PCMA Convene Podcast

The evidence is mounting that leaning too heavily on AI can affect our ability to think critically and retain information. Here’s how to stay in the driver’s seat. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article :  What Science Has to Say About How to Use AI: https://www.pcma.org/what-science-has-to-say-about-using-ai/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin....

In this episode, the Convene Editors are swapping their favorite Convene stories from 2025 — from events that redefined attendee engagement to stories that challenged how we think about inclusion, accessibility, and workplace culture. Join Jen, Michelle, Barbara, and Kate for a behind-the-scenes look at the reporting that inspired them most — and a glimpse at what’s next for Convene .   Links: · ...

This season has been kindly sponsored by Visit Spokane. Go to VisitSpokane.com to learn more. Associations are under pressure to grow revenue, retain members, and stay relevant—often with fewer resources and more uncertainty. In this conversation, ASAE President & CEO Michelle Mason explains why the old business model is over and what’s working now: prioritizing retention, listening to the rea...

In April, the Native American Finance Officers Association held its 43rd annual conference in New Orleans, marrying tech and tradition to maximize engagement. Written and read by Michelle Russell, editor in chief at Convene . Read the Article :  Inside a Gathering of Finance Officers: https://www.pcma.org/gathering-of-finance-officers/   Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/...

How can understanding what matters most to people reshape the future of work in events? In this conversation, David Allison, CEO and founder of the Valuegraphics Project, joins Magdalina Atanassova to unpack insights from Convene ’s 2025 Salary Survey — from the widening gap between job satisfaction and pay to the deep role of community and recognition in planner happiness. Mentioned Links: Conven...

This season has been kindly sponsored by Visit Spokane. Go to VisitSpokane.com to learn more. When budgets tighten but expectations don’t, what actually works? MC2’s Ben Nazario and Bruno Silva dig into building trust with stakeholders, stopping scope creep, and balancing high-touch experiences with digital reach. From CES case studies and multi-brand partnerships to global execution, emotional st...

How a TikTok video berating hotel and conference staff at the National Federation of the Blind’s convention became a learning opportunity. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article :  This Negative TikTok Was Turned Into a Teachable Moment: https://www.pcma.org/negative-tik-tok-teachable-moment/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-...

Every issue of Convene opens with an illustrated cover — a long-standing tradition that captures ideas, not just images. In this behind-the-scenes conversation, the editorial team shares how those covers come to life, from concept to collaboration with artists around the world. Hear how illustration shapes storytelling, why abstract art sparks curiosity, and what goes into creating visuals that ma...

This season has been kindly sponsored by Visit Spokane. Go to VisitSpokane.com to learn more. David Allison joins the Convene Podcast to discuss why relying on demographics leads event planners 90 percent astray — and how understanding attendees’ values instead can transform engagement, loyalty, and community. From defining Power Values like employment security and community, to designing experien...

Organizers of the Creative Bureaucracy Festival have kept up a digital initiative from the COVID years to extend the festival’s reach globally and to keep the community connected. Written and read by Michelle Russell, editor in chief at Convene . Read the Article :  How This One-Day Festival Creates an Engaged Community Year-Round: https://www.pcma.org/this-one-day-festival-creates-engaged-communi...

Is swag still worth it—or just landfill with a logo? In this Talk, the Convene editors debate whether business events need giveaways at all, and what actually delivers value when they do. From “no-swag” charitable gifting and local-maker gift cards to consumables, thoughtful keepsakes, and scent-driven memories, the group shares smart ideas for reducing waste while deepening attendee connection. I...

This season has been kindly sponsored by Visit Spokane. Go to VisitSpokane.com to learn more. Seth Godin joins the Convene Podcast to challenge how we plan, lead, and measure events. In the first episode for Season 9, he unpacks why events are acts of leadership (not management), how AI should free us from tasks so we can create connection and make decisions, and why “doing your job” isn’t the sam...

From “Meatless Mondays” to “ganging” menus, easy ways to cut the carbon emissions of F&B at events from international science society planner Bel Hanson. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article :  3 Smart Ways to Reduce Food Waste and Cut Carbon Emissions: https://www.pcma.org/3-smart-ways-to-reduce-food-waste/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linke...

Freeman’s latest XLNC report reveals a major mismatch: attendees want organizers to curate subject-matter experts and set purposeful topics for networking—while many planners still default to open “white space,” receptions, and chance encounters. In this Convene Talk, we unpack how to architect serendipity with intention (think BrainDate-style problem matching), design quieter, introvert-friendly...

We pair advice from a time-management expert shared during a recent PCMA EMEA virtual Meet-Up with recommendations based on research about AI use. Written and read by Michelle Russell, editor in chief at Convene . Read the Article :  8 Ways to Organize Your Workday: https://www.pcma.org/8-ways-organize-workday/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/   Instagram:...

The travel industry is booming—but a World Travel & Tourism Council report warns of a 43 million-person workforce shortfall in the next decade. What does that mean for meetings and events? The Convene team digs into where the pinch is already showing, why service roles can’t be automated away, and how pipelines—student outreach, paid apprenticeships, and clearer career paths—can attract new ta...

When it comes to using AI-generated tools, discipline and focus are powerful things, says entrepreneur and speaker Princess Castleberry. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article :  An Early Adopter’s Approach for Reining in AI: https://www.pcma.org/reining-in-ai/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/   Instagram: https://ww...

As the events calendar fills up with global trade shows, familiar debates resurface: Are there simply too many industry events — or just not enough of the right ones? Convene editors break down insights from a recent article on the topic, discuss how event models may be due for a rethink, and explore why niche, purpose-built gatherings may hold the key to more meaningful industry connections.   Li...

Record attendance at two major global scientific conferences — despite domestic funding cuts and travel headaches for international attendees — demonstrates the resilience of the scientific community and strategic thinking on the part of organizers. Written and read by Kate Mulcrone, digital managing editor at Convene . Read the Article :  Science Conferences Bucking the Trend: https://www.pcma.or...

What’s really behind event planners’ pay dissatisfaction, when most still love the industry? In this Convene Talk, we unpack highlights from our 2025 Salary Survey: a persistent gap between compensation and job/industry satisfaction and why agency (taking on added duties by choice) correlates with higher morale. We compare director-level compensation across association roles, examine early-career...

A panel of experts offer their advice on how to write RFPs that enable planners and their partner venues to collaborate on producing events with a smaller footprint. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article :  Reaching Your Sustainability Goals Starts With Your RFP: https://www.pcma.org/reaching-sustainability-goals-starts-with-rfp/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn:...

QR codes make events smoother—but they’re also a growing attack surface. In this Convene Talk, we unpack quishing (malicious QR code scams), from a live “honey pot” demo at a cybersecurity summit to everyday tricks that exploit attendee trust. We share easy fixes planners can deploy now—like printing the full destination URL next to every QR code—plus the FTC’s top tips, verification habits that a...

This 50,000-member association designed a record-breaking annual conference by focusing on inclusivity and safety. Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene . Read the Article :  How the Society of Women Engineers Earned a Gold Award for Events: https://www.pcma.org/society-of-women-engineers-is-embracing-diversity/ Follow Convene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcm...

How do you reimagine a city-wide icon when its central venue is gone? In this Convene Talk, the team unpacks SXSW 2026 and its pivot to badge-specific neighborhoods across Austin. We dig into why constraints spark creativity, what “villages” mean for brand activations and attendee flow, how to balance strategy vs. serendipity, and whether asking attendees to set goals up front is fair. Links: ·   ...

This season has been kindly sponsored by Visit Anaheim. Go to VisitAnaheim.org/meetings to learn more. What does it take to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion into the DNA of a destination? In this episode of the Convene Podcast, Adam Burke, President & CEO of Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, shares how LA is leveraging its diversity to create opportunities for small, diverse-ow...