Fresh Takes: Events Unscripted

Jen Selley

Welcome to Fresh Take: Events Unscripted - the podcast that pulls back the curtain on the events and marketing world and the people who bring it to life. Each week, co-hosts from Imprint Events Group sit down with creative powerhouses, brand leaders, and behind-the-scenes visionaries to explore what really makes this industry tick. From the adrenaline of live production to the strategy behind experiential design, these are real conversations - unfiltered, unscripted, and unmistakably human. Expect stories of triumph (and the occasional disaster), moments of reflection, and insights that challenge how we think about connection, creativity, and the craft of experience-making. Whether you’re an event pro, marketer, creative, or simply someone who loves great storytelling, this is your backstage pass to the people shaping what’s next. 👉 Tune in. Get inspired. And remember why we fell in love with this crazy industry in the first place.

Episodes

  1. Staying Steady When Everything Moves Fast: Lessons from the EA Seat

    22 Jan

    Staying Steady When Everything Moves Fast: Lessons from the EA Seat

    In high-pressure environments, staying calm is a leadership skill. In this episode of Fresh Takes: Events Unscripted, we sit down with Kristi Graham, a career executive assistant whose work spans finance, tech, higher education, and complex global organizations. Kristi has spent nearly three decades supporting leaders where pressure concentrates; executive calendars, major events, constant change, and always-on expectations. She’s known for staying steady when things move fast. In this conversation, she breaks down what “Captain Calm” looks like in real life: trust built through curiosity, boundaries tested by modern work culture, and adaptability as a core leadership skill. We explore how the executive assistant role has evolved alongside remote work, Slack culture, and AI tools, and why emotional intelligence and perspective often matter more than speed or industry expertise. A grounded listen for executive assistants, operations leaders, event professionals, and anyone working behind the scenes to keep organizations running.

    32 min
  2. Designing Human-Centered Events in an AI-First Era

    8 Jan

    Designing Human-Centered Events in an AI-First Era

    What role do live events play in an AI-driven world? In this episode of Fresh Takes: Events Unscripted, Kieran DiEmidio, Founder of 301 Walsh Events, shares why human-centered event design matters more as automation accelerates. With nearly 20 years of experience across tech, SaaS, and education, Kieran breaks down how intentional events create real connection, support sales alignment, and drive business impact. From flagship conferences to micro-events, she explains how teams can design experiences that people remember — and act on. We cover: • Why events are becoming the antidote to AI-driven marketing • How intentional design creates stronger human connection • When micro-events outperform large-scale experiences • How events support pipeline and long-term growth • What it takes to manage chaos calmly behind the scenes This episode is for event professionals, marketers, founders, and teams rethinking the role of live experiences in modern business strategy.

    33 min
  3. From Strategy to Feeling: The Work Behind Great Experiences

    18/12/2025

    From Strategy to Feeling: The Work Behind Great Experiences

    In this episode of Fresh Takes: Events Unscripted, I chat with Pashara Black, the Director of Event Marketing at Fidelity Charitable. Pashara shares her unique journey from the Peace Corps to the forefront of event marketing, emphasizing the importance of empathy and creativity in creating meaningful connections. We discuss how her experiences have shaped her leadership style and the role of community engagement in her work. Pashara reveals how to balance strategic goals with heartfelt purpose in event design and the transformative power of in-person experiences. Tune in to discover how events can drive social impact while achieving business objectives, and hear Pashara's insights on fostering collaboration and community through impactful gatherings.

    31 min
  4. Beyond the Booth: What Makes an Experience Stick with Jay Menashe

    04/12/2025

    Beyond the Booth: What Makes an Experience Stick with Jay Menashe

    The Business of Memorable Exhibits: What Actually Works Trade shows have never been louder - yet the moments people remember are usually the quiet and intentional ones. In this episode, Jay Menashe unpacks what separates a booth from a real experience. We explore the shift toward emotion-led design, smarter ROI conversations, the chaos of load-ins, and how AI is shaping the future of experiential marketing. Jay brings two decades of perspective: the wins, the missteps, and the lessons that sharpen teams who want to build events that matter. If you care about audience engagement, event strategy, or creating experiences people carry with them long after the badge comes off, then this one’s worth a listen.

    27 min
  5. Emotional Event ROI: Are You Measuring the Right Success Metrics?

    20/11/2025

    Emotional Event ROI: Are You Measuring the Right Success Metrics?

    What if the real power of your event isn’t hiding in your spreadsheets… but in your attendees’ feelings? In this episode of Fresh Take: Events Unscripted, Jen sits down with the incomparable Liz Lathan - co-founder of Club Ichi, master gatherer, and the undisputed “What-If” queen of experiential marketing. And together, they flip the industry’s favorite question on its head: how do we measure success when the metrics we’ve been using don’t tell the full story? Liz breaks down her groundbreaking Return on Emotion framework - a research-backed system revealing the five emotional states that predict whether people will do business after an event: hopeful, active, accepted, adventurous, and motivated. Yes, ROI still matters… but ROE might be the difference between a forgettable program and a career-defining one. From: • building community when there’s no rulebook • reimagining panels that put audiences to sleep • “secret family reunion” trips that drop attendees into Tuscany • inflatable-unicorn think tanks on Croatian yachts • AI hackathons that rethink the future of planning • and audacious pitches (private-jet dinner party, anyone?) …Liz invites us into the wild, strategic, deeply human world of events done right. If you're an event pro who’s tired of vanilla, allergic to performative networking, or just craving a smarter way to connect impact with intention, then this conversation will hit you right in the marketing cortex. Tap in, take notes, and maybe ask yourself Liz’s favorite question: “What if we made this unforgettable… on purpose?”

    35 min

  6. 05/11/2025

    Is Experiential Marketing the key to human connection in the era of AI?

    In a world of doom-scrolling and AI noise, how do you design experiences people will choose to spend time on? Creative leader Scott Burns (SVP, Head of Creative, George P. Johnson) joins host Jen Selley to unpack where experiential marketing meets AI innovation - and why human connection is still the ultimate differentiator. He shares practical frameworks for value exchange, smarter pre-/post-event touchpoints, and leading creative teams without killing the “wildness” that makes ideas great. (Highlights reference: “our time is still our most valuable asset… what is the value exchange?”) You’ll learn • How to use AI to enhance (not dominate) your event story • The playbook for value exchange: if you ask for time, give clear return • Why pre- and post-event comms drive action better than the main show • Tactics to build community & brand affinity beyond vanity metrics • Leadership notes: trust, creative “wildness,” and stakeholder alignment Timestamps • 03:47 – The attention crisis & why time is the new currency • 05:33 – Pre & post touchpoints that move audiences to action • 10:44 – “What’s the value exchange?” (framework you can steal) • 27:05 – AI/content overload → pull toward real human experiences

    40 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

Welcome to Fresh Take: Events Unscripted - the podcast that pulls back the curtain on the events and marketing world and the people who bring it to life. Each week, co-hosts from Imprint Events Group sit down with creative powerhouses, brand leaders, and behind-the-scenes visionaries to explore what really makes this industry tick. From the adrenaline of live production to the strategy behind experiential design, these are real conversations - unfiltered, unscripted, and unmistakably human. Expect stories of triumph (and the occasional disaster), moments of reflection, and insights that challenge how we think about connection, creativity, and the craft of experience-making. Whether you’re an event pro, marketer, creative, or simply someone who loves great storytelling, this is your backstage pass to the people shaping what’s next. 👉 Tune in. Get inspired. And remember why we fell in love with this crazy industry in the first place.

Information

  • Creator
    Jen Selley
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean