Great Events

Events are getting smaller and smaller in 2026. It’s got a lot to do with AI. Audiences are skeptical, overloaded, and craving something authentic. Intimate gatherings, personalized experiences, and IRL events foster real connection. In this episode, Felicia Asiedu and Rachel Andrews sit down with new Co-host and Goldcast CMO Kelly Cheng for a mid-year trend check-in. They discuss why building tru...

Can events be both data-driven and people-focused? According to MPI’ s Lori Pugh and Rachel Benedick , absolutely. In this episode, Rachel Andrews chats with industry veterans, Lori and Rachel, about how to design experiences that delight participants while aligning with revenue goals. They discuss what it really means to know your audience, how data can transform events into meaningful experience...

Meet the woman who built the sponsorship strategy behind Fanatics Fest. In this episode, Rachel Andrews and Felicia Asiedu sit down with Paulina Giusti , Director of Sponsorships at Fanatics Events . Paulina shares what it takes to craft activations, energize brands, and drive revenue for a festival that draws 175,000 sports fans. She takes us behind the scenes of Fanatics Fest, revealing how inte...

Daniel Murray on How B2B Marketers Earn Attention in 2026 What’s broken in B2B marketing? And how do we fix it? In this episode, Camille Arnold and Daniel Murray , founder of The Marketing Millennials , discuss why earning attention is harder than ever before.  In this age of AI, creating content is easy, but standing out feels impossible. Daniel shares why brand marketing is making a comebac...

Accessibility is not a trend. It’s a fundamental part of how great events are designed and delivered.  In this episode, Felicia Asiedu sits down with Stephen Cutchins , Director of Accessibility at Cvent, to talk about how to make events accessible for more people. From registration to on-site execution, they share practical ways to remove barriers and create better attendee experiences. Step...

People know that events work, but how do you prove it? In this episode, Rachel Andrews and Megan Martin , founder of M Squared Dynamics , discuss the strategies and metrics you need to effectively prove the ROI of your events to leadership. They explain how events can directly contribute to business growth and why event planners need to be involved in sales and marketing strategies.  If you’v...

In an AI-dominated digital world, earning audience trust is hard.  But that also means it’s more important than ever. In this episode, Kelly Cheng , CMO of Goldcast , explains why video content is crucial for building trust and connecting with your audience. She shares how authenticity and AI tools can actually coexist, and why you need both to succeed in B2B marketing. You’ll learn the lates...

Great events aren’t just about the day itself. What you do before, during, and long after creates experiences that truly resonate and drive long-term value. In this episode, Camille Arnold sits down with UserEvidence’s VP of Marketing, Mark Huber , and Director of Content Marketing, Jillian Hoefer , to talk experiential marketing. The two take us behind the scenes of Highline 2025, explaining why...

What on earth does the menstrual cycle have to do with leadership? Everything, if you care about performance, burnout, and team dynamics. In this episode, Felicia Asiedu and Jo Fuller , Founder of The Merry Menopause , talk about cycle literacy in the workplace and why it matters for event and marketing teams operating under constant pressure. Jo explains how energy shifts show up across the month...

SEO is no longer enough in an AI-powered world. With tools like ChatGPT and Claude changing consumer search behavior, event marketers need to rethink how they approach visibility and discoverability. In this episode, Camille Arnold sits down with Sam Brown , an SEO lead at Cvent , to discuss Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and why it’s crucial. Sam explains why traditional SEO no longer guara...

Many events are designed by boomers, for boomers—even as Gen Z becomes the fastest-growing demographic in the workforce. As a result, these events struggle to connect with the next generation of attendees. In this episode, Rachel Andrews talks with Ken Holsinger , SVP of Industry Research and Insights at Freeman . Drawing on data from millions of attendees, Ken discussed why only 30% of first-time...

Some things never change in the events industry. But as we look ahead to 2026, we’re seeing shifts that can’t be ignored. In this episode, hosts Alyssa Peltier , Rachel Andrews , Felicia Asiedu , and Camille Arnold continue their discussion about the next wave of trends shaping event planning and strategy. They explore how purposeful spaces, evolving tech expectations, rising costs, and outcome-fo...

As we kick off the new year, the events industry is buzzing with exciting new trends that will redefine how we plan experiences. In this episode, hosts Alyssa Peltier , Rachel Andrews , Felicia Asiedu , and Camille Arnold discuss the top five trends shaping the future of event marketing. They explore how these shifts will impact the way we engage audiences, leverage technology, and create lasting...

2025 was a big year for events. Elections reshaped the global landscape. AI became more disruptive and unavoidable. And teams were stretched thinner than ever. In this episode, Felicia Asiedu , Alyssa Peltier , and Rachel Andrews gather to reflect on the year that was. They also introduce the newest host joining the podcast, Camille Arnold . Together, they reflect on the trends they predicted, the...

Events bring your brand to life like no other medium can. But creating an unforgettable experience requires a perfect blend of creativity and technology. At Cvent CONNECT 2025, Matt Heinz sits down with Jennifer Perry , Senior Director of Brand Storytelling, and Mark Correira , Director of Go-to-Market Technology at Workhuman . Together, they reveal the secret to successful collaboration between c...

All it takes is one great event to prove the value — and before you know it, it’s evolved into a full event ecosystem. At Cvent CONNECT 2025, guest host Matt Heinz sits down with Andrew DePaul , Director of Digital Marketing at CAIS , to share how his team built a data-driven event strategy that drives measurable business growth. Andrew explains how he turned one successful event into a scalable p...

When done right, event-led growth can deliver up to 7x ROI. But most teams are stuck running ad hoc, one-off events without a clear path to get there. In this episode, Camille Arnold , Director of Experiential Marketing at Splash (now part of Cvent), joins hosts Felicia Asiedu, Rachel Andrews, and Alyssa Peltier to map out a five-stage event-led growth (ELG) maturity model. Together, they unpack h...

Think about the energy at a concert, the excitement of a live sports match, or the buzz at a festival. There’s something magnetic about in-person events that no other marketing channel can replicate. At Cvent CONNECT 2025, Matt Heinz sits down with Alyssa Peltier and Kate Hammitt from Cvent to talk about the power of Event-Led Growth (ELG). Events are powerful catalysts that create lasting engagem...

The problem with event marketing? It’s gotten too predictable. Jay Schwedelson , founder of SubjectLine.com and GURU Media Hub , says the only way to stand out is to stop playing it safe. In this episode, Rachel Andrews chats with Jay about how to plan events that people actually enjoy and remember. From hot wing challenges to earned on-demand content, Jay shares what’s working right now and why s...

When sales, marketing, and events operate in silos, leads fall through the cracks and event ROI takes a hit.  At Cvent CONNECT 2025, Matt Heinz and Ajith Krishnankutty , VP of Experiential Marketing at Capital Group, discuss the importance of collaboration between these teams and its impact on event success. From planning to post-event follow-up, Ajith shares strategies for getting sales and mar...

AI is everywhere these days, and it’s hard to ignore the buzz. But beyond the hype, there’s real value in how it’s reshaping event planning. At Cvent CONNECT 2025, guest host Brittany Fisher is joined by Marco Ogsimer and Kevin Cobb from Augeo Marketing. They discuss how AI is helping event professionals save time, enhance team collaboration, and simplify the planning process. Plus, they’ll explor...

Are your events earning the spotlight, or are they getting budget cuts from the C-suite? At Cvent CONNECT 2025, Matt Heinz sits down with Amanda Young , Senior Director of Global Events at ConnectWise , to talk about proving ROI and scaling event programs. Amanda shares how she manages pressure from leadership, keeps sales and marketing aligned, and uses data to run high-performing events. In this...

B2B marketing doesn’t have to be predictable and boring. When we put people first, brand experiences can be as creative, authentic, and engaging as anything in B2C.  In this episode, Felicia Asiedu and Shannon Jones , co-founder of VERB , exchange ideas on creating brand experiences that break out of the corporate mold. They discuss the rise of B2B creators, how AI helps shape event experiences,...

Planning and executing successful events is only half the battle.  But to truly maximize the impact, follow-up is just as important.   At Cvent CONNECT 2025, guest host Matt Heinz sat down with Alura Roe and Ashley Biggie from 6sense to discuss post-event strategy. They share tips on using tech for personalized outreach and smarter engagement. Alura and Ashley also discuss effective aud...

Metrics are essential for understanding the success of your events, but there are certain things that data just can’t capture, like the magic moments of connection, delight, and surprise.  In this episode, hosts Felicia Asiedu , Rachel Andrews , and Alyssa Peltier discuss how events can have a lasting impact on your attendees and your brand. They share creative ideas and strategies for buildi...