Gathered Here

In this Venue Masterclass segment, Dana sits down with Sara Kincaid from Aisle Planner to unpack one of the biggest mistakes business owners make: building a business around not failing instead of intentionally designing it for success.

With over 17 years in the events industry, Sarah has seen it all—from catering and venue management to leading a global software platform. And her message is clear: growth doesn’t happen by accident.

This conversation dives deep into:

• Why “taking every client” can actually hurt your brand
• The difference between working in your business vs. on it
• How to think about ROI beyond just dollars (hint: your time matters more than you think)
• Why tech, systems, and processes aren’t optional—they’re the foundation
• And the hard truth about what’s really keeping most venue owners stuck

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, overworked, or unsure where your next level of growth comes from—this episode will challenge the way you think about your business.

Because success isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing the right things, on purpose.

Show Notes:

Follow Aisle Planner on Instagram: @aisleplannerpo
Schedule a demo: https://www.aisleplanner.com/

Our Advertisers:

Info on Event Guard: https://eventguard.ai/
Info on Venuex AI: https://venuexai.com/

Info on The Venue Masterclass Can be found: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com

Origins: The Bradford — Building, Breaking & Letting Go

For years, I told other people’s stories.
This time, I’m telling my own.

This is the story of The Bradford—the dream that started on a napkin, the risk that changed everything, and the journey that shaped who I am today.

From building a venue with no money… to living on-site with our families… to navigating the pressure, the partnership, and the moments no one talks about—this is the full story.

Not the gossip. Not the headlines.
But the truth of what it takes to build something from nothing—and what it costs along the way.

This episode is about more than a venue.
It’s about identity, growth, letting go, and realizing that the thing you thought was the end… was never the end at all.

Show Notes:

Information on Aisle Planner: https://www.aisleplanner.com/
Information on Wedding Pro: https://pros.weddingpro.com/

Follow my new ventures:

https://mcalisterleftwich.com/
https://thegrahammill.com/

What does it really cost to say yes to your dreams?

In this heartfelt quick chat, Dana dives into the quiet sacrifices that come with ambition — the missed moments, the guilt that lingers, and the constant tug between what we want to build and who we want to be there for. Drawing inspiration from Brittany’s story of saying yes to her calling and no to everything that didn’t align, Dana shares her own journey of learning that every yes carries a no.

From coaching her daughter’s basketball team to redefining what balance looks like, this conversation is an honest look at how we can honor our dreams and our boundaries. Because the goal isn’t to do it all — it’s to say yes to what truly matters.

For More Info on Brittany and The Colonial at Sunset:
Website:https://thecolonialatsunset.com/
Instagram: @colonialatsunset

For More info on Dana and her Hustles:
Instagram: @hustleandgather & @gatheredherepodcast
The Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/
Consulting: https://www.hustleandgather.com/
Speaking: https://www.danakadwell.com/speaking

There comes a moment when you realize the seat you’ve been holding onto no longer serves you. For Brittany, it was leaving spaces where respect was missing — even when walking away meant heartbreak, loss, or uncertainty about what came next.

In this episode of Gathered Here, Dana shares her own experiences of staying too long at the wrong tables, the fear of leaving, and the freedom that comes when you finally decide to walk away. Together with Brittany’s story, this conversation explores:

• The courage it takes to recognize when you’re not valued
• Why heartbreak can be the foundation of resilience
• The importance of not silencing the dreams that refuse to let go
• How “no” often becomes the path to a deeper “yes”

For More Info on Brittany and The Colonial at Sunset:
Website:https://thecolonialatsunset.com/
Instagram: @colonialatsunset

For More info on Dana and her Hustles:
Instagram: @hustleandgather & @gatheredherepodcast
The Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/
Consulting: https://www.hustleandgather.com/
Speaking: https://www.danakadwell.com/speaking

Sometimes the dream won’t let go of you — no matter how many times the world tells you “no.”

In this episode, Dana sits down with Brittany Schrader, owner of The Colonial at Sunset, to hear how she turned years of setbacks, heartbreaks, and hard lessons into the foundation for her ultimate “yes.”

From her start in sports management to nearly giving up on the industry altogether, Brittany’s story is one of grit, resilience, and listening to the pull of a dream that wouldn’t quit. Together, Dana and Brittany talk about the messy middle of venue ownership, the sacrifices behind the pretty pictures, and the courage it takes to walk away from the wrong tables in order to build your own.

If you’ve ever felt like giving up, this episode will remind you that every “no” might just be laying the groundwork for your biggest “yes.”

For More Info on Brittany and The Colonial at Sunset:
Website:https://thecolonialatsunset.com/
Instagram: @colonialatsunset

For More info on Dana and her Hustles:
Instagram: @hustleandgather & @gatheredherepodcast
The Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/
Consulting: https://www.hustleandgather.com/
Speaking: https://www.danakadwell.com/speaking

We often feel the pressure to be perfect in business — to never miss a detail, never drop the ball, never let our humanness show. But the truth is, mistakes happen, emotions spill over, and life rarely fits into neat boxes.

In this episode, Dana shares reflections inspired by her conversation with Leah from The Historic Ashland. From the weight of making an impact, to reframing the “value” of our work, to the radical reminder that weddings — and the work behind them — are about people, not perfection.

Listen in as Dana talks about the banner she forgot to hang, what her AP chemistry teacher taught her about true care, and why approaching each other with charitable assumptions might just change everything.

Because at the end of the day, we’re not perfect — we’re people.

For More Info on Leah and The Historic Ashland:
Website: https://historicashlandevents.com/
Instagram: @historicashland

For More info on Dana and her Hustles:
Instagram: @hustleandgather & @gatheredherepodcast
The Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/
Consulting: https://www.hustleandgather.com/
Speaking: https://www.danakadwell.com/speaking

In this episode of Quick Chat with Dana, I dive into a deeply personal topic: asking for help. We often pride ourselves on independence, on being the ones who can handle it all—but what happens when life gets overwhelming, and we realize we can’t do it alone?

I reflect on lessons from my past, the struggles of balancing care for others while neglecting our own needs, and how asking for help isn’t a weakness—it can actually be a sign of strength, connection, and humanity. This episode is about vulnerability, self-reflection, and the courage to let people in, even when it feels terrifying.

For More Info on Leah and The Historic Ashland:
Website: https://historicashlandevents.com/
Instagram: @historicashland

For More info on Dana and her Hustles:
Instagram: @hustleandgather & @gatheredherepodcast
The Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/
Consulting: https://www.hustleandgather.com/
Speaking: https://www.danakadwell.com/speaking

In this episode, Dana sits down with Leah Nadu, co-owner of Historic Ashland, to talk about the reality of running a family-built venue — the grief and grit it takes, the lessons her late father passed down, and why she believes hospitality isn’t the wedding business at all, but the people business. From learning to ask for help, to finding refuge in her work, to building a team that carries her family’s legacy forward, Leah’s story is one of resilience, vulnerability, and heart-led leadership.

For More Info on Leah and The Historic Ashland:
Website: https://historicashlandevents.com/
Instagram: @historicashland

For More info on Dana and her Hustles:
Instagram: @hustleandgather & @gatheredherepodcast
The Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/
Consulting: https://www.hustleandgather.com/
Speaking: https://www.danakadwell.com/speaking

Life can be messy, painful, and overwhelming—but sometimes the very act of caring for someone else can help us find our way. In this episode of Gathered Here, Dana Kadwell explores the power of empathy, sharing stories from her own journey and a conversation with Kate, a hospitality professional who learned that serving others can be deeply healing.

These experiences reveal a profound truth: showing up for others can restore, teach, and guide us—even through the hardest moments. Dana also dives into practical ways to cultivate empathy, including the transformative idea of “charitable assumption,” and reflects on how hospitality has become both her purpose and her North Star.

If you’ve ever wondered how kindness, understanding, and empathy can shape not just the people around you but also yourself, this episode will leave you inspired to show up, serve, and heal—one moment at a time.

Learn more about Kate:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hospitalitymarketingsolutions/

Learn more about us:

The Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatheredherepodcast/

Complacency isn’t just a business risk — it can quietly erode the relationships that help us thrive. In this episode, Dana reflects on the lesson sparked by last week’s conversation with Kate.

Dana shares honest stories from her own experience, from the times she neglected networking and personal connections, to the moments she realized that surface-level interactions weren’t enough. She talks about the pep talks in elevators, the shift toward authentic relationship-building, and how being intentional about connection opened doors in both her venue business and her wider community.

This episode is for anyone who’s struggled to stay engaged, felt drained by networking, or wondered how to cultivate real, lasting relationships. Beyond strategy and operations, Dana reminds us that progress in business — and in life — is powered by the people we connect with.

Learn more about Kate:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hospitalitymarketingsolutions/

Learn more about us:

The Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatheredherepodcast/