In this debut episode of Signal, hosts John Pendergrast and Tim Samson set the stage for what this podcast is all about: candid, forward-looking conversations for leaders in the attractions industry.

John and Tim share their unconventional journeys—from roller coasters at Cedar Point to early software builds for reservation systems—and why operators today need more spaces to talk openly about the challenges shaping guest experiences.

This conversation covers four key industry trends and digs into why technology must serve guests first, why standardization matters, and where operators are most at risk of falling behind.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why the experience economy isn’t just maturing—it’s evolving
• Where tech adds value vs. where it breaks immersion
• How high demand is colliding with operational headwinds (and what VIP pricing means for access)
• How economic uncertainty is reshaping consumer behavior and shortening stay patterns
• The industry’s biggest blind spot: misalignment between guest-first business models and order-first technology

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro: Why start this podcast?

(01:35) Tim’s journey from roller coaster ops to tech

(05:32) John’s path from wannabe pop star to software entrepreneur

(10:05) The experience economy: maturing or evolving?

(15:35) Why technology is foundational—but not the magic

(21:22) Balancing guest nostalgia with digital tools

(23:05) High demand meets operational headwinds

(32:21) Economic uncertainty and the “one-and-done” guest

(36:43) The industry’s biggest blind spot in technology

(52:17) What Signal is really about

(58:16) Closing thoughts: lifting all boats in the attractions industry

👉 Follow John and Tim on LinkedIn for more insights.

In this episode, John and Tim sit down with Sara Schiller, co-founder and co-CEO of Sloomoo Institute — America’s beloved slime museum and sensory experience. What started as a spark of joy between friends has grown into a national phenomenon: five flagship locations, 2 million guests, and over $40M in revenue.

Sara shares her remarkable journey of transforming adversity into creativity and explains why immersive experiences are reshaping both attractions and retail. From redefining “play” for adults to pioneering an inclusion-first workforce, Sara and her team are proving that joy is not just a feeling — it’s a business model.

You’ll hear about:

• The origin story of Sloomoo and how slime became a medium for healing and connection
• Why immersive experiences are the future of retail and family entertainment
• The role of trust and partnership in doing something that’s never been done before
• Lessons from navigating a pandemic launch and pivoting to virtual experiences
• How Sloomoo integrates accessibility, neurodiversity, and inclusion into its DNA
• Expanding the Sloomoo-verse through licensing, IP, and media

Timestamps:

(00:00) – Sara’s darkness-to-light story: adversity, hope, and discovering slime

(07:09) – Finding optimism as an entrepreneur and the first 3,000 guests at Sloomoo

(11:12) – Falling in love with slime and the origin of the name “Sloomoo”

(14:36) – Designing immersive spaces that feel elevated for adults *and* kids

(18:10) – New exhibits, disco slime, and translating digital trends into analog play

(26:16) – Pivoting through the pandemic with virtual camps and corporate activations

(32:01) – Scaling the “Sloomoo-verse” through licensing, media, and IP

(36:16) – Building a profitable business while driving social good and inclusion

(46:04) – Marketing Sloomoo to adults while delivering joy for kids

(53:13) – Why immersive experiences are the future of retail

(59:39) – Lightning round: advice for attraction operators and the future of play

Sara Schiller is the co-founder and co-CEO of Sloomoo Institute. Since opening in 2019 with her best friend Karen Robinovitz, Sloomoo has grown into a multi-location immersive brand, welcoming millions of guests and earning accolades including EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year and a spot on the Inc. Female Founder 250. Sara leads Sloomoo’s inclusion initiatives, including a 10% neurodiverse workforce commitment. Previously, she reinvented corporate meetings through her company Meet and co-founded the Wooster Collective, a pioneering street art platform. Sara holds an MBA from NYU Stern and is a proud mom of two daughters — Sloomoo’s own “Chief Creative Kids.”

Links & Resources

• Visit Sloomoo Institute
• Follow Sara on LinkedIn
• Learn more about RocketRez
• Follow John and Tim on LinkedIn

About Signal

Signal is the podcast for attraction leaders shaping the future of guest experiences. Hosted by John...

What does it take to turn viral content into real-world revenue for attractions? In this episode of Signal, hosts John Pendergrast and Tim Samson sit down with Alex Ojeda, a first-generation Mexican-American creator, consultant, and industry superfan whose high-energy content reaches over 15 million followers and generates more than two billion annual impressions every year.

Named to the TIME100 Creators list as one of the world’s most influential digital voices, Alex is best known for his thrilling first-person videos spotlighting the planet’s most cutting-edge waterparks and attractions—from the U.S. and UAE to China, Brazil, and beyond. Now, he’s helping operators and brands translate viral storytelling into business impact.

Alex shares what it’s like to bridge both worlds—creator and consultant—and how attractions can thrive in the age of short-form video, influencer partnerships, and social-first guest engagement.

You’ll hear about:

• How Alex turned his passion for waterparks into a global creator career
• The moment that landed him a consulting role with Royal Caribbean International
• Why “authenticity” isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a brand strategy
• What most attractions get wrong about social media and influencer partnerships
• The physical reality behind “riding for the shot” (and what it teaches about storytelling)
• How to future-proof your brand through creator collaborations and C-suite alignment

Timestamps:

(00:00) — Why Alex's content drives real turnstile clicks, not just views

(08:28) — How social-first thinking is reshaping attraction marketing budgets

(14:00) — What attractions get wrong with social media hiring

(16:27) — Why every attraction already has an audience—you just need to engage them

(24:05) — How to leverage hate comments to your advantage

(38:48) — How to build sustainable in-house content capabilities

(42:02) – Global insights: what the next generation of guests expect

(53:53) — Lightning Round: biggest mistakes, favorite platforms, and what's next

Alex Ojeda is a first-generation Mexican-American creator, consultant, and industry superfan whose high-energy content reaches over 15 million followers and generates more than two billion annual impressions. He’s widely recognized for spotlighting the world’s most cutting-edge waterparks and attractions—often among the first to experience and share headline-grabbing openings across the U.S., UAE, China, Brazil, at sea, and beyond.

Named to the TIME100 Creators list as one of the most influential digital voices globally, Alex partners with brands like Royal Caribbean International, where he serves as a global creator ambassador and design consultant for their groundbreaking new waterpark in Mexico.

Beyond content creation, Alex works with attraction industry clients as a social media strategist and consultant, helping them better understand the evolving digital landscape—from short-form video and influencer strategy to in-house content systems—bringing a creator’s perspective to C-suite strategy.

🔗 Links & Resources

• Follow Alex Ojeda on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram,