Community Case Studies

Seth Resler of Community Marketing Revolution

What does it actually take to build a real community—not just a social media following or a membership list, but a sense of genuine belonging? In Community Case Studies, we go beyond theory and dive into real-world examples. Each episode spotlights a different group—nonprofits, festivals, clubs, coworking spaces, online forums, and more—and explores how they apply time-tested community-building principles to bring people together. Hosted by digital strategist and community consultant Seth Resler, this podcast is your behind-the-scenes look at what’s working (and what isn’t) in the field of community. Whether you're launching a new initiative or strengthening an existing one, you’ll walk away with practical insights, proven tactics, and plenty of inspiration. Real stories. Real people. Real belonging.

الحلقات

  1. Everyday Creatives

    ١٦ فبراير

    Everyday Creatives

    What if creativity isn’t a “nice-to-have,” but a missing piece of wellness—and community is how you unlock it? In this episode of Community Case Studies: How Belonging Is Really Built, host Seth Resler talks with Meagan Mahaffy, founder of Art Gurl, a Brooklyn-based creative community helping people reconnect with their creativity—and with each other—offline. After a decade working at institutions like the Smithsonian and MoMA, Meagan burned out. What pulled her back wasn’t another productivity hack or wellness trend—it was simply making art for the sake of self-expression. When she couldn’t find a space where others could do the same, she created one. What started as a few workshops in the back of a restaurant quickly became a thriving, in-person community where friendships form, phones stay away, and creativity becomes a shared language. In this conversation, Meagan breaks down how Art Gurl actually works as a community—not just an audience: Why “art is wellness” is the mission that attracts the right people How low-stakes creativity acts as an ember that sparks connection and belonging Why in-person spaces create deeper trust than social media ever can How Art Gurl’s multi-stream revenue model supports the community without exploiting it What repeat attendance and member-driven evolution reveal about real engagement This episode is a powerful reminder that community isn’t built by content alone. It’s built by creating a space where people feel safe to show up, express themselves, and be seen—together. ART GURL: https://www.artgurl.org/

    ٤٢ من الدقائق
  2. Museum Professionals (Museum Computer Network)

    ١٩ يناير

    Museum Professionals (Museum Computer Network)

    What if the reason your conference feels forgettable isn’t the quality of the speakers—but the lack of real connection between the people in the room? In this episode of Community Case Studies, host Seth Resler talks with Max Evjen, a museum technologist and longtime board member of the Museum Computer Network (MCN), about how one of the oldest professional communities in the museum world has quietly been getting community right for decades. MCN is a nonprofit professional community for museum workers who use technology across education, interpretation, marketing, fundraising, and collections. Its mission hasn’t changed much since the 1960s: help museum professionals grow their digital capacity by connecting them to ideas, proven practices, and—most importantly—to each other. In this conversation, Max breaks down how that mission actually shows up on the ground. You’ll hear how MCN: Prioritizes connection over content, designing conferences where relationships matter more than slide decks Clearly separates its shared mission from its business purpose, and why that clarity matters Creates embers like “I found my people,” psychological safety, and a genuine desire to contribute Uses mentorship, onboarding, and feedback loops to help members move from newcomers to leaders Engineers the conditions for serendipity—moments where unexpected collaborations lead to real-world impact You’ll also hear why MCN members repeatedly step up—volunteering time, sharing expertise, and even financially supporting the organization—not because they’re asked to, but because they believe in what the community stands for. If you’re running conferences that people attend once and never return to—or building a community that looks healthy on paper but struggles to create real relationships—this episode offers a clear model for what to do differently. Listen for how MCN designs its spaces, rituals, and feedback loops—and consider which of those ideas you could borrow for your own community.

    ٢٦ من الدقائق

حول

What does it actually take to build a real community—not just a social media following or a membership list, but a sense of genuine belonging? In Community Case Studies, we go beyond theory and dive into real-world examples. Each episode spotlights a different group—nonprofits, festivals, clubs, coworking spaces, online forums, and more—and explores how they apply time-tested community-building principles to bring people together. Hosted by digital strategist and community consultant Seth Resler, this podcast is your behind-the-scenes look at what’s working (and what isn’t) in the field of community. Whether you're launching a new initiative or strengthening an existing one, you’ll walk away with practical insights, proven tactics, and plenty of inspiration. Real stories. Real people. Real belonging.