Are you looking for fun ways to gamify networking events without the usual social burnout? In this episode of The Event Connection, we sit down with Melvin Adekanye, the Founder of JamSocial, to explore how event planners and attendees can create more interactive networking experiences.

Learn how to help introverts thrive at your events by listening in to Meaghan and Melvin explore the psychology of introvert vs. extrovert networking and why traditional "icebreakers" often fail to create lasting impressions.

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00:00 - Introduction

01:28 - Meet Melvin Adekanye, Founder of Jam Social

03:36 - Melvin's Passion for Introverts

06:05 - Best Parts of Networking Events

09:48 - "Hi, I'm Bill Gates!"

11:35 - Sticking Out at Networking Events

11:58 - Worst Parts of Networking Events

15:46 - Difference Between Introverts and Extroverts

20:00 - "Border Collies vs. Iguanas"

24:58 - Storytime: "Sweaty Networking"

27:13 - Learning How to Approach People

29:30 - Event Networking and Gamification Activity Ideas

34:54 - Digital Networking Activity Ideas

40:25 - Interactive Badge Activities

43:39 - How to Leave a Networking Impression

47:13 - Questions to Keep Conversations Going

47:58 - FREE: Networking Conversation Starters Cheat Sheet

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What is the future of incentive travel? In this episode, Tina Husemoller, VP of Meetings and Incentives at Fox World Travel, explains why the industry is shifting from Return on Investment (ROI) to Return on Experience (ROE)!

Whether you're a corporate planner or a business leader, learn how to design memorable programs that cater to diverse generational preferences while also prioritizing sustainability and cultural immersion.

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00:00 - Meet Tina from Fox World Travel! 02:58 - Top trends in incentive travel for 2026 05:50 - Selecting activities for incentive trips 08:48 - Travel preferences broken down by generation 11:14 - Trending destinations & hidden gems 14:29 - Engaging travelers before their trip 18:42 - Including culture in incentive trips 20:38 - Rapid Fire Q&A, Listener Questions! 20:43 - Incentive travel logistics & challenges 22:37 - Sustainable incentive travel 24:56 - Budget-friendly incentive trips 25:59 - Getting buy-in for incentive travel programs

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New year, new trends! Meaghan and Rylee go head-to-head to reveal their 2026 event design forecast. This episode is all about what’s hot, what’s not, and what attendees really want out of event design.

We chat about moving away from "overly polished" into human-centric design that gives attendees authentic, tactile experiences. Think things like AI concepting, nostalgic themes, and interactive event badge designs attendees will actually want to keep!

HOW TO GET RYLEE’S DECK: Email us at EventConnection@pcnametag.com and mention the "Event Design Trends presentation" to see all the visuals behind this podcast! Then, use Rylee's ideas to inspire your next mood board or client pitch.

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00:00 – Introduction 01:32 - Meet Rylee Hubbard! 03:19 - Pantone of 2026: Ugly or not? 04:42 - The Trend of "Imperfect by Design" 08:14 - Design Trends and Predictions 08:38 - Trend 1: AI Driven Design 10:34 - Trend 2: Candid Camera Roll 13:10 - Trend 3: Immersive Design 15:04 - Trend 4: Collage Aesthetics 17:07 - Trend 5: Sustainability Design 20:04 - Trend 6: Inclusive Design 22:10 - Trend 7: Exaggerated Fonts 24:53 - Trend 8: Nostalgic Mashups 28:07 - Graphic Design "Icks" 29:59 - Our Event Design "Hot Takes" 33:31 - Get Rylee's Event Design Trends Deck

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Take your event planning career to the next level! Meaghan and Brooke go head-to-head to reveal their ultimate “Top 5” lists for industry professionals, including THEIR favorite picks for top event planning podcasts, events, influencers, and books.

Here's where to spend your time and attention to stay ahead of the curve! Start by connecting with event influencers on LinkedIn, attending an event, checking out a new book, or subscribing to a good podcast (...like this one)!

TOPICS COVERED: Best resources for event planners, event planning podcasts, event planning conferences, networking events, event influencers, best books for event planners

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00:00 – Welcome!

02:08 – Top 5 Podcasts

11:27 – Top 5 Events

20:30 – Top 5 Influencers

30:10 – Top 5 Books

45:01 – Closing Remarks

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Event registration can either be totally fun or a logistical nightmare (IYKYK).

In this episode, Megan and Meaghan share their favorite tips for transforming the conference and event registration process from a point of stress into an exciting first touchpoint for attendees!

By the end of this episode, you'll know how to turn event check-in into an interactive experience, accommodate last-minute registrations, help lines move faster, and stay ahead of the game with event badge printing.

TOPICS COVERED: Event registration tips for planners, how to streamline event check-in, last-minute event registration strategy

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00:00 - Let's get started!

01:49 - Event Registration Positives

04:06 - Event Registration Struggles

06:21 - Event Registration QUICK TIPS!

12:02 - Making Registration INTERACTIVE!

16:45 - Closing Advice & Secrets

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What makes a Gen Z attendee click? How can you deliver an authentic experience for Millennials? What does it take to truly impress a Gen X-er?

In this special episode, our cross-generational panel: Ethan (Gen Z), Meaghan (Millennial), and Kindra (Gen X) explore how different age groups experience and engage with events. Brooke (Millennial) leads the chat in an honest, goofy, and surprising conversation about what they love (and what they can’t stand) when it comes to event experiences.

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0:00 - Let's get started!

02:45 - Ideal Event Destination

05:11 - Registering in Advance?

07:22 - Getting Caffeinated

09:17 - Frustrating Wait Times

12:15 - Perfect Event Size

15:00 - Favorite Networking Style

17:30 - Event Communication Preference

19:42 - Educational Session Lengths

23:02 - Off to Lunch!

26:32 - Connecting with Peers

30:19 - Late Night Entertainment

34:40 - Dream Keynote Speaker

37:49 - Last Remarks

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😍 GET A SHOUT-OUT: Send a message to EventConnection@pcnametag.com to tell us which generation you are, plus some of your event-related preferences or hot takes. Your idea could be featured in an upcoming episode!

Give us a rating and subscribe for more event planning ideas!

Don’t get left behind with same-old agendas. Events in 2026 are all about “EYES LIGHT UP” moments! Brooke and Meaghan share activities, tactics, and strategies they’re obsessed with to help you make every event a must-attend experience, no matter your budget. 🔥🔥🔥

Hear what’s worked for key players in the industry, including Dragon Con, INBOUND, NACE Experience, and more!

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00:00 – Let's get started!

02:17 – “Eyes Light Up” moments

04:09 – Meetup Spaces

07:24 – Surprise Moments

12:16 – Philanthropic Activities

12:47 – Prospectus Alternatives

15:34 – City Exploration

24:30 – Engage Away the Venue

28:59 – Unique Activations

36:23 – Encouraging Connections

43:50 – Custom Room Keys

48:46 – Interactive Stations

50:00 – Event Themes

53:39 – Relaxation Lounges

54:23 – Networking Bingo

56:00 – Last Remarks, Good Vibes 💕

😍 GET A SHOUT-OUT: Send a message to EventConnection@pcnametag.com to tell us a cool, weird, or fun event activity you’ve experienced. Your idea could be featured in an upcoming episode!

Ethan West, Marketing Communication Intern at pc/nametag, sits down with Kyler Donovan, General Manager of Forward Madison FC, to chat about all things soccer, community, and behind‑the‑scenes magic of sports fan engagement! ⚽🥅

Kyler shares:

• How the club keeps sports fans engaged beyond the pitch
• How to seamlessly integrate event sponsors without disruption
• How intricate operations that make gamedays run smoothly.

Plus, we tackle some fun questions about what makes Breese Stevens Field such a special place for both players and fans! 🥇 Whether you’re a sports events enthusiast, a supporter of Forward Madison, or just curious about how the matchday experience comes together, this episode is packed with insights, stories, and laughs.

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00:00 - Introduction

01:25 - What’s special about Breese Stevens Field?

03:08 - Gameday operations

07:02 - Engaging fans before, during, and after the game

08:37 - Seamless sponsorship engagement

10:30 - Pivoting to accommodate variability

13:42 - Tying merchandising into event engagement

17:00 - Engaging college students in Madison

18:04 - Insight from a successful example

22:23 - Breaking into sports event management

24:55 - Emerging trends in the sports event industry

27:59 - Habits for planning a sports event

29:54 - Go-to snack and drink for Breese Stevens Field

31:21 - Kyler’s dream headliner at Breese Stevens Field

32:38 - Connect with Kyler!

🎤 CONNECT WITH KYLER DONOVAN: kyler@forwardmadisonfc.com