Earlier this summer Coaster101's Nick Weisenberger wrote an extensive article about the history of Millennium Force to celebrate the iconic roller coaster's 20th anniversary. Today on the podcast, Nick joins Eric to go into some of that history, explaining how the decision to build the ride came about, what company almost built it, and the key technological innovations of the ride. We also talk a little bit about whether Millennium Force holds up, and its legacy in the theme park industry. Be su...
Sep 28, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 16
This week we embarrass ourselves by revealing our biggest theme park blind spots. This includes both parks that we really should have visited by now but haven't as well as specific coasters we haven't checked off yet (for one reason or another). Let us know what your biggest amusement industry blind spots are, or tell us how ashamed of us you are! Email podcast@coaster101.com, or find us on social media @Coaster101. Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And plea...
Sep 21, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 15
This week on the Coaster101 podcast, we're joined by Jefferson Richardson of Kentucky Kingdom and Chris Foshee of Worlds of Fun, two of the most prolific theme park tweeters in the game. Learn more about how they got their starts in the industry, what goes through their mind when creating content like the world's first Strata Waterslide or a video completely comprised of Stock Video footage to sell a theme park, and their upcoming (we think?) rap album. Have any follow up questions you want to a...
Sep 14, 2020•41 min•Season 1Ep. 14
This week on the Coaster101 Podcast we kickoff what we hope will be an ongoing series featuring close looks at the home parks of the Coaster101 team. We're starting with our resident Carowinds expert, Andrew Stilwell. We get into a bit of Carowinds history, as well as Andrew favorite rides, favorite foods, and tips for first time visitors. While Carowinds isn't open in 2020, there's lots of reasons to plan a 2021 trip, and hopefully this episode can help you do that! If you're a Carowinds fan, l...
Sep 07, 2020•43 min•Season 1Ep. 13
This week Andrew and Eric are joined by Coaster101 founder John Stevenson. While our normal hosts have been stuck in lockdown and haven't been to any parks this summer, John's been to a bunch! So he's joining us to recap his visits to Dollywood, Kings Island, Kentucky Kingdom, and Six Flags St. Louis. We get some comparison of the parks safety procedures and crowds, and get into some ride talk (so it's not all bad). Tell us about your park experiences this summer! Have you caught a mask in the f...
Aug 31, 2020•41 min•Season 1Ep. 12
This week Andrew, Shane, and Eric are chatting defunct coasters. For all kinds of reasons roller coasters get closed down. Sometimes that's tragic, sometimes that's great, and sometimes we don't care at all. We talk about coasters we miss, coasters we wish we'd had a chance to ride, and coasters that we don't miss at all (or wouldn't mind seeing get removed). Send your feedback to and ask us questions at podcast@coaster101.com, or find us on social media @Coaster101. And please please please sub...
Aug 24, 2020•40 min•Season 1Ep. 11
With the pandemic keeping us from riding rides, we've been writing a lot about roller coaster history on the website. This week on the podcast, we dive into our recent list of the oldest roller coasters in every state (https://c101.co/2FzjNFb), and talk about some of our favorite rides from our list of the best operating roller coasters over 50 years old (https://c101.co/311oW0G). Send any feedback to and ask us questions at podcast@coaster101.com, or find us on social media @Coaster101. Be sure...
Aug 17, 2020•35 min•Season 1Ep. 10
This week, we’re talking about one of America’s most unique themed destinations, Give Kids The World. Andrew is joined by GKTW President Pamela Landwirth and Director of Development Steven Amos to learn more about the history of the Village, how they’re operating in times of COVID-19, and how we can all support GKTW through their annual “Coasting For Kids” event. For more information about Give Kids The World, be sure to visit their website at www.gktw.org . Have podcast feedback or any question...
Aug 10, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 9
This week we shift from discussing rides to our other favorite thing at theme parks: FOOD! We discuss both some theme park restaurant mash-ups we'd love to see, as well as our Mount Rushmores of theme park restaurants and dishes. Let us know your favorite theme park eats at podcast@coaster101.com, or find us on social media @Coaster101. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Thanks to JM Music Designs for providing our music. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesigns....
Aug 03, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 8
This week we're finally off the topic of coronavirus and park re-openings, and instead we're just chatting roller coasters. Eric, Andrew, and Shane get into a lengthy discussion about coasters that we think are overrated and underrated. Hopefully some of you are delighted that we praise your favorite coasters while talking our underrated rides! And almost definitely some of you will be pissed off (particularly at Andrew and Eric) when we talk our overrated coasters! Send your angry feedback to p...
Jul 27, 2020•44 min•Season 1Ep. 7
This week Kyle is back on the show to talk about his visit to Kennywood for their re-opening, with thoughts on their new Dark Ride, Old Mill, and Jack Rabbit at 100 years old. You can find more on the Old Mill at Coaster101.com, and find us on all social media platforms @Coaster101. Send any podcast feedback to podcast@coaster101.com, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Thanks to JM Music Designs for providing our music. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign...
Jul 20, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 6
After discussing Candymonium last week, Kyle and Shane are back on to talk about their (re)opening day experience at Hersheypark. Learn about the new health safety measures, some other nice touchups Hershey did last offseason, and what Kyle and Shane's new favorite flat ride is! For more on Hershey, check out our review of Candymonium and why Reese's Cupfusion is one of our favorite dark rides: https://www.coaster101.com/2020/07/03/candymonium-media-preview/ https://www.coaster101.com/2020/07/07...
Jul 13, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 5
This week on the Coaster101 Podcast we've got reviews of TWO new roller coasters. First, Andrew and Eric are joined by Coaster101 writer Nick Weisenberger, who rode Orion at the First Rider Auction for the new giga coaster at Kings Island. Then, Kyle Lindner and Shane Joseph give their review of Candymonium, the new B&M hypercoaster now open at Hersheypark! For more info, check out the our full review of Orion: https://www.coaster101.com/2020/07/02/orion-giga-coaster-drops-into-kings-island/...
Jul 06, 2020•38 min•Season 1Ep. 4
This week we're talking new for 2020 coasters! By that we mean we're talking the ones we were most excited about back when the world was normal. We also talk about whether we think parks that aren't open yet will open their 2020 rides, and whether they even should open them. As always, make sure to subscribe and give us a rating and review wherever you're listening. Also, follow us all over social media @Coaster101, and visit Coaster101.com for more. Big thanks to JM Music Designs for providing ...
Jun 29, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 3
This week we're talking about the COVID-19 pandemic and park closures, as well as park re-openings. We're also joined by Chris Foshee from Worlds of Fun, who talks about what they've been doing to get ready for their re-opening. As always, make sure to subscribe and give us a rating and review wherever you're listening. Also, follow us all over social media @Coaster101, and visit Coaster101.com for more. Big thanks to JM Music Designs for providing our music. For more information on them, check ...
Jun 22, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Coaster101 is celebrating 15 years of news, interviews, reviews, attraction science and engineering breakdowns, and more.We're celebrating with a new Coaster101 podcast. In our inaugural episode we talk about some of our favorite attractions of the last 15 years. Make sure to subscribe and give us a review, and follow us all over social media @Coaster101. And if you prefer us in the classic written form, visit Coaster101.com Big thanks to JM Music Designs for providing our music. For more inform...
Jun 14, 2020•32 min•Season 1Ep. 1
