Why is death a taboo topic? In this Dare to Interrupt podcast, Mariska Kesteloo, founder of Word of MICE, shares her story of losing four loved ones over the span of five months—and the mission she is on to change the way we navigate grief.

In this special roundtable-format recording of the Dare to Interrupt podcast, powerhouse leaders Devin Lewis, Mei Powers and Shelley Williams address a handful of today's most pressing topics, including how the overturn of Roe v. Wade will affect the meetings industry, the importance of building brave spaces, and how to represent oneself in a way that's authentic, strategic and impactful.

Podcast sponsored by Monterey County CVB. 

How can we strategically advance in our careers? Monique Ruff-Bell, Head of Conferences at TED, discusses the value of sponsorship, creating visibility, and building your individual roadmap for success.

Anh Nguyen, head of customer success at twine and principal and founder of Spark Event Collective, discusses the lost art of critical thinking, redesigning the business model for career women who are caretakers, and the importance of community support to advance and succeed.

How can women in business navigate and challenge stereotypes associated with their outward appearance? Anca Trifan, Founder, Creator and CEO of Tree-Fan Events, speaks candidly about her experience as a woman in the male-dominated field of A/V and event production.

Yes, we're talking about menopause, people. Carleeka Basnight-Menendez, the No. 1 Black voice for women in menopause, discusses her F-IT Method, building confidence to take risks, advocating for your needs and understanding the business value of addressing a wellness challenge that impacts 50% of the world's population. 

Why do we wait until the sh*t hits the fan to take care of our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing? This vulnerable, blunt conversation between some of the event industry's leading hustlers sheds light on managing stress and anxiety, thriving under pressure and breaking up with burnout culture.

What are some of the greatest challenges leaders in the meetings industry have faced and what does our community's future look like? Michael Massari, chief sales officer at Caesars Entertainment and co-chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, shares his own leadership lessons as well as his predictions for events in 2022.

What is "Return on Emotion" and how can you curate experiences that provoke happiness, which in turn, lead to greater profitability? Liz Lathan, chief marketing officer at Haute, gives us a peek behind the curtain at Haute's groundbreaking study on emotion and the innovative experiences that have blown audiences away.