Not all networking events are created equal — and going to the wrong ones can cost you far more than the ticket price.

In this episode of The Awkward Handshake, Megan Eckman and Mary Williams break down how they evaluate networking events after years of trial, error, and very honest post-event debriefs. From vibe checks and logistics to audience composition and follow-up potential, this conversation is about learning how to choose rooms intentionally instead of saying yes out of obligation or fear of missing out.

This episode covers:

• How to tell the difference between social events and business-driving rooms
• Why “good energy” alone doesn’t make an event worth your time
• The role of proximity, consistency, and repetition in choosing events
• When ticket price matters — and when it really doesn’t
• How audience makeup impacts whether conversations go anywhere
• Why some beautifully produced events still fail at connection
• Red flags that signal an event isn’t designed for real relationship-building
• How to decide when to try an event once, twice, or never again

You’ll also hear:

• How Megan and Mary decide which events get repeat attendance
• The difference between being welcomed and being tolerated in a room
• Why some events feel exhausting instead of expansive
• How to trust your instincts without letting avoidance run the show

This episode helps you stop guessing, stop people-pleasing, and start choosing rooms that support your goals — financially, socially, and emotionally.

Keep in touch!

Follow Megan Eckman

• Fat Cap Design
• PDX Spellbound

Follow Mary Williams

• Sasquatch Media Grounds
• Sensible Woo

How many networking events does it really take before you get paid?

In this premiere episode of The Awkward Handshake, Megan Eckman and Mary Williams start where most people are afraid to look: the math. After a year of consistent networking across the Portland–Vancouver metro, they finally sat down and tallied the numbers — events attended, coffee chats booked, rooms tested, and relationships built.

The result? A clear picture of what actually works, what takes time, and why one event will never change your business.

This episode unpacks:

• How many networking events Megan and Mary attended together and solo
• The surprising volume of coffee chats required to build real momentum
• Why consistency, not charisma, drives trust and referrals
• How “How badly do you want it?” became the core question behind every result
• Why traffic, logistics, and time complaints miss the real point
• The myth of instant conversions — and what actually leads to paid work
• How repeated exposure shortens trust-building timelines
• Why networking improves your messaging, offers, and confidence over time

You’ll also hear:

• The origin of the now-famous “What’s your favorite dinosaur?” question
• How neurodivergence shows up in networking rooms
• Why kissing a lot of frogs is not a failure — it’s data
• What it really means to treat business relationships like human relationships

This episode sets the foundation for the entire season: networking is iterative, uncomfortable, and deeply human — and it works when you stop pretending otherwise.

Keep in touch!

Follow Megan Eckman

• Fat Cap Design
• PDX Spellbound

Follow Mary Williams

• Sasquatch Media Grounds
• Sensible Woo

Welcome to The Awkward Handshake — a podcast about networking, business, and what really happens in the room.

Hosted by Megan Eckman and Mary Williams, this show pulls back the curtain on the good, the bad, and the deeply awkward realities of building a business through real human connection. Drawing from years of attending networking events across the Portland–Vancouver metro, Megan and Mary break down what works, what doesn’t, and how relationships turn into revenue over time.

Some episodes feature guests who host or design networking spaces of their own. Others are candid conversations unpacking event culture, follow-ups, coffee chats, and the math behind getting paid.

This show is for people who take their business seriously, want better rooms and better connections, and are done pretending the internet is the whole economy.

Business is people.
Don’t be passive.

Keep in touch!

Follow Megan Eckman

• Fat Cap Design
• PDX Spellbound

Follow Mary Williams

• Sasquatch Media Grounds
• Sensible Woo