Gathered Here

Dana Kadwell
  • 5.0 (2)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The stories from the places where people gather.

  1. Quick Chat with Dana: The Cost of a Yes: What We Trade to Chase the Dream

    10/14/2025

    Quick Chat with Dana: The Cost of a Yes: What We Trade to Chase the Dream

    What does it really cost to say yes to your dreams? In this heartfelt quick chat, Dana dives into the quiet sacrifices that come with ambition — the missed moments, the guilt that lingers, and the constant tug between what we want to build and who we want to be there for. Drawing inspiration from Brittany’s story of saying yes to her calling and no to everything that didn’t align, Dana shares her own journey of learning that every yes carries a no. From coaching her daughter’s basketball team to redefining what balance looks like, this conversation is an honest look at how we can honor our dreams and our boundaries. Because the goal isn’t to do it all — it’s to say yes to what truly matters. For More Info on Brittany and The Colonial at Sunset:Website:https://thecolonialatsunset.com/Instagram: @colonialatsunset For More info on Dana and her Hustles:Instagram: @hustleandgather & @gatheredherepodcastThe Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/Consulting: https://www.hustleandgather.com/Speaking: https://www.danakadwell.com/speaking

    15 min
  2. Quick Chat with Dana: When It's Time to Leave the Table

    10/08/2025

    Quick Chat with Dana: When It's Time to Leave the Table

    There comes a moment when you realize the seat you’ve been holding onto no longer serves you. For Brittany, it was leaving spaces where respect was missing — even when walking away meant heartbreak, loss, or uncertainty about what came next. In this episode of Gathered Here, Dana shares her own experiences of staying too long at the wrong tables, the fear of leaving, and the freedom that comes when you finally decide to walk away. Together with Brittany’s story, this conversation explores: The courage it takes to recognize when you’re not valuedWhy heartbreak can be the foundation of resilienceThe importance of not silencing the dreams that refuse to let goHow “no” often becomes the path to a deeper “yes”For More Info on Brittany and The Colonial at Sunset:Website:https://thecolonialatsunset.com/Instagram: @colonialatsunset For More info on Dana and her Hustles:Instagram: @hustleandgather & @gatheredherepodcastThe Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/Consulting: https://www.hustleandgather.com/Speaking: https://www.danakadwell.com/speaking

    17 min
  3. The Dream That Wouldn’t Let Go: How Every No Became the Foundation for the Ultimate Yes

    09/30/2025

    The Dream That Wouldn’t Let Go: How Every No Became the Foundation for the Ultimate Yes

    Sometimes the dream won’t let go of you — no matter how many times the world tells you “no.” In this episode, Dana sits down with Brittany Schrader, owner of The Colonial at Sunset, to hear how she turned years of setbacks, heartbreaks, and hard lessons into the foundation for her ultimate “yes.” From her start in sports management to nearly giving up on the industry altogether, Brittany’s story is one of grit, resilience, and listening to the pull of a dream that wouldn’t quit. Together, Dana and Brittany talk about the messy middle of venue ownership, the sacrifices behind the pretty pictures, and the courage it takes to walk away from the wrong tables in order to build your own. If you’ve ever felt like giving up, this episode will remind you that every “no” might just be laying the groundwork for your biggest “yes.” For More Info on Brittany and The Colonial at Sunset:Website:https://thecolonialatsunset.com/Instagram: @colonialatsunset For More info on Dana and her Hustles:Instagram: @hustleandgather & @gatheredherepodcastThe Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/Consulting: https://www.hustleandgather.com/Speaking: https://www.danakadwell.com/speaking

    45 min
  4. Quick Chat with Dana: We're not Perfect - We're People

    09/23/2025

    Quick Chat with Dana: We're not Perfect - We're People

    We often feel the pressure to be perfect in business — to never miss a detail, never drop the ball, never let our humanness show. But the truth is, mistakes happen, emotions spill over, and life rarely fits into neat boxes. In this episode, Dana shares reflections inspired by her conversation with Leah from The Historic Ashland. From the weight of making an impact, to reframing the “value” of our work, to the radical reminder that weddings — and the work behind them — are about people, not perfection. Listen in as Dana talks about the banner she forgot to hang, what her AP chemistry teacher taught her about true care, and why approaching each other with charitable assumptions might just change everything. Because at the end of the day, we’re not perfect — we’re people. For More Info on Leah and The Historic Ashland:Website: https://historicashlandevents.com/Instagram: @historicashland For More info on Dana and her Hustles:Instagram: @hustleandgather & @gatheredherepodcastThe Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/Consulting: https://www.hustleandgather.com/Speaking: https://www.danakadwell.com/speaking

    17 min
  5. Quick Chat with Dana: The Hardest Thing to Say - "I Can't Do This Alone."

    09/16/2025

    Quick Chat with Dana: The Hardest Thing to Say - "I Can't Do This Alone."

    In this episode of Quick Chat with Dana, I dive into a deeply personal topic: asking for help. We often pride ourselves on independence, on being the ones who can handle it all—but what happens when life gets overwhelming, and we realize we can’t do it alone? I reflect on lessons from my past, the struggles of balancing care for others while neglecting our own needs, and how asking for help isn’t a weakness—it can actually be a sign of strength, connection, and humanity. This episode is about vulnerability, self-reflection, and the courage to let people in, even when it feels terrifying. For More Info on Leah and The Historic Ashland:Website: https://historicashlandevents.com/Instagram: @historicashland For More info on Dana and her Hustles:Instagram: @hustleandgather & @gatheredherepodcastThe Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/Consulting: https://www.hustleandgather.com/Speaking: https://www.danakadwell.com/speaking

    16 min
  6. When the Business is People, You Lead with Heart

    09/09/2025

    When the Business is People, You Lead with Heart

    In this episode, Dana sits down with Leah Nadu, co-owner of Historic Ashland, to talk about the reality of running a family-built venue — the grief and grit it takes, the lessons her late father passed down, and why she believes hospitality isn’t the wedding business at all, but the people business. From learning to ask for help, to finding refuge in her work, to building a team that carries her family’s legacy forward, Leah’s story is one of resilience, vulnerability, and heart-led leadership. For More Info on Leah and The Historic Ashland:Website: https://historicashlandevents.com/Instagram: @historicashland For More info on Dana and her Hustles:Instagram: @hustleandgather & @gatheredherepodcastThe Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/Consulting: https://www.hustleandgather.com/Speaking: https://www.danakadwell.com/speaking

    52 min
  7. Quick Chat with Dana: When Empathy Guides Us Through the Hardest Moments In Life

    09/02/2025

    Quick Chat with Dana: When Empathy Guides Us Through the Hardest Moments In Life

    Life can be messy, painful, and overwhelming—but sometimes the very act of caring for someone else can help us find our way. In this episode of Gathered Here, Dana Kadwell explores the power of empathy, sharing stories from her own journey and a conversation with Kate, a hospitality professional who learned that serving others can be deeply healing. These experiences reveal a profound truth: showing up for others can restore, teach, and guide us—even through the hardest moments. Dana also dives into practical ways to cultivate empathy, including the transformative idea of “charitable assumption,” and reflects on how hospitality has become both her purpose and her North Star. If you’ve ever wondered how kindness, understanding, and empathy can shape not just the people around you but also yourself, this episode will leave you inspired to show up, serve, and heal—one moment at a time. Learn more about Kate: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hospitalitymarketingsolutions/ Learn more about us: The Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatheredherepodcast/

    16 min
  8. Quick Chat with Dana: Beyond the Surface: Why Complacency Costs us Relationships

    08/26/2025

    Quick Chat with Dana: Beyond the Surface: Why Complacency Costs us Relationships

    Complacency isn’t just a business risk — it can quietly erode the relationships that help us thrive. In this episode, Dana reflects on the lesson sparked by last week’s conversation with Kate. Dana shares honest stories from her own experience, from the times she neglected networking and personal connections, to the moments she realized that surface-level interactions weren’t enough. She talks about the pep talks in elevators, the shift toward authentic relationship-building, and how being intentional about connection opened doors in both her venue business and her wider community. This episode is for anyone who’s struggled to stay engaged, felt drained by networking, or wondered how to cultivate real, lasting relationships. Beyond strategy and operations, Dana reminds us that progress in business — and in life — is powered by the people we connect with. Learn more about Kate: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hospitalitymarketingsolutions/ Learn more about us: The Venue Masterclass: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatheredherepodcast/

    14 min
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About

The stories from the places where people gather.

Information

  • Creator
    Dana Kadwell
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Dana Kadwell