Megan went into this one expecting an either/or. She came out with a different answer: yes, both.
Maddie Morris spent a decade professionally being somebody else's brain before she got diagnosed herself, and she's never worked an event in her life. That's exactly why this conversation goes somewhere the industry's usual burnout talk doesn't. It also gets specific fast, because the back half is 20 minutes of tactics built for people who don't control their own calendars.
In this one:
Why time blocking keeps failing you, and the two things to change before you schedule that block again
What to do the week you get back from show site, before re-entry wipes out every system you had
Whether working in events can actually cause ADHD symptoms, and what the research does and does not support
The habits you drop first when work gets hard, and why those are the exact ones keeping you functional
Why “I do my best thinking at 11pm the night before” is a wiring problem, not a willpower problem
Plus a vent about the statistic this industry keeps wearing like a badge of honor, and what it's quietly costing us in recruiting.
Send this to the person on your team who apologizes for their own brain in every single meeting.
Neither Megan nor Maddie is a doctor, and nothing in this episode is medical advice.
About the Guest
Maddie Morris is a time and energy management consultant and speaker who helps leaders and teams train their calendars to focus on what matters most. She believes that when pressure rises, your calendar will rapidly either enhance your resilience or compound your stress. Drawing on a decade as an executive assistant and Chief of Staff to top Canadian founders, including leaders from Dragon's Den and the Entrepreneurs' Organization, plus her own experience with burnout and ADHD, she teaches people how to build momentum with less wasted effort.
Connect with Maddie:
Website: wisdomstreak.ca
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maddiemorris
Instagram: @itsmaddiemorris
Newsletter (weekly time and energy tips): Sign up here
Free 30-minute Time Audit: wisdomstreak.ca/timeaudit
About Your Host
Megan Martin is the founder of M Squared Dynamics, a consulting, facilitation, and content strategy firm helping event leaders, marketers, and sales teams turn live experiences into measurable business growth. She's the host and executive producer of Event About It, co-founder of Opportunity Hunters, and a two-time PCMA Visionary Award nominee (2022 winner). With nearly 20 years in the industry, Megan operates at the intersection of event strategy, marketing alignment, and behavioral intent signals, turning events from line items into pipeline drivers.
Connect with Megan and M Squared Dynamics:
Podcast: EventAboutItPodcast.com
Newsletter (Step and Repeat): msquareddynamics.com/stepandrepeatsignup
Consulting and strategy: msquareddynamics.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/meganmartincmp
Instagram: @m2dynamics and @eventaboutit
TikTok: @eventaboutit
Keep the Conversation Going
The best conversations start after the show ends, and the best ones keep going in your inbox. Subscribe to Event About It wherever you get your podcasts and sign up for the Step and Repeat newsletter at msquareddynamics.com/stepandrepeatsignup.
Until next time, stay curious.