The Gathering Podcast

The Gathering

Where bold ideas meet brave leaders. Go behind the scenes of the world’s most successful brands with candid conversations from visionaries, disruptors, and marketing masterminds. Discover the strategies and secrets behind movements that inspire loyalty and shape culture. 🎟 Join us for The Gathering 2026 in Banff, Alberta. Get tickets at www.thegatheringfestival.com/tickets Subscribe to the Inner Circle Newsletter: https://go.thegatheringfestival.com/newsletter

  1. Apr 14

    Stop Chasing AI Hype: The Modern Marketer's Playbook for Trust, Visibility & Real Growth

    AI is changing how people discover brands — but most marketers are either panicking or chasing the wrong things. In this episode, Erik Huberman, founder & CEO of Hawke Media ($600M+ revenue, 6,000+ brands), breaks down the Modern Marketer's Playbook for building trust, visibility, and real growth in an AI-first world.We cover SEO vs. GEO, why trust is your most valuable asset, the biggest AI marketing mistakes to avoid, and what's actually working right now.🔍 Get a free GEO/LLM visibility audit from Eric's team: https://hawkemedia.com/free-consultation/Connect with Erik Huberman:Instagram/LinkedIn: @ErikHuberman🌐 hawkemedia.comTIMESTAMPS:0:00 – Introduction & Why AI Hype Is Overblown2:28 – SEO vs. GEO: What's the Real Difference?9:06 – The 3 Pillars: Awareness, Nurturing & Trust14:06 – Trust & Third-Party Validation16:30 – Nurturing in an AI World29:01 – Biggest AI Marketing Mistakes31:16 – What's Actually Working with AI34:28 – Erik's AI Tech Stack36:41 – The Next 6–12 Months of AI Marketing🎟️ Join us at The Gathering: https://www.thegatheringfestival.com📬 Sign up for our Inner Circle Newsletter for exclusive insights, early access, and behind-the-scenes moments from the world’s boldest brand builders: https://go.thegatheringfestival.com/newsletter🔔 Subscribe to our channel for more legendary content from The Gathering. The Gathering: More than North America's #1 Brand Festival - it's where the world’s boldest brands and leaders build what lasts.Join us October 21–24, 2026 | Banff, Canada.

  2. Feb 27

    The Power of Positive Leadership: Courage, Capacity & Culture with Jon Gordon

    How today’s most impactful leaders build courage like a muscle, expand their capacity, and create connected cultures that last. In this episode, Mandy Balak sits down with Jon Gordon, Leadership Coach and Best selling author 18 books including The Energy Bus and The Power of Positive Leadership, to explore what it really takes to lead with courage, clarity, and conviction in 2026 and beyond. They unpack why leadership is so much harder in practice than on paper, the core traits that separate leaders who last from those who burn out, and how to build “capacity” so your problems never feel bigger than you. Jon shares candid stories from his own journey—from being naturally negative and almost losing his marriage, to rewiring his brain through 20+ years of daily gratitude walks. From working with Super Bowl–winning coaches and world-class executives, Jon breaks down the habits, practices, and culture-building moves that make a real difference: how to listen like a leader, remove the “pebbles in the shoe” that hold teams back, and turn positive principles into daily practices your people can actually feel. Whether you’re a CEO, founder, or emerging leader, this conversation will help you rethink how you show up for your team—and how to lead with more courage, connection, and hope. Links & Resources: The Energy Bus The Power of Positive Leadership The Gathering Festival Connect with Jon Gordon: Jon Gordon on Instagram (@jongordon11) jongordon.com Connect with Mandy Balak: Mandy Balak on LinkedIn If this episode sparked ideas for your leadership, share it with your team and use Jon’s principles and practices as a prompt for your next leadership meeting. Want to experience this in person? The Gathering brings together senior brand leaders who are building brands that last. If you lead a brand that invests in trust, culture, and transformation, this is your community. 🎟️ Join us in Banff, October 21-24, 2026    Premium experience for senior marketers and founders    → ⁠thegatheringfestival.com/tickets⁠ 📅 Work with us    Brand retreats, Experience Labs, and Events    → Book a discovery call: ⁠thegatheringfestival.com/contact⁠ 🎧 More resources    → Subscribe to The Gathering Podcast on ⁠ Spotify⁠ or ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠    → Follow @thegatheringfestival on⁠ Instagram⁠ + ⁠LinkedIn⁠ + ⁠YouTube⁠

    The Power of Positive Leadership: Courage, Capacity & Culture with Jon Gordon
  3. Feb 17

    Turning Inspiration Into Impact: Pinterest’s Experiential Playbook

    Get the Pinterest Experiential Brand Principles here: Pinterest Playbook In this episode, Mandy Balak sits down with Sean Doyle, Director of Global Brand Experiences and Group Creative Director of Experiential at Pinterest, the “positive corner of the Internet.” They unpack how Pinterest uses real-world experiences to build brand belief, stand out from the “blandemic” of sameness, and turn online inspiration into offline action. From Cannes to Coachella to Davos, Sean shares the experiential principles that guide Pinterest’s most iconic work, how Gen Z is reshaping the experience economy, and why brands can’t afford to ignore IRL connection. Whether you’re a CMO, founder, or creative leader, this conversation will help you rethink how your brand shows up in the real world—and how to design experiences your customers will never forget. Links & Resources: Pinterest Experiential Principles  Pinterest Predicts: annual trends report The Gathering Festival Montana Experiential Brand Retreat (limited seats) Connect with Sean & Pinterest: Sean Doyle on LinkedIn Connect with Mandy Balak: Mandy Balak on LinkedIn If this episode sparked ideas for your brand, share it with your team and bring the Pinterest principles into your next creative meeting. Want to experience this in person? The Gathering brings together senior brand leaders who are building brands that last. If you lead a brand that invests in trust, culture, and transformation, this is your community. 🎟️ Join us in Banff, October 21-24, 2026    Premium experience for senior marketers and founders    → thegatheringfestival.com/tickets 📅 Work with us    Brand retreats, Experience Labs, and Events    → Book a discovery call: thegatheringfestival.com/contact 🎧 More resources    → Subscribe to The Gathering Podcast on  Spotify or Apple Podcasts    → Follow @thegatheringfestival on Instagram + LinkedIn + YouTube

    Turning Inspiration Into Impact: Pinterest’s Experiential Playbook
  4. 11/28/2025

    Overtrained, Under-Recovered: Dr. Michael Gervais on the Psychology of High Performance

    High‑performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais joins Mandy Balak to unpack what it really takes to perform under extreme pressure. From coaching Felix Baumgartner’s jump from the edge of space to building a Super Bowl–winning culture with Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks. In this episode you will learn: Why technical skill isn’t enough when the stakes are high How the best in the world think about fear, risk, and regret Practical ways leaders can train their minds like elite athletes Why we’re all overtrained and under-recovered—and what to do about it Simple recovery and meeting rituals you can add to your team this week A powerful, honest conversation about mastering your mind, honoring recovery, and learning to “be about it” in leadership and life. About Dr. Michael Gervais Dr. Michael Gervais is a leading high-performance psychologist, author, and podcast host whose career highlights center on his work with elite athletes, Fortune 100 CEOs, and organizations in high-pressure environments. He is globally recognized for developing mental frameworks that enable individuals and teams to excel under stress. Links & Resources Subscribe to the Finding Mastery Podcast and newsletter for high-performance insights: https://www.findingmaster.com/newsletter 🎟️ Join us at The Gathering 2026 | October 20–24, 2026 ⁠Get Tickets Here⁠ ⁠⁠Follow us for updates: ⁠Instagram⁠ | Linkedin⁠

About

Where bold ideas meet brave leaders. Go behind the scenes of the world’s most successful brands with candid conversations from visionaries, disruptors, and marketing masterminds. Discover the strategies and secrets behind movements that inspire loyalty and shape culture. 🎟 Join us for The Gathering 2026 in Banff, Alberta. Get tickets at www.thegatheringfestival.com/tickets Subscribe to the Inner Circle Newsletter: https://go.thegatheringfestival.com/newsletter