Beats Working: Winning the Game of Events

Clipboards, Chaos, and the Last Call for Beats Working

This one hits different. In the season finale of Beats Working, Alysse Bryson and Libby Sundgren sit down with producer Tamar Routly for a final look behind the curtain. From near-disasters no guest ever noticed to the quiet power of the people holding it all together, this episode reflects on what the event industry really teaches you over time.  It’s a love letter to the unsung heroes of events — and a reminder that even when everything feels like chaos backstage, the audience still experiences magic.  Takeaways:  * The best events are held together by people you rarely see, but always need    * What feels like failure behind the scenes often feels like magic to attendees    * Event professionals operate with resilience, adaptability, and quiet brilliance    * Perspective shifts everything. You never attend an event the same way again    * Community, collaboration, and storytelling are the real heartbeat of this industry    * The Beats Working party isn't over! What's next for the podcast  Timestamps:   [00:01:07] — Season finale kickoff + why this episode matters   [00:02:00] — Meet Tamar: the voice behind the edits (and the outtakes)   [00:03:02] — Favorite moments + behind-the-scenes hilarity   [00:04:00] — The invisible heroes of events   [00:05:00] — What guests never see when things go wrong   [00:06:00] — “Clipboard people” and why they run the show   Resources & Links:  -Alysse Bryson: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssebryson/] & The Sober Curator [https://thesobercurator.com/]  -Tamar Routly: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamarroutly/] & Podcast Impact Studio [https://podcastimpactstudio.com/]  -Libby: Bio & LinkedIn [https://beatsworkingpodcast.com/about/]  Connect with Us:  -Website: www.beatsworkingpodcast.com [http://www.beatsworkingpodcast.com/]  -LinkedIn: @Beats Working Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/beats-working-podcast/]  -Instagram: @beatsworkingpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/beatsworkingpodcast]  -Facebook: @Beats Working [https://www.facebook.com/beatsworkingpodcast/]  -YouTube: @beatsworkingpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@BEATSWORKINGPODCAST]  Follow & Subscribe:  If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.  Send Feedback:  If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email us at info@beatsworking.show [info@beatsworking.show].   Beats Working [https://beatsworkingpodcast.com/] is a platform on a mission to redeem work—the word, the place, and the way. We believe that work is the most honorable act in the universe, and through inspiring stories and practical insights, we want to transform the way people think about work and help them discover greater fulfillment in their lives. We invite you to join us as we build community through sharing and actively demonstrating what we learn.

60 Hours Straight as an Event Pro with Sandra Kelley

In this episode of Beats Working, Sandra Kelley shares what it really takes to last 25 years in the event industry. From her early days hiding behind lighting rigs to leading massive 15,000-person productions, Sandra pulls back the curtain on the grit, kinship, and recovery rituals that keep event pros in the game. This isn’t about glamour — it’s about the humans behind the headset and why relationships matter more than any run-of-show.  Takeaways:  * It’s always about the people. Equipment comes and goes. Relationships are what carry you through the chaos.   * Kinship fuels endurance. You’ll push harder for your team than you ever would for yourself.   * Take care of your crew. Great leaders prioritize people capacity — not just production timelines.   * Recovery is strategic. Big shows require intentional decompression afterward.   * Sometimes the coffee run is sacred. Five minutes away can reset your nervous system and your leadership.   Timestamps:   [00:03:14] — 60 hours on-site, 14 hours off: The reality of large-scale event marathons   [00:06:21] — From biology major to lighting tech: How Sandra fell into events   [00:09:00] — The leadership lesson: Take care of your people first   [00:09:41] — The “coffee person” secret joy   [00:11:40] — Gwen Stefani wants coffee? The answer is yes.   Resources & Links:  -Sandra Kelley: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-kelley-8414b848/]   -Skull & Keel [https://www.skullandkeel.com/]   -Alysse & Libby: Bios & LinkedIn [https://beatsworkingpodcast.com/about/]  Connect with Us:  -Website: www.beatsworkingpodcast.com [http://www.beatsworkingpodcast.com/]  -LinkedIn: @Beats Working Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/beats-working-podcast/]  -Instagram: @beatsworkingpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/beatsworkingpodcast]  -Facebook: @Beats Working [https://www.facebook.com/beatsworkingpodcast/]  -YouTube: @beatsworkingpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@BEATSWORKINGPODCAST]  Follow & Subscribe:  If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.  Send Feedback:  If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email us at info@beatsworking.show [info@beatsworking.show].   Beats Working [https://beatsworkingpodcast.com/] is a platform on a mission to redeem work—the word, the place, and the way. We believe that work is the most honorable act in the universe, and through inspiring stories and practical insights, we want to transform the way people think about work and help them discover greater fulfillment in their lives. We invite you to join us as we build community through sharing and actively demonstrating what we learn.

From Event Chaos to Ovation with Dr. Poison Waters

What makes an event unforgettable isn’t the spotlight — it’s stewardship.   In this wildly smart (and hilarious) episode of Beats Working, legendary drag icon and philanthropic powerhouse Dr. Kevin Cook, aka Dr. Poison Waters, shares four decades of hard-earned event wisdom. From reading the room before doors open to redirecting chaos without embarrassing your audience, Poison reveals what separates average hosts from unforgettable ones.  You’ll learn why the mic is not a mirror, how to set tone before you ever speak, and why loyalty to great vendor partners is one of the most underrated strategies in events.  If you’ve ever wondered how to turn pre-show nerves and mid-event mishaps into standing ovations, this one’s for you.  Takeaways:  * Your mic is not a mirror. The fastest way to tank an event is making it about the host instead of the cause.   * The audience matches what they walk into. Registration flow, music vibe, and team readiness set the tone before you ever speak.   * Don’t narrate the disaster. Redirect without spotlighting the problem — and never scold the room.    * Lead like a kindergarten teacher (with heels energy). Clear expectations + frequent reminders reduce anxiety and boost participation.   * The 3 E’s win every time: Educate, Entertain, Embrace — meet people where they are, no matter why they showed up.    Timestamps:   [03:52] — The #1 lesson: “It’s not about me.”    [06:39] — How to predict the crowd before doors open: pre-meetings, run of show, and first impressions   [12:49] — The 3 E’s + what’s in Poison’s event bag (Sharpie, fan, breath strips)    [18:46] — What great MCs do when things go off the rails (and what they never say)    [24:37] — Walk-on song: Aretha Franklin “Respect” + closing anthem: Kool & the Gang's “Celebration”    [39:15] — What’s next: the dragathon documentary "Meeting Hate With Joy" + giving back to The Trevor Project    Resources & Links:  -Dr. Poison Waters: Website [https://www.poisonwaters.com/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dr_poisonwaters/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/poisonwatersandfriends/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/PoisonWaters]  -Website: Dragathon: Meeting Hate with Joy [https://dragathondocumentary.com/]   -Instagram: Dragathon: Meeting Hate with Joy [https://www.instagram.com/dragathondocumentary/]  -Alysse & Libby: Bios & LinkedIn [https://beatsworkingpodcast.com/about/]  Connect with Us:  -Website: www.beatsworkingpodcast.com [http://www.beatsworkingpodcast.com/]  -LinkedIn: @Beats Working Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/beats-working-podcast/]  -Instagram: @beatsworkingpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/beatsworkingpodcast]  -Facebook: @Beats Working [https://www.facebook.com/beatsworkingpodcast/]  -YouTube: @beatsworkingpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@BEATSWORKINGPODCAST]  Follow & Subscribe:  If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.  Send Feedback:  If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email us at info@beatsworking.show [info@beatsworking.show].   Beats Working [https://beatsworkingpodcast.com/] is a platform on a mission to redeem work—the word, the place, and the way. We believe that work is the most honorable act in the universe, and through inspiring stories and practical insights, we want to transform the way people think about work and help them discover greater fulfillment in their lives. We invite you to join us as we build community through sharing and actively demonstrating what we learn.

High-Stress, High-Trust Leadership Lessons for Live Events

In this episode of Beats Working, Alysse Bryson and Libby Sundgren break down one of the most referenced leadership books in the event world: "Leaders Eat Last." Through laughter, real talk, and a surprisingly memorable broccolini metaphor, they unpack why leadership in events isn’t about titles or perks — it’s about trust, safety, and showing up for your people long before show day. From backstage chaos to boundary-setting (no, your coworkers are not your family), this episode connects Simon Sinek’s ideas directly to the lived reality of event professionals.    Takeaways:  * Leadership is service, not status — especially in high-pressure event environments.   * Trust is built in the planning phase, not magically on show day.   * Small leadership behaviors compound over time—for better or worse.   * “Work family” can blur boundaries and create unhealthy dynamics.   * Great event leaders protect their teams so the team can protect the show.   Timestamps:   [01:22] — Why "Leaders Eat Last" resonates so deeply in the event industry   [03:59] — Leadership as service, not authority   [06:30] — Why “work family” is a boundary red flag   [09:37] — Trust is built long before the event begins   [10:21] — Death by a thousand paper cuts: how trust erodes   Resources & Links:  -Book: Leaders Eat Last [https://simonsinek.com/books/leaders-eat-last/]  -Alysse & Libby: Bios & LinkedIn [https://beatsworkingpodcast.com/about/]  Connect with Us:  -Website: www.beatsworkingpodcast.com [http://www.beatsworkingpodcast.com/]  -LinkedIn: @Beats Working Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/beats-working-podcast/]  -Instagram: @beatsworkingpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/beatsworkingpodcast]  -Facebook: @Beats Working [https://www.facebook.com/beatsworkingpodcast/]  -YouTube: @beatsworkingpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@BEATSWORKINGPODCAST]  Follow & Subscribe:  If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.  Send Feedback:  If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email us at info@beatsworking.show [info@beatsworking.show].   Beats Working [https://beatsworkingpodcast.com/] is a platform on a mission to redeem work—the word, the place, and the way. We believe that work is the most honorable act in the universe, and through inspiring stories and practical insights, we want to transform the way people think about work and help them discover greater fulfillment in their lives. We invite you to join us as we build community through sharing and actively demonstrating what we learn.

Why the Best Event Brands Aren’t Playing It Safe Anymore

What if creativity — not perfection — was your most powerful event strategy? In this episode of Beats Working, Libby Sundgren sits down with Michael Huynh, founder of Seattle-based bakery Macadons, to explore how risk-taking, community-first thinking, and a willingness to try (and sometimes fail) can transform a brand into an experience people feel deeply connected to. From leaving a stable career at Boeing to framing cease-and-desist letters as milestones of growth, Michael shares how creativity builds belonging — and why events should feel human, not polished.   Takeaways:  * Risk is a signal of growth. If no one’s pushing back, you’re probably playing it too safe.   * Community beats product. People remember how an experience made them feel — not just what they consumed.   * Creativity scales culture. Empowering your team unlocks unexpected leadership and loyalty.   * Failure isn’t fatal. It’s often the fastest feedback loop.   * Events are emotional ecosystems. Treat them like living, breathing experiences — not checklists.   Timestamps:   [01:03] — Meet Michael Huynh and the story behind Macadons  [03:24] — Leaving Boeing: choosing uncertainty over regret   [07:52] — Discovering purpose through hiring and mentorship   [11:40] — Creativity, risk, and the cease-and-desist mindset   [18:10] — Building community through food, culture, and events   Resources & Links:  -Michael Huynh: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-huynh-a25436196/]  -Macadons: Website [https://macadons.com/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/MacadonsSeattle], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/macadons/]  -Alysse & Libby: Bios & LinkedIn [https://beatsworkingpodcast.com/about/]  Connect with Us:  -Website: www.beatsworkingpodcast.com [http://www.beatsworkingpodcast.com/]  -LinkedIn: @Beats Working Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/beats-working-podcast/]  -Instagram: @beatsworkingpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/beatsworkingpodcast]  -Facebook: @Beats Working [https://www.facebook.com/beatsworkingpodcast/]  -YouTube: @beatsworkingpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@BEATSWORKINGPODCAST]  Follow & Subscribe:  If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.  Send Feedback:  If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email us at info@beatsworking.show [info@beatsworking.show].   Beats Working [https://beatsworkingpodcast.com/] is a platform on a mission to redeem work—the word, the place, and the way. We believe that work is the most honorable act in the universe, and through inspiring stories and practical insights, we want to transform the way people think about work and help them discover greater fulfillment in their lives. We invite you to join us as we build community through sharing and actively demonstrating what we learn.