How We Connected

US Chamber of Connection

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 talk with a community leaders from around the country about the relationships, collaboration, and human stories behind meaningful change. Join us every week for a 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 leader in the movement to strengthen community through work. A serial entrepreneur and social innovator, he previously founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation, two organizations that reshaped how companies think about purpose, service, and meaningful work. His book The Purpose Economy helped define a new era in which connection, meaning, and relationships stand at the center of business value. At the Chamber, Aaron focuses on reconnecting America by mobilizing community builders in every town and city. Known for turning big ideas into practical action, he works at the intersection of business, civic life, and community leadership. Aaron co-hosts How We Connected, bringing thoughtful perspective, personal stories, and a clear belief that human connection is a skill every organization can cultivate Charlotte Massey Charlotte is the Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection and Executive Director of the Seattle Chamber of Connection, where she leads strategy, programs, and partnerships dedicated to strengthening the connective tissue of communities in Seattle and nationwide. Her background spans political organizing, digital marketing for large-scale nonprofits, and venture-backed entrepreneurship. She is a Forbes 30 under 30 awardee, a Thomas J Watson Fellow, and a Tory Burch Fellow. Charlotte creates environments where collaboration is natural and accessible. Charlotte started her career in political and civic organizing, later serving as a digital marketer for major nonprofits and advocacy organizations, helping them mobilize supporters and scale their impact. She co-founded Gnara, a venture-backed outdoor apparel company that developed patented zipper technology to make clothing more functional and accessible for women, earning national recognition and viral reach. A lifelong community builder, Charlotte also founded the Seattle Picnic Society, a 2,000-plus-person open-invite community that gathers for creative, joyful events across the city. As co-host of How We Connected, Charlotte brings grounded, practical insight and a keen sense for the moments that reveal how connection actually happens – in workplaces, neighborhoods, and local ecosystems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Play Catch with Me: Ethan Bryan's Movement Built One Throw at a Time

    HACE 23 H

    Play Catch with Me: Ethan Bryan's Movement Built One Throw at a Time

    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 www.chamberofconnection.org 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: A Year of Playing Catch Heylo www.heylo.com 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.

    48 min
  2. Party On! Evan Cudworth, the World's First Party Coach

    28 ABR

    Party On! Evan Cudworth, the World's First Party Coach

    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 www.chamberofconnection.org 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 partycoach.me Heylo www.heylo.com 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.

    1 h 2 min
  3. Rolling with Intent: Brandon DesJarlais, Co-Founder, Vibe Ride

    21 ABR

    Rolling with Intent: Brandon DesJarlais, Co-Founder, Vibe Ride

    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 www.chamberofconnection.org 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 https://www.heylo.com 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.

    51 min
  4. Power of Laughter: Yao Huang, Founder, Wonder Women

    14 ABR

    Power of Laughter: Yao Huang, Founder, Wonder Women

    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 www.chamberofconnection.org 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 https://www.heylo.com 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.

    45 min
  5. The Connection Catalyst: Hansen Hunt on Leading with Invitation, Founder, B-Side Racing Team

    7 ABR

    The Connection Catalyst: Hansen Hunt on Leading with Invitation, Founder, B-Side Racing Team

    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 www.chamberofconnection.org 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 https://www.heylo.com 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.

    51 min
  6. Building Bridges Through Music: Shaka Mitchell, Founder, Come Together Music

    31 MAR

    Building Bridges Through Music: Shaka Mitchell, Founder, Come Together Music

    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 www.chamberofconnection.org 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 https://www.heylo.com 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.

    56 min
  7. Cultivating Joyful Resistance: Jennifer Yonda, Founder, Skate Hunnies

    24 MAR

    Cultivating Joyful Resistance: Jennifer Yonda, Founder, Skate Hunnies

    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 www.chamberofconnection.org 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 https://www.heylo.com 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.

    1 h 2 min
  8. Reigniting Civic Pride: Brian Robinson, Founder, Save Our Sonics/Seattle NBA Fans

    17 MAR

    Reigniting Civic Pride: Brian Robinson, Founder, Save Our Sonics/Seattle NBA Fans

    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 www.chamberofconnection.org 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 seattlenbafans.com Heylo https://www.heylo.com 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.

    46 min

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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 talk with a community leaders from around the country about the relationships, collaboration, and human stories behind meaningful change. Join us every week for a 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 leader in the movement to strengthen community through work. A serial entrepreneur and social innovator, he previously founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation, two organizations that reshaped how companies think about purpose, service, and meaningful work. His book The Purpose Economy helped define a new era in which connection, meaning, and relationships stand at the center of business value. At the Chamber, Aaron focuses on reconnecting America by mobilizing community builders in every town and city. Known for turning big ideas into practical action, he works at the intersection of business, civic life, and community leadership. Aaron co-hosts How We Connected, bringing thoughtful perspective, personal stories, and a clear belief that human connection is a skill every organization can cultivate Charlotte Massey Charlotte is the Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection and Executive Director of the Seattle Chamber of Connection, where she leads strategy, programs, and partnerships dedicated to strengthening the connective tissue of communities in Seattle and nationwide. Her background spans political organizing, digital marketing for large-scale nonprofits, and venture-backed entrepreneurship. She is a Forbes 30 under 30 awardee, a Thomas J Watson Fellow, and a Tory Burch Fellow. Charlotte creates environments where collaboration is natural and accessible. Charlotte started her career in political and civic organizing, later serving as a digital marketer for major nonprofits and advocacy organizations, helping them mobilize supporters and scale their impact. She co-founded Gnara, a venture-backed outdoor apparel company that developed patented zipper technology to make clothing more functional and accessible for women, earning national recognition and viral reach. A lifelong community builder, Charlotte also founded the Seattle Picnic Society, a 2,000-plus-person open-invite community that gathers for creative, joyful events across the city. As co-host of How We Connected, Charlotte brings grounded, practical insight and a keen sense for the moments that reveal how connection actually happens – in workplaces, neighborhoods, and local ecosystems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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