The Story is the Experience

Jody Maberry Show ep 353 The Story is The Experience

“It’s not just about the ride. It’s the story, the operations, the people in blue shirts picking up trash. That’s the magic.”

There is a unique kind of thrill when someone with a background in park interpretation and storytelling visits theme parks. As former park ranger, I love to explore the magic of theme parks from the inside out. In this episode, Jason Surrell returns to flip the script and ask me three questions. Our conversation pulled back the curtain on why themed entertainment has captured my curiosity and professional heart.

Believe it or not, it started with Lee Cockerell. My interest in theme parks wasn’t born from a childhood visiting Cinderella Castle. It actually came from learning how things operate behind the scenes. It’s the combination of story and operations and how even the smallest details support the larger guest experience. That hooks me every time.

We also talk about my favorite attraction, Flights of Passage. The storytelling embedded in Pandora is a masterclass in immersive design. Cast members even have their own character backstories. That level of narrative depth matters.

Jason also got me to talk about Magic Press, the publishing imprint I run through Morgan James. We’ve got exciting projects ahead, including one I’ve long promised: my own book. Yes, the podcast book is still in progress, and now, thanks to Jason’s nudge (and maybe your emails), I feel the accountability clock ticking again.

This episode is a great reminder that behind every attraction or book is a story. In fact, sometimes that story is the experience itself.