Catherine Woodiwiss isn't just planning parties; she is waging a quiet war on the numbness of modern life. In a world where "connection" usually means a double-tap on a screen, Catherine is an "experience architect" who demands you feel something real. By day, she runs design research for Texas’ most beloved brand, H-E-B. By night, she is the orchestrator of Austin’s most intriguing underground gatherings—from conversational salons that pierce the superficial veil to "purpose speed-dating" and even "funerals for the living".She’s a former journalist and anthropologist who looks at a cocktail party and sees a design problem: how do we get past the small talk?. Her answer is "scaffolding"—building the structures that allow strangers to fall into deep, meaningful intimacy. If you’ve ever felt the ache of loneliness in a crowded room, Catherine is the guide you’ve been waiting for. Welcome to the art of being fully alive in Austin.Welcome to Austin Community Capital, the show where we explore the true wealth of our city—its people. Join us as we sit down with inspiring connectors, creators, and entrepreneurs in Austin, TX, showcasing the soul of this vibrant city through the voices that define it. If you believe in building community and connecting to the spirit of Central Texas, this is your platform.This show is proudly presented by Loyal Home Concierge, the Austin-based home-thriving company dedicated to managing your home. Hence, you are free to design a life of deeper intention. Our mission is simple: to keep your dream home a DREAM, not a nightmare. We support overextended executives, families, and couples, ensuring the logistics of luxury home and lifestyle management never compromise your well-being.Connect with the Best Home Manager in Austin, Texas:Website: https://loyalhomeconcierge.comListen/Notes: https://AustinCommunityCapital.comInstagram: / loyalhomeconcierge Jump to a SectionShow Notes02:30 - The Experience Architect: Catherine defines her unique role and why "gathering" requires intentional design, not just an open door.05:15 - The Enemy is Numbness: Why the goal of her events isn't just "fun," but to combat the pervasive numbness of the digital age.09:45 - Scaffolding Connection: The concept of providing "scaffolding" or rules at parties to help people bypass anxiety and connect faster.18:20 - The Salon Dinner: Catherine breaks down her formula for the perfect dinner party: 7-8 people, one question, and total presence.28:10 - Purpose Speed Dating: A look at one of her wildest experiments—pairing strangers to discuss their deepest drivers in rapid-fire rounds.41:00 - A Funeral for the Living: The moving story of hosting a "living funeral" for a friend, celebrating their life while they were still there to hear it.48:50 - Austin’s Growing Pains: A candid discussion on the grief and opportunity inherent in Austin's rapid expansion.

Meet Brian Cronin. He's a "deep end" operator who sees the world differently than the rest of us. Before he was the Vice President of NOVO Construction, shaping Austin's physical skyline, he was a traveler who backpacked through 65 countries, selling lollipops in the schoolyard and painting houses to fund his education. He's kind of a guy who gets a job offer while standing in a Cambodian internet café, bearded and suitless, because someone saw a spark on a resume.Today, Brian is the architect of a different kind of structure: community. From the legendary "Nov" House"—a "repurposed East Austin home turned legendary creative sanctuary—to his philosophy of "pan" ing the horizon for the next great human connection, Brian is proof that the best foundation for business isn’t concrete; it’s goodness. This isn’t a talk about buildings. It’s an asterclass in how to inhabit a city, how to host with heart, and how to spot the parking spot everyone else missed.Welcome to Austin Community Capital, the show where we explore the true wealth of our city—its people. Join us as we sit down with inspiring connectors, creators, and entrepreneurs in Austin, TX, showcasing the soul of this vibrant city through the voices that define it. If you believe in building community and connecting to the spirit of Central Texas, this is your platform.This show is proudly presented by Loyal Home Concierge, the Austin-based home-thriving company dedicated to managing your home. Hence, you are free to design a life of deeper intention. Our mission is simple: to keep your dream home a DREAM, not a nightmare. We support overextended executives, families, and couples, ensuring the logistics of luxury home and lifestyle management never compromise your well-being.Connect with the Best Home Manager in Austin, Texas:Website: https://loyalhomeconcierge.comListen/Notes: https://AustinCommunityCapital.comInstagram: / loyalhomeconcierge Jump to a Section02:21 - The "Deep End" Mentality: Brian discusses his formative years in Sonoma County and the innate drive to go "all in" on everything from motorcycles to studies.04:46 - Stepping Up: The pivotal moment when his father left the family, and Brian balanced college with being a stabilizing force and financial provider for his mother and brothers.07:20 - Panning the Horizon: Brian explains his "secret sauce"—the ability to spot opportunities and "parking spots" that others miss by simply keeping his eyes wider than the rest.18:56 - The World Traveler: How Brian spent his post-grad years traveling to nearly 70 countries, a journey that shaped his worldview and confidence before entering the corporate world.24:29 - The Email in Cambodia: The incredible story of how Brian was hired by NOVO's founder while backpacking in Southeast Asia, leading to an interview with a beard and a U-Haul.28:29 - Betting on Austin: The decision to leave a secure job in San Francisco 12 years ago to plant the NOVO flag in Austin, long before the current boom.37:59 - The Legend of the Novo House: The story behind repurposing their old office into a community amenity featuring a music room, arts and crafts, and a space for friends to "hotel".49:31 - Why Austin Works: Brian reflects on the unique "kindness" of the Austin community and how it fuels entrepreneurial success and work-life balance.