The Event Connection

How can business and event professionals partner with an LGBT Chamber of Commerce to promote inclusivity, host welcoming events, and diversify the vendors they partner with?  We sit down with Jason Rae, President and CEO of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, to discuss how event professionals can build more inclusive, welcoming, and successful events with the help of their local LGBT Chamber...

Are your virtual events putting your audience to sleep? Stop it! In this episode of The Event Connection, Meaghan Maybee and Jay Schwedelson (Founder of SubjectLine.com, GURU Media Hub, EVENTASTIC, and Outcome Media; Host of the “Do This, NOT That” podcast) chat about why online events are flopping and how to fix it. Listen to this episode for zero-fluff, high-impact strategies to turn your ordina...

How do you plan a successful non-profit event with little-to-no budget? In this episode of The Event Connection, Geoffrey Sandler, President of the NACE Madison Chapter, shares strategies for balancing mission-driven goals with high-impact attendee engagement.  This episode is for event professionals looking for non-profit fundraising ideas, event sponsorship tips, or ways to recruit event volunte...

Are you looking for fun ways to gamify networking events without the usual social burnout? In this episode of The Event Connection, we sit down with Melvin Adekanye, the Founder of JamSocial, to explore how event planners and attendees can create more interactive networking experiences. Learn how to help introverts thrive at your events by listening in to Meaghan and Melvin explore the psychology...

What is the future of incentive travel? In this episode, Tina Husemoller, VP of Meetings and Incentives at Fox World Travel, explains why the industry is shifting from Return on Investment (ROI) to Return on Experience (ROE)! Whether you're a corporate planner or a business leader, learn how to design memorable programs that cater to diverse generational preferences while also prioritizing sustain...

New year, new trends! Meaghan and Rylee go head-to-head to reveal their 2026 event design forecast. This episode is all about what’s hot, what’s not, and what attendees really want out of event design. We chat about moving away from "overly polished" into human-centric design that gives attendees authentic, tactile experiences. Think things like AI concepting, nostalgic themes, and interactive eve...

Take your event planning career to the next level! Meaghan and Brooke go head-to-head to reveal their ultimate “Top 5” lists for industry professionals, including THEIR favorite picks for top event planning podcasts, events, influencers, and books. Here's where to spend your time and attention to stay ahead of the curve! Start by connecting with event influencers on LinkedIn, attending an event, c...

Event registration can either be totally fun or a logistical nightmare (IYKYK). In this episode, Megan and Meaghan share their favorite tips for transforming the conference and event registration process from a point of stress into an exciting first touchpoint for attendees! By the end of this episode, you'll know how to turn event check-in into an interactive experience, accommodate last-minute r...

What makes a Gen Z attendee click? How can you deliver an authentic experience for Millennials? What does it take to truly impress a Gen X-er? In this special episode, our cross-generational panel: Ethan (Gen Z), Meaghan (Millennial), and Kindra (Gen X) explore how different age groups experience and engage with events. Brooke (Millennial) leads the chat in an honest, goofy, and surprising convers...

Don’t get left behind with same-old agendas. Events in 2026 are all about “EYES LIGHT UP” moments! Brooke and Meaghan share activities, tactics, and strategies they’re obsessed with to help you make every event a must-attend experience, no matter your budget. 🔥🔥🔥 Hear what’s worked for key players in the industry, including Dragon Con, INBOUND, NACE Experience, and more!   TIMESTAMPS  --- 00:00...

Ethan West, Marketing Communication Intern at pc/nametag, sits down with Kyler Donovan, General Manager of Forward Madison FC, to chat about all things soccer, community, and behind‑the‑scenes magic of sports fan engagement! ⚽🥅 Kyler shares: How the club keeps sports fans engaged beyond the pitch How to seamlessly integrate event sponsors without disruption How intricate operations that make gam...

Transform your event's audience from "quiet" to captivated! This week, Meaghan chats with Roger Wolkoff, "The Guy with the Voice," and a professional emcee with 20+ years of experience. Roger shares his top secrets for creating an engaging atmosphere, from effectively warming up a crowd to expertly handling unexpected "uh oh" moments. Tune in for valuable insights on audience interaction, crisis m...

What can all event planners learn from fan conventions? More than you might think! In this episode, we're talking to the Convention Chairperson for Anime Milwaukee to get the inside scoop on the chaos and fun behind planning a 3-day event for 18,000 attendees.   TIMESTAMPS ---- 00:00 - Meet Kris Lugo - Convention Chairperson for Anime Milwaukee (AMKE) 03:27 - Kris's personal history with conventio...

What happens when an event goes sideways? 🤔 Join Brooke and Meaghan as they dissect a real-life event that went viral because of many "oops" moments. You'll come away with seriously valuable event planning lessons you won't want to miss. From website woes to venue missteps, we'll cover how to avoid your own event mishaps and turn chaos into a win. Tune in for expert event organization tips and re...

Event promotion strategies don't have to be expensive or complicated! This episode explores easy tactics you can use to get the word out about your events, even on a tight budget. You'll come away with practical tips for using social media, email, content, partnerships, and more to quickly boost registrations!   ---- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Get to know The Event Connection Podcast! 01:14 - The Economy,...

Forget your actual horoscope: Brooke, Megan, and Meaghan are once again predicting how the "stars will align" for conferences and events in 2025!  The Event Connection Podcast is back for episode two, and this week, we're talking about what's "in" and "out" for attendee welcome sessions, event badge design, ticketing strategies, and whether or not it's still cool to have conferences in first tier...

Join us for some wild speculation on event trends in 2025! In the debut episode of "The Event Connection" podcast, we're dishing the deets on the hottest (and weirdest) event topics we could find, including sustainable events, audience engagement, attendee networking, and sponsored restrooms (...HUH?)   Brooke, Megan, and Meaghan spill the tea on what's "hot" and what's "not" in a lighthearted (an...