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. 1d ago

    Friendship Journeys: Shasta Nelson's Global Adventures

    Aaron and Charlotte recorded this one early, since Charlotte's about to be off the grid and overseas. She's heading out to host a Women Who Explore trek on the Tour du Mont Blanc, hiking the circuit around Mont Blanc through France, Italy, and Switzerland with a group of women she's never met. There's a guide on the ground handling the trails, which leaves Charlotte in charge of what she calls the vibes: making sure everyone bonds, feels looked after, and comes home with the kind of friendships that outlast the trip. This week’s guest is Shasta Nelson, the Chamber of Connection’s Chief Friendship Officer and the author of Frientimacy and The Business of Friendship. Shasta traces her path from a childhood shaped by her parents' divorce to a first career as a pastor building community to launching one of the first friendship-matching sites, all of it feeding her work on what makes people bond.  Since 2013 she's hosted 20 international trips, starting with a begrudging group trip to Cuba that drew 200 responses and turned her into a self-described scientist in the friendship lab. She shares the recipe she's refined over a decade: ground rules like you don't have to be friends with everyone, but you do have to be friendly; two prep calls before anyone boards a plane; and an owner's manual prompt where each traveler names the one thing that'd help the group support them better.  00:00 Introducing Shasta Nelson, Chief Friendship Officer 04:09 Welcome Shasta 05:20 Origin Story: From Divorce to Friendship Expert 07:23 Charlotte's Trip Details 08:57 How Shasta's Group Trips Began 14:06 Managing Group Dynamics 16:26 Lasting Bonds, Repeat Travelers and Reunions 19:17 Gender Dynamics in Group Travel 26:03 Planning Trips: Strangers vs. Friends 28:42 Why Group Travel Builds Deeper Connections 31:35 Aaron's Dream Trip: Biking Italy --- 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 Shasta Nelson www.shastanelson.com Shasta is a keynote speaker, one of the country's leading experts on friendship and belonging, and the Chamber's Chief Friendship Officer. A former pastor with a Master of Divinity, she launched GirlFriendCircles in 2008 as one of the first friendship matching platforms in the US, and she's since studied more than 10,000 friendships through surveys, interviews, and lived experience. She's the author of three books, including Frientimacy and The Business of Friendship, and her framework of positivity, consistency, and vulnerability has reached millions through two TEDx talks. Her work has shaped connection at companies like Google and LinkedIn and been featured from Harvard Business Review to The New York Times. Each year she also hosts international friendship trips around the world. 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.

    Friendship Journeys: Shasta Nelson's Global Adventures
  2. Jul 14

    Invite to Connect: Alexandra Friedman, Chamber of Connection

    Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey of the US Chamber of Connection discuss initiating invitations despite fear. Meanwhile, Charlotte enjoyed a trip to Minnesota for a family reunion and Aaron helped an Amazon delivery worker stuck behind a gate. This week's guest is Seattle-based friendship and social skills coach Alexandra Friedman, who is a lifelong connector. Her work has evolved from hosting dinner parties, to 125 curated events for 2,700+ people, and into coaching on social skills and friendship. Alexandra coaches Aaron and Charlotte on capacity, group building, travel, and hosting, emphasizing a focus on invitation. 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Weekend Catch-Up 14:30 Introducing Alexandra Friedman 15:45 Childhood Roots of Connection 23:53 College, Yelp, and Career 30:09 Connection at Work and AI 33:11 Becoming a Friendship Coach 35:36 Live Mini Coaching Session 48:24 The Power of Initiation 51:06 Wrap-Up and Credits --- 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 Alexandra Friedman, Connection Feast www.connectionfeast.com Alexandra is a friendship and social skills coach and the founder of Connection Feast, a Seattle company she started in 2018 to cure her own loneliness after moving home. What began as rooftop dinner parties for strangers she'd meet at crosswalks and in Facebook groups has grown into 125 curated events and coaching that's reached more than 2,700 people. A self-described social artist, Alex helps adults build real community without giving up who they are, teaching the skills most of us were never taught: how to initiate, ask good questions, handle rejection, and turn a first hello into a lasting friendship. She works one on one, in groups, and through immersive experiences, all aimed at helping people connect more deeply with themselves and each other. 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.

    Invite to Connect: Alexandra Friedman, Chamber of Connection
  3. Jul 7

    Leave It on the Trail: Magalie Remy, Soul Sistas Hike Too

    From the US Chamber of Connection, Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey catch up after the Fourth of July. At the Chamber there’s planning for Welcome Week, the Best Day Ever program with five partner events, an August Seattle volunteer potluck, and Aaron’s National Night Out block party collaboration  In Memphis and Nashville, Aaron met leaders exploring a Nashville chapter and observed common tensions around newcomers and inequality.  This week’s guest is Magalie Remy of Soul Sisters Hike Too, who talks about building a women-over-40 mindful hiking community during the pandemic. It’s focused on rest, forest bathing, meditation, and tree hugging, emphasizing small, intimate hikes that reduce overperformance/overthinking. 00:00 Catching Up 05:49 Charlotte's Block Party 09:01 Aaron's Memphis and Nashville Trip 16:10 Magalie Remy: Soul Sistas Hike Too 18:04 Starting Soul Sistas Hike Too 19:08 What is Mindful Hiking 20:13 The Art of Tree Hugging 28:38 Rest, Isolation and Overperformance 31:31 Inside a Hike: The Full Experience 35:34 Community Growth and Future Plans 40:28 Reflection 42:34 Rest vs Activity Reflection 45:23 Podcast Milestones --- 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 Magalie Remy, Soul Sistas Hike too www.heylo.com/g/f80507f9-e6d6-4b3c-a98c-1969598787cd Magalie is the co-founder of Soul Sistas Hike Too, an Atlanta-based mindful hiking community for Black women that's grown to about 500 women. A Brooklyn native and self-described introvert who grew up reading in the corner at parties, she rediscovered nature during the pandemic, when a birthday hike with a friend turned into something she couldn't stop doing. Together they built a practice they call mindful hiking, where women slow down on two to four mile trails to meditate, hug trees, forest bathe, and reconnect with themselves and each other. The heart of it is making space for rest and sisterhood while pushing back on the "strong Black woman" narrative that leaves so many women overperforming and burned out. A photographer and fibre artist herself, Magalie keeps each hike intentionally small so the connection stays real, and the work now reaches into wellness workshops, retreats, and experiences for organizations. 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.

    Leave It on the Trail: Magalie Remy, Soul Sistas Hike Too
  4. Jun 30

    If It Floats, It's Invited: Erik Hillesheim, Seattle Paddle Rave

    On this week's How We Connected, Aaron checks in from Memphis, where the Peabody has a duck parade and the tailor who once dressed Elvis, then heads to Nashville to meet leaders hoping to open a Chamber of Connection. Charlotte is off to see her grandma and family in Minnesota for the Fourth of July. This week's guest, Erik Hillesheim, moved to Seattle from Minnesota knowing just one person and figured the fastest way to find his people was to build something. It started with Seattle Swim Club, a Friday cold plunge that grew to hundreds on TikTok. Paddle Rave followed last Fourth of July, when a group text for 20 people turned into 100, then 500, then 1,000 paddleboarders around a DJ on Lake Union. Erik lays out the part nobody sees: six city offices, 15 partners, neighborhood associations, insurance, and federal permits filed 135 days ahead with the Coast Guard so others can be spontaneous. He believes water is a conductor of connection, and Paddle Rave stays free, a triangle of music, nature, and each other. This year it becomes Lake Union Concerts, adding Dock Rock, a rock series for a wider crowd. As Erik says, "If it floats, it's invited." --- 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 Erik Hillesheim, Seattle Paddle Rave www.lakeunionconcerts.com Erik created of Seattle Paddle Rave, one of the largest floating concert series in the country, which draws around 1,000 paddleboarders to Lake Union to dance to a live DJ spinning from a boat. Originally from Minnesota, he picked up a paddleboard during the pandemic and brought the habit with him to Seattle, where he set out to thaw the Seattle Freeze by building community on the water. Before Paddle Rave he started Seattle Swim Club, a Friday morning cold plunge that grew into a weekly ritual and he now runs the events under a broader banner called Lake Union Concerts, including a new rock series, Dock Rock. He is also the co founder of Abundant Social Club, a holistic social wellness community, and a frequent collaborator on gatherings like sauna raves and the Enchanted Forest. By day, Erik is a sustainability and social impact consultant who helps organizations use business as a force for good. His guiding belief is that water is a conductor of connection, linking people to music, nature, and one another. As he likes to say, if it floats, it's invited. 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.

    If It Floats, It's Invited: Erik Hillesheim, Seattle Paddle Rave
  5. Jun 24

    Room for Everybody: Maryam Banikarim, Co-Founder, The Longest Table

    Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst of the US Chamber of Connection catch up on Charlotte's second wedding anniversary weekend in Portland, where she and her husband reread their vows, and Aaron's trip to New York for his sister's 50th, the Knicks championship parade, and a Father's Day in the Yankee Stadium. Charlotte walks through her hunt for breakable Guinness World Records for Welcome Week. This week's interview is with Maryam Banikarim, co-founder of The Longest Table, a free neighborhood potluck that turns a single city block into one long table where strangers become neighbors. It started during the pandemic, when everyone kept saying New York was dead and Maryam kept thinking we're all still here. She posted a photo of a shared street meal on Nextdoor, met eight neighbors over coffee, and put on a lunch that drew five hundred people the first year. It now draws more than two thousand in Chelsea alone and has grown into a movement of about 50 tables across the country. 00:00 Show Intro and Check-In 01:13 Weekend Stories 09:19 Welcome Week and World Records 15:59 Introducing Maryam Banikarim and The Longest Table 16:26 Origin Story: Always the New Kid 19:01 Birth of The Longest Table 25:06 Why It's Caught On 27:38 Planning a Longest Table for Seattle 30:08 How It Works: Table Captains and Community Tables 38:41 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 Maryam Banikarim, The Longest Table Maryam is a marketer turned community builder and the co-founder of The Longest Table, a free neighborhood potluck that turns a city block into one long table where strangers become neighbors. Born in Iran and raised moving from place to place, she arrived in the US during the hostage crisis and learned early that belonging is something you build rather than wait for. Across 25 years she led growth at Nextdoor, Hyatt, Gannett, NBCUniversal, and Univision, then during the pandemic co-founded the nonprofit NYCNext and helped launch the We Love New York City campaign. An Emmy Award-winning storyteller and host of The Messy Parts podcast, she's grown The Longest Table from one Chelsea lunch into a movement of roughly fifty tables across the country. longesttablecommunity.org 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.

    Room for Everybody: Maryam Banikarim, Co-Founder, The Longest Table
  6. Jun 16

    Playful Connections: Safi Aziz, Founder, Joust Society

    Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst of the US Chamber of Connection discuss Charlotte’s weekend sorting childhood boxes and finding old party invitations and Aaron’s excitement about the New York Knicks championship, a Pittsburgh chapter launch, and a team retreat. This week's interview is with Safi Aziz founder of Joust, a “play club” that uses curated, fast, easy-to-learn games and carefully designed ambiance to spark conversation. Missing pre-pandemic Sunday game nights inspired Safi to launch Joust after a year of hesitation, and the club has now hosted 2,000+ players in two years. Joust partners with hotels by driving weekday traffic and shares game staples like Codenames, Flip Seven, and Wavelength. 00:00 Show Intro and Check-In 02:27 Weekend Plans 12:17 Introducing Safi Aziz and Joust 12:36 Origin Story: Sunday Game Nights 15:09 Joust Philosophy: Play Club, Not Board Game Club 16:53 The Secret Sauce 24:21 From Idea to Sold-Out First Event 27:23 Hotel Partnerships and the Business Model 31:13 Expanding Joust and the Loneliness Epidemic 33:00 Co-Designing the Art of Invitation --- 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 Safi Aziz, Joust Safi founded Joust, a play club where fun-loving people meet to compete. The idea came to him during the pandemic, out on a run, when he realized how much he missed the Sunday game nights he used to host in his apartment building's lounge. He kept the idea to himself for 12 months before deciding to go for it, booking the back of a bar in Williamsburg. Two years later, Joust has welcomed more than 2,000 players to roving game nights at some of New York City's best hotels and lounges. Safi is quick to point out that Joust isn't a board game club. It's a play club that happens to play board games, with fast, easy-to-learn picks chosen to spark conversation and camaraderie. Joust joustsociety.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. Photo credit: Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Playful Connections: Safi Aziz, Founder, Joust Society
  7. Jun 9

    Permission to be Bad: Jules Costa, Founder, Bad Art Club

    It's been a busy week for Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst at the US Chamber of Connection. Aaron joins from a San Francisco airport while touring with board.dev, his nonprofit board effort, as the two launch Welcome Week, a week built around one idea, inviting someone to do something. Charlotte shares her own bad art from a cabin in Colorado, made just for the process. This week's guest is Jules Costa, founder of Bad Art Club in San Francisco, where the bad is a trick to get people through the door who'd never call themselves creative. She traces the path from a decade in software to the afternoon in the Panhandle when she and a friend drew the worst portraits they could and a club was born. Jules recounts quitting tech, walking away from corporate work, and finding her footing in pro bono workshops for people in early recovery, where failing is impossible and everyone belongs. 00:00 Introduction 05:22 Welcome Week and the Culture of Inviting 10:20 How Many People Are Invite-Ready Tonight? 16:19 Welcoming Jules Costa, Bad Art Club 17:42 Leadership and the South Africa Trip 19:23 Origin of Bad Art Club 22:21 First Workshop, Going Full Time 26:07 Corporate Work and Pivoting to Nonprofit 29:10 Art in Addiction Recovery 33:20 Weekly Gatherings and the Fate Collective 38:33 Body Wisdom and Decision Making 51:33 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 Jules Costa, Bad Art Club Jules is the founder of Bad Art Club, a San Francisco community built on the simple permission to make something terrible and enjoy every minute of it. A certified transformational facilitator and addiction recovery coach, Jules spent the better part of a decade writing software and traveling the world before she traded her tech career for a creative one. What began as two friends drawing the worst portraits they could in the Panhandle has grown into weekly workshops that draw dozens of people who'd never call themselves artists, along with public art projects, a summer retreat, and pro bono sessions for people in early recovery. Bad Art Club is fiscally sponsored by Independent Arts and Media, and Jules now spends her days designing spaces where failing is impossible and everyone belongs. Her guiding belief is that the only difference between you and an artist is the willingness to make bad art. Bad Art Club julescosta.substack.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.

    Permission to be Bad: Jules Costa, Founder, Bad Art Club
  8. Jun 2

    Art of the Toast: Daniel Padrnos, Founder, Supra Dinner Society

    It’s been a busy week for Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst at the US Chamber of Connection. Aaron’s son celebrated a place at the University of Michigan and high school graduation with family storytelling prompts. Charlotte’s looks forward to the “Best Day Ever” downtown Seattle event with partners at Pike Place Market, including connection workshops and art activities.  This week’s guest is Daniel Padrnos of the Georgian Supra Society, a dinner tradition led by a Tamada, toastmaster, and a mekippe, wine pourer, where toasts structure conversation and wine is “for the words,” not drinking alone. He recounts discovering Supra through nonprofit work, co-founding a Georgian restaurant in South Carolina, launching Super Dinner Society in Seattle, training hosts, and building tools like an online course and “Toasting Topics.” 00:00 Introduction: What's Up at the Chamber 02:22 Aaron's Weekend Story 13:34 Best Day Ever Recap 23:49 Growing Up with Community Dinners 26:15 Discovering the Supra in Sierra Leone 27:56 What Is a Supra? 32:02 Live Toast Demonstration 43:18 Stories from the Supras 45:29 Future Plans and Toasting Topics 46:43 The Business Model 50:19 Toasting Tips for a Graduation 53:14 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 Daniel Padrnos, Founder, Georgian Supra Society Daniel is executive director of Supra Dinner Society, Daniel is dedicated to bringing the ancient Georgian feast to America. He played an integral role in creating the first restaurant in America that offered Supras, Keipi Restaurant in Greenville, SC. He has led numerous tours to Georgia, sitting in on the ancient feast with men and women who have opened up the heart of the Supra to him. He has studied and written extensively on the Supra. His favorite toast is to journeys and destinations. 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.

    Art of the Toast: Daniel Padrnos, Founder, Supra Dinner Society

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

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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