Fandom Unpacked

Situation
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Come inside the minds of the world's greatest leaders of live experience brands with the Fandom Unpacked podcast series. Featuring conversations with the leaders on the front lines of brands who shape our culture, join us as we dive into the powers and forces that drive audience connection, loyalty, and lasting fandom. Hosted by Damian Bazadona (Situation), Peter Yagecic (A Mind at Work Consulting), and Maureen Andersen (INTIX). Fandom Unpacked is powered by Situation – the world’s leading marketing agency for live experience brands.

  1. -1 дн.

    The Essential Power in Prescribing Joy and Making Memories

    Oncologists prescribing beaches, Broadway, and ballgames sounds unbelievable until you hear the why. We sit down with Jon Albert, founder of the Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation, to talk about what families actually need when late-stage cancer enters the picture: time, relief, and a chance to feel like a family again. Jon shares the story behind the foundation, rooted in the loss of his wife Jill to breast cancer when their kids were still young. He puts words to the emotions so many families quietly carry: fear that children will forget a parent, dread of missing every milestone ahead, and guilt about leaving a spouse and kids behind. From that pain came a clear mission and a powerful framework he calls family-centric care: treating the families, not the cancer, and using joy as real support for children’s long-term coping and grief. We get specific about what the “power of wow” looks like in practice: curated travel, live entertainment, sports, museums, and simple moments like sunsets, all delivered with a concierge-level approach that handles logistics driveway to driveway. We also unpack how the program works through partnerships with leading cancer centers, with families being prescribed to the foundation as part of care. If you work in hospitality, travel, sports, or live events, this conversation will change how you think about the experiences business and the lasting impact of a well-timed memory. If this moved you, subscribe, share the episode with someone in the experiences world, and leave a review to help more listeners find it. Recorded Tuesday, June 9th, 2026 Host: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation Guest: Jon Albert, Founder, Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation Producer: Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work Consulting https://www.jajf.org https://situationinteractive.com https://amindatworkconsulting.com

    29 мин.

  2. 24 июн.

    ICYMI: How a Video Game Brought FIFA to America

    As soccer supporters from around the world transform cities across North America with songs, traditions, and unforgettable displays of fandom, we're revisiting a conversation that helps explain how many of those lifelong passions begin. In this ICYMI episode, Mike Lorenc (Clinical Assistant Professor of Sport Management at the University of Michigan and co-owner of AFC Ann Arbor) shares why the next generation of sports fans often discovers the game in unexpected places—from video games to entertainment partnerships and digital experiences that build fandom long before a first match. As global supporters bring their cultures to life far from home, it's a timely reminder that the path to fandom is changing and that technology can turn a screen into a lifelong connection. Hear the full conversation with Mike: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449648/episodes/17985477-fandom-on-the-field-how-sports-move-the-masses

    2 мин.

  3. 17 июн.

    From Paddington to Park Place, Turning Familiar IP into a Playable Night Out

    Monopoly has a reputation for turning friendly game nights into grudge matches, and Saw has a reputation for making people squirm. So what does it look like to build live, immersive experiences from those worlds and still leave guests feeling satisfied, included, and eager to come back? We sit down with David Hutchinson, CEO of The Path Entertainment Group, to unpack how modern fandom changes when the audience gets real agency. We talk through the creative and operational decisions behind location-based entertainment and interactive theater, from Monopoly Life-Sized to The Paddington Bear™ Experience. David explains why “value added” is the north star, how a “game inside the game” keeps familiar IP fresh, and why clarity matters more than mystery when you’re asking people to participate. We also get practical about what outsiders underestimate: the sheer complexity of running a building-scale show, the lack of shared infrastructure across the immersive space, and the need for better language so audiences know what they’re signing up for. If you’ve ever wondered how to honor the iconic moments fans came for while still pushing an IP onto a new canvas, this conversation lays out a clear playbook. Subscribe to Fandom Unpacked, share this episode with someone building live experiences, and leave a rating and review so more creators can find the show. Recorded Monday, June 8th, 2026 Host: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation Guest: David Hutchinson, CEO, The Path Entertainment Group Producer: Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work Consulting https://situationinteractive.com https://amindatworkconsulting.com

    24 мин.

  4. 10 июн.

    ICYMI: The Whole City Is Showing Up for The NBA Finals

    Game 4 of the NBA Finals is tonight. If you live even remotely close to New York, you're feeling the fandom. It sent us back to a conversation with Bronwen O'Keefe, Head of Brand Marketing and Content at the Harlem Globetrotters — an organization that's been filling basketball arenas in this city for 100 years — on what it actually means to give every person in a room something to feel. This episode covers: what it looks like when 20,000 people are all feeling the same thing at the same timewhy the Harlem Globetrotters have been filling arenas for 100 yearswhat fandom looks like when it has something for everyone in the roomListen to the full conversation with Bronwen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449648/episodes/19275852 And GO KNICKS!

    2 мин.

  5. 3 июн.

    The Harlem Globetrotters Bring Joy To The Court

    Everybody recognizes the Harlem Globetrotters. The more interesting question is why people keep coming back, and why first-timers leave feeling like they just joined something. We talk with Bronwen O’Keefe, Head of Brand Marketing and Content, about the simplest strategy that is also the hardest to execute at scale: building fandom by making joy a two-way exchange between the team and the crowd. Bronwen breaks down what “modern fandom” looks like for a 100-year brand, from the earliest barnstorming days to today’s packed arenas and always-on screens. We get into the Globetrotters’ hybrid identity as sports entertainment and live family entertainment, and why that mix creates a rare shared experience across generations. You will also hear how innovation is baked into the brand, not bolted on, and how signature moments evolved from necessity into an expectation fans now love. Then we go practical: what content works on social and YouTube, why you have to “go where your fans are,” and how community programming and goodwill ambassador work strengthen the story behind the trick shots. Bronwen shares the thinking behind player nicknames, how recruiting looks beyond basketball skill to what is “in your heart,” and the fan-favorite “fifth quarter” that turns a great show into an unforgettable personal memory. If you care about fan engagement, brand marketing, sports entertainment, or live event strategy, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a rating and review so more people can find the show. Recorded Monday, June 1st, 2026 Host: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation Guest: Bronwen O'Keefe, Head of Brand Marketing and Content, The Harlem Globetrotters Producer: Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work Consulting https://situationinteractive.com https://amindatworkconsulting.com

    25 мин.

  6. 26 мая

    ICYMI: The Savannah Bananas and the Surprisingly Serious Business of Fun

    We break down how the Savannah Bananas build a fan experience by doing the exact opposite of “normal” and keeping everything anchored to entertainment. We hear from co-owner Emily Cole on the behind-the-scenes planning that turns a baseball stop into a fan-first trip people schedule a year in advance. • The Savannah Bananas’ philosophy of rejecting normal to create standout sports entertainment  • What “holistic fandom” looks like in real life through merch, lotteries, and travel planning  • Touring new communities weekly and learning fast through real operations constraints  • Why communication across security, food and bev, groundskeepers, and entertainment makes or breaks the show  • How site visits and years-ahead planning reduce friction and win trust in someone else’s venue  Listen to the full episode with Emily Cole: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449648/episodes/18327072

    2 мин.

  7. 20 мая

    The Live Experience Brand Behind Channing Tatum’s Biggest Movie

    Staying home has never been easier, which makes the decision to go out more meaningful and more demanding. We sit down with Vincent Marini, President of Content and Production at Free Association Live and the executive producer behind Magic Mike Live, to unpack what it really takes to earn a live audience in 2026: not hype, not spectacle alone, but a designed emotional journey that makes people feel something and then tell their friends. We talk about why live entertainment still does what film and streaming can’t, creating community through a shared room and shared reactions. Vincent breaks down how fandom changes when guests spend real time and money, why expectations skyrocket the moment someone buys a ticket, and what people most misunderstand about Magic Mike Live before they see it. We also get tactical on repeat visits: welcoming guests like they matter, building an authentic social media connection, and keeping the show fresh as pop culture evolves. We also explore the upcoming Magic Mike Live New York City venue near Times Square and why the hardest work is often hospitality: ticketing, greetings, food and beverage, seating, and every touchpoint that turns a night out into a unified 360 experience. We close with a big question for the industry: can immersive experiences deliver Broadway and West End caliber storytelling and emotion, not just participation? Subscribe, share with a friend who loves live shows, and leave us a rating and review. We'd love to hear about a live experience that made you say, “I want to spend more time in this world.” Recorded Friday, May 8th, 2026 Host: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation Guest: Vincent Marini, President of Content and Production, Free Association Live, and Executive Producer, Magic Mike Live Producer: Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work Consulting https://situationinteractive.com https://amindatworkconsulting.com

    28 мин.

  8. 14 мая

    ICYMI: Broadway's Biggest Concert is Coming Up

    Tony nominations dropped last week, and if you work anywhere near Broadway, you felt it. But every year the same question comes up: how do you bring people who don't follow the industry closely into the moment? That question sent us back to a conversation with Ruthie Fierberg from Broadway News, who made an argument we haven't stopped thinking about — that the Tonys are, functionally, Broadway's biggest concert, and that naming it that way could change who feels invited to watch. why the Tonys lose casual viewers who haven't seen the nominated showswhat makes award show performance numbers uniquely accessiblehow framing shapes who feels like the audience is for themthe question every fan-facing organization should be asking: who are you making it easy for, and who are you accidentally leaving at the doorListen to the full conversation with Ruthie Fierberg here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449648/episodes/17392620-broadway-s-press-corps-on-the-fans-who-keep-it-going

    2 мин.
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Come inside the minds of the world's greatest leaders of live experience brands with the Fandom Unpacked podcast series. Featuring conversations with the leaders on the front lines of brands who shape our culture, join us as we dive into the powers and forces that drive audience connection, loyalty, and lasting fandom. Hosted by Damian Bazadona (Situation), Peter Yagecic (A Mind at Work Consulting), and Maureen Andersen (INTIX). Fandom Unpacked is powered by Situation – the world’s leading marketing agency for live experience brands.

Информация

  • Автор
    Situation
  • Годы выхода
    2025 - 2026
  • Выпуски
    39
  • Ограничения
    Без ненормативной лексики
  • Авторские права
    © 2026 Fandom Unpacked
  • Сайт подкаста
    Fandom Unpacked