Event Planner Confessions: Behind the Mic

Every planner has a story they only tell once the event is over: the moment where everything almost fell apart, or the unexpected pivot that saved the program entirely.

With teams producing thousands of events across all our destinations, Cohera has seen more than enough of these stories to spot the patterns. What looks effortless to guests is often the result of quick decision-making, deep destination knowledge, and collaboration behind the curtain.

Event Planner Confessions, our latest podcast, is our way of pulling back that curtain. To learn more, we caught up with some of the voices behind the mic to hear their reflections on the podcast, the industry, and what’s ahead.

Lessons from Confessions

Humility, humility, humility. Hindsight is 20/20, and post-event reflections are one theme that keep surfacing.

Co-host Ashley Currin notes that every planner has an unforgettable “oh no” moment: the wrong date, a vendor slip-up, a food trend that didn’t land. But those missteps often turn into the best lessons, and a reminder of how much our industry depends on strong vendor relationships.

Ashley explains, “The right partner can totally save you, and the wrong one… well, that becomes a confession story pretty quickly.”

Co-hosts Cara Pratt and Samantha Monroe can’t help but agree. Samantha adds that Murphy’s Law is alive and well in events. Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though! What stands out most isn’t the hard stuff, but the resilience: planners who transform potential disasters into lifetime wins. “The ability to spin challenges into spectacular outcomes is proof that Event Magic is real,” she says.

The Power of Honest Storytelling

“From the outside, events look effortless, but in reality, it’s pure chaos sometimes. It’s hard work: planners are strategists, problem-solvers, and creative partners who are constantly navigating risks, budgets, contracts, and logistics.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

What Ashley is pointing out is key: telling real stories is the only way to get a glimpse behind how much work goes into experience planning.

Authenticity is everything. We even felt that when we asked all three hosts how they want listeners to feel. Ashley wants listeners to feel seen. Cara hopes professionals can take lifelong lessons away. Samantha simply wants listeners to let loose and step away from the serious side of the industry.

Real stories are what inspired the trio to start the podcast to begin with. The idea for Event Planner Confessions grew out of a shared desire to show the real side of the industry.

Ashley explains that confessions are inherently disarming: once someone shares their own messy moment, it gives others permission to do the same. Cara builds on that, describing how her favorite part of networking events is connecting with people over meals and hearing stories from every stage of their careers.

“The stories they tell about their events are what make those conversations so fun and inspiring,” she says, “and I wanted to share that same energy with the world.”

Season 2 of Event Planner Confessions

Ultimately, what Event Planner Confessions does better than anything else is highlight the importance of DMCs and creative agencies. “We’re not a ‘nice to have’—we’re the glue that holds a program together,” Ashley explains.

Season 2 continues to affirm that. This season of the podcast goes deeper into the business of events, tackling budgets, staffing, and contracts, while still delivering the wild, funny stories fans love.

Ashley frames it as “part education, part entertainment,” while Cara shares new perspectives from industry experts and interactive segments like Red Flag/Green Flag or Love It or Hate It.

Want to listen to the latest? Event Planner Confessions drops biweekly on your preferred streaming platform!