What happens when you invite people to walk together and really see their city?

In this episode of How We Connected, Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey talk with Holden Minor Ringer, a Seattle community builder and transit advocate who believes walking is one of the simplest ways to fight isolation. Holden shares the story of walking more than 4,500 miles across the United States, relying on the kindness of strangers and gaining a front-row view of how cities either support or hinder human connection.

That experience inspired the Seattle Super Saunter - a 22-mile walk across Seattle that drew 300 people, even in pouring rain. Holden explains how walking creates natural, low-pressure connection, why accessibility and flexibility matter, and how the saunter model can be replicated in other cities.

This conversation is about movement, community, and the power of doing something simple together.

00:00 Introduction

04:10 Community Reflections

10:32 Meet Holden

14:41 Walking Across America

21:46 Creating the Seattle Super Saunter

29:20 Connecting Walking to Transit Advocacy

36:48 Replicating the Model

39:52 Wrap-up and Reflections

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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

Seattle Super Saunter

www.seattlesupersaunter.com

Holden Minor Ringer

Holden is the primary organizer for the Seattle Super Saunter. Prior to returning to Seattle in May of 2024 Holden walked across the country starting March 8th from La Push, WA and over the course of 423 days, 4,500+ miles and 20 states, completed his journey in New Haven, CT on May 4th 2024. Before his journey, Holden had walked all around the Pacific Northwest to prepare, having walked from Everett to Seattle, Seattle to Tacoma, all around Lake Washington, from Ballard to Tiger Mountain (and back), as well as from Vancouver, BC back to Seattle. To make a long story short, he's a big walker.

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.

An Intentional Approach to Building Community

In this episode of How We Connected, hosts Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey discuss the importance of building connection and community in America. The conversation dives into Aaron's recent trip to Miami and Charlotte's adventurous holiday travel, highlighting the enriching experiences of spontaneity and connection. This week's interview features Gabriel Ghiglione, an experienced community builder who was global lead at Midnight Runners and helped expand the social running community to 18 cities globally. Gabe shares his playbook for building successful communities, emphasizing the importance of consistency, personal connection, and establishing a core group of volunteers. The hosts reflect on how to integrate these lessons into their own community-building efforts at the US Chamber of Connection.

00:00 Introduction to How We Connected

02:56 Holiday Travel Stories and Reflections

07:04 A Medical Emergency in Minnesota!

12:35 Gabriel Ghiglione's Journey: From Berlin to Global Community Building

20:40 The Playbook: Building Community in New Cities

28:30 Midnight Runners Today and New Projects

36:24 Intentional Diversity and Leadership in Communities

42:24 Key Takeaways and Closing Reflections

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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

Midnight Runners

www.midnightrunners.com

Gabriel Ghiglione

Gabe is a community builder best known as global lead for Midnight Runners, a movement that combines running, music, and social connection to help people feel a sense of belonging in cities around the world. What began as a small volunteer-led run group grew into a nonprofit community active across 18 cities internationally. Gabriel spent nearly seven years launching chapters, developing local leadership teams, and refining a playbook centered on consistency, co-creation, and mission-led design. Today, he continues to apply these principles through neighborhood and creative communities in San Francisco, and through his work in community platforms and experiential design.

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.

Building Connections through Innovative Social Clubs

In this episode of 'How We Connected,' hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst discuss community building and tackling the loneliness epidemic in America. They highlight their efforts at the US Chamber to create sustainable ecosystems for connection, including some insight into how we’re building the Chamber’s strategy for 2026 and beyond. The hosts then welcome Margie Jiang from SF Social Club, who shares her journey from dancing professionally to founding a vibrant, inclusive social club in San Francisco. Margie discusses the importance of intentional community-building, free membership models, collaborating with local businesses, and effective use of social media for growth. She also offers insights into creating volunteer roles and ensuring ongoing member engagement. The episode concludes with reflections on the evolution of social clubs and the importance of long-term community connections.

00:00 Introduction, What’s Going on at the Chamber

05:25 Building the Chamber’s Strategy - Retreat

10:02 Our guest: Margie Jiang - Early Community Experiences

13:25 Building the SF Social Club

16:20 Event Programming & Partnerships

19:46 Membership Model & Onboarding

24:11 Scaling & Team Management

24:25 Financial Sustainability

31:35 Reflection

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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

SF Social Club

www.sfsocialclub.org

Margie Jiang

Margie is the founder of SF Social Club, a San Francisco–based social club designed to help people build real connection beyond single-interest groups. What began as a response to post-pandemic isolation has grown into a highly curated community of more than 400 active members, built around shared experiences, intentional onboarding, and consistent in-person programming. Margie leads all aspects of the club, from partnerships and programming to membership design and community standards, collaborating with local businesses and organizations to create experiences that turn strangers into friends. Alongside SF Social Club, Margie works at Deloitte, where she designs and delivers experiences for senior leaders tackling complex strategic challenges.

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.

Building Community Through Fitness and Brunch with Miracle Olatunji

In the second episode of 'How We Connected,' hosts Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey introduce Miracle Olatunji, founder of Crunch and Brunch and the Seattle Wellness Summit. Miracle shares her journey of moving to Seattle, the inspiration behind combining fitness and brunch to foster community, and practical insights on scaling her initiative. She discusses the importance of authenticity in partnerships, her strategies for securing sponsors, and her vision for expanding Crunch and Brunch nationwide. The episode underscores the significance of structured post-event socialization and offers valuable advice for aspiring community builders.

00:00 Introduction and Miracle's background

12:43 Early experiences with community

15:43 Creating Crunch and Brunch

21:13 Making friends as an adult

27:35 Event growth and sponsorships

33:16 Advice for community builders

35:46 Upcoming events and closing reflection

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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 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

Crunch and Brunch

https://luma.com/CrunchandBrunch

Miracle Olatunji

Miracle is a keynote speaker, content creator, and founder of Crunch and Brunch and the Seattle Wellness Summit. After moving to Seattle in 2023, she created a community that combines group fitness with structured social time, solving the common problem of attending classes alongside the same people without ever really connecting. What started with six people has grown to nearly 1,000 subscribers and partnerships with over 20 fitness studios. With a background in finance and a passion for bringing people together, Miracle has secured major sponsorships from organizations like Columbia Bank and Lululemon. In 2026, she's expanding Crunch and Brunch nationally with chapters in new cities. Learn more at miracleolatunji.com and luma.com/CrunchandBrunch.

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.

Building Community & Wellness with James Tan, CEO, Yerbana

In this insightful and inspiring first episode of How We Connected from the US Chamber of Connection, we are joined by James Tan, founder and CEO of Yerbana, a holistic wellness organization based in Seattle. James shares his journey from being an introverted, health-conscious kid to creating a thriving community centered around wellness. He recounts the challenges of balancing a passion-driven business with community building, and his initial forays into promoting Yerba Mate as a healthy beverage. James discusses his flagship event, Yoga in the Park, which grew from a small gathering to an event drawing nearly a thousand people weekly, promoting accessible health and wellness. He touches on the struggles of running a for-profit beverage company, the transformative power of community support, and his vision for expanding his wellness initiatives nationally. The episode concludes with James offering advice for aspiring community builders and details on how to get involved with Yerbana.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Launch

03:25 Charlotte's Travel and Reflections

11:21 About the US Chamber of Connection

16:34 Interview with James Tan: Early Life and Wellness Journey

26:02 Starting Yurana: The Yerba Mate Business

28:41 Birth and Growth of Yoga in the Park

35:40 Financial Struggles and Sustainability Challenges

40:33 Vision for Accessible Wellness and National Expansion

46:45 Community Building Strategies and Advice

51:02 Closing Reflections and Next Episode Preview

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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 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

Yerbana

www.yerbana.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.

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 then talk with a community leader from somewhere in the country about the relationships, collaboration, and human stories behind meaningful change. Join us every week for 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 entrepreneur focused on purpose, community, and the future of work. He previously founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation, and authored The Purpose Economy. At the Chamber, he leads national efforts to strengthen community through connection. Aaron co-hosts How We Connected, bringing thoughtful insight and personal stories to each episode.

Charlotte Massey

Charlotte Massey is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the US Chamber of Connection, where she builds programs and partnerships that help communities thrive through stronger relationships. With a background in community development and network building, she focuses on practical ways people work better together. As co-host of How We Connected, Charlotte brings clarity, curiosity, and a grounded perspective to every conversation.

Contact Us

US Chamber of Connection

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.