Speak Easy - a Nuff Said podcast

Hayley and Jenny are joined in the studio by Gina Kay, Marketing Manager at International Confex, who has taken on the job of producing the education programme for International Confex this year. On this episode, discover how community feedback has impacted this years Confex agenda, new features and formats to expect at the show, and if there was no budget limit, who would Gina's dream speaker...

Be honest: how many “interactive” sessions have you been to that were just… not? In this episode, Hayley, Jenny and Mia swap stories about session formats they’ve used, tested, loved and quietly vowed never to repeat. They get into what actually worked, what didn’t, and how breaking away from tired formats can make a programme that more exciting.

We’re back for 2026! 🎉 In this episode, Hayley & Jenny kick off the new year by talking through the research phase of conference production, the bit that happens long before agendas, speakers, or fancy session titles. They chat about where good ideas actually come from, how they figure out what an audience really wants, and why skipping proper research almost always shows later on.

Early slides. Healthy budgets. Dream speakers. A lunch people don’t complain about. In this Christmas special of Speak Easy , Hayley, Jenny and Mia get festive, unfiltered, and a little bit delusional as they share their ultimate wish lists for their 2026 events. Expect big dreams, small miracles, and a lot of “imagine if…” moments from three producers who are very much ready for the holidays.

The rush is over… now what? Event season is finally easing up and the inbox chaos is calming down... kind of. In this episode of Speak Easy, Hayley and Jenny dive into what conference producers really get up to during the Quiet Period. Whether you work in house and love the sweet relief of December catch ups 🎄 or you are freelance and juggling client work with tax season 😅 this episode explores...

*Audio-Only* How does the 2025 Autumn Budget actually affect conference agendas? In this solo breakdown, Hayley explains the key measures announced by Rachel Reeves, and what they mean for event producers planning content for 2026. Tax changes, business incentives, sector impacts, and tips for securing government speakers post-Budget.

You know that feeling when your star speaker suddenly has “a diary clash”? Yeah, us too 😮‍💨In this episode, Hayley and Jenny unpack why speakers dropout, how to pre-empt and avoid cancellations, and the fastest ways to rebuild a session when the worst happens 🔄🎙️Because if one more speaker cancels, at least we’ll all laugh about it together 🫠

🙅 If your inbox feels like a personal attack, this one’s for you. Hayley and Jenny open up about the side of event production that doesn’t make it onto LinkedIn. The admin, the overwhelm, and the burnout that comes when you’re always “on.” 📧 From inbox zero attempts to calendar chaos and much-needed resets, this episode is part therapy, part to-do list reality check.

When sponsors take the stage, how do you keep sessions commercial and credible? 🤔 Hayley and Jenny wade into the delicate dance of sponsored sessions. From juggling sponsor expectations and aligning their goals with the actual event agenda, to keeping conference content engaging without it turning into a sales pitch. In this episode, expect smart takeaways for event producers, honest confessions...

Happy Halloween! Ever had an onsite scare that left you speechless or sprinting? From tech terrors to protestors and unexpected stage invaders, Hayley and Jenny relive their most haunting producer horror stories. Tune in for a laugh, a shiver, and a reminder that no event goes entirely to plan.

Would you rather all coffee at your event be decaf, or lunch is just a variety of different hummus? Join Hayley, Jenny, and our first on screen guest, Mia Breading, for a cheeky game of Would You Rather..? - events edition!

Following a WhatsApp debate on the Producer's Room, Hayley and Jenny take the convo to the studio and ask the question "Are Panels Dead?".

Speak Easy is back! And so is event season. Are you getting ready to head back onsite? On this episode, Jenny and Hayley share their thoughts and experiences about being back on the show floor, and looking after yourself when you're racking up the steps.

Everyone loves to talk about AI. Hayley and Jenny discuss the benefits & limitations of AI on the conference production process, and even put ChatGPT to the test in a live demo for a panel session.

Inviting speakers is part sales, part charm, and part knowing how not to get ghosted. This week we cover the evolving tactics in speaker invites, post-COVID changes, and why junior producers should never underestimate a well-scripted invite.

Is it harder to get a new event off the ground or keep a legacy one from going stale? Hayley and Jenny talk through the challenges of both, from production cycles to commercial pressure, and finding the audience that proves your event still has a reason to exist.

Hayley’s latest obsession? Walk-on music and speaker intro videos. She and Jenny unpack the art of the perfect speaker entrance, inspired by Sabrina Carpenter, Lewis Capaldi, and a few AV dreams (or nightmares).

A backstage pass to the highs, hiccups, and happy accidents of life as a conference producer. Hayley and Jenny talk mentorship, managing teams without losing your mind, and why the new generation is making corporate events cooler (and kinder) than ever.

Final_Final_V3_UPDATED.pptx. A brutal honest look at speaker presentations: the crimes, the fixes, and how not to bore your audience with 47 slides.

Sometimes it’s LinkedIn, sometimes it’s Instagram. No judgement. It’s just speaker acquisition.

Welcome to the first episode of Speak Easy - a Nuff Said podcast! This first episode will lay the foundation for what conference producers do, including Research, Agenda Writing, Speaker Recruitment, Preparation, and Onsite Delivery. Hosted by Hayley Nicholson and Jennifer Arnau Cattanach, and produced by Mia Breading.