Season 1 proved one thing: the best stories don't come from perfect plans.

As we head into Season 2 of In the Unlikely Event, we're looking for event organizers, producers, and creative leaders willing to talk honestly about the moments that tested them and what they learned along the way.

If you've got a story, we're listening.

🎧 Explore Season 1 and connect with us at sohoexp.com/podcast

What happens when a multi-year, record-breaking mission to the edge of space is threatened by a mysterious, untraceable signal just hours before launch? In this episode, host Rick Kiley and co-host Jeff Boedges are joined by event producer Ben Nelson (Director of Ground Operations for Stratos) to discuss the years of work that went into Red Bull Stratos. This was the mission where Felix Baumgartner ascended to 128,000 feet and jumped from the stratosphere, breaking the speed of sound. Ben recounts the immense scale of the operation in Roswell, New Mexico, and the final, heart-stopping crisis: a mysterious communication interference that nearly shut down the entire, multi-million dollar endeavor. Hear the incredible story of the team that built a temporary mission control in the desert and the final-hour scramble to save a stunt that pushed the limits of human courage and event production. Links: Website: https://www.sohoexp.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTyqEy1cd8I Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0HQ2CmoStTwRMNyLtuq9ue?si=BLNrAgx3R5KnuMs_vCDqYA Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-the-edge-of-possible-producing-red-bull-stratos/id1852356725?i=1000741576997

What happens when two powerhouse female producers are tasked with creating an authentic men's experience at a festival historically dedicated to women? In this episode of In The Unlikely Event, host Rick Kiley is joined by award-winning experiential producer Carmen Jones and brand architect Dawn Marie Gray to discuss the challenge of launching a bold new initiative at the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans. The festival, a massive cultural event focused on Black women, decided to launch a men's experience in 2022 to expand its audience. The twist? The two creative strategists brought in to conceive and execute the vision were women. This fact alone created a major internal challenge when a "council of men" demanded a "direct men's perspective," threatening to halt the project. Hear how Carmen and Dawn Marie navigated the skepticism and pushed forward with their intentional vision, centered on the "five E's" (Enlighten, Enrich, Empower, Elevate, Embrace), to create an authentic and successful space for Black men at the festival. Links: Website: https://www.sohoexp.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH8dSxRYqek Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0rBQm8DoTAhYEDBDJBaCDP?si=wdrIWGciTNCVjg7r3bZDeA Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/essence/id1852356725?i=1000740488803

What happens when a sudden, freezing cold snap threatens to derail a massive, high-profile art fair just hours before opening? In this episode of In The Unlikely Event, host Rick Kiley sits down with highly accomplished event producer Glenn Charles, President and CEO of Show Strategy, to discuss the chaos behind producing the world-renowned Armory Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City. To elevate the attendee experience, the team planned to build a massive new tent structure for registration and a restaurant. However, a sudden, severe drop in temperature made it impossible to install the new vinyl tops.

Glenn recounts the heart-stopping 5 a.m. moment he had to make the impossible call: tear down the 65% built structure and revert to Plan B. Hear the story of the high-stakes decision that saved the event from embarrassment and proved that a successful event sometimes means knowing when to walk away from a bad plan. This is a masterclass in crisis management where the audience never even knew a disaster was averted.

Links: Website: https://www.sohoexp.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbflz_iADxI Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/48OXzPOXNiHZ5KF29WWnLF?si=UBiQ-U1XSnSjNTTP_WP6PQ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-armory-show/id1852356725?i=1000739387441

What happens when you have to pull off a massive, world-class Olympic marketing campaign that started far too late and was then hit by an external crisis? In this episode of In The Unlikely Event, host Rick Kiley sits down with two exceptional event creators, John Millward (Chief Creative Officer, SoHo Experiential) and Jeffrey Berke (veteran of large-scale events), to relive a high-stakes project from nearly 25 years ago.

The challenge was an Olympic-sized activation that demanded world-class execution under impossible conditions. John and Jeffrey, who met for the first time in the middle of the chaos, had to navigate a project that was already behind schedule and then faced a turning point that threatened to derail the entire effort. This is the story of how they turned a potential disaster into a masterclass in problem-solving. Hear the untold details of the chaos and the ingenuity that saved the day, proving that even under the most intense, global pressure, creativity and grit can carry the torch to the finish line.

Links: Website: https://www.sohoexp.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edGz3wgvQ34 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0rNCD9YzVFDl3IrYTmEQYi?si=un8hzndkTNKYJtKqhk3yug Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trial-by-olympic-fire/id1852356725?i=1000737318850

What happens when the President of France cancels your event just one week before showtime?

In the premiere episode of In The Unlikely Event, host Rick Kiley (Co-Founder of SoHo Experiential) is joined by his partner Jeff Boedges and former clients Emma Medina and Sarah DeCoste to recount one of the most chaotic and memorable crises in their 20-year history.

The team was set to host a high-profile cognac tasting program, The Heart of Cognac Experience, at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. The contract contained a unique, seemingly impossible clause: the embassy could cancel if the President of France needed the space.

Hear the heart-pounding, minute-by-minute story of how the team scrambled to find a new venue, manage a full-scale event cancellation and reschedule, and pull off the impossible—this is the ultimate story of crisis, creativity, and a comeback that proves why event professionals keep coming back for more.

Links:

Links: Website: https://www.sohoexp.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EdeBLktHNc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3HlBRyShELqXPHs2u6vmyL?si=SZX1Y4dFSpGdncfW641_zg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-president-of-france/id1852356725?i=1000736335136

In The Unlikely Event is the podcast that dives into real stories of crisis, creativity, and comebacks from the world of experiential and event marketing. Hosted by Rick Kiley, Co-Founder of SoHo Experiential, each episode features industry pros sharing how they turned event disasters into brand-building wins. From live event production to brand activations and experiential storytelling, discover how the best in business show that the most memorable experiences often start in the most unlikely ways.