Episode 202: The AMEX Forecast and the Biz-Souls Whether System

As you can tell by our homophonic title, this one’s got classic Biz-Souls energy all over it. Listen in to this episode for some fun, high-octane, tongue-in-cheek, comments on the 2026 outlook for professional and not so professional speakers.

In this episode, your ever-dependable Titans of Fact, Opinion, and Digression dive headfirst into the AMEX Global Meetings & Events Forecast to decode what the future of speaking might look like… and what it will definitely argue about.

As is tradition, the conversation at once goes off the rails in a warm, trustworthy, Biz-Souls way.

Highlights include:

• A spirited breakdown of what actually excites audiences verses what planners hope excites audiences

• A stroll through the 2026 trend jungle featuring engagement, experience, and possibly light chanting

• Jeffrey’s legendary story of the time he turned an audience of 300 into 5 in under 30 minutes (a masterclass in unintentional minimalism)

• The first official episode in the new, shorter, tighter, less-digressive-but-still-definitely-digressive format

• And… a major announcement that will thrill and terrify meeting planners worldwide:

Jeffrey Hansler is back on the speaking circuit, fighting a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way (and occasionally hotel AV teams).

Also featured: one of our favorite listener comments ever:

“The show is real — not perfect, just real and heartfelt.”

Which pretty much sums up Biz-Souls:

Not polished. Not pre-packaged. Just congruent, consistent, transparent, and occasionally dangerous to convention.

If you want predictions, perspective, and proof that even professionals can wander gloriously off-topic, this episode is for you.