{"podcast":{"title":"Event Planner Confessions","slug":"event-planner-confessions-7037703","podcast_index_feed_id":7037703,"rss_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/show/6316486/episodes/feed","website_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/event-planner-confessions--6316486","image_url":"https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/30ad5d91de416053e0c27d66ba9526f3.jpg","author":"Cohera","episode_count":53,"summary":"Welcome to Event Planner Confessions, a Cohera podcast. Every week, we dive into the candid, unfiltered stories of event professionals navigating the vibrant world of event management. From behind-the-scenes wins to lessons learned the hard way, we explore how creativity, collaboration, and a little chaos come together to create unforgettable experiences. Hosted by the team at Cohera, we spotlight the people and passions that shape the industry, revealing what really goes on when the lights go up, the guests arrive, and the magic happens. Tune in for insights, laughter, and confessions that celebrate the power of human connection and how events truly have the ability to change the world, one story at a time. Disclaimer: These confessions and stories have been altered to ensure anonymity and protect the identities of the individuals or entities involved. Any identifying details have been modified. The purpose of sharing these stories is to foster learning, celebrate our profession, and honor our clients and partners across the hospitality industry.","last_synced_at":"2026-09-16T00:18:56.540125+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/event-planner-confessions-7037703"},"episode":{"title":"Why Your Event Gifts Keep Ending Up in the Trash","slug":"why-your-event-gifts-keep-ending-up-in-the-trash","published_at":"2026-07-14T10:00:03+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/event-planner-confessions-7037703/why-your-event-gifts-keep-ending-up-in-the-trash","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/event-planner-confessions-7037703","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/why-your-event-gifts-keep-ending-up-in-the-trash--72949215","audio_url":"https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72949215/401ef843_21d6_4a11_a938_0302bc7948fa.mp3","summary":"Event gifting sounds simple until the wrong item ends up in a hotel trash can, the timeline gets compressed, or the planner realizes too late that “custom” does not mean “available tomorrow.” In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Sam sits down with Jamie Cohen and Jenn Allen to talk about what planners need to understand before they choose the next branded gift, swag item, or attendee activation. Jamie and Jenn break down why the industry is moving away from basic throwaway merchandise and toward gifts people actually want to keep. They share what brands and products are trending right now, why attendee choice matters, how gifting can support sustainability, and what information planners need to bring to the table before asking for ideas. The conversation also gets into the fun side of custom gifting, from Heinz KegChup and Philadelphia Cream Cheese “Phillyhead” to the Red Lobster biscuit hoodie and the Oscar Mayer Bologna Face Mask. These are the kinds of products that show what can happen when branded merchandise becomes part of the experience instead of just another logo on another item. In this episode, you will learn: Why cheap swag can cost more than planners realize What gift trends are gaining momentum right now Why attendees want better brands, better quality, and more choice How gifting can become more sustainable when people actually keep the item Why custom merchandise requires more lead time than planners expect How branded merchandise can become an activation, not just a giveaway The future of event gifting is not about more stuff. It is about useful, intentional gifts that connect to the experience. When planners understand their audience and choose gifts people want to keep, gifting becomes part of the event story.","meta_description":"Event gifting sounds simple until the wrong item ends up in a hotel trash can, the timeline gets compressed, or the planner realizes too late that “custom…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1304,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/event-planner-confessions-7037703/episodes/why-your-event-gifts-keep-ending-up-in-the-trash/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/event-planner-confessions-7037703/why-your-event-gifts-keep-ending-up-in-the-trash.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}