app02 Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:14:16 +0000 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) CX without the BS - Episodes Tagged with “Channel Partners 2026” https://cswithoutthebs.fireside.fm/tags/channel%20partners%202026 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0400 Most CX podcasts are built for Fortune 500 buyers with seven-figure budgets and dedicated transformation teams... This one isn't. CX Without the BS is for the technology advisors, IT leaders, and business owners working in the trenches of SMB and mid-market companies - the "forgotten 5000" who get pitched enterprise solutions they can't afford and ignored by vendors who don't think they're worth the support call. Host Brian Nichols brings real practitioner perspective from the unified communications and contact center space. No guru theater. No vendor hype. No recycled LinkedIn thought leadership dressed up as expertise. Just the actual conversations advisors and buyers need to be having... about why CX deployments fail, where vendors quietly cut corners, which product categories are oversold, and what questions you should be asking before you sign a three-year contract. Each episode pulls from real customer scenarios, market situations, and the framework laid out in Brian's book, The CX Compass. Some episodes are solo deep dives. Others bring in practitioners, advisors, and operators who can break down the mechanics of what actually works - and what's quietly broken behind the demo. If you're tired of buzzword bingo and ready for the version of CX nobody's willing to say out loud... you're in the right place. Subscribe, share it with an advisor or buyer who needs it, and let's cut through the noise together. en-us episodic Honest takes on customer experience and UCaaS for the SMB and mid-market buyers enterprise vendors forgot... hosted by Brian Nichols. Brian Nichols Most CX podcasts are built for Fortune 500 buyers with seven-figure budgets and dedicated transformation teams... This one isn't. CX Without the BS is for the technology advisors, IT leaders, and business owners working in the trenches of SMB and mid-market companies - the "forgotten 5000" who get pitched enterprise solutions they can't afford and ignored by vendors who don't think they're worth the support call. Host Brian Nichols brings real practitioner perspective from the unified communications and contact center space. No guru theater. No vendor hype. No recycled LinkedIn thought leadership dressed up as expertise. Just the actual conversations advisors and buyers need to be having... about why CX deployments fail, where vendors quietly cut corners, which product categories are oversold, and what questions you should be asking before you sign a three-year contract. Each episode pulls from real customer scenarios, market situations, and the framework laid out in Brian's book, The CX Compass. Some episodes are solo deep dives. Others bring in practitioners, advisors, and operators who can break down the mechanics of what actually works - and what's quietly broken behind the demo. If you're tired of buzzword bingo and ready for the version of CX nobody's willing to say out loud... you're in the right place. Subscribe, share it with an advisor or buyer who needs it, and let's cut through the noise together. yes CX podcast, customer experience, UCaaS, CCaaS, contact center, unified communications, technology advisors, channel partners, TSD, SMB technology, mid-market IT, vendor evaluation, CX strategy, customer service technology, Brian Nichols, CX Compass, business communications, cloud communications, customer engagement, sales enablement, B2B technology buying, IT decision makers, Telarus, agent experience, omnichannel Brian Nichols brian@briannicholsconsulting.com Channel Partners 2026 REVIEW | The Half-Empty Room And What It Told Me About The Channel https://cswithoutthebs.fireside.fm/channelpartners2026reviewthehalf c04c28b0-317f-4b8d-9a3f-f2f85ce555de Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0400 Brian Nichols full Brian Nichols My honest review of Channel Partners 2026 - Robert Irvine keynote, a half-empty room, and every reason the Old Guard channel model just cracked wide open in Vegas. 20:06 no <p>Brian Nichols reviews Channel Partners 2026 and reveals why the biggest technology channel event of the year felt half-empty - and what that means for Technology Advisors, vendors, and TSDs heading into the rest of the year. This Channel Partners Conference &amp; Expo review covers everything from the Robert Irvine keynote at The Venetian in Las Vegas, to the quieter expo hall with 350+ vendors, to the honest feedback from advisors and PDMs who said the real value had already moved off-campus. Brian breaks down what worked, what didn't, and why TSD events like Telarus Partner Summit (1,800+ attendees) and AVANT Special Forces are now pulling advisors away from the flagship Vegas show. Plus the brutal trade show economics - 94% of B2B marketers can't convert event leads, and only 14% of Fortune 500 companies see real ROI on trade show spend.</p> <p>We expose the reality of what Channel Partners 2026 actually delivered versus what it promised - and why the Old Guard "massive booth equals channel wins" model is quietly falling apart. You need to hear this honest blueprint for how Technology Advisors should pick their 2026 events, how vendors should be rethinking their $250,000 booth checks, and what every PDM should be fighting for internally if they want their partners to actually produce. This is the Channel Partners review you won't get from the sponsored recap posts.</p> <p>CHAPTERS:<br> 0:00 - Intro: The Half-Empty Robert Irvine Keynote<br> 0:49 - First Impressions: What Channel Partners 2026 Felt Like<br> 2:24 - The Expo Floor Review: Smaller, Quieter, Flatter<br> 4:07 - Where The Real Value Actually Happened (The BS Vendors Keep Selling)<br> 6:34 - The Numbers Behind The Decline<br> 9:09 - TSD Summits vs Channel Partners: The Honest Comparison<br> 11:23 - The MDF Trap &amp; The Fishing Boat With No Bait<br> 13:51 - The 2026 Channel Prescription<br> 17:57 - Final Verdict: The Room That's Quietly Moving Somewhere Else</p> <p>Sources &amp; References From This Review:</p> <p>Channel Partners Conference &amp; Expo 2026 Official Announcement: <a href="https://channelpartnersconference.com/article/channel-partners-conference-expomsp-summit-2026-sets-agenda-for-next-era-of-the-technology-channel/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://channelpartnersconference.com/article/channel-partners-conference-expomsp-summit-2026-sets-agenda-for-next-era-of-the-technology-channel/</a><br> Channel Partners Conference &amp; Expo Main Site: <a href="https://channelpartnersconference.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://channelpartnersconference.com/</a><br> Channel Partners Sponsor &amp; Exhibit Opportunities: <a href="https://channelpartnersconference.com/why-exhibit/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://channelpartnersconference.com/why-exhibit/</a><br> Cvent - 47 Trade Show Statistics Shaping 2025 and Beyond: <a href="https://www.cvent.com/en/blog/events/trade-show-statistics" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.cvent.com/en/blog/events/trade-show-statistics</a><br> Giant Printing - 2025 Trade Show Statistics: <a href="https://giantprinting.com/trade-show-statistics/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://giantprinting.com/trade-show-statistics/</a><br> Trade Show Labs - 150+ Trade Show Statistics for 2026: <a href="https://www.tradeshowlabs.com/blog/trade-show-stats" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.tradeshowlabs.com/blog/trade-show-stats</a><br> Telarus Partner Summit 2025 Recap: <a href="https://www.telarus.com/news/technology-advisors-take-center-stage-at-telarus-partner-summit-2025/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.telarus.com/news/technology-advisors-take-center-stage-at-telarus-partner-summit-2025/</a><br> SIPPIO - Telarus Partner Summit 2025: <a href="https://www.sippio.io/event/telarus-partner-summit-2025/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.sippio.io/event/telarus-partner-summit-2025/</a><br> CBTS - AVANT Special Forces Summit 2025: <a href="https://www.cbts.com/events/avant-special-forces-summit-sept-15-18-2025/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.cbts.com/events/avant-special-forces-summit-sept-15-18-2025/</a><br> Channel Dive - Top Channel Conferences in 2026: <a href="https://www.channeldive.com/news/top-channel-partner-conferences-2026/806165/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.channeldive.com/news/top-channel-partner-conferences-2026/806165/</a><br> Intelligent Tech Channels - What Do Channel Partners Really Want From Vendors in 2026: <a href="https://www.intelligenttechchannels.com/2025/12/12/what-do-channel-partners-really-want-from-vendors-in-2026/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.intelligenttechchannels.com/2025/12/12/what-do-channel-partners-really-want-from-vendors-in-2026/</a> </p> Channel Partners 2026 review,Channel Partners review,Channel Partners Conference review,Channel Partners Expo review,Channel Partners 2026,Channel Partners Vegas,Technology Advisors,channel sales,channel partners,channel marketing,UCaaS,CCaaS,CX,customer experience,Telarus,Telarus Partner Summit,AVANT,AVANT Special Forces,TSD,MSP Summit,channel futures,channel vendor review,sales enablement,lead generation,Informa,channel event review,2026 channel trends Brian Nichols reviews Channel Partners 2026 and reveals why the biggest technology channel event of the year felt half-empty - and what that means for Technology Advisors, vendors, and TSDs heading into the rest of the year. This Channel Partners Conference & Expo review covers everything from the Robert Irvine keynote at The Venetian in Las Vegas, to the quieter expo hall with 350+ vendors, to the honest feedback from advisors and PDMs who said the real value had already moved off-campus. Brian breaks down what worked, what didn't, and why TSD events like Telarus Partner Summit (1,800+ attendees) and AVANT Special Forces are now pulling advisors away from the flagship Vegas show. Plus the brutal trade show economics - 94% of B2B marketers can't convert event leads, and only 14% of Fortune 500 companies see real ROI on trade show spend.

We expose the reality of what Channel Partners 2026 actually delivered versus what it promised - and why the Old Guard "massive booth equals channel wins" model is quietly falling apart. You need to hear this honest blueprint for how Technology Advisors should pick their 2026 events, how vendors should be rethinking their $250,000 booth checks, and what every PDM should be fighting for internally if they want their partners to actually produce. This is the Channel Partners review you won't get from the sponsored recap posts.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro: The Half-Empty Robert Irvine Keynote
0:49 - First Impressions: What Channel Partners 2026 Felt Like
2:24 - The Expo Floor Review: Smaller, Quieter, Flatter
4:07 - Where The Real Value Actually Happened (The BS Vendors Keep Selling)
6:34 - The Numbers Behind The Decline
9:09 - TSD Summits vs Channel Partners: The Honest Comparison
11:23 - The MDF Trap & The Fishing Boat With No Bait
13:51 - The 2026 Channel Prescription
17:57 - Final Verdict: The Room That's Quietly Moving Somewhere Else

Sources & References From This Review:

Channel Partners Conference & Expo 2026 Official Announcement: https://channelpartnersconference.com/article/channel-partners-conference-expomsp-summit-2026-sets-agenda-for-next-era-of-the-technology-channel/
Channel Partners Conference & Expo Main Site: https://channelpartnersconference.com/
Channel Partners Sponsor & Exhibit Opportunities: https://channelpartnersconference.com/why-exhibit/
Cvent - 47 Trade Show Statistics Shaping 2025 and Beyond: https://www.cvent.com/en/blog/events/trade-show-statistics
Giant Printing - 2025 Trade Show Statistics: https://giantprinting.com/trade-show-statistics/
Trade Show Labs - 150+ Trade Show Statistics for 2026: https://www.tradeshowlabs.com/blog/trade-show-stats
Telarus Partner Summit 2025 Recap: https://www.telarus.com/news/technology-advisors-take-center-stage-at-telarus-partner-summit-2025/
SIPPIO - Telarus Partner Summit 2025: https://www.sippio.io/event/telarus-partner-summit-2025/
CBTS - AVANT Special Forces Summit 2025: https://www.cbts.com/events/avant-special-forces-summit-sept-15-18-2025/
Channel Dive - Top Channel Conferences in 2026: https://www.channeldive.com/news/top-channel-partner-conferences-2026/806165/
Intelligent Tech Channels - What Do Channel Partners Really Want From Vendors in 2026: https://www.intelligenttechchannels.com/2025/12/12/what-do-channel-partners-really-want-from-vendors-in-2026/

]]> Brian Nichols reviews Channel Partners 2026 and reveals why the biggest technology channel event of the year felt half-empty - and what that means for Technology Advisors, vendors, and TSDs heading into the rest of the year. This Channel Partners Conference & Expo review covers everything from the Robert Irvine keynote at The Venetian in Las Vegas, to the quieter expo hall with 350+ vendors, to the honest feedback from advisors and PDMs who said the real value had already moved off-campus. Brian breaks down what worked, what didn't, and why TSD events like Telarus Partner Summit (1,800+ attendees) and AVANT Special Forces are now pulling advisors away from the flagship Vegas show. Plus the brutal trade show economics - 94% of B2B marketers can't convert event leads, and only 14% of Fortune 500 companies see real ROI on trade show spend.

We expose the reality of what Channel Partners 2026 actually delivered versus what it promised - and why the Old Guard "massive booth equals channel wins" model is quietly falling apart. You need to hear this honest blueprint for how Technology Advisors should pick their 2026 events, how vendors should be rethinking their $250,000 booth checks, and what every PDM should be fighting for internally if they want their partners to actually produce. This is the Channel Partners review you won't get from the sponsored recap posts.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro: The Half-Empty Robert Irvine Keynote
0:49 - First Impressions: What Channel Partners 2026 Felt Like
2:24 - The Expo Floor Review: Smaller, Quieter, Flatter
4:07 - Where The Real Value Actually Happened (The BS Vendors Keep Selling)
6:34 - The Numbers Behind The Decline
9:09 - TSD Summits vs Channel Partners: The Honest Comparison
11:23 - The MDF Trap & The Fishing Boat With No Bait
13:51 - The 2026 Channel Prescription
17:57 - Final Verdict: The Room That's Quietly Moving Somewhere Else

Sources & References From This Review:

Channel Partners Conference & Expo 2026 Official Announcement: https://channelpartnersconference.com/article/channel-partners-conference-expomsp-summit-2026-sets-agenda-for-next-era-of-the-technology-channel/
Channel Partners Conference & Expo Main Site: https://channelpartnersconference.com/
Channel Partners Sponsor & Exhibit Opportunities: https://channelpartnersconference.com/why-exhibit/
Cvent - 47 Trade Show Statistics Shaping 2025 and Beyond: https://www.cvent.com/en/blog/events/trade-show-statistics
Giant Printing - 2025 Trade Show Statistics: https://giantprinting.com/trade-show-statistics/
Trade Show Labs - 150+ Trade Show Statistics for 2026: https://www.tradeshowlabs.com/blog/trade-show-stats
Telarus Partner Summit 2025 Recap: https://www.telarus.com/news/technology-advisors-take-center-stage-at-telarus-partner-summit-2025/
SIPPIO - Telarus Partner Summit 2025: https://www.sippio.io/event/telarus-partner-summit-2025/
CBTS - AVANT Special Forces Summit 2025: https://www.cbts.com/events/avant-special-forces-summit-sept-15-18-2025/
Channel Dive - Top Channel Conferences in 2026: https://www.channeldive.com/news/top-channel-partner-conferences-2026/806165/
Intelligent Tech Channels - What Do Channel Partners Really Want From Vendors in 2026: https://www.intelligenttechchannels.com/2025/12/12/what-do-channel-partners-really-want-from-vendors-in-2026/

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