The Association Insights Podcast

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Stuart Broadley, CEO of the Energy Industries Council (EIC), for a conversation about leading one of the world's largest trade associations serving the energy supply chain. Representing more than 950 member companies across 120+ countries, EIC has built its reputation by hel...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , host Colleen Gallagher welcomes back Kara Dickerson, Founder of Content With Impact, LLC, to explore how associations can transform keynote programs into powerful storytelling platforms that create value before, during, and long after an event. Drawing on her experience leading the keynote strategy for InfoComm 2026...

In this solo episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , host Colleen Gallagher explores a simple but often overlooked truth: effective association communications don't start with content—they start with organizational goals. Too often, communications teams get caught in a cycle of emails, social media posts, event promotions, and campaign execution without stepp...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , host Colleen Lerro Gallagher sits down with Mark Fernando, Director of Governance and Administration at the American Sociological Association (ASA), to explore what it takes to build trust, transparency, and engagement within a complex member-driven organization. Managing governance, elections, volunteer leadership,...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Dr. Michael Carr-Tatonetti, CPP, CAE, Founder & CEO of Pricing for Associations, to explore one of the most powerful—and often misunderstood—tools available to association leaders: pricing. From membership dues and event registrations to sponsorships and education programs,...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Adrienne Lerro, Partner at PwC, to discuss what it takes to successfully lead transformation in large organizations. Drawing on her experience leading global operational and technology transformations, Adrienne shares why the most successful organizations focus on solving busine...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Leslie Frazier, SVP of Community and Industry Relations at Virginia REALTORS®, for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, advocacy, housing, and the evolving role of associations in building stronger communities. With experience spanning political campaigns, state government,...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Katy Thorbahn, President & CEO of Shiny, for a thoughtful conversation about customer indifference, trust-building, and why the most effective organizations focus less on selling—and more on being genuinely helpful. Drawing from her deep experience in financial services mark...

In this special replay episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , O&U CEO Colleen Gallagher revisits the very first episode of the show — originally recorded more than four years ago when the podcast launched as The Association 100 . As OnWrd & UpWrd approaches six years in business, Colleen reflects on the early conversations, industry frustrations, and vis...

In this solo episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & Upwrd , host Colleen Gallagher takes a step back to unpack where AI actually stands right now in association communications and PR. After months of rapid experimentation across the industry, Colleen moves beyond the hype to focus on what’s actually working, where teams are seeing real value, and where challenges are st...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , host Colleen Gallagher takes a step back to focus on a foundational—but often overlooked—driver of association success: trust. In a landscape shaped by information overload, growing skepticism, and declining institutional credibility, trust is no longer assumed—it’s earned, reinforced, and, if neglected, quickly los...

In this solo episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , host Colleen Gallagher, President & CEO of OnWrd & UpWrd, breaks down one of the most overlooked opportunities in association communications: how to better use the member data you already have to shape stronger, more relevant messaging. While many organizations focus on collecting more data, Colleen cha...

In this solo episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , host Colleen Gallagher explores how leading associations are rethinking their annual meetings—not just as events, but as strategic opportunities to build visibility, credibility, and momentum that lasts well beyond the closing session. 🎧 Whether you’re planning your next annual meeting or reflecting on one you...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , host Colleen Gallagher is joined by Meghan Henning, Senior PR Strategist & Founding Partner, and Christine Stay, Director of Operations at OnWrd & UpWrd, for a fast-paced conversation on the real challenges associations are facing right now. Instead of going deep on one topic, this episode takes a rapid-fire...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd , host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Alexandra Bradley, President; Kim Howard, CAE, President-Elect; and Whitney Meyerhoeffer, MPA, CAE, Secretary/Treasurer of The Alliance for Women in Associations. Together, they share how the Alliance came to life, the gap it is designed to fill, and why creating community for w...

Building Stronger Association Teams: Wellbeing, Leadership, and Sustainable Performance In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast , host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Johanna Roodt, Founder, Wellbeing Consultant & Coach, Leladijo Consulting, for a timely conversation on what it really takes to build healthy, high-performing association teams. From burnout and communication breakdo...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host Colleen Gallagher, President & CEO of OnWrd & UpWrd, sits down with Melissa Loner, MBA, QAS, Chief Executive Officer of the National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP), one of the 2025 Association Insights Comm Impact Award winners . NSCP was recognized for its thoughtful, transparent internal communications strategy during...

In this solocast episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host Colleen Gallagher, President & CEO of OnWrd & UpWrd, takes a step back to reflect on the evolving role of communications leadership in associations. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience working alongside associations across healthcare, transportation, finance, workforce development, and professional services, Colleen...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast , host OnWrd & UpWrd’s Colleen Gallagher welcomes back Louise St. Germain, Interim Executive Director of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) for a powerful conversation on leadership during transition, global scale, and what it truly takes to maintain stability while building momentum. After more than a decade in se...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast , host Meghan Henning sits down with OnWrd & UpWrd’s Account Director, Roger Hughlett, for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on media, messaging, and what associations need to understand about today’s newsroom realities. With more than two decades of experience spanning journalism, editorial leadership, association communications, and corpo...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast , host OnWrd & UpWrd’s Meghan Henning sits down with Amy Leitman, JD, President of NTM Info & Research (NTMir) for a powerful conversation about advocacy, awareness, and what it takes for a small nonprofit to execute a truly global media campaign.  Amy shares the deeply personal origin story that shaped her work in rare disease education...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast , host Meghan Henning of OnWrd & UpWrd sits down with Julie Hirschhorn, Manager of Public Relations at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), for a timely conversation on trust, tone, and leadership in healthcare communications. As vaccines have become increasingly politicized, AAFP leaned into its most powerful asset: family physi...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast , host Meghan Henning sits down with Lisa Townsend, Director of Marketing & Communications at the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), to unpack what it looks like when an association doesn’t just react to industry change—but leads through it. As the global clinical research industry prepared for significant updates to the I...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast , host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Jen O’Brien, Director of Research and Innovation at the American Marketing Association (AMA), to unpack the newly released Future Trends in Marketing Report —and what it means for association marketers navigating rapid change. With AI reshaping how work gets done, how audiences discover brands, and how trus...

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Katy Doss, Founder & CEO of Script Marketing, for a practical conversation on the marketing basics associations can’t afford to skip—especially as attention gets harder to earn and teams are stretched thin. While Katy’s work centers on marketing for outdoor service businesses, her approach translates dir...