In this episode, we welcome Sophia Bentaher, a French-Moroccan gem of a human and 'Third Culture Kid' - growing up in a different environment then where your parents were raised (she grew up mostly in St Louis). She has turned navigating a multicultural upbringing into her superpower, leading to the creation of rich and vibrant communities around the world.

Sophia explains how embracing her identity as a Third Culture Kid helped her connect with people from varied backgrounds and fostered her remarkable ability to build inclusive, welcoming spaces.

The episode also takes us through Sophia's extraordinary travels, like her "banana bread chronicles" with friend Annabel, where they hitchhiked across 21 European countries exploring desserts and collecting detailed data on their journey. These experiences not only enhanced her understanding of cultural nuances but also led to unexpected opportunities. Her story highlights the value of asking for what you want and the power of saying yes to curiosity-driven adventures.

As a bonus, Sophia recounts an incredible episode of navigating Sofi Stadium's security to attend an exclusive after-party, showcasing her determination and resourcefulness.

This episode is packed with actionable takeaways for anyone looking to turn their unique background into a superpower and foster meaningful connections in their own lives.

Join us in this episode as we dive in with one of our close friends, Maddie Ireland, a community-builder, swim lover, and health coach, who founded the Venice Swim Club. Maddie shares her personal story of transitioning from a drinking culture in Sydney to embracing a healthier lifestyle in Los Angeles as well the magic she's felt while hosting a weekly swim club.

Through her commitment to the Venice Swim Club, Maddie has created an inclusive and supportive environment where friendships and even romantic relationships flourish. She discusses the evolution of the club, from welcoming beginners to connecting with competitive swim crews in Santa Monica.

In addition, Maddie offers actionable steps for finding and building your own community through activities you love, whether it's swimming, paddle tennis, or pickleball. She emphasizes the importance of consistency, inclusivity, and the power of shared experiences in forging meaningful connections.

If you're looking to find more abundance and connection in your life, this episode is packed with takeaways on how to start and nurture community-driven groups, draw inspiration from personal growth, and embrace the joy of bringing people together.

Tune in to learn from Maddie's experiences and be inspired to create your own community around the activities you love!

In this episode, we sit down with Cassandra Michler, a purpose-driven entrepreneur who has founded seven businesses, starting with MoonLab Productions nearly a decade ago. Cass takes us through her impressive career trajectory, from helping her grandfather with nonprofit events in her early years to managing multimillion-dollar events for brands such as Uber, Instacart, Disney, and Fujifilm by her early twenties . We delve into the founding of MoonLab's purpose-driven culture and the transformative journey to creating a holistic business ecosystem.

Cass opens up about her personal journey through burnout during the pandemic and a life-changing experience in Bali that reshaped her approach to work and life. We discuss the importance of inner work, spiritual growth, and community belonging, touching on how these elements contribute to personal and collective healing. Finally, we learn about her latest venture, EarthLab, which integrates spiritual consciousness into business practices with co-creation at the heart.

This conversation is a testament to the power of designing a life you love and aligning inner and outer consciousness for a more mindful and impactful world.

Cass's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandra-michler/
Cass's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassandramaria/
MoonLab Website: https://www.moonlabproductions.com/
EarthLab Website: https://www.weareearthlab.com/

If you've just moved to a new town or are just looking to cultivate your *dream* community but aren't sure how, we've got you! More of That co-founders Meredith and Eric share their tips and easy actionable items to finding your tribe and becoming the community you're ready to attract, as well as deeper advice on cultivating meaningful friendships from the ground up!

If you live in a bigger city, chances are, there is a Sofar Sounds near you! Sofar Sounds is a pop-up music experience that brings presence and intimacy back to live music. It's now in over 300 cities globally!

Today, we sit down with Rafe Offer, the founder of Sofar Sounds, to hear about how one fateful evening of wanting to hear the live music at a noisy bar was the catalyst for starting Sofar Sounds, and the learnings and magic that has ensued as it has rapidly expanded around the world to become a globally-recognized movement.

This episode is very special because our co-founder Meredith actually toured 15 cities across Europe with Sofar Sounds in 2015 and interviewed Rafe for her first podcast the following year!

If you have a love for live music or are curious about how to start a grassroots movement through innovative experiences, this episode is for you!

In this episode, we explore the artful world of intimate gatherings and deep connections with Susan McTavish Best, the mastermind behind POSTHOC salons. With a background as a silicon-valley PR maestro and city guide writer she has woven together communities from the ground up, one meal and conversation at a time.

This episode explores and celebrates the salon, an age-old tradition reimagined by Susan, where a carefully selected guest list and the warmth of homemade food set the stage for deep conversations and connection. As we wrap up, the conversation shifts to societal issues around connection, from the loneliness pandemic to the power of gratitude. We explore strategies to ignite personal action against isolation, emphasizing the transformative power of creating spaces that foster generosity and nurturing the seeds of community through simple acts of gathering.

We invite you to lean in, listen, and perhaps be inspired to host your own salon because it's within these small circles of connection that belonging is created and community is made.

To learn more about Susan's work and posthoc, you can visit:
https://posthoc.com/

In this episode, we talk with the founder of Don't Tell Comedy, Kyle Kazanjian-Amory, about how a desire to perform more in the stand-up circuit in LA led him to hosting backyard comedy shows with friends. This ended up scaling into what is now known as Don't Tell Comedy, a global network of secret pop-up comedy shows. Kyle gives us the low-down on how it scaled, growing pains, and values of supporting up-and-coming comedians that have become part of the fabric of Don't Tell Comedy. If you're looking for how to turn your pain point into your purpose, this episode is for you.

You can learn more about Don't Tell Comedy and find out how you can attend a show near your here:
https://www.donttellcomedy.com/

Justine, also known as the Queen of Venice Beach and a real life Mermaid, is a maritime archeologist turned community builder. She has started over half a dozen whatsapp groups with over 500 people per group and is currently putting her IRL expertise of community building to use in the digital world as head of community for two apps currently in stealth mode.

We've done More of That experiences with Justine and have both deeply admired how she leads from her heart and the intentionality she puts behind fostering friendship and community at large. If you're going through a life transition and looking to see how you can take ownership of cultivating community in your life, look no further!

You can find here on instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/justinemagicbean/
And work with her in building communities here: https://www.withcommunity.io/