GatherGeeks by BizBash: The Event Industry Podcast

This special edition of GatherGeeks was recorded live at Connect NYC, which took place in late February. In this episode, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with  Michael Cirino , chief experience officer at House of Attention;  Chelsey Lavere , senior sales manager of meetings and conventions at Turning Stone Resort Casino; and  Mary Giuliani , founder and CEO of Mary Giuliani Cat...

This special edition of GatherGeeks was recorded live at Connect NYC, which took place in late February. In this episode, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with  Jennifer Savica , head of corporate events at New York Life Insurance Company, and  Michael Weiss , co-founder of Ai4, to discuss the future of events. Adler calls them two of the brightest minds shaping our industry, and...

In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with  David Allison , author of  The Death of Demographics  and a globally recognized researcher known for coining the term "valuegraphics." This data-informed strategy seeks to unpack human behavior by spotlighting shared human values over outward demographic characteristics. Major companies like Lulu Lemon, PayPal...

In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with two of the best in the event lighting biz:  Billy Butchkavitz  of  Billy Butchkavitz Design  and  Curt Stahl  of  Images by Lighting . Based in Los Angeles, this duo is at the forefront of transforming event spaces into mesmerizing experiences. Here, they discuss various facets of event lighting, how lighting h...

Welcome to part two of our podcast with Head Table Talks. (Missed part one? Listen  here .) In this special episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits in on a special event planners' luncheon—co-hosted by  Melva LaJoy Legrand  of LaJoy Plans and  Margo Fischer  of Bright Occasions—in Washington, D.C. These luncheons, known as Head Table Talks, aim to build community with...

In this special episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits in on a special event planners' luncheon—co-hosted by  Melva LaJoy Legrend  of LaJoy Plans and  Margo Fischer  of Bright Occasions—in Washington, D.C. These luncheons, known as Head Table Talks, aim to build community within the events industry and provide a safe space for event profs to network and collaborate....

In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with Kelly Roe , the brand-new executive creative director at global experiential powerhouse Jack Morton. At the time of this recording, she's been at the helm just three weeks. During their enlightening conversation, Adler and Roe discuss her time at The Kitchen, the in-house creative agency at Kraft Heinz; the evo...

In this episode of GatherGeeks—recorded live at Connect Marketplace 2023 in Minneapolis—BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with  Deesha Dyer , who served as the White House social secretary for the last two years of the Obama administration. Here she recounts the meticulous planning that went into the Pope's visit, navigating unexpected situations with poise, and how her time as so...

In this episode of GatherGeeks—recorded live at  Connect Marketplace 2023  in Minneapolis—BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with  Michael Schaiman , CEO of creative technology studio  GenCity Labs . Schaiman is a powerhouse of knowledge on everything digital. From shaping trailblazing digital experiences to spearheading impactful strategies, his prowess is certain to bring a fresh...

It's likely you've seen the news from over the weekend: Thousands were trapped at Burning Man—the psychedelic art and music festival that pops up every year in the Nevada desert—after  days of torrential rainfall . In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler chats with  Bentley Meeker , a legendary lighting artist and Burning Man attendee for the last 14 years. Meeker...

Host:  David Adler Guests:  Anika Grant, Cara Kleinhaut, Dan Mannix Welcome to part two of our exploration of the event and experiential agency world. (Missed part one? Listen  here .) Last week, these three agency leaders— Anika Grant  of  Idlewild Experiential ,  Cara Kleinhaut  of  AGENC Experiential + Digital Marketing , and  Dan Mannix  of  underdog venture team —gave us their insights on the...

In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler has assembled a powerhouse panel of experiential agency leaders to get the pulse of what's happening in the world of experiential marketing—what do clients want now? He's joined by  Anika Grant , the founder and CEO of  Idlewild Experiential ;  Cara Kleinhaut , the founder and CEO of  AGENC Experiential + Digital Marketing ;...

Host:  David Adler Guests:  Christopher Felts, Wayne Fernandez If you're looking to geek out on venues, budgeting, and AV, this episode is for you. Joining BizBash chairman and founder David Adler this week are two experts who understand the intricacies of how having great venue partners can make or break you:  Christopher Felts , director of operations for AES NYC, and  Wayne Fernandez , the gene...

Host:  David Adler Guest:  Michael Cirino In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with  Michael Cirino , the mastermind behind the  100-Course Meal  and founder of creative studio  House of Attention . Cirino knows that events have the power to evoke emotions and leave lasting impressions, and his storytelling prowess is sure to leave you inspired. In thi...

Host:  David Adler Guest:  Chris Detert In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with  Chris Detert , chief communications officer for  Influential , dubbed as the largest influencer marketing company in the world. The company recently wrapped work for Possible, a new marketing conference that brought brands and tech and media companies—plus big-name speak...

Host:  David Adler Guests:  Meera Somji, Andrew Carney In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with  Meera Somji  and  Andrew Carney , the co-founders of  Clusivity , a consultancy that helps organizations take a data-driven approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The duo recently gave a presentation at the 2023 SISO CEO Summit in Las Vegas and used...

Host:  David Adler Guests:  Chris and Jill Drury In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with  Chris  and  Jill Drury , the husband-and-wife team behind event agency  Drury Design . The two are involved in just about every aspect of group dynamics for both virtual and in-person events. They are the go-to couple for updates on what's really going on in the...

Host:  David Adler Guest:  Jonathan Steffert In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with  Jonathan Steffert , the cultural attaché of public diplomacy and public affairs for the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, D.C. Steffert represents a new generation of diplomats who understand the importance of developing soft power in ways that engage and promote t...

Host:  David Adler Guest:  Richard Waddington In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with  Richard Waddington , one of the most creative players on the international event scene. He is the co-founder and former CEO of event agency First Protocol, which is now known as  FIRST . And he's been in the news recently as part of PCMA's acquisition of the U.K.-b...

Host:  David Adler Guests:  Hugh Forrest, Cindy Lo In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with two key event profs behind South by Southwest (SXSW), the buzzy annual festival in Austin that attracts emerging talent, iconic performances, and groundbreaking ideas in the realms of music, TV/film, tech, and culture. We first hear from  Hugh Forrest , SXSW's...

Host:  David Adler Guest:  Luigi Romaniello In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with  Luigi Romaniello , the new managing director of New York's iconic  The Plaza Hotel . Like the famous book series  Eloise , the 30-year industry veteran actually lives at The Plaza where he oversees all aspects of the luxury hotel, including daily operations, guest ex...

Host:  David Adler Guests:  Paul Bulencea, Claus Raasted, Tahira Endean In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder sits down with the founders of the  College of Extraordinary Experiences , a five-day conference held inside a 13th-century Polish castle that uses an immersive education method to study experience design. We also hear from "graduates" of the conference—including IME...

Host:  David Adler Guests:  Carla Ruben, Chap Gage, Dawn Penfold, Vanessa Cominsky In this episode of GatherGeeks, along with the main interviews, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler has added two new "Ask the Expert" features. One is with career and hiring pro  Dawn Penfold , president of Meetingjobs, who will discuss salary transparency and where the job market is today. Our second expert i...

In this episode of GatherGeeks, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with BizBash's editorial team—interim editorial director  Shannon Thaler , managing editor  Sarah Kloepple , and senior contributing editor  Claire Hoffman —to discuss how events fared in 2022. The trio answer questions about what gave them "goosebump moments" this year, their favorite BizBash stories they worked on...

Host:  David Adler Guest:  Deesha Dyer Imagine orchestrating a visit from the pope  and  a Chinese state dinner… within days of each other. In this episode of GatherGeeks, recorded live at Connect Winter Marketplace in Washington, D.C, BizBash chairman and founder David Adler sits down with  Deesha Dyer , who served as the White House social secretary—the person responsible for planning and coordi...