Smart Start Radio: Fuel for the Purpose Generation of Meeting Planners

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In this special Smart Start Radio: Coffee Chat, recorded live at IMEX 2025 in Las Vegas, host Eming Piansay explores the energy and insights of the industry’s biggest event.

Eming’s first guest is Aviva Kohen from Tourism Calgary, who shares what it’s like to experience IMEX for the first time, why Calgary’s food scene and pancake tradition embody its welcoming spirit and ho...

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In this episode of Smart Start Radio, hosts Eming Piansay and Sara Robertson sit down with leadership coach Megan Akatu to explore the art of clear communication and authentic leadership. From building trust and confidence at every career stage to practicing mindfulness before tough conversations, Megan shares practical strategies leaders and employees can use to transform ...

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In this special Smart Women edition of Smart Start Radio, hosts Eming Piansay and Sara Robertson sit down with two powerhouse leaders in the meetings and events industry—Cherryl Brazier, President of Anchor Collection, and Anh Nguyen, President and Co-Founder of Spark Event Collective.

From falling into the industry “by accident” to leading international businesses, Cherryl ...

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In this episode of Smart Start Radio’s Coffee Chat, host Eming Piansay is joined by Digital Manager Malik Anderson and new Senior Editor David Lytle for a lively conversation about the art of packing for FAM trips. 

The team shares personal strategies, funny mishaps and packing hacks learned on the road, from must-have gadgets like charging pads to the eternal debate of carr...

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AV isn’t just cables and microphones—it’s the heartbeat of your event. And AI? It’s your next secret weapon. In this episode of Smart Start Radio, hosts Eming Piansay and Sara Robertson sit down with Amanda Armstrong (Encore) and Anca Trifan (Tree-Fan Events) to explore how AV and AI transform how we design, plan and measure impact.

From overlooked budget killers to game-cha...

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Grab your favorite brew and settle in—this episode of Smart Start Radio dives into the unsung power of your event's coffee craft and the importance of customization. 

Smart Meetings' Digital Content Manager, Malik Anderson, joins Host Eming Piansay to unpack why steaming mugs play a bigger role in events than planners often realize.

From triple-shot habits to bevera...

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In this episode of Smart Start Radio, hosts Sara Robertson and Eming Piansay sit down with two trailblazers transforming the beverage experience at events: Carl Radke, entrepreneur and co-founder of Loverboy and Soft Bar & Café, and David Stevens, co-founder of Olympian Meeting and six-time Fittest #EventProf.

Together, they explore the growing demand for non-alcoholic o...

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In this episode, hosts Eming Piansay and Sara Robertson sit down with two powerhouse destination experts: Kristin Delahunt, VP of Destination Services at Discover Atlanta, and Brynn Johnson, Director of Convention and Group Sales at Yakima Valley Tourism. Representing two wildly different but equally compelling destinations—urban Atlanta and scenic Yakima Valley—they share ...

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Ever wonder what really happens on those whirlwind FAM trips planners rave (and rant) about? Let’s just say...someone once brought a plus-one to a site tour. Another showed up in a bikini. To a press conference. 😳

In this Coffee Chat episode, Eming and Sara unpack the unspoken etiquette of FAMs—those fast-paced venue tours that blur the line between business and vacation.

Th...

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In this episode of Smart Start Radio, hosts Eming Piansay and Sara Robertson speak with Zoe Moore, founder of Moore Consulting Agency and a leading expert in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the meetings and hospitality industries. Moore shares her personal journey from the U.S. Army to event planning and EDI advocacy, explains why using the full terms "diversi...

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In this first-ever Coffee Chat, your hosts Eming Piansay and Sara Robertson sit down, coffee in hand, to spill the behind-the-scenes story of Smart Start Radio's journey — from its early roots as "Meeting of the Minds" to becoming an award-winning podcast. Tune in for real talk about rebranding, lessons learned, why authenticity matters in the events industry...

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In this episode of Smart Start Radio, co-hosts Eming Piansay and Sara Robertson kick things off with exciting news—their podcast is a finalist for the ASBPE Best New Podcast Award. 

They’re joined by Yaron Lipshitz, CEO of Prismm, a spatial design platform that allows event planners to visualize venues in photorealistic 3D without leaving their desks. Lipshitz explains how P...

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In this enlightening episode of Smart Start Radio,  sit down with visionary leader Megan Henshall to explore the power of neuroinclusivity in event design and the workplace. Formerly a strategic lead at Google, Henshall shares her journey of championing accessibility and creating inclusive experiences that honor neurodiversity. From sensory-friendly event spaces to the impo...

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In this deliciously insightful episode of Smart Start Radio, we dive into the evolving world of fine dining and its role in creating unforgettable event experiences. Join hosts Eming Piansay and Sara Robertson as they explore the Bay Area’s vibrant culinary scene, featuring conversations with top industry experts, including Colleen Booth of Lazy Bear, Mark Liberman of Mago ...

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Evolving technology, Super Agents and AI-produced podcasts- oh my! What does it all mean for meeting planners?

In this latest discussion of Smart Start Radio, Smart Meetings editors Sara Robertson and Eming Piansay chat with Dr. Richie Karaburun, clinical associate professor and director of HI Hub Incubator at NYU School of Professional Studies, to get an update o...

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In the latest episode of Smart Start Radio, Eming and Sara chat with sustainability experts in two segments.

First up is Leor Rotchild, a speaker, podcaster, sustainable business consultant and the author of the recently published all star-guide to How We Gather Matters: Sustainable Event Planning for Purpose and Impact. Leor tells us about his journey of becoming...

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In this episode of Smart Start Radio, Smart Meetings editors Eming Piansay and Sara Robertson sat down with Jacques Martiquet, the “Party Scientist,” who shares his unique approach to transforming events into high-energy, deeply connected experiences. Discover how event planners can design gatherings that are more joyful and impactful, creating memorable moments that go bey...

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In this episode of Smart Start, Smart Meetings editors Eming Piansay and Sara Robertson chat with Michael Tennant, founder and CEO of Curiosity Lab, and Naomi Clare Crellin, founder and CEO of Storycraft Lab. These empathy experts have dedicated their careers to helping others embark on their personal empathy journeys and to design experiences with empathy at the center. 

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In this episode of Smart Start, we kick things off with a conversation with Jack Johnson, Destinations International's chief advocacy officer, regarding the news that Visit Florida removed the LGBTQ+ resource page from their website. 

Later, editors Eming Piansay and Sara Robertson are joined by trailblazing mother-daughter-duo, Tyra and Jasmine Dyson. Togethe...