Strange Things: A Bomb Cyclone, a Podcast Party, and a Tale of Triumph

Subtitle: The Backstory of 'Growing Your Business with People' Podcast Party

It was a week marked by an unexpected twist. It was Monday, December 18th and that was the day a Bomb Cyclone hit Massachusetts, plunging my home into darkness, severing our internet, and toppling a 30-foot pine tree across the driveway. And amidst this chaos, I had a Podcast Party scheduled for Thursday with 10 senior executives. Not just any gathering, but a first-of-its-kind event I was eager to host.

You might be wondering, "What's a Podcast Party?" Imagine a room filled with influential leaders, engaging in deep, spontaneous discussions on pressing business issues. That was the vision – to create a dynamic, unscripted exchange of ideas.

But let's rewind a bit to the turbulence that preceded this unique event.

Madisen Stubbs, my Producer and Editor, was scheduled to fly from Dallas to Boston. But, as fate would have it, in the peak of holiday travel chaos, she missed her flight, and her audio equipment got stranded in St. Louis. Despite these setbacks, my family and I were all hands-on deck, preparing an extravagant spread including 12 racks of ribs and 150 moink balls* – enough to feed an army!

Fast forward to the eve of the party, and things started looking up. With a bit of luck and a trusty chainsaw, my sons and I cleared the fallen tree. Our foresight in investing in a whole-home generator a few years back paid off, keeping our power stable. The internet was restored just in time, and in a stroke of good fortune, Madisen retrieved her audio equipment mere hours before the guests arrived.

Now, the moment of truth – the Podcast Party. It was nothing short of a sensation! We conducted two recordings. The first was a one-on-one with Laurie White, President of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. The second, and the highlight of the evening, was a group session with 10 esteemed executives, diving into topics including Generative AI and The Decentralized Workforce. The panel included renowned leaders, including:

·?????? Ron Arigo (Chief HR Officer, AAA Northeast)

·?????? Amanda Bailey (VP of HR for Boston University)

·?????? Collin Bailey ESQ. (Chief Transformation Officer, Hudson Bay Company)

·?????? Lisa Bisaccia (fmr CHRO CVS Health and Current Chair of the Board of Trustees for Trinity College)

·?????? Keith Christensen (fmr. SVP HR Corporate Services CVS Health)

·?????? Tony Clapsis (SVP Clinical Trial Services CVS Health)

·?????? Adriana Dawson (Community Engagement Director Verizon),

·?????? Mark Griffin (CHRO at BJ’s Wholesale Club);

·?????? Sharon Vitti (CEO ATI Physical Therapy),

·?????? @Laurie White (President Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce)

The conversation was so riveting that we had to take an intermission! The insights shared were profound, extending our recording to nearly two hours. In retrospect, this event was a remarkable success. I am immensely thankful to my family for their tireless preparation, to Madisen for her dedication amidst travel chaos and an amazing and professional level recording the Kardashians would be proud of, and to our guests for their enthusiastic participation.

The scene in my living room was akin to a behind-the-scenes look at a celebrity show, buzzing with excitement and insightful discussions. This Podcast Party, against all odds, turned out to be a phenomenal success. I invite you to watch the episodes on "Growing Your Business with People" – available Tuesday, January 16th on LinkedIn, YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and other channels.

Experience the magic behind the scenes and witness the resilience and camaraderie that made this event unforgettable.

Please engage with us by liking, commenting, subscribing, and sharing @Growing Your Business with People!

* Moink Balls – are meatballs wrapped in bacon with BBQ rub and a special concoction of BBQ Sauces and Jelly.? I give credit to @Malcolm Reed at How to BBQ Right (YouTube) for his expertise on the moink balls and ribs and to my son @Vincent Lackey for being the dedicated BBQ chef for this event!