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. 2 HR AGO

    423. From Underwater to 95% Occupied: A Coworking Turnaround Story

    What would you do if you bought a coworking space that was losing money… on purpose? That's exactly what Lea Latham did. She walked into a 13,000 square foot executive suite business that was underwater, knowing full well she'd likely have to take it over. And when the time came? She moved into her RV, parked it outside, and got to work. I loved this conversation with Lea because it's such a real look at what it actually takes to turn a space around: Making the hard call to replace a team member (and wishing you'd done it sooner) Installing systems, structure, and accountability from scratch Leaning into technology to create visibility and control Understanding that relationships matter—but they're not everything And focusing on the fundamentals that so many operators overlook (like actually responding to leads…) I've had the privilege of working with Lea through our programs, and she is exactly the kind of operator you want in this industry: curious, decisive, and willing to take action. If you've ever wondered whether you could take over an underperforming space and turn it into something profitable… this episode will give you a very honest look at what that actually requires. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Katy Elite Suites 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

    47 min

  2. 29 APR

    422. How This Coworking Space Cut Days on Market From 140 to Under 30

    Most people don't start their coworking career thinking they'll become president of the company. Jessie Hathcock did. When I sat down with Jessie Hathcock from The Loading Dock, I couldn't stop thinking about how rare her story is. She started as a community coordinator… and six and a half years later, she's leading the entire company. We talked about: What it really looks like to grow up in the coworking industry (and why those career paths are finally becoming more common) How their co-warehousing model is opening doors for entrepreneurs you might not expect… including tradespeople and small businesses that need space to grow The messy, real behind-the-scenes of implementing EOS and building a healthy, aligned team (not as easy as it sounds) Why "unreasonable hospitality" isn't just a philosophy for them… it's a budget line item And how they're creating a level of connection that leads to 82.5% of members reporting improved wellbeing One of my favorite parts of this conversation is how honest Jess is about the messy middle. Rapid growth. Team tension. Launching new initiatives before you're fully ready. Learning (sometimes the hard way) how to lead at a higher level. And still choosing to build something that puts people first. If you've ever wondered what it actually takes to scale a coworking business without losing your culture… this episode is such a good one. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Jessie Hathcock on LinkedIn The Loading Dock 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

    50 min

  3. 22 APR

    421. The Lead Follow Up System Every Coworking Space Needs to Fill Faster

    You don't have a lead problem. You have a follow-up problem. Leads are coming in. Marketing is working. But deals aren't closing at the rate they should be and the issue is almost always the system behind the leads. In this solo episode, Jamie breaks down where coworking sales funnels tend to fall apart and how to fix them. You'll learn: Why leads get stuck in your CRM and never convert Where follow-up typically breaks down (especially mid-funnel) How inconsistent systems cost you real revenue The four essentials for optimizing your sales process If your "needs follow up" column is overflowing or you feel like you should be closing more deals with the leads you already have, this episode will give you a clear path forward. 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

    38 min

  4. 15 APR

    420. How One Coworking Space Hit an 80% Tour Show Rate (And the Tech Behind It)

    What happens when a coworking operator gets completely fed up with their tech stack… and decides to build their own solution? That's exactly what Dan Wesson and Chelle Peterson did. Dan and Chelle are the co-founders of The Post Workspace and CoLevel, and I've known them since they went through Coworking Startup School back in 2018. It has been so fun to watch their journey from launching their space in Tucson to building a platform that's now helping operators all over the world. They didn't set out to create software. They just wanted to run a better coworking space. But after juggling Calendly, DocuSign, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, social schedulers, answering services… and still missing leads, still feeling overwhelmed, still wondering what was falling through the cracks… they hit a breaking point. So they fixed it. We talk about: – What they were actually dealing with behind the scenes before building CoLevel – The moment they realized their tech stack was holding them back – Why speed to lead is one of the biggest missed opportunities in coworking – How automation can increase hospitality (not replace it) – What it looks like to compete with larger operators without a big team If you've ever felt like your tech stack is running you instead of the other way around… this one will hit home. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Daniel Wesson on LinkedIn Chelle Peterson on LinkedIn CoLevel What Every Coworking Operator Needs to Know About Lease Renewals 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

    51 min

  5. 25 MAR

    419. How to Use AI in Your Coworking Space Without Losing the Human Touch

    What if AI didn't replace your community manager… but actually made them better at their job? That's exactly what Courtney Schwartz is doing at FireWorks Coworking—and it's such a refreshing take on a topic that can feel overwhelming (or even a little threatening) in our industry. Courtney is deeply passionate about people, community, and creating meaningful connections. And instead of letting AI take over, she's using it to take admin work off her plate so she can spend more time doing what actually matters inside her space. In this episode, we cover: How Courtney uses AI to streamline time-consuming tasks like blog writing and content repurposing Why "garbage in, garbage out" is the reality of AI—and how to get better outputs How indie operators can use AI for local SEO and even demographic research The role of AI in helping you identify and reach your ideal member Why community managers who embrace AI will have a huge advantage How to use AI as an extension of your voice, not a replacement I've had the chance to work with the FireWorks team through Coworking Startup School and Community Manager University, and Courtney is such a great example of what happens when you invest in your people and give them space to grow. She's curious, driven, and clearly all-in on her community—and this conversation is packed with practical ideas you can actually use. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Courtney Schwartz on LinkedIn FireWorks 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

    54 min

  6. 18 MAR

    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 Yardi, 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

  7. 11 MAR

    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

    1hr 1min

  8. 4 MAR

    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
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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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