Events Dear Boy! The Events Industry Podcast

In this episode, we’re joined by Anita Howard, founder of ICE Hub, a community of more than 3,000 in-house corporate event planners. Anita unpacks what it’s like building an event for event organisers, why the in-house role is finally shifting from “tactical doer” to strategic business driver, and how AI is changing the way planners work (not by replacing the magic, but by removing the grind).

In this episode of Events, Dear Boy!, we welcome futurist and speaker Ant Morse to explore his journey from senior digital leadership into professional speaking. Ant shares his broad expertise across emerging technologies (from 5G and IoT through to AI), explains how he “fell into” speaking by accident after being asked to fill a sponsored event slot, and reflects on why credibility and governance-led realism matter amid the current AI hype cycle. He talks candidly about what he loves most (storytelling, Q&A, and learning from diverse audiences), shares a hilarious worst-case mic moment, and offers practical tips for both speakers (tech prep and backups) and organisers (better briefing, pre-calls, and context setting to maximise speaker value).

In this episode, Events Dear Boy! was recorded live for the very first time at Event Connect, the flagship conference hosted by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) for its events management students. We were joined by Rachel Tetlow from Pro-Manchester, focusing on the critical role of planning and delivering events with Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in mind.

In this special episode marked an exciting milestone for the Events Dear Boy! team, bringing their industry insights and open conversation to a student-led audience shaping the future of the events sector.

Simon shares practical advice for speakers on delivery, presence and avoiding “slide dependency,” along with guidance for event organisers on how to get the best from their speakers by focusing on problems over topics. He also shares memorable speaking moments, including delivering a keynote in total darkness in Monaco when the power failed.

Helen also explores the realities of working within tight budgets, engaging and inspiring the next generation of event managers, and adapting to the evolving expectations of audiences and businesses alike. She shares some of her proudest moments as an event organiser and offers practical advice for both speakers and fellow event professionals, highlighting the importance of kindness, organisation, and openness to new ideas.

Great event organising is about creating a fantastic product for a moment in time and constantly evolving to meet audience needs.

Managing budgets can be tough, but staying organised and treating everyone with respect is crucial.

Inspiring and motivating the next generation of event managers remains a key priority for the industry.

Helen’s proudest moments include delivering major events with high-profile speakers and well-respected awards programmes.

For speakers: Be punctual, professional, and patient with event organisers.

For organisers: Stay organised, be kind to everyone, and remain open to new ideas and technologies.

Personal well-being matters — taking care of yourself is essential in the high-pressure world of event organising.

Naomi Timperley, a freelance growth and innovation consultant, shares her journey to becoming a speaker and offers insights into the speaking industry. She started her career in the travel sector and then moved into tech recruitment and gained public speaking experience as a rep and a karaoke compere.

Her speaking career took off after appearing on Dragon's Den and she has since spoken at various events and panels. Naomi loves the adrenaline and humour of speaking and advises speakers to do their research and have coping mechanisms for nerves. She also shares tips for event organizers to get the best from speakers.

Takeaways

·       Naomi’s journey to becoming a speaker started in the travel sector and tech recruitment.

·       She gained public speaking experience as a rep and a karaoke compere.

·       Appearing on Dragon's Den gave her a platform to speak about entrepreneurship.

·       Naomi loves the adrenaline and humour of speaking and advises speakers to do their research and have coping mechanisms for nerves.

·       Event organisers should provide speakers with as much information and preparation as possible.

Chapters

02:00 Naomi's journey to becoming a speaker

07:50 Naomi's experience with Baby Loves Disco and Dragon's Den

12:05 Types of events Naomi is booked for

14:07 Worst speaking experience

16:51 Tips for event organizers

In this episode, we’re joined by Kerry Merritt, Head of Content at Total Telecom, to discuss the world of business events. We talk about the size and scale of events, the challenges of coordinating schedules, and the importance of content in event planning. Kerry shares her favourite moments from past events, including the satisfaction of seeing a successful event come together and the challenges of running an event during a snowstorm. They also discuss the qualities of a great speaker and offer tips for event organisers.

In this episode, Martin Bryant, the brilliant technology journalist, speaker and host, shares his experiences and tips for speaking at events.

Martin is the editor PreSeed Now, the leading authority on early stage start-ups, so offers incredible depth of insight into the direction of travel of new technologies and investment. And with his deep contacts across the global tech industry, is in huge demand to host, speak and present, as well as contributing his knowledge to multiple broadcasters.

Martin discusses his transition from journalism to speaking and the importance of being comfortable on stage. He emphasizes the value of providing useful information and being audience-centric in speaking engagements. He also shares a story about a panel that went poorly due to lack of preparation. Martin provides tips for speakers, including not scripting word-for-word, rehearsing bullet points, and getting in the right mindset before going on stage. He also highlights the importance of event organizers preparing and communicating logistics to speakers.

Takeaways

Being comfortable on stage is crucial for speakers.

Providing value and being audience-centric are key to successful speaking engagements.

Preparation and clear communication of logistics are important for event organizers.

Speakers should rehearse bullet points and get in the right mindset before going on stage.

Avoid scripting word-for-word to allow for more dynamic and engaging presentations.

Sound Bites

"It's about having that focus on ‘What is the outcome I want to deliver for this audience?’"

Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview

03:22 Transitioning from Journalism to Speaking

05:08 Types of Events Martin is Booked For

07:00 Martin's Love for Speaking and Providing Value to the Audience

09:43 The Importance of Audience-Centric Content

13:35 Tips for Speakers: Rehearsing and Being in the Right Mindset

18:44 Wrap-up and Conclusion

In this high-energy episode, the brilliant Holly Moore, founder and CEO of Make Events and creator of Anything is Possible, joins us to share her experiences and insights as an event organizer and creator - and a speaker! She discusses the importance of employee engagement and the power of live events in cutting through the noise of digital communication. And she emphasizes the significance of content strategy and creating memorable experiences for attendees.

Holly shares her favourite event highlights, including working with Kylie Minogue, and reflects on event disasters and the lessons learned. She provides tips for speakers, such as finding a niche, feeling confident on stage, and taking care of oneself. She also offers advice for event organizers, including the importance of creating opportunities and finding enjoyment in work.

Sound Bites

"Nothing cuts through the noise like a live event."

"The smallest thing that costs nothing is often the thing that everybody remembers."

"Your customers' truth is your truth."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

02:02 Employee Engagement Events

06:08 Creating Memorable Experiences and Content Strategy

10:57 Favorite Event Highlights and Lessons Learned

16:01 Tips for Speakers: Finding a Niche and Feeling Confident

19:15 Tips for Event Organizers: Creating Opportunities and Finding Enjoyment

26:04 Conclusion

In this episode, we're joined by the brilliant Vimla Appadoo, a speaker, service designer and culture consultant who quiets crowds with her open and vulnerable approach to public speaking.

We discuss the importance of building a strong company culture and the challenges of scaling up while maintaining diverse and independent team cultures.

Vimla shares her journey from being an introvert to becoming a public speaker and as ever, we ask her to offer her tips for other speakers and event organizers.

Takeaways

Building a strong company culture is crucial for scaling up and maintaining diverse team cultures.

Speakers should find their own way of delivering and talking authentically, rather than relying on a script.

Event organizers should provide clear instructions and information about the setup, timing, and other speakers.

The timing and dynamics of different speaking slots, as well as the presence of a green room and opportunities to meet other speakers, can greatly impact the speaker's experience.

Engendering emotions in an audience requires giving them a way to resolve those emotions and providing actionable takeaways.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

02:17 Building Strong Company Cultures

04:08 Different Cultures within Organizations

08:32 The Love for Speaking and Authenticity

10:31 Worst Speaking Experience and Feedback

12:22 Tips for Speakers: Saying No and Authentic Delivery

14:48 Event Organizers: Clear Instructions and Timing Considerations

16:46 Green Room Experiences and Social Dynamics

19:35 Wrap-up and Call to Action