August Updates
August has us right in the thick of it — full production days, a few big anniversaries worth celebrating, and some news about where FRP is headed next. Here's a look at what we've been up to.
Vote for Lauren!!
SXSW 2027 PanelPicker community voting is open now through August 23rd — and I've got a proposal in the mix. Paradox of Expertise: All the Answers, None of the Questions is the title of my proposed talk. After 20 years and 5,000 interviews, I’ll be talking about how, while machines get better at answering, the leaders who win are the ones who get better at asking—other humans, not chatbots. Voting takes about 30 seconds and doesn't require an account beyond a quick sign-in.
Every vote helps. If you voted, reply to this email, and I’ll send you a little thank you!
One Year Since Amtrak Mardi Gras Passenger Rail
Last August, passenger rail returned to the Gulf Coast for the first time since Hurricane Katrina — Amtrak's Mardi Gras Service connecting New Orleans and Mobile after a 20-year gap. We got to help tell that story alongside our partners at Smart Growth America/Transportation for America, documenting what it took to bring it back and what it means for the communities along the route.
A year in, the service has carried well over 100,000 riders.
If you missed it the first time around, now's a good moment to go back and watch a community get something back that it fought two decades for.
New Offering For Businesses
For 13+ years, we've built storytelling systems for nonprofits—the kind that turn a single story into fundraising results. Now we're bringing that same discipline to founder-led businesses that need consistent, credible content but don't have the bandwidth to produce it themselves.
This isn't a one-off video. It's an ongoing content engine built around the person already doing the talking in your business—your founder, your expert, your voice—so the content keeps showing up without becoming one more thing on your plate.
Lauren’s Speaking and Workshops
August 26th, 2026 - 2026 Economic Development Forum - Memphis, TN - Booked For Business
August 31st, 2026 - Memphis AFP Conference - Register Here
October 13th, 2026 - Iowa Marketing Summit - Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, IA
October 14th, 2026 - Iowa Association of Chambers Conference - Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, IA
October 19th, 2026 - Futura Conference - Limerick, IE
Looking for a keynote or workshop that’s inspiring, practical, and rooted in real curiosity? Let’s talk