The Gathering Podcast

Join Mandy Balak and Owen Reader as they explore the art of pausing and authentic leadership with Fish Fischer, Founder and CEO of Somatic Breathwork. Discover how tuning in and embracing the pause can lead to more genuine leadership, stronger culture, and daily practices that nurture self-growth. This episode explores:  • The transformative power of taking a pause  • Authenticity as a cornerstone...

Join Mandy Balak, Owen Reader, and the Dubai Future Foundation team at SXSW as they explore the future of humanity and technology with Abdulaziz AlJaziri from the Museum of The Future. This conversation is all about a human-focused, structured approach to innovation and the role society plays in shaping our future. This episode explores:  • A visionary look at the future of humans and technology ...

Join Mandy Balak and Owen Reader as they sit down with Gary Coichy, Founder and CEO of Pod Digital—the first and largest multi-podcast network in the USA. In this episode, they explore how diverse creators are celebrated, why YouTube is the top platform for podcast consumption, and the future of digital content creation. This episode explores: • The rise of diverse creators and inclusive podcastin...

Join Mandy Balak in an intimate chat with Anick Beaulieu, CEO of C2, as they dive into the power of immersive experiences. Explore how stepping out from behind the Zoom screen can ignite creativity and collaboration, and learn about the C2 theme, its amazing speakers, and how they’re winning the future in 2025.This episode explores: • The transformative power of immersive environments • Stepping o...

Join Mandy Balak , President of The Gathering , and Owen Reader , Head of Marketing, as they sit down with Xanthe Wells , VP of Global Creative at Pinterest . As a creative leader shaping one of the most inspiring platforms on the internet, Xanthe brings a unique perspective on how brands, advertisers, and everyday users can tap into the power of inspiration, positivity, and visual discovery to sh...

Join Mandy Balak, President of The Gathering, and Owen Reader, Head of Marketing, as they sit down with marketing powerhouse Veronica Romney—keynote speaker, strategist, and author of Identity Marketing . With nearly two decades of experience working alongside some of the world’s most influential brands, Veronica has revolutionized the way businesses cultivate lifelong customer loyalty. In this ep...

Join Mandy Balak, President of The Gathering, and Owen Reader, Head of Marketing, for a conversation with James Lawrence, aka the Iron Cowboy, as they dive into what it takes to redefine the impossible. James completed 100 consecutive full-distance triathlons in his Conquer 100 journey and was named one of Sports Illustrated’s Top 50 Fittest Freaks alongside LeBron James and Conor McGregor. In thi...

Join Mandy Balak, President of The Gathering, and Owen Reader, Head of Marketing, in our debut episode as they reflect on the highs, lows, and everything in between from 2024. Mandy and Owen share lessons learned, the themes that shaped the year, and the challenges they faced in bringing The Gathering to life. This candid conversation also offers a sneak peek at what’s ahead for 2025, setting the...