In this episode of The Awkward Handshake, Mary and Megan unpack what a “Yes Friend” really is — and why finding one might have less to do with being social… and more to do with nervous system awareness.

What started as a conversation about building deeper friendships through networking turned into something bigger: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses… and how those stress patterns show up in business rooms when you’re trying to connect, stay grounded, and not accidentally agree to something you regret.

A Yes Friend isn’t just someone you like.
It’s someone who helps you get a better outcome in the room.

And yes — it’s work. The good kind.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why “Yes Friends” don’t just appear out of nowhere
• How fight/flight/freeze/fawn responses show up at networking events
• What it looks like to support a friend when they freeze or fawn
• The “emotional readiness weight class” idea — and why it matters
• Why some people disappear at events (and how that impacts trust)
• How to be an “exit buddy” and rescue each other from conversations gracefully
• The underrated power of small talk as social lubrication while your brain catches up
• Why networking can trigger intense emotions (even if you didn’t expect it)
• How being a connector creates compounding returns over time
• Why follow-up can save almost any awkward moment
• The truth: you can’t solve this only in your home office — you have to do reps in the real world

If you’ve ever wondered why networking feels harder than it “should,” this episode will give you a new lens — and a much kinder interpretation of your own behavior.

Keep in touch!

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In this episode of The Awkward Handshake, we tackle one of the most common networking questions we hear:

What if I’m an introvert?

Mary and Megan are joined by business strategist and community facilitator Nedra Rezinas to unpack what networking looks like when you don’t thrive in loud rooms, surface-level small talk, or high-volume social energy.

Because here’s the truth: Introverts don’t hate networking... they hate bad networking.

Together, we explore what it means to build connection in ways that feel grounded, sustainable, and aligned with your nervous system — without disappearing from rooms that matter.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why introversion is not a business liability
• The difference between overstimulation and disinterest
• How to design networking experiences that support depth
• What “Quiet Networking” looks like in practice
• Why smaller rooms often outperform bigger ones
• How to protect your energy without isolating yourself
• Why authenticity beats performance — every time
• The power of 1:1 follow-up for introverted founders

If you’ve ever left a networking event feeling drained, awkward, or like you “did it wrong,” this episode will feel like permission to do it differently.

About Our Guest

Our guest for this episode is Nedra Rezinas, a business strategist and coach for introverted and empathy-driven solopreneurs.

Nedra helps founders build businesses that reflect their true values without forcing themselves into extroverted molds that don’t fit.

She’s the founder of Quiet Networking, a Portland-based networking group designed specifically for people who prefer meaningful conversation over volume and velocity.

You can connect with Nedra here:

• https://www.nedrarezinas.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/nrezinas/
• Attend the next Quiet Networking event when you register here

Keep in touch!

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In this special episode of The Awkward Handshake, Mary and Megan step outside the usual event debrief to talk about something bigger than networking logistics.

This wasn’t originally on the calendar.

But when the world shifted — and it felt disrespectful to launch premiere week into that noise — we paused. Then we gathered our community. And what came out of that room sparked this episode.

This is a conversation about values. About fear. About silence. About what it means to lead — especially when you don’t feel ready.

Because “silence is complicity” sounds simple on social media.
In real life, it’s more complicated.

In this episode, we unpack:

• Why we postponed premiere week — and what that decision modeled
• What came out of our January coffee party with community organizers
• The tension between being authentic and being performative
• Why social media isn’t the only (or best) place to take a stand
• What “10 out of 10 people” means in a networking room
• How to make your values clear without becoming a political pundit
• Why some leaders are waking up late — and what that costs
• The fear of “getting it wrong” publicly
• The difference between loud and effective

We also talk about:

• Economic power as a form of resistance
• Following the money — both who pays you and who you pay
• How values misalignment quietly wrecks your health and your business
• Small ways hosts can make rooms safer
• When to call someone out — and when to simply walk away
• How reciprocity, visibility, and association shape safety

This episode isn’t about perfection.
It’s about participation.

It’s about recognizing that business is people — and people are living through something real right now.

And whether we like it or not, that shows up in our networking rooms.

Keep in touch!

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Follow Mary Williams

• Sasquatch Media Grounds
• Sensible Woo