Barefoot Business

Liz and Anca go from women-in-AV war stories to practical AI you can use today, think Slack task bots, Atlas-powered workflows, and “vibe coding” without writing code. They also dismantle performative “wellness,” swap pizza-for-crew for real fuel, and unpack Anca’s Fit for Events framework and bodybuilding journey to build resilience that actually shows up on show day. 

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Liz and executive coach/author Regan Walsh unpack how event pros and aspiring speakers can ditch people-pleasing, shed the “shoulds,” and trust their gut on stage. They get tactical on rehearsal reps, cutting a talk on the fly, simple slides, and staying human in an AI-noisy world, so your keynote actually lands. 

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Liz and Heather swap war stories on production, mentorship, and why attention isn’t the problem, distraction is. From AI’s “good enough” graphics to a Wicked-inspired opening that electrified the room, they make the case for intentional entertainment, phone-free focus, and reviving true corporate theater to drive real learning and ROE.

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 Liz kicks off a new season with David Childs (SWX Global) on why exhibits still deliver ROI, and why modern sales is “consultant, not closer.” They cover 2025 floor trends, budget realities, good/better/best proposals, in-person outreach, backup plans when things break, and using your exhibit partner as an ROI insurance policy across the show calendar. 

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Liz talks with Pedro Góes, founder of InEvent, to trace how a scrappy college idea became one of the most innovative event platforms in the world. From Y Combinator beginnings and pandemic pivots to AI-powered registration and photo matching, they explore what’s next for event technology, the future of virtual, and why details matter more than ever.

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 Liz chats with photographer and former event planner Brooke Bryand about what it really takes to translate the magic of an event into images that drive marketing and sponsorship ROI. They dive into the power of planning content early, how to brief your creative team for maximum value, the myth of “we’ll just use phone pics,” and the difference between photos that document and photos that feel. Bonus: Brooke’s tips on turning same-day edits into momentum and how to make videography work harder for next year’s sales. 

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 Liz and Angela Gargano, former biochemist, six-time American Ninja Warrior, and keynote speaker, unpack her ACL-on-TV setback, the comeback, and how she turned resilience into a stage-ready message. They dig into attention-grabbing storytelling, building a speaking career, vision boards that actually guide action, and why human connection beats algorithms. Cameos: pickleball losses, AI hackathons, and practical tips for event pros booking speakers. 

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Liz sits down with Matthew Petmecky of Nunify to unpack how an 11-year-old platform is winning over small-to-midsize teams (and agencies) with unlimited-events subscriptions, true white-label branding, easy badge printing, and plug-and-play integrations. They swap stories on scavenger hunts, AI matchmaking, and why human connection, not just features, decides which tools stick. 

Collect registrations, manage guest list RSVP, sell tickets, launch your branded event app and event website , speed up onsite checkin, gamify your event, and more. It’s everything you need, all from one platform. Get started at https://www.nunify.com/

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 In this episode of Barefoot Business, Liz Lathan and Nicola Kastner, CEO of Event Leaders Exchange, talk about the journey from event logistics to boardroom strategy. Nicola shares how trusting her instincts, embracing data, and building community helped her navigate career pivots, lead through uncertainty, and empower the next generation. 

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Jenny Blaschke, a live event calligrapher and engraving artist, and Liz Lathan discuss the high-stakes world of personalizing luxury gifts, from engraving $300 cameras to hot foiling leather goods. Jenny shares how she transitioned from wedding invitations to high-volume corporate and incentive events, creating interactive experiences that engage attendees. They discuss the power of personalization in networking, the challenges of on-site engraving, and creative ways to make any event unforgettable. 

Want to be a guest on the Barefoot Business Podcast? Join Club Ichi as an Insider member today! https://www.weareichi.com/