Flex Uncensored - A Coworking Podcast

Jamie Russo and Giovanni Palavacini
  • 5.0 (31)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Giovanni Palavacini and Jamie Russo have partnered to ask industry leaders the questions that are on your mind. Giovanni Palavacini is a Real Estate Strategist focused on helping operators, landlords, and investors to make wise coworking/flexible office decisions using a combination of science and art. Jamie Russo was a coworking space owner/operator for 8 years, Executive Director of the GWA, the industry association, for 5 years, and has spent the last few years helping operators start and run profitable coworking businesses.

  1. 2h ago

    195. How Alanna Imbach Built Vibe Coworks Around Community and Connection

    What happens when someone leaves a career at the United Nations to open a coworking space in a small town? That's exactly what Alanna Imbach, Founder and CEO of Vibe Coworking, did. Alanna spent 17 years working around the world, including with the UN World Food Programme and WaterAid, before returning to her hometown of Poulsbo, Washington. What started as a search for a place where she and her husband could continue working remotely became Vibe Coworking. In this episode, we talk about: How Alanna's first experience with coworking happened at Grind in New York City Why she originally thought coworking was a terrible idea and what changed her mind The decision to leave a global career and return home to build something locally Designing a coworking space from the ground up after visiting dozens of spaces around the world How Vibe Coworking became part of a unique mixed-use building that includes a restaurant, chocolate shop, liquor store, and speakeasy The creation of Matchstick Lab and its work supporting entrepreneurship in the community Building a culture where people get to know each other as people first, not just by what they do for work Why Alanna believes people should be able to do the work they love from the place they love. This conversation is a great reminder that coworking can be about much more than workspace. It can be about creating connections, supporting entrepreneurs, and helping people build meaningful careers without leaving the communities they care about. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Alanna on LinkedIn Vibe Coworks website Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

    49 min

  2. Jun 9

    194. Best of: How Gina Schreck Built a 50,000 SF Community Hub

    If your goal is to create a coworking space that's profitable, purposeful, and packed with community-driven energy, this episode is required listening. This week, we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes of Flex Uncensored: our conversation with Gina Schreck, founder of The Village Work, Wellness & Event Center in the Denver suburbs. The lessons in this episode are just as relevant today as when it first aired. Sometimes the best ideas aren't new ones—they're the ones worth hearing again. In this episode, we cover: How Gina expanded from 10K to 50K square feet—and why she nearly walked away from the opportunity The surprising role her daughter played in managing the expansion project What makes her podcast studio actually get used (and how it supports her community) How events became a major revenue driver, from business gatherings to weddings and church services Why hospitality is at the center of everything she does—and how that philosophy impacts retention and culture How her space became a true community hub, complete with nonprofit partnerships and a waitlist for offices The creative ways she's using AI and thinking about operational efficiency Why DIY coworking isn't for divas—and how she embraces a high-touch, high-hospitality model This episode is packed with practical insights, big energy, and creative ideas for operators looking to build something people genuinely want to be part of. Whether you're hearing it for the first time or giving it another listen, there's a good chance you'll walk away with a few ideas worth putting into action. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Gina on LinkedIn The Village Workspace website Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

    59 min

  3. Jun 2

    193. Jamie And Gio Talk About AI, Health Trackers And What's Going On In The Industry Right Now

    AI is making it easier than ever to do more. The question is: should we? In this episode, Giovanni Palavicini and I ended up having one of those conversations that started with AI and somehow turned into business growth, health data, sleep, travel, expansion, productivity, and the challenge of keeping up with everything. What struck me most is that we're all having the same experience right now. AI is helping operators build dashboards, monitor sales performance, analyze CRM activity, automate reporting, and even build websites in a fraction of the time it used to take. But instead of creating more free time, many of us are using that efficiency to pile on even more work. A few moments that stood out: We talked about how AI is giving operators visibility into their businesses that would have been incredibly difficult just a year ago Gio shared how health tracking and bloodwork data forced him to confront the reality that he can't operate at 47 the same way he did at 27 We discussed why so many operators are desperate for practical AI use cases instead of theoretical discussions We explored how business owners often discover their biggest challenges aren't revenue problems, they're operational and expense problems We talked about the tension between growth ambitions and the personal capacity required to sustain them One of my favorite themes from the conversation was that data doesn't lie. This was a real conversation about what it looks like to build businesses, embrace new technology, and navigate the reality that our time and energy are finite. Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

    42 min

  4. May 26

    192. How Travis Low of Shift Workspaces Is Using AI to Transform Coworking Operations

    Most coworking operators are still using AI to write social posts. Shift Workspaces is using it to rethink operations, hospitality, renewals, sales strategy, dashboards, and member experience. This conversation with Travis Low completely changed the way I think about what's possible for coworking operators willing to go deeper with AI. A few things that stood out for me: Shift built AI systems that monitor everything from call volume and SEO to renewals and member engagement Travis created an "AI board of directors" with different personalities designed to critique the business and surface blind spots They're using automation to create more personalized hospitality, not less Their focus isn't cutting staff. It's helping their team spend less time on admin work and more time with members One of the biggest lessons: AI is only as good as your systems and your data cleanliness And one of my favorite quotes from Travis: "The currency in AI is creativity." This episode is both exciting and slightly overwhelming in the best possible way. If you've been curious about what AI could actually look like inside a coworking business beyond basic ChatGPT prompts, this episode is worth your time. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Travis Low on LinkedIn Shift Workspaces Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

    43 min

  5. May 7

    191. How HIT's Uri Isken and Gabriel Bucher Are Winning Big with Enterprise Flex Space

    What happens when a coworking operator stops thinking like a coworking operator… and starts thinking like a hospitality brand? That's exactly what Uri Isken and Gabriel Isken are building at HIT. And honestly, this conversation completely expanded my perspective on what enterprise flex space can become. HIT now operates 13 locations across Argentina, Chile, and Brazil with 94% occupancy, serving major enterprise clients like Google, Accenture, TikTok, and L'Oréal. But what really stood out to me is that coworking is only part of the story. In this episode, we talk about: How HIT generates 30% of its revenue from wellness, events, and food & beverage Why enterprise clients increasingly want one trusted operator to handle everything How they turned rooftops and common areas into profitable event venues Why Argentina's changing business climate is fueling demand for premium flex space What it takes to serve large enterprise clients across multiple countries How they transformed a historic horse carriage garage into one of the coolest flex spaces I've seen One of my favorite moments in the episode was hearing how Gabriel joined HIT at 19 years old as the company's very first employee working the front desk… and eventually became partner as the company scaled across LATAM. If you're thinking about the future of enterprise flex space, hospitality-driven operations, or how coworking operators can create entirely new revenue streams… this episode is packed with ideas. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Uri Iskin on LinkedIn Gabriel Bucher on LinkedIn HIT Cowork Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

    53 min

  6. Apr 28

    190. The "Stable Living" Concept Chris Moeller Is Building at Pathway Communities

    What if the future of housing looks a lot more like coworking? We had the chance to sit down with Chris Moeller, founder of Pathway Communities, right after his GCUC keynote… and this conversation really stuck with me. Chris spent 20 years in commercial real estate before stepping away to build something entirely new. And what he's working on now feels like a natural extension of where our industry is headed. He calls it "stable living." It's not just housing. It's a rethink of the system behind it. In this episode, we talk about: Why "we didn't break housing… the system did" How coworking principles can translate directly into residential living What happens when you design for connection instead of isolation Why ownership models need to evolve so people can actually build equity How a real-life disaster reshaped his entire perspective on community and infrastructure What I love about this conversation is that it pushes us to zoom out. We spend so much time in coworking talking about desks, pricing, and occupancy… But Chris is thinking about something bigger. How do we create places where people actually want to live and work? And what can our industry learn from that? If you're thinking about where coworking goes next… this one will expand your perspective. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Chris Moeller on LinkedIn Pathway Communities Website Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

    52 min

  7. Apr 23

    189. How Jim Groves Built Rubberdesk to Bring Transparency to Flex Office Markets

    What percentage of your market is actually flexible office space… and does that number even matter? I loved this conversation with Jim Groves, founder of Rubberdesk, because he completely reframed how we think about supply, demand, and what tenants actually see when they're searching for space. Jim built Rubberdesk around one core idea: transparency. Not just more data, but better, usable data that helps tenants actually make decisions and helps operators understand what's really happening in the market. We also dig into: Why lack of transparency leads to poor pricing and bad customer experiences How AI is transforming brokerage, from instant shortlists to real-time market insights The massive diversity in today's coworking product… from bare-bones offices to spaces with saunas, ice baths, and golf simulators Why brokers need better tools (and how Rubberdesk is building them) What the future of flex looks like in an uncertain economic environment If you're trying to understand where flex is really headed… or how to position your space in an increasingly competitive and diverse market… this one is worth your time. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Jim Groves on LinkedIn Rubberdesk website Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

    50 min

  8. Apr 14

    188. How Rob Archer Turned Codebase Coworking Into a Hub for Entrepreneurs and Community

    What does it look like when someone builds a coworking space entirely around people? I sat down with Rob Archer, CEO of Codebase Coworking, and this one stuck with me. Rob spent 8 years bringing this project to life. Not to maximize density. Not to cram in more offices. But to create a space that actually feels good to work in. And it shows. They have a waitlist for offices… and members joking about how to become "presidential diamond elite" just to get one. But here's the moment I can't stop thinking about… Rob asked a member to give up their office. Not because they couldn't pay. Because they weren't using it… and someone else could. That tells you everything about how he leads. I've had the chance to work with Rob, and he's exactly who he shows up as. Thoughtful, community-first, and deeply committed to creating something meaningful in Charlottesville. In this episode, we talk about: Why relationships are the real engine behind coworking How to design space for experience, not just revenue Supporting early-stage founders inside your space Leading with service (and why it actually works) If you're building a coworking space… or any kind of community… this one is worth your time. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Rob Archer on LinkedIn Codebase Coworking website Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

    46 min
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5
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

Giovanni Palavacini and Jamie Russo have partnered to ask industry leaders the questions that are on your mind. Giovanni Palavacini is a Real Estate Strategist focused on helping operators, landlords, and investors to make wise coworking/flexible office decisions using a combination of science and art. Jamie Russo was a coworking space owner/operator for 8 years, Executive Director of the GWA, the industry association, for 5 years, and has spent the last few years helping operators start and run profitable coworking businesses.

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