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Music is more than background noise. It can shape the way attendees enter a room, connect with one another and remember an experience.

Inspired by David T. Stevens’ Smart Meetings story, “Wellness That Works: Sonic Power,” this Coffee Chat explores the role music can play in intentional event design.

Smart Meetings Multimedia Editor Eming Piansay shares four ways planners can use music more thoughtfully, including mapping an event’s emotional journey, designing stronger transitions, collaborating with AV and production partners and considering the needs of the people in the room.

From volume and lyrics to sensory needs and even silence, the episode examines how sound can influence participation, connection and the lasting impression an event leaves behind.

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In this Smart Start Radio Coffee Chat, Eming Piansay looks at AI’s growing role in meetings and asks a more human-centered question: not just what can AI do, but what should still be protected from automation? Inspired by Malik Anderson’s story on highlights from IRF Invitational 2026, this episode explores how planners can use AI to reduce operational friction, streamline repetitive tasks and support better workflows without losing the warmth, judgment and emotional intelligence that make in-person meetings meaningful.

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After an Ariana Grande concert merch line became its own side quest, Eming Piansay looks at what planners can learn from a funny-chaotic crowd flow moment. This Smart Start Radio Coffee Chat explores how unclear lines, limited signage and overlapping attendee pathways can create friction, even when the experience itself is worth the wait. The takeaway: organization is not just logistics. It is attendee care.