In 30 seconds
Shira Lazar and Ryan Mitchell visit Two Bit Circus in a 2019 episode of Adventures in Curiosity. Co-founder Brent Bushnell explains how the project grew from interactive art into a permanent venue and guides them through games, VR and a story room.
- 1From art to a venueBushnell recalls building interactive installations and a traveling carnival.
- 2What is insideHe describes arcade games, theater, dining, VR and story rooms.
- 3Curiosity and gritBushnell discusses the qualities he values in learning and creative work.
- 4Trying the gamesThe group explores the midway, a VR raft and a story room.
Takeaways
- Bushnell says the project began with interactive art made for parties.
- The venue combines arcade games, theater, food, VR and story rooms.
- He describes curiosity and persistence as important to creative work.
- He shares an expansion ambition from 2019, not a confirmed later outcome.
- The hosts try both competitive and collaborative activities.
Read the edited text by chapter
The idea behind Two Bit Circus
Shira and Ryan arrive in downtown Los Angeles. Bushnell explains how interactive art evolved into a permanent venue.
In a January 2019 episode of Adventures in Curiosity, Shira Lazar and Ryan Mitchell arrive at Two Bit Circus in downtown Los Angeles. They meet co-founder Brent Bushnell to explore the interactive amusement venue.
Bushnell says he and his co-founder started by building interactive art for fun, including rooms of lasers and walls of buttons. Interest at parties led to a traveling carnival and eventually the decision to create a permanent space.
He describes a reimagined arcade, interactive theater, restaurant and bar, robot bartender, virtual reality arena and “story rooms,” the venue’s version of escape rooms.
Curiosity and plans
Bushnell discusses curiosity and persistence. He shares his expansion goals as of 2019.
Asked about curiosity, Bushnell says he values it alongside grit. He enjoys discovering unusual food and entertainment and hopes the venue helps visitors encounter new experiences.
Bushnell says the format was designed with expansion in mind and describes ambitions for many locations in the United States and Asia. These are his plans expressed in 2019, not confirmed outcomes in the video.
Games and virtual reality
The hosts try competitive and collaborative midway games. They also experience a VR raft.
The group starts in the midway, where Bushnell shows games inspired by classic carnival attractions. Shira and Ryan try competitive activities that combine familiar physical play with digital elements.
They also try a collaborative rail game that requires players to move in sync. The tour then turns to a four-player VR raft experience set on a haunted river.
The story room
The group visits an escape-room-style experience. Shira thanks Bushnell and closes the tour.
In a story room, Bushnell explains that the attraction is designed for multiple players with different roles. The group explores a lost-temple setting before wrapping up the visit.
Shira thanks Bushnell for guiding them and says the activities felt like a workout as well as entertainment. She closes the episode by encouraging viewers to stay curious.
More from this channel
0:45EN
Shira Lazar· Oct 21, 2026PodcastA Visit to Paris Hilton’s Private SpaA visitor describes a pink spa, sensory treatments and a chilly cryotherapy session.
0:55ENShira Lazar· Oct 19, 2026PodcastTyler Denk on Building a Creator Business Across FormatsGuest Tyler DenkThe Beehiiv founder describes creators combining channels, revenue models, and in-person events.
0:48ENShira Lazar· Oct 12, 2026PodcastA Second Map of the Creator EconomyHost Shira LazarShira Lazar introduces an updated ecosystem map with a section for independent creators.
0:54ENShira Lazar· Oct 3, 2026Podcast · 2 speakersChelsea Clinton on AI Anxiety, Health and GovernanceGuest Chelsea Clinton · Host Shira LazarClinton discusses examples that give her hope and argues for treating AI as a collection of different technologies.
0:38ENShira Lazar· Sep 21, 2026PodcastA Creator’s Visit to an LTK Event in DallasA short event recap highlights programming, brand displays, and conversations with women building creator businesses.
1:01ENShira Lazar· Sep 19, 2026PodcastAffinity 100: A Creator Ranking Focused on Audience ConnectionA co-creator explains why the list emphasizes fandom, trust, and engagement instead of follower counts alone.