Quick Summary

After eight or nine live events and nearly four years of hosting, Wave for Women co-founders Kelsey and Emily sit down for an unfiltered conversation about the fears that keep them up at night before an event — from pregnancy scares and ice storms to missing name tags and worn-out swag bags — alongside the parts of event-hosting they've learned to fully trust.

In This Episode

  • Emily's biggest event fear: a sick kid (or herself) making an event impossible to attend
  • Navigating a first-trimester pregnancy and morning sickness during a live 75-person event
  • Two intense weather scares — an ice storm and an air quality warning — and the "Acts of God" risk that comes with event hosting
  • Why every attendee has a different risk tolerance, and how that shapes hard calls
  • The "little things become big things" logistics spiral: name tags, tape, table assignments
  • Real mishaps: a mismatched speaker time, a water shortage on a hot day, worn swag bags
  • Why building an event team (and having a "runner" on standby) changed everything
  • Wardrobe mishaps on the road — bra straps, blisters, and the case for trying on your full outfit beforehand
  • What Kelsey and Emily never worry about: guest connection, public speaking, and trusting their unconventional approach
  • Why choosing small-town venues and unique guest speakers became a competitive advantage

Key Takeaways

  1. Plan for the things you can't control. Weather, illness, and "Acts of God" risks aren't preventable — build contingency plans and a trusted team rather than assuming you'll be lucky forever.
  2. Respect that risk tolerance varies. Not every attendee will weigh a health or weather risk the same way you do — communicate clearly and let people opt in or out.
  3. Build an event team, not a two-person show. Having a trusted "runner" on standby for last-minute needs (water, supplies) keeps hosts from being stressed out at their own event.
  4. Give yourself grace for the 2% hiccups. Wrong speaker times, mismatched dates, worn swag bags — these happen at almost every event, and naming them openly builds trust with your audience rather than eroding it.
  5. Trust your unconventional instincts. Choosing smaller-town venues and guest speakers you personally love — rather than copying what everyone else does — can become your strongest differentiator.

Memorable Quotes

  • "Don't make a mountain out of a molehill when little things go funny."
  • "When you make decisions that just feel good in your soul, you will attract the right attendees who see in that vision, and they want to build it out with you."

Resources Mentioned

  • Kelsey's Instagram: @KelseyReidl
  • Emily's Instagram: @itsemilyelliot
  • Website: waveforwomen.ca
  • Instagram: @waveforwomen
  • Wave Mastermind — live coaching and blueprints for hosting events, podcasting, and public speaking
  • Upcoming Wave for Women events: October in Elora; early 2027 in Paris

About the Hosts

Kelsey and Emily are the co-founders of Wave for Women, having hosted eight or nine live events over nearly four years — ranging from intimate 10-woman gatherings to events with almost 100 attendees, top guest speakers, and vendors. They also run the Wave Mastermind, a coaching community for women building podcasts, events, and businesses.

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