Events Dear Boy! The Events Industry Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Phil Lewis is the person that leaders call when their business is stuck, when change is failing, or when they need their organisation to adapt, fast. On stage he shares stories of real business transformation and proven, practical advice for addressing the human side of corporate change. In this episode, Phil shares his expertise on the challenges of change and growth in organizations and the importance of understanding the human dynamics within them. Phil also talks about his journey from marketing to helping human beings get out of their own way at work. He shares his experiences as a speaker and offers tips for other speakers.

Takeaways

Understanding the difference between the capability of humans and organizations is crucial for successful change and growth in organizations.

Treating human beings as cogs in a machine hinders their creativity and potential in the workplace.

Speaking engagements provide an opportunity for dialogue and learning from the audience.

Calibrating the level of challenge and confrontation in speaking engagements is important to avoid pushing too hard.

Speakers should embrace the fact that everyone in the audience is making it up as they go along and be open to learning from others.

Sound Bites

"I became really interested in the difference between the capability of the human and the capability of the organization."

"You can be efficient with everything but people."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

01:21 Overview of the Podcast and Guest Introduction

02:02 Phil Lewis' Background and Expertise

05:17 The Difference Between Human Capability and Organizational Capability

08:37 Unleashing Human Potential in the Workplace

11:26 The Challenges of Change and Growth in Organizations

13:09 Phil's Love for Speaking and the Learning Journey

18:26 Phil's Bad Speaking Experiences

20:12 Tips for Speakers

In this episode, Herb Kim, the founder of Thinking Digital and curator of many TEDx events, shares his experiences and insights in organizing successful business events. He discusses the importance of creating a growth mindset and fostering a learning environment for attendees. Herb also emphasizes the value of storytelling in presentations and the need for speakers to establish a connection with the audience. He highlights the challenges of audience development and the impact of AI on the future of work. Herb's passion for creating impactful and inspiring events shines through in this conversation.

Takeaways

Creating a growth mindset and fostering a learning environment is essential for successful business events.

Storytelling is a powerful tool in presentations, helping to establish a connection with the audience.

Audience development is a challenge, especially for new events, and requires strategic planning and marketing.

AI will have a significant impact on the future of work, potentially leading to the end of white-collar jobs and the need for universal basic income.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the podcast

03:32 The growth of TEDx events

05:18 The evolution of TEDx events and the level of support for speakers

08:16 The importance of featuring local speakers in TEDx events

10:05 The focus on improving the quality of talks

13:10 The joy and challenges of organizing business events

17:33 The success and impact of TEDx Manchester

21:16 The importance of teamwork and attention to detail in event organization

24:17 Memorable speakers and their impact

30:47 Tips for speakers: storytelling and connecting with the audience

35:37 The need for speakers to establish a connection with the audience

Grace Marshall is the author of ‘Struggle: The surprising truth, beauty and opportunity hidden in life's sh*ttier moments’ and an incredible speaker. She works with teams and leaders around the world to build a future-ready culture, innovate in adversity, lead in uncertainty and build strong relationships in challenging times.

Grace joins us to share her stories of being a speaker: what led her to it, how she connects with audiences, the highs, and the lows - including one speaking gig for a company with a ‘work hard, play hard’ culture that got completely out of hand!

Our conversation was a little disrupted by technology. We’ve edited out most of the moments where we lost Grace in mid flow, but left one or two in just because they made us laugh. If you’d like to see a full blooper reel at some point, then let us know.

James Goad founded Owen James Events 18 years ago after six years’ experience in the events industry, running giant gatherings on cruise ships. Today Owen James runs highly curated community events for the financial services industry, bringing around 100 senior leaders together at each gathering under Chatham House rules to connect, learn, network and strategise.

James talks to us about the importance of building communities, facilitating interaction between delegates, and reaffirms the power of face to face events in a post-pandemic landscape. He gives advice on ‘being a swan’, and treating events as not just being a single point in time. And he tells us about his greatest successes - an event that transformed an industry - and some of the disasters, including how a wedding disrupted a recent event at which Tom was a speaker - though the power of the great event organiser is always to keep these disasters hidden from the delegates.

James also told us about one of his favourite speakers, the ‘antagonistic’ Matthew Goodwin, because of his power to disrupt, shock and get people thinking.

Listen below, subscribe on your favourite podcast platform, or watch the episode now on our YouTube channel.

Jamie Klingler is very much a one-off. The ‘accidental activist’, changemaker, and creator of National Burger Day (we kid you not) talks to us about NOT being on Game of Thrones, getting undressed on live TV, and why we should all “be more Philly!”

Jamie came to prominence of one of the women incensed and inspired to conduct a vigil for the murdered Sarah Everard, leading to a long drawn out clash with the Metropolitan Police, in person and in the courts. The Reclaim These Streets campaigners ultimately won their case, and along the way raised more than £600,000 for women’s charities.

The experience has led Jamie from a successful career in events and marketing, to being a persistent voice for women’s safety and a regular commentator across the broadcast media. Always ready to make her - sometimes unexpected - case, Jamie is a favourite of producers. But she is also a favourite of event organisers seeking an honest and forthright tale of inspiration from the darkest circumstances, of a personal journey, and a raucous wit.

Jamie had us laughing throughout this podcast with her incredible stories. Of what happens when it goes wrong on live TV, of treading the ‘hallowed halls’ of the Cambridge Union, and of the importance of being yourself.

In episode three of Events Dear Boy! we talk to Caroline Moran, MD of Clear and  a ‘lifer’ at the company who has been there for over 20 years and worked her way up.

Caroline tells us about how internal company events have changed over COVID, and how the drivers for such events have changed since the pandemic and Brexit. Plus, we find out that the three of us have the same personality trait that exasperates our partners and decide to set up a support group for them!

Unfortunately we had a few technical issues with Caroline’s recording on this episode. Though we could see and hear her during the conversation, the system doesn’t seem to have captured all of her brilliant answers. Sorry Caroline! So this one is a little shorter than normal. And you’ll just have to guess what we’re referring to towards the end when we talk about personalities turning up drunk and sockless!

Events Dear Boy! is the podcast for the business events industry and we want to examine it from every angle! So we're alternating guests between amazing events organisers and the brilliant people they put on stage - like Penny Haslam.

Following her high-profile broadcasting career, Penny has become an incredible motivational speaker, teaching people about confidence and communication, and entertaining people while she does it.

We talk about the power of humour in serious subjects, the horror of finding yourself part of a panto, and Katharine introduces us to the joy of discipline (ooh er!).

Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts for more great interviews with leading corporate event organisers and spectacular speakers like Penny.

In this episode we speak to Abi Humayun, co-founder of the incredible People Activation, a business with a 17 year track record of creating engaging and educational employee experiences.

Abi talks to us about kidnapping a CEO with Danny Dyer, her nightmares about destroying the pitch at Old Trafford, and her greatest event ever: a simultaneous global birthday party for thousands of people.

Huge thanks to Abi for coming on and sharing her stories, tips and tricks.

Abi mentioned the Service Profit Chain. Here’s an article on it from Harvard Business Review.

She also mentioned the classic, Start with Why by Simon Sinek, available here.

The two speakers that Abi recommended were Benjamin Zander (watch his TED Talk here) and Beau Lotto (see him speaking at Google).

We’re launching a new podcast for the business events industry. In each episode we’ll be interviewing one of the major players. Either an events organiser, from an agency, conference, or corporate, or a speaker, someone with experience performing at business events.

We want to know about the highs and the lows, the tips and the tricks. What can they teach us? And what can they learn from each other?

Check out the trailer and subscribe now for coming episodes.

Katie Treggiden is an author, journalist and podcaster who found her own ‘defiant hope’ in the face of the climate challenge. Today she speaks about sustainability, design and the role of craft in restoring our future.

Katie talks to us about her love for speaking and how it’s OK to enjoy being on stage - and why you should never stop being nervous! She shares a couple of speaking horror stories about busted ankles, and what happens when an audience has a tough choice to make. And she shares her tips for other speakers about how you can only wing it once you have over-prepared. But as you’ll find out, Katie is very clear she’s not an expert!

You can find Katie’s books in the Pomona Partners book store.

Takeaways

Craft design and sustainability are key areas of interest for Katie Treggiden, a keynote speaker, author, journalist, and podcaster.

There is a growing alignment between sustainability goals and business goals, with companies recognizing the importance of values-driven decisions.

As a speaker, Katie enjoys the adrenaline rush and the opportunity to connect with the audience, inspiring change and action.

Preparation is crucial for speakers, but it's also important to let go and trust oneself to deliver an engaging and natural presentation.

Event organizers should prioritize making speakers feel valued and cared for, creating a collaborative and supportive environment.

Sound Bites

"I think the point at which I define myself as an expert, it's time for me to go home."

"There's clearly still an awful lot of corporate bad behavior here and there, but it feels like there is a much tighter alignment between sustainability goals and business goals than there was five years ago."

"I love that sort of feeling a bit sick for days beforehand and then the moment you get up on stage, it's just like nothing else."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

02:18 Katie Treggiden's Area of Expertise: Craft Design and Sustainability

06:01 The Changing Landscape of Sustainability in the Corporate World

11:21 The Thrill and Impact of Speaking

13:58 Worst Speaking Experience and Tips for Speakers

22:32 Advice for Event Organizers

24:25 Conclusion and Call to Action