The Michael Coombs Show

Host Michael Coombs interviews Kristin Banta, founder of Kristin Banta Events, about being named one of the most influential event professionals of the past 25 years and how her 23-year journey evolved from learning weddings from scratch to producing premieres, immersive brand events, and corporate work. Banta explains she broke from traditional weddings by first mastering the rules, then reshapin...

Today’s show features Veronica Di Santo, co-founder and managing partner of Ines Di Santo, about luxury bridal fashion, entrepreneurship, and resilience.  Veronica describes herself as a passionate, people-focused, and spiritual person while sharing the story behind the launch of V, Veronica Di Santo. She reflects on growing up in her mother’s atelier, where she learned that bridal is about creati...

Host Michael Coombs interviews sales, leadership, and customer service trainer Cindy Novotny about building sustainable businesses through the combination of strong sales, exceptional service, and leadership. Drawing from her experience with the Ritz-Carlton Learning Institute and Malcolm Baldrige quality standards, she shared how vision, mission, onboarding, daily standards, reviews, and communic...

Host Michael Coombs interviews Josh Spiegel, founder and chief creative officer of Birch Events, about his path from selling florals in his dad’s Brooklyn balloon shop to producing 200+ events a year. Spiegel says Birch’s foundation is service and listening, defining luxury as how clients feel and how heard they are. He recounts early financial naivety that led to about $1.5M in debt, and describe...

Host Michael Coons interviews Mo Govindji of Mango Studios, a wedding photography company founded in Toronto in 2005 that now shoots globally with a boutique team across Toronto, Miami, and destination markets. Mo attributes 20+ years of consistency to quality as a prerequisite, plus strong people, customer service, consistency, systems, and embracing change. He explains Mango’s three “machines” (...

Host Michael Coombs interviews global event planner and brand strategist Kathy Romero following her surprise talk at Toronto’s client appreciation party, The Interlude. Romero explains that reaching high-profile work required complete self-trust, strong boundaries, and projecting certainty because clients “hire a presence,” not just a planner. She emphasizes leaving fear by choosing yourself, vett...

Toronto International Film Festival isn’t just a festival—it’s a cultural force.  TIFF’s Director of Special Events, Mariangel Urdaneta, pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to bring it to life. At its core, TIFF operates as a charity with a bold mission: to shift how people see the world through film. For its 50th anniversary, the focus wasn’t on doing more—it was on doing better. Think...

Host Michael Coombs interviews Katie Hendricks, founder of Masterfully Managed and Forma, about supporting wedding creatives through operations and representation. Katie explains that Masterfully Managed, an eight-year-old 17-person team, acts as an extension of clients’ brands by handling behind-the-scenes tasks like client communication, vendor/venue sourcing, submissions, social media, blogs, a...

Host Michael Coombs interviews DJ MOS, an NYC and LA nightlife veteran and, with his wife DJ Kiss, the Academy Awards’ official DJ. MOS recounts how he manifested the Oscars gig and met an assistant to the Academy president who helped connect him, and explains preparing for celebrity rooms by reading the crowd and mixing classics with current hits. He reflects on formative experiences at NYC clubs...

Host Michael Coombs interviews Santa Barbara planner, designer, and florist Tyler Speier, creative director for Engage! Santa Barbara, about executing luxury at scale under industry scrutiny, short turnarounds, and high expectations. Speier explains the intentional Santa Barbara story he designed for Engage—from natural beauty and monarch migration to agriculture, downtown, Fiesta, cowboy history,...

In this episode,  Ashley Pigott shares her insights on the power of manifestation, the importance of obsession with excellence, and the personal costs of growth in the event planning industry. She discusses the calculated risks involved in expanding her business internationally and the significance of building collaborative partnerships. Ashley emphasizes the need to stay true to oneself amidst in...

Brandee Gaar, founder of Wedding Pro CEO, explains that many wedding professionals undercharge and avoid leading clients to a decision because they fear sounding pushy, which leaves couples confused about next steps. She outlines a four-part consultation framework: deep discovery to uncover motivations and pain points; pitching only in direct relation to those pain points rather than listing gener...

In this episode, renowned bridal designer Hayley Paige, shares her inspiring journey from loving dresses as a young girl to navigating a tumultuous legal battle over her own name. Hayley discusses her early influences, including her grandmother who taught her to sew, and her academic journey, which initially included pre-med at Cornell before pivoting to fiber science and apparel design. She refle...

In this episode, Michael Coombs interviews Meghan Ely, a renowned expert in wedding and event PR. They discuss the importance of maintaining a strong digital presence and the role of PR in achieving credibility, bookings, and growth. Meghan emphasizes the need for customized PR strategies based on specific goals within the event industry, such as wedding submissions, increasing brand awareness, an...

In this episode, Michael Coombs interviews Wassal Seddiqi, the founder and creative force behind Toronto-based planning and design boutique Petals and Pearls. They discuss the challenges of wedding planning, including a worst-case scenario where a venue canceled last minute. Wassal shares her strategies for managing crises, the importance of education and certifications, and how she uses social me...

In this episode of the show, host Michael Coombs interviews Lisa Zachery, the CEO and creative director of Papered Wonders. Known for her custom stationery work for brands like BET, Essence Magazine, and Mary J. Blige's Strength of a Woman Tour, Lisa discusses her unique approach to design. She explains how she incorporates personal elements from her clients' lives into their invitations...

In this episode, host Michael Coombs talks with Sean Low, the founder and president of the Business of Being Creative. They discuss the importance of emotional connection, value, and alignment in running creative businesses. Sean emphasizes the pitfalls of using packages in luxury and creative businesses, advocating for a focus on personalized value instead. He explains how businesses can pivot fr...

In this episode, Michael Coombs converses with Natalie Denyse, the founder and director of In Good Company PR. They delve into the evolving landscape of media strategy for luxury wedding and hospitality brands, emphasizing the importance of targeted exposure and founder-led storytelling. Natalie discusses the increasing value of developing privatized storytelling channels, such as podcasts and dig...

In this episode, Michael Coombs welcomes Simon T. Bailey, an award-winning keynote speaker, success coach, and bestselling author. They discuss the importance of resilience and brilliance in both business and life, and offer practical advice on how to unlock these qualities. Simon shares insights from his 20 years of experience, including the three key components of brilliance: confidence, compete...

In this episode, we hear from Phong, who shares his remarkable path from being a mechanical engineer and personal trainer to becoming a successful wedding filmmaker with his company, Modern Frame. Phong discusses how his diverse background in engineering and personal training has given him a unique edge in the wedding videography industry. He delves into the emotional aspects of wedding filmmaking...

In this episode, Michael Coombs speaks with acclaimed International Wedding Photographer Raphaëlle Granger, who shares her journey through two major rebrands. Starting as an adventure elopement photographer, Raphaëlle found herself disconnected and later redefined her brand to align more with weddings that evoke human connection. She discusses emotional intelligence on wedding days, the impact of...

In this episode of the Michael Coombs Show, Michael talks with a multicultural and destination wedding specialist Fidan Ismayilova, from Designed Dream Events. Fidan discusses the unique challenges and strategies involved in planning weddings that blend different cultural traditions. Fidan elaborates on the importance of communication, managing family expectations, and the logistics of running des...

In this episode of The Michael Coombs Show, Michael interviews Michelle Cundari, an international wedding planner and founder of Sincerely Yours Events and Fancy Puffs. Michelle shares insights on how she juggles the responsibilities of being a new mom while running a successful business. She discusses her day-to-day life, the importance of building strong vendor relationships, and how she manages...

In this episode, Michael Coombs interviews Todd Kjargaard, the Creative Director of Jackie O Floral Affairs and Event Design. They discuss Todd's unique approach to collaborating with a wide variety of designers, the importance of maintaining creativity in event design, and the impact of AI in the planning process. Todd shares his insights on balancing client desires with innovative designs,...

In this episode, host Michael Coombs interviews Sara Lam from August in Bloom on her unexpected journey from executive roles to wedding planning. Sara shares how her passion for pastry led her to start a sweet table company, which eventually evolved into a wedding planning business. She discusses the importance of project management, sales skills, and automation in her success. Sara also explains...