Side Friction: Roller Coasters and the Parks They Live In

Side Friction - Episode 133 - "Get Stuck, Have Fun, Don't Die"
June 20th, 2026
Bob, Greg, Ryan the Ride Mechanic have a fun collection of news stories along with more ride stoppages, the AI invastion, and share an example of why martial arts may not be ideal for automation.
Hersheypark, GIANT Center union workers ratify contract, company says
Star-Spangled Laff Trakk
4 rescued after ride stalls 120 feet in air at Six Flags St. Louis
Man Attends Video Meeting From Active Roller Coaster
Disney's Imagineering Announces Partnership with Adobe Firefly to Use AI Models for Park Designs 
Get ready for Disney's big AI ads push 
Top Disney AI Exec Gushes About Chatbot Assistant He Calls His 'Son' - Business Insider 
Ocean City Boardwalk Subcommittee proposes alternative to "Icona in Wonderland"
British roller coaster club visits Memphis Kiddie Park
Criminality not suspected after 12 kids sent to hospital in electrical incident at B.C. water park
Amusement Park Guests Had to Be 'Rappelled' to the Ground on Ropes After Being Stranded on Gondola Ride
Alabama Adventure announces the return of Rampage the wooden roller coaster and teases major upcoming announcement
More Spikes!
You have to see this! Child kicked by robot at amusement park
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Side Friction - Episode 132 - "The Don"
June 13th, 2026
Bob, Ryan the Ride Mechanic and Steph know it's not winter because it's hot outside but with all the announcements this week you'd think it was winter. This is a show you'll certainly want to listen to not only because it's a fun show but because there's a ton of cool stuff being talked about this week.
Waldameer Unveils New 'Eagle's Pursuit' Coaster for 2027  Eagle's Pursuit POV 

2026 New Attraction | Fun-Plex - Omaha, Nebraska 
Funtime Fun Park Announcement Facebook Free Funtime Video 

New in 2027 | Rip Roarin' Falls | Carowinds  Rip Roarin' Falls POV at Carowinds! 

Pennsylvania amusement park rolls out memberships for first time 
Kennywood chaperone policy in effect all day June 6 This Amusement Park Just Announced Strict Chaperone Policy for Teens of a Certain Age 

Fire breaks out under Six Flags Magic Mountain roller coaster
Terrifying 'Tilt' Coaster Strands Riders at 160 Feet in the Air Twice in One Weekend
Riders briefly stuck on Untamed Roller Coaster at Canobie Lake Park
Ride mechanic says roller coasters are built to fail safely
People Named Ryan To Take Over Mall Of America For Free Roller Coaster Record Attempt
Holiday World teasing huge announcement: 'We've been keeping a secret'
unknown - Coolspring Ranch (Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States)
Tidal Force at Pennsylvania's Largest Amusement Park | Hersheypark 
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Side Friction - Episode 131 - "Rescue 1-0-0"
June 6th, 2026
Bob and Greg present a shorter show but one with some interesting (and some unexpected) stories.
Everyone In This LEGO Dispute Should Have Spoken To A Lawyer Earlier Than They Did 
Hersheypark Contract Offer Rejected; Strike Authorized 
Watch rescue after rollercoaster stalls 100ft in the air How Galveston firefighters rescued 8 Houston students stranded 100 feet up on stalled roller coaster
Officials determine failed sensor caused Galveston roller coaster to stop in mid-air

Step right up to amusement park history in Grafton
Polargy acquires Intermountain Lift
Six Flags Great America brings back popular roller coaster after 10-year hiatus
Six Flags Fiesta Texas unleashes Werewolf Gorge, the world's longest family launch roller coaster
Is Dollywood's new NightFlight Expedition ride on track to open this spring? 
Man accused of depantsing Cedar Point guest entered park illegally: police
Universal Officially Reveals the Name of its First U.K. Theme Park Opening in 2031
Disney racks up $4.2bn deficit on Paris parks
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Side Friction - Episode 130 - "Round Rage"
May 30th, 2026
Bob, Greg, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic start with the expected chicken nugget story, well, after a rabbit trail of course. The rest of the show covers about an equal mix of news and rabbit trails.
Cedar Point guest gets lifetime ban from Six Flags parks for roller coaster stunt 'I understand': Man speaks out after Cedar Point bans him for eating nuggets on coaster

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure Will be Discontinued for Universal Orlando's Express Pass Hagrid's Equality

SpongeBob, Shrek and Minions are getting a new theme park this summer
Frontal Lobe: Home Edition Frontal Lobe Ride 

A Nearly 100-Year-Old Roller Coaster Reopens This Weekend After Being Shut Down Over Safety Concerns
The First Roller Coaster Is Going Up At Oasis, And They Named It 'Shootout': Here's What We Know
Mattel's immersive indoor water park coming to North Carolina
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress refresh to bring new decades, Easter eggs to Tomorrowland classic
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Side Friction - Episode 129 - "Cheaper than a Ballroom"
May 23rd, 2026
Bob and Ryan the Ride Mechanic have a lot of fun and entertaining conversations about the recent news in the park industry and step into the tech industry a bit including an incredibly cool project you can build.
Google Search as you know it is over 
Project Purple, Six Flags coaster coming in 2027. What we know about it
Cedar Point Officials Address Fans' Claims They Installed Shorter Seat Belts on Beloved Coaster
'Gross negligence': COTA roller coaster riders stuck 120 feet in the air file $1M lawsuit
Get a First Look at the New Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney World — Including the First Animatronic Muppets 
Disneyland targeted in class-action lawsuit claiming new program is violating guests' privacy
Bring Disneyland Home With This Gorgeous New Lego Set
RCT IRL: Roller Coaster Tycoon Ratings in Real Life 
First look at Nate Bargatze's $350 million Nateland theme park
Verbolten: Forbidden Turn roller coaster to open at Busch Gardens Williamsburg on May 30 
Why Dolly Parton Doesn't Ride the Coasters at Dollywood — and Why She Might Finally Break Her Own Rule
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