PCMA Convene Podcast

This season has been kindly sponsored by Louisville Tourism. Go to GoToLouisville.com/meet to learn more. In this episode, Andrew Cooper, Executive Chef at La Quinta Resort & Club and Pyramid Global Hospitality’s 2025 Manager of the Year, shares how sustainability, storytelling, and creativity go hand in hand in a luxury kitchen. From transforming food waste with the Orca, to creating “Is This...

How a First Nations artist’s live carving sparked a four-day-long conversation at an International Academy of Trial Lawyers meeting. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article :  An Artist in Residence Inspired Deeper Connections at This Association’s Annual Meeting: https://www.pcma.org/artist-in-residence-inspired-deeper-connections/   Follow Convene: LinkedI...

Innovation expert Peter Baeck joins the Convene Podcast to unpack how collective intelligence, hybrid human–AI collaboration, and ambitious net zero goals can reshape business events. Discover how to move beyond basic sustainability, rebuild trust, and design events that become real catalysts for climate action and community impact.  Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma...

This season has been kindly sponsored by Louisville Tourism. Go to GoToLouisville.com/meet to learn more. Food and beverage (F&B) remain the biggest line item in most event budgets — and the first place planners hope to cut. In this conversation Eating at a Meeting host Tracy Stuckrath joins us to unpack how to move beyond “cost per plate” and start measuring real F&B value. Tracy shares d...

In keeping with its goal of having participants reimagine the traditional conference model, the inaugural The Conference for Conferences kicked off with an offbeat icebreaker. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article :  A Connection-Building Exercise That Draws Out Event Participants: https://www.pcma.org/how-to-create-connections-at-events/ Follow Convene: L...

In this episode of the Convene Podcast, we sit down with global leadership expert and CL26 mainstage moderator Holly Ransom to unpack the most powerful insights from Philadelphia—spanning Adam Grant’s “second score,” Trevor Noah’s reminder to ask “What’s the point?”, the accelerating impact of AI on business events, navigating geopolitical noise, and the essential role of empathy, curiosity, and i...

At The Conference for Conferences, participants explored what events rooted in participant experience and connection could look like. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article :  Fixing a Broken Conference Model: https://www.pcma.org/fixing-a-broken-conference-model/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/   Instagram: https:/...

In this episode of the Convene Podcast, keynote speaker and self‑described “recovering type‑A overachiever” Erin Stafford talks about what sustainable success really looks like. Erin shares why the very traits that make high performers so successful — ambition, resilience, perfectionism — often take them straight into burnout. She explains how tiny micro shifts, not dramatic routines, help leaders...

How a national leadership conference amplifies the impact of a powerful network of Black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article :  This Biennial Meeting Is a Divine Collaboration: https://www.pcma.org/divine-nine-conference/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/   Instagram: https...

In this episode of the Convene Podcast, keynote speaker and innovation strategist Jay Kiew introduces the concept of change fluency—the ability to view change as an opportunity rather than a threat—and shares why mindset, not management, is the key to navigating complexity. Drawing on behavioral science, personal experiences with resilience, and insights from conversations with event strategists,...

A recent study shows that the current funding model to encourage group business falls short in significant areas beyond economics. Written and read by Kate Mulcrone, digital managing editor at Convene . Read the Article :  How to Make Subvention Programs Work Harder: https://www.pcma.org/hov-destinations-can-work-with-groups-on-subvention/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcas...

In this episode of the Convene Podcast, global foresight leader Jahkini Bisselink shares actionable insights on creating authentic connections, bridging generational gaps, and balancing technology with human interaction. From the concept of Kletzkassa (or chit chat counters) to mutual mentorship and digital etiquette, discover strategies to foster trust and inclusion in a rapidly changing world. F...

How Spark can help planners combat the late registration trend by uncovering patterns in their own registration data and finding ways to spur prospective audiences to action. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article :  Using AI to Minimize Registration Data Headaches: pcma.org/using-ai-registration-data/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/show...

In this episode, the Editors unpack the findings of Convene’s annual Meetings Market Survey, revealing how planners are navigating 2025 amid geopolitical uncertainty, rising costs, and evolving expectations around DEI and sustainability. Discover why business models are shifting, how AI adoption is creating both opportunities and divides, and what planners predict for 2026.    Links: ·       What’...

Thanks to a combination of careful planning and strategic partnerships, PCMA’s annual meeting keeps raising its own standards for event sustainability. Written and read by Kate Mulcrone, digital managing editor at Convene . Read the Article :  How Convening Leaders 2026 Is Embracing Sustainability: pcma.org/convening-leaders-2026-embracing-sustainability/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.link...

As Convene marks its 40th anniversary in 2026, the team reflects on their first experiences with the meetings industry, shares behind-the-scenes stories, and previews what’s coming at PCMA Convening Leaders in Philadelphia. From the evolution of conferences to the power of community and design, this episode dives into the history, impact, and future of events. Plus, hear personal journeys that led...

While it may be universally accepted that event planning is stressful in nature, there’s a lack of research to support — and mitigate — it. Angelika Bazarnik is “filling the gap” to change that, and she has some ideas about how stress contributes to planners’ salary dissatisfaction. Written and read by Michelle Russell, editor in chief at Convene . Read the Article :  Planners Under Pressure: http...

In this episode, Devon Montgomery Pasha, the digital experience host for PCMA Convening Leaders 2026, shares her vision for creating an intentional, immersive virtual environment. She explains how her SPARK methodology, rooted in empathy-driven design, shaped the digital experience and reveals how participants can feel connected, activated, and inspired—no matter where they are in the world. Regis...

In this episode, the Convene editorial team previews the main stage lineup at Convening Leaders 2026 — including The Economist editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes, organizational psychologist Adam Grant, actress and entrepreneur Tabitha Brown, and comedian and bestselling author Trevor Noah. They explore how these keynotes and their talks will shape the rest of the conversations in Philadelphia....

More new-build and convention center renovations are designed for integration into the larger community, creating mixed-use spaces for convention-goers and locals alike. Written and read by Jennifer N. Dienst, senior editor at Convene . Read the Article :  Convention Centers Designed to Meet Local and Group Needs: https://www.pcma.org/meeting-different-needs-convention-centers/ Follow Convene: Lin...

In this episode, designer and Comat Studio founder Franziska Seehausen shares what leadership needs to look like for 2030 and beyond. Franziska breaks down three essential traits for today’s leaders — empathy, trust, and courage — and explains how her own journey from Adidas to systems-focused studio owner shifted her view of sustainability from a technical challenge to a human and relational one....

This season has been kindly sponsored by Visit Spokane. Go to VisitSpokane.com to learn more. In this season finale, Tahira Endean — change management facilitator, author, speaker, university instructor, and curator of IMEX’s education program — shares why joy deserves a place among event KPIs. She explains how measuring joy can reveal true attendee engagement, how creative design can foster belon...

A recent PCMA Institute webinar offered strategies for managing expenses in the current market and budgeting for the coming year. Written and read by Michelle Russell, editor in chief at Convene . Read the Article :  Budgeting for the New Normal: https://www.pcma.org/budgeting-for-the-new-normal/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/   Instagram: https://www.ins...

In this episode, the team previews how Convening Leaders 2026 in Philadelphia is weaving sustainability into every touchpoint—from right-sized F&B and food-recovery partnerships to standardized, reusable show floors, digital signage, walkable logistics, and post-event carbon accounting. We also spotlight behind-the-scenes venue practices that make greener choices the default.    Links: ·     ...

This season has been kindly sponsored by Visit Spokane. Go to VisitSpokane.com to learn more. Sponsorship and exhibition models are evolving fast — and the old “pay-to-play” mindset no longer cuts it. In this episode, Sean Soth, President at Hi-Fidelity Group, Inc., and Dan Cole, Sr. Director, Exposition Sales at AVIXA’s InfoComm, share how event professionals can meet sponsors’ rising ROI expecta...