Podcast appearances and mentions of Aaron Wilson

Coming into the season with some pretty high standards as we enter Week 4 of the NFL, the Houston Texans have yet to grasp a win for the season as they currently sit at the bottom of the AFC South Division, 0-3. Set to take on rookie quarterback Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans this Sunday in hopes of gaining their first win, lots of questions are raised about the Texans' season following their 0-3 start. Weighing out Sunday's odds between the two, and with the offensive production still a major issue at hand, many wonder if this team can muster up enough points to get Sunday's victory. Talking production and a few personnel adjustments around the team recently, Aaron Wilson shares a few things to take note of as we head into Sunday's kickoff. 

It's Day 3 of IAAPA Expo Europe, and this episode of Skip the Queue brings you insights from industry leaders. Hear from Andreas Andersen (Liseberg), Peter van der Schans (IAAPA EMEA), Laura Read (Marwell Zoo), Aaron Wilson (ProSlide), and Robbi Jones (Katapult) on resilience, creativity, and the future of attractions.Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden, with co host Andy Povey and roving reporter Claire Furnival.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn. Show references:  https://www.liseberg.se/en/https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreas-veilstrup-andersen/Andreas Veilstrup Andersen is the CEO and President of the Liseberg Group, Sweden – operating one of Scandinavia's most visited amusement parks. Andreas has a legal and financial background and has been working in the amusement park industry since 2000.  First in several capacities at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark, later as Vice President of European operations at IAAPA EMEA in Brussels, Belgium. Andreas was the 2018 Chairman of IAAPA. He currently holds board positions at Farup Sommerland and Alsik Hotel in Denmark, as well as Momentum Leisure and Leo's Lekland, Europe's largest chain of FEC's. Andreas is heading up IAAPA's sustainability initiatives, and occasionally blogs on https://reflections.liseberg.se/.Plus, live from the Day 3 of the IAAPA Expo Europe show floor, we catch up with:Aaron Wilson - Vice President, Business Development Europe & Latin America, Proslide Technologyhttps://www.proslide.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronlouiswilson/Robbie Jones - Insights Director, Katapaulthttps://www.katapult.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrrobbiejones/Peter van der Schans - Executive Director & Vice President, IAAPA EMEAhttps://iaapa.org/expos-and-events/expo-europehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-van-der-schans-87715717/Laura Read - Chief Executive, Marwell Zoohttps://www.marwell.org.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-read-she-her-98110726/ Transcriptions:  Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, the podcast about the world's best attractions and the amazing people that work in them. I'm your host, Paul Marden, and together with my co-host, Andy Povey, and roving reporter Claire Furnival, we're here at day 3 of IAAPA Expo Europe. On today's show, Andy talks to Andreas Andersen, CEO and President of iseberg Group, about resilience. I meet Peter van der Schans from IAAPA EMEA, and we catch up with Laura Read from Marwell Zoo. First, let's go over to Andy.Andy Povey: So I'm joined now by Andreas Andersen, who's the chief exec of Liseberg, Scandinavia's most visited amusement park. Andreas, welcome to Barcelona. It's very good to see you here. Can you tell the listeners at home a little bit about Liseberg and what you do there?Andreas Andersen:  Sure. So I'm heading up one of the classic regional city-based parks in Northern Europe. So you have Liseberg, you have Tivoli in Copenhagen, you have Kornalund in Stockholm, and Linnanmaki in Helsinki. And we're part of this tradition of parks that have a very strong community base and a long history. Liseberg is 102 years old and three years old. And also parks that represent cultural heritage as well as reflect the cities we're located in. Lovely, lovely regional park in downtown Gothenburg. And if you haven't been, you should come visit.Andy Povey: Absolutely. I must admit, I haven't made it there myself yet. It's on the bucket list. So our theme for today's recording is about recovery and resilience. And recently, in your blog address, you wrote that you feel like for the past four years, you've been in constant crisis mode. Can you tell us a little bit more about that?Andreas Andersen: Well, I think a lot of executives or just people working in this industry can recognise that the last four or five years have been very turbulent, very, very, very volatile.Andreas Andersen: It all started with the pandemic in March 2020, we were at Lisa closed down for 17 months, so we didn't have any any business at all for for 17 months. Then we reopened in the middle of '21, very very hard— you know, with a lot of restrictions and an organisation that had not been you know operating anything for a long time and we also had to let go a lot of people. Then in '22, I think everybody experienced this giant rush, you know, that everybody wanted to get back into the park. So we couldn't really keep up with demand. And that was stressful in a different way. In '23, the market in the Nordics really suffered for some reason. It was a wit, summer and inflation, and interest rates.Andreas Andersen: And everything that went with, you could say, sort of the beginning of an economic downturn. And then, in 2024, our biggest investment, our biggest project expansion in the last 100 years, a large new indoor water park burned down. So it feels like these four or five years has really been this chain of crisis that we've had to get over and manage, basically.Andy Povey: Yeah, I mean, what we're hearing from people on the show floor is that the economic and political unrest that we have all over the Western world is creating some turbulence in the market. So talk to us a little bit more about the fire at Oceania. What happened?Andreas Andersen: We had been building the water park for almost three years, and we were six, seven weeks away from handover. It was some of the last works on the right installation that went wrong. It was a plastic welding that overheated, and these things happen, as you know.Andreas Andersen: Unfortunately, we lost a colleague in the fire and that was basically, you could say, that overshadowed, I would say, everything, especially in the first weeks. Andreas Andersen: That was devastating to all of us and obviously, especially his family. But soon after, we also had to make some decisions. You know, did we want to rebuild? How did we want to rebuild? At what pace? How would we finance? etc. etc. So you also very quickly move into the next phase of a crisis management and that is recovery. And we've been in that phase ever since. Andy Povey: Interesting. It's a devastating situation. I mean, your concern obviously has to be for the team and the people involved— not just those affected directly, but everybody on the floor who feels an emotional impact from this situation. So what tips would you give, as a leader, going through a situation like that, to anyone else listening who may be facing their own challenges?Andreas Andersen:  Well, I think I learned a lot during those weeks and months. And I think I learned that in a crisis, especially of this magnitude, everything becomes very naked. Everything becomes very raw. And you cannot really play a role as a leader. You have to be yourself. You have to be authentic. And it's okay to also show emotions and be caught up in this process of figuring out what to do with the project and the team and yourself when you meet challenges of this severity. Andreas Andersen:  So I would say be yourself, but also recognise that I always say that leadership in a crisis is a little bit like your biggest asset is the confidence that people have in you. And that confidence is something you build up over years. It's a little bit like a bank account that you can then draw on when the crisis hits. But you really have to make sure that you have something on that bank account. You can't borrow confidence. It's not up for loan. So you really, you know, crisis management, from a leadership perspective, actually starts a lot earlier than the crisis. It's about, you know, building a team that works well together, that trusts you and has confidence in you. And then, when the crisis hits, you know, you can draw on that trust, draw on that confidence. So I think that's two of the learnings that I had during this process.Andy Povey: I love the idea of the bank that you can draw on. We're making deposits in our bank every day, not just as a commercial leadership level, but a personal level as well. You need to have that resilience built in yourself. A lovely analogy. And I really love the idea of authenticity. So, if we move on now to talking a little bit more about what we do in an attraction, I think authenticity plays a really big part in that. So, how important is it for you to keep innovating at Liseberg?Andreas Andersen: It's super important because we are in a regional market. I mean, if you look at how our guests are composed, you know, we have 90% Swedish people and then 10%, maybe 12% in a good year from other, especially Nordic countries. But the majority are Swedish and about 60% of our total volume is actually from the local market. And if you want to attract the local market and you want to drive revisitation, Gothenburg is a large city, but it's not a huge city. You have to keep the product fresh. You have to reinvest, reinvent, and constantly adapt. And I think that's actually... part of the, you could say, the formula for these Nordic city-based parks that we've actually had to all reinvent, you know, throughout our history. I mean, Tivoli, that was founded in 1843, it was built by this crazy entrepreneur called Geo Carstensen.Andreas Andersen: And when Tivoli opened on the 15th of August, it was late, it was over budget, and it was not quite finished. And he got a question from a journalist, you know, asking him, you know, when will Tivoli be finished? And his response was, 'Never.' Tivoli will never be finished. And I think, you know, it's almost 200 years ago that he said this, but I think it encompasses sort of the real DNA of our industry that we have to constantly evolve with our guests and reinvent ourselves. And I think, again, that the city, the Nordic city-based parks have really been quite good at that.Andy Povey: Obviously, I mean, Liseberg with 100 years, Tivoli with almost 200 years. There's something good there. You're doing something right. So more recently, you've taken a position with, I'm going to pronounce this awfully, Leo's Lekland. Compare and contrast Liseberg to Europe's largest chain of family entertainment centres?Andreas Andersen:  I mean, there are a lot of similarities and also a lot of differences. I think what is interesting for me, you know, working with Leos is that it's, in many ways, the model is the same. I mean, you pay an entrance fee, you spend a few hours with your family, you may eat a lunch or buy an ice cream or a plush animal. So in many ways, it's the same. But I think, when we're talking about these attractions that are really designed for shorter visits, there is a convenience perspective to them that it's slightly different than, you know, visiting an amusement park or a theme park for a full day. I remember once I had a conversation with one of our competitors in this market, not FECs as such, but, you know, these shorter visits, you know, two, three-hour visit attractions, very often midway attractionsAndreas Andersen: And he said, 'What we sell is actually not.' necessarily an experience, it is two hours spent and I think that's a little bit of a different perspective on an attraction that you actually also go to, Leo's Lekland, to have your kids, you know, be really really tired when they get home, you know, in today's world, where everything is a lot of a lot of stuff is digital and and the kids sit there with their with the tablets and their phones and or their game consoles or they're online with their friends. I think play has a huge and important role to play in the development of motoric and social skills for kids. I think physical play will be something we're going to discuss a lot in the decades to come, because I think we lost a couple of generations the last 20 years. And I think that's a super dangerous thing. So getting back to your question, a lot of similarities, but there are also some differences and I've learned a lot by working with them.Andy Povey: Fantastic. The talk about play really resonates. We lost a year, maybe 18 months through COVID. I have 11-year-old twin girls. I love the idea that me taking them to our local FEC on a Saturday morning so I could recover from a hangover while they went and played was a really positive, good parent thing to do. So thank you for that. We're at the show. What are you looking forward to seeing when you get out on the show floor, when we eventually let you go out on the show floor?Andreas Andersen:  Oh! I very rarely have a plan. I like to just stroll around. Actually, I see it a little bit like visiting an amusement park. You shop for experiences and you see what happens. I think one of the great things about these expos is the fact that, and that's probably what I look most forward to, is that you meet your industry colleagues.Andreas Andersen:  A company like ours, Liseberg, we do not exist; we do not operate within a chain structure. We do not have a corporate mother that knows a lot about what we do. We do not have other parks that we can benchmark with. So these shows is also a little bit a way for us to get out of the bubble and meet other people that work with the same thing as we do. So it's actually not as much the expo floor or the events or the educational program as it is meeting the people. I enjoy.Andy Povey: Andreas, it's been great talking to you. Thank you very much for your time and have a fantastic show.Andreas Andersen:  And I wish you the very same. Thank you.Paul Marden: Now let's head over to the show floor. So we are here on the ProSlide stand, and I'm here with Aaron. Aaron, introduce yourself. Tell us a little bit about ProSlide.Aaron  Wilson: Hi, nice to meet you. Thanks for coming in. I'm Aaron Wilson, Senior Vice President, Business Development, EMEA, with ProSlide. I've been with ProSlide for nine years. We're focused really on the design and innovation of rides. That's where we really form the nucleus of who ProSlide is.Paul Marden: Okay, so what are you launching here at this year's IAAPA?Aaron  Wilson:  Yeah, so let's walk over here to our model table. Where we have a large model of our newest feature, which is the Hive. We actually opened up two rides this year, one at Chimelong in China, the most attended water park in the world. Paul Marden: Wow. Aaron  Wilson:  And that's with a five-person family raft, everyone seated facing each other.Paul Marden: That's amazing. So you're going through this on a five-person ring kind of thing?Aaron  Wilson:  Exactly, a five-person tube. So it's a tight radius helix curve. So as you enter, you're entering into a completely open, basically cathedral space. But as you're dropping and turning very quickly, you're staying really stuck along the outside of the wall, feeling those centrifugal forces. And you have a 360-degree global view. So you're able to look forward, backwards, upwards, down. See everywhere where you came from and where you're headed.Paul Marden: It's amazing, isn't it? Because you've got transparent sides on it. So you can see outside as well.Aaron  Wilson:  Absolutely. And there's a ton of theming potential here. In the middle is a support structure. And so we're working on theming there in the middle, if we can. Special effects around the outside. In this case, it's transparent. Exactly.Paul Marden: You've got some amazing models on the table here. This is one of those rides that you can't really bring to IAAPA and experience in real life because we'd all have to be in our swimmers.Aaron  Wilson:  Unfortunately, yes.Paul Marden: But some amazing, amazing models. What's innovative about this? What's this bringing to the market, which is unusual?Aaron  Wilson:  So you have that 360-degree helix turn. We've completely opened it up. So normally in a turn, you can only see a few meters in front of you. In this case, it's a feature that's completely open as you're making that turn. And so you can see everywhere, right? Up and down, forwards, backwards. And that's really part of the differentiation. But obviously the biggest sensation is actually that experience you feel as you have those centrifugal forces around the outside. With a five-person boat, you're looking at about 800 pounds, and you're whipping around the outside, gaining tons of speed throughout. So it's really exciting. The additional interesting thing about this element is we're also doing a two-person tube and a small compact footprint.Aaron  Wilson:  So it's very adaptable for indoor parks or even outdoor parks that don't have a ton of space. That compact footprint gives a lot of flexibility in the design.Paul Marden: So you've got this in China at the moment, you say?Aaron  Wilson:  Yep, and one in the US. And there are a lot more to come in the next one to two years already programmed and open. So we're really excited about this for the water parks.Paul Marden: That's amazing. So we've been asking everybody to get their crystal ball out and tell us trends for 2026. Where do you think the market is going? What do you think that we can expect to see this time next year at IAAPA? Aaron  Wilson:  Water coasters. Water coasters are the big thing. Paul Marden: What on earth is a water coaster? Aaron  Wilson:  Yeah, well, let's head over here to another model table. We have a couple of examples here. So I would say, like in the last couple of years, specifically speaking about Europe, we've seen an amazing response to our water coaster technology using water propulsion. We call it the rocket blast.Paul Marden: Right.Aaron  Wilson:  And so what you have is a series of injectors placed along the uphill sections that actually push the boat uphill. That's amazing. And so with that technology, we're able to do a number of things. And this actually, this ride opened about a year and a half ago at Land of Legends in Turkey. This is, you know, one of the biggest things that will stand out to you here is, as you're looking around all the models, what's very common with a water park is you have—gravity-fed rides, meaning you climb a tower and use gravity to go down. Paul Marden:  This is very flat and long. Aaron  Wilson:  Exactly. This is built essentially on grade. There's no tower here. So, I mean, the first thing is accessibility. So now, as you know, there's no steps. You know, water parks are historically very difficult to meet accessibility. Paul Marden: Yeah. Do you know, I've never thought of that before. But of course, you need to climb the stairs to be able to get to the top of the tower.Aaron  Wilson:  So this case, this is called Turtle Coaster. And this is at Land of Legends. Our guests can walk or, you know, walk or wheel.Paul Marden: Yep.Aaron  Wilson:  As they want up this ramp. This is about four meters off grade. We have a little bit of a drop here. So this is a closed-circuit coaster, right? Meaning the guests are finishing and ending in the same location. Also something different from a water ride. Normally you're going up a tower and finishing in a pool. Here you're finishing and starting at the same location, much like a mechanical dry-growing coaster.Paul Marden: And this, just for listeners' benefit, this has got eight or nine turns in there. It's really, you know. It's going to be a normal coaster-type ride, isn't it?Aaron  Wilson:  This is a 420-meter-long coaster. You're looking at about a minute-and-a-half water ride, which is crazy. Most water rides are about 30 seconds, you know? So it's a really long experience. You have eight uphill last sections, along with what else is unique with our technology is we're able to incorporate these flat last sections. So much like a mechanical coaster has that launch element to it. We're able to do that with water propulsion. So right off the stop, you have this completely flat launch blast. Up, you're getting the elevation. You go around for 420 meters, a series of flying saucer features, uphill sections. Coming back into a water channel.Aaron  Wilson:  And landing in the landing pool, it picks you up on a moving station conveyor. So this conveyor is actually moving at a very slow pace. Guests are cutting off and getting back on.Paul Marden: This is not a lazy river, is it? That you're just sat around for a little while. This is going to hair around.Aaron  Wilson:  Absolutely not. And then here at Siam Park is another coaster here. We opened up in '23. Doolin. So you had two lanes.Paul Marden: Oh, wow.Aaron  Wilson:  And you're racing side by side throughout the experience.Paul Marden: That is amazing. Well, Aaron, look— it's been wonderful to meet you. Find out more about what you're doing here. Looks super, super exciting. I want to get my swimmers on and go and try some, but maybe not whilst we're here in Barcelona, but maybe one time soon.Andy Povey: So we're on the show floor again and I'm with Robbie Jones from Katapult. Robbie, please tell the listeners at home a little bit about Katapult, what you do with them.Robbie  Jones: So we design themed attractions, experiences and destinations. So that can be anything from theme parks all the way through to museums. And our— I guess our core competency is design stage, so pre-concept designs. We get involved quite a lot in theme parks that are very early stages. And my role in that is quite unique within the team of creatives and designers, in that I look towards the insights. So sometimes I work with feasibility partners to kind of pull together the economic requirements for a theme park or an attraction to exist. But more often than not, it's about the guest journey, the guest behaviour, how can we make the guest experience as best as possible by understanding information research that we might have already but also doing some primary research as well to make sure we're creating like that amazing moment for every person that walks through the door.Andy Povey: Fantastic. That sounds really, really impressive. Looking back over 2025, what are your key takeaways from this year so far?Robbie  Jones: Goodness, me. I think I'll speak with a lot of what the industry would say, which is it's been a little bit sticky in places in 2025. There's certainly been more maybes than yeses or nos in terms of projects. But I think we're starting to see things beginning to move. Someone's put some oil in the engine somewhere, which is great. And there's some really exciting projects coming up. Obviously, as a UK-based company, seeing the likes of Universal, Poodie Foo, setting up shop. It's going to be really interesting to see how that impacts not just the UK, but the European market as well.Andy Povey: I couldn't agree more. I really, really look forward to seeing that anticipated improvement in quality of experience that we'll get across the UK. So looking forward to '26 now, what are you anticipating as being the exciting things we're talking about in 12 months' time?Robbie  Jones: Gosh, I mean, I think there will be an element of a quiet time, I think, especially with the new build theme parks, whether that's in the UK or, of course, in the Middle East. I think there'll be an element of quiet that we need to get used to in terms of waiting to see what the next big thing is or the next IP that's going to be in those rides. But I certainly see a lot more positive vibes coming out of the industry. I think we'll see more exciting local experiences, maybe not just big global ones. And yeah, just on the horizon, maybe plenty more opportunity and positivity.Paul Marden: It has been my first IAAPA Expo, and I've had a whale of a time. And I am joined here by Peter van der Schans, the VP and Exec Director of IAAPA EMEA. Peter. Tell me a little bit about what the show has been like for you because I've had an amazing time.Peter van der Schans: Well, so did I. The funny thing is we've always worked so hard on these expos. It takes a hell of a lot of time and it all comes back in this one week. And once you exit that plane or train or however you arrive, you start in a bus and then it's over before you know it.Peter van der Schans: And the week is done and you fall in this big black hole. That's where we're going now. So it's been a wonderful week and it's great to see all our members and every industry leader that is visiting us. We're a small team at IAAPA. We're not a huge organisation, but we have our members supporting us. It's a team effort from both IAAPA and our members, basically. And it's only pride.Paul Marden: One of the most important parts of the show, I think, is the educational side of what you do. There's been a big educational program. Are there any big themes that you've spotted coming out of that education strand?Peter van der Schans: So the education program actually is built with our members and by our members. So, of course, we guide it and shape it. But it's actually done by our members. So it's our members saying, 'Hey, this is where I have issues with. This is the trends I see. This is where I think this is going, which makes it always accurate because we have that industry knowledge by our members.' So in that sense, what we saw this year, there's a lot of focus on AI, obviously, the hot topic nowadays. Paul Marden: It's not a single interview I do where somebody hasn't dropped AI into it. So it's a hot topic.Peter van der Schans: It's a hot topic. And I'm very curious also to see where it's going because right now, if you see execution, the focus is much on back office. For example, Parks Reunidos for example, shared on stage, that they can now predict their next, the next day in visitor numbers with accuracy of 93% which is perfect. Things like that. But I'm curious exactly to see how it's going to evolve in the future to the front end. So what is that visitor going to see in the future? Whenever I go to a theme park, for example, will I be recognised by my name? And if I ride a ride, will the animatronic know my name, for example? Things like that. I think there's limitless possibilities.Peter van der Schans: And we're just at the verge of the beginning. And it's also so, so, so excited about that education program that we share what we know and we work together to get to that point to make it better. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. The collaboration in this sector is just amazing. And IAAPA is just the living proof of that. So many smiling faces. You know that there were competitors together on stands just chatting and enjoying. It's a really enriching experience seeing everybody work together.Peter van der Schans: It is, it is. And the funny thing is I've worked in this industry since I was 16. I started as a ride operator. I didn't know any better than when I had an issue when I became supervisor and manager that I could call the park at the other end of the country and ask, like, 'Hey, how are you dealing with this?' And they helped me. And then I worked at the cinema industry and suddenly I realised that that is not that common in all industries, to say it lightly. It was much more competitive and I didn't want to share anything and really opened my eyes in a way that I realised, like, 'hey, this is special'. And also made me realise that IAAPA plays a big part in that as well, as an organisation to bring all those people together, to provide that platform to work together.Paul Marden: Yes, the facilitators of the community, aren't you? I'm going to ask you a slightly controversial question here. Outside of show hours, what has been your favourite party or event? And you can name drop any one of them. It's absolutely fine. Nobody will be upset with you.Peter van der Schans: I must say the ballpark reception, obviously for the British people. Always good beers. The Tuesday events with the opening ceremony, where we really kick off the week. They made me dance again. I don't recommend watching that back, but that's always just a fun, fun morning where we really kick off the week with a big energy, with a nice connection to the host city as well. Peter van der Schans: It's always fun to work on that and to execute that, but also the evening event, the opening reception where we gather. Well, this year we had 1,400 industry professionals coming together and mixing, mingling in Tibidabo. Without rain, thankfully. Paul Marden: Well, yes, this is the thing. So I was watching the skies thinking this could go really badly wrong. The BBC weather forecasts were not looking good. Peter van der Schans: There's this tradition in Barcelona that you bring eggs to nuns and they make sure you'll have good weather. We did that. We brought three dozens.Paul Marden: Took a lot of eggs. There was a lot of eggs broken in the making of this party. But you did very well. We're at the end. And everybody gets to heave a big sigh of relief that the show's done. It's in the can. But there's also a touch of sadness and fondness looking forward to what comes next. So next year, what have you got coming up first? I understand there's something in the Middle East.Peter van der Schans: Yeah, absolutely. We actually last year at this expo in Amsterdam, we announced the launch of our newest expo, IAAPA Expo Middle East, which is actually the first time in IAAPA's history that we built a new expo from scratch.Peter van der Schans: Never done that before, our members and and people in the industry ask us year after year like, 'When is IAAPA coming to the Middle East?' Of course, there's a huge amount of investments going on in that region. It's crazy. And in that sense, we we simply listen to our members and decide that this is the time we need to go. And we're excited to get closer and closer to the actual launch of the event in March in 2026 in Abu Dhabi.Paul Marden: So March 2026, Abu Dhabi is our next event. But there is another event coming next year. IAAPA is coming to London, which I'm very pleased about. Tell me, is the planning all starting on Monday? Are you already a long way through planning? Plans you can share with me about what's coming up in London?Peter van der Schans: We will have an exciting program for sure, but we're not there yet with with the actual education programme. That takes a little bit more of time, but we do have the show Florencial already and that's looking to be another record-breaking show. What I think also remarkable is that we will have one third more education than we will have in our previous show. So we always had two conference rooms— we'll have three in London. So we'll have actually quite a big increase in our educational offerings as well.Paul Marden: That's amazing. I cannot wait. This has been my first IAAPA, but it won't be my last IAAPA. I think I can confidently say that. So grateful for you and the team inviting us along as Skip the Queue to be part of what you've been doing. We've had an amazing time and I cannot wait to see you again in London.Peter van der Schans: Thank you very much and happy to have you here.Paul Marden: We are here at the end of day three of IAAPA Expo Europe. We've had a wonderful time. Andy Povey: I'm broken. Paul Marden: Oh man, I'm going home a broken man. The voice is barely holding on. I am here with Laura Read from Marwell Zoo. Welcome to Skip the Queue, Laura.Laura Read: Hello. Thank you for having me.Paul Marden: Laura, what's it been like for you? What's the benefit of coming to IAAPA for you?Laura Read: So this is my first IAAPA. For me, this was all around looking at what's new for visitor attractions, what's innovative, what's coming up, and what could we potentially bring to the visitors of Marwell Zoo that might be exciting and might drive more visitors to come to us, really, ultimately. It's all about, for us, diversification, keeping the zoo product at the core of our offer, obviously, but seeing how we can augment that with other things.Paul Marden: So what can we expect? Is it going to be a 4D immersive ride experience? Water slides? Or are you looking for something that enriches the in-real-life experience for you? And it's a bit more low-tech.Laura Read: Oh, I'd love to put in like a water park. Do you know what? That's something like the coolest stalls. Like going around going, 'oh, I'd love to design a water park. That's so fun. No, no'. So for us, it's really about looking at sort of smaller, lower-level, new attractions that we can bring in, you know, we're primarily a family audience. So it's what do kids want to play on? You know, I've seen some really cool little ride-on Jeeps that we think would work really, really well because we also want to stay true to our ethos. You know, Marwell's built its reputation on our conservation work, our hands-on conservation work in the field, you know, reversing species decline and also around sustainability. So sustainability is really core to our offer.Laura Read: This is not about turning Marwell into a theme park or a water park or anything like that, because the animals are still very much the stars of the show, as is the conservation work. But it's about how we can best utilise our space to provide that density of guest experience. And I think seeing all the things here today. That's where the inspiration comes in.Paul Marden: I think it's really interesting, isn't it? Because when you take your kids to the zoo, you need some space. You need a palate cleanser between the animals, don't you? To give the kids time to burn off some energy, to do something a little bit different. And then they come back re-energised and you're hiding the vegetables. You're teaching them about the conservation efforts and all the really important stuff that you do, but hidden around lots of things that keep them happy and engaged in what's going on.Laura Read: Exactly. The problem with zoos is the animals— they don't care that they're the exhibits.Laura Read: And, you know, we are a primarily outdoor attraction. Extremes of heat, rainy days, animals disappear. We know that. We know that the perennial problem is: I didn't see any animals because we have really, really high animal welfare levels and standards. And if those animals want to go off show and take themselves off to bed or away from the public view, they all can and should and do. So we need something that can keep kids particularly engaged and entertained, hopefully getting across a bit of education and messaging as well at the same time. That's a massive tick in the box. But, you know, it fills in the gaps when those animals just aren't playing ball.Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Andy, what's been the highlight of day three for you, mate?Andy Povey: So I think it's actually talking to Laura.Paul Marden: Such a charmer.Andy Povey: Let me finish. Let me justify. It's really picking up the fact that this isn't just a theme park show. Yeah. There are elements for everything you could possibly do any day out any attraction, even in any shopping centre or any place you go to where there's large crowds of people— so it's all of that kind of stuff. I think is it's refreshing to see it through someone else's eyes, through our conversations.Laura Read: I was going to say, 'I have to say,'  Before I was chief exec at Marwell, I ran a really large, shopping centre like retail, leisure, events, and destination. And I'm amazed that this is not on more commercial real estate people's radar. I look to see if there's anyone from a previous company here, then there isn't on the attendees list. And I'm like, 'Wow,' this is all the stuff that we should have been thinking about five years ago, ten years ago, when we were realising that diversification from a retail point of view is so important because of online shopping. So that's really interesting what you say. It's not just the theme parks.Andy Povey: No, absolutely not. It's all about the day out. And ultimately, that's all. We're all here to do is we work in a fun industry, and fun doesn't have to just be an amusement park.Paul Marden: Yeah, I found it really interesting. Seeing the things that I've seen has stretched my definition of what a visitor attraction actually is, because it is more than just a theme park. As you wander around and you see the different exhibitors, I was expecting to see... The ride designers and some of the really cool tech that I've seen. But there was other stuff that I've seen that I just hadn't expected.Andy Povey: No, I mean, I was chatting yesterday to a guy who supplies park benches and litter bins.  You see them everywhere. Paul Marden: I say the park bench thing. I remember when I was working at the Botanic Gardens in Wales as it was being built, the importance of the park bench and sitting on them. And they were beautiful park benches, but they were also super comfy. The importance of a park bench, like a good toilet, can't be underestimated.Laura Read: You can always tell someone who works in visitor attraction operations, when they go to any other visitor attraction, they take pictures of the bins. I think that is an absolute giveaway. When I go places with my family and the kids are there, taking pictures of animals or taking pictures of each other or whatever they're doing. And I'm there. Oh, I'm just gonna take a picture of that sign. You know, like.Andy Povey: I have another confession to make. I had a conversation with my wife who took the kids to an attraction a couple of weeks ago. And I was most distressed that she hadn't taken a picture of the till for me.Paul Marden: Oh, you would know what the part number and everything about that till, wouldn't you? Such a retail geek.Paul Marden: Laura, thank you so much for joining us on Skip the Queue. It has been delightful. I feel that there might be a full episode coming on, talking about the zoo, if you'll have me.Laura Read: Yes, absolutely. Bring it on. Paul Marden: Oh, wonderful. Thank you so much.Andy Povey: Andy, take me to the airport.Paul Marden: If you enjoyed this episode, please like and comment in your podcast app. It really helps more people to find us. Show notes and links to all our guests this week are available on our website, skipthequeue.fm. It's been a massive team effort to take Skip the Queue to IAAPA. A huge thank you to Emily Burrows and Sami Entwistle, Steve Folland and Wenalyn Dionaldo, Claire Furnival and Andy Povey, as well as Erica Washington-Perry and her team at IAAPA Global Communications.Paul Marden: Next week, we're wrapping up our IAAPA theme, talking to Choni Fernandez, Chief Sustainability Officer at PortAventura Entertainment, and Jakob Wahl, President and CEO of IAAPA. See you then.  The 2025 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsTake the Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

Kicking into Week 3 of the NFL season following last night's battle between the Dolphins and the Bills, the Texans head into Sunday on a bit of a rough start, standing at 0-2 as they look to take on Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday. Hoping to gain their first win of the season and addressing a few issues that still need adjusting before the weeks get rolling, Aaron Wilson shares a few positives and negatives he's seen from the Texans these recent weeks, along with what the Texans must execute proficiently to secure the win over the Jaguars on Sunday. 

SportsTalk790 Texans insder Aaron Wilson joins Wex and AC to talk all things surrounding the issues with the Texans offense and the line woes heading into Week 3. 

Ecstatic that the NFL season is now underway, with Week 1 officially in the books, the Texans get off to a rocky start following last Sunday's season opener loss to Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams. Rolling into Week 2 following last night's Thursday night kickoff, the Texans take on Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, set for a Monday night face-off. Hoping to level out their wins and losses this week regarding a few injuries and lingering issues, Aaron Wilson shares a few pointers heading into Monday's game, along with what aspects the Texans must sustain in the set games and weeks to come.    

KPRC 2 Sports and SportsTalk790's Aaron Wilson joins Wex and AC to talk about the Texans' joint practice, thoughts on the C.J. Gardner-Johnson injury and more!

KPRC's Aaron Wilson Joins After C.J. Gardner Johnson Goes Down During Texans Training Camp

KPRC's Aaron Wilson Joins After C.J. Gardner Johnson Goes Down During Texans Training Camp

During Hour 1 Aaron Wilson from KPRC2 joined the show discussing the Houston Texans' upcoming season and training camp musings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Hour 1 we were joined by Aaron Wilson from KPRC2 in Houston covering the Texans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

- Ian Rapoport vs Aaron Wilson? Which reporter will be right about Joe Mixon? - Will Joe Mixon be able to return from his foot injury by Week 1? Does this affect the Texans long-term? - Is DeMeco Ryans right to blame Ian Rapoport for...doing his job?!? - And stay tuned for another "Mailbag Monday!"

SportsTalk790 and KPRC 2 Sports' Aaron Wilson joins the The A-Team to dicuss expectations for the Houston Texans entering the start of training camp. Is C.J. Stroud ready for a breakout season? Can the offensive line be the BIG selling point to fans by the end of camp? Who is the NAME to remember this upcoming summer? 

Dr. Aaron Wilson is back online to share exactly where this spring came out in the rankings. It might surprise you! We also provide an outlook on what we can expect from Ohio's weather for the rest of the growing season season and what that means for crop health. Sign up to receive monthly and quarterly […]

This week on the show Maine and Miranda recap all the action from the week in professional grappling. We break down the entire WNO 28 main card from FloGrappling, and UFC BJJ Episode 1. We discuss the main event where Mica Galvão put on a dominant performance to capture the WNO Middleweight Championship from Jonnatas Gracie. In the news section of the show, we discuss the debut of the much-anticipated UFC BJJ: Road to the Title, which is now airing daily for free on the UFC's YouTube channel. We analyze the format, a TUF-style reality show featuring two teams of lightweight (155 lbs) and welterweight (170 lbs) grapplers competing in the CJI-style pit and ruleset. We talked about the coaches, Mikey Musumeci and Rerisson Gabriel, and discussed their eventual championship fight at the finale. We break down the team selections, discussing the incredible depth on Team Gabriel with established no-gi stand outs like Andrew Tackett, Keith Krikorian, and Gianni Grippo, against Team Musumeci's squad led by IBJJF World Champion Isaac Doederlein. We talk about the first episode, which saw Andrew Tackett secure a dominant 70-second RNC sub over Aaron Wilson. In the recap of WNO 28 we discussed the main event between Mica Galvão and Middleweight Championship Jonnatas Gracie.We break down Mica's beautiful and fluid body lock passing game, analyzing how his relentless leg pummelling and use of staples systematically passed through the defensive guard of Jonnata's Gracie multiple times in the match. We also talk about Mica's post-fight comments and the potential for future superfights against Pedro Marhino at 205 for his shot at a third belt. In the co-main event, we discuss the huge upset with Kit Dale winning a decision victory over legend Xande Ribeiro.  We analyze how Kit's style and persistent half guard passing from the knee shield completely controlled the pace of the matchPlus, we recap the rest of the stacked main card. We break down B-Team representative Declan Moody's shocking sub-minute inside heel hook finish on Fellipe Andrew. We also discuss the powerhouse women's heavyweight bout that saw Paige Ivette Clymer secure her own inside heel hook against Kauane Ramos. We talk about the return of Lucas "Hulk" Barbosa from his MMA run, as he ground out a tough decision win over the game, short-notice replacement Dory Aoun.We discussed the unorthodox game Kyle Chambers used to secure a decision over Victor Silverio.Finally, we give a brief preview of the upcoming Polaris 32 on June 28th. We discuss the historic nature of the event, as it's the promotion's first-ever Women's Squads card, pitting Team North America against Team Europe in their Squads format. Recorded 7-16-2025

Following the conclusion of minicamp around the NFL and focusing on Houston, the Texans look to be on the right track in regards to ramping up for the start of the season with training camp set to come early in August. Prospects chosen from the draft along with pickups from the agency, mixed with additions like Christian Kirk & Nick Chubb make the Texans look to be strong contenders coming out of the AFC South. Joining Sean and Dan is no other than Texans Insider Aaron Wilson with a few takeaways from the Texans 2025 minicamp and what to look forward to ahead of the season set to kickoff in September. 

New Texans Safety CJ Gardner-Johnson speaks to Aaron Wilson and ITL reacts to what he had to say.

With AC out, Wex keeps you entertained with recapping Tuesday terrific outing from Lance McCullers Jr. Plus, what's up with C.J. Stroud and his shoulder? Texans reporter Aaron Wilson lets you know!

KPRC 2 Sports and SportsTalk 790's Aaron Wilson gets you caught up on everything from Texans OTAs and what's the current status of C.J. Stroud following another missed practice. 

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! In this conversation, Kevin Johnson interviews Aaron from Wilson Products, discussing his unique journey from appliance repair to becoming a key player in the welding industry. Aaron shares insights into the gas distribution sector, including the complexities of cylinder rental and ownership, the supply chain of gases, and the importance of hydro testing for safety. He also delves into the factors influencing gas prices and how small distributors can compete with larger companies in a highly regulated market. In this conversation, Aaron discusses the competitive landscape of independent distributors in the welding industry, highlighting the challenges they face compared to larger companies. He emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with customers and dispelling misconceptions about pricing and service. Aaron shares unique customer requests and memorable experiences, showcasing the dedication and passion of Wilson Products in providing quality service and products. The discussion also touches on the advantages of being a family-owned business and the significance of having a demo room for customers to try out equipment.If you'd like to contact Aaron, his contact info is below:Aaronschaffer@wilsonproducts.comhttps://www.wilsonproducts.com/We want to hear the hard and expensive lessons you've learned while running your welding business. We also want to hear your hilarious job site stories. Share your best shenanigan story with us. Head over to www.WeldingBusinessOwners.com to book a short call.

The Astros' baffling injury history continues — why does this keep happening, and is it just bad luck or something deeper? ITL breaks down the latest and tries to make sense of it all. Plus, Aaron Wilson reports C.J. Stroud is dealing with a “tight muscle shoulder” — should that be seen as encouraging or concerning? And for today's QOTD: What speech still sticks with you to this day? From locker rooms to legends, the ITL crew shares the words that left a lasting impact.

Aaron Wilson is a Soul Fighters BJJ Black Belt, a former MMA fighter and current professional Jiu Jitsu athlete with appearances in UFC Fightpass, the Tower Grand Prix, EBI, Fight2Win, Third Coast Grappling, and more.Watch & Listen ➡️ linktr.ee/thebjjfoxcastThank you to our sponsor SALT Electrolytes! Use the code "Foxcast15" to save 15% off your first order at www.saltelectrolytes.com.Follow us on Instagram ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/thebjjfoxcastFollow us on TikTok ➡️ https://www.tiktok.com/@TheBJJFoxcastFollow us on Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/thebjjfoxcast(00:00) - SALT Ad(01:00) - Academy Black Belt Promotions and Competitions(20:14) - Tournament Rules and Referee Standards(29:25) - Navigating the Jiu-Jitsu Journey(35:57) - Tournament Matches and Coaching Experience(48:42) - Bonds, Travel, and Hair Transplants(53:19) - Meat Restaurants and Vegas Memories(01:05:15) - Return to Gi Training Progression(01:14:46) - Jiu-Jitsu Trends and Grifts(01:24:57) - Teaching Techniques and Troubleshooting Methods(01:29:34) - Learning and Growth as Black Belts(01:33:54) - Jiu-Jitsu Culture and Training Mindset(01:44:16) - Mexican Family Breakfast and Hometown Adventures(01:54:20) - Racing Cars and Rich White Dude(01:58:02) - Training Transitions and Supportive Coaches(02:06:03) - Building a Jiu-Jitsu Culture(02:14:21) - Elite Athlete Training Mindset

Seth and Sean discuss some of what Will Anderson Jr. had to say to Aaron Wilson and to the NFL Network, the Trey Hendrickson standoff getting a little weird with him doing a press conference, and the impossibility of rigging the NBA draft lottery.

Seth and Sean discuss some of what Will Anderson Jr. had to say to Aaron Wilson and the NFL Network, the standoff between the Bengals and Trey Hendrickson getting a little weird, the NBA Draft Lottery being impossible to rig, and their excitement for the big games in week 1 of the College football season.

Seth and Sean discuss the Astros 2-1 win over the Royals off of a Paredes Walk-off HR, why folks need to beware of fakes on this the NFL schedule release day, go through the day's Headlines, discuss some of what Will Anderson Jr. had to say to Aaron Wilson and the NFL Network, the standoff between the Bengals and Trey Hendrickson getting a little weird, the NBA Draft Lottery being impossible to rig, their excitement for the big games in week 1 of the College football season, when we all can stop the classic "it's a long season" defense of the Astros, react to Bill Belichick being asked about his girlfriend on ESPN, dive in and assess Jonathan Alexander's article on which Texans are trending up and which are trending down, discuss the Rockets and Spurs being the leaders in the pack to trade for Giannis or various key pieces the Celtics must wave goodbye to, what Will Anderson Jr. is honing in on to achieve another double-digit sack season, and the Texans needing to step up their game in terms of the schedule release video.

With yesterday officially kicking off the 2025 NFL Draft, many fans across the league are in high praises as their favorite teams begin selecting players they trust and believe can change their franchise in the future years to come. With the Texans holding the 25th pick in the First Round and later trading their pick to the Giants, has left lots of fans here in the city a bit confused as to why. Aaron Wilson joins Sean and Dan with a small proposal as to what the Texans' may be thinking moving and trading picks around this years draft, as he's for certain there is a method to what looks to be total madness later to be revealed possibly today. 

We catch up with Aaron Wilson, assistant professor – ag weather and climate field specialist at the Ohio State University, for a look at weather around the midwest and how it is affecting farmers. Then this week's Farmer Forum features Ryan Bivens of Kentucky and Scott Henry of Illinois.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are once again joined by Dr. Aaron Wilson to share an outlook on what we can expect from Ohio's weather for the spring planting season. We reflect on drought recovery, the heavy rains over the first weekend in April and what the summer is shaping up to look like. For drought resources, visit: go.osu.edu/Ohio_drought. Sign […]

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Friday, March 28, 2025. Lakota Software Solutions and the WV Small Business Development Center team up to grow the Fairmont company…residents and businesses are coming together to help those affected by the recent flooding in McDowell County…and Marshall University offers courses on lifelong durable skills like critical thinking…on today's daily304.   #1 – From WV SBDC – Founded in 2007, Lakota Software Solutions is the brainchild of Aaron Wilson and Phillip Merritt, who worked together at the NASA facility in Fairmont. As a leading biometrics company, Lakota offers commercial software solutions in addition to government contract solutions. Lakota's founders--both graduates of West Virginia University and Fairmont State University--take pride in giving back to the state, specifically through the company's internship program.  When it came time to grow the company, they connected with Todd Crump from the West Virginia Small Business Development Center, who helped them advance their goals. The company has indeed grown its footprint. Based out of the I-79 Technology Park in Fairmont, Lakota Software Solutions has been recognized as one of the premier providers of software support and exporting software outside of the U.S. Read more: https://wvsbdc.com/scaling-success-how-wv-sbdc-helped-lakota-software-grow-at-home-and-abroad/   #2 – From WVSOS – In this episode of “Just Three Questions,” West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner chats with Delegate David Green about the flood recovery that's underway in McDowell County.   Approximately 40 bridges were washed away or damaged by the floods in February. Watch the video to learn how you can help local businesses get back on their feet. “Just Three Questions!” is a weekly video series hosted by Secretary Warner to talk with community leaders about issues important to business development in West Virginia. Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iANdGkfFzY   #3 – From MARSHALL UNIVERSITY – Marshall University believes in preparing learners for a future where skills matter—not just for today, but for life. Durable skills—like communication, critical thinking, and emotional awareness—are called “durable” because they last a lifetime. Discounted rates are available for nonprofit organizations who are interested in purchasing durable skills courses. Learn more: https://www.marshall.edu/microcredentials/durable-skills/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Brownfield's Nicole Heslip visited with Ohio state climatologist Aaron Wilson during the Ohio Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference in Ada, Ohio.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Adam Clanton and Adam Wexler makes his return to talk about what's going on in Houston sports and more on March 10th 2025.Texans trade Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders.Washington sends back draft picks in return. Texans make other moves on the first day of legal tampering. Our own SportsTalk 790 Texans/NFL insider Aaron Wilson joins the show. Rockets back on the home floor. No Amen Thompson. 

The Texans have traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders for multiple draft picks. The A-Team talks the trade with our own SportsTalk 790 Texans/NFL insider, Aaron Wilson. He talks about why the Texans made the move. Plus, how it is being received by his teammates and what the Texans plan could be going forward on the offensive line. 

Transportation planner Aaron Wilson is back on The Agenda this week to talk about how the Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization leverages federal funding for critical upgrades to roads and bridges. Aaron and the commissioners discuss traffic congestion, bypasses and how detailed planning gives Missoula an advantage during the federal grant process.Links mentioned in this episode:Reserve Street Safety Action PlanMissoula Long-Range Transportation Plan UpdateListen to Aaron's previous episodes:The Infamous Reserve Street, 2024Reserve Street: The Sequel, 2024Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode! Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

This week's Ohio Ag Net Podcast takes you inside the Ohio Agribusiness Association Conference, featuring conversations with OABA President & CEO Melinda Witten and Board Chair Grant Gates on key legislative wins and the impact of Trump-era tariffs. Dusty Sonnenberg catches up with Tadd Nicholson for an update on E15, while Matt Reese brings insights from the conference, talking ag weather with Aaron Wilson of OSU Extension, market trends with Michael Reginelli of Advance Trading, and risk management strategies with Luke Wells of Professional Ag Marketing.  

Now with January upon us, the postseason has arrived for the NFL with the Wild Card games set to roll on starting tomorrow afternoon throughout the weekends entirety. Kicking off the Wild Card round first is none other than C.J. Stroud and our Houston Texans taking on Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. Noting the Texans struggles throughout the season and hoping to lessen them as we roll into the playoffs, NFL and Texans Insider Aaron Wilson joins the show in talks of a few keys for the Texans matchup against Herbert and the Chargers. Anticipating tomorrows kickoff Aaron also gives a few huge and determining factors that may dictate who may pull out of this Wild Card round the victors. With the odds leaning more towards the Chargers and Herbert, the Texans could make a huge statement following this game into the first round of this years playoffs with a message to the rest of the league that they do belong here in the postseason.

Concluding their last game of the 2024 year with a Christmas Day kickoff, the Texans took on the Baltimore Ravens in which they suffered a gut-wrenching loss with a final of 31-2. Now looking to the New Year, the Texans look to take on the Tennessee Titans in their last game of the regular season with a chance to make ten wins this season with the postseason on the horizon. With talk all week ongoing in regards to rather the Texans should start or rest players and with Azeez Al-Shaair coming off suspension, the Texans look to be tossing their starters out which many believe to be the right decision seeing how players this season haven't been as productive as expected. Texans Insider Aaron Wilson joins and sheds some light on what to look forward to in this final week of the regular season and what this game may mean to the Texans going into the playoffs.

We celebrate our top five most downloaded episodes of 2024, reflecting on the remarkable insights shared by our guests. This retrospective highlights the journeys of Black entrepreneurs, impactful discussions on reparations, and essential financial strategies.• Revisiting Kelvin Mensah and Aaron Wilson's journey from barbers to luxury travel • Spotlight on Kaliyah Martin and her transformative approach in the publishing world • Insights from scholars on reparations and the racial wealth gap • Dr. Paris Woods shares practical financial independence strategies • Kwame Bowler discusses innovation and empowerment in tech industries Join us in revisiting these impactful conversations and share them with friends!Support the showhttps://www.patreon.com/c/EA_BookClub

Concluding the Christmas holiday yesterday, the NFL celebrated with two Netflix special games on their platform as the Kansas City Chiefs took on the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by our very own Houston Texans taking on the Baltimore Ravens. Kicking off their highly anticipated evening game, the Texans fall drastically to the Ravens as the team seemed to be a bit in disarray against one of their top competitors in the AFC division. With the possibility of seeing them again through the postseason and with a final score of 31-2, the Texans seem to have suffered their worst loss of the season. Noting their difficult schedule and playing roughly back to back games in the span of ten days, Texans Insider Aaron Wilson joins and helps assess yesterday's game and what adjustments must be made going forward as we enter the last weeks of the regular season.

Rolling into Week 16 and standing at the top of the AFC South Division the Texans are 9-5 as they get ready to take on the two time Super Bowl champs, the Kansas City Chiefs. Towering at the top of the league not seen to be slowing down with the postseason slowly still approaching and with only one loss throughout the entirety of the season, the Chiefs walk into Saturday's game standing at 13-1. Looking to be one of their biggest and highly anticipated games of the season tomorrow, the Texans have a chance to make a big statement just before the postseason starts with a huge win over the Chiefs and dealing them their second loss of the season in the process. Aaron Wilson joins briefly and talks a few keys for the Texans ahead of tomorrows noon kickoff along with what may be the crucial factor that decides the victor at the end of regulation.

With the heat of the schedule inching closer the Texans get ready for their toughest part of the season as they get ready to take on a three headed monster just before the postseason kicks off. Rolling into Week 15 the Texans get ready to take on a stern Miami Dolphins team this Sunday here at NRG. With Azeez Al-Shaair's suspension standing for the three games given and without there defensive safety Jalen Pitre for the entirety of the season now, the Texans roll into this three game stretch a bit tense. Taking on Miami this week followed by the reigning Super Bowl champs the following Saturday, and finally on Christmas Day taking on the Baltimore Ravens all in the span of ten days to wrap up the regular season. NFL Insider Aaron Wilson joins for a brief moment and shares his thoughts on a few keys and takeaways for the Texans upcoming stretch along with a prediction regarding this three game series stretch to come.

Wrapping up Week 11 and anticipating since the beginning of the season, the Texans get ready to take on the Dallas Cowboys in what many make to be the state rivalry of the year. Kicking off on Monday Night Football tonight, the Texans head up to AT&T Stadium down in Arlington to take on a 3-6 Cowboys team that happens to be widely underperforming this season. Looking to add another win to the season and further their claim to the division, NFL Insider Aaron Wilson joins the guys in talks of tonight's big showdown and what to look for following the return of Nico Collins who's a very significant factor to this Texans team and what it may mean for either team moving forward following a loss after tonight.

Last week the Texans took on Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets in Thursday night football in which they were not so victorious as the game concluded with a final score of 21-13. This week the Texans play on yet another big stage, being Sunday night facing another top competitor across the league this time in the NFC division. Leading their division and appearing as one of the best teams in their conference, the Texans take on Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions in what looks to be a huge showdown this Sunday night. Still lacking a few players, but adding a bit more depth to the offensive line before the deadline and hopeful that Nico Collins returns this weekend, the Texans roll into Sunday's game a bit optimistic. NFL insider Aaron Wilson addresses a few things regarding Sunday's primetime game along with a few things to note regarding the trade deadline and Nico Collins injury status. Matching up against the Lions, can the Texans pull out a win against Detroit with or without Nico Collins this week?

Rich Cimini joins the show to discuss whether the Jets season is over, what went wrong against the Patriots, how this roster isn't much of a team, what they have to do to turn their season around, and how he sees the game playing out. Aaron Wilson joins the show to give the Texans perspective for Thursday Night Football.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices