Everything Coworking

Jamie Russo
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The Everything Coworking podcast shares trends and how-tos for coworking operators and anyone following this exploding trend. Jamie owned coworking spaces in Chicago and Palo Alto under the brand Enerspace Coworking. She was the Executive Director of the Global Workspace Association for 5 years. Since 2018, she's been helping coworking spaces start and run profitable coworking spaces.

  1. 14 HRS AGO

    418. Yardi's Peter Kolaczynski shares Coworking Growth Data Drivers

    Most people don't spend 13 years quietly building one of the most comprehensive datasets in commercial real estate. But that's exactly what Peter Kolaczynski has been doing at Yardi. In this episode, Jamie sits down with Peter Kolaczynski, Associate Director of CommercialEdge, to unpack what's really happening beneath the surface of the coworking and office markets. And this one gets… data-heavy in the best way. We get into: Why coworking is still only ~2.3% of total office space—and why that number could 5x How Yardi tracks over 80,000 office buildings and what that unlocks for the industry The surprising reality of physical office occupancy (hint: it's still under 60%) Why enterprise demand for flexible space keeps growing despite return-to-office pressure How AI could reshape not just coworking—but total office demand One of the most interesting takeaways: even if office demand shrinks overall, coworking may expand. Why? Because uncertainty drives flexibility—and flexibility is exactly what coworking offers. We also get into: Office-to-residential conversions. Why "downtown" may matter less than ever. The rise of smaller, hyper-local office hubs. And why building owners—not just operators—may drive the next wave of growth. If you care about where the office market is actually heading (not just headlines), this is a must-listen. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Peter Kolaczynski on LinkedIn Yardi website U.S. Coworking Industry Report Q4 '25 Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

    37 min

  2. MAR 11

    417. How Glen Hicks Built a Self-Serve Coworking Space (and Runs It From 3 Hours Away)

    What if you built a coworking space… designed so you barely had to be there? That's exactly what Glen Hicks did. After 27 years in IT leadership and a life-changing heart attack at 34, Glen completely rethought how he worked. Instead of jumping into another executive role, he became what he calls a "digital independent." But he couldn't find a workspace that actually fit the way he wanted to work. So he built USTATION — a beautifully designed, mostly self-serve workspace in New Brunswick that runs with almost no staff (and Glen lives three hours away). In this episode we talk about: How he runs a 3,500 sq ft coworking space with almost no on-site staff Why smaller spaces can actually create better community The simple tech setup that avoids the dreaded 5-minute meeting room startup Why he installed a private work pod in an airport Glen is thoughtful, unconventional, and very intentional about how he spends his time (he works about 20 hours a week now). If you're thinking about building a simpler, smarter coworking model — you'll enjoy this conversation. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Glen Hicks on LinkedIn USTATION website Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

    1h 1m

  3. MAR 4

    416. Flexibility with Boundaries: Nicole Antolino on the Real Role of a Community Manager

    What if the secret to running a thriving coworking space isn't fancy software or a massive team… but one incredibly grounded, genuinely caring community manager? I finally got to sit down with Nicole Antolino, Community Manager at Fireworks Coworking in Marietta, Georgia and this conversation was long overdue. Nicole has been part of our Community Manager University program since 2022 and I've watched her grow into one of those rare unicorn operators who can truly do it all. She talked about the real balancing act of this role. When to extend flexibility and when to hold the line. How to juggle task lists with real human connection. What it's like to be a working mom running a space. And why she believes customer service experience matters more than industry background when hiring. We also dig into: Why 30 percent meeting room utilization might actually be normal How she and her teammate divide and conquer to grow the business The evolution of Fireworks' ideal customer profile What it really takes to stay energized in this role year after year If you're an owner wondering what makes a great community manager, or you are a community manager trying to figure out how to build longevity in this career, this one is for you. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Fireworks Coworking website Nicole Antolino on LinkedIn Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

    59 min

  4. FEB 25

    415. 6 Things Coworking Space Owners Are Underspending On

    What's worse than overspending on things that don't deliver ROI? Underinvesting in the areas that actually make or break your business. This week, Jamie flips last week's episode on its head and tackles the critical areas where coworking operators consistently underspend—and pay the price in lost revenue, lower margins, and frustrated members. From soundproofing decisions during construction to the size of your private offices, Jamie breaks down the build-out choices that seem expensive upfront but deliver massive ROI over time. She explains why an 80-square-foot office will always outperform a 120-square-foot one when you're trying to hit $70 per square foot in revenue, and why phone booths aren't optional—they're essential to selling flex memberships. This episode is packed with specific, actionable advice on where to invest, how to evaluate ROI, and what trade-offs to consider based on your market, lease term, and access to capital. We talk about: Why soundproofing should be built into construction from day one (and what to do if you're already open) How small private offices (80 sq ft vs 120 sq ft) dramatically impact your revenue per square foot Why phone booths are essential for selling flex memberships—and how to finance them if budget is tight The critical importance of professional photography for meeting rooms and day offices (users buy visually online) Why SEO is a must-have investment alongside paid ads—and how AI search is changing the game How to use a CRM to track every lead and achieve "radical responsiveness" in 2026 The three audits every operator should run quarterly: customer journey, sales funnel, and competitive market Why investing in your team's training and your own professional development always delivers ROI If you're trying to figure out where to allocate budget, what's worth the investment, and how to avoid the costly mistake of underspending in critical areas—this episode is essential listening. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: CoLevel (CRM platform) Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

    50 min

  5. FEB 12

    414. 4 Things Coworking Space Owners Are Overspending On

    What happens when good intentions meet bad ROI? This week, Jamie tackles the spending decisions that quietly drain coworking operators' margins—and shares what to do instead. Fresh from working with clients who are making these exact mistakes, Jamie breaks down the four most common areas where operators overspend: marketing agencies that don't understand local business, IT retainers that sit unused, social media managers in markets where Instagram doesn't drive leads, and $20,000 custom websites that look beautiful but don't convert. This episode is direct, practical, and yes—a little bit of a rant. But if you've ever wondered whether you should hire an agency, pay for an IT retainer, or invest in a custom site, you need to hear this. We talk about: Why most marketing agencies can't deliver ROI for single-location operators (and the one exception) How to set up your IT infrastructure once and stop paying monthly retainers The truth about social media for coworking spaces—and when it actually works What makes a website convert versus just look pretty Why studying marketing as a business owner will save you tens of thousands of dollars If you're a new operator trying to figure out where to invest—or an experienced one wondering why your margins feel tight—this episode will help you make smarter decisions with your budget. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: SpaceFully Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

    37 min

  6. FEB 4

    413. Is "Community Manager" the Right Title for the Person Running Your Coworking Space?

    This week, Jamie Russo tackles a slightly uncomfortable question—especially for someone who runs a program called Community Manager University. But if you're struggling to find quality candidates when you post that job title, this episode might change how you think about recruiting. Here's the problem: the community manager title anchors candidates on member interaction and engagement. But the actual job? It's pipeline management, CRM updates, billing follow-up, vendor coordination, office turnovers, social media, sales tours, and—oh yeah—also community building. When you hire someone expecting to spend their day chatting with members and they end up spending three hours in HubSpot, you've got a mismatch. And that mismatch starts with the title. We talk about: Why "Location Manager" might attract better candidates (and who's testing it successfully) How to prioritize the five hats: operations, community building, sales & marketing, finance, and leadership The front-of-house vs back-of-house split when you have two people on site Why the biggest gap is CRM use—and how the title sets the wrong expectations How to design a daily schedule based on what actually matters most in your business right now When community manager IS the right title (and when it's not) The downloadable template to help you prioritize hats and write a job description that matches reality This conversation is for operators who are tired of hiring people who don't fit the role—or who lose great team members because the job wasn't what they expected. If you're about to post a job or wondering why your last hire didn't work out, this episode will help you rethink your approach. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Profit Accelerator Program Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

    37 min

  7. JAN 28

    412. Should You Answer When IWG Calls? What Landlords Need to Know About Regus Partnership Deals

    IWG (the parent company of Regus) just cold called you about turning your office building into a coworking space—and you have no idea how to evaluate their offer. This week, Jamie Russo breaks down exactly what landlords and building owners need to know before signing a management agreement with IWG, Regus, or any other operator offering a partnership model. Spoiler: they're not calling because your building is special. They're calling because you own a building. And that distinction matters—a lot. Jamie walks through the IWG partnership model, why they're pursuing landlords so aggressively right now, and the 13 critical questions you need to ask before even considering their offer. Because while IWG is incredibly good at sales, marketing, and designing efficient spaces, their incentives are not the same as yours. We talk about: Why IWG wants dots on the map—and what that means for your building How management fees work (and why they get paid even if you don't make profit) Why smaller spaces (under 15,000 sq ft) rarely work under a management agreement What happens if the space loses money—and who covers operating expenses The termination clause question you absolutely must ask How to evaluate demand assumptions, pricing, and occupancy ramp in their proforma Why you need to validate their numbers with a third party (and how to do that) When an IWG partnership might actually make sense What other options exist beyond IWG—and why you should explore them This episode is essential listening if you're a building owner considering flex, an operator who's been approached about a partnership, or anyone trying to understand how management agreements actually work in the coworking industry. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Revenue Playbook Membership Profit Accelerator Program Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

    41 min

  8. JAN 7

    411. The "Why Not?" Approach: Sue Reardon on Experimenting Her Way to Success at Suite Spotte

    What happens when a small business coach realizes her clients need more than advice—they need a place to actually work? She converts the loft she's been living in with her family into a coworking space. This week, Jamie Russo sits down with Sue Reardon, co-founder and community connector at Suite Spotte in Forest Park and La Grange, Illinois, for one of the most fascinating origin stories we've heard on this podcast. In this episode, we talk about: How Sue went from coaching micropreneurs to realizing coworking was the missing piece Why it took two years to get the Forest Park location rezoned Her "test and invest" mindset—constantly experimenting with flexible memberships Why she stopped doing evening events and started showing up with soup and wine instead The "Team Mashup" concept—bringing remote and in-office teams together This conversation is proof that coworking works best when you stay curious, listen to your members, and aren't afraid to test unconventional ideas. If you're an operator wondering how to create authentic community without forcing it, or navigating flexible memberships, this episode is for you. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Sue Reardon on LinkedIn Suite Spotte Coworking website Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

    57 min
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About

The Everything Coworking podcast shares trends and how-tos for coworking operators and anyone following this exploding trend. Jamie owned coworking spaces in Chicago and Palo Alto under the brand Enerspace Coworking. She was the Executive Director of the Global Workspace Association for 5 years. Since 2018, she's been helping coworking spaces start and run profitable coworking spaces.

Information

  • Creator
    Jamie Russo
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Everything Coworking 2023
  • Show Website
    Everything Coworking

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