Events Dear Boy! The Events Industry Podcast

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What’s the biggest challenge for any leader? Events, dear boy, events! So said former chancellor Harold Macmillan, supposedly. He may have been talking about world events, but anyone involved in business events knows what a huge challenge it is to make them successful. And that’s what this podcast is all about. The highs and the lows of organising, and speaking at, business events.

  1. JAN 29

    Ant Morse

    In this episode of Events, Dear Boy!, we welcome futurist and speaker Ant Morse to explore his journey from senior digital leadership into professional speaking. Ant shares his broad expertise across emerging technologies (from 5G and IoT through to AI), explains how he “fell into” speaking by accident after being asked to fill a sponsored event slot, and reflects on why credibility and governance-led realism matter amid the current AI hype cycle. He talks candidly about what he loves most (storytelling, Q&A, and learning from diverse audiences), shares a hilarious worst-case mic moment, and offers practical tips for both speakers (tech prep and backups) and organisers (better briefing, pre-calls, and context setting to maximise speaker value).

    22 min

  2. 11/27/2025

    Dr Simon Moore, Behaviour Explainer

    In this episode, Events Dear Boy! was recorded live for the very first time at Event Connect, the flagship conference hosted by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) for its events management students. We were joined by Rachel Tetlow from Pro-Manchester, focusing on the critical role of planning and delivering events with Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in mind. In this special episode marked an exciting milestone for the Events Dear Boy! team, bringing their industry insights and open conversation to a student-led audience shaping the future of the events sector.

    22 min

  3. 11/19/2025

    Dr Simon Moore, Behaviour Explainer

    Simon shares practical advice for speakers on delivery, presence and avoiding “slide dependency,” along with guidance for event organisers on how to get the best from their speakers by focusing on problems over topics. He also shares memorable speaking moments, including delivering a keynote in total darkness in Monaco when the power failed.

    21 min

  4. 11/06/2025

    Helen Horton, Haymarket Business Media

    Helen also explores the realities of working within tight budgets, engaging and inspiring the next generation of event managers, and adapting to the evolving expectations of audiences and businesses alike. She shares some of her proudest moments as an event organiser and offers practical advice for both speakers and fellow event professionals, highlighting the importance of kindness, organisation, and openness to new ideas. Great event organising is about creating a fantastic product for a moment in time and constantly evolving to meet audience needs. Managing budgets can be tough, but staying organised and treating everyone with respect is crucial. Inspiring and motivating the next generation of event managers remains a key priority for the industry. Helen’s proudest moments include delivering major events with high-profile speakers and well-respected awards programmes. For speakers: Be punctual, professional, and patient with event organisers. For organisers: Stay organised, be kind to everyone, and remain open to new ideas and technologies. Personal well-being matters — taking care of yourself is essential in the high-pressure world of event organising.

    21 min

  5. 11/14/2024

    Naomi Timperley, Growth and Innovation Consultant

    Naomi Timperley, a freelance growth and innovation consultant, shares her journey to becoming a speaker and offers insights into the speaking industry. She started her career in the travel sector and then moved into tech recruitment and gained public speaking experience as a rep and a karaoke compere. Her speaking career took off after appearing on Dragon's Den and she has since spoken at various events and panels. Naomi loves the adrenaline and humour of speaking and advises speakers to do their research and have coping mechanisms for nerves. She also shares tips for event organizers to get the best from speakers. Takeaways ·       Naomi’s journey to becoming a speaker started in the travel sector and tech recruitment. ·       She gained public speaking experience as a rep and a karaoke compere. ·       Appearing on Dragon's Den gave her a platform to speak about entrepreneurship. ·       Naomi loves the adrenaline and humour of speaking and advises speakers to do their research and have coping mechanisms for nerves. ·       Event organisers should provide speakers with as much information and preparation as possible. Chapters 02:00 Naomi's journey to becoming a speaker 07:50 Naomi's experience with Baby Loves Disco and Dragon's Den 12:05 Types of events Naomi is booked for 14:07 Worst speaking experience 16:51 Tips for event organizers

    19 min

  6. 11/07/2024

    Kerry Merritt, Head of Content

    In this episode, we’re joined by Kerry Merritt, Head of Content at Total Telecom, to discuss the world of business events. We talk about the size and scale of events, the challenges of coordinating schedules, and the importance of content in event planning. Kerry shares her favourite moments from past events, including the satisfaction of seeing a successful event come together and the challenges of running an event during a snowstorm. They also discuss the qualities of a great speaker and offer tips for event organisers.

    20 min

  7. 10/30/2024

    Martin Bryant, Emerging Tech Authority

    In this episode, Martin Bryant, the brilliant technology journalist, speaker and host, shares his experiences and tips for speaking at events. Martin is the editor PreSeed Now, the leading authority on early stage start-ups, so offers incredible depth of insight into the direction of travel of new technologies and investment. And with his deep contacts across the global tech industry, is in huge demand to host, speak and present, as well as contributing his knowledge to multiple broadcasters. Martin discusses his transition from journalism to speaking and the importance of being comfortable on stage. He emphasizes the value of providing useful information and being audience-centric in speaking engagements. He also shares a story about a panel that went poorly due to lack of preparation. Martin provides tips for speakers, including not scripting word-for-word, rehearsing bullet points, and getting in the right mindset before going on stage. He also highlights the importance of event organizers preparing and communicating logistics to speakers. Takeaways Being comfortable on stage is crucial for speakers. Providing value and being audience-centric are key to successful speaking engagements. Preparation and clear communication of logistics are important for event organizers. Speakers should rehearse bullet points and get in the right mindset before going on stage. Avoid scripting word-for-word to allow for more dynamic and engaging presentations. Sound Bites "It's about having that focus on ‘What is the outcome I want to deliver for this audience?’" Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview 03:22 Transitioning from Journalism to Speaking 05:08 Types of Events Martin is Booked For 07:00 Martin's Love for Speaking and Providing Value to the Audience 09:43 The Importance of Audience-Centric Content 13:35 Tips for Speakers: Rehearsing and Being in the Right Mindset 18:44 Wrap-up and Conclusion

  8. 10/23/2024

    Holly Moore, Make Events

    In this high-energy episode, the brilliant Holly Moore, founder and CEO of Make Events and creator of Anything is Possible, joins us to share her experiences and insights as an event organizer and creator - and a speaker! She discusses the importance of employee engagement and the power of live events in cutting through the noise of digital communication. And she emphasizes the significance of content strategy and creating memorable experiences for attendees. Holly shares her favourite event highlights, including working with Kylie Minogue, and reflects on event disasters and the lessons learned. She provides tips for speakers, such as finding a niche, feeling confident on stage, and taking care of oneself. She also offers advice for event organizers, including the importance of creating opportunities and finding enjoyment in work. Sound Bites "Nothing cuts through the noise like a live event." "The smallest thing that costs nothing is often the thing that everybody remembers." "Your customers' truth is your truth." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview 02:02 Employee Engagement Events 06:08 Creating Memorable Experiences and Content Strategy 10:57 Favorite Event Highlights and Lessons Learned 16:01 Tips for Speakers: Finding a Niche and Feeling Confident 19:15 Tips for Event Organizers: Creating Opportunities and Finding Enjoyment 26:04 Conclusion

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What’s the biggest challenge for any leader? Events, dear boy, events! So said former chancellor Harold Macmillan, supposedly. He may have been talking about world events, but anyone involved in business events knows what a huge challenge it is to make them successful. And that’s what this podcast is all about. The highs and the lows of organising, and speaking at, business events.

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