Explore every episode of the podcast How We Connected
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecting Through Yoga: James Tan, CEO, Yerbana | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:54:56 | |
Building Community & Wellness with James Tan, CEO, Yerbana In this insightful and inspiring first episode of How We Connected from the US Chamber of Connection, we are joined by James Tan, founder and CEO of Yerbana, a holistic wellness organization based in Seattle. James shares his journey from being an introverted, health-conscious kid to creating a thriving community centered around wellness. He recounts the challenges of balancing a passion-driven business with community building, and his initial forays into promoting Yerba Mate as a healthy beverage. James discusses his flagship event, Yoga in the Park, which grew from a small gathering to an event drawing nearly a thousand people weekly, promoting accessible health and wellness. He touches on the struggles of running a for-profit beverage company, the transformative power of community support, and his vision for expanding his wellness initiatives nationally. The episode concludes with James offering advice for aspiring community builders and details on how to get involved with Yerbana. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Launch 03:25 Charlotte's Travel and Reflections 11:21 About the US Chamber of Connection 16:34 Interview with James Tan: Early Life and Wellness Journey 26:02 Starting Yurana: The Yerba Mate Business 28:41 Birth and Growth of Yoga in the Park 35:40 Financial Struggles and Sustainability Challenges 40:33 Vision for Accessible Wellness and National Expansion 46:45 Community Building Strategies and Advice 51:02 Closing Reflections and Next Episode Preview --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Yerbana www.yerbana.com Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Trailer: How We Connected | 08 Dec 2025 | 00:02:37 | |
How We Connected brings listeners inside the conversations that power communities right across the United States. Every week, hosts Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and the moments of connection showing up in their own lives. They then talk with a community leader from somewhere in the country about the relationships, collaboration, and human stories behind meaningful change. Join us every week for reflections and practical advice on the ideas you can carry forward into your own communities. Aaron Hurst Aaron Hurst is the Co-Founder and CEO of the US Chamber of Connection and a long-time entrepreneur focused on purpose, community, and the future of work. He previously founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation, and authored The Purpose Economy. At the Chamber, he leads national efforts to strengthen community through connection. Aaron co-hosts How We Connected, bringing thoughtful insight and personal stories to each episode. Charlotte Massey Charlotte Massey is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the US Chamber of Connection, where she builds programs and partnerships that help communities thrive through stronger relationships. With a background in community development and network building, she focuses on practical ways people work better together. As co-host of How We Connected, Charlotte brings clarity, curiosity, and a grounded perspective to every conversation. Contact Us Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Finding Friends Through Fitness: Miracle Olatunji, Founder, Crunch & Brunch | 15 Dec 2025 | 00:41:38 | |
Building Community Through Fitness and Brunch with Miracle Olatunji In the second episode of 'How We Connected,' hosts Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey introduce Miracle Olatunji, founder of Crunch and Brunch and the Seattle Wellness Summit. Miracle shares her journey of moving to Seattle, the inspiration behind combining fitness and brunch to foster community, and practical insights on scaling her initiative. She discusses the importance of authenticity in partnerships, her strategies for securing sponsors, and her vision for expanding Crunch and Brunch nationwide. The episode underscores the significance of structured post-event socialization and offers valuable advice for aspiring community builders. 00:00 Introduction and Miracle's background 12:43 Early experiences with community 15:43 Creating Crunch and Brunch 21:13 Making friends as an adult 27:35 Event growth and sponsorships 33:16 Advice for community builders 35:46 Upcoming events and closing reflection --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Crunch and Brunch https://luma.com/CrunchandBrunch Miracle Olatunji Miracle is a keynote speaker, content creator, and founder of Crunch and Brunch and the Seattle Wellness Summit. After moving to Seattle in 2023, she created a community that combines group fitness with structured social time, solving the common problem of attending classes alongside the same people without ever really connecting. What started with six people has grown to nearly 1,000 subscribers and partnerships with over 20 fitness studios. With a background in finance and a passion for bringing people together, Miracle has secured major sponsorships from organizations like Columbia Bank and Lululemon. In 2026, she's expanding Crunch and Brunch nationally with chapters in new cities. Learn more at miracleolatunji.com and luma.com/CrunchandBrunch. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Art of Social Clubs: Margie Jiang, Founder, San Francisco Social Club | 22 Dec 2025 | 00:35:05 | |
Building Connections through Innovative Social Clubs In this episode of 'How We Connected,' hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst discuss community building and tackling the loneliness epidemic in America. They highlight their efforts at the US Chamber to create sustainable ecosystems for connection, including some insight into how we’re building the Chamber’s strategy for 2026 and beyond. The hosts then welcome Margie Jiang from SF Social Club, who shares her journey from dancing professionally to founding a vibrant, inclusive social club in San Francisco. Margie discusses the importance of intentional community-building, free membership models, collaborating with local businesses, and effective use of social media for growth. She also offers insights into creating volunteer roles and ensuring ongoing member engagement. The episode concludes with reflections on the evolution of social clubs and the importance of long-term community connections. 00:00 Introduction, What’s Going on at the Chamber 05:25 Building the Chamber’s Strategy - Retreat 10:02 Our guest: Margie Jiang - Early Community Experiences 13:25 Building the SF Social Club 16:20 Event Programming & Partnerships 19:46 Membership Model & Onboarding 24:11 Scaling & Team Management 24:25 Financial Sustainability 31:35 Reflection --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us SF Social Club Margie Jiang Margie is the founder of SF Social Club, a San Francisco–based social club designed to help people build real connection beyond single-interest groups. What began as a response to post-pandemic isolation has grown into a highly curated community of more than 400 active members, built around shared experiences, intentional onboarding, and consistent in-person programming. Margie leads all aspects of the club, from partnerships and programming to membership design and community standards, collaborating with local businesses and organizations to create experiences that turn strangers into friends. Alongside SF Social Club, Margie works at Deloitte, where she designs and delivers experiences for senior leaders tackling complex strategic challenges. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Building Global Communities: Gabriel Ghiglione, Global Lead, Midnight Runners | 30 Dec 2025 | 00:47:20 | |
An Intentional Approach to Building Community In this episode of How We Connected, hosts Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey discuss the importance of building connection and community in America. The conversation dives into Aaron's recent trip to Miami and Charlotte's adventurous holiday travel, highlighting the enriching experiences of spontaneity and connection. This week's interview features Gabriel Ghiglione, an experienced community builder who was global lead at Midnight Runners and helped expand the social running community to 18 cities globally. Gabe shares his playbook for building successful communities, emphasizing the importance of consistency, personal connection, and establishing a core group of volunteers. The hosts reflect on how to integrate these lessons into their own community-building efforts at the US Chamber of Connection. 00:00 Introduction to How We Connected 02:56 Holiday Travel Stories and Reflections 07:04 A Medical Emergency in Minnesota! 12:35 Gabriel Ghiglione's Journey: From Berlin to Global Community Building 20:40 The Playbook: Building Community in New Cities 28:30 Midnight Runners Today and New Projects 36:24 Intentional Diversity and Leadership in Communities 42:24 Key Takeaways and Closing Reflections --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Midnight Runners www.midnightrunners.com Gabriel Ghiglione Gabe is a community builder best known as global lead for Midnight Runners, a movement that combines running, music, and social connection to help people feel a sense of belonging in cities around the world. What began as a small volunteer-led run group grew into a nonprofit community active across 18 cities internationally. Gabriel spent nearly seven years launching chapters, developing local leadership teams, and refining a playbook centered on consistency, co-creation, and mission-led design. Today, he continues to apply these principles through neighborhood and creative communities in San Francisco, and through his work in community platforms and experiential design. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Community of Very Long Walks: Holden Minor Ringer, Seattle Super Saunter | 06 Jan 2026 | 00:44:07 | |
What happens when you invite people to walk together and really see their city? In this episode of How We Connected, Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey talk with Holden Minor Ringer, a Seattle community builder and transit advocate who believes walking is one of the simplest ways to fight isolation. Holden shares the story of walking more than 4,500 miles across the United States, relying on the kindness of strangers and gaining a front-row view of how cities either support or hinder human connection. That experience inspired the Seattle Super Saunter - a 22-mile walk across Seattle that drew 300 people, even in pouring rain. Holden explains how walking creates natural, low-pressure connection, why accessibility and flexibility matter, and how the saunter model can be replicated in other cities. This conversation is about movement, community, and the power of doing something simple together. 00:00 Introduction 04:10 Community Reflections 10:32 Meet Holden 14:41 Walking Across America 21:46 Creating the Seattle Super Saunter 29:20 Connecting Walking to Transit Advocacy 36:48 Replicating the Model 39:52 Wrap-up and Reflections --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Seattle Super Saunter Holden Minor Ringer Holden is the primary organizer for the Seattle Super Saunter. Prior to returning to Seattle in May of 2024 Holden walked across the country starting March 8th from La Push, WA and over the course of 423 days, 4,500+ miles and 20 states, completed his journey in New Haven, CT on May 4th 2024. Before his journey, Holden had walked all around the Pacific Northwest to prepare, having walked from Everett to Seattle, Seattle to Tacoma, all around Lake Washington, from Ballard to Tiger Mountain (and back), as well as from Vancouver, BC back to Seattle. To make a long story short, he's a big walker. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Trails of Connection: Tracy Stephens, Founder, BLK Hiking Club | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:46:39 | |
Building Community Through Outdoor Adventure In this episode of 'How We Connected,' hosts Aaron and Charlotte discuss the importance of community and connection in America - and the launch of the State of Connection report. Their guest today is Tracy Stephens, founder of the BLK Hiking Club. Tracy shares his journey from a novice hiker to leading a thriving community of black hikers in the south. The episode explores the challenges and triumphs the group faces, the transformative power of outdoor activities, and Tracy's vision for expanding the group. Aaron and Charlotte also share personal stories about their weekends and reflect on the broader impact of fostering inclusive spaces in the outdoor industry. 00:00 Introduction & Chamber Updates 15:23 Tracy's Origin Story 17:27 Discovering Hiking 22:49 The Moment That Started BLK Hiking Club 25:57 Growing the Community 31:59 Expanding Beyond Hiking 34:55 The South's Unique Context 39:21 Closing Thoughts --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us BLK Hiking Club Tracy Stephens, Founder, BLK Hiking Club Tracy started hiking back in 2018. He was introduced to hiking after his boss invited him to go to the mountains. He was hesitant because he always kind of lived by that stereotype that “Black people don’t hike”. He decided to take the chance and go on the hike. He fell in love with it immediately. Soon he was telling his friends about the hobby, hoping to get people together to hike with him. For the next three years he hiked on his own. In 2020, he created a logo for a group he would come to call “BLK Hiking Club,” but he was hesitant to get started. New Years Day of 2021 came around and he went hiking with a friend. They met a Black woman on the trail who spoke with them about her experiences. She talked about the traumas of hiking alone, seeing signs and political messages that made her fearful. Coming back down the mountain, Stephens realized what he had to do. He had the idea; the logo already solidified. It was time to make a plan and put it in action. He went home, created a social media page and the rest was history. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Conversations in the Heat: Hannah Goldstein, Founder, Tuli Lodge | 20 Jan 2026 | 00:48:34 | |
Seattle's Sauna Community Third Space In this episode of 'How We Connected,' hosts Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share their weekend highlights and dive into their mission at the US Chamber of Connection. Their guest this week is Hannah Goldstein, founder of Tuli Lodge, a social sauna experience in Seattle. Hannah discusses how a trip to Norway inspired her to create a community-focused sauna garden in the heart of Seattle - one that promotes wellness and connection. The conversation touches on the challenges of operating in Seattle, building a supportive environment for conversations, and future expansion plans. Aaron shares a personal confession about owning an unused sauna and the two hosts reflect on the broader significance of creating accessible third spaces. 00:00 What’s happening this week at the Chamber of Connection? 16:39 Hannah Goldstein, Tuli Lodge 17:44 What is Tuli Lodge? 19:47 Early Entrepreneurial Spirit 21:55 The Pants Debate 24:06 Norway Inspiration 26:05 Building Community Through Design 35:23 Collaborations & Events 39:06 Future Growth --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Tuli Lodge Hannah Goldstein, Founder, Tuli Lodge Hannah is the founder and CEO of Tuli Lodge, a social sauna experience on the Seattle waterfront that combines wood-fired saunas and cold plunges with a community-oriented atmosphere. She developed the concept after a 2023 trip to Norway where she encountered casual Nordic sauna culture and saw an opportunity to bring something similar to Seattle. Before launching Tuli Lodge, she worked in the tech industry, including a role at TikTok, before shifting her focus to wellness and community experiences. Tuli Lodge officially opened its winter season on Pier 62 in late 2025 and aims to create a space that feels like a neighborhood hangout rather than a luxury spa. Goldstein’s work centers on helping people unplug, reconnect with nature, and build social connections through shared wellness rituals. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Keep on Running: Lionel Brodie, Founder, Original Propaganda Athletic Club | 27 Jan 2026 | 00:50:36 | |
In this episode of 'How We Connected,' hosts Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey plan for birthdays, travel and the glamour of the Grammies - as well as the latest at the US Chamber of Connection. The episode features an engaging and entertaining conversation with Lionel Brodie, founder of Original Propaganda Athletic Club (OPAC) in Philadelphia. Lionel discusses his journey from founding a high school club to building a thriving running community and apparel brand. Highlighting the importance of inclusivity, collaboration, and balancing community-building with financial sustainability, Lionel shares valuable insights and anecdotes that are both inspiring and practical for aspiring community builders. 00:00 Introduction & Weekend Updates 09:58 Meet Lionel Brodie 11:16 Origin Story: The Varsity 13:51 Starting OPAC Running Club 19:55 Building Community & Membership Model 25:33 Economics & Sustainability 35:28 Accessibility & Inclusion 39:47 Advice for New Community Builders --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us O.P.A.C www.opac.club Lionel Brahim Brodie III, Founder, Original Propaganda Athletic Club Lionel is the founder of OPAC, a Philadelphia-based running community he launched in 2012 after starting his first run crew at Villanova University, where he served as Director of Equipment for 24 NCAA varsity sports. What began as a way to get free sneakers has grown into one of Philly's most inclusive athletic communities, built on the philosophy of "all faces, all paces." Brodie also co-founded Original Propaganda, a private-label apparel line that merges athletic function with high fashion. Under his leadership, OPAC has partnered with Nike, Lululemon, and Hoka, and produces signature events including OPAC Relays, Philly United, and OPAC Expo. A West Philadelphia native, Brodie is known for delivering Olympic-level experiences to runners of all skill levels, from couch-to-5K beginners to Boston Qualifiers. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Creating Yummy Spaces: Liz Cahill, Decentered Arts | 03 Feb 2026 | 00:32:28 | |
In this episode of 'How We Connected,' hosts Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey talk about some unique celebrations and Charlotte's plans for her 30th birthday party. The main interview features an insightful conversation with Liz Cahill, a community builder in San Francisco, who shares her journey from feeling isolated in Philadelphia to creating vibrant, inclusive community spaces. Liz discusses her experience of hosting events in various settings, including her Mission live-work warehouse, and highlights the importance of creating 'yummy' spaces that foster connection and comfort. The discussion also touches on Liz's commitment to the Bay Area and her efforts to support the local community through Decentered Arts. 00:00 Introduction 00:23 Charlotte's 30th Birthday Party 01:00 Reality TV Weekend Plans 08:24 Interview with Liz Cahill 08:57 Liz's Early Years 09:54 College & Finding Community 11:54 Moving to San Francisco 15:21 Building Decentered Arts 18:30 The Uzi Gallery Warehouse 20:57 Creating Yummy Spaces 24:04 Commitment to the Bay Area 30:00 Reflection --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Decentered Arts decentered.org Liz Cahill, Co-Founder, Decentered Arts Liz Cahill is a poet, producer, artist and curator based in the Mission, San Francisco. Her writing explores the impacts of late stage capitalism, income inequality and waste, while trying to find beauty in the garbage age. She’s the co-founder of Decentered Arts, a non-profit building community through art of all mediums and the Piles Collective. Her first book Garbage Age lady is fourthcoming on Decentered Press. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Connections Beyond Borders: Darilys Matos Acevedo, Founder, Raices Latinas/Friends Beyond Boston | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:45:25 | |
In this episode of How We Connected, hosts Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey discuss the importance of building connections and the role of repetition in forming strong friendships. They welcome guest Darilys, a community builder who shares her experiences and challenges in creating social groups in Boston. Darilys touches on the cultural differences between Puerto Rico and mainland U.S. and the impact of hostility towards immigrants on her Latino-focused group. She also discusses the strategies she employs to foster connections, including hosting coffee socials and leveraging technology platforms. 00:00 Introduction: The Mission 14:59 Welcome Darilys 16:10 Origin Story: Moving to Boston 20:48 Starting Friends Beyond Boston 23:20 Platform Changes & Moving to Heylo 27:03 Coffee Socials 30:49 Cultural Differences: Puerto Rico vs Boston 35:16 Advice for Community Builders 38:17 Reflection --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Raices Latinas / Friends Beyond Boston raiceslatinas.walthamsocial.com walthamsocial.com Darilys, Founder, Raices Latinas/Friends Beyond Boston Darilys is the Founder of Raíces Latinas and Friends Beyond Boston. A Puerto Rican community leader based in Boston, she focuses on building belonging and cultural pride. Her work centers Latino voices while creating bridges across communities. Through events, storytelling, and partnerships, she strengthens civic connection and mutual support. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Community Rewards: Eric Leslie, Founder, Union Capital | 02 Mar 2026 | 00:49:02 | |
This week on How We Connected hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst reflect on Charlotte's reality-TV-competition-themed 30th birthday weekend: structured games, fondue dinner toasts, and life advice at midnight. Over at the U.S Chamber of Connection, they prepare for this week’s Seattle club fair at the Nordic Museum, the upcoming neighborhood “Best Day Ever” event in South Park, and a webinars on Main Streets and community service with Workday. The interview this week features Eric Leslie, Founder of Union Capital in Boston, who has built a relationship-driven “loyalty program” that rewards unpaid community participation with points and gift cards, hosts network nights with meals and childcare, and tracks outcomes like employment, voting, and credit-score awareness. It raises broader questions about money’s role in social connection. 00:00 Introduction 01:45 Charlotte's 30th Birthday Party 10:59 Chamber of Connection Updates 17:00 Interview: Eric Leslie from Union Capital 17:39 Eric's Origin Story 21:06 How Union Capital Works 25:22 Member Journey 33:02 Points System and What Counts 37:00 Measuring Impact and Success 42:09 Sustainable Models for Connection 47:16 Closing Reflection --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Union Capital Eric Leslie, Founder, Union Capital Eric is the Founder and Lead Organizer of Union Capital, a nonprofit he launched in 2014 to transform social capital into opportunity by rewarding community engagement. Eric began his career as a community organizer with the Industrial Areas Foundation before joining Teach For America and teaching in North Philadelphia. He went on to serve as principal of KIPP Philadelphia Charter School from 2008 to 2012, then returned home to earn his MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Under his leadership, Union Capital has grown to serve thousands of members across Boston and Springfield, awarding over $1.8 million in rewards for community involvement and hosting more than 120 Network Nights annually. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| No Philosophers Required: Ren Yu, Co-Founder, New York Philosophy Club | 24 Feb 2026 | 00:49:14 | |
In this episode of How We Connected from the US Chamber of Connection, hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst catch up on their weekends - Charlotte's elaborate reality-TV-themed 30th birthday party planning and Aaron's dinner debate about whether vampires are cannibals. Aaron shares updates on the upcoming Connected Cities Summit in Seattle, including plans for a "Declaration of Interdependence.” They welcome guest Ren Yu, co-founder of the New York Philosophy Club, who shares how he went from being an only child to building a community of over 6,000 members in New York City. Ren describes how the club works: attendees receive a sheet of questions exploring a single word - topics like suffering, longing, or death - and discuss in small groups of four or five, rotating through three 30-minute sections before heading to a jazz bar or park for informal after-party. He talks about keeping moderation light, costs low, and the format intentionally accessible - no philosophy degree required. Ren shares the club's vision for expanding to other cities, piloting in high schools, and potentially adapting the model for other settings, while preserving the quality and magic of the experience. 00:00 Introduction 02:29 Birthday Plans and Sexy Vampires 12:51 Connected Cities Summit 18:36 Interview: Ren Yu of NY Philosophy Club 24:30 What is Philosophy Club? 31:40 Growing to 6,000+ Members 33:40 Future Expansion 41:49 Reflection --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us New York Philosophy Club Ren Yu, Co-Founder, New York Philosophy Club Ren is a co-founder of the New York Philosophy Club, a free public gathering where strangers discuss a single word, ike suffering, longing, or beauty, in small groups across three rotating rounds. Featured by Vogue as one of New York's hottest gatherings, the club has grown to over 6,000 subscribers and hosts hundreds of guests each week across multiple neighborhoods. Ren finished high school early, attended Brandeis at 16 on a merit scholarship, and later transferred to NYU, where he balanced studies with a career in finance. What started as informal discussions in his apartment merged with two other small salons to become one of the city's most in-demand community experiences. The club is now expanding to other cities and piloting in high schools. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Crafting Community Spaces: Haley Ingersoll, Founder, Pittsburgh Social Health | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:47:26 | |
In this episode of How We Connected from the US Chamber of Connection, hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst discuss what’s happening at the Chamber. They welcome guest Haley, a community builder in Pittsburgh, who shares her background growing up in a small town, studying sociology and psychology, and moving to Pittsburgh during the pandemic. Dog walking helped her explore the city and meet people, leading her to start a transplant meetup that grew from 14 attendees to a much larger community. She describes how her work evolved into Pittsburgh Social Health, focused on third spaces, offline meetups, and interactive programming. Haley talks about her upcoming “Connection Expo,” a college-style club fair for adults on Pittsburgh’s South Side, featuring 80 organizations and roughly 400 RSVPs - and the challenges in sustaining community work, including time demands on volunteer leaders, keeping events accessible and low-cost, using partnerships with local business. She shares how she measures success through participant sentiment, feelings of safety and belonging, and actionable next steps. 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Weekend Catch-Up 09:11 Conference Strategy 18:54 Introducing Haley Ingersoll 20:09 Growing Up in a Small Town 21:36 Moving to Pittsburgh During the Pandemic 23:53 From 14 People to 400: Growth Story 25:14 The Connection Expo 29:20 Building Community Between Events 36:01 Economics and Sustainability 41:34 Reflection and Takeaways 46:44 Closing Thoughts --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Pittsburg Social Health www.instagram.com/pghsocialhealth Haley Ingersol, Founder, Pittsburg Social Health Haley Ingersol is the founder of Pittsburgh Social Health, a grassroots initiative dedicated to helping people build meaningful connections in the city. With a background in social work and experience spanning human services, academia, government, start-ups, and hospitality, she brings a cross-sector lens to community building. Haley believes social connectedness is essential to overall well-being. Through social and sightseeing meetups, she creates welcoming spaces for new and returning residents to find belonging. Her work centers on equity, comprehensive wellness, and reducing social isolation. Above all, she is committed to shaping a more connected social future. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Reigniting Civic Pride: Brian Robinson, Founder, Save Our Sonics/Seattle NBA Fans | 17 Mar 2026 | 00:46:14 | |
On this week’s How We Connected, hosts Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey reflect on what’s going on at the US Chamber of Connection. There’s a pi(e)-themed, math-costume birthday gathering and a Seattle potluck for Thomas J. Watson Fellowship alumni. On the horizon, a health and wellbeing welcome night and a “Best Day Ever” neighborhood field trip. This week’s featured guest is Brian Robinson, who talks about 25 years organizing to keep and then bring back the NBA’s Seattle Supersonics. 00:00 Welcome to How We Connected 01:48 Weekend Stories 07:53 AI, Future of Work and Chamber Plans 17:55 Introducing: Brian Robinson, Save Our Sonics 18:22 Origin Story 23:31 Building the Community 32:52 What Success Looks Like 40:38 Reflection --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Brian Robinson, Founder, Save Our Sonics Brian is a lifelong Seattle resident and co-founder of Save Our Sonics, the grassroots nonprofit he launched in 2006 after Oklahoma investors purchased the SuperSonics – fighting to keep the team in the city and, when that failed, to bring it back. When the Sonics moved in 2008, Robinson didn't stop. He co-founded ArenaSolution.org, served as associate producer of the Webby Award-winning documentary "Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team," and executive produced the Iconic Sonics Podcast with former head coach George Karl. Today he leads Seattle NBA Fans, a grassroots coalition building community support for what he believes is an inevitable NBA return to Seattle. Seattle NBA Fans Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Decentered Studio: Liz Cahill, Co-Founder, Decentered Arts, Returns! | 10 Mar 2026 | 00:43:30 | |
On this week's How We Connected, hosts Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey catch up after Seattle’s successful club fair at the National Nordic Museum and there’s an update on the “Best Day Ever” event. Aaron has spent the week at spring training in Florida, while contemplating rebranding bars as “social clubs” to reset social norms. The featured interview this week is the return of Liz Cahill of Decentered Arts in San Francisco. Aaron and Liz talk about launching Decentered Studio, a 1,700-square-foot, plant-filled, modular community space that opened in September 2025. 00:00 Introduction and Chamber Updates 14:06 Decentralized Arts: The Space 17:21 The Crisis: Losing Four Venues 21:54 Creating a Physical Space 25:26 Building Community Through Consistency 28:19 Tools for Growth 32:26 Future Vision: The Mycelium Network 37:33 Closing Thoughts --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Decentered Arts Liz Cahill, Co-Founder, Decentered Arts Liz Cahill is a poet, producer, artist and curator based in the Mission, San Francisco. Her writing explores the impacts of late stage capitalism, income inequality and waste, while trying to find beauty in the garbage age. She’s the co-founder of Decentered Arts, a non-profit building community through art of all mediums and the Piles Collective. Her first book Garbage Age lady is fourthcoming on Decentered Press. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Cultivating Joyful Resistance: Jennifer Yonda, Founder, Skate Hunnies | 24 Mar 2026 | 01:02:18 | |
Hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst debrief Seattle’s first “Best Day Ever” event in South Park, organized with Cultivate South Park and the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. The neighborhood has a tight-knit, majority-Latino character and some unique challenges. Best Day Ever brought people together from across the community for a day of fun, chocolate tasting, pizza-making and a stilt-led walking tour. This week’s featured interview spotlights Jennifer Yonda, founder of LA Skate Hunnies, detailing its beginner-friendly, all-wheels skate community, pandemic-era growth, and the organising realities, including safety, permits, and liability. 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 04:35 Best Day in South Park 22:31 Introduction: Jennifer Yonda, Skate Hunnies LA 25:57 Early Roots in Community Building 29:24 Starting Skate Hunnies 32:09 The First Meetup and Fear of Failure 36:09 Growth: From 4 People to 100s 47:38 Permits, Insurance and the Unglamorous Side 50:27 Going Full-Time with Skate Hunnies 52:38 Upcoming Events 55:43 Community Impact 56:41 Reflection --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us LA Skate Hunnies laskatehunnies.com Jennifer Yorda, Founder, LA Skate Hunnies Jennifer is the founder of LA Skate Hunnies, the largest roller and inline skating community in Los Angeles. Originally from upstate New York, she moved to LA chasing year-round outdoor life - and discovered she could skate nearly 300 days a year. After finding the city's existing skate scene too advanced for beginners, she hosted her first meetup in July 2020 with four people on the boardwalk. By spring 2021, weekly attendance had exploded to over 100. Today, Skate Hunnies hosts its signature Thursday Night Skate in rotating LA neighborhoods alongside pop-up events, skate lessons, and retreats - all wheels welcome. Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Building Bridges Through Music: Shaka Mitchell, Founder, Come Together Music | 31 Mar 2026 | 00:55:44 | |
Hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst introduce How We Connected from the US Chamber of Connection. On the show this week: Aaron’s Seattle-to–San Francisco trip for Yankees games, a surprise reunion, and reflections on organizing local “connection” leaders into a collective “us” rather than isolated efforts. This week’s featured guest is Shaka Mitchell, based in Nashville, who leads the Come Together music project. He started a “song swap” during the pandemic, scaling it into the Come Together Music Project and podcast, using guided song prompts to deepen relationships and bridge polarization, with live sessions, audience participation, and plans to measure impact and train facilitators. 00:00 Intro and Welcome 01:57 Weekend Recaps 12:49 Chamber Updates 17:03 Meet Shaka Mitchell 17:42 From Connector Kid to Song Swap 22:38 Birth of Come Together Music 31:11 How It Works 48:25 Vision 51:41 Reflection --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Shaka Mitchell, Founder, Come Together Music The Come Together Music Project, founded by Shaka Mitchell, is a unique initiative that uses music as a catalyst for storytelling, connection, and civil discourse. Each session pairs guests from differing backgrounds to share songs linked to personal experiences, providing an opportunity to build new relationships, deepen existing ones, and bridge divides. Shaka Mitchell is a Senior Fellow at the American Federation for Children, advocating nationally for K–12 school choice and educational equity Come Together Podcast podcasts.apple.com/sn/podcast/come-together-podcast/id1691123150 Come Together Music Project www.cometogetherpodcast.com Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Connection Catalyst: Hansen Hunt on Leading with Invitation, Founder, B-Side Racing Team | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:50:55 | |
Hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst open How We Connected from the US Chamber of Connection with weekend updates - gardening, a Seattle Women’s Network gala, and Aaron’s son playing a high-school “assassin” water-gun game. At the Chamber there’s events planning, a branding refresh, and the Connected Cities Summit partnerships. The featured interview this week is with Hanson Hunt, co-founder of the new San Diego chapter, who describes building communities from his marketing career while feeling personally lonely before sobriety. He points to the power of personal invitations into shared challenges such as marathon training and his various groups - the Bayside Racing Team, a neighborhood “hood hang,” and the 1,300-person global Connection Crew. 00:00 Introduction and Weekend Check-In 05:20 Assassin Game & Senior Spring 13:23 Introducing Hansen Hunt 14:34 Hansen's Origin Story 17:19 Sobriety and Finding His Tribe 22:13 The Communities Hansen Runs 35:21 The Art of Invitation 42:22 Reflection --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Hansen Hunt, Co-Founder, San Diego Chamber of Connection; Founder and Team Captain B-Side Racing Team Hansen is a born-and-raised San Diegan whose career in marketing and community organizing has always centered on one thing: bringing people together. In 2019 he joined the San Diego Track Club to train for his first marathon, found his running family, and never looked back, eventually founding the B-Side Racing Team, an all-ages, all-paces crew open to everyone. That same conviction led him to co-found the San Diego Chamber of Connection, bringing the movement for human connection to his hometown. B-Side Racing Team www.instagram.com/bsideracingteam/ Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Power of Laughter: Yao Huang, Founder, Wonder Women | 14 Apr 2026 | 00:44:33 | |
On this week's How We Connected from the US Chamber of Connection, hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst discuss some recent connection experiments: Aaron hosted mostly male friends to watch Michigan win a basketball championship, while Charlotte attended a Seattle Community Builders Dinner where participants did simple drawing and collage activities about ideal “third places.” The interview this week is with Yao Huang, founder of Wonder Women, a largely invitation-based “whisper network” that began as casual women’s dinners and has grown over 20 years to about 20,000 women leaders across 30 cities. Yao emphasizes humor, curated guest lists, repeatable hosting scripts, and women-only spaces to create trust, friendship, and mutual support. 00:00 Intro and Check-In 01:54 What's Been on Our Minds 13:00 Meet Yao 13:30 Yao's Origin Story 14:10 Standup Comedy and Finding the Real Yao 14:55 Wonder Women: How It Started 21:26 The Formula: Curating Connection 25:49 Community Ripple Effects and The Vouch Network 34:00 Secret Sauce: Extroverts, Energy and Fun 40:27 Reflections --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Yao Huang, Founder, Wonder Women Yao is the founder of Wonder Women, an invitation-only global community that has grown over nearly two decades from a handful of friends gathering for dinner in New York into a whisper network spanning roughly 30 cities and 20,000 women across three continents. She is also the founder and managing partner of The Hatchery, one of the organizations most responsible for building New York's tech ecosystem, where she has helped hundreds of early-stage companies with product, revenue, and fundraising, and co-founded Division One Capital, a fund expanding access to capital for women and minority-owned small businesses. Her winding path through healthcare, tech, finance, and climate included a memorable detour into stand-up comedy at clubs like Carolines and B.B. King's, an experience she credits with pulling out the goofy, funny version of herself that her corporate days had been hiding. Recognized by Forbes as one of the women at the center of New York's digital scene and by TechWeek among the 100 most influential people in tech, Yao is above all a student of human behavior who has figured out how to make a room full of strangers feel like old friends by the end of the night. Wonder Women wonderwomen.hatchery.vc Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Rolling with Intent: Brandon DesJarlais, Co-Founder, Vibe Ride | 21 Apr 2026 | 00:51:00 | |
More members isn’t always better Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst open How We Connected by reflecting on building community with the right goals, the importance of fun and resonance over sheer scale, and recent experiments in connection. This week’s interview is with Brandon DesJarlais, a world-renowned longboarder, based in Los Angeles and co-founder of Vibe Ride. He shares how a middle-school incident led him to leave a destructive friend group and how longboarding helped him face his fears. During COVID, DesJarlais shifted from competitive riding to teaching online tutorials and hosting free clinics that grew into a community of 700 active members. He describes Vibe Ride’s mission, leadership model, rituals, intentions, icebreakers, and “surprise and delight” rolling dance-party rides. A key insight? He argues that more members isn’t always better. Enjoy! 00:00 Introduction 14:22 Brandon DesJarlais: Early Life and Masking Authenticity 16:12 The Turning Point: Friends, Family and Diverging Paths 19:21 Wrestling, Skating and Facing Fears 24:33 Viral Tutorials and the Birth of Vibe Ride 27:42 What a Vibe Ride Looks Like 37:43 Sustainability, Identity and Vision for the Future 47:49 Reflections --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Brandon DesJarlais, Co-Founder, Vibe Ride Brandon is a professional longboarder, coach, and community builder based in Venice Beach. He has competed across disciplines from downhill racing to longboard dancing, skated in 26 countries, and once stunt-doubled for Vin Diesel in xXx: Return of Xander Cage. In 2021 he founded Beyond the Board, a Los Angeles 501(c)(3) using skateboarding to build confidence and connection. Its flagship program, Vibe Ride, is the weekly sunset group ride he co-founded in Santa Monica and Venice Beach that now counts 700 active members and has been profiled by the LA Times. Brandon teaches community-building through his 4C's Framework. Vibe Ride www.heylo.com/blog/brandon-desjarlais-and-vibe-ride-la Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Party On! Evan Cudworth, the World's First Party Coach | 28 Apr 2026 | 01:02:23 | |
Welcoming, Structure, and the Party Within On this week's How We Connected from the US Chamber of Connection, hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst talk about a volunteer potluck party and brainstorming “National Welcome Week.” There's a recap on current work expanding partnerships and planning upcoming events. This week's feature interview is with Evan Cudworth, the world’s first “party coach,” who describes early connection through communal building, finding collective effervescence in raves, and defining a party as a temporary vibe shift with others. He outlines his “Party Within” process (detox, identity release, a 21-day wellness bender, tribe-building, hosting, and learning to receive) and offers tactics for inclusive events: roles, activity stations, clear structure, and guided dance instruction for a conference dance party. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 02:12 Volunteer Party Recap 17:50 Introducing Evan, the World's First Party Coach 18:13 Evan's Early Experiences with Connection 21:45 Defining Party: The Temporary Vibe Shift 32:03 Creating Structure at Parties 40:48 The Party Within: Evan's 7-Stage Framework 44:35 Designing a Dance Party at a Conference 51:43 Reflection 54:42 Takeaways and the Bat Signal App --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Evan Cudworth, Party Coach Evan Cudworth is the world's first Party Coach, a Chicago-raised, Los Angeles-based coach and community builder helping people rebuild their social lives without numbing out or chasing nostalgia. After 15 years in the music, festival, and nightlife scenes, he pivoted to full-time coaching in 2020 and built The Party Within, a 7-stage method blending intention-setting, dopamine resets, and tools for authentic connection. He draws on eight years coaching elite college and MBA applicants, plus thousands of hours leading workshops and retreats. Evan founded KNOWFUN, a digital community mixing party culture and wellness, and his work has been featured in GQ, the Los Angeles Times, and the Washington Post, where he makes the case that connection is a skill worth practicing. Connect with Evan Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Play Catch with Me: Ethan Bryan's Movement Built One Throw at a Time | 05 May 2026 | 00:47:33 | |
On this week's How We Connected from the US Chamber of Connection, hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst kick off conference week at the Council on Foundations annual gathering in Seattle, where they're hosting a breakfast to make the case that connection is the next major frontier in philanthropy. They cover Charlotte's week in a Colorado cabin, an unexpected friendship struck up in a Pilates class, and Aaron's tequila-fuelled failure with balloon decorations for his son's 18th birthday. This week's feature interview is with Ethan Bryan, author of A Year of Playing Catch, who on January 1, 2018 was dared by his daughters to play catch every day for a year. He tells the story of how that single act unlocked a grassroots movement, why catch is uniquely human (it uses both sides of the brain at once, which lets the conversational gatekeeper drop), and the school mentee who had never held a glove. Aaron and Charlotte close the episode by going outside to play catch in an alley. 0:00 - Introduction 0:30 - Welcome and Conference Week 3:07 - Gifts, Outfits and Weekend Updates 12:56 - Introducing Ethan Bryan 16:11 - The Year of Playing Catch 28:15 - The Movement Grows 36:17 - Dreams for the Future 41:34 - Hosts Reflect on Playing Catch --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Ethan Bryan, Author and Storyteller Ethan Bryan is a Springfield, Missouri-based author and storyteller whose work centers on baseball, play, and the people who make community happen. On January 1, 2018, dared by his daughters at the dinner table, he set out to play catch with someone every day for a year. The experience took him across ten states and roughly twelve thousand miles, throwing a ball with public school teachers, veterans, journalists, nurses, entertainers, athletes from every level, and members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The resulting book, A Year of Playing Catch, was a Casey Award finalist and is now the seed of a quiet grassroots movement of people doing the same thing in their own cities. Ethan lost his hair to alopecia at age six and has often described that early experience of being on the margins as foundational to the way he approaches connection now. He works at Community Partnership of the Ozarks, where he uses catch to mentor students, and he is building a curriculum to train others to do the same. His writing has earned him invitations to the White House and the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He lives in Springfield with his wife Jamie and daughters Kaylea and Sophie, and still dreams of playing for the Kansas City Royals. Connect with Ethan ethanbryan.com Read the book: Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Art of the Toast: Daniel Padrnos, Founder, Supra Dinner Society | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:57:08 | |
It’s been a busy week for Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst at the US Chamber of Connection. Aaron’s son celebrated a place at the University of Michigan and high school graduation with family storytelling prompts. Charlotte’s looks forward to the “Best Day Ever” downtown Seattle event with partners at Pike Place Market, including connection workshops and art activities. This week’s guest is Daniel Padrnos of the Georgian Supra Society, a dinner tradition led by a Tamada, toastmaster, and a mekippe, wine pourer, where toasts structure conversation and wine is “for the words,” not drinking alone. He recounts discovering Supra through nonprofit work, co-founding a Georgian restaurant in South Carolina, launching Super Dinner Society in Seattle, training hosts, and building tools like an online course and “Toasting Topics.” 00:00 Introduction: What's Up at the Chamber 02:22 Aaron's Weekend Story 13:34 Best Day Ever Recap 23:49 Growing Up with Community Dinners 26:15 Discovering the Supra in Sierra Leone 27:56 What Is a Supra? 32:02 Live Toast Demonstration 43:18 Stories from the Supras 45:29 Future Plans and Toasting Topics 46:43 The Business Model 50:19 Toasting Tips for a Graduation 53:14 Reflection --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Daniel Padrnos, Founder, Georgian Supra Society Daniel is executive director of Supra Dinner Society, Daniel is dedicated to bringing the ancient Georgian feast to America. He played an integral role in creating the first restaurant in America that offered Supras, Keipi Restaurant in Greenville, SC. He has led numerous tours to Georgia, sitting in on the ancient feast with men and women who have opened up the heart of the Supra to him. He has studied and written extensively on the Supra. His favorite toast is to journeys and destinations. Vibe Ride www.heylo.com/blog/brandon-desjarlais-and-vibe-ride-la Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Power of Play: Vanessa Elias, Block Party USA | 26 May 2026 | 00:49:46 | |
Hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst of the US Chamber of Connection open with Memorial Day week updates, including Charlotte's 22-hour Colorado-to-Seattle drive spent talking and listening to Gone Girl and Aaron's bittersweet last hurrah weekend with his son before graduation. This week at the Chamber, there's Seattle's Connection Council, Bellevue workshops, Best Day Ever, and a Workday symposium in San Francisco. This week's guest is Vanessa Elias, who shares how moving 28 times across four countries shaped both her loneliness and her connection skills, including the pivotal moment when neighbors showed up after her infant brother died. She links rising youth anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues to over-scheduled lives and the loss of free play and makes the case that block parties build the village families need while restoring everyday civility through face-to-face contact. Vanessa offers practical tips for hosting block parties and challenges Charlotte and Aaron to publicly commit to throwing neighborhood gatherings this summer. 00:00 Introduction: Catch and Chamber Events 11:06 Vanessa Elias: Block Party USA 11:55 Growing Up Always Moving 16:30 Kids' Mental Health and Free Play 22:49 Block Party Tips: How to Start 26:15 Block Party Therapy with Aaron 35:05 Vanessa's Vision and Resources 43:22 Closing Reflections --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Vanessa Ellias, Block Party USA Vanessa Elias is a mental health activist, certified parent coach, and founder of Block Party USA, a nonprofit working to bring block parties to every neighborhood in America. Having moved 28 times in her life, she understands firsthand what loneliness costs and what neighborhoods can heal. After her 2018 Big Block Party Weekend in Wilton, Connecticut drew 1,200 residents to roughly 40 parties, she founded Block Party USA in 2023, and the initiative has since reached 46 states and five countries. She is also a speaker for The Aspen Institute's Weave Social Fabric Project, a NAMI parent support group facilitator, and founder of the coaching practice Thrive With A Guide. Connect with Vanessa blockpartyusa.org Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Trail Ahead: Jen Loving-Wade, President, Girls Who Hike Virginia | 19 May 2026 | 00:49:25 | |
Hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst of the US Chamber of Connection discuss Charlotte's 24-hour screen-free experiment from a cabin in Colorado, reflecting on our technology addiction. Meanwhile, Aaron enjoyed a trip to Coney Island as a model of authentic, locally rooted connection. And the idea that you can throw a celebration for almost anything. This week at the Chamber, there's Seattle's Connection Council, an arts and culture club fair, and the upcoming Best Day Ever event. This week's guest is Jenn Loving Wade, who shares how she went from a socially isolated newcomer in the DC area to co-founding Girls Who Hike Virginia, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that grew from a 2,000-person Facebook group to a statewide community, powered by a volunteer board and roughly 90 ambassadors hosting hundreds of hikes a year. 00:00 Introduction and Chamber Updates 16:52 Jenn Loving Wade: Girls Who Hike Virginia 19:23 From 2,000 to 35,000 Members 20:23 Secrets to Growing a Community 23:17 Ambassador Events and Programming 24:54 Jenn's Personal Hiking Journey 29:24 Building an Authentic Brand 35:21 Nonprofit Structure and Future Vision 42:58 Reflection --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Jenn Loving Wade, Girls Who Hike Virginia Jenn is co-founder of Girls Who Hike Virginia, a volunteer-runnonprofit that helps women and people who identify as women find community, confidence, and education in the outdoors. Her path into community building was almost accidental: after moving from Florida to the Washington, DC area, she felt the social isolation that so many people experience in a new place, and in 2021 she answered a Facebook post asking for help reviving a dormant hiking group. As someone who already spent her working days in social media and brand strategy, she figured she was online anyway, and she stepped in to help admin the group. Under her and the founding team's stewardship, the Facebook community grew from around 2,000 members to roughly 35,000, and the nonprofit was formally established six months later in 2022. Today Girls Who Hike Virginia runs on a small volunteer board and a network of nearly 90 ambassadors across the state, who together hosted almost 300 events in 2025. Jenn built the brand to be deliberately human-centered rather than another logo people scroll past, anchored in a teal palette and a Blue Ridge Mountains logo, and grounded in a culture where people do not have to perform to belong. Connect with Jenn www.gwhva.org Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Long Run: Rachel Bambrick, Founder, Women in Ultrarunning | 12 May 2026 | 00:59:50 | |
Hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst of the US Chamber of Connection discuss community-building efforts at the Chamber, including Charlotte’s Seattle Picnic Society, her involvement in women’s outdoor groups, and upcoming Chamber events. They reflect on takeaways from the Council on Foundations conference in Seattle, emphasizing funder interest in connection, a conference design that fostered relationship-building, and research on belonging during transitions. This week’s guest is Rachel Bambrick, who shares how dance, ultimate frisbee, and then Philadelphia running communities shaped her connection journey, leading to ultrarunning and her nonprofit Women in Ultrarunning, which builds chapters, provides education, offers grants, and supports women in a male-dominated sport. 00:00 Introduction and Host Updates 05:39 Council on Foundations Conference Recap 14:26 Welcome Rachel Bambrick 18:04 Rachel's Journey: Dance to Ultra Running 24:46 Hardest Races and Mental Resilience 29:36 Women in Ultrarunning: The Community Rachel Built 43:44 Advice for Community Builders 48:31 Reflection: Mission-Driven Communities --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Rachel Bambrick, Women in Ultrarunning Rachel is an ultramarathoner, UESCA-certified running coach, and the founder of Women in Ultrarunning, a nonprofit she launched in Philadelphia in January 2024 to bring more women into one of the most male-dominated corners of endurance sport. By day, she works as a pediatric occupational therapist, and her path to ultras began almost accidentally after she moved to Philadelphia in 2016 looking for community and started showing up to local run clubs. She has since logged multiple 100-plus-mile finishes, including Cocodona 250, the Divide 200, and the Javelina Jundred twice, and she currently holds the female unsupported FKT for Pennsylvania's Batona Trail. Women in Ultrarunning has grown from a local event series into a national nonprofit with chapters in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Colorado, and Montana, organized around three pillars: in-person community, educational programming on everything from nutrition to wilderness first aid, and grants that lower the financial barrier to entry for women new to the sport. Rachel's vision is one where the work she does eventually becomes less necessary, because the trail running community has finally caught up to what women are capable of in it. Connect with Rachel womeninultrarunning.com Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Playful Connections: Safi Aziz, Founder, Joust Society | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:42:41 | |
Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst of the US Chamber of Connection discuss Charlotte’s weekend sorting childhood boxes and finding old party invitations and Aaron’s excitement about the New York Knicks championship, a Pittsburgh chapter launch, and a team retreat. This week's interview is with Safi Aziz founder of Joust, a “play club” that uses curated, fast, easy-to-learn games and carefully designed ambiance to spark conversation. Missing pre-pandemic Sunday game nights inspired Safi to launch Joust after a year of hesitation, and the club has now hosted 2,000+ players in two years. Joust partners with hotels by driving weekday traffic and shares game staples like Codenames, Flip Seven, and Wavelength. 00:00 Show Intro and Check-In 02:27 Weekend Plans 12:17 Introducing Safi Aziz and Joust 12:36 Origin Story: Sunday Game Nights 15:09 Joust Philosophy: Play Club, Not Board Game Club 16:53 The Secret Sauce 24:21 From Idea to Sold-Out First Event 27:23 Hotel Partnerships and the Business Model 31:13 Expanding Joust and the Loneliness Epidemic 33:00 Co-Designing the Art of Invitation --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Safi Aziz, Joust Safi founded Joust, a play club where fun-loving people meet to compete. The idea came to him during the pandemic, out on a run, when he realized how much he missed the Sunday game nights he used to host in his apartment building's lounge. He kept the idea to himself for 12 months before deciding to go for it, booking the back of a bar in Williamsburg. Two years later, Joust has welcomed more than 2,000 players to roving game nights at some of New York City's best hotels and lounges. Safi is quick to point out that Joust isn't a board game club. It's a play club that happens to play board games, with fast, easy-to-learn picks chosen to spark conversation and camaraderie. Joust joustsociety.com Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Photo credit: Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Permission to be Bad: Jules Costa, Founder, Bad Art Club | 09 Jun 2026 | 01:02:41 | |
It's been a busy week for Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst at the US Chamber of Connection. Aaron joins from a San Francisco airport while touring with board.dev, his nonprofit board effort, as the two launch Welcome Week, a week built around one idea, inviting someone to do something. Charlotte shares her own bad art from a cabin in Colorado, made just for the process. This week's guest is Jules Costa, founder of Bad Art Club in San Francisco, where the bad is a trick to get people through the door who'd never call themselves creative. She traces the path from a decade in software to the afternoon in the Panhandle when she and a friend drew the worst portraits they could and a club was born. Jules recounts quitting tech, walking away from corporate work, and finding her footing in pro bono workshops for people in early recovery, where failing is impossible and everyone belongs. 00:00 Introduction 05:22 Welcome Week and the Culture of Inviting 10:20 How Many People Are Invite-Ready Tonight? 16:19 Welcoming Jules Costa, Bad Art Club 17:42 Leadership and the South Africa Trip 19:23 Origin of Bad Art Club 22:21 First Workshop, Going Full Time 26:07 Corporate Work and Pivoting to Nonprofit 29:10 Art in Addiction Recovery 33:20 Weekly Gatherings and the Fate Collective 38:33 Body Wisdom and Decision Making 51:33 Reflections --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy. Charlotte Massey, Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs nationally. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former organizer and founder, she works at the intersection of civic life and entrepreneurship. Connect with Us Jules Costa, Bad Art Club Jules is the founder of Bad Art Club, a San Francisco community built on the simple permission to make something terrible and enjoy every minute of it. A certified transformational facilitator and addiction recovery coach, Jules spent the better part of a decade writing software and traveling the world before she traded her tech career for a creative one. What began as two friends drawing the worst portraits they could in the Panhandle has grown into weekly workshops that draw dozens of people who'd never call themselves artists, along with public art projects, a summer retreat, and pro bono sessions for people in early recovery. Bad Art Club is fiscally sponsored by Independent Arts and Media, and Jules now spends her days designing spaces where failing is impossible and everyone belongs. Her guiding belief is that the only difference between you and an artist is the willingness to make bad art. Bad Art Club julescosta.substack.com Heylo Heylo is a community-management platform built for real-world groups of every kind, giving leaders a clean, branded home base to run events, manage members, communicate clearly, and handle payments without friction. It brings scheduling, RSVPs, waivers, announcements, topic-based chats, and membership tools into one place so clubs, teams, and interest groups can stay organized and connected without the noise of traditional social platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||