Episode Summary

Can coworking spaces bring neighbourhoods back to life—and help families reconnect?

In this episode, Bernie sits down with Teresa Bockmuehl, Community and Events Executive at Patch in High Wycombe.

Together, they unpack how coworking spaces can become vital hubs for real-world connection, not just places to plug in a laptop.

They talk about parenting, education, smartphone addiction, and why your local coworking space might be closer to a 21st-century community centre than you think.

From organising smartphone-free events to strengthening daily human bonds, Teresa shares how intentional community-building can reshape how (and where) we live and work.

This conversation is all about the slow, meaningful work that truly makes communities thrive.

Timeline Highlights

[00:05] Emily’s reminder: Unreasonable Connection event link in the show notes

[00:27] Teresa introduces herself and her role at Patch

[01:12] How coworking spaces can support education and family life

[03:29] Inside Patch’s family-friendly events programme

[04:11] Partnering with Smartphone Free Childhood

[06:27] Linking the event to Netflix’s Adolescence

[07:23] Why protecting children needs collective action

[08:52] Coworking events that spark deeper conversations

[09:45] Members’ reactions to the smartphone talk

[11:25] Coworking spaces stepping into citizenship roles

[12:51] Building collaborative, community-first spaces

[14:56] The overlooked art of connecting people

[17:10] Why personal relationships are the foundation

[18:03] Reimagining local living through coworking

[20:03] Scandinavian models: education, neighbourhood, and community

[22:50] Teresa reflects on project-based education methods

Coworking Spaces as Community Builders

Teresa shares how Patch rethinks coworking—not as a place for desks, but as a space for rebuilding local connections.

By running thoughtful, issue-driven events like smartphone-free parenting talks, Patch creates room for bigger conversations about life beyond work.

Family Life, Smartphones, and Real Conversations

The Smartphone-Free Childhood event wasn’t just another info session—it opened the door for honest and difficult conversations among members.

Teresa explains why supporting parents locally can lead to stronger bonds across the whole community.

The Daily Practice of Connection

Small moments—remembering a member’s child just started nursery, checking in about travel plans—make a bigger impact than flashy events.

Teresa talks about how showing up consistently for members builds the kind of trust that no marketing campaign can fake.

Scaling Community Without Losing Its Soul

It’s tempting to focus on growing numbers, but Teresa reminds us that real connection comes from knowing names, stories, and everyday realities.

Bigger isn’t always better.

Sometimes, scaling down is how you build up the strongest communities.

🔗 Links & Resources

* Smartphone Free Childhood Initiative

* Patch Places on LinkedIn

* Patch Places on Instagram

* Unreasonable Connection - the world’s smallest coworking event.

* Coworking Values Podcast on LinkedIn

* Register your space for European Coworking Day, May 2025

* Join the 8k Members in the LinkedIn Coworking Group

* Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn

* Connect with Teresa Bockmuehl on LinkedIn

One more thing

Coworking brings communities together, helping people find and share their voices.

Each episode of the Coworking Values Podcast explores the core values driving coworking: Accessibility, Community, Openness, Collaboration, and Sustainability.

These values aren’t just ideas—they shape the spaces where we gather, work, and grow.

We hope this resonates with you.

If it does, please rate, follow, and share the podcast.

Your support amplifies our reach, helping others discover how coworking can enrich their lives, build their careers, and strengthen their communities.

Community is the key 🔑

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coworkingvaluespodcast.substack.com