What One Thing? A Meeting Planner's Guide to the Top of the Events World

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In this episode of What One Thing?, host Devon Montgomery Pasha, CMP, CED, talks with world champion Irish dancers Michael and Matthew Gardiner, known globally as The Gardiner Brothers, whose viral performances have reached millions online while bringing traditional Irish dance to modern audiences.

The brothers share how discipline, creativity and innovation shaped their journey from competitive dancers to global performers, content creators and keynote speakers. When the pandemic shut down live performance, they pivoted to digital platforms, a move that helped them build a worldwide brand by blending tradition with modern music, storytelling and collaboration.

They discuss the habits and mindset behind their success, including the belief that hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard, and reflect on what it means to run a business together while continuing to evolve their careers.

The conversation also explores how their work in live events and keynote speaking grew naturally from performance, and how storytelling, rhythm and curiosity can help audiences connect, adapt and think differently. At its core, the episode focuses on growth, resilience and the willingness to redefine yourself when the path changes.

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The ROI of Joy

In this episode of What One Thing, host Devon Montgomery Pasha speaks with Liz Lathan, CMP, co-founder of Club Ichi, about the power of community, curiosity and human connection in the meetings industry.

With a career that spans global event marketing roles at companies like Dell and IBM, Lathan has long believed that the most meaningful business outcomes come from environments where people feel comfortable connecting authentically. Through Club Ichi, she has created a community where experiential learning, collaboration and creativity take center stage, often through unconventional formats that encourage participation and shared discovery.

During the conversation, Lathan reflects on how her engineering-style curiosity and willingness to ask questions helped her rethink traditional event structures and focus on designing moments that bring people together. Whether it’s reimagining networking or creating spaces where attendees can contribute ideas and solve problems collectively, her approach centers on one simple truth: relationships drive results.

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America’s 250th anniversary isn’t just a historic milestone. It is a major opportunity for event professionals to create experiences that bring people together and tell stories that actually stick.

In this episode, Smart Meetings’ VP JT Long sits down with Melinda Curley, vice president of customer experience at Hargrove, and Johanna Walsh, vice president of event production at Encore, to talk about what planners should be thinking about now. From tight timelines and rising demand to infrastructure, permitting and budget realities, they share practical advice for getting ahead of the 2026 surge. 

But the real opportunity goes beyond logistics. The most memorable events, they explain, will be the ones grounded in authentic storytelling, whether that means highlighting local history, cultural identity or imagining what the next 250 years could look like. 

The one thing: start early, be intentional and create moments that make attendees feel like they are part of something bigger.

Episode: “Planning for America 250: Strategy, Storytelling and Scale” (Season 4, Ep. 47)

Release date: February 26, 2026 • Length: 13:46
Host: JT Long (VP, Smart Meetings)
Guests: Melinda Curley (VP, Customer Experience, Hargrove) + Johanna Walsh (VP, Event Production, Encore)
Source: Buzzsprout episode page (Smart Meetings) — https://www.buzzsprout.com/2087892/episodes/18748041

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If your virtual room feels fine, but nobody is leaning in, this episode is for you.

Hosted by Devon Pasha Montgomery, this What One Thing? episode spotlights virtual and hybrid engagement expert John Chen, CEO of Engaging Virtual Meetings. Chen has produced more than 4,000 virtual meetings and breaks down small, repeatable choices that make online rooms feel human, from belonging cues to energy resets. His one thing is practical for meeting pros: Take care of your brain and mental health, because sustainable energy is a production strategy, not a nice-to-have.

Podcast: What One Thing? A Meeting Planner’s Guide to the Top of the Events World (Smart Meetings)
Release date: Feb. 19, 2026
Length: 30:04
Episode page: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2087892/episodes/18671450

Hybrid is not just a format, it is a relationship. In this episode of What One Thing?, Smart Meetings explores the science of connection in hybrid events and what meeting pros can do to help audiences feel seen, included and engaged, whether they are in the room or on screen.

What you will learn

• Why connection is a measurable outcome, not a “nice-to-have”
• How to design hybrid moments that create belonging across locations
• Practical ways to reduce friction and increase participation for remote attendees
• What to prioritize when making production and programming decisions for hybrid

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In this episode of What One Thing, host JT Long examines why advocacy has become essential for meeting professionals navigating today’s rapidly shifting landscape. The conversation opens with leadership from the Live Events Coalition, including Al Mercuro, strategic marketing and client engagement advisor at Genesis Exhibits; Dwayne Thomas, director of government affairs for the Live Events Coalition – National; and Wendy E. Porter, chief events strategist at Wendy Porter Events, LLC, who share the moments that compelled them to speak up for the industry. 

Together, they unpack the pressures planners face right now, from rising costs and healthcare access to tariffs, visas and economic uncertainty, and why live events remain vital to trust, innovation and human connection.

 In a closing segment, Tommy F. Goodwin, executive vice president of the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance, joins the conversation to offer a policy-focused perspective on workforce development, affordability and how planners can turn advocacy into meaningful action. The episode leaves listeners with a clear reminder that their voices matter, and that engagement at every level helps shape the future of meetings.

Produced by: Eming Piansay

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What does it really mean to be yourself at work, not the curated version, not the corporate mask, but the fully expressed you?

In this episode of What One Thing?, transformational speaker and author Judi Holler returns to chat with Smart Meetings content director JT Long to unpack the core idea behind her new book, Holler at Your Dreams. She introduces the concept of self-expressionism, a disciplined, courageous practice of expressing who you are with intention, creativity and self-trust.

Drawing from her background in hospitality, improv and leadership, Holler challenges meeting professionals to step off autopilot and experiment with discomfort as a path to confidence, innovation and authenticity. From rediscovering childhood clues to building psychological and creative safety at work, she shares how small, intentional acts can lead to profound personal and professional shifts.

Her answer to the show’s signature question is clear and bold: The one thing you can do today is shock the system. Try something new. Go where you have no confidence, on purpose. In a world that rewards safety but craves originality, this conversation is a call to choose courage, reclaim your voice and remember that you are the art.

Produced by: Eming Piansay

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In this energizing episode of What One Thing?, Devon Montgomery Pasha sits down with behavioral science expert and global keynote speaker Nancy Harhut to explore why people say yes and how understanding human decision-making can transform both marketing and event design. Nancy breaks down the emotional shortcuts that drive behavior, the four decision defaults that shape how audiences take in information, and the powerful impact of designing for attention, resonance and action. With real-world examples ranging from dentists to conference campaigns, she shows how small psychological cues can unlock major results and why test-and-learn thinking matters more than ever. Whether you craft attendee experiences or brand messages, Nancy offers a fresh, inspiring lens on what truly moves people.

 Produced by: Eming Piansay

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In this special edition of What One Thing?, Smart Meetings flips the script and “interviews” the city of San Francisco by talking with two of the people who define its spirit. First, Anna Marie Presutti, CEO of SF Travel, shares her journey from Midwest roots to boutique hotels, culminating in her leadership of the city’s destination marketing efforts. She discusses how San Francisco shaped her as a leader, why inclusivity has always been the heart of the city and the surprising Charles Barkley moment that turned into a powerful lesson in civic pride. Presutti also highlights the city’s resurgence, from Union Square’s revival to major events like the World Cup, Super Bowl and the strongest convention season since the pandemic.

Then, we hear from Gary Murakami, vice president of global sales and industry relations at Teneo Hospitality Group and a longtime champion of Northern California’s hospitality community. Murakami reflects on why San Francisco has always been his “North Star,” how its neighborhoods and hotels continuously reinvent themselves and why authenticity and belonging remain the city’s greatest assets. Together, their perspectives offer a vibrant portrait of a place that is constantly evolving yet unmistakably itself.

Host: JT Long

Producer: Eming Piansay

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In this conversation of What One Thing, co-host Devon Montgomery Pasha chats with Shaena Harrison, professional wing person and CEO of Wing People, a boutique agency dedicated to bringing genuine human connection back to business events. After years of producing major conferences and watching attendees struggle to move beyond surface-level networking, Harrison launched a team of trained wing people to help guests skip small talk and spark meaningful relationships. 

Drawing from her lifelong instinct for connecting others and her belief that events succeed when people feel they belong, Harrison explains how her team creates conditions where real conversations can happen through facilitated connection corners and subtle behavioral cues, such as forming a croissant instead of a closed-circle donut. She also shares how her work bridges the gap between data and dialogue, where AI can support personalization but humans still carry the heart of connection. 

Produced by: Eming Piansay

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In this episode of What One Thing, host JT Long steps inside the Marriott Bonvoy Convention and Resort Network Elite Experience Suite at the Marriott Marquis New York to explore how meetings can ignite all the senses. Joined by Amanda Cox, vice president of Sales, Convention & Resort Sales, JT Long uncovers how more than 125 Marriott properties are creating turnkey, locally inspired experiences that engage taste, sight, sound and scent.

From Sheraton Grand Seattle’s pine-scented escapes and JW Marriott Marco Island’s “Taste the Sunset” dinner to JW Marriott Tampa Water Street’s “Train Like a Champion” program, planners are finding new ways to connect attendees through play, wellness and storytelling. With an emphasis on sustainability and connection, this episode offers a sensory deep dive into how meetings can be both responsible and remarkably unforgettable.

Produced by: Eming Piansay