Episodes
Ladies and Gentlemen!   Take you seats and buckle up for a whirlwind tour around the world of events with the amazing Björn Kempe!!   Björn has over 20 years’ experience representing and brokering  major trade fair organisations in Asia – whether Singapore, Shanghai, Bangkok or Hong Kong.. he has seen them all!!   Now that Björn is back in Berlin a big shout out goes to Mash Media’s own Paul Colson who brought the two of us together and resulted in this value packed podcast so...
Published 10/25/21
Published 10/25/21
Today we talk to someone who has over 15 years event experience in Berlin, who I consider to be something of a legend – even though we have amazingly never met before!!   Stuart, like me, is a great fan of Berlin and all it has to offer for major events.     Also like me he arrived to Berlin from London, even at around the same time, and have benefitted enormously from this vibrant and family friendly city.   Listen in as Stuart explains how he is creating new business around the...
Published 10/12/21
BABs Episode 7 Merryn Scholz, K.I.T. Group : BERLIN LOVES YOU! In this episode we return to the core values of BABs and talk to the fabulous Merryn Scholz, General Manager of K.I.T. Group in Berlin – one of Europe’s largest PCOs – about the role she recently played in organizing the “Freedom Dinner” for 3,000 guests on the recently closed Berlin Tegel airfield, as well as talking a little about how congress business is now developing looking to 2022 as confidence in events starts to return. ...
Published 09/13/21
Wow listeners! Do we have an amazing treat for you today… Thanks to the infinite charm and wide-reaching network (and somewhat sordid past!) of your host Mark Felstead, we are talking today to Jacquie Hughes – mother of 5 and for the last 2 weeks the most celebrated mother in the UK!! The video of her and her family cheering on Tom Dean to his first Olympic Gold in Tokyo went viral and has now over 20M views!!   Jacquie talks to me about the chaos and joy of the moment of Tom’s success...
Published 08/18/21
What a treat we have listeners!! An absolute highlight!!  Today we are talking to Christina Aue who is the Managing Director of none other than Berlin’s TV Tower – one of the true icons of the city!   It is not only a tremendous tourist attraction—whether with its 360° views of the city either from 203m up on the viewing platform or from its fabulous revolving restaurant 207m in the sky—but also a unique event location and, increasingly, a unique stage to promote the cultural and artistic...
Published 08/03/21
A slightly longer episode this time as Mark takes the opportunity to jump on shank’s pony and visit some of his favourite Berlin hotels and venues to get a VoxPox first hand report of how great it is that Berlin is now opening up, guests can once again check into hotels, cafes and restaurants are open and events can once again take place – so stick around for the second half of the episode to get some real feel good feeling!   But first we talk to Christian Lehnert, one of Berlin’s most...
Published 07/08/21
Today we talk to Bernard Wolf, the creator and presenter of the very popular  “Ideenfrühstück “ (ideas breakfast) which has been a regular series of great ideas to start your day with some creative input.   But Bernard has much more to offer than just that.   He moved from being a magician and entertainer to stand-up comedy and from there to the slightly better behaved audiences of corporate events!   He now, like many of us, spends most of his presenting time online as a...
Published 06/01/21
Talking about diversity with a very diverse group of people!   Today to celebrate World Diversity Day on May 18th we have a special podcast with three of the Berlin’s leading supporters of diversity and all its glorious colours.     This is certainly one of the most powerful episodes so far, as although the image of diversity is seemingly bright for Berlin, there is a dark cloud threatening the rainbow so listen up!   My three guests are Irene Wolters from the AXICA, Gregor Blach...
Published 05/12/21
As Analena Baerbrock from the Green Party leads the polls at the moment as a candidate to be the next German chancellor in the upcoming September elections, now is an excellent time to talk to two of the city’s leading exponents in sustainability for events.   Enter Alex Beck from the AXICA and Luisa Mentz from the Berlin Convention Bureau in this lively discussion about the current innovation in sustainability.   They both share a common goal – their passion for sustainability in the...
Published 05/07/21
Berlin, the final frontier This is the podcast of the digital agency Futurehain Their 10 year mission: To explore digital event formats To seek out new ideas and innovations To boldly go where no agency has gone before!!   (Apologies to Captain James T. Kirk)   Guys! This episode is about to reach parts of your mind other podcasts simply fail to reach. I am talking to two of the smartest guys in the event industry as we take quantum leaps in our discussion from the falling of...
Published 04/21/21
Hi Listeners!!   Today we are being entertained by Tanja Schramm.   She has worked for over 30 years in the events business in a variety of countries and now runs Meet Germany, which has the largest network of event professionals in the German Speaking world…   But that is not enough! This year she is spreading her wings and planning to expand Meet Germany to become Meet Europe!! (Am I allowed to say the Germans are coming? However no cause for immediate alarm - Switzerland is her...
Published 03/31/21
Hi Listeners!!   Today is a true tail of two cities!!   First off is Jason Scott as he explains to me the difference between WFH and WFA (and what actually the G I G economy means!).   Are you an Urban Creator? Now, or in the future, this is definitely something for you!   We talk about the pros and cons of remote working and the social, legal and productivity aspects involved – as well as its impact on work-life balance   Jason muses on the following questions in his own...
Published 03/11/21
Show Notes – Kay Soelve Richter episode 8   Wow Listeners!!    Today we are talking to one of Germany’s Breakfast TV celebrities!   Kay Soelve Richter is a woman I often share my morning coffee with ( don’t let the wife know!) as she comes into our kitchen …. as the News Anchor for ZDF breakfast TV – Germany’s equivalent of the BBC!   Kay is an absolute bundle of energy and floods my headphones with her passion and energy and you are in for a treat!   Hear how she has made...
Published 03/02/21
Today BAB is taking a trip outside the confines of Berlin (well virtually anyway) and talking to one of the “Masters” of the virtual meetings world, Matthijs Otto from Network Tables in Amsterdam.   We first met in London way back in the day and I was immensely impressed by the idea of Network Tables which at the time was a way to get people sitting and talking together at events who actually wanted to meet and had things in common.   An individual attendee at a sales conference, for...
Published 02/04/21
This week we talk to Tim Nievelstein about his work as an Event-Director and his part at digital and hybrid events these times.   Tim has an interesting background as he came to events from TV broadcasting.  In fact he used to be part of the production team for a certain Stefan Raab – Germany’s premiere late night TV talk show hosts and one of the most popular figures in the country. (You can compare him to someone like James Corden with all the singing and a lot more physical...
Published 01/22/21
Welcome our Christmas messages of hope from Berlin and the Merry Crowd that first brought Berlin's Sleeping Beauties to life!!   We do our best to take a positive spin on what has been a disastrous year for Berlin and its event industry, there is no other way to say it!!   Let our Berlin Beauties from Event Venues, Event Agencies and the city’s Convention Bureau spread some hope and cheer into your festivities as we draw to the end of this chapter and look forward with full hearts and...
Published 12/17/20
Value Bombs   In another packed episode we learn today:   In the case of a “Worst Case” scenario e.g. a fire hazard, act of terrorism of a "Super Spreader" attending an event, who is actually liable for the considerable damages that may be caused? The importance of having a documented “Risk Assessment” and “Hygiene Concept” for every event – or rather the consequences you risk when you don’t! The importance of having a qualified “Hygiene Marshal” on-site. That not all hand...
Published 12/14/20
Berlin’s Awakening Beauties meets Studio 104, leading bespoke uniform designer for luxury and premium hospitality brands, to hear some good news stories and to give inspiration for those who are struggling with our beloved events industry currently!!   Firstly, Ian shares with us some of his “Magic Moments” from Berlin and talks about Gehry’s “Best Thing I’ve Ever Done” architecture, drawing his own comparisons to the times he has spent in the city.   Meanwhile his partner Jane, who...
Published 12/02/20
BAB Episode 2 – Peter Antoni   This week’s special guest is none other than one of the true Godfathers of Berlin’s Event industry - Peter Antoni!!   Peter has been one of the major players in the business in Berlin since its fledgling beginnings as an international destination of note way back in 1989 with the coming down of the wall.  You can say he is living proof of being in the right place at the right time!!   Peter has had the fortune to follow his own destiny, which has seen him...
Published 11/16/20
Episode 1, Season 2, Berlin’s Awakening Beauties!!   Once again, an exclusive interview with Ivor Cummins, @fatemperor and a left field take on the Corona pandemic, and an look at the Science, Data and Statistics we are seeing today.   Stick around listeners and hear:   The lockdowns and their cost benefit    What traffic lights today mean!!   How more testing might automatically include more false positives   The Tiger Horn fable and we ask the question “Who is still blowing the...
Published 11/02/20
BSB-S1-011   Episode 11 Berlin’s Sleeping Beauties: Kieran Dennis   Kieran Dennis – Once a legend of Berlin’s Event Scene upped anchor and moved back to London where he now works as a DMC for Incentives and Cruise Ships – a business that has been literally stranded over the last few months!     Value Bombs:   Hear about:   How the cruise ship business has been left high and dry since COVID   And how it has been for the most part unfairly demonized by the COVID hungry press pack...
Published 08/05/20
Berlin’s Sleeping Beauties Episode 10: MR Congress Mareen Rühmkorf / PanUp Marieke and Jan!!   “If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would only have four years left to live.” Albert Einstein   Value Bombs:   Hear about:   How one of the leading Berlin DMC’s is coping with the current situation   How clients are slowly but surely moving towards online and hybrid events   How it looks like the French might be amongst the first to show some mettle!!   How now is...
Published 07/16/20
Berlin’s Sleeping Beauties Episode 9: Sabine Reise – AllSeated   Value Bombs:   Hear about:   How to simply upgrade your floor plans / event plans to make them  COVID 19 relevant with social distancing .   How to host or join virtual site inspections and walk arounds complete with 360° and 3D images.   The value of taking a complete break from your job and re-setting yourself with heightened awareness and focus!!   How some 1600 year old Buddhist business principles may be as...
Published 07/08/20
Berlin’s Sleeping Beauties. Episode 8: Philip Ibrahim, The Student Hotel   Value Bombs:   Hear about:   How it really is today in the Berlin’s hotel scene – warts and all!   What ideas innovative hotel managers are having to raise some revenue but above all the spirits of their staff!   The heart rendering story of some lifelong hoteliers who have had to close their properties   The challenges of trying to keep your furloughed staff motivated    How students are literally...
Published 07/01/20