The Association Insights Podcast

OnWrd and UpWrd
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The Association Insights Podcast focuses on best practices, top trends, helpful ideas and smart strategies and tactics that work in the world of associations. The podcast will feature meaningful conversations with association professionals across the country taking a deeper dive into trending topics, offering insights that both inform and inspire. Produced by OnWrd & UpWrd: https://onwrdupwrd.com/

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    AI + PR Right Now: What’s Actually Working, What’s Not, and What’s Changing Fast

    In this solo episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & Upwrd, host Colleen Gallagher takes a step back to unpack where AI actually stands right now in association communications and PR. After months of rapid experimentation across the industry, Colleen moves beyond the hype to focus on what’s actually working, where teams are seeing real value, and where challenges are starting to surface. From accelerating workflows to protecting voice and credibility, this episode offers a clear, practical lens on how associations can use AI effectively—without losing what makes their communications impactful. 🎧 If your team is navigating how to use AI in PR, messaging, or content strategy, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what matters most right now. Key Highlights AI Is Accelerating PR—Not Replacing It: AI is making research, drafting, and monitoring faster—but it’s not replacing the core drivers of effective PR: judgment, relationships, and credibility. The real opportunity is using AI to create more time for strategic work that actually moves the needle. Where AI Is Actually Delivering Value: From faster media monitoring and trend identification to refining messaging and enabling personalization at scale, AI is helping teams work smarter—especially when it comes to staying relevant in fast-moving conversations. Efficiency That Unlocks Strategy: Behind-the-scenes gains—like media list updates, reporting, and content repurposing—are freeing up time for higher-value strategic thinking, where communications teams make the biggest impact. What Matters Most Right Now: Use AI to support—not replace—your thinking. Protect your voice. Prioritize strategy over speed. And keep humans at the center of the process—because credibility still depends on judgment. 🎧 Tune in for a clear, experience-driven perspective on how associations can move from experimentation to intentional, effective use of AI in their communications and PR strategies. Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies. Coming Soon: We’re continuing the conversation with association professionals across sectors, sharing candid perspectives on top trends, emerging challenges, and the strategies leaders are using to move their organizations forward. Stay tuned for what’s next.

    14 min

  2. 29 APR

    Why Trust Is the Most Valuable Asset Associations Have Right Now

    In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher takes a step back to focus on a foundational—but often overlooked—driver of association success: trust. In a landscape shaped by information overload, growing skepticism, and declining institutional credibility, trust is no longer assumed—it’s earned, reinforced, and, if neglected, quickly lost. 🎧 Whether you’re leading communications, shaping strategy, or thinking about how your organization shows up in the market, this episode offers a clear, practical lens on how to build trust in a time when it matters more than ever. Key Highlights Why Trust Is More Fragile Than Ever: With misinformation rising and audiences more skeptical, associations can’t rely on legacy credibility. Trust must be built—and rebuilt—through consistent, relevant communication. The Hidden Erosion of Member Trust: Trust doesn’t disappear overnight. It fades through generic messaging, lack of clarity, or content that doesn’t reflect real member challenges—often long before engagement drops. Earned Media Is Built on Credibility, Not Titles: Reporters don’t choose sources based on press releases—they choose who they trust. Associations that provide clear, timely, and grounded insights become go-to voices over time. Leadership Visibility vs. Leadership Trust: Showing up isn’t enough. Trust in leadership is built through consistent, authentic, and clear communication—not polished, one-off messaging. Trust Is the Real Path to Becoming a Go-To Source: It’s not about being everywhere—it’s about being reliable. When stakeholders trust your perspective, opportunities for visibility, influence, and engagement follow naturally. Where Associations Should Focus Right Now: From consistency and clarity to member-centered messaging and follow-through, trust is built in the everyday execution—not just big moments. 🎧 Tune in for a practical, perspective-driven conversation on how associations can strengthen trust across communications, leadership, and media—and why it’s the metric that matters most moving forward. Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies. Coming Soon: We’re continuing to sit down with association professionals and industry leaders to share top trends, insights, and real-world strategies shaping the future of associations. Stay tuned!

    10 min

  3. 22 APR

    Using Member Data to Strengthen Your Messaging

    In this solo episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher, President & CEO of OnWrd & UpWrd, breaks down one of the most overlooked opportunities in association communications: how to better use the member data you already have to shape stronger, more relevant messaging. While many organizations focus on collecting more data, Colleen challenges that assumption arguing that most associations already have a wealth of insight at their fingertips. The real gap isn’t access to information. It’s how that information is translated into what organizations actually say publicly. 🎧 If you’re responsible for communications, marketing, membership, or leadership strategy, this episode offers a practical, mindset-shifting approach to building messaging that resonates—and drives real engagement. Key Highlights You Already Have the Data—You’re Just Not Using It This WayFrom event feedback to email engagement, associations are constantly collecting signals—the opportunity is using them to shape messaging, not just operations. Patterns Are Where Messaging Comes FromIndividual data points are helpful, but repeated questions and themes reveal what truly matters to your members—and what your messaging should reflect. Tone Matters Just as Much as ContentIt’s not just what you say—it’s how you say it. Member behavior shows whether they respond to clarity, urgency, or practical insight. Your Members Are Your Strongest Messaging AssetReal member experiences and challenges make messaging more credible, relatable, and easier to amplify. Messaging Should Be a Living StrategyStrong messaging isn’t static—it evolves with your members, your industry, and the conversations happening in real time. 🎧 Tune in for a practical, thought-provoking conversation on how to close the gap between what your members are telling you—and how your organization shows up in response. Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies. Coming Soon: We’re continuing to sit down with association leaders and industry experts to explore the real challenges teams are facing—and the strategies helping them build stronger, more resilient organizations.

    10 min

  4. 15 APR

    How Leading Associations Are Turning Annual Meetings Into Year-Round Visibility

    In this solo episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher explores how leading associations are rethinking their annual meetings—not just as events, but as strategic opportunities to build visibility, credibility, and momentum that lasts well beyond the closing session. 🎧 Whether you’re planning your next annual meeting or reflecting on one you just hosted, this episode offers practical insight into how to turn a single event into longer-term impact for your organization and your members. Key Highlights It’s More Than an Event—It’s a Visibility Moment: The strongest associations treat annual meetings as opportunities to shape conversations, strengthen positioning, and lead with purpose while they have their industry’s attention. Lead With a Clear Point of View: Rather than hoping something resonates, high-performing organizations go in knowing what they want to say, what matters most right now, and how they want to show up. Capture the Right Content in Real Time: Some of the most valuable content comes from unscripted moments—member perspectives, speaker soundbites, and real-time reactions that feel authentic and engaging. Showcasing Members Creates Real Value: By elevating member voices and stories, associations build trust, reinforce member ROI, and create a stronger sense of connection and visibility. Extend the Life of the Event: The best teams use event content long after attendees head home—turning sessions, insights, and conversations into ongoing thought leadership and engagement. Alignment Makes It Work: Success starts before the event begins. When communications, events, and leadership are aligned on messages, priorities, and goals, teams can execute with far greater impact. 🎧 Tune in for a practical conversation on how to turn your annual meeting into a stronger driver of visibility, connection, and long-term impact. Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies. Coming Soon: We’re continuing to feature association professionals sharing top trends and insights shaping the future of the industry. Stay tuned!

    10 min

  5. 8 APR

    Turning Insight into Action: Real-World Scenarios Associations Are Facing Right Now

    In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher is joined by Meghan Henning, Senior PR Strategist & Founding Partner, and Christine Stay, Director of Operations at OnWrd & UpWrd, for a fast-paced conversation on the real challenges associations are facing right now. Instead of going deep on one topic, this episode takes a rapid-fire approach to the situations many teams are navigating every day—from lack of visibility and overwhelmed staff to stalled campaigns, underused member stories, and uncertainty around AI. 🎧 Whether you’re leading communications, managing operations, or wearing multiple hats, this episode offers useful insight on how to focus, prioritize, and move forward with more clarity. Key Highlights Stop Sharing Updates—Start Telling Stories: Associations often default to announcements instead of narratives. Meghan explains why storytelling—especially through member experiences—is the key to media interest, engagement, and real impact. When Everything Is a Priority, Nothing Is: Christine breaks down how overwhelmed teams can regain control by narrowing focus to 2–3 priorities, building clear ownership, and giving permission to deprioritize what doesn’t matter right now. AI as a Strategic Partner (Not a Shortcut): From repurposing content to generating new angles, AI can significantly reduce workload—when used intentionally. The key: maintain human voice, apply guardrails, and start small with one clear use case. Thought Leadership Without the Time Burden: Executives don’t need to be online constantly to build a voice. The team shares how to capture authentic perspectives, repurpose existing content, and create a sustainable process for visibility. Member Stories = Untapped Gold: Associations are sitting on some of their most powerful content. Member stories build credibility, drive engagement, and scale across channels—but only if there’s a system to capture and use them. Why Engagement Falls Flat (and How to Fix It): If content isn’t resonating, it’s time to step back. Are you audience-first or organization-first? Are you saying something worth repeating? The answers often reveal the gap. 🎧 Tune in for a candid, practical conversation on how associations can do less, better—and make smarter progress with the time and resources they have. Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies. Coming Soon We’re continuing to feature association professionals sharing top trends, practical insights, and real-world strategies for navigating change and driving impact. Stay tuned!

    38 min

  6. 1 APR

    Building a Movement: Advancing Women in Association Leadership

    In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Alexandra Bradley, President; Kim Howard, CAE, President-Elect; and Whitney Meyerhoeffer, MPA, CAE, Secretary/Treasurer of The Alliance for Women in Associations. Together, they share how the Alliance came to life, the gap it is designed to fill, and why creating community for women in the association space feels especially urgent right now. 🎧 If you’re thinking about leadership growth, community-building, or how associations can better support women at every stage of their careers, this conversation offers thoughtful perspective and practical insight. Key Highlights Why the Alliance launched now: Alexandra explains that while women make up much of the association workforce, they remain underrepresented in leadership. The Alliance was created to offer community, support, and resources at a time when many organizations were pulling back on DEI efforts. More than networking: Whitney shares why the Alliance is being built as more than a networking group. For many women, career growth is happening alongside caregiving, invisible labor, and shifting expectations—making real community and shared support more important than ever. The leadership gap women still face: Kim points to sponsorship as one of the biggest missing pieces in leadership advancement. Beyond mentorship, women need advocates who will elevate their work and help create pathways into senior roles. What early momentum is showing: From strong founding member interest to high-energy in-person events, the response has made one thing clear: this need is real, and women across the association space are looking for connection, support, and a place to grow. What comes next: The Alliance is focused on growing membership, expanding events, and launching meaningful educational programming and virtual engagement opportunities that help women navigate leadership and career growth in practical ways.  Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies. Coming Soon: We’re continuing to sit down with association leaders and industry experts to explore the real challenges teams are facing—and the strategies helping them build stronger, more resilient organizations.

    37 min

  7. 25 MAR

    Building Stronger Association Teams: Wellbeing, Leadership, and Sustainable Performance

    Building Stronger Association Teams: Wellbeing, Leadership, and Sustainable Performance In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Johanna Roodt, Founder, Wellbeing Consultant & Coach, Leladijo Consulting, for a timely conversation on what it really takes to build healthy, high-performing association teams. From burnout and communication breakdowns to leadership habits and practical wellbeing strategies, Johanna brings both lived experience and actionable insight—drawing from her work leading association teams and supporting professionals across high-pressure environments like events. 🎧 If you’re leading a small but mighty team, navigating constant demands, or thinking about how to better support your staff without adding more complexity, this episode is packed with practical, real-world takeaways. Key Highlights Why Burnout Is Rising—Especially in Associations: Johanna shares why burnout is becoming more common across teams—including younger professionals—and how always-on culture, small teams, and mission-driven work can accelerate the risk. The Hidden Signs Leaders Often Miss: Burnout doesn’t always look like disengagement. High performers may actually overdeliver and push harder—making it even more important for leaders to check in and recognize early warning signs. How Stress Impacts Team Communication: When pressure rises, communication often breaks down. Meetings get skipped, messages are misinterpreted, and blame can creep in—creating a cycle that’s hard to reverse without intentional structure. Clarity Is the Ultimate Stress Reducer: Clear priorities, defined roles, and consistent communication routines help teams stay focused—even when everything feels urgent. Johanna explains how leaders can simplify without slowing down. Simple, No-Budget Ways to Support Team Wellbeing:  You don’t need a formal program to make a real impact. From weekly capacity check-ins to time-blocking, flexible work norms, and celebrating small wins, small shifts can dramatically improve team health. The Leadership Mindset Shift That Changes Everything: Wellbeing isn’t about big initiatives—it’s about daily habits. Leaders who listen, communicate expectations clearly, and create psychological safety build stronger, more sustainable teams. 🎧 Tune in for a candid, practical conversation on how association leaders can reduce burnout, strengthen communication, and create environments where teams can truly thrive—not just keep up. Resources: Johanna is offering our listeners an exclusive 50% discount on her self-paced “Certified Event Mental Wellbeing” e-learning course! Use code VIP50 at checkout. Offer valid through Monday, March 30th. 👉 Register here: https://event-mental-wellbeing.thinkific.com/products/courses/event-mental-wellbeing-course Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies. Coming Soon: We’re continuing to sit down with association leaders and industry experts to explore the real challenges teams are facing—and the strategies helping them build stronger, more resilient organizations.

    31 min

  8. 18 MAR

    Turning Succession Into a Celebration: A People-First Leadership Transition

    In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host Colleen Gallagher, President & CEO of OnWrd & UpWrd, sits down with Melissa Loner, MBA, QAS, Chief Executive Officer of the National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP), one of the 2025 Association Insights Comm Impact Award winners. NSCP was recognized for its thoughtful, transparent internal communications strategy during the leadership transition from longtime Executive Director Lisa Crossley to Melissa’s leadership. From early board and member communications to a symbolic passing-of-the-baton moment at the organization’s national conference, the transition reflected what a mission-driven, people-first approach to change can look like. 🎧 In this conversation, Melissa unpacks what made the transition work, why transparency matters so much in association leadership, and what other organizations can learn from NSCP’s award-winning approach. Key Highlights Why NSCP’s mission resonates so deeply: Melissa shares how NSCP supports compliance professionals across the financial services industry through education, advocacy, and connection, while creating a trusted community for professionals navigating complex regulatory environments. Reframing succession as a celebration: Rather than treating leadership change as something quiet or uncertain, NSCP intentionally positioned this transition as a celebration of Lisa Crossley’s legacy and the organization’s next chapter. How thoughtful sequencing built trust: Melissa explains why board alignment, member communication, and phased announcements were so important to making the transition feel smooth, reassuring, and grounded in continuity. Why transparency and over-communication matter: Melissa reflects on the role honest, clear communication plays in membership organizations, where trust and continuity are essential. What internal succession really looks like: Coming from within the organization offered deep knowledge and credibility, but Melissa also shares the surprises, risks, and learning curves that came with stepping into the CEO role. Lessons for other association leaders: From staying open to learning to not letting fear of mistakes create paralysis, Melissa offers practical insight for leaders planning succession and navigating change. 🎧 Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, communications, and how associations can handle transition with clarity, trust, and purpose. Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies. Coming Soon: We’re continuing to feature association professionals sharing top trends, leadership insights, and strategies shaping the future of the association space. Stay tuned.

    22 min
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The Association Insights Podcast focuses on best practices, top trends, helpful ideas and smart strategies and tactics that work in the world of associations. The podcast will feature meaningful conversations with association professionals across the country taking a deeper dive into trending topics, offering insights that both inform and inspire. Produced by OnWrd & UpWrd: https://onwrdupwrd.com/

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