Humans of Business (former Community Life)

“The money follows when your energy aligns with what you truly believe in.”

In this episode, we talked about how embracing your individuality, energy, and intuition can shape not only your success but also how you build and lead a business, in particular:

👉 How energy and mindset impact marketing, sales, and business growth.

👉 Why being visible with authenticity is crucial for founders.

👉 The balance between structure and intuition in decision-making.

Join Hanna Oeljeschlaeger, a serial entrepreneur and business mentor, who has worked in the tech bubble for the past 15 years and lived in over 8 countries across the globe since 2009, and who is still always on the hunt for the best latte macchiato spot in any new city, in uncovering the human side of successful business! 🤗🤩😎

Connect with Hanna and Yurii on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannaoe/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/

Timestamps:

(00:00 Meet Hanna Oeljeschlaeger: Entrepreneur and Mentor

(00:49) The Quest for the Best Coffee

(01:51) Unplanned Success: Hannah's Journey

(03:55) Building a Business with Heart

(07:11) Energy and Authenticity in Business

(10:19) Financial Success and Energy

(16:56) Exploring Human Design and Personal Growth

(21:54) Dealing with Self-Doubt

(22:48) Recharging Your Batteries

(25:33) Meeting New People

(28:34) Handling Procrastination

(30:28) Following Your Passion

#HumansOfBusiness #HoB #humans #business

“Clicking with someone means silence doesn’t feel awkward, it feels natural.”

In this episode, we talked about how leaving the corporate world behind and embracing who we truly are can help us build more fulfilling, profitable, and human-first businesses, in particular:

👉 Why control over time, not just money, is the new definition of success.

👉 How to build meaningful connections without traditional networking.

👉 How to define your business around your lifestyle, not the other way around.

Join Brian Gallagher, a creator of a Simple Man Guide, a corporate escape academy that helps people leave the corporate world behind, simplify their lives, and regain control of their time, who also runs "The Solo Business Blueprint" workshop – a step-by-step roadmap to build an audience, turn them into paying clients, and earn more than your 9-5, and a co-founder of Throwback, a team-based fitness experience that gamifies workouts with bodyweight movements and indoor rowing, in uncovering the human side of successful business! 🤗🤩😎

Connect with Brian and Yurii on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandgallagher/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Brian Gallagher: The Man Behind Multiple Ventures

(01:18) Brian's Backpack Obsession

(03:45) Launching a One-Person Business

(07:01) Daily Routines and Productivity Hacks

(12:34) Connecting with People and Building Relationships

(20:50) Navigating Client Relationships

(25:34) Business Ventures with Friends

(27:39) Motivational Music

(29:13) Defining Success

(31:31) Preventing Burnout

(34:01) Reflecting on Life Choices

(37:23) Finding Happiness

#HumansOfBusiness #HoB #humans #business

“Confidence isn’t something you’re born with, it’s what happens when you keep going anyway!”

In this episode, we talked about how embracing your whole self - perfectionism, messiness, dreams, and doubts - can shape the business and life you love, in particular:

👉 How to build confidence through small, imperfect actions.

👉 Why structured days and movement matter more than you think.

👉 The power of genuine friendships and giving over taking.

Join Christine Vallaure de la Paz, a founder of moonlearning.io, a UX/UI and Figma learning platform where design meets code, international public speaker, author of The Solo, a practical guide to building and growing digital products as a company of one, and recovering perfectionist with a German head and Spanish heart, in uncovering the human side of successful business! 🤗🤩😎

Connect with Christine and Yurii on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinevallaure/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Christine Vallaure: Founder of moonlearning.io

(01:07) Christine's Personal Insights and Work Habits

(02:17) Building moonlearning.io and Other Ventures

(03:24) Christine's New Project: Pretty Cheap Houses

(07:58) Dealing with Self-Doubt and Confidence

(15:25) Defining Success Beyond Financial Metrics

(18:31) Christine's Personal Life and Friendships

(25:31) Christine's Daily Routine and Happiness

(30:25) Final Thoughts

#HumansOfBusiness #HoB #humans #business

If you’ve been listening to Community Life, you know this podcast started as a place to explore the human side of community builders!

The initial idea was to get to know the people behind the titles, their journeys, and what makes them who they are.

And it’s been an incredible experience!

Thank you for being part of it. 💛

And as I kept having these conversations, I realized something powerful…

The best community leaders are not just great at connecting people. They’re great at business.

So, meet Humans of Business - a podcast about the people behind success! 🥳

If you’ve been here because you love human stories and deep conversations, you’re going to love this next chapter.

It isn’t yet another business podcast. 

It’s about learning from the people behind the success so you can grow, connect, and maybe even see a bit of yourself in them.

Subscribe, and let’s explore Humans of Business together! 🚀

Today my guest is Katie Ryser, an amazing human who thrives on bringing people together, a lover of spooky things and dahlias, a confirmed music nerd, and definitely a fan of trolls, but not those on the internet 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 how did the circus influence Katie's life

👉 why dragon selfies are the best selfies

👉 what's Katie's secret to make orchids bloom

👉 when was the last time Katie built a snowman

👉 what was the most magnificent thing Katie saw in any museum... and so much more about Katie's life! 🤩

Meet Katie on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-z-ryser/

https://www.instagram.com/zekatie

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Katie Ryser

(03:23) Memorable Circus Stories

(06:21) Dia de los Muertos and Personal Reflections

(10:02) The Joy of Dogs

(17:19) Museum Wonders and Favorite Exhibits

(19:24) Exploring the World of Art

(22:11) Dragon Selfies and Spooky Stuff

(23:14) Horror Movies and Thrillers

(24:44) Orchid Enthusiast

(31:38) Spiritual Practices and Life Lessons

(36:20) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Corina Gheonea, a global community expert, a dreamer, an art creator, and a mother of five dragons who knows how to make some noise and moves 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 how did Corina tame the first "dragon"

👉 what inspires Corina to create

👉 why Romanian cuisine was only on the fifth place of Corina's list

👉 what place Corina loves revisiting

👉 what Corina lost once but will never lose again... and so much more about Corina's life! 🤩

Meet Corina on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/corina-gheonea/

https://www.instagram.com/corina.gheonea

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Corina Gheona

(02:07) Life During the Pandemic

(03:43) Moving to the Village

(13:13) Family Background and Values

(20:50) Travel Adventures and Discoveries

(28:19) Creative Expression and Personal Growth

(34:28) Reflecting on Life and Practices

(47:55) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Maria Soyka, a community enthusiast who loves circle singing and Latin dancing and is passionate about supporting people, enjoying nature, and having fun 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 what Maria loves the most about circle singing

👉 how Maria differs between thrilling and non-thrilling days

👉 what happened before and after Maria jumped off a waterfall

👉 how Maria finds a balance between being and doing

👉 why did Maria switch from not asking to ask for help... and so much more about Maria's life! 🤩

Meet Maria on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariasoyka/

https://www.instagram.com/maria_soyka_

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Maria

(00:32) Discovering Circle Singing

(04:07) The Role of a Conductor

(06:02) Maria's Family Background

(09:12) Learning Piano and Family Influence

(12:55) The Importance of Asking for Help

(24:08) Thrilling vs. Non-Thrilling Days

(30:04) Jumping Off a Waterfall in Columbia

(37:48) The Balance Between Safety and Courage

(40:53) The Meaning of Dance

(43:54) Dealing with Stress

(47:51) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Paz Pisarski, a natural people magnet, a Co-Founder of The Community Collective, a community for community builders in Australia and New Zealand, and the multi-hyphenate achiever who loves to drink Chamomile tea and compose relaxation music 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 how Paz felt while performing in the Sydney Opera House

👉 differences between living in a big city and a small town

👉 what Paz grows in her garden

👉 why Paz wants to get a Dalmatian one day

👉 how Paz feels when starting something from scratch... and so much more about Paz's life! 🤩

Meet Paz on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paz-pisarski/

https://www.instagram.com/pazpisarski/

https://x.com/PazPisarski

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Paz Pisarski

(00:40) The Healing Power of Music

(05:05) The Suzuki Method and Early Music Journey

(10:54) Performing at Iconic Venues

(16:15) Family Influence and Entrepreneurial Spirit

(23:07) Life in a Coastal Town

(27:41) A New Beginning: Moving to Torbay

(29:04) Embracing Nature and a Slower Pace

(31:54) Social Dynamics: City vs. Small Town

(34:46) Dealing with Online Scams

(38:05) The Joy of Creating from Scratch

(42:50) Gardening Adventures and Tips

(49:20) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Cole Johnson, a human connection alchemist on a mission to shine a light on humanity and make the ordinary extraordinary, who vouches for amazing humans he meets and the value they are bringing to the world, and one of the most frequent and constant participants of Between Two Watercooler meetups 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 how the bachata dance entered Cole's life

👉 why Cole told himself that he would never run again

👉 how Cole felt when he met coyotes

👉 what Cole does when he gets lost

👉 how Cole lets his inner child out to play... and so much more about Cole's life! 🤩

Meet Cole on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/colemjohnson1/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Cole Johnson

(00:46) Cole's Marathon Journey

(01:45) Overcoming Dark Times

(04:40) The Power of Daily Choices

(07:30) Family and Personal Growth

(09:42 Discovering Bachata Dance

(12:55) Connection and Nature

(25:41) Inner Child and Self-Discovery

(35:06) Navigating Relationships and Loneliness

(41:18) Inspiration and Creativity

(47:37) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Claudia Cafeo, a passionate community builder and tech enthusiast who loves the sea, enjoys playing piano, football (or soccer) and video games, and playing in general, and prefers to be human, kind, and learn all life 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 what crazy experiences Claudia had in London

👉 the hardest part of coming to the UK from Italy

👉 what Claudia likes about ants

👉 why Claudia usually plays the piano in a minor scale

👉 what's Claudia's position in football (soccer)... and so much more about Claudia's life! 🤩

Meet Claudia on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiacafeo/

https://www.instagram.com/myanxietyandI_

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Claudia Cafeo

(00:50) Cultural Differences: Sicily vs. London

(04:56) Claudia's Family and Career Journey

(10:06) Passions and Hobbies: From Piano to Ants

(19:38) Reflections on Nature and Technology

(24:38) Understanding Anxiety and Coping Mechanisms

(25:51) Gaming as a Therapeutic Outlet

(27:52) Karate and Personal Discipline

(30:13) Travel and Tattoos: Symbols of a Journey

(32:06) Beliefs and Spirituality

(33:57) Football: Passion and Teamwork

(38:01) Reflections on Success and Learning

(42:09) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Lia Mladenova, a community builder and events facilitator who brings souls into communities, a yoga teacher, and an avid traveler who is deeply connected with the world and loves exploring different cultures and being in nature 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 backstory of Lia's 200% tattoo

👉 when Lia was a Belieber and what changed since then

👉 what does Lia miss about living in Vienna

👉 how much has Lia changed since childhood

👉 what is the cacao ceremony and its role in Lia's life... and so much more about Lia's life! 🤩

Meet Lia on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lia-mladenova/

https://www.facebook.com/liamladenova

https://www.instagram.com/liamladenova

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Lia Mladenova

(03:52) Facing Fears: The Spider Tattoo

(06:32) Family Background and Childhood Memories

(12:06) Books and Lifelong Reading

(18:35) Happiness and Self-Validation

(23:47) Fan Moments: From Justin Bieber to Ariana Grande

(25:27) Surprising Music Preferences

(29:46) Cultural Reflections on Music

(31:54) Travel Aspirations

(32:39) The Cacao Ceremony

(38:25) Returning to Bulgaria

(41:37) Embracing Change

(44:11) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Christian Ray Flores, a leader of the Tribe church community in Austin, Texas, who has been a pastor for 25 years, a professional singer with a successful career in the 90s, an entrepreneur who co-founded the Third Drive – venture development company, and an international man of mystery, who lived in four continents and speaks four languages 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 how often Christian goes on daddy dates with his daughters

👉 when was the first time Christian felt at home

👉 what language does Christian count on in his mind

👉 how Christian understood he wanted to become a singer

👉 why did Christian want to be the best... and so much more about Christian's life! 🤩

Meet Christian on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianrayflores/

https://x.com/ChristianRay

https://www.instagram.com/christianrayflores/

Check Christian's professional resources:

https://www.christianrayflores.com/

https://www.xponential.life/score

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Christian Ray Flores

(00:45) Daddy Dates and Family Time

(04:51) Homeschooling and Education Philosophy

(13:08) Impact of Parental Divorce

(18:55) Early Life and Childhood Memories

(22:42) Maintaining Creativity Through Adversity

(26:42) Multilingual Upbringing and Cultural Exposure

(29:17) The Cognitive Benefits of Multilingualism

(32:28) Feeling at Home in America

(34:54) Discovering a Passion for Singing

(38:20) Breakdancing and Its Olympic Journey

(42:27) Stage Fright and Performance Anxiety

(44:58) The Drive to Be the Best

(49:29) The Role of Mentors in Personal Growth

(51:48) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Carrie Melissa Jones, one of the best community experts I know, whose speeches I try to always listen to and always learn something new from, and one of the kindest and helpful people in the community world I know, and a good friend of mine 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 what kind of sandwich Carrie would be

👉 how did Carrie fall in love with Dolly Parton

👉 what changed in Carrie's life after becoming a mother

👉 where would Carrie sit on a rollercoaster

👉 what Carrie feels most excited and energized about... and so much more about Carrie's life! 🤩

Meet Carrie on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriemelissajones/

https://www.instagram.com/carriemelissajones/

https://x.com/caremjo

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Carrie Melissa Jones

(02:38) Carrie's Life Updates and Moving to a Farm

(05:13) The Importance of Interdependence

(07:02) Connecting with Nature and Mental Health

(11:04) Parenting and Community Building

(16:17) Rediscovering Playfulness and Silliness

(20:58) Challenges of Motherhood

(23:00) Surrendering Control and Time Management

(28:37) Dolly Parton: A Real-Life Superhero

(33:43) Personal Spiritual Practices and Nature

(36:23) Living in the Present and Future Planning

(38:41) Facing Fears and Personal Preferences

(39:55) Excitement About Community Building and AI

(43:25) Redefining Success and Personal Freedom

(46:20) Favorite Childhood Dish and Memories

(49:01) Future Aspirations and Community Impact

(53:57) Rapid Fire Questions and Pie Making

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Jeff Bull, a Star Wars Tech and food geek, a baker, a hobby-hopper, and a great community expert who’s also a technology storyteller 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 how many lightsaber battles did Jeff have

👉 the backstory of Jeff's compass tattoo

👉 how Jeff's homemade pizza differs from delivery

👉 the story of getting two sibling kittens instead of one

👉 what was the latest hobby Jeff hooped off of... and so much more about Jeff's life! 🤩

Meet Jeff on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbulltech/

https://www.instagram.com/jbthejedi/

https://x.com/jeffbulltech

https://www.tiktok.com/@jbthejedi

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Jeff Bull

(01:02) Balancing Life and Mental Health

(04:48) The Power of Laughter

(06:35) Dads and Star Wars Jokes

(09:33) Nostalgia and Family Visits

(15:17) Childhood Memories and Adventures

(21:09) Live Every Day in April (LIDA) Program

(26:01) Gaming Adventures in Zelda

(27:55) Exploring the Joy of Building in Tears of the Kingdom

(30:03) Discovering and Integrating Your Passions into Work

(32:37) Navigating the Journey of Self-Discovery

(36:44) Hobbies and Passions: From 3D Printing to Woodworking

(40:18) The Story Behind Adopting Two Kittens

(44:11) The Meaning Behind Jeff's Compass Tattoo

(52:59) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Blue Arauz, a transformative community dynamo who inspires people with his creativity and passion for the work that he does, a retired host of a food show, Crave GFL, and Craft Beer Ambassador for Greater Fort Lauderdale, the life of the party, a Cuban kid from Miami, and the literal definition of 'If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life' 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 how did Blue fall in love with food

👉 top 3 positions on Blue's list of best coffees in Chicago

👉 how Blue feels about real winter

👉 what does it mean for Blue to call someone a friend

👉 where is Blue's passion for buildings from... and so much more about Blue's life! 🤩

Meet Blue on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bluearauz/

https://www.instagram.com/blue_arauz

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Blue Arauz

(01:07) Journey to Becoming a Food Show Host

(05:30) Blue's Love for Food and Culinary Adventures

(09:01) Family Background and Early Influences

(11:44) Work Ethics and Life Lessons from Parents

(15:38) Childhood Memories and Love for Building

(17:54) Passion for Architecture and Photography

(20:13) Exploring New Cities Through Food and Coffee Shops

(24:12) Moving to Chicago: A New Chapter

(28:19) Experiencing Real Seasons

(30:50) Top Coffee Spots in Chicago

(34:32) Nightlife and Event Planning

(39:51) Friendship and Community Building

(47:01) Unexpected Moments and Life Changes

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

"Community isn't just about connection—it's about demonstrating real business impact and value, which is the key to long-term success."

In this episode, we discussed how effectively integrating community initiatives with business strategies can lead to significant cost savings, drive growth, and enhance customer engagement, in particular:

👉 How to align community goals with business objectives to drive growth and ROI.

👉 Actionable strategies for assessing the impact of community initiatives.

👉 Importance of storytelling in showcasing community success to leadership.

👉 Building relationships across departments to ensure community efforts are visible.

👉 Leveraging community feedback for continuous business improvement.

Join Yurii Lazaruk, the Community Consultant, and Chris Catania, an award-winning enterprise community-building expert with more than 20 years of experience, in connecting community goals with business goals to drive business growth!

Connect with Chris and Yurii on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophercatania/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Chris Catania

(00:58) Defining Community Goals

(01:40) Connecting Community Goals with Business Goals

(03:57) Building ROI Models for Community Impact

(06:11) Community's Role in Cost Savings

(08:46) Community's Role in Business Growth

(13:00) Collaborating with Different Teams

(26:23) Storytelling and Measuring Community Impact

(30:41) Addressing Challenges and Negative Feedback

#communityROI #communitybuilding #businessgrowth

Today my guest is Charles Vogl, one of the founding fathers of the community industry as we know it now, a person who influenced my professional journey a ton because of authoring The Art of Community and co-authoring Building Brand Communities with amazing Carrie Melissa Jones, a documentary filmmaker, who also produced a “New Year Baby” film that tells a story of his wife’s family that survived Cambodian genocide, and avoided death at least 3 times and all of them while pursuing justice for local human rights as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zambia in his 20’s 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 how Charles felt when he was on a crashing plane

👉 Charles's adventure with sourdough

👉 who is Charles's 3 a.m. call friend

👉 Charles's story of growing up as an Asian-American American

👉 the human differences between talking to Google thought leaders and military veterans...

and so much more about Charles's life! 🤩

Meet Charles on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesvogl/

https://www.facebook.com/charles.vogl

https://x.com/charlesvogl

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Charles Vogl

(02:15) Surviving a Plane Crash

(09:03) Family Background and Early Memories

(15:53) Sibling Support in Filmmaking

(18:25) Challenges of Fundraising for a Documentary

(22:20) Meeting Wife in Florence

(24:22) Reflections on Marriage and Relationships

(28:42) The Importance of a Supportive Network

(33:30) Building Lifelong Friendships

(36:18) Challenges of Growing Up Asian American

(41:10) Learning Community Building Skills

(42:36) Culinary Adventures and Sourdough Obsession

(44:42) Working with Google and Military Veterans

(52:30) Reflections on Spirituality and Community

(01:00:07) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

"My core value growing up was I'm not enough. So, every decision I made, even up until two years ago, everything I did must improve my self-worth."

In this episode, we discussed Chris Miles's story of enduring child abuse, struggling with depression, and finding hope through family support and a passion for game development, in particular:

👉 Being abused as a child from six years old till fourteen.

👉 Dealing with severe depression and multiple suicide attempts.

👉 Impact of autism and ADHD on Chris's family.

👉 Huge role of Chris's mother in creating a safe space.

👉 What helped Chris to tame depression.

Join Jason Baum, the therapist by legacy, and Yurii Lazaruk, the therapist by Ilker, in having deep conversations about things you think but don't talk about a lot!

Have a story to share? We want to hear from you! Let's break the stigma together.

Connect with Chris, Jason, and Yurii on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-miles-dmm/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonebaum

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Chris Miles

(04:17) The Impact of Trauma on Family

(05:27) Overcoming Depression

(09:27) The Role of Family Support

(17:37) The Importance of Sharing and Empathy

(24:01) Finding Solace in Game Development

(24:47) The Power of Purpose

(26:34) Global Depression and Suicide Statistics

(29:20) Understanding Depression

(32:43) Coping Mechanisms and Personal Experiences

(38:25) The Importance of Sharing and Validation

#community #communitybuilding #therapy

Today my guest is Margaux Miller, a global community builder, a remote-work ambassador with a love of travels and exploration, a TEDx speaker with the Gremlin energy, an emcee, an avid hiker, and an exciting person to talk to 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 what Margaux's process of ordering wine in a restaurant looks like

👉 why Margaux always dresses nicely for flights

👉 a backstory of meeting and falling in love with an Earl Grey tea

👉 why Margaux likes reading about three books at the same time

👉 how Margaux adapts to changes... and so much more about Margaux's life! 🤩

Meet Margaux on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/margauxmiller/

https://www.instagram.com/margauxamiller/

https://x.com/margauxamiller

https://www.facebook.com/margauxamiller

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Margaux Miller

(00:54) Wine Ordering Tips

(07:34) Rediscovering Parents and Family Values

(13:39) Curiosity and Zest for Life

(22:21) Exploring New Cities and Cultures

(28:37) Dressing for First Class

(33:56) The Comfort of Home

(35:52) Reading Habits and Book Choices

(43:09) Workout Routines and Habits

(47:01) Adapting to Change

(51:52) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Catherine Hackney, an experienced online community consultant, backpacker, hiker, climber, “Late Show” fan, and a great friend 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 how Catherine met Emma The Dog

👉 a backstory of a day drinking with dad

👉 Catherine's childhood memories of Casa Bonita

👉 a story of a night out in Germany and a lost sweater

👉 what Catherine likes about rock climbing... and so much more about Catherine's life! 🤩

Meet Catherine on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-hackney-colorado/

https://www.instagram.com/cathac519/

https://www.facebook.com/catherine.hackney.3

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Catherine

(03:08) Emma, the Rescue Dog

(06:25) Family Ties and Parental Wisdom

(14:02) Day Drinking with Dad

(18:23) Casa Bonita Memories

(22:01) Love for South Park

(23:54) Missing Europe

(27:13) Fun Night Out and Lost Sweater

(30:18) High Tea with Friends

(32:21) Books vs. Movies: Lord of the Rings

(35:09) Virtual Goat Farm Meeting

(37:15) Rock Climbing Adventures

(40:31) Relaxation and Favorite Movies

(43:54) Time Travel and Historical Figures

(49:38) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Viktorija Ignataviciute, an experienced gingerbread house creator, a great community leader and advocate, an explorer, and an intensive traveler who can come back a year older after just a few days' trip and allow herself to be silly & joyful with no day offs 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 if Viktorija listened to Linkin Park while visiting Meteora

👉 how did Viktorija feel watching her dad setting up fireworks

👉 story of Viktorija's alpaca walk birthday adventure

👉 how Viktorija did her secret-spy cookie-sharing

👉 what happened to Viktorija's singer career... and so much more about Viktorija's life! 🤩

Meet Viktorija on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/viktorijaignataviciute

https://www.instagram.com/such_wow_

https://www.facebook.com/viktorija.ignataviciute.3

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Viktorija

(01:27) Exploring Meteora

(03:00) The Explorer Within

(04:43) First Time Abroad

(08:31) Curiosity and Discovery

(11:29) Fireworks Memories

(13:48) Being a Cat Person

(17:44) Statistics and Personality Tests

(21:52) Christmas Traditions

(26:28) A Surprise Alpaca Walk

(32:11) Singing Aspirations and Band Experiences

(39:08) Baking Passion During the Pandemic

(44:54) Attitude and Positivity in Life

(48:16) Silly and Fun Moments

(51:14) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

"We all deal with trauma. By sharing my story, I hope others will feel it's okay to open up."

In this episode, we discussed Jason's story of losing his dad during COVID and coping with his feelings, in particular:

👉 The triple hit: COVID stress, job loss, and father's illness.

👉 The first time Jason’s daughter saw him cry.

👉 First hospital visits and the impact of restrictions.

👉 Dealing with fear, anger, guilt, and grief.

👉 Process of forgiving oneself and others.

Join Jason Baum, the therapist by legacy, and Yurii Lazaruk, the therapist by Ilker, in having deep conversations about things you think but don't talk about a lot!

Have a story to share? We want to hear from you! Let's break the stigma together.

Connect with Jason and Yurii on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonebaum

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro and Context

(01:13) Losing a Father During COVID

(03:49) The Impact of COVID and Job Loss

(08:05) Hospitalization and Diagnosis

(11:40) The Emotional Toll and Family Dynamics

(23:58) The Final Months

(33:15) Fulfilling Dad's Final Wishes

(34:44) A Christmas Goodbye

(36:20) Finding Purpose in Helping Others

(37:57) Support System During Tough Times

(43:17) Navigating Grief and Relationships

(52:43) The Importance of Therapy and Sharing

#community #communitybuilding #therapy

Today my guest is Tamanna Bavishi, a great community builder, a mother of two who’s entered a community world by accident and stayed by heart, and even recently started her podcast and community for working mothers in India “The Desi Mom Hustle”, and a very open, kind, supportive, and just amazing person to talk to 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 what is the favorite dish in Tamanna's family

👉 how Tamanna felt when she lost her mom

👉 the story of a birthday without gifts

👉 what Tamanna feels when saying "no"

👉 how different Tamanna's kids are... and so much more about Tamanna's life! 🤩

Meet Tamanna on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamannabavishi/

https://www.instagram.com/talesbytammy

https://www.facebook.com/tbavishi

Timestamps:

00:00 Meet Tamanna

00:45 Cooking Coconut Laddoos

03:27 Family Traditions

07:23 Parenting and Personal Growth

09:17 Coping with Loss and Grief

17:58 Marriage and Parenthood

22:35 Self-Awareness and the Universe

28:38 A Gift-Free Birthday

32:33 Children's Personalities

35:10 Learning to Say No

36:34 Rediscovering Self-Love

42:16 Favorite Books and Characters

46:04 Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today, my guest is Rebecca Marshburn, a great community expert and a big fan of writing letters and poems, who’s been on the road with Sasquatch for 28 days and is sure that every story is a love story 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 if Rebecca has a permit to drive a truck

👉 what Rebecca has been recently moved by

👉 why Rebecca writes letters

👉 what Rebecca loves the most about airports

👉 how Rebecca reconnected her father with his first high school girlfriend ... and so much more about Rebecca's life! 🤩

Meet Rebecca on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamarshburn/

https://www.instagram.com/beccaodelay/

https://x.com/beccaodelay

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Rebecca Marshburn

(01:34) Life on the Road with Uncle

(03:10) Driving the Big Rig

(07:00) Challenges of Bumping the Dock

(09:50) The Emotional Journey with Uncle

(16:02) Family Dynamics and Personal Reflections

(22:50) The Art of Letter Writing

(24:53) Capturing Memories Through Words

(28:21) Revisiting Old Letters

(29:19) A Touching Reunion

(30:44) Being Moved by Stories

(32:50) The Beauty of Airports

(43:08) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today is a very special episode, and not only because it’s one hundredth, woohoo, but also because it was a great surprise! 🤩🤗🥳

Here Yurii's friends, also, guests from the previous episodes, are asking Yurii questions they always wanted to ask! 😉

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 one thing in Yurii's life that has had a profound impact on who he is today

👉 what would young Yuri think of current Yuri

👉 how Yurii decides who to invite as a guest

👉 what is Yurii's favorite thing about hosting Community Life 👉 what else in this world would Yurii have done 100 times with such commitment and without hesitation... and so much more about Yurii's life! 🤩

Meet Yurii and Friends on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecekurtaraner/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilkerakansel/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthieberber/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/timamcdonald/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosiesherry/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/said-saddouk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenserrat/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankopazo/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenabrandist/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurazug/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-tamati/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Welcome to the 100th Episode Celebration!

(04:26) SEO and Community Building Insights

(08:24) Explaining Community Building to the 70 Years Old

(10:31) Reflecting on Personal Growth

(15:59) The Art of Asking Unique Questions

(21:51) Memorable Guest Stories

(25:55) Hypothetical 100 Commitments

(31:50) Rapid Fire Questions

(41:57) Reflecting on Past Episodes

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Céline Riemenschneider, a community professional who is passionate about helping other community managers thrive, an artist who creates beautiful abstract paintings, and a mother of twin boys who also helps her husband in his restaurant and hospitality consulting business 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 how high is Céline's bar for tasty food

👉 what music Céline usually listens to with her kids

👉 how did yoga enter Céline's life

👉 what art means for Céline

👉 if Céline still is a Starbucks junkie... and so much more about Céline's life! 🤩

Meet Céline on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/celineriemenschneider/

https://www.instagram.com/celineriemenschneider/

Timestamps:

00:00 Meet Celine

01:05 Life with a Michelin Star Chef Husband

03:39 Balancing Multiple Roles and Passions

05:20 Artistic Journey and Creative Freedom

10:17 Cultural Background and Family History

18:24 Raising Twins: Challenges and Joys

21:55 Yoga and Mindfulness

31:52 Starbucks and Coffee Preferences

40:38 Tattoo Stories

42:48 Feeling Accepted and Belonging

44:29 Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Baily Hancock, a connection strategist, a mother of two, a natural-born connector and extracurricular-lover, and a professional friend-maker who, according to her teachers, was a “very bright student but talked to classmates too much” 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 Baily's trick to successfully dress her daughter while holding her upside down

👉 why Baily loves astrology

👉 how Baily felt when celebrating her grandmother’s 90th birthday

👉 Baily's habit of reorganizing the eggs to be evenly distributed

👉 what Baily loves about LA... and so much more about Baily's life! 🤩

Meet Baily on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bailyhancock/

https://www.instagram.com/bailyhancock/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Baily

(04:57) How To Dress a Kid Who Doesn't Want It

(07:25) Empathy in Parenting

(11:52) Exploring the Multiverse

(13:53) The Story of Baily's Anchor Tattoo

(16:27) Journey to LA: Chasing Dreams and Reality

(31:15) Kitten Tales and Childhood Adventures

(34:29) Celebrating Grandmother's 90th Birthday

(42:20) Embracing Neurodiversity and Learning from Autism

(44:58) The Diverse Vibes of LA: Neighborhoods and Secret Stairs

(51:35) Unraveling the Hard Work Mindset

(55:31) Purpose vs. Function

(57:18) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Ashwin Chacko, a positively playful visual storyteller who, as an Indian, is a very community-driven and multicultural person, a father of three, and a children's books author whose mission is to champion creativity and empower people to find their inner 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 the backstory of Ashwin's nickname

👉 what changed and what remained the same after being away from India for 8 years

👉 how many jackets does Ashwin have

👉 what Ashwin loves the most about nature

👉 how patient is Ashwin... and so much more about Ashwin's life! 🤩

Meet Ashwin on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashwinchacko/

https://www.instagram.com/whackochacko

Timestamps:

(00:00) Meet Ashwin

(04:35) Fashion, Identity, and Creative Expression

(07:31) The Impact of Family and Upbringing

(10:48) Moving and Adapting Across Cultures

(13:27) Observing Changes in India and Self

(17:43) The Art of Fatherhood and Children's Books Creation

(24:12) The Essence of Nature and Creativity

(25:03) Learning from Nature's Wisdom

(28:41) The Journey of Hair: From Long to Short

(30:46) Channeling Emotions Through Art

(32:18) The Artistic Process: From Doodles to Masterpieces

(34:47) The Significance of Documenting Life

(35:42) Seeking Balance in Life and Art

(44:25) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Avely Pütsep, a mission-driven community and marketing consultant and a digital nomad who’s slowly traveling the world and always chooses kindness 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 what is Avely's favorite place to read a book

👉 why Avely loves dogs more than humans

👉 what depletes Avely's social battery

👉 the backstory of getting rescued by Albanian police

👉 how does Avely find reasons to buy plants... and so much more about Avely's life! 🤩

Follow Avely on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/avely-pytsep/

https://www.instagram.com/avelyputsep/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Avely's Introduction

(01:26) Choosing Destinations and Dealing with Disappointments

(03:42) An Unforgettable Adventure in Albania

(09:25) Settling into New Places: From Arrival to Departure

(11:13) Exploring Family Roots

(13:26) The Joy of Hands-On Work

(18:17) The Personal Significance of Tattoos

(23:20) Random Book Selections Habit

(28:09) Why Dogs Win Over Humans

(30:56) Navigating Social Energy: Extroverts and Introverts

(33:06) Personal Time: Reading and Self-Care

(35:27) Workplace Humor and Culture

(37:05) Creating Safe Spaces for Others

(38:39) Setting Boundaries for Self-Care

(42:37) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Mathew Krawczyk, a community strategist and designer, an embodiment and deep transformation coach who loves co-creating systems in which we can all thrive together 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 what was Mathew's childhood favorite video game

👉 how does Mathew have fun

👉 what treasure Mathew found in the Sahara

👉 how Mathew feels about experiencing something new

👉 what daily rituals does Mathew have... and so much more about Mathew's life! 🤩

Follow Mathew on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewkrawczyk/

https://www.instagram.com/mathew.krawczyk

Timestamps:

(00:00) Mathew's Introduction

(03:22) Fun, Games, and Creative Systems

(04:12) The Influence of Statistics and Information Gathering

(06:14) Learning to Say No

(09:35) Family Background

(12:35) The Lasting Impact of Running

(14:35) Nostalgic Video Games

(19:03) Embracing New Experiences

(22:08) Work from Home Rituals and Distractions

(25:00) The Sahara Adventure

(28:31) Finding the Philosopher's Stone Within

(30:10) Spontaneity and Creating New Realities

(31:38) Finding Home: The Essence of Belonging

(33:30) The Superpower of Boundaries

(35:57) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Phoebe Shin Venkat, a senior community consultant, an experienced speaker, a board member at CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse), an active volunteer, a candidate for city council at Foster City, and the person I loved talking to from the first Zoom 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 did Phoebe feel any pressure as the first person in her family to graduate college

👉 how does Phoebe feel about scary movies

👉 where's Phoebe's love of scotch and cigars from

👉 what kind of mom is Phoebe

👉 why Phoebe loves street art...

and so much more about Phoebe's life! 🤩

Follow Phoebe on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pheebkat/

https://www.instagram.com/pheebkat/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Phoebe's Introduction

(01:40) Unconventional Ways to Recharge

(05:06) Phoebe's Love for Horror and Its Unexpected Comfort

(06:03) Phoebe's Journey of Resilience

(08:43) Empowering Others Through Personal Experience

(13:39) The Power of Vulnerability

(15:55) Influence of Phoebe's Parents

(24:36) Navigating Trust and Empathy

(27:50) The Complexity of Human Relationships

(33:38) The Art of Making Others Feel Seen

(35:53) The Unique Bond of Scotch and Cigars

(41:01) The Journey of Self-Discovery and Career Shifts

(47:03) Activating Strengths and Running for Office

(49:20) Parenting, Adaptability, and Learning from Each Other

(52:47) A Love for Street Art and Its Rebellion

(55:35) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Nityesh Agarwal, a founder of the Curated Connections community tool, a writer who is passionate about teaching, an ex-developer (or maybe not), a host of the Beginner Maps podcast, and a super positive community person 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 how did Nityesh feel when he recorded his first interview ever

👉 why Nityesh learned to play ukulele

👉 how writing influenced Nityesh's life

👉 if Nityesh believes in fate

👉 why did Nityesh quit programming... and so much more about Nityesh's life! 🤩

Follow Nityesh on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nityeshaga

https://twitter.com/nityeshaga

Timestamps:

(00:00) Nityesh's Introduction

(01:30) The Journey of a Podcast Host

(04:12) From Podcasts to Tech Startups

(06:48) Family Influences: Business, Values, and Self-Learning

(18:06) The Self-Taught Path: Challenges and Motivations

(22:03) The Ukulele Story

(23:45) The Power of Writing

(30:00) Exploring the Essence of Genuine Connections

(31:35) Fate and Its Role in Our Lives

(32:47) Life's Unpredictable Journey

(37:50) Quitting Programming

(40:55) Natural Inclination Towards Sharing Knowledge

(48:15) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Grace Ling, a UX designer and illustrator, a world traveler, speaker, tech, lifestyle, and travel content creator, influencer, a founder of the Design Buddies community with a huge number of members worldwide, and a person who in her past life In my I wanted to develop games and biohack herself to run faster 🤩

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 Grace's relationships with runnings

👉 if Grace ever regretted not doing dab on stage during her undergrad

👉 what was the most common reason Grace's tamagotchi pets died

👉 how Grace deals with sadness

👉 why Grace resigned from aspiring to be a surgeon... and so much more about Grace's life! 🤩

Follow Grace on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/graceling/

https://www.instagram.com/irungracepace/

https://twitter.com/graceleaf_

Timestamps:

(00:00) Grace's Introduction

(02:43) From Competitive Running to Running for Fun

(05:50) Exploring the World: Travel and Meeting New People

(08:21) The Joy of New Connections and Understanding Friendship

(13:20) Navigating Happiness, Sadness, and the Meaning of Success

(24:59) Family Influences and Embracing Personal Growth

(30:32) Overcoming Shyness and Embracing Opportunities

(36:34) From Neurosurgeon Dreams to UX Design: A Career Shift

(44:08) Embracing the Real World Over Gaming

(46:26) Rapid Fire Questions

(52:30) Reflecting on Personal Growth and Community Engagement

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today, we talk with the one and only Jenny Weigle, a dedicated listener of Community Live who listened to every episode, and shares her experience, inspirations, and connections made through that, and even why she keeps listening to it every week! 🤩🤗🥳

From this episode, you'll know:

👉 Why Community Life helped Jenny to prepare for the Community Rebellion conference.

👉 How Jenny feels when listening to those conversations.

👉 What Jenny takes out of every guest and how it influences her human connections.

👉 The most vivid Jenny's memories out of Community Life stories.

👉 What Jenny's favorite episode is...

and so much more of Jenny's insights into Community Life! 🤩

Follow Jenny on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyweigle/

https://www.instagram.com/jenny.community/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Jenny's Introduction

(00:40) Unique Journey of Listening to Every Episode

(03:44) The Impact of Community Live on Personal and Professional Growth

(05:50) Exploring Other Community Podcasts and Fandoms

(06:44) Building Human Connections Through Podcasts

(08:47) Personal Stories That Resonated and Inspired Action

(10:52) Imagining a Community Music Band

(12:08) Reflecting on Life Lessons from Podcast Stories

(14:26) Favorite Episodes and Ideas for Future Shows

(20:56) Maintaining the Podcast's Authenticity and Looking Ahead

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

😲 How do you feel when not receiving feedback on the work you've done?

🤩 Is it social recognition that drives you?

🙌 Why do you have to build relationships constantly?

🤔 What do people feel if you're not answering right away?

🤗 Why community is your therapy?

Let's find it out! 😏

Join Jason Baum, the therapist by legacy, and Yurii Lazaruk, the therapist by Ilker, in having deep conversations about things you think about but don't talk about a lot!

Connect with Jason and Yurii on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonebaum/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction In What's Going On Here

(02:11) Launching into Public Therapy Sessions

(05:02) Exploring the Challenges of Community Engagement and Feedback

(15:03) Navigating the Complexities of Building and Maintaining a Network

(19:52) Finding Solace in Community

(23:13) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Success

(36:52) The Importance of Setting Realistic Expectations

(40:22) Embracing Imperfection and Community Feedback

Today my guest is Pete Heslop, a managing director at Steadfast Collective with the mission to bring people together and leave the internet in a better place than he found it, a runner (sometimes lapsed), a Southampton football club fan, a lawn perfectionist, and Digital Community Leaders podcast host 🤩

From this episode, you'll know: 👉 how did Pete feel after having 3 half-marathons in 3 weeks 👉 why Pete has the Golden Gate Bridge photo near his window 👉 what Pete likes the most about the Moana movie 👉 how does Pete feel about saying "sorry" 👉 if Pete has a perfect lawn... and so much more about Pete's life! 🤩

Follow Pete on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pwheslop/

https://twitter.com/pwheslop

https://www.facebook.com/Pwheslop

Timestamps:

(00:00) Pete's Introduction

(00:37) Marathon Challenges and the Joy of Running

(02:54) Football Fandom and Rediscovering Passions

(06:49) The Influence of Hospitality on Life and Work

(10:50) The Power of Coding: Building from Nothing

(13:31) Navigating the Future of Learning and Personal Growth

(16:01) Embracing Dyslexia as a Superpower

(20:21) Childhood Memories and Personal Insights

(23:07) A Life-Changing Decision and the Joy of Travel

(28:37) Exploring Personal Interests: Skiing and Movies

(38:09) The Art of Apology and Communication in Relationships

(42:00) Rapid Fire Questions #community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Ece Kurtaraner, a community strategy consultant, a good tomato and a co-working queen, an online events and workshops facilitator, and a multi-hyphener who has this weird ability to bring people together and keep them there 🤩 From this episode, you'll know: 👉 who chose Ece's name and its backstory 👉 where is Ece's love for sketching from 👉 how Ece stays focused as a multi-hyphener 👉 what Ece's perfect holiday looks like 👉 why Ece is a good tomato... and so much more about Ece's life! 🤩

Follow Ece on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecekurtaraner/

https://twitter.com/EceKurtaraner

https://www.instagram.com/ecekurtaraner/

https://bento.me/ece

Timestamps:

(00:00) Ece's Introduction

(02:12) Sibling Bonds and Growing Up

(04:21) The Journey from Turkey to Manchester

(10:21) Creative Passions and Parental Influence

(12:59) Embracing Imperfection and Quitting Hobbies

(16:42) The Good Tomato

(22:15) Setting Personal Goals and Embracing Creativity

(29:59) Challenge of Driving and Dreams of Van Life

(33:06) Staying Focused as a Multi-Hyphener

(38:39) The Evolution of Technology and Communication

(40:40) Ideal Holidays and the Beauty of Turkey

(49:00) Engineering Education and Career Choices

(50:53) Freelancing vs. Corporate Life: Seeking Impact

(52:06) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Edu Giansante, a founder of the E-Dublin - the largest community of Brazilian expats, a visual storyteller, a book and songwriter, an advisor for tech, startups, enterprise and ed-tech communities, a doer with an entrepreneurial spirit, who also got used to wearing multiple hats on his journey 🤩

From this episode, you'll know: 👉 a backstory of Edu's My Little G song 👉 what's Edu's favorite tattoo 👉 Edu's story with Danone (his beagle) 👉 how Edu felt when fully shaved 👉 the difference between bath therapy and usual therapy... and so much more about Edu's life! 🤩

Follow Edu on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/edugiansante/

https://www.instagram.com/edu.giansante

https://www.facebook.com/edugiansante/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Edu's Introduction

(01:37) Edu's Musical Band Experiences

(04:25) What Language Edu Thinks In

(08:10) Immigration Story

(12:09) Childhood and Family Background

(17:44) Musical Journey Continues

(21:36) Heartwarming Story with His Dog, Danone

(28:58) The Importance of Quality Time and Right Priorities

(31:11) Tattoos: Symbols of Love and Life

(33:14) A Unique Approach to Couple's Therapy

(41:45) Building a Community: The E-Dublin Experience

(48:05) The Power of Simplicity and Connection with Nature

(51:24) The Healing Power of Prayer and Spirituality

(54:03) Rapid Fire Questions

(56:21) Striving for Better: A Personal Growth Mindset

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Ruthie Berber, a fractional marketing and community leader, speaker, New York networking events organizer, Local captain of the Old Girls Club, women in tech ambassador, back-of-the-bike rider, and an avid traveler who admires coffee and food art 🤩 From this episode, you'll know: 👉 who chose the song to use while walking down the aisle on Ruthie's wedding 👉 what childhood dreams came true when Ruthie visited Harry Potter Studio 👉 the differences between living in London, Tel Aviv, and New York

👉 what it's like to celebrate family birthdays for the whole month 👉 Ruthie's creepy way of being into Pilates... and so much more about Ruthie's life! 🤩 Follow Ruthie on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthieberber/

https://www.instagram.com/ruthieberber

Timestamps:

(00:00) Ruthie's Introduction

(00:52) Singing Journey

(03:27) Wedding Day and Love for Penguins

(05:41) Childhood and Family Background

(07:19) Experiencing London, Tel Aviv, and New York

(09:58) Writing and Reading Experiences

(16:50) Love for Harry Potter

(23:25) Other Interests and Hobbies

(30:54) Exploring the Fascination with Languages

(32:52) Celebrating Multiple Birthdays in a Family

(34:37) Musical Inspirations: Beyoncé and Adele

(38:55) Memorable Birthday Celebrations

(42:13) Lessons from Serving in the IDF

(46:48) Unforgettable Honeymoon in Japan

(50:04) The Struggle and Triumph of a First 10k Run

(52:45) The Therapeutic Power of Mandela's Color Therapy

(55:01) The Pursuit of Perfection

(57:02) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Talia Basma, a community enthusiast, storyteller, contemporary author of diverse romances, poetess, activist, and blogger who hopes to inspire minorities of all backgrounds to use their stories and love of worlds to bring others together 🤩 From this episode, you'll know about: 👉 why Talia loves Tinker Bell 👉 Talia's ability to say "no" 👉 how Talia's brothers get what they want 👉 where's Talia's happy place 👉 what's Talia's romance novel about... and so much more about Talia's life! 🤩 Follow Talia on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/talia-basma/

https://www.instagram.com/taliabasma/

https://taliabasma.com/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Talia's Introduction

(00:44) Favorite Tales and Childhood Reading Experiences

(02:15) Impact of Reading on Personal Growth

(06:25) Journey of Writing Love Stories

(08:56) The Balance of Good and Bad in Life

(15:41) Personal Identity and Being True to Oneself

(23:42) Is Sarcasm a Defence Mechanism

(36:59) Backstory of Love Not Required

(43:21) Struggles of Writing and Balancing Life

(48:48) Unexpected Meeting with a Favorite Author

(56:15) Boycotting and Supporting Brands

(01:04:39) Creating a Five-Year Plan

(01:09:28) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Patrick O’Keefe, a digital creator with 20+ years of experience in online communities, a happy father, an author of the Managing Online Forums book, a sucker for dark rides that move through physical spaces, and a Community Signal podcast host who lives in Hollywood 🤩 From this episode, you'll know: 👉 the backstory of Patrick's green wedding 👉 who's Patrick's favorite Cars movie character 👉 how Ghostbusters connected Patrick and his wife 👉 hip-hop influence on Patrick's life 👉 Patrick's home arcade collection... and so much more about Patrick's life! 🤩 Follow Patrick on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickokeefe/

https://www.instagram.com/patrickbokeefe

https://www.patrickokeefe.com/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Patrick's Introduction

(02:17) Insights from Netflix

(08:22) Childhood Memories and Family Background

(13:21) Influence of Hip Hop

(26:08) Love for Ghostbusters and Pop Culture

(32:39) Art of Thoughtful Gifting

(37:56) Constant Learning Process

(44:56) Life In Hollywood

(54:34) Rapid Fire Questions

(56:33) CNN Experience

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

🤯 Is it possible to feel sane through the hard times?

🤝 How do connections with people help us find comfort?

🔒 Why does finding your unique definition of safety make you feel secure?

💪 What to do before fighting the world's challenges?

Let's find it out! 😏

Join Victoria Cumberbatch and Yurii Lazaruk in having deep conversations about things you might usually shut up about!

Connect with Viki and Yurii on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriamc/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Global Issues and Their Impact

(02:13) Balancing Personal Life and Global Concerns

(05:04) The Struggle of Feeling Safe and Secure

(07:00) The Realities of Global Conflict and Its Impact

(10:46) The Importance of Local Connection and Community

(12:46) Managing Personal Emotions Amidst Global Issues

(23:11) The Importance of Authenticity and Belonging

(35:23) Accepting Challenges and Moving Forward

This a totally different episode! Two amazing humans - Fihmiya Hamndan and Nicola Earle - came here to ask each other (and me) about their life stories! Check it out!🤩 From this episode, you'll know: 👉 our tactics for being consistent 👉 the most memorable places we've been to 👉 where'd we take friends in places we live 👉 what our dream suppers are 👉 how'd we act at a party... and so much more about Fihmiya's, Nicola's, and Yurii's lives! 🤩

Check the Community Life episode with Fihmiya here:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/communiverse/episodes/Community-Life-68-with-Fihmiya-Hamdan-e2ag9cn

Check the Community Life episode with Nicola here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/communiverse/episodes/Community-Life-74-with-Nicola-Earle-e2camsk

Follow us on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/fihmiyahamdan/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-ruth-earle/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction and Welcome

(01:52) Importance of Consistency

(05:57) Power of Collaboration Over Competition

(12:48) Feeling vs. Forcing

(14:44) The Most Interesting Places We've Been To

(28:46) Joy of Food and Shared Experiences

(38:05) Party Stories and Dance Floor Adventures

(41:50) Birth of Creative Projects

(59:06) Dinosaur or Pokemon?

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Luke Zimmer, a community builder and consultant who wants to create a better world online, an avid gardener, a former haver of chickens, a beekeeper, and a great person you’d love to talk to 🤩 From this episode, you'll know: 👉 the backstory of the chicken bowling 👉 what plants grow in Luke's garden 👉 connections between humans and nature 👉 how vindictive bees are 👉 what Luke chooses to forget and tries to forgive... and so much more about Luke's life! 🤩 Follow Luke on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lthzimmer/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Luke's Introduction

(00:39) The Story Behind Chicken Bowling

(02:08) Raising Chickens: From Chicks to Motherhood

(03:33) The Journey into Beekeeping

(06:46) Comparing Beekeeping and Chicken Raising

(12:39) The Origin of Skariphos Consulting

(15:34) Exploring the World of Gardening

(22:28) Understanding Self and Relationships

(34:21) The Impact of CliftonStrengths on Professional Journey

(40:46) Rapid-Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Jen Serrat, a passionate community builder who was Born in France, raised in Canada, studied in the US, worked in South Korea and Spain, lived 7 different countries, and who firmly believes that a key ingredient to success is people, and even built her wedding website on a community platform, and turned her guest list into community members 🤩 From this episode, you'll know: 👉 How Jen chose in what country to live next 👉 How many Karate medals Jen has 👉 Crazy engagement proposal story 👉 Jen's relationships with the German language 👉 What compliments Jen received from a South Korean colleague... and so much more about Jen's life! 🤩 Follow Jen on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenserrat/

https://www.instagram.com/lejendiary

Timestamps:

(00:00) Jen's Introduction

(02:09) Choosing the Next Destination for Living

(05:00) Language Learning Adventures

(09:01) Cultural Differences and Experiences

(16:32) Family Background and Influence

(27:42) Embracing Competition and Overcoming Fears

(33:17) An Emotional-Rollercoaster Engagement Story

(41:45) The Other Side of the Engagement Story

(49:11) Cultural Appreciation: Japan and South Korea

(53:05) Teaching Experiences Abroad

(55:02) Rapid Fire Questions

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Said Saddouk, The Facilitainer, Multipontealite, who is a great person to talk to and one of the most creative people I know 🤩 From this episode, you'll know: 👉 what Said likes the most about the Powerpuff Girls 👉 the backstory of Said's Lego head cookie jar 👉 why Said prefers not to shave his face fully 👉 the power of visuals in Said's life 👉 if Said finished a 100 daily drawings book... and so much more about Said's life! 🤩 Follow Said on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/said-saddouk/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Said's Introduction

(00:52) Exploring the Meaning of Name

(04:01) Language Learning Struggles

(06:16) The Role of Grades in Education

(10:10) Childhood Memories and Being the Youngest in Class

(17:16) Superheroes and Cartoons

(23:10) Power of Visuals in Learning and Life

(31:24) Journey of Self-Improvement

(32:37) Art of Making Things Look Easy

(38:46) Struggle of Starting and Stopping

(42:59) Emotional Side of Life

(50:36) Backstory of the Lego Head Cookie Jar

(54:24) Fun of Playfulness

(55:57) Rapid Fire Questions

(59:41) Importance of Alpacas and Llamas

#community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Beth McIntyre, a Community Director for Bevy and CMX, joke lover, travel writer, as Blake Ethridge once said, a lightning bolt of energy, passion, business focus, and creativity, and a person who impacted my professional life very much because of hiring me for conducting an audit for the CMX community without even knowing me well! 🤩 From this episode, you'll know: 👉 what jokes does Beth like 👉 how traveling impacted Beth's life 👉 why did Beth stop her travel writer career 👉 backstory of Beth's famous tiger shirt 👉 what makes Beth dance and cry... and so much more about Beth's life! 🤩 Follow Beth on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethmcintyre/

https://twitter.com/iambethmcintyre

Timestamps:

(00:00) Beth's Introduction

(00:42) Experience as a New Parent

(02:39) New Year Resolutions and Goals

(04:23) Love for Sushi

(05:41) Childhood and Parents

(06:55) Journey as a Travel Writer

(09:07) Transition from Journaling to Letter Writing

(16:18) Experience as a Public Speaker

(21:03) Love for the Rocky Mountains

(23:07) Travel Experiences

(26:29) Finding Adventure in Everyday Life

(28:16) The Challenges of Settling Down

(31:16) Starting a Street Party in Siem Reap

(34:40) The Art of Cross Stitching

(40:36) The Love for Biking and Picnics

(44:13) The Experience of Eating Unusual Foods

(46:41) Rapid Fire Questions #community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Akash Agrawal, a Community builder by passion and profession, avid storyteller, meditator, violin player, and one of the nicest humans in the community world who’s always just a ping away 🤩

From this episode, you'll know: 👉 why Akash started learning Spanish

👉 what would Akash ask his sister and never parents

👉 Akash's passion for World of Warcraft

👉 how Akash has fun with friends

👉 why Akash likes voice messages more than text... and so much more about Akash's life! 🤩

Follow Akash on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/akash21j94/

https://twitter.com/Akash_2106

https://www.instagram.com/akash4232

Timestamps:

(00:00) Akash's Introduction

(02:33) The Desire to Learn New Languages

(05:54) Family Dynamics and Relationships

(11:25) The Art of Conversation and Understanding

(15:56) Reflecting on Gaming and Community Building

(26:12) Childhood Memories and Personal Growth

(30:17) Being Childlike with Friends

(34:35) Understanding Cultural Differences

(40:17) The Challenges of Text Communication

(42:24) Feelings While Playing Violin

(52:55) Emotional Responses and Coping Mechanisms

(59:24) Rapid Fire Questions #community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Michelle Sims, a global community, events, and marketing expert who has a passion for empowering women, an avid traveler, a Behind the Community podcast host, and a people-connector who loves to inspire curiosity and collaboration 🤩 From this episode, you'll know: 👉 how Michelle feels about the "Michelle" song by The Beatles 👉 why did Michelle fall in love with Greece

👉 what is Michelle's favorite gelato flavor

👉 history behind the matching tattoos with her best friend

👉 what dog Michelle would love to have... and so much more about Michelle's life! 🤩 Follow Michelle on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellesims4/

https://www.instagram.com/miishellina/

https://twitter.com/michellesims_?lang=en

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction and Guest Welcome

(01:42) Michelle's Love for Travel and Greece

(07:42) Lifechanging Journey After Leaving Australia

(09:46) Differences between Sydney and London

(13:51) Michelle's Family Background

(18:58) Friendship with Kate and The Story of Matching Tattoos

(24:16) Starting the 'Behind the Community' Podcast

(28:15) Challenging Self-Love and Confidence

(30:58) Love for Dogs and Pet Care

(34:32) Fun Activities and Hobbies

(35:29) Importance of Consistency in Life

(38:13) The Story Behind Instagram Handle

(40:51) Interest in Football and Ice Skating

(44:11) Building and Maintaining Connections

(45:54) Rapid Fire Questions #community #communitymanager #communitybuilding

Today my guest is Laura Zug, a community strategist with a passion for starting meaningful movements and an intensely optimistic natural connector with an insatiably curious mind 🤩 From this episode, you'll know: 👉 what Laura loves the most about French 👉 how Laura feels about New Year's resolutions 👉 if Laura is an early bird 👉 how Laura felt when her son moved to a college apartment 👉 what Laura loves the most about pilates... and so much more about Laura's life! 🤩 Follow Laura on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurazug/

https://www.instagram.com/lauraczug/

https://twitter.com/mission2mvt

https://www.facebook.com/laura.zug.39

Timestamps:

(00:00) Laura's Introduction

(01:25) Exchange Program Experience

(06:53) Parents and Their Influence

(11:06) Challenging Journey

(21:38) Energy and What Fuels It

(29:02) Morning Routine

(31:40 Prescription to Get a Dog

(35:28) New Year's Resolutions

(38:03) Appreciating People in Life

(43:33) The Joy of Summer Camp

(48:24) Close Friends and Reading Habits

(49:28) Rapid Fire Questions #community #communitymanager #communitybuilding