Building Community with Mike Shawe and AcroJames: Interview Summary

• In this interview, Mike and James discuss the importance of continuous self-investment and flexibility in skill development, emphasizing the need to step out of one's comfort zone to grow.
• Mike and James highlight the significance of embracing opportunities for growth and gaining diverse experiences, challenging the notion of always being a small fish in a big pond.
• Positive Impact Movement (PIE Movement) was created by Travis, Andreas, Nathan, and James in late 2020, to bring support and positivity to the community
  • The Positive Impact Movement has created a space where men can support each other, hold each other accountable, and celebrate each other's successes.
• James is a professional acrobat, teacher, and performer who creates a welcoming environment in the acro community. He organized the Acro Freedom Festival, uniting people from different locations and backgrounds.
• James's motivation comes from personal experiences with loneliness and bullying, driving his desire to help others find community and joy in play.
• Mike and James discuss the importance of play in adulthood, how many adults forget how to play, and that play and flirting are essential for fostering intimacy and connection in relationships.
• 18:22 James quote "If you miss something, say something nice to yourself and just enjoy every mistake because without the mistakes, you don't learn anything. So, if you can enjoy the process rather than be destroyed by the process, you're only going to get further. And I think just always making sure that people are along that path, the community is just built so much easier because then nobody is putting people down; they're only encouraging each other, which means they bring out the best in each other, which means that they contribute to each other in a much better way. And yeah, I think that's one of the really fascinating challenges about, I guess, partner acrobatics for the hobby community in the general population, and acroyoga in general, especially at festivals." -  AcroJames aka James Heugh
• Physical play in partner acrobatics and acroyoga teaches empathy and social skills.
• Embracing the process and learning from mistakes is crucial in these practices.
• Progression and celebrating small victories is emphasized along the way.
• In their discussion, Mike and James highlight the rarity of close, supportive friendships among men, emphasizing celebration of success, accountability, teamwork, and filling in each other's gaps.