Welcome back to BollottaFide. This week, it’s all about saying yes to something you may think you won’t like.

Your hosts, Anthony and Alex, also pick their Word of the Week! Then, this week at the Tipsy Cart, your mixologist Alex serves up the drink of Greece: Ouzo.

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Anthony and Alex are back for another episode of Bollatta-FIDE. This week is an Artiest week. They sit down with Ben Betts! Ben is a multi-instrumentalist performer who blends live steel drum artistry, looping techniques, and DJ-style energy control to create a full entertainment experience from a single stage setup. Raised between the coasts of Florida and Maine, his sound is rooted in modern coastal rhythms with Caribbean influence, offering a sophisticated island aesthetic with a contemporary edge.

With a background in Music & Sound Design (BFA, Hampshire College) and over a decade of live music experience, Ben approaches each event as a crafted performance—not just a setlist. Using steel drums, guitar, bass, vocals and live looping, he builds an evolving atmosphere that shifts seamlessly from ambient welcome music to feel-good cocktail vibes to high-energy party sets.

With the versatility of a full band contained within a single, elegant setup, Ben adapts in real time to read the room, manage momentum, and elevate the energy of the event. His premium sound system setup can also transition into custom-curated DJ services in a fluid progression with no interruptions—a continuous, curated experience designed to enhance the tone, mood, and memory of your event.

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Welcome back to BollottaFide. On today’s episode, it’s all about giving people what they want. Sometimes, something familiar can bring comfort — and a little fun.

Your hosts, Anthony and Alex, also pick their Word of the Week! Then, this week at the Tipsy Cart, your mixologist Alex serves up something comforting and familiar: a classic Manhattan.

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Welcome back to BollottaFide. On today’s episode, the panel discusses Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) 2026, taking place on May 6. This event highlights how business meetings and events serve as economic engines, talent accelerators, and platforms for innovation.

Your hosts, Anthony and Alex, welcome:

• Terri Breining, President of The Breining Group and advisor and instructor for the SDSU School of Hospitality & Tourism Management Master’s program

• Megan Powers, Senior Program Manager at Oracle and MPI Chapter President

• Carl Winston, Founding Director of the Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

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Today we are are continuing our conversation about the San Diego State University L Robert Payne School or Hospitality Masters Programs in Hospitality and Tourism Management and Meeting and Event Management program with four recent graduates along with Bollotta-fide's own Anthony Bollotta. They are alums from Cohort 5 in the Masters in Event Management program we have Renee Agsten (Ticketing and Operations Manager at DSP Shows) and Holly Gallacher (Meetings and Events Manager at Abbott) along with Cohort 11 in the Hospitality Tourism Management alums Hannah Grossman (Associate Brand Manager with Sonesta International Hotels) and Michael Garvin (Operational Excellence Manager for Marriott International/Ritz Carlton Maui, Kapalua). Find out what motivated them to enroll in the program, what they aspire to and how do they actively benefit now from their experiences.

Submit ASK ANTHONY questions on the form at www.bollotta.com/podcast

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This week the Bollotta-philes are back with a very special guest, YINKA FREEMAN owner and CEO of TRIPLE POCKET EVENTS. The team gets to know this Sales Manager, Strategist and Event Producer through conversations about her relationship to the LGBTQ+ community and how she has married her passion and expertise in a market that is often looked over. Just because the pandemic is over, doesn't mean the virtual event is dead and Yinka shares her experience in that arena as well. From her work with San Diego Pride and San Diego Black Pride to her time volunteering with organizations such as ILEA and production of Know Other Festival, get to know this powerhouse this week on Bollotta-FIDE!

Consult and HIRE Yinka at https://www.triplepocketevents.com/

Submit ASK ANTHONY questions on the form at www.bollotta.com/podcast

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This week Anthony and Alex are back behind the mics and they are joined by world renowned musician, CHIARA CAPOBIANCO, Chiara is one of the most talented professional harpist in the industry who's career has included touring Europe, Asia and Middle East solo and with orchestras. The group talk about her journey through life and work and how she has earned her spot playing in residence with some of the most prestigious hotels in Southern California. Listen in as the professional working musician describes how she has found her way via her talent, charm and gusto. Enjoy.

Book Chiara: contact [email protected]

Submit ASK ANTHONY questions on the form at www.bollotta.com/podcast

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Gretchen Yerke is back! Last time GRETCHEN YERKE (Creator of the EPIC CONNECTION and also Managing Partner and Founder of EPIC Meetings & Events) was on the pod she touched on the topics of setting boundaries in her work-life that would honor her physical, mental (and sometimes spiritual) health. This time she is back to offer insight from her perspective as a Sound Practitioner and Expressive Dance Coach and how sound and movement can be used as powerful tools in personal transformation and creativity. The crew get into the differences with the types (frosted, alchemy or chakra) and tones of sound healing bowls, experiences and intent. Don't fret, it's not all "WOO WOO", they also talk about some of the aspects of adding this to a corporate event.

(Find her first Bollotta-FIDE appearance on Ep 100: Balance, Boundaries and Wellness.

Connect with GRETCHEN https://www.epic-meetings.com/

LEAVE A 5 STAR REVIEW and COMMENT HERE!

Submit ASK ANTHONY questions on the form at www.bollotta.com/podcast

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The Bollotta-philes are back at it with a new guest on the pod but before that, Alex and Anthony discuss where they were this week when an 5.2 earthquake shook San Diego last week and Alex managed to keep her cool while on a sales call. This week Karen Ronney joins the conversation. Karen is a heavy hitter in the world of racquet sports as award-winning national coach and writer, tennis pro, sports journalist, author (PROUD PARENT’S GUIDE TO RAISING ATHLETIC, BALANCED, AND COORDINATED KIDS), public speaker, mentor and Director of Marketing for the Southern California Tennis Association Foundation. This conversation takes a number of rounds with subjects like Pickleball v Tennis (and now Paddleball), local San Diego tennis club chat, Anthony and Alex also get into Karen's achievement and results of acquiring a Professional Tennis Management from the School or Hospitality and Tourism Management Graduate Program at SDSU, managing your inner dialogue and her own nuggets of inspiration. Enjoy.

Submit questions on the form at www.bollotta.com/podcast

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Connect with Karen:

Web: http://www.karenronney.com/

Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karenronney

Leslie Juvin-Acker the 6x Author, Celebrity-Life Coach, Psychic Medium and Legal Communicator is back at Bollotta-FIDE for a MINI EPISODE. Anthony and Alex throw some quotes from such luminaries as Brene Brown, Mel Robbins, Don Miguel and Raymond M.Kethledge to get Leslie's hot takes and further insight. Enjoy!

Ask Anthony: www.bollotta.com/podcast

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Follow @Lesliejuvinacker on her new IG account.

CONNECT with LESLIE at https://www.lesliejuvinacker.com/

Read Her Articles

Work with Leslie