:30 a.m. boarding of the M/V Cyprene, a full transit of the SuezCanal, and a daring mid‑voyage extraction before the ship reaches theMediterranean. Along the way: Navy submarines in the dark, Egyptian Armyreenactments, the chaos of canal convoys, and a tattoo shop in Singapore thatonly opens when it feels like it. Plus — this week’s trivia answer reveals thesurprising connection between the Suez Canal and one of America’s most iconicmonuments.

    13 min
  6. Never Heard That Story

    May 26

    Never Heard That Story

    In this episode Mike Salutes Memorial Day and shares a harrowing story of Naval history and heroism that his family never knew before his Dad's passing in March. He also teases an upcoming story about a crashed B-17 heading for England in 1942 and is now on display in the National WWII museum in New Orleans. His Uncle was on that plane.

    12 min
  7. 30 Feet - not 30 Meters..........

    May 18

    30 Feet - not 30 Meters..........

    S2 E1 30 feet, not 30 meters…… Description A simple measurement error turns a 30‑foot dive tower into a 90‑foot monster— and suddenly Mike is the only one crazy enough to climb it. In this season‑openingepisode, Mike takes you behind the scenes of Everland’s massive waterparkproject in South Korea, where lifeguard shortages, cultural curveballs, and astunt team in over their heads collide with one unforgettable moment ofleadership… and gravity. From jetski mayhem on the Han River to a visa dash through Tokyo, this is astory about problem‑solving under pressure, earning trust the hard way, andstepping off a platform you never meant to stand on. Plus: this episode’s EPCOT trivia challenge — and a closing joke that provesMike is still Mike, even after a 90‑foot drop

    14 min
  8. Don't Swim With Shamu!

    Apr 29

    Don't Swim With Shamu!

    Podcast Description — Season 1, Episode 15: Don’t Swim Shamu A quiet July morning at SeaWorld Orlando turns into one ofthe most unforgettable moments of Mike Patrick’s career. In this grippingbackstage story, Mike—then Director of Operations—recounts the shockingdiscovery of a man who hid in the park overnight and attempted to swim withTilikum, SeaWorld’s largest and most unpredictable killer whale. From the first frantic radio call to the delicate recoveryoperation that unfolded as the park prepared to open, Mike walks listenersthrough every detail of that extraordinary morning. Along the way, he tracesTilikum’s turbulent history—from his capture in Iceland to the tragedies atSealand of the Pacific, to the unprecedented airborne transfer that brought himto Orlando. This episode blends operational insight, human tragedy, andthe complex legacy of one of the most famous orcas in the world. And as always,Mike closes with a trivia twist that connects SeaWorld’s origins to the birthof the modern waterpark industry. A tense, emotional, and unforgettable chapter in the real‑worldstories behind the parks we think we know.

    12 min
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- If you’ve ever worked at a Theme Park, Waterpark or Guest Service Provider of any type, or had friends/relatives have. - If you’ve ever visited a Theme Park and wondered what it’s like to work there, and what goes on behind the scenes. - Have you ever wondered what it was like before, during and after the Opening of Walt Disney World in 1971? - Are you curious about attractions in other countries? - Did you ever dream about designing and building roller coasters or Waterparks? - Then this podcast is for you, and the E-ticket is free.

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