by Clare Forestier
Hi, I'm Clare Forestier, your guide to shaking up business events. Welcome to Not the Same as Last Year, where we ditch the predictable to focus on attendee-first experiences. Every week, we challenge the norm, offering tips to create events your attendees will love, alongside insights from event rebels. Ready to make your corporate events unforgettable? Join the movement. Let's transform audiences together!
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Publishing Since
4/23/2024
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July 27, 2025
<p>Most event organisers aren’t trying to exclude people. But when it comes to neurodivergent attendees, that’s exactly what’s happening – unless you're planning with inclusion in mind from the very beginning.</p><p>In this episode, Clare chats with Andy Williamson, founder of Welcome Brain, about what a neuro-inclusive event actually looks like (and what it doesn’t). They talk about why making your event accessible for different types of brains isn’t just ethical – it’s practical. It increases your potential audience, boosts attendee satisfaction, and doesn’t have to blow the budget.</p><p>Expect honest chat about small changes that make a big difference, why slapping a coloured lanyard on someone isn’t the solution, and how asking for advice (instead of feedback) can go a long way.</p><p><strong>What we cover:</strong></p><p>– Why “we’ve never had any neurodivergent attendees” is a self-fulfilling prophecy</p><p>– The 3-tier checklist that helps you plan better events (even if your budget is zero)</p><p>– What not to do when trying to be inclusive (hint: don’t out people with a lanyard)</p><p>– How filming a 15-minute “how to get here” video makes a surprising difference</p><p>– The real reason your event space might feel like a battery farm</p><p>– Why including people is, funnily enough, the essence of inclusion</p><p>– How small acts of empathy boost connection and attendee loyalty</p><p><strong>Chapters:</strong></p><p>00:00 – What we mean by neuro-inclusion</p><p>02:19 – Andy’s background & why Welcome Brain exists</p><p>04:04 – Personalising events for how adults actually work</p><p>05:17 – 85% of neurodivergent people are skipping your event – here’s why</p><p>08:30 – It’s not just ‘them’ – most of us benefit from more human events</p><p>09:27 – Good intentions that go wrong</p><p>11:34 – Personalisation, empathy, and how the checklist works</p><p>13:09 – Ask your attendees: how can we make this better?</p><p>14:09 – Why lived experience matters in the planning team</p><p>15:25 – The disability comparison: visible vs invisible needs</p><p>16:43 – No-budget options: start with the Silver tier</p><p>18:15 – Tackling scepticism and “we’ve never had anyone ask…”</p><p>20:08 – Rethinking networking and connection</p><p>21:56 – Breaking away from warehouse layouts and long-term venue contracts</p><p>23:16 – Why the events industry is actually well placed to lead on this</p><p>25:33 – Final thoughts: the small things really do matter</p><p><strong>Find out more:</strong></p><p>🧩 The free neuroinclusion checklist: <a href="https://welcomebrain.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">welcomebrain.com</a></p><p>📧 Contact Andy: andy@welcomebrain.com</p><p>mentioned eventwell https://eventwell.org/</p><p>Ready to dive deeper? Download your free guide, five ways to elevate your attendee experience without breaking the bank <a href="https://clareforestier.com/five-ways-to-improve-attendee-experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE</a></p><p><strong>Connect with Clare:</strong></p><p><a href="https://clareforestier.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/clareforestier" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LINKEDIN</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/clareforestiereventhost" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YOUTUBE </a></p><p><br></p>
June 12, 2025
Richard John, COO of Realize, joins Clare Forestier to discuss the critical on-stage roles at B2B events and how to avoid common mistakes, improving audience experience in this interview.
April 28, 2025
<p>Swag isn’t the enemy — badly thought-out swag is. </p><p>In this short but punchy episode, Clare Forestier asks event organisers to rethink their approach to giveaways. Instead of cluttering up attendees’ lives (and landfills) with throwaway items, what if we used swag to enhance the attendee experience and leave a meaningful impression?</p><p>Tune in for a fresh perspective on how to make your event giveaways memorable for the right reasons.</p><p>What You’ll Learn:</p><ul><li>Why swag isn’t inherently a problem — bad swag is.</li><li>How to flip your mindset and use swag to deepen attendee engagement.</li><li>A simple test to decide whether your giveaway will be a hit or a miss.</li></ul><br/><p>Perfect For:</p><p>Event planners, exhibition organisers, marketing teams, and anyone tired of handing out (or receiving) useless tat.</p><p>check out the other ideas in the comments on my original post here: https://bit.ly/ClareForestierSwagLinkedIn</p><p>check out what CrowdComms are up to here: https://www.crowdcomms.com/</p><p>Ready to dive deeper? Download your free guide, five ways to elevate your attendee experience without breaking the bank <a href="https://clareforestier.com/five-ways-to-improve-attendee-experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE</a></p><p><strong>Connect with Clare:</strong></p><p><a href="https://clareforestier.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/clareforestier" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LINKEDIN</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/clareforestiereventhost" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YOUTUBE </a></p><p><br></p>
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Hi, I'm Clare Forestier, your guide to shaking up business events. Welcome to Not the Same as Last Year, where we ditch the predictable to focus on attendee-first experiences.
Every week, we challenge the norm, offering tips to create events your attendees will love, alongside insights from event rebels.
Ready to make your corporate events unforgettable?
Join the movement. Let's transform audiences together!
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