Your Summer Podcast Playlist:
GDA Team Favorites

Whether you're traveling to events, catching up between meetings, or enjoying a little downtime this summer - we've got your podcast playlist covered.

We asked the GDA team to share the Backstage Pass episodes they can't stop talking about and the insights that stuck with them long after the conversation ended!

"I need to claim two favorites. Of course, I love the episode with Nando Parrado, highlighting GDA's origin story. I also love the podcast with Shawn Achor, recorded just days after The Power of Beliefs became a New York Times bestseller. His research got me thinking. We believe that our team, our clients, and our speakers matter. We know event planners can feel alone, and we hope these conversations provide a sense of community while opening the door to new speaker possibilities to bring to your next event."

🎙️The Ultimate Story of Love, Teamwork, and Trust with Nando Parrado

🎙️The Power of Beliefs Is Bigger Than You Think with Shawn Achor

"This conversation with Dr. Rebecca Heiss completely reframed the way I think about stress. Instead of viewing stress as something negative to avoid, she explains why it’s actually inevitable and how we can learn to use it to our advantage. One of my favorite takeaways was her “tiger” analogy - recognizing in the moment that 'this is not a tiger' and using that awareness to regulate our stress response in real time."

🎙️Leveraging Stress to Your Advantage with Dr. Rebecca Heiss

"Kim Becking makes resilience feel practical, human, and deeply needed right now, and her passion for this work shines through in every part of the conversation. I loved how her Unstoppable Momentum message, along with the aftercare she provides through her resource vault and You Are Allowed cards, gives leaders and teams something meaningful to carry forward."

🎙️Unstoppable Momentum in a Rapidly Changing World with Kim Becking

"Amanda Lindhout’s episode was one of my favorite Backstage Pass conversations because it goes far beyond her survival story. She takes you through the day-to-day reality of her 460 days in captivity and the mindset shifts that helped her endure it. My biggest takeaway was her belief that resilience begins with where you place your attention and how she chose to focus on hope and forgiveness - which she described as her path to freedom."

🎙️How 460 Days in Captivity Built Relatable Resilience with Amanda Lindhout

"Felipe Gomez’s episode stands out for its powerful message on achieving excellence through mindset, discipline, and continuous growth. By drawing connections between music and leadership, Felipe delivers insights that are both inspiring and immediately applicable. His perspective on what it means to perform at your best makes this conversation especially memorable."

🎙️The Universal Message of the Virtuoso Mindset with Felipe Gomez

"One of my favorite episodes of Backstage Pass has to be with Eric Maddox. He flips the script on communication and shows how empathy-based listening is the key to building trust, stronger teams, and real connection. It’s one of those episodes where the conversation replays in your head because the takeaways work in literally every part of life."

🎙️War-Time Interrogator’s Secret to Trust with Eric Maddox

"As the producer of the Backstage Pass podcast, I get a front-row seat to every conversation, so it’s hard to pick a favorite! Lisa Bodell’s episode stands out because her message about simplicity feels especially relevant right now. Her challenge to stop chasing productivity and start eliminating unnecessary complexity left me thinking differently about how we work every day."

🎙️Eliminating Complexity Through the Power of Simplicity with Lisa Bodell

Check Out More Backstage Pass Episodes