Each month, we sit down with CEOs and other business leaders to explore topics at the intersection of business and the public good, from ethics and corporate responsibility to lessons in leadership and where industries are headed. No matter the topic, you’ll gain valuable insights and advice to use in your own career and beyond. The VOE Podcast is an extension of Voices of Experience, the signature speaker series at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business.
Running a brewery used to be a simple proposition: make great beer, open the doors and let the taps do the talking. But Anne Abrahamson says that model is outdated. As the director of operations at Cerebral Brewing, one of Denver’s most recognizable breweries, Abrahamson helps oversee the business behind the beer. Since joining Cerebral in 2019, she’s helped the company grow from one crowded taproom off Colfax to three locations across the Denver area, with a fourth on the way. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, she shares what it takes to run a modern craft brewery, why hospitality has become central to the beer business, and why Cerebral is focused on evolution over expansion.
Table of Contents • 1:21 Growing from one taproom to three • 3:18 Why Colorado craft beer is bucking the trend • 5:44 Balancing art, science and spreadsheets • 7:55 Leaning into non-alcoholic beer • 9:42 Making sustainability work for the business • 11:27 Falling into craft beer in Japan • 13:52 Solving problems behind the scenes • 14:49 Building culture across multiple locations • 19:11 Why breweries have to innovate • 19:48 Choosing evolution over expansion • 22:42 Show notes and credits
27 Apr 2026
From Couch to Crowd: Reinventing the Stadium Experience
When it comes to the in-stadium experience for the New England Patriots, Abbey Thistle is the quarterback. She calls the plays and puts people in a spot to succeed. But with rising ticket and concession costs, coupled with elevated fan expectations, it can be hard to get people off the couch and into the stadium. As the Senior Director of Fan Engagement and Development for the Patriots, Thistle has seen it all over the last decade. She’s helped host countless playoff games, won a Super Bowl or three, and worked to find ways to keep fans entertained at Gillette Stadium. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, she shares a behind the scenes look at what it takes to produce an NFL game, how she’s innovating on fan engagement in an era of at-home streaming, and what advice she has for people looking to break into the sports and entertainment industry.
Table of Contents • 1:14 The “quarterback” of the game day experience • 1:38 Mastering multitasking in real time • 3:03 Why the script goes out the window • 4:38 Everything fans don’t see behind the scenes • 7:08 The challenge of creating stadium atmosphere • 10:33 What Super Bowl week really looks like • 13:04 Lessons from the Savannah Bananas • 16:19 Finding a career in sports (starting at DU) • 21:04 When promotions go off the rails • 24:10 Show notes and credits
23 Mar 2026
Performance Reviews That Actually Work
When it comes to building a career, titles and promotions only tell part of the story. The real impact often happens behind the scenes, in the way organizations develop people and align strategy. That is where Marisa Midyet thrives. She is a strategic HR leader who has led large-scale initiatives at global organizations like Johnson & Johnson and Apple, and now brings that experience to growing companies through her consulting firm, Rose Talent Co. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Marisa shares how HR can drive business success, why performance reviews often fall short and how to get them right, and what the future of work looks like in an era shaped by AI, flexibility and purpose.
Table of Contents • 0:04 “It’s time for your performance review” • 1:14 Why HR strategy must align with business strategy • 2:07 What HR actually does (and why it matters) • 3:35 The decision to pursue an MBA • 5:17 Taking a risk on a J&J internship • 7:18 Leading through COVID and constant change • 11:32 Performance reviews: simplicity over complexity • 13:17 Starting a business and redefining success • 16:01 How AI is changing HR • 17:58 The future of remote and hybrid work • 21:24 “Don’t chase titles” • 22:38 Show notes and credits
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
641,810
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
72
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
60
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