Leading Ladies is brought to you by our amazing producer, Sarah Birnie, this podcast is all about celebrating the incredible women making waves in our industry.
Sarah will be chatting with inspiring ladies from all corners of the industry world, the response has been overwhelming—women are lining up to share their stories and insights!
Join us as we uplift and amplify the voices of women in our industry. Stay tuned for more episodes, and let’s make waves together!
WELCOME
Episode #259 - Claire Heat
Claire is a highly motivated individual with over 25 years experience in the industry, specializing in events and special projects for the music, television and film industries, she has huge amounts of energy, a strong work ethic, bags of enthusiasm, common sense and professionalism.
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Claire started working in the industry as stage crew whilst studying at university and has had different roles within that time from, event manager, backstage artist liaison, driven bands and sold merch all over UK, Europe and the US, tour management, Worked for BAFTA, production assistant, VIP manager and now, LED tech.
Claire has worked with some of the biggest bands including Sir Elton John, Eric Clapton, ColdPlay, Maria Carey and Roger Waters to name but a few.
Episode #286 - Colleen Wittenberg
Colleen is a Freelance multi-cam director, media server programmer and operator. Colleen has worked for some incredible artists such as ColdPlay, Aerosmith, Alanis morissette, U2, Lizzo to name but a few. And is currently on tour with Hozier.
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Colleen has not only had an incredible career so far in our industry but also started out in the cruise industry as the Entertainment Technical Manager, Senior Lighting and Special Effects Technician. During the pandemic Colleen was one of the very few people able to leave the States and actually went to work for Universal in China.
Colleen is an incredible human, strong, passionate, loving and full of energy for life. Please welcome Colleen, my second guest, my great friend to the Leading ladies Podcast, part of Geezers Of Gear.
Episode #280 - Melody Tseng
Melody Tseng is a Creative Producer at Live Redesigned. Melody graduated from design school with a background in art and fashion.
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Melody started out working as a production translator in Taiwan before touring for over 10 years as a production coordinator and VIP/sponsorship manager for artists such as Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Janet Jackson, Ariana Grande, and Billie Eilish. During the pandemic Melody was assistant creative producer Fireplay run by Nick Whitehouse.
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Since then she has moved up quickly and learned a lot, now as creative producer/creative director.
Melody has been the creative director for Demi Lovato in 2022,
Romeo Santos in 2023, and most recently art director/set designer for Alanis Morissette this past summer.
Melody’s life motto is: Life is too short to settle for mediocrity, do what makes you happy and always do your best. Please welcome Melody to Leading Ladies Podcast
Episode #285 - Kristin Rinden
Kristin has been in the industry for over 25years, she started as VIP Experience & Sponsorship Coordinator for American Idol Live Tour and then became their Road Manager. Since then Kristin has been Production Coordinator and Production Manager for many bands and artists including; Meghan Trainor, Barry Manilow, Pharrell Williams, Carly Rae Jepsen, Kanye West, St. Vincent, The Chicks, Deftones, OneRepublic, Josh Groban, one-off’s + Great Big Radio City Show, Thomas Rhett, Backstreet Boys to name but a few and not forgetting So you can Dance Live Season 10, 11, 12 & 14 Kristin is a fabulous lady, kind, strong, great work ethic and if you ever see her name pop up on your Tour, you are very lucky!
Episode #289 - Tanya Collyer
Tanya has over 25years experience in the industry as an incredible Chef, personal Chef to Artists and Bands such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, Florence and the Machine to name but a few. Tanya has taken a massive step recently and started her very own Catering Company, The Rolling Stoves. Her very first Gig was with ColdPlay in Australia. Tanya has travelled the world and been an inspiration.
Episode #295 - Amber Williams
With over a decade in the entertainment industry, Amber has built an impressive career as a production coordinator and VIP coordinator, working alongside legendary artists like Alice Cooper and The Hollywood Vampires (Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, Johnny Depp). From coordinating world tours to ensuring seamless VIP experiences.
Amber thrives in high-pressure environments, bringing creativity, adaptability, and a deep understanding of production logistics, her experience spans film, music, and live events, having worked with companies like Reel FX and Bedrock Manufacturing before stepping into the touring world.
Passionate about giving back, Amber actively supports causes like the Maui Food Bank and MusiCares. She also spent two-months in Africa in a volunteer program, through the YMCA of New York. While there she was involved with teaching villagers about the importance of sustainable living, through recycling and cultivation of their main crops.
Amber continues to push the boundaries of live production while preparing for the Alice Cooper 2025 World Tour.
Episode #297 - Kara Kemp
Kara Kemp is a passionate leader dedicated to supporting live event professionals. As General Manager of ECCHO Live, she champions mental health, career growth, and industry-wide education. With a background in business, performing arts, and over a decade as a Dega Catering crew chief, she’s worked alongside music legends like Bob Dylan and Keith Urban.
Kara’s "Don't shrink. Bloom." philosophy drives her mission to empower others through connection and education. She’s spearheading the ECCHO Live rebrand and expanding vital programs like All Access to provide resources for touring professionals.
A firm believer in balance, she promotes creative focus tools, mental health days (“No Pants Days”), and taking small, intentional steps toward progress.
#299 - Hailey and Ella Featherstone
Hailey is an award-winning lighting designer and director with a passion for crafting immersive experiences. With a BA in Theatre Design and Production from ASU, she has worked across all facets of the industry—from technician to creative lead—on global tours, special events, and interactive installations.
Her credits include:Hans Zimmer Live (Lighting Director) Taylor Swift’s Reputation Tour (FOH Tech) Eddie Izzard’s Wunderbar Tour (Lighting Director) Virgin Galactic Launches (Lighting Programmer) NBA All-Star Game (Lighting Designer) She has also led lighting design for immersive experiences like Kohlights at Kohl Children’s Museum and Forest of Lights at Fair Oaks Farms.
Named one of Live Design’s “30 Under 30” and a Parnelli “Next Gen” Award honoree, Hailey combines technical expertise, creative vision, and a love for storytelling in every project.
Ella is a Freelance Associate Producer and Production Coordinator at Ella Featherstone Inc, she is a results-driven freelancer with expertise in event production, graphic design, and social media management, she thrives in fast-paced, high-pressure environments, seamlessly coordinating large-scale events for top brands like Salesforce, McDonald’s, and Mercedes-Benz.
Ella blends creativity with technical expertise to deliver exceptional experiences. Whether managing live events, digital content, or branding, she brings adaptability, precision, and a commitment to excellence to every project.
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#302 - Heidi Casson
Heidi is a seasoned production stage manager with a career spanning theater, live TV, film, and large-scale concert productions. From The Lion King and Celine Dion’s Vegas residency to The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, she thrives in high-pressure live events.
Passionate about mentorship and mental health in the industry, Heidi values adaptability, strong relationships, and kindness. She’s also a dedicated advocate for Make-A-Wish Foundation and Stand Up to Cancer. Currently, she’s preparing The Tabernacle Choir’s Buenos Aires concert.
Her motto? Love and kindness. That is why we are here.
Leading Ladies Sponsor
We're thrilled to welcome Lightswitch as the exclusive sponsor for Leading Ladies. Their incredible support is a fantastic addition and Geezers Of Gear welcomes them to our Special Podcast addition of Leading Ladies.
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Lightswitch is a collective of internationally recognised lighting, media, and visual designers committed to changing how people experience the world. Lightswitch’s dedicated team serves clients from full-service studios all over the globe, united by the core values that guide everything we do.
For more than 30 years Lightswitch has been practising ‘Pragmatic Design’
Lightswitch believes it is their responsibility to keep clients' CREATIVE, LOGISTICAL, and FINANCIAL objectives in equilibrium. Aligning these three objectives while bringing their client's projects to life produces ideal results.
Lightswitch’s range of expertise is extensive, from working one-on-one with clients and artists to multidisciplinary teams collaborating on all visual aspects of temporary and permanent projects.
Lightswitch creates unforgettable moments and powerful experiences. Their process draws inspiration from their team, other artists, and the needs of each project, creating distinctive work infused with unexpected wonder and deep connection.
Lightswitch celebrates its team, clients, and all our industry's diverse and talented people. To honour their pledge to support inclusion in all aspects of entertainment and experience design,
Lightswitch is proud to sponsor Leading Ladies.
