Let’s Bubbl

Hayley Melidonis

Let’s Bubbl is a podcast about the people who bring others together, from event organizers and experience creators to everyday travelers who’ve felt the magic of serendipitous connection. Hosted by Hayley Melidonis, founder of Bubbl, each episode explores the stories behind meaningful events, retreats, festivals, and unexpected journeys that sparked real community. Whether you’re building shared experiences or simply chasing deeper human connection, this show is for you. Tune in for honest conversations, inspiring moments, and the “why” behind gatherings that matter. Learn more at https://bubbl.co

  1. 31 thg 7

    Jerome Stone on 40 years in nursing, meditation as an antidote to burnout, and bringing nurses together in Hawaii

    EPISODE SUMMARY Hayley Melidonis sits down with Jerome Stone, a registered nurse of 40 years and one of Bubbl's Founding Leaders, dialling in from Hilo on the Big Island in an Aloha shirt. Jerome has nursed in Colorado, Maine, California and Seattle, across intensive care, pain management, hospice and case management, and now works with a startup defragmenting electronic medical records. One question has run through all of it since nursing school: how do you help a nurse show up at the bedside with awareness and compassion? Nursing has been the most trusted profession 17 years running, and Jerome is direct about the gap sitting behind that number — the support nurses give each other rarely survives past the shift. He wrote Minding the Bedside and has taught meditation to more than 1,000 nurses from it. Now he is building the next part in Hawaii: around ten nurses in one home near Kailua-Kona for a few days of meditation, shared meals, beach walks and play. He calls it ohana. Hayley and Jerome walk through how he is setting it up on Bubbl, why three or four days together is long enough for a group to start behaving like family, and why the Camino de Santiago — half a million walkers a year and no way to find your people on it — is where he wants to take this next. KEY TAKEAWAYS Why 40 years across intensive care, hospice and pain management led Jerome to a single question — how a nurse stays present at the bedsideThe gap behind the number: nursing has been the most trusted profession for 17 years in a row, and almost none of that trust turns into support between nursesWhy asking how are you doing while passing in the hall is not community, and what changes when nurses eat, meditate and play together off the clockOhana — the Hawaiian word for one's extended family — and why ten nurses in one home for three or four days is enough to create itHow Jerome is using Bubbl to find his people first: showing interest, gathering preferences and prices, then choosing the homePlay as the skill adults forget, and why both Jerome and Hayley are building serious things around it GOLDEN NUGGET “Malama pono. On the surface, in Hawaii, it means take care. But in a deeper meaning it means take care of the light within yourself. Take care of that spark of creativity, of mana, which is the life energy.” Jerome Stone MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE Minding the Bedside: Nursing from the Heart of the Awakened Mind — Jerome's book on meditative awareness and compassion as an antidote to stress. He has taught over 1,000 nurses and hundreds of lay people from it, including school teachers and hospital administrators.Hawaii nurses meditation retreat — Around ten nurses, one home near Kailua-Kona, a few days of meditation, shared meals and beach walks. Live on Bubbl now as a planning bubble: Halloween Meditation Retreat for Nurses LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE Spotify · Apple Podcasts · YouTube · RSS POWERED BY BUBBL Bubbl helps people stay and travel together for events, retreats and group adventures. Plan less. Connect more. bubbl.co

    Jerome Stone on 40 years in nursing, meditation as an antidote to burnout, and bringing nurses together in Hawaii
  2. 30 thg 6

    Lexi Reynolds on Experiential Marketing, Real Community, and Building Adapt Growth

    EPISODE SUMMARYIn this energetic episode of Let's Bubbl, host Hayley Melidonis sits down with Lexi Reynolds, CEO and founder of Adapt Growth Agency, to unpack why polished, high-budget influencer marketing is losing its grip — and what's replacing it. From knocking on doors as a teenage political canvasser to running full venue takeovers in Brooklyn, Lexi traces how grassroots instincts became the through-line of her marketing career. Listeners will hear how a college drop-shipping side hustle turned into a decade in e-commerce and experiential brand strategy, why Lexi believes brands now need "one face with six different angles" to keep growing, and how she and Bubbl are planning to bring branded Bubbl Villages to Art Basel, South by Southwest, and beyond. KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy door-to-door political canvassing is the best sales training there is — and how grassroots thinking still drives Lexi's marketing work todayHow the influencer economy is shifting away from reach and impressions toward real community and genuine engagementWhy in-person moments — a farmer's market sample, a live activation — often outperform staged photo shoots on both authenticity and ROIHow Bubbl Villages let brands connect with an audience over days, not minutes, and gather qualitative feedback that ads can't surfaceWhat "going a layer deeper" on audience segmentation looks like at large cultural events like Art Basel GOLDEN NUGGET"People are now trained to ignore the filters and the beautiful videos. That fake experience isn't resonating anymore — we need to go a layer deeper to actually connect with consumers."— Lexy Reynolds MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEAdapt Growth Agency – Marketing and experiential agency working with brands, artists, and creatorsBubbl – The platform for real-world travel and event experiencesBook a Guest Spot – Want to share your story? Apply to be on the showJoin Bubbl – Explore or create your own Bubbl Listen and Subscribe Spotify | Apple Podcasts | RSS Powered by Bubbl Bubbl helps people stay and travel together for events, retreats, and group adventures. Plan less. Connect more.

    Lexi Reynolds on Experiential Marketing, Real Community, and Building Adapt Growth
  3. 6 thg 1

    Kwasi Amaning Asare on Music, Tech, and Building the Future at Sundance

    Episode SummaryIn this high-energy festive episode of Let’s Bubbl, host Hayley Melidonis welcomes Kwasi Asare, a serial entrepreneur and the founder of 2050 House. Kwasi shares his incredible journey from institutional investment banking in New York—where he was a 9/11 survivor—to becoming a powerhouse in the music and tech industries. The conversation explores Kwasi’s impressive resume, including selling over 35 million records with icons like Snoop Dogg and Wu-Tang Clan, and his work as a senior advisor to White House campaigns. Kwasi and Hayley discuss the evolution of their partnership, culminating in the launch of the 2050 House at the Lighthouse—the world’s first co-living village for the Sundance Film Festival, designed to bridge the gap between the UN, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley. Key TakeawaysThe 9/11 Turning Point: How surviving the World Trade Center attacks led Kwasi to leave Wall Street and pursue a career rooted in community, music, and service.From Snoop to the UN: The trajectory of a career that spans digital marketing for hip-hop legends to advising the UN on sustainable development goals.The 2050 Vision: Why the 2050 House was created to align innovation, public policy, and culture to address existential threats like climate change and ethical AI.Sundance Co-Living: How Bubbl is solving the massive logistical and financial challenges of festival housing while fostering a "Burning Man-esque" spirit of giving. Golden Nugget"It’s about healing the earth and creating the coalitions that are going to enable us to have a better quality of life—both mental and physical. 2050 House is about that knowledge, that technology, and using culture to push those ideas to the mainstream." – Kwasi AsareMentioned in the Episode2050 House – A bridge between the UN, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood.The Lighthouse – The heart of 2050 House’s community in Park City.Project Green – A non-profit children's charity supported by this collaboration.Book a Guest Spot – Want to share your story? Apply to be on the show.Join Bubbl – Explore or create your own Bubbl. Listen and SubscribeSpotify | Apple Podcasts | RSS Powered by Bubbl Bubbl helps people stay and travel together for events, retreats, and group adventures. Plan less. Connect more.

    Kwasi Amaning Asare on Music, Tech, and Building the Future at Sundance
  4. 6 thg 1

    Brian Figueroa on Graphene, Tony Robbins, and Scaling GreenTech

    Episode SummaryIn this high-energy episode of Let’s Bubbl, host Hayley Melidonis welcomes Brian Figueroa, a serial entrepreneur and the CEO of GreenTech Technologies. Brian shares his journey from working in renewable energy at Intel to leading a company that is disrupting the battery storage market with cutting-edge graphene technology. The conversation dives deep into how Brian’s commitment to personal development—including 17 firewalks with Tony Robbins—has shaped his leadership style and his vision for a sustainable future. Brian and Hayley also discuss their successful partnership using Bubbl to host intimate, high-impact networking houses at major global conferences like South by Southwest and the Global Family Office Investment Summit in Monaco. Key TakeawaysThe Graphene Revolution: How GreenTech is utilizing graphene to create utility-level batteries that can handle 500,000 cycles, far outperforming traditional lithium-ion technology.The Power of Proximity: Why Brian uses "Bubbl houses" to move networking away from sterile hotel environments and into shared spaces that foster genuine human connection.Personal Development as a Business Strategy: How mentors like Tony Robbins and Professor Alan Tratner (co-founder of Earth Day) influenced Brian's drive to build a legacy of environmental impact.Arbitrage in Energy: Understanding the business model of storing energy during the day and selling it back to the grid during peak hours. Golden Nugget"The biggest thing is taking that first step and coming out of your comfort zone. When you apply yourself to something like this, it definitely makes an impact and helps you make things happen." – Brian FigueroaMentioned in the EpisodeGreenTech Technologies – Innovating in renewable energy and battery storage.Bubbl – The platform for real-world travel and event experiences.Professor Alan Tratner – Co-founder of Earth Day and mentor to Brian.Join Bubbl – Explore or create your own Bubbl. Listen and SubscribeSpotify | Apple Podcasts | RSS Powered by Bubbl Bubbl helps people stay and travel together for events, retreats, and group adventures. Plan less. Connect more.

    Brian Figueroa on Graphene, Tony Robbins, and Scaling GreenTech
  5. 5 thg 1

    Brad Nye on innovation at Regenworld - SXSW

    Episode SummaryIn this insightful episode of Let’s Bubbl, host Hayley Melidonis sits down with Brad Nye, seasoned event organizer and founder of Regenworld, to explore the intersection of community building and the regenerative movement. With over 40 years of experience bringing people together, Brad shares his vision for creating "intentional trust networks" that go far beyond standard event production. Listeners will hear how Brad’s journey through Burning Man culture and his transition from the Tribalize conference led to the birth of Regenworld—a platform dedicated to ecological restoration, circular economies, and bio-regional living. From the power of shared housing in deepening human connections to the importance of localized food systems, this episode is a masterclass in how we can design gatherings that restore both the land and our relationships with one another. Key TakeawaysThe "Village" Ethos: Why the depth of connection at an event is often determined by the intimacy of shared living spaces and "staying together".Beyond Sustainability: Understanding regeneration as the creation of "self-perpetuating abundance" rather than just maintaining the status quo.Bio-Regional Economies: The shift toward circular, closed-loop systems that prioritize local food and energy intelligence over global extraction.The Future of Gatherings: How Regenworld 2026 is integrating venture showcases, artistic expression, and "cross-disciplinary" collaboration to solve modern challenges. Golden Nugget“I’m not just producing events; I’m building intentional trust networks. What’s truly memorable about an event is never the content—it’s the connections people take home with them.” – Brad NyeMentioned in the EpisodeRegenworld – A platform and community focused on ecological restoration and regenerative living.Book a Guest Spot – Want to share your story? Apply to be on the show.Join Bubbl – Explore or create your own Bubbl. Listen and SubscribeSpotify | Apple Podcasts | RSS Powered by Bubbl Bubbl helps people stay and travel together for events, retreats, and group adventures. Plan less. Connect more.

    Brad Nye on innovation at Regenworld - SXSW
  6. 18/08/2025

    Jim McClellan on Travel, Wine, and Building Fort

    Episode Summary In this thoughtful episode of Let’s Bubbl, host Hayley Melidonis sits down with Jim McClellan, traveler, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Fort System, to explore how a life of global adventure shaped his career in technology and wine. From teaching English at the base of Mt. Fuji to navigating the complexities of U.S. alcohol laws, Jim shares how curiosity, resilience, and connection fueled his journey. Listeners will hear how Jim’s time abroad inspired his openness to new ideas, how serendipity in the wine world led to love, and how building a remote-first company before it was mainstream taught him the power of trust and adaptability. Key Takeaways How teaching English in Japan became a springboard for global perspective and lifelong friendshipsWhy wine became both a personal passion and a professional pathwayThe challenges and opportunities of building Fort in a highly regulated industryHow Jim balances entrepreneurship with family, traditions, and play Golden Nugget “Life opens up when you follow your curiosity—it’s the spark that connects people, places, and opportunities.” – Jim McClellan Mentioned in the Episode FortSystem – Software platform reshaping how the alcohol industry connectsBubbl – The platform for real-world travel and event experiencesBook a Guest Spot – Want to share your story? Apply to be on the showJoin Bubbl – Explore or create your own Bubbl Listen and Subscribe Spotify | Apple Podcasts | RSS Powered by Bubbl Bubbl helps people stay and travel together for events, retreats, and group adventures. Plan less. Connect more.

    Jim McClellan on Travel, Wine, and Building Fort
  7. 11/08/2025

    Annette Merriman on Curating Connection: From Ski Leases to AI Retreats

    Episode Summary In this episode of Let’s Bubbl, host Hayley Melidonis sits down with Annette Merriman, a Silicon Valley veteran, outdoor adventurer, and master of group experiences, to explore how intentional gatherings can deepen relationships and spark unexpected collaborations. With over 20 years in tech at companies like Salesforce and Capital One, Annette now blends her expertise in AI with her passion for travel and adventure to create unforgettable retreats. From organizing multi-year ski leases in Lake Tahoe to scuba diving trips in Indonesia, Annette shares how she curates the perfect mix of people, setting, and activities to turn strangers into friends — and sometimes, business partners. She also dives into her latest venture, Imagine AI Consulting, and her upcoming AI and adventure retreat in Truckee. Tune in for stories, strategies, and insights on designing experiences that leave a lasting mark. Key Takeaways How group adventures create lasting bonds and open unexpected opportunitiesThe role of intentional design in event and retreat planningWhy mixing professional development with adventure amplifies learningHow AI workshops can be paired with immersive, real-world experiences Golden Nugget "When you bring the right people together in the right place, magic just happens." – Annette Merriman Mentioned in the Episode Bubbl – The platform for real-world travel and event experiencesImagine AI Consulting – Annette’s AI strategy and workshop companyBook a Guest Spot – Want to share your story? Apply to be on the showJoin Bubbl – Explore or create your own Bubbl Listen and Subscribe Spotify | Apple Podcasts | RSS Powered by Bubbl Bubbl helps people stay and travel together for events, retreats, and group adventures. Plan less. Connect more.

    Annette Merriman on Curating Connection: From Ski Leases to AI Retreats

Giới Thiệu

Let’s Bubbl is a podcast about the people who bring others together, from event organizers and experience creators to everyday travelers who’ve felt the magic of serendipitous connection. Hosted by Hayley Melidonis, founder of Bubbl, each episode explores the stories behind meaningful events, retreats, festivals, and unexpected journeys that sparked real community. Whether you’re building shared experiences or simply chasing deeper human connection, this show is for you. Tune in for honest conversations, inspiring moments, and the “why” behind gatherings that matter. Learn more at https://bubbl.co