Event Planner Confessions

Experiential design gets talked about constantly in the events industry, but too often it gets reduced to flashy activations, trendy tech, or “wow factor” moments that do not connect back to the reason people gathered in the first place. In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Sam sits down with Michael Cirino, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of House of Attention, to unpack what experien...

Furniture is often treated like the last thing event planners figure out. But the right furniture can completely change how a room feels. In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Ashley sits down with Sarah Bradley and Renee Pool from AFR Events to talk about the furniture company behind major events. From new event furniture collections to national-scale logistics, this conversation looks at...

Some event ideas feel impossible until the right creative partner figures out how to make them real. In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Ashley sits down with Melis Feingold, Senior Director of Creative Partnerships at Cohera, to talk about the art of spotting what’s next in events and turning inspiration into live experiences. Melis shares how she pulls ideas from fashion, technology, a...

Planning an event is already hard. Planning one for a room full of event planners raises the stakes even more. In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Cara, Sam, and Ashley go behind the scenes of Cohera’s inaugural “Imagine That” event and unpack what it takes to create an internal event for people who live and breathe meetings and events every day. From bringing nearly 400 employees togeth...

Event creativity in the DMC world isn't about copying Pinterest boards... it's about building something no one's ever seen before. In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Cara Pratt sits down with Danny McMillan, Director of Design and Development at COA Orlando, to unpack what it really takes to stay creatively sharp when you're producing thousands of events a year. From his journey as an i...

In this episode, we sit down with Nicola, CEO of ELX — the exclusive community for senior event leaders at enterprise companies. Nicola shares her winding career path from incentive travel dreamer to leading one of the most talked-about communities in the events industry. We dig into what makes ELX different, why event leaders feel so isolated in their roles, and how Chatham House rules create a s...

Tony Lorenz has spent 30 years in the events industry — building a company from the ground up, selling to Freeman, leading PRA through 16 acquisitions, and now serving on the board at Cohera. In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Tony shares how he scaled PRA from $65M to $200M, why the DMC category needs to move upstream, and how AI should be treated as a partner — not a replacement — for...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Ronnie Collins from Visit Anaheim as we explore what it takes to create truly engaging trade show experiences in today's distracted world. In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, we dive deep into strategic booth design, the importance of experiential engagement over traditional swag, and how to maximize value during appointment-based shows like IM...

Join us for an honest conversation about the evolving landscape of industry conferences and trade shows. We're breaking down what really influences event attendance decisions—from the macro factors like budget constraints to the micro moments like unexpected traffic jams. 🔔 Love the podcast? Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

What does it really take to build culture that lasts in a 24/7 industry? In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, we sit down with Carrie Campbell, longtime hospitality leader and the force behind Evergreen, formerly Fenway Park Events. With 16 years of experience building teams, experiences, and trust inside one of the most iconic venues in the country, Carrie shares the lessons that shaped...

If the headlines feel chaotic, how do you figure out what is actually happening with the economy and what it means for your meetings? In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, host Cara sits down with Mike Dominguez (ALHI) to cut through the noise and translate big economic signals into practical, planner level decisions. From why the “story” about the economy often misses what the data is sho...

Struggling to figure out what to wear to your next company event or conference? Let’s talk about what actually works. In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Cara Pratt, Ashley Currin, and Samantha Monroe break down what actually works when you’re attending events. From hair and makeup decisions to blazers, graphic tees, denim, all-black onsite looks, and the great sneaker debate, they share...

Convening Leaders isn’t just another conference. It’s a carefully designed experience that helps set the tone for the entire events industry year. Samantha Monroe and Ashley Currin sit down with Karla-Jean Zander, Director of Operations & Experience at PCMA, to break down what makes Convening Leaders stand out from intentional event design and first-timer experiences to education, wellness, an...

Event marketing is changing fast and relying on last year’s playbook is one of the quickest ways to fall behind. Ashley Currin and Jay Schwedelson unpack the most common pitfalls in event marketing, why routine tactics no longer deliver, and how small shifts in email, social, and video strategy can dramatically improve engagement. You’ll hear how to create campaigns that stand out, where to test n...

Is AI the way of the future for events, or is the human connection what truly matters? And how do you create an unforgettable vibe at a crowded industry show like IMEX? In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, we dive into the intersection of technology, energy, and career development in the events industry with event tech expert, Dahlia El Gazzar. You'll hear about how Dahlia Plus is helping...

Only 40% of attendees say they had a real “peak moment”, even though 80% of event planners think they delivered one. So… who’s right? In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Cara sits down with Ken Holsinger, SVP of Strategy at Freeman, to reveal what the data really says about creating experiences that matter.💡 You’ll learn: Why attendees aren’t impressed by celebrity keynotes (and what th...

What really happens when two event powerhouses decide to join forces? In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, we sit down with Trevor Hanks, CEO of the newly launched Cohera, to unpack the chaos, strategy, and human side of one of the biggest DMC mergers in recent history. Trevor shares what it actually takes to merge teams, brands, and cultures without losing the magic that made each compan...

One event. Four generations. Infinite tension. In this episode, we unpack what happens when Gen Z wants a mocktail lounge, Boomers ask for printed agendas, Millennials chase the perfect vibe, and Gen X holds everything together, quietly judging us all. We’re diving into how each generation shows up at events: how they network, what they wear, how they want to be communicated with, and why planners...

Corporate event jargon can make even simple projects sound like rocket science. In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, co-hosts Cara Pratt, Ashley Currin, and Samantha Monroe unpack the buzzwords, decode the double-speak, and reveal how fancy phrases can quietly wreck budgets.  From “white glove service” to “engagement metrics,” they’ll translate hype into plain English, show you when jargo...

Planners know the pain: you send out an RFP, wait for proposals, and what comes back doesn’t match what you envisioned. Cue the endless back-and-forth, wasted hours, and mounting frustration. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the hidden details that make or break a DMC RFP. From budget guardrails to audience profiles, brand guidelines to those small-but-critical “hot buttons” (like the...

Every client wants the “wow factor” but what does that actually mean? Cara Pratt, Ashley Currin, and Samantha Monroe get real about the most overused (and least understood) phrase in the industry: wow factor. What do clients actually mean when they ask for it? And how often are planners left chasing an illusion that blows the budget and misses the mark?  From the psychology behind the ask to how t...

In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, co-hosts Cara Pratt, Ashley Currin, and Samantha Monroe unpack the rise of micro-events and what this shift means for planners and clients alike. They explore why smaller gatherings are dominating the conversation, what clients are prioritizing now (hint: it’s not massive budgets), and the challenges that come with scaling down without compromising imp...

Every event planner has faced it, the creeping dread of unexpected costs throwing the whole budget off course.  In this episode, Cara Pratt, Ashley Currin, and Samantha Monroe break down the most common hidden expenses that sabotage your perfectly laid plans. From client changes to sneaky staffing fees, they share battle-tested strategies and insider tips to catch these costs early and handle them...

In this candid and laughter-filled season finale, hosts Cara Pratt, Ashley Currin, and Samantha Monroe reflect on their favorite moments from the inaugural season of Event Planner Confessions. From the anonymous (and not-so-anonymous) tales of ballroom horses and accidental shoplifting, to heartfelt conversations on imposter syndrome and career growth, this episode captures the spirit of connectio...

Hosts Ashley Currin, Cara Pratt, and Samantha Monroe share a candid conversation about what true inclusivity looks like in event planning. From sensory-friendly experiences and dietary flexibility to accessible transportation and thoughtful digital design, they uncover the gaps that too often go unnoticed—and offer practical ways to bridge them. Along the way, they share unforgettable personal sto...