Sideways Rain

In this episode of Sideways Rain, we sit down with Naomi Tucker, strategic events consultant, high-performance coach, and founder of Planners on Purpose. Naomi shares her expertise on managing stress, avoiding burnout, and finding joy in the demanding world of event planning.

We discuss the struggles of balancing perfectionism with efficiency, why self-care is critical for high performance, and how event professionals can set boundaries while still delivering top-tier service. Naomi also shares insights on leading with curiosity, managing client expectations, and why leadership mindset makes all the difference.

Whether you’re an event planner, business owner, or leader in any industry, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss!

Learn more about Naomi Tucker and Planners on Purpose:https://www.plannersonpurpose.com/

Recommended Reads from This Episode:

• Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara: https://tinyurl.com/yckhjbwa

• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown: https://tinyurl.com/536wp6r3

• Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss: https://tinyurl.com/3epwunv8

Big news is shaking up the meetings and events industry—overnight tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China are about to drive costs through the roof. In this episode, we break down the real impact: skyrocketing AV costs, hotel rate hikes, and catering price spikes that will hit corporate events hard. But it’s not all bad news—we’re tackling how to pivot, adapt, and outmaneuver these new challenges. If your business touches live events, travel, or hospitality, you can’t afford to miss this one.

Work-life balance. Everyone talks about it, but is it actually real when you're running a business? In this episode, J.R. and Kris break down the myth of balance, sharing their personal experiences juggling business, family, and life’s unexpected challenges.

They dive into:

• The chaos of balancing work and family—J.R. raising two daughters while leading The 180 Group, and Kris managing multiple jobs, moving states, and a flooded home.
• When work completely took over—the hardest moments and what finally forced a shift.
• Lessons on prioritization, delegation, and avoiding burnout.
• What work-life balance really looks like—and why it's more about making the right choices than achieving perfect harmony.

They don’t have it all figured out—but if you’ve ever struggled with too much work and too little time, this episode is for you.

Let us know: What’s one thing in your personal life you’ve been neglecting because of work? What’s one small change you can make this week?

In this episode of Sideways Rain, J.R. is flying solo to share his journey from rolling cables on show sites to becoming the CEO of The 180 Group.

It wasn’t a straight path—there were pivots, challenges, and a whole lot of sideways rain along the way. He’ll take you behind the scenes of:

• How J.R. started in high school working for his dad, doing the grunt work of live event production.
• The transition from producer to CEO, and the massive learning curve of managing people, systems, and finances.
• The growth of The 180 Group—from a small family business to scaling up, adjusting to industry shifts, and focusing on the pharma, medical device, and healthcare sectors.
• The constant professional development that shaped me—Vistage, books, HBS courses, and countless strategy sessions with my team.

If you’re a business owner, leader, or just someone navigating career growth, this episode is for you. Tune in for an honest look at what it takes to build something, adapt, and keep learning along the way.

In this episode ofSideways Rain, we sit down withSean Sanusi, a software engineer and tech consultant who has worked across startups, corporate innovation, and even government projects. We dive into the unpredictable world oftechnology development, from building software under tight deadlines to managing unexpected pivots and keeping up with the rapid evolution of AI.

In this episode, we cover:
🔹 The reality of software development—why things rarely go as planned
🔹 Common mistakes startups make when building tech products
🔹 The impact of AI and how entrepreneurs should prepare for what’s next
🔹 How to move from idea to execution in a way that actually works

If you’ve ever wondered how to take a tech-driven idea from concept to reality—or just want to hear war stories from the trenches of software engineering—this episode is for you.

Reach Seun on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seun-sanusi-b59277140/

In this episode of Sideways Rain, we dive into the wild and unpredictable world of public relations with Joe Krasean, a PR pro with a global perspective, based in Germany and freelancing with companies like Black Unicorn PR. Whether you're a startup navigating fierce competition or a growing business trying to stand out, PR can be the difference between thriving in the storm or getting washed away.

Joe breaks down who needs PR, affordable strategies for young companies, and how to position yourself as a thought leader without breaking the bank. We also explore how PR mitigates crises, the value of authenticity, and how founders can leverage their personal stories to build credibility. Packed with actionable insights and real-world examples, this episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs and business leaders alike.

Next week, we’ll dive into the tech side of business as we chat with Sean, the lead developer behind the WIFT app, to explore how innovation and AI are shaping the future of event tech. Stay tuned!

In this debut episode of Sideways Rain, hosts JR Spiess, CEO of The 180 Group, and Kris McNeil, Co-Founder and CTO of WIFT, dive into the unpredictable journey of innovation, entrepreneurship, and building impactful businesses. Together, they share their expertise in event production and tech development, offering unique perspectives from two dynamic industries.

Discover the inspiration behind the podcast, the vision for helping listeners navigate the chaos of leadership and growth, and the real-life lessons that shape their approach. From scaling ideas to balancing vision with execution, this is your guide to thriving in uncertainty and creating meaningful impact.

Why “Sideways Rain”? It’s the perfect metaphor for the unpredictability of business—a storm that forces you to adapt, grow, and find clarity in chaos.

Join us on this journey and embrace the challenges of innovation. Don’t forget to subscribe and connect with us to shape the conversation in future episodes!