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

---

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

https://miracleolatunji.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.

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

---

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

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