The Keynote Curators Podcast

“Once you commit to big goals and live with intention, life opens up with unending possibilities.” – Ben Nemtin Driving a Fiat across Italy. Playing basketball with President Obama. Delivering a baby. Earning a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records . To most, these seem like impossible undertakings. Especially fitting four grown men into a Fiat. Ben Nemtin and his three college friends did it...

Attention, event professionals! Don’t miss my interview with Jessie States , Vice President of Meeting Professionals International’s MPI Academy , as she offers a glimpse into her world and shares valuable insights about the future of events. In this ‘new normal’ world, where change is the only guarantee, Jessie shares her thoughts on reframing challenges as opportunities and reimagining what in-p...

Karen Allen believes that we don't grow by accident but by design. Following her husband's unexpected and tragic death, Karen decided that if she was going to move forward in life, she needed to tame the chaos in her mind. She recalls thinking, "Every single thing that I do, even if I could only take it one breath at a time, everything I do is going to create a ripple effect beyond this moment." D...

Plastics will lead to human extinction? As you go about your day, it may not seem like the end of the world is near, but trust me, the countdown has begun. It’s no surprise that chemicals make up the myriad of plastics we use – and consume – daily. Two of them, bisphenols and phthalates, work in tandem, softening plastic and hardening it. But like the evil twins on The Shining, their potency is mu...

You may earn a decent salary, but does compensation equal job satisfaction? For most people, that answer is no. It’s hard to love what you do if there’s no passion behind your work. As Former Commander of the USS Benfold and Bestselling Author of It’s Your Ship , Mike Abrashoff shares in our podcast, job enrichment comes from far more than money. It’s not even at the top of the list for most emplo...

Kids don’t go away when you say “no.” Anyone who’s spent more than five minutes around one knows this very well. Eventually, you become putty in their tiny, masterful hands. Children come into this world with the innate ability to litigate. Adults negotiate (or try to) every day – whether in-person or online through email, videoconferencing, or social media platforms. Many of us lose that childhoo...

Society’s approach to work has changed. As more organizations use a blended workforce of permanent employees and freelancers, many of whom work remotely, leaders must build trust and ensure constant collaboration. Tim Sanders is a technology pioneer, vice president of Customer Insights at Upwork , and award-winning collaboration expert. His mission is twofold: lead professionals to deepen their re...

I need to get this right. I don't know enough. These people know more than I do. What if someone finds out I don't know as much as they think I do? Do you ever find yourself caught in reflection that makes you doubt your accomplishments and fear being exposed as a fraud? You're not alone. The world's most powerful, successful people struggle with self-deprecating criticism, referred to as "imposte...

How often do you overthink things because you’re worried about impression management or file thoughts and feelings away because you’re hesitant to address something or someone in the present moment? Do you rehearse impending conversations in your mind to quell the anticipation? If so, you’ve probably falsely fallen into the illusion that “the last 8%” – the most difficult part of something – has a...

“The doctor of the future will give no medication but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” — Thomas Edison Most of us are familiar with conventional medicine. We develop an ache or pain, we visit our doctor, we are prescribed a pill. Some of us dabble in alternative medicine, seeking a more holistic approach to treating health...

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." – Aristotle Often what's behind your eyes is more powerful than what's in front of them. When you visit a museum, do you SEE each piece of art or just take a quick look and move through the galleries? The act of introspection can be profound. Looking deep within oneself takes some time but permits personal and professional growth. Amy Herman is an...

Curious about the science behind meaningful conversations? We were, too, so we invited Communications Expert Jeff Molander to share his secrets. Finding a way to grab someone’s attention and engage with them in a meaningful way is harder than you think. Push someone too hard, and they’ll be turned off. Provoke someone appropriately though, and they’ll be curious for more. By positioning yourself t...

“ To know the road ahead, ask those coming back. ” – Ancient Chinese Proverb What if someone told you the real pandemic started before the pandemic? Eric Saperston will argue that it did. A communication expert, leadership coach, award-winning filmmaker, and self-proclaimed ‘wonder enthusiast,’ Eric Saperston believes that the real pandemic in our culture started long ago, with an unrealistic expe...

“When you change what someone believes is possible, you change what becomes possible.” – Alex Banayan What if you knew the secret to uncovering the definitive mindset of exponential growth and success? Alex Banayan does, and he’s here to share that secret with you today. The day before his freshman-year final exams, Banayan hacked the game show The Price is Right , won a sailboat, sold it, and use...

When it comes to money, what makes some people behave like squirrels preparing for a long, hard winter and others like reckless honey badgers, described by the Guinness Book of Records as the most fearless animals in the world? Lack of financial knowledge, impulse control, expert advice–– all these factors significantly affect how people view and treat money. Financial advisors play a more signifi...

Having a high-performance mindset doesn’t necessarily mean having a positive attitude. It means having a clear mind. While positivity is a characteristic that can benefit one’s physical and mental well-being, having a high-performance mindset allows one to keep emotions in check to yield the clearest, most productive perspective possible. It allows one to face adversity with clarity and appreciati...

Did You F*ck Up This Week? Why That’s Actually Good News Billion-dollar ideas aren’t the only ones delivering big results when it comes to innovation. Micro-innovations are less risky, accessible to everyday people, encourage creativity, and build critical skills. And high velocities of little breakthroughs can result in substantial, meaningful outcomes. Take the story of a guy in Central London w...

There are no roads for improv actors, only possibilities. The ability to be flexible and "go with the flow" allows them to handle curveballs with grace and agility, respond freely and creatively, and change not what they think but how they think. As Comedian Tina Fey once said, "Just say yes, and you'll figure it out later." Since the 1990s, businesses have turned to improv centers to learn essent...

Rich Bracken has worn many hats, from emotional intelligence expert and award-winning marketing guru to acclaimed storyteller and self-proclaimed LinkedIn nerd. His role as a former meeting professional and miracle maker has afforded him a unique perspective into the industry, and the stress planners face daily. Studies have shown that 58% of performance is attributed to emotional intelligence — y...

Did you know “how to” are the two most searched words online? People want to know how to do something and do it the best way possible. In the events industry, influential speakers know precisely how to activate their audience and move them to action. And like search engine surfers, audiences want meaningful, digestible, actionable plans to accomplish a task, reach a goal, or start a new initiative...

"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." Wise words from Aristotle that still ring true. So, why do many of us still struggle to find satisfaction and meaning at work? A Deloitte report revealed only 12% of people are passionate at work — a startling number for employers striving to retain staff and deliver impactful customer experiences. Learn how a positive mindset creates an atmospher...

Sometimes we get so focused on our organization’s daily operations that we forget the vital role of a timely, clear, actionable succession plan during a crisis. It's no surprise that behaviors and feelings are rooted in communication. Unclear communication creates uncertainty, distrust, and angst. Clear, authoritative communication forms the bridge between confusion and clarity. Listen in as Lt. C...

What does it mean to grow older today compared to 20 or 30 years ago? Developments in science and medicine over the past few decades have dramatically decreased the gap between life span and health span . Today, 50% of the children born in 2007 are projected to live until 104. That’s an astonishing statistic. But is it a state full of hope for everyone? That depends mainly on your mindset, not jus...

“Helping people live more authentic, inspired, and successful lives.” That’s the mission of meetings and events guru  Annette Gregg .  As the former SVP of Experience at MPI and today, its Chief Revenue Officer, Annette is a force to be reckoned with in the meetings and events industry. She’s served in executive-level positions for corporations, associations and non-profits, delivered hu...

There's a saying that your perspective will either be your prison or your passport.  Being open-minded and willing to listen to the stories and opinions of others without judging and closing doors is an admirable trait that will open many doors in life. Those actions often reveal connections and similarities that you would never have known existed. An unwillingness to listen to other perspect...