Experiential Alchemy: A Podcast by Agency EA

Join hosts Lucy Stratton and Rick Cosgrove as they sit down with Laura Parkinson, the Global Head of Brand Experience at LinkedIn, for an inspiring look at her 15+ year career. Tune in to hear how Laura Parkinson has continually pushed the boundaries of experiential marketing across the world's most recognizable brands.

Jimmy Knowles of Canva joins hosts Rick and Lucy for this episode of Experiential Alchemy. From hijacking his own college graduation in the name of job-hunting to orchestrating the sequin-filled explosion of Canva Create, Jimmy has a playbook you won't find in school. He spills on why corporate is out, the shift from attendees to fans, and how to turn internal culture into a brand's biggest asset.

In this episode of Experiential Alchemy, Rick + Lucy sit down with Dustin Callif, President of Tool of North America, to delve into his fascinating journey at the intersection of technology, content, and experience. From his early days in the dot-com era to pioneering innovative marketing strategies, Dustin shares how he transformed ideas into experiential realities. We explore the balance between cutting-edge technology and authentic human interaction, touching on standout projects like the interactive horror film "Take This Lollipop" and immersive campaigns for brands like Coca-Cola and LinkedIn. Join us as we uncover Dustin's insights on pushing creative boundaries and the future of experiential marketing. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that bridges the gap between technology and unforgettable experiences.

Sara Navarro of Dropbox joins hosts Rick + Lucy for this episode of Experiential Alchemy. From Board of Trade to owning her own restaurant and now being in the technology industry, Sara has a lot to share! She spills lessons learned, the experiential trend she’d like to leave behind and an almost horror story so sweaty you’ll have to hear for yourself.

Matt Croft of McDonald's Agency 123 joins hosts Rick + Lucy for this episode of Experiential Alchemy. With over 30 years of experience, Matt shares his advice for event professionals entering the industry, why he'll always be a Jennifer Hudson fan and so much more!

Hosts Rick and Lucy are joined by Heather Roeper, a seasoned professional with extensive experience in event management and marketing. Heather shares her unique path into experiential, her dream activations (some of which have come true!) and an event horror story that would make even the most seasoned professionals nervous!

This episode of Experiential Alchemy focuses on mental health in the experiential marketing workplace. Hosts Rick and Lucy are joined by Sara Pedersen, Organizational Communication & Employee Enablement Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS). With a master's in positive psychology and over a decade in the events industry, Sara shares valuable tips and tricks for a better work experience.

In this episode of Experiential Alchemy host Lucy Stratton and guest host Danica Milich, Director Technical Production at Agency EA, are joined by Channyn Lynne Parker and Anna DeShawn to discuss pride. Channyn, CEO of Brave Space Alliance, discusses her career of 20 years and the philanthropy and work she does for the community. Anna Deshawn left the corporate world three years ago and has been troubled by the lack of black and queer voices. This led her to The Qube and E3 radio which both focus on giving people the opportunity to tell their story. In this episode they talk about what they are doing to celebrate Pride, how to help educate individuals, and how to be a good ally.

Join hosts Rick and Lucy in an engaging episode featuring Katie Robinson, Director of Events at Suzy, as she dives into her vast 17+ years of experience in event management and marketing. Katie opens up about her dream activation, shares invaluable career advice, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at Suzy's first AI summit, a proud moment in her career. With over a decade of experience at American Girl, Katie brings some amusing sidebars with an almost horror story you don’t want to miss.

In this episode of Experiential Alchemy, guest Kelly Knowlen, vice president, sales engagement, and special events at Hilton joins host Rick and Lucy to share valuable insights with our audience. Stemming from her 30+ year career with Hilton, Kelly covers all things career advice and overcoming industry challenges to impactful experiential storytelling and attendee wellness.

In this episode, hosts Rick and Lucy are joined by Vanessa Karlsson Dorau, Head of Events at Dropbox. With over 20 years of event marketing and account management experience, Vanessa has an expansive knowledge base and unique perspective - making this episode a must listen! Vanessa shares her predictions for experiential trends, a project horror story, and her insights on Dropbox Dash, Dropbox’s native AI tool. And with Mattel as a former client, Vanessa shares her opinions on the marketing powerhouse behind Barbie!

In this episode, hosts Lucy Stratton and Rick Cosgrove dive deep into experiential with Casie Nguyen, a Global Experiential Events Producer who has worked with top brands like Meta, Google, AEG, Fox Entertainment and more. From planning celebrity events and weddings to executing activations at marquee events such as VidCon and E3, Casie reveals how she has brought global events to life in a thoughtful, curated way. Join us as we take a closer look at her experiential journey and dream activations, explore the trends she's predicting, and so much more!

In our recent episode of Experiential Alchemy, hosts Lucy Stratton and Rick Cosgrove chat with Senior Events and Experiences Manager at Stack Overflow Matt Bohn. He shares his journey into experiential marketing, how he predicts AI will influence the industry, advice to young professionals, and a glimpse at the most unforgettable events throughout his career.

We chat with Loran Nordgren, behavioral scientist and Professor of Management and Organizations at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, about the psychological barriers affecting great ideas and experiences, applying psychology lessons to marketing, and much more.

We chat with Katherine Tooley, VP of Global Events and Experiential Marketing at HubSpot, who shares her take on community building at INBOUND, trends for the year ahead, and how her team finds new audiences — with some amusing sidebars from her experience at Bonnaroo and Vice Media along the way. 

In our first episode recorded in-person at Studio Sage’s new podcast room, we talk to Charlie Eder, Senior Director, Global Events and Experiential Marketing at Yahoo (and formerly a producer with us at Agency EA!), about the differences between being agency-side vs. brand-side, advice he’d give to his younger self, and dream Bridgerton-style activations.

We chat with Jessica Jennings, Associate Director of Experiential Marketing at Cameo, about her extensive background in entertainment marketing, how she’s building an experiential and events strategy from the ground up in her new role, and why the Island Boys are a Cameo favorite right now.

We talk to Beth Malafa, Senior Director of Marketing, Global Events & Brand Partnerships at Under Armour, about her background in sports marketing, changes she's seen in experiential, and how she's navigated being a woman in a male-dominated field — with some sidebars about event horror stories, risk-taking, and celebrity anecdotes along the way.