Voice & Force | A PPAI Podcast

Promotional Products Association International
  • 4.9 (9)
  • Business
  • Series

Through compelling interviews, expert insights, and behind-the-scenes stories, we explore the trends, innovations and leadership strategies shaping the future of the branded merch industry.

  1. Episode 1

    S3E1: The People Who Move Up

    The opening episode tackles the fundamental question behind the season: why do some professionals continually earn greater responsibility and opportunity while others remain where they started? Through the perspectives of Drew Holmgreen and Kate Alavez, the episode shows that advancement is less about luck or being completely ready and more about taking ownership of your development. Lifelong learning, mentorship, credentials, initiative and the willingness to do the unseen work all compound over time, preparing people to step through opportunities when they appear. The takeaway is simple: employers, managers and industry organizations can provide resources and pathways, but ultimately professionals have to choose to invest in their own growth.

    S3E1: The People Who Move Up

  2. Episode 2

    S3E2: Becoming More Valuable

    Episode 2 shifts the conversation from working harder to becoming more valuable. It argues that while effort and dependability can build an early career, advancement eventually requires expertise, judgment and the ability to solve increasingly complex problems. Charles Duggan and Amy Rabideau illustrate two paths toward that deeper value, showing how intentional education, certifications, technology, industry involvement and continually filling knowledge gaps can transform someone from a reliable executor into a trusted advisor. Ultimately, the episode reframes professional development as a competitive strategy: the goal isn't merely to accumulate knowledge or credentials, but to develop expertise that produces better decisions, stronger client relationships and greater credibility.

    S3E2: Becoming More Valuable

  3. Episode 3

    S3E3: What The Best Leaders Never Stop Doing

    Getting ahead isn't a single achievement, and Episode 3 examines what allows growth to continue after someone has already established expertise and credibility. Through Amy DeLong's work developing talent at Delegate CX and Mary Jo Tomasini's approach to professional development at Competitive Edge, the episode makes the case that great leaders turn learning into a habit and eventually into culture. Curiosity, mentorship, certifications, conferences and continuing education help professionals stay sharp as technology, client expectations and industry standards change, while strong leaders create environments where those same habits spread to others. The episode's central idea is that leadership isn't the point at which learning ends. The ability to keep learning, and help others learn, is precisely what allows leadership to endure.

    S3E3: What The Best Leaders Never Stop Doing

  4. Episode 4

    S3E4: Your Career Is Bigger Than Your Job

    Episode 4 expands career development beyond skills and job performance to explore the role of relationships, visibility and industry involvement. Featuring Karie Cowden and Ellen Tucker, the episode shows how professional communities, education events, volunteering and meaningful networking expose people to ideas, mentors and opportunities they may never encounter inside their own companies. Rather than treating networking as self-promotion or collecting contacts, the episode presents it as the gradual process of becoming known for your judgment, contribution and reliability. By showing up, contributing and building trust, professionals build reputations that can create opportunities far beyond their current job description, demonstrating that a career is ultimately shaped by both the work you do and the community you build around it.

    S3E4: Your Career Is Bigger Than Your Job

  5. Episode 5

    S3E5: The Future Belongs To The Curious

    The finale brings the season's lessons together around one defining attribute: curiosity. As technology, AI, sustainability, compliance, client expectations and other aspects of branded merchandise continue to evolve, today's expertise cannot guarantee tomorrow's relevance. Drawing again on Drew Holmgreen and introducing Jessica Gibbons-Rauch's perspective on how modern professionals learn, the episode argues for accessible, structured and continuous development rather than waiting for large blocks of time or learning everything through trial and error. It ultimately turns the entire season into a personal challenge: identify what you want to be known for, recognize the gaps between where you are and where you want to go, find the people and resources that can help, and create an intentional plan for continued development. The season closes on its clearest message: the future belongs not to professionals who have finished learning, but to those who remain curious enough to keep growing.

    S3E5: The Future Belongs To The Curious

  6. Season 3 Trailer

    Season 3 Trailer

    Season 3 of Voice & Force explores what separates the people who simply work in branded merchandise from those who continually grow within it. Starting from the reality that many careers in this industry begin unexpectedly, the season asks what successful professionals do differently once they arrive. Across five episodes, hosts Josh and Stacy examine ownership, expertise, learning habits, relationships and curiosity, arguing that meaningful career growth is intentional rather than accidental. PPAI Advance provides the practical framework behind that idea, giving professionals opportunities to build knowledge, pursue TAS, CAS and MAS certifications, and turn ambition into a clearer path forward.

    Season 3 Trailer
See All Season 3 (6)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Through compelling interviews, expert insights, and behind-the-scenes stories, we explore the trends, innovations and leadership strategies shaping the future of the branded merch industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Promotional Products Association International
  • Episodes
    19
  • Seasons
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Voice & Force | A PPAI Podcast