Épisodes

  • Overstimulated Attendees and Anticipatory Event Design (with Yush Sztalkoper, CMP) | Ep. 15

    Overstimulated Attendees and Anticipatory Event Design (with Yush Sztalkoper, CMP) | Ep. 15
    Apr 15 2026

    EVENTASTIC Conference registration is now OPEN! The world's largest event about EVENTS!

    Free + Virtual! Save your spot! https://www.eventastic.com/

    Check out more at Cvent.com or visit https://utm.io/cvent-ems-online-demo for a demo.

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    MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Cvent!!

    Cvent is an event marketing and management platform designed to help you plan, promote, and measure your events all in one place - whether they’re virtual, in-person, or hybrid.

    Regardless of your size, check out Cvent today to get the tools you need to run smarter, more effective events.

    Check out more at cvent.com/Jay

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    🔗 Links / Resources Mentioned

    • Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yushsztalkoper/
    • Company Website: www.neurosparkplus.com
    • Capacity Reflection™: www.neurosparkplus.com/capacity-reflection
    • Cvent: cvent.com/jay
    • Eventastic: eventastic.com

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    Events are traditionally designed around content delivery and expected outcomes. But what happens to the actual human experience when attendees arrive stressed, overstimulated, and carrying the weight of their daily lives?

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    Host Kristin Nagle tackles this exact disconnect with Yush Sztalkoper, CMP. Yush explains why attendees never arrive at an event as a blank slate.

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    Listeners will hear how to shift their planning focus upstream. Yush details the high demands events place on nervous systems, from constant social interaction to context switching. By understanding the formula of demand plus capacity, event professionals can build gatherings that actually fit their audience.

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    👤 Guest Bio

    Yush Sztalkoper, CMP, spent 20 years directing global corporate events for Fortune 500 organizations. She recently left that career to found NeuroSpark+. Through Human Capacity Design™, Yush helps organizations recognize the invisible conditions that affect how people show up. She builds frameworks and tools, like Capacity Reflection™, that allow planners to see attendee strain clearly before making event decisions.

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    ✅ The Event Question

    Kristin Nagle asks: "Events are often designed for content and outcomes. What gets missed about how people actually experience them?"

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    📌 What You'll Learn

    • Assess what attendees carry with them before they even step foot in the venue.
    • Recognize the hidden demands of your event, including energy requirements, social interaction, and context switching.
    • Design upstream by mapping the pressure your environment places on human capacity.
    • Apply the core equation of event success: Demand plus capacity equals fit.
    • Provide quiet spaces and built-in pacing so attendees can regulate their nervous systems.

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    🎭 The Ridiculous Question

    Kristin asks: "Would you rather give up your favorite app or your favorite snack?"

    Yush chooses to give up her favorite snack. She prefers keeping apps that enhance her life, specifically her own free tool, Capacity Reflection™, which helps users see their environmental demands and capacity levels.
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    12 min
  • Booth Design Strategies to Attract Foot Traffic (with Caitlin Book) | Ep. 14

    Booth Design Strategies to Attract Foot Traffic (with Caitlin Book) | Ep. 14
    Apr 8 2026
    MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Cvent!!Cvent is an event marketing and management platform designed to help you plan, promote, and measure your events all in one place - whether they’re virtual, in-person, or hybrid.Regardless of your size, check out Cvent today to get the tools you need to run smarter, more effective events.Check out more at cvent.com/JayㅤEVENTASTIC Conference registration is now OPEN! The world's largest event about EVENTS!Free + Virtual! Save your spot! https://www.eventastic.com/Check out more at Cvent.com or visit https://utm.io/cvent-ems-online-demo for a demo.ㅤGuest LinkedIn: Caitlin BookCompany Website: BackblazeHost LinkedIn: Kristin NagleWebsite: EventasticㅤHow do you design a trade show booth to actively pull people in instead of just waiting for passive foot traffic? Host Kristin Nagle asks Caitlin Book, Senior Events Manager at Backblaze, this critical question. They discuss why booth architecture is just as important as the swag on the tables. Caitlin explains the value of open floor plans and why putting up walls can subconsciously turn attendees away.ㅤThe conversation covers specific tactics, such as pre-show sales outreach to secure meetings before the doors even open. Listeners will hear how to use gamification to encourage meaningful interactions rather than hit-and-run swag-grabbing. Caitlin also shares why training your booth staff to stay approachable is your ultimate secret weapon on the show floor.ㅤGuest BioCaitlin Book is the Senior Events Manager at Backblaze, a publicly traded cloud storage and computer backup provider. She manages all logistical aspects of global trade shows, tech conferences, and conventions with up to 50,000 attendees. With over 15 years of live production experience and an MFA in Theatre Management, Caitlin brings a highly orchestrated, audience-first approach to corporate event marketing and custom booth builds.ㅤThe Event QuestionKristin Nagle asks: "How do you design a booth to pull people in instead of just waiting for foot traffic to go by the booths?"ㅤWhat You Will LearnEnable your sales team to do pre-show outreach and schedule in-booth meetings before the event floor opens.Build an open and accessible floor plan without tall walls so attendees feel comfortable walking right in.Keep the space active with live product demos and presentations so visitors have a clear reason to stay.Implement gamification like a sticker rally to reward attendees for completing specific actions like watching a demo or speaking to a rep.Train your booth staff to avoid huddling together in the center of the space so they remain welcoming to approaching visitors.ㅤThe Ridiculous QuestionThe Question: What is a random skill you are weirdly proud of?The Answer: Thanks to her background in theater and cosplay, Caitlin can fix almost any event disaster, including a collapsed booth wall, using just gaff tape, hot glue, and safety pins from her handy stage manager kit.
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    8 min
  • What Makes an Event Community Stick (with Ksenija Polla, CMP, CICE) | Ep. 13

    What Makes an Event Community Stick (with Ksenija Polla, CMP, CICE) | Ep. 13
    Apr 1 2026
    EVENTASTIC Conference registration is now OPEN! The world's largest event about EVENTS!Free + Virtual! Save your spot! https://www.eventastic.com/Check out more at Cvent.com or visit https://utm.io/cvent-ems-online-demo for a demo.ㅤMASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Cvent!!Cvent is an event marketing and management platform designed to help you plan, promote, and measure your events all in one place - whether they’re virtual, in-person, or hybrid.Regardless of your size, check out Cvent today to get the tools you need to run smarter, more effective events.Check out more at cvent.com/Jayㅤ🔗 Links / Resources MentionedKsenija (Martinec) Polla, CMP, CICE on LinkedInTalley WebsiteEventasticKristin Nagle on LinkedInㅤWhat makes a global event community actually stick? Host Kristin Nagle asks exactly that to kick things off. Creating a space where people want to connect requires more than just launching a platform. Listeners will find out why forcing engagement never works and what organizers should do instead to build loyalty.ㅤKsenija (Martinec) Polla, CMP, CICE, brings over three decades of international event experience to the conversation. She explains the essential elements required to build a group that lasts. Ksenija shares why associations are in a great position to facilitate knowledge sharing. She also details the importance of setting basic rules of engagement to keep digital and physical spaces respectful.ㅤ👤 Guest BioKsenija (Martinec) Polla, CMP, CICE, is the Director of International Development at Talley, an association management company and professional congress organizer. She holds nearly 30 years of global event experience. Ksenija started her career at a convention bureau in Croatia before spending 27 years with the International Congress and Convention Association in Amsterdam. She specializes in strategic partnerships, multicultural event management, and building long-lasting association communities globally.ㅤ✅ The Event QuestionHost Kristin Nagle asks: "You've been a major part of building global event communities. What do you think makes a community actually stick?"ㅤ📌 What You'll LearnFill a specific gap: A community only survives when it solves a distinct problem or meets an actual need for its members.Leverage association strengths: Use your organization's unique position to bring peers together for shared experiences and knowledge.Let growth happen organically: Avoid forcing engagement or creating portals before there is a natural, member-driven demand.Keep the barrier to entry low: Make it incredibly easy for members to join, participate, and interact with one another.Set clear guardrails: Establish simple rules of engagement early on to ensure all interactions remain respectful and peaceful.ㅤ🎭 The Ridiculous QuestionQuestion: "If you could live in any TV show or movie, what would it be?"Answer: Ksenija chose the crime thriller The Blacklist because she is currently binge-watching it with her son, noting that the show's ridiculous premise makes it highly entertaining.
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    7 min
  • Creating Event Activations For Pets (with David Adler) | 12

    Creating Event Activations For Pets (with David Adler) | 12
    Mar 25 2026
    EVENTASTIC Conference registration is now OPEN! The world's largest event about EVENTS!Free + Virtual! Save your spot! https://www.eventastic.com/Check out more at Cvent.com or visit https://utm.io/cvent-ems-online-demo for a demo.MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Cvent!!Cvent is an event marketing and management platform designed to help you plan, promote, and measure your events all in one place - whether they’re virtual, in-person, or hybrid.Regardless of your size, check out Cvent today to get the tools you need to run smarter, more effective events.Check out more at cvent.com/JayWhat is one event activation that every brand should be doing? Host Kristin Nagle asks this exact question to find out how to grab an audience's attention. David Adler shares a historical example involving a high society party designed exclusively for dogs. He explains why bringing pets into the picture creates the ultimate democratizing experience with massive retention rates.Kristin and David also discuss the neuroscience behind event music. They explore why combining a DJ with a live drummer wakes up the brain and brings energy to a room. Finally, they cover the logistics of event food, including David's strict rules for hors d'oeuvres and his thoughts on the mashed potato bar.👤 Guest BioDavid Adler is the Chairman and Founder of BizBash, the largest business-to-business media property for event professionals. He started the platform in 2000 to give event organizers a central hub for commerce, content, and community. Before his landmark venture into the event space, David held significant corporate communications roles at Primedia and Macmillan Inc. Today, he operates as an independent observer, keynote speaker, and the curator in chief of GatheringPoint.news. Connect with David on LinkedIn.Check out the ‘People’ section from Small Bite Architecture to see some of your favorite Event Pros personalized as hors d'oeuvres! https://smallbitearchitectutr.lovable.app/peopleThe Event QuestionKristin Nagle asks: "What is one event activation you have seen recently that made you stop and say every brand should be doing this?"📌 What You'll LearnCreate activations that feature pets to instantly boost engagement and retention rates.Design events that function like a dog park to democratize the networking experience.Bring live music onto the stage to wake up the audience using neuroscience.Combine a DJ with a live musician, like a drummer, to bring a different element of energy.Focus on delivering goosebumps through great conversations, music, and human connection.Serve classic comfort foods like pigs in a blanket to satisfy guests.Follow the "one bite, two chews" rule for hors d'oeuvres so attendees can eat without interrupting their conversations.The Ridiculous QuestionKristin asks: "If you had a theme song for your career or your life, what would it be?"David says his song is "Life on the Other End of a Toothpick," a custom track he is writing on Suno. He also notes that his stage walk-on song would be "Eye of the Tiger."🔗 Links / Resources MentionedDavid Adler LinkedInBizBashGatheringPoint.newsSmall Bite ArchitectureSunoEventastic: https://www.eventastic.com
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    8 min
  • Email BOUNCE Database Is GOLD | Ep. 11

    Email BOUNCE Database Is GOLD | Ep. 11
    Mar 18 2026

    EVENTASTIC Conference registration is now OPEN! The world's largest event about EVENTS!

    Free + Virtual! Save your spot! https://www.eventastic.com/

    Check out more at Cvent.com or visit https://utm.io/cvent-ems-online-demo for a demo.

    ㅤ

    MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Cvent!!

    Cvent is an event marketing and management platform designed to help you plan, promote, and measure your events all in one place - whether they’re virtual, in-person, or hybrid.

    Regardless of your size, check out Cvent today to get the tools you need to run smarter, more effective events.

    Check out more at cvent.com/Jay

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    Your email bounce database is actually gold, and ignoring it is a big mistake. Jay Schwedelson shares why bounced emails are not just contacts to remove, but a signal that a company still sees value in your event, even if the person behind that address is gone. The move is to take your bounce database, pull the domains and companies, and turn them into a targeting file for paid social media, prospect email, and direct mail campaigns. For sponsorships and exhibits, bounced addresses should go straight to your salespeople, BDRs, and SDRs so they can find who took that spot and who needs to be contacted now.

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    📌 What You’ll Learn

    1. Why “do nothing” and removing bounced emails from the list is a big mistake
    2. How to treat your email bounce database as a targeting file using domains and companies
    3. Where to use the bounce company list: paid social media campaigns, prospect email campaigns, direct mail campaigns
    4. Why bounced addresses matter for sponsorships and exhibits
    5. Who should get the bounced sponsor and exhibit emails: salespeople, BDRs, SDRs
    6. Priority number one: find who took their spot and who you need to be talking to now
    7. Why starting with the last 90 days, 6 months, or a year is the right motion
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    6 min
  • Surviving Event Disasters Through Trusted Partnerships (with Sara Rassi) | Ep. 10

    Surviving Event Disasters Through Trusted Partnerships (with Sara Rassi) | Ep. 10
    Mar 11 2026

    EVENTASTIC Conference registration is now OPEN! The world's largest event about EVENTS!

    Free + Virtual! Save your spot! https://www.eventastic.com/

    Check out more at Cvent.com or visit https://utm.io/cvent-ems-online-demo for a demo.

    ㅤ

    MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Cvent!!

    Cvent is an event marketing and management platform designed to help you plan, promote, and measure your events all in one place - whether they’re virtual, in-person, or hybrid.

    Regardless of your size, check out Cvent today to get the tools you need to run smarter, more effective events.

    Check out more at cvent.com/Jay

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    Links / Resources Mentioned

    1. Yes& Agency: yesandagency.com

    Have you ever experienced an event disaster and what did it teach you? Kristin Nagle asks this core question to uncover how professionals manage unexpected crises on site. You will learn the importance of having backup plans and trusting your creative partners when things go wrong.

    Sara Rassi shares a personal story about a vacuuming accident that destroyed a 50-foot projection screen right before rehearsals ended. She explains how staying calm and relying on a trusted team helped her resolve a major issue quickly.


    Guest Bio

    Sara Rassi is the Vice President of Event Management at Yes& Agency. She collaborates closely with the Guru team and the Eventastic team to make creative ideas possible for her clients. Her expertise includes managing on-site production, troubleshooting equipment issues, and working with audiovisual partners. Outside of events, she is a passionate animal lover and dog owner.


    The Event Question

    Kristin Nagle asks: Have you ever experienced an event disaster and what did it teach you?


    What You'll Learn

    1. Develop a plan A, B, C, and Z for your on-site production needs.
    2. Prepare backups for smaller equipment like graphics machines, video players, and microphones.
    3. Trust your audiovisual partners to troubleshoot and resolve major equipment failures creatively.
    4. Remain calm when unexpected accidents happen to prevent panic among your crew.
    5. Realize that some large replacement items might be cost prohibitive to have as immediate backups.
    6. Roll with the punches and adjust your activation when elements like the weather ruin your plans.


    The Ridiculous Question

    Kristin Nagle asks: What is the last thing that you Googled?

    Sara Rassi explains that she Googled a time zone translation to figure out the time difference for her upcoming trip to Phoenix.
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    9 min
  • The Most Underrated Sponsor Perk (with Dahlia El Gazzar) | Ep. 9

    The Most Underrated Sponsor Perk (with Dahlia El Gazzar) | Ep. 9
    Mar 4 2026
    DAHLIA+Agency Website (Take the Vibe Score Quiz)Email Dahlia: dahlia@dahliaplus.comText Dahlia: 617-470-2655Dahlia El Gazzar LinkedInㅤEVENTASTIC Conference registration is now OPEN! The world's largest event about EVENTS!Free + Virtual! Save your spot! https://www.eventastic.com/Check out more at Cvent.com or visit https://utm.io/cvent-ems-online-demo for a demo.ㅤMASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Cvent!!Cvent is an event marketing and management platform designed to help you plan, promote, and measure your events all in one place - whether they’re virtual, in-person, or hybrid.Regardless of your size, check out Cvent today to get the tools you need to run smarter, more effective events.Check out more at cvent.com/JayㅤㅤVictoria from Washington, DC wants to know the most underrated item to add to a sponsor package. Dahlia El Gazzar joins host Kristin Nagle to explain why access to attendee intelligence is the answer. Dahlia breaks down how to curate small groups for sponsors to gain insights rather than just leads. She shares why this isn't a hosted buyer meeting and why adding food or drinks is non-negotiable for success. Dahlia also touches on her role as a "Netweaver" who loves connecting cool people in the industry.ㅤ👤 Guest BioDahlia El Gazzar is the founder of DAHLIA+Agency and a self-described "Chief Ruckusmaker." She rejects "vanilla" marketing and focuses on helping event professionals break the status quo. Through her concept of "Vibe Eventing," she designs tech-powered experiences that prioritize human connection and energy. She specializes in helping teams overcome "tech paralysis" and use digital tools to stand out.ㅤ✅ The Event QuestionVictoria from Washington, DC asks: "What is the most underrated perk or deliverable you can include in a sponsor package right now?"ㅤ📌 What You’ll LearnOffer intelligence, not just leads: Give sponsors access to attendee insights before the event begins.Target startups and newbies: This strategy works best for sponsors who are "building the plane while flying it" and need market feedback.Curate the crowd: Handpick specific attendees who can provide the exact data points or intel the sponsor needs.Format matters: Facilitate these interactions through intimate breakfasts, dinners, or huddles.Separate from sales: Do not treat this like a hosted buyer program or a matchmaking session. It is about knowledge exchange.Include hospitality: Always include food or drinks, or the "cool people" will not show up.ㅤ🎭 The Ridiculous Question"If your dog could speak, what would it roast you for the most?"Dahlia admits her late dog, Piper, would roast her for having so many browser tabs open that she can't even find where the sound is coming from.
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    6 min
  • Do Event Ads Work Better With Content? (with Brandt Krueger) | Ep. 8

    Do Event Ads Work Better With Content? (with Brandt Krueger) | Ep. 8
    Feb 25 2026

    EVENTASTIC Conference registration is now OPEN! The world's largest event about EVENTS!

    Free + Virtual! Save your spot! https://www.eventastic.com/

    Check out more at Cvent.com or visit https://utm.io/cvent-ems-online-demo for a demo.

    ㅤ

    MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Cvent!!

    Cvent is an event marketing and management platform designed to help you plan, promote, and measure your events all in one place - whether they’re virtual, in-person, or hybrid.

    Regardless of your size, check out Cvent today to get the tools you need to run smarter, more effective events.

    Check out more at cvent.com/Jay

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    🔗 Links & Resources

    1. Brandt Krueger on LinkedIn

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    Should your event advertisements send people directly to a registration form? Host Kristin Nagle asks industry veteran Brandt Krueger to weigh in on this common debate. Brandt breaks down why "cold" traffic often bounces when hit with an immediate ask and explains his strategy for warming up potential attendees first.

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    They discuss the difference between injected ads versus host-read endorsements and why the "vibe" of an event matters before a user clicks buy. Later, things get controversial when Brandt explains why he would kill Spotify in a round of "Kiss, Marry, Kill."

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    👤 Guest Bio

    Brandt Krueger is a technical producer and educator with over 20 years of experience in the meetings and events industry. He is a globally recognized voice in event technology, advocating for a "human-first" approach to production. Brandt co-hosts the Event Tech Podcast and teaches the "Virtual Event and Meeting Management" certificate course for PCMA and the Event Leadership Institute.

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    ✅ The Event Question

    Stacy from North Carolina asks:

    "Should event ads lead directly to registration or to content first, like a highlight reel or agenda teaser?"

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    📌 What You’ll Learn

    1. Avoid cold asks: Do not send ad traffic straight to a registration form unless the user is already very familiar with the event.
    2. Massage the decision: Use content to "warm up" the audience before asking for a commitment.
    3. Focus on the funnel: Recognize that ad clicks are usually top-of-funnel actions where the user is just curious, not ready to buy.
    4. Leverage personal influence: Host-read ads or personal endorsements often carry more weight than generic injected ads.
    5. Provide context: Give potential attendees a chance to understand the "vibe" and details of the association or event before forcing a sign-up.

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    🎭 The Ridiculous Question

    The Question: "Kiss, Marry, Kill: Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube."

    The Answer: Brandt kills Spotify (he prefers owning his music and dislikes their AI stance), kisses Netflix (it’s a flirtatious, dip-in-and-out relationship), and marries YouTube (for the utility and learning content).
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    7 min