Practicing Connection

OneOp

4.3 (3)
Education
Updated Weekly

Improve your resilience and readiness in a rapidly changing world.Jessica Beckendorf and Erin Carlson Rivera host this exploration of personal and collective practices that empower us to work together to help each other, our families, and our communities improve our resilience and readiness.

5d ago

Finding Your Purpose as a Group, Four Questions That Can Help

Send us Fan Mail Getting to a shared purpose as a group often requires digging a little deeper than usual. In this replay episode from 2024, Jessica and Bob talked about the "chaordic stepping stones," a helpful tool for going below the surface with a group, and share four questions that can help groups work toward a clear statement of purpose together. Links and resources from this episode: "You don't have to be local" by Derek Sivers"Keep Going" by Austin KleonConnect with us! Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org If you enjoy our podcast please consider joining us for the Military Family Readiness Academy this August. The Academy, a series of free, interconnected webinars and podcast episodes focused on a central theme. This year's theme is Building Community Capacity to Support Military Family Well-Being. For more information on dates, times, and how to register for free visit oneop.org/mfra
Jul 16

How Does a Small North Carolina City Become a National Example of Collaboration Between Military and Community?

Send us Fan Mail How does a small North Carolina city become a national example of collaboration between military and community? Mayor Will Lewis says it starts with relationships - and a willingness to show up for one another. In this replay episode from early 2026, Jessica talks with Havelock, North Carolina Mayor Will Lewis about what it looks like when a city and an installation grow together. As president of Allies for Cherry Point Tomorrow, Mayor Lewis helps connect community, education, and military partners to strengthen opportunities for service members, veterans, and local families alike. Their conversation explores how collaboration, communication, and long‑term vision can build lasting readiness at every level. Links and resources from this episode: Visit the ACT website: https://alliesforcherrypoint.com/Connect with us! Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org If you enjoy our podcast please consider joining us for the Military Family Readiness Academy this August. The Academy, a series of free, interconnected webinars and podcast episodes focused on a central theme. This year's theme is Building Community Capacity to Support Military Family Well-Being. For more information on dates, times, and how to register for free visit oneop.org/mfra
Jul 9

Applying Systems Thinking to Local Issues

Send us Fan Mail What is the value of using a systems lens in community work? In today’s archive episode, we are hearing from Bob and Jessica about solving issues in your community on a systems level, not just on a focused project level. It’s easy to get caught up in a silo, or to talk past each other. While hyperfocusing on one event or initiative in your community can have great results, it can also cut you off from system changes that have a greater impact on your community. So what can you do to help you and your community start thinking about the whole system? Jessica and Bob have some great places to start. Our From the Archive series is where we update and rerelease retired content that we feel is still relevant today. Links and resources from this episode: Military Family Readiness Academy: oneop.org/mfraConnect with us! Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org If you enjoy our podcast please consider joining us for the Military Family Readiness Academy this August. The Academy, a series of free, interconnected webinars and podcast episodes focused on a central theme. This year's theme is Building Community Capacity to Support Military Family Well-Being. For more information on dates, times, and how to register for free visit oneop.org/mfra
Jul 2

Leveraging the Community Assets to Support Military Families

Send us Fan Mail We talk a lot on this podcast about the importance of collaborating with others in your community. But if you are finding yourself overwhelmed or with limited capacity, this framework and practice are a great way to get started. You don’t have to make everything happen yourself! Today we are diving into an episode about leveraging community assets as part of our From the Archive series. In this series we are updating and rereleasing retired content that we feel is still relevant today. This episode is specifically about the Community Capitals Framework and how to get connected with the assets that already exist in your community. Jessica and Bob discuss how this framework, developed by Jan and Cornelia Flora, identifies seven types of capital - natural, cultural, human, social, political, financial, and built - and how these capitals can be leveraged to build resilient and supportive communities for military families. Links and resources from this episode: Strategic DoingHolding ChangeCommunity Capitals FrameworkSpiraling-Up: Mapping Community Transformation with Community Capitals FrameworkMilitary Family Readiness Academy: oneop.org/mfraRelated episodes: Feeding Military Families with Stronghold Food Pantry CEO Monica BassettAn Ecosystem of Military Family Support with Nicola WinkelPartnering on Early Education for Military KidsReconnecting with Nature: Health and Well-Being for Military Communities (webinar)Connect with us! Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org If you enjoy our podcast please consider joining us for the Military Family Readiness Academy this August. The Academy, a series of free, interconnected webinars and podcast episodes focused on a central theme. This year's theme is Building Community Capacity to Support Military Family Well-Being. For more information on dates, times, and how to register for free visit oneop.org/mfra
Jun 25

Putting your Icebreakers to Work

Send us Fan Mail Do icebreakers always make things awkward? Have you ever had to do an icebreaker that made you cringe? What if your icebreakers actually helped your team do better work? In this episode Erin and Jessica discuss why icebreakers sometimes suck the energy out of the room and share real world examples of what it is like when they actually work. Then Erin shares a practice on how to design an icebreaker that makes team building, making connections, and getting work done easier. Links and resources from this episode: Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org If you enjoy our podcast please consider joining us for the Military Family Readiness Academy this August. The Academy, a series of free, interconnected webinars and podcast episodes focused on a central theme. This year's theme is Building Community Capacity to Support Military Family Well-Being. For more information on dates, times, and how to register for free visit oneop.org/mfra
Jun 18

Navigating Tricky Partnership Problems (Listener Q&A)

Send us Fan Mail How do you build community connections that actually work? Have you ever gotten stuck as you try to build community partnerships? In this month’s Listener Q&A, Erin and Jessica answer questions about classic partnership problems: What do you do if you can’t find time to build connections during work timeHow do you navigate miscommunication years into a partnership? If I can only do one thing, what should I focus on? Links and resources from this episode: Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org If you enjoy our podcast please consider joining us for the Military Family Readiness Academy this August. The Academy, a series of free, interconnected webinars and podcast episodes focused on a central theme. This year's theme is Building Community Capacity to Support Military Family Well-Being. For more information on dates, times, and how to register for free visit oneop.org/mfra
Jun 11

Do you see yourself as a generous collaborator?

Send us Fan Mail Do you see yourself as a generous collaborator? Have you ever been generous with a collaborator, only to leave disappointed? This week's practice is all about unpacking generosity. Making time for generosity can build trust, which is a key ingredient to collaborative relationships. In this episode from the archives, Bob and Jessica discuss what generosity can do for you in your relationships and why it can be challenging to offer generosity to new people. Then Bob guides us through a simple reflection to dig into your motivations and align with your values. Links and resources from this episode: Genuine Generosity: https://randomactsofleadership.com/genuine-generositySign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletterJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org If you enjoy our podcast please consider joining us for the Military Family Readiness Academy this August. The Academy, a series of free, interconnected webinars and podcast episodes focused on a central theme. This year's theme is Building Community Capacity to Support Military Family Well-Being. For more information on dates, times, and how to register for free visit oneop.org/mfra
Jun 4

Why Community Engagement Efforts Fall Flat

Send us Fan Mail Most of us don’t ignore input - we just ask for it too late. And by then, the decisions are already made. What if the biggest issue with community engagement isn’t whether you do it - but when and how? In this episode, Jessica and Erin explore a simple but powerful two-part practice that can transform how collaborative work unfolds: engaging with people before decisions are made, and closing the loop afterward by showing how their input shaped the outcome. They unpack why even well-intentioned teams often bring in community voice too late, how that affects trust and participation, and what it looks like to embed engagement into the way you work - not just treat it as a final step. If you’ve ever wondered why engagement efforts fall flat - or how to make them more meaningful - this episode offers a small shift that can make a big difference. Links and resources from this episode: Episode: "What the Room is Telling You: How to Read the Room"Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ Send us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org If you enjoy our podcast please consider joining us for the Military Family Readiness Academy this August. The Academy, a series of free, interconnected webinars and podcast episodes focused on a central theme. This year's theme is Building Community Capacity to Support Military Family Well-Being. For more information on dates, times, and how to register for free visit oneop.org/mfra

4.3

out of 5

3 Ratings

Improve your resilience and readiness in a rapidly changing world.Jessica Beckendorf and Erin Carlson Rivera host this exploration of personal and collective practices that empower us to work together to help each other, our families, and our communities improve our resilience and readiness.

Creator

OneOp
Years Active

2020 - 2026
Episodes

128
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 Practicing Connection
Show Website

Practicing Connection