PIE Presents: Tales from the Pitch

Data Dreams and AI Schemes — Can We Predict Procurement?

In this solo episode of Tales from the Pitch, Ben Klein explores the intersection of procurement data, political trends, and new AI tools that just might help us make sense of it all.
With access to 50 years of tender data from Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., Ben lays out a plan to analyze procurement patterns around key economic events—housing crashes, pandemics, and political shifts. He's got the data and a new AI tool to crunch it. Now, he's calling on the PIE community to join the project.
From LLM limitations to future-focused forecasting, this episode invites listeners into the early stages of something big. Want in?
🔗 Like what you hear? Join us at https://www.proposalindustryexperts.com/📢 Share this episode with your network to build something great—together.🎧 Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pie-presents-tales-from-the-pitch/id1702968476

RFWIN Teaser - Exploring the Future of Bid Writing with Leonie Thomas ✍️

In this episode of Thursday Temperature Check, Ben Klein is joined by UK-based bid writing consultant Leonie Thomas, a featured speaker at this year's RFWin and Camp PIE (August 7–8). With Rachelle Ray on the road, Ben dives into a fascinating conversation with Leonie about the evolving role of the bid writer—especially in an era increasingly influenced by AI.
🚧 Leonie shares her journey in the construction and infrastructure engineering space, her commitment to bid writing as a specialty (not a stepping stone), and her views on how AI is reshaping the bid communication process. From the importance of capturing reader attention to preparing junior bid writers in an AI-driven landscape, this episode covers it all—with a dash of humor, lemon curd love, and practical insight.
🎯 Key Topics Covered:
The maturing profession of bid writing
AI's impact on proposal workflows
Strategies for training future bid writers
Public vs. private sector bidding trends
Why pre-bid content is the new gold
💡 A must-listen for proposal professionals looking to stay ahead in a changing industry!
📅 Don’t miss Leonie’s full session at Camp PIE this August!
🔗 Like what you hear? Join us for free at https://www.proposalindustryexperts.com
👥 Connect with Leonie Thomas https://www.linkedin.com/in/leoniewritesbids/ 

Temp Check - Ben talks about LGBTQIA+

In this solo episode of Tales from the Pitch, Ben Klein steps in without a guest to take a moment for reflection. With recent legal decisions in the news, Ben pauses to consider how larger societal shifts impact the vulnerable and us all.
He shares updates on the PIE community and revisits PIE’s core values of inclusivity, awareness, and support. From a Canadian perspective, Ben unpacks the ripple effects of U.S. policy decisions and what they might signal for professionals across North America. This isn’t just about politics—it’s about staying aware, grounded, and intentional in the spaces we create for each other.
Whether you're here for community updates or thoughtful industry reflection, this episode offers a chance to reset and reconnect.
🔗 Like what you hear? Join us for free at proposalindustryexperts.com📢 Share this episode with your team or network to keep the conversation going.

Tales from the Pitch – RFWIN 2025, Disco Migration & PIE Swag Chat

This week on "Tales from the Pitch," Ben holds down the fort while Rachelle travels for SMPS, delivering a solo update session packed with insights and community news.
From announcing the new “Camp” theme for RFWIN 2025 to breaking down the transition to the Disco platform, Ben keeps the PIE community in the loop. He talks accessibility for new speakers, community conversations about branded swag, and offers humorous reflections on caffeine dependency in the world of proposals.
You'll also hear musings on procurement response times, member marketplace ideas, and the joys of swapping platforms (hello login issues). Whether you're prepping a submission or sipping your Tim Hortons, this episode is full of warmth, wit, and a dose of PIE updates.
💡 Key Topics:
Speaker application tips
Disco platform quirks
PIE swag and Shopify plans
RFX response time patterns
Caffeine confessions and community banter
📢 Share this episode with your network to keep the conversation going!
👉 Join us for free: https://www.proposalindustryexperts.com/🔗 Follow PIE on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/proposal-industry-experts/📺 Catch our latest on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProposalIndustryExperts

Updates on PIE, Japan and Bad Portals

Ben Klein is back from Japan and rejoining Rachelle Ray in this jam-packed episode of Tales from the Pitch! The two swap stories, dive into updates from PIE's ever-evolving platform migration, and recap two standout webinars: Brianna Carter’s UX panel and Jeremy Brim’s Growth Ignition session.
Inside the episode:
The wild ride of switching platforms mid-webinar 🎥
Updates on PIE’s move to Disco (spoiler: mobile app included!)
Call for Camp PIE (RFWin 2024) speaker applications
How global procurement practices vary—Ben’s Japan trip sparked a big idea 💡
Which is it—NAICS or “Nakes”? The community weighs in!
🎙️ And to close: a Tale from the Pitch featuring the ultimate portal nightmare—an RFP drops, but the portal says no access... for five days. Cue stress.
 
🌐 Join PIE / Official Website: https://www.proposalindustryexperts.com
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProposalIndustryExperts
💼 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/proposal-industry-experts/

Rachelle Solo, PIE Updates and Magenta Printers

In this special solo episode of Tales from the Pitch, Rachelle Ray flies solo (and maybe streams on the wrong platform?) to deliver a full rundown of what’s happening inside Proposal Industry Experts.
From Pi Day celebrations and AI-powered proposal panels to PIE’s new community platform and upcoming webinars, Rachelle covers:
Sneak peeks at two new webinars: UX in Proposals (March 14) and Career Growth in Bids (March 19)
Details on the new Growth Ignition training partnership
Why PIE is moving to a sleek new home on Disco
A shout-out to RFP 101 and the launch of premium content
Industry trends in GovCon vs. SLED and how AI is shifting expectations
And of course, it wouldn’t be Tales from the Pitch without a story. Rachelle closes with a toner disaster of magenta proportions in this unforgettable printer fail meets proposal deadline moment.
🌐 Join PIE / Official Website: https://www.proposalindustryexperts.com
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProposalIndustryExperts
💼 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/proposal-industry-experts/

Choosing the Right AI with Chris Basilla and Ceri Mescall

In this episode of Tales from the Pitch, Rachelle Ray is joined by proposal tech nerds and consultants Ceri Mescall and Chris Basilla to tackle a real challenge in the industry: choosing the right AI tool in a market that’s flooded with options.
They break down:
Why tech adoption fails (and how to avoid it)
How to spot vendor bias and shiny object syndrome
The danger of building AI tools on broken processes
How to think strategically about team buy-in and empathy
What 400+ hours of market research taught them about tool viability
Plus, they unveil My Proposal Pathway—a 3-step service to help teams cut through the noise and find tools that actually fit their workflows, budgets, and proposal environments.
And you don’t want to miss Kerry’s Tale from the Pitch: a sticky situation involving wet paint, orals coaching, and the world’s most reluctant presenter.
📍 Learn more at: https://www.myproposalpathway.com💼 Connect with Chris & Carrie on LinkedIn
🌐 Join PIE / Official Website: https://www.proposalindustryexperts.com
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProposalIndustryExperts
💼 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/proposal-industry-experts/

RFP 101 is live on PIE

In this episode of Tales from the Pitch, Ben Klein and Rachelle Ray reunite in their first shared 2025 Temperature Check—and it’s a whirlwind.
Fresh off a live D&D show, SMPS’s Southern Regional Conference, and a whirlwind trip to London, Rachelle shares key insights on creative burnout and why proposal professionals need messy creative space to thrive. Together, she and Ben explore the tension between productivity and innovation, with helpful tips from their own personal creative practices.
Plus, big PIE news:🚀 RFP 101 is live! A crash course for newbies and solo-preneurs navigating the proposal world.📱 A sneak peek at PIE’s new learning and community platform, hosted on Disco.🧠 And thoughtful reflection on AI’s impact—what’s hype, what’s real, and why proposal writers are still essential.
Stick around for laughs, community shoutouts, and a reminder that PIE is here to support you, whatever stage you’re in.
🌐 Join PIE / Official Website: https://www.proposalindustryexperts.com
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProposalIndustryExperts
💼 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/proposal-industry-experts/

Loopio Annual Trends Report

In this Tales from the Pitch episode, Ben Klein and Rachelle Ray dig into the freshly released Loopio 2024 Trends Report, unpacking the most telling data points shaping the proposal industry this year.
They call out:
The ongoing disconnect between leadership and frontline proposal staff
Why AI isn’t replacing you yet—but execs think it might
The real cost of proposals (spoiler: it's not $900)
The importance of go/no-go discipline and the myth of “we can do the work”
And of course… yes, we’re still dealing with burnout 😬
From hilarious chart errors to smart insights on selectivity and strategy, Ben and Rachelle don’t just break down the data—they give it context, with real-world commentary you won’t get from a download link.
🌐 Join PIE / Official Website: https://www.proposalindustryexperts.com
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProposalIndustryExperts
💼 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/proposal-industry-experts/

UX in Proposals: Reimagining How We Communicate with Clients

This episode of Tales from the Pitch dives into the future of proposals—with a human touch. Ben Klein and Rachelle Ray welcome Brianna Carter, marketing strategist at Page and a member of PIE’s advisory board, to preview her upcoming expert panel on user experience (UX) in proposals.
Together, they explore what it means to make proposals more readable, engaging, and accessible—from microsites to multimedia storytelling, from AI integrations to the audacity of actual innovation in procurement. They also dig into the reality of juggling proposals, parenting, and professionalism (spoiler: twins and snow days are involved).
Plus, don’t miss Brianna’s Tale from the Pitch, which might be the most relatable work-from-home story in proposal land.
🎉 Her panel drops on Pi Day (March 14)—mark your calendar and register!
🌐 Join PIE / Official Website: https://www.proposalindustryexperts.com
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProposalIndustryExperts
💼 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/proposal-industry-experts/