Roundup: Your Favorite 2024 Industry Podcasts
Event pros share their favorite podcasts from industry experts
Podcasts can be the missing piece of the puzzle for industry pros seeking community, inspiration, or added education to round out their business growth efforts. It’s great to surround yourself with like-minded event experts, but gaining a fresh perspective (for free and at your leisure!) is incredibly invaluable to your journey, regardless of where you hang your hat.
We polled wedding and event experts for their top B2B and B2C podcast picks, and here’s what they had to say.
Weddings For Real Podcast
With over 5 years of recorded episodes available, Weddings For Real offers listeners relatable stories on every wedding and business topic imaginable—think SEO, branding, marketing, client experience, and everything in between. Hosted by Megan Gilikin of The Planner’s Vault, along with many other wedding pros from all niches in the industry.
“The podcast has been a recent go-to this year because it goes beyond typical burnout advice and delves into managing ADD as a business owner. Megan's openness about her own diagnosis and the everyday challenges that come with it helped to make sense of the craziness years after my own diagnosis, and continues to provide thoughtful and actionable advice.” - Veronica Silghigian, Pawfect for You
Talk with Renée Dalo
More than just event-related topics, Talk with Renée Dalo also covers a wealth of wellness-focused topics for business owners, such as mindset and productivity. Host Renée Dalo brings over a decade of industry experience to the table, and her candid and conversational approach makes for an easy yet entirely educational listening experience.
“Talk with Renée Dalo is the tough love and real talk that is needed in the wedding industry. She earnestly wants to improve not only your business but also your life, and her podcast guests reflect that. Renée is the wise big sister that we all need to help us get through the days, weeks, and years. She will make your life better, one episode at a time.” - Janice Carnevale, Bellwether Events
Wedding Pro CEO Podcast by Brandee Gaar
If you’re in a position to scale your business and take it to the next level, Brandee Gaar’s Wedding Pro CEO Podcast is right up your alley. Her topics and guests are geared toward more experienced pros who want to ditch the overwhelm and get on the right track for sustainable growth.
“Brandee Gaar speaks from years of experience, sharing practical advice on streamlining your business for growth. Because she has lived what you are going through, she knows exactly where you are in your journey and provides ideas to implement in your business right away. After listening to her podcast, you will have the steps you need to take to land your next sale, automate an internal system, or hire your next employee.” - Casey Cannon, EBJ & Company
The Vendor Table
The Vendor Table is a vendor-focused podcast hosted by wedding photographers Mike Cassara and Lauren O’Brien, offering unmatched commentary and immersive interviews. The Vendor Table gives a healthy hybrid of laughs and business advice, perfect for any industry niche.
“I particularly love this podcast because it provides detailed feedback, tips, and humorous commentary from the vendor's point of view. The hosts, Michael and Lauren, are incredibly funny and spot-on with their takes. Listening to their podcast helps me relate to my own experiences and apply new techniques they discuss.” - Craig Peterman, Craig Peterman Photography + Video
Six-Figure Photography
While Six Figure Photography is photographer-focused, there are plenty of evergreen takeaways for all business owners seeking to market their business, vamp up their website, and build a strong foundation. Host (and photographer) Ben Hartley gives a motivational outlook on what it means to design the life you want, whether you’re starting from scratch or have years of experience under your belt.
“Six Figure Photography is a great podcast for wedding pros because we are no business experts. Ben does an amazing job educating and jam-packing his podcast with value. It is a must-listen for any photographer serious about growing their business, new photographers looking for help navigating the business side, and seasoned vets looking for a fresh perspective. He gives practical tips on both marketing and photography that you can immediately apply. His interviews are insightful and straight to the point, avoiding any unnecessary fluff. His experience as a wedding photographer in Florida gives him unique insights and relatable anecdotes to share in his podcast. Ben's energy and enthusiasm make learning exciting and motivating.” - Leo Sotelo, Story Alley Photography
The Wedding Sassholes
With a name like The Wedding Sassholes, this podcast hardly needs an introduction. Hosted by wedding pros Shannon Tarrant and Vanessa Negron, this show is a no-holds-barred deep dive into common industry pitfalls, wrapped up nicely with impactful strategies to set you up for long-term success.
“The Wedding Sassholes has easily become my go-to wedding business podcast in 2024. Shannon Tarrant and Vanessa Negron are not only hilarious but also provide three practical strategies that listeners can implement today! It serves as my weekly dose of "wedu-tainment" and relatable content, unlike the typical wedding podcast that is stuffy and stale.” - Ian Ramirez, Venue Help Desk
Reception to Follow
Looking for an unfiltered industry podcast? Look no further than Reception to Follow, hosted by creative entrepreneur and business coach Heather Davis. Each week, Heather provides a deep dive into the emotional side of being a wedding pro, including authentic conversations on a variety of topics with other wedding experts.
“Reception to Follow is a breath of fresh air in the world of wedding business podcasts. Heather isn't afraid to be brutally open and honest, and she is younger than most podcasters I listen to, so it is enlivening to hear from a true millennial. She is great at seeing the macro and micro views of each episode topic. She also brings in diverse show guests from the Pittsburgh area.” - Janice Carnevale, Bellwether Events
With the industry offering a wealth of new podcasts and old favorites (we’ve got our eye on Kevin Dennis’s Mind Your Wedding Business which just launched!), there’s no shortage of engaging episodes. If you’re aiming to amp up your brand recognition and build exposure, consider applying to be a guest on a podcast and share your own expertise!
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.