Storylinking

Building authentic community engagement, with insights from across the Storylinking community

With this episode of Storylinking, we're trying something a little different. Instead of a one-on-one interview, I've pulled together responses from four generous members of the Storylinking community: Matt Penniman, a writer and community advocate; Cecilia Sepp, a longtime association and nonprofit leader; Stacy Averill, a leadership coach and facilitator; and Michelle Thompson-McCune, a co-creative designer who builds with communities. Each of them shares their take on why it's hard to get people to engage, and what's actually worked for them. We talk about trust, fear, making things together, and the small shifts that can help us to create more space for engagement.

What I love about the advice shared in this episode is how practical and honest it is. You'll hear reflections on building trust through small commitments, creating room for quieter voices, and how to structure our invitations for participation. Stay tuned to the end, and you'll hear me wrap up the episode with a bit of behind-the-scenes context on how this special format came together, with help from our engaged Storylinking community!

Connect with Matt Penniman:

• http://mattpenniman.com (his website)
• Bonus book recommendations from Matt:
  • https://www.getitright.earth
  • https://bookshop.org/p/books/pilgrim-at-tinker-creek-annie-dillard/8922929
  • https://bookshop.org/p/books/piranesi-susanna-clarke/15861178

Connect with Cecilia Sepp:

• http://roguetulips.com (her consulting/education/podcast/blog website)
• Check out her book "Association Chapter Systems: From Frustrating to Fruitful" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1944616454
• On Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliasepp/

Connect with Stacy Averill:

• http://StacyAverill.com (her website)
• On Linkedi:n http://LinkedIn.com/in/StacyAverill/

Connect with Michelle Thompson-McCune

• On LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/michelle-mccune-97b5647
• You can also follow Workomics at their company website: http://www.workomics.com
• Workomics is also on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workomics/

Check out more from Storylinking:

• Go behind the scenes of this episode: https://storylinking.com/blog/ep13
• https://storylinking.com (the full show site)

Key moments from this episode:

00:29 Intro

01:53 Insights from Matt Penniman on Climate and Communication

07:00 Cecilia Sepp on Nonprofit Leadership and Engagement

11:22 Stacy Averill on Leadership and Vulnerability

20:31 Michelle Thompson-McCune on Co-Creative Design

31:39 Conclusion and Behind The Scenes

Stories are the pulse of community: how we find each other, share experiences, and build meaning together. In this episode, I'm responding to a question that came in from friend of the show Katherine Lacefield, a nonprofit consultant with deep experience in fundraising and community engagement. Katherine asked how organizations can go about collecting stories from their community as a way to build credibility and authenticity. I love this question, as it's super relevant not just to nonprofits but also the work of any human-centered organization trying to build community.

In this episode I share six of my favorite tools (some practical, platforms, some process-oriented, all actionable) for making storytelling a regular practice and a living part of how your community connects.

Listen back to Katherine Lacefield's original interview:

• Katherine's episode on Storylinking: https://www.tellstori.es/storylinking/ep03

Check out more from Storylinking:

• https://storylinking.com (the full show site)

Key moments from this episode:

00:00 Why stories matter

00:41 A community question from Katherine Lacefield

02:08 Broadcast thinking vs. community building

03:03 Tip 1: Be present in moments that already exist

04:33 Tip 2: Start a conversation

05:56 Tip 3: Interview people where they are

09:29 Tip 4: Keep talking

10:51 Tip 5: Be collaborative

12:26 Tip 6: Make it a sustainable cycle

14:14 Final thoughts

I had the privilege of sitting down with Mónica Guzmán back in January of 20260 for this episode of Storylinking. Mónica is the Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels, the author of "I Never Thought of It That Way," and the host of the podcast "A Braver Way." She's someone I deeply admire for her ability to lean into curiosity and use it as a tool for building trust and understanding across political and cultural divides.

In our conversation, we explored how curiosity can help us navigate tough conversations, whether we're engaging with colleagues, family members, or entire communities. Mónica shares powerful insights from her personal journey and professional work, showing us how curiosity isn't just about asking questions, it's about seeing others in their full complexity and finding ways to connect (even and especially when it feels difficult!) If you've been thinking about how to bridge divides in your own community or create a stronger sense of connection in your work, this episode is full of great context and practical advice.

Connect with Mónica Guzmán and Braver Angels:

• Her website, https://www.moniguzman.com/
• On instagram, @MoniGuzman
• Braver Angels, https://braverangels.org/
• Her podcast "A Braver Way," wherever you listen or at https://braverangels.org/abraverway/
• Her book, "I Never Thought of it That Way," https://www.moniguzman.com/book'

Check out more from Storylinking:

• https://storylinking.com/blog/ep10 (go behind the scenes of this episode)
• https://storylinking.com (the full show site)

Key moments from this episode

01:50 Personal experiences and family debates 03:41 The power of curiosity in journalism 06:51 Human nature and the SOS of sorting, othering, and siloing 09:19 The cost of misplaced beliefs and polarization 13:30 Creating space for curiosity in challenging conversations 13:48 Braver Angels and their mission of depolarization 17:16 Five characteristics of effective conversations 20:56 The structure of bridging conversations 25:00 Withholding judgment and embracing empathy 27:52 The tension between safety and visibility in identity and engagement 28:50 Engaging across divides with intentional dialogue 29:39 Techniques for better conversations and curiosity-driven questions 31:44 The benefits of bridging work in relationships and communities 33:59 Practical advice for leaders: fostering bridging conversations 34:23 Rupture and repair cycles in dialogue 34:56 Using containment to manage difficult conversations 37:13 Bridging for collective impact: engaging new communities 48:19 The importance of honest friction in communities

The First 5 Minutes: Making Room for Real Conversation, with Linn Vizard

Most of us have been in a meeting that stayed shallow. We might have had the right people in the room, but the conversation never got there. Linn Vizard argues that what's usually missing isn't the agenda or the expertise, it's a few minutes of personal context (right at the start) that could have made everyone feel safe enough to actually show up and participate.

In this episode, Linn shares what she's learned in her career as a service designer and facilitator, helping us to explore what it takes to open a room well. In it's most basic form: how a single well-chosen question can shift the dynamic of an entire meeting, how to scale that intention from a team of four to a call of forty, and what it looks like to start building a culture of real collaboration from wherever you happen to sit in an organization or community.

Connect with Linn Vizard:

• Linn's website: https://made-manifest.com
• Pebble Talk (conversation starter deck): https://www.made-manifest.com/resources/pebble-talk
• Ask a Service Designer (newsletter): https://us19.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=1a68a5ce1bf1835e60b4283eb&id=a54944bd66
• Linn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linnvizard/

Check out more from Storylinking:

• Go behind the scenes of this episode: https://storylinking.com/blog/ep18
• https://storylinking.com (the full show site)

Key moments from this episode:

01:21 Why Linn's path from industrial design led her to care about people and systems more than products

10:20 The case for dialogue over persuasion, even when you're sure you're right

13:18 What happens in the first few minutes of a meeting, and why it determines so much of what follows

33:52 How to start building a more human culture from wherever you sit, without waiting for permission

Seeing Each Other: Photovoice as a Bridge, with Roman Williams

I've been part of a lot of facilitated conversations over the years. But I'm not sure I've ever felt so quickly connected to a group of strangers as I did in the 90 minutes I spent in a Photovoice session with Roman Williams' team. Something opened up in that room (or Zoom) that doesn't usually happen so fast. This episode is my attempt to understand why.

Roman Williams is a sociologist, the founder of Interfaith Photovoice, and the author of Sacred Snaps: Photovoice for Interfaith Engagement. He's spent years using participatory photography to help people across deep differences actually see each other. What he's built is equal parts research methodology, community practice, and quiet act of faith in human connection.

In this episode, Roman shares how a lunchtime conversation and a borrowed methodology from public health became his new approach to one of community building's oldest problems, and why he believes the smartphone in your pocket might be one of the most underused tools for bringing people together across difference.

Connect with Roman Williams:

• Interfaith Photovoice: https://www.interfaithphotovoice.org
• Free monthly online workshops: https://www.interfaithphotovoice.org
• Sacred Snaps: Photovoice for Interfaith Engagement: https://www.routledge.com/Sacred-Snaps-Photovoice-for-Interfaith-Engagement/Williams-Holtmann-Sachs/p/book/9781032856643
• Roman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-williams/

More from Storylinking:

• Go behind the scenes of this episode: https://storylinking.com/blog/ep17
• https://storylinking.com (the full show site)

How to Design Interpersonal Infrastructure in Your Community

Connection is often thought of as a personal responsibility, something each of us has to figure out on our own. Aaron Hurst thinks that framing is part of the problem. As founder of the U.S. Chamber of Connection, he's building an organization that seeks to tackle the problem of loneliness in a truly unique way: treating connection not as a personal challenge but as civic infrastructure that can be designed and built deliberately, even at the scale of a major city.

In this episode, Aaron shares what he's learned piloting the first-ever city onboarding program in Seattle, and why he believes building infrastructure for belonging is one of the most urgent civic challenges of our time.

Connect with Aaron Hurst:

• Chamber of Connection https://chamberofconnection.org
• The Purpose Economy (book) https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Economy-Personal-Community-Changing-ebook/dp/B00JEMUB1S
• LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/aaronhurst

Check out more from Storylinking:

• Go behind the scenes of this episode: https://storylinking.com/blog/ep16
• https://storylinking.com (the full show site)

Key moments from this episode:

02:04 How stories shape belonging and why intentional narratives matter

08:46 Why authenticity is the starting point for any community initiative

12:01 The six points of connection and why having a framework changes the conversation

30:01 What community builders can do right now to create on-ramps for the people around them

Creating a Feeling of Belonging in Your Member Community

Most membership organizations find reasonable ways to deliver value. They build programs, create resources, and articulate what members get in return for their time and dues. Amanda Lea Kaiser argues that's only half of what creates engagement. The other half (the part that's often missing) is experience: how it feels to be part of the community, how people are welcomed, and whether members can find their people.

In this episode, Amanda draws on years of professional experience and qualitative research with membership organizations to explore how community leaders can be more deliberate about the experiences they create: from the story being told in a welcome email to the way a meeting room feels when someone walks in for the first time.

Connect with Amanda Lea Kaiser:

• Amanda's website https://amandaleakaiser.com/
• Elevating Engagement (book) https://amandaleakaiser.com/book
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandakaiser/

Check out more from Storylinking:

• Go behind the scenes of this episode: https://storylinking.com/blog/ep15
• https://storylinking.com (the full show site)

Key moments from this episode:

07:09 Why experience matters as much as value in member retention

17:43 The six stages of the membership journey and what leaders can do at each one

21:50 The 18-hour rule and what it reveals about how belonging is won or lost early on

37:02 A simple question that can change the way you approach any community interaction

How Consistent Content Creation Builds Clarity, Trust, and Community

There aren't many emails I'll open at 6:30am, but Jonathan Stark's daily message is one of them. For nearly a decade, he's been showing up in my inbox with ideas about building value, finding focus, and creating sustainable creative practice. What started for Jonathan as a daily writing habit has grown into something much bigger: a community of around 10,000 people interested in "ditching hourly" billing and learning to create value for the world in new ways.

In this episode, Jonathan shares how daily publishing, well-designed systems, and tight feedback loops have helped him clarify his thinking, build trust with his community, and sustain his practice for the long haul.

Connect with Jonathan Stark:

• Jonathan Stark's Website https://jonathanstark.com/
• Subscribe to Jonathan Stark's daily email list https://jonathanstark.com/daily
• Ditching Hourly Podcast https://podcast.ditchinghourly.com/

Check out more from Storylinking:

• Go behind the scenes of this episode: https://storylinking.com/blog/ep14
• https://storylinking.com (the full show site)

Key moments from this episode:

04:01 Jonathan's focus, and why he's spent years making the case against hourly billing

09:27 Simplify first, perfect later: Jonathan's approach to sustainable content systems

17:05 The "content solar system" and how to organize your ideas around one central theme

29:31 What it takes to collaborate well and build aligned, purpose-driven communities

Building authentic community engagement, with insights from across the Storylinking community

With this episode of Storylinking, we're trying something a little different. Instead of a one-on-one interview, I've pulled together responses from four generous members of the Storylinking community: Matt Penniman, a writer and community advocate; Cecilia Sepp, a longtime association and nonprofit leader; Stacy Averill, a leadership coach and facilitator; and Michelle Thompson-McCune, a co-creative designer who builds with communities. Each of them shares their take on why it's hard to get people to engage, and what's actually worked for them. We talk about trust, fear, making things together, and the small shifts that can help us to create more space for engagement.

What I love about the advice shared in this episode is how practical and honest it is. You'll hear reflections on building trust through small commitments, creating room for quieter voices, and how to structure our invitations for participation. Stay tuned to the end, and you'll hear me wrap up the episode with a bit of behind-the-scenes context on how this special format came together, with help from our engaged Storylinking community!

Connect with Matt Penniman:

• http://mattpenniman.com (his website)
• Bonus book recommendations from Matt:
  • https://www.getitright.earth
  • https://bookshop.org/p/books/pilgrim-at-tinker-creek-annie-dillard/8922929
  • https://bookshop.org/p/books/piranesi-susanna-clarke/15861178

Connect with Cecilia Sepp:

• http://roguetulips.com (her consulting/education/podcast/blog website)
• Check out her book "Association Chapter Systems: From Frustrating to Fruitful" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1944616454
• On Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliasepp/

Connect with Stacy Averill:

• http://StacyAverill.com (her website)
• On Linkedi:n http://LinkedIn.com/in/StacyAverill/

Connect with Michelle Thompson-McCune

• On LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/michelle-mccune-97b5647
• You can also follow Workomics at their company website: http://www.workomics.com
• Workomics is also on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workomics/

Check out more from Storylinking:

• Go behind the scenes of this episode: https://storylinking.com/blog/ep13
• https://storylinking.com (the full show site)

Key moments from this episode:

00:29 Intro

01:53 Insights from Matt Penniman on Climate and Communication

07:00 Cecilia Sepp on Nonprofit Leadership and Engagement

11:22 Stacy Averill on Leadership and Vulnerability

20:31 Michelle Thompson-McCune on Co-Creative Design

31:39 Conclusion and Behind The Scenes

With this episode of Storylinking, we're trying something new! Instead of the usual one-on-one conversation, I'm sharing a panel discussion from a recent event called The Future is Now, where I had the opportunity to speak alongside journalist Tyler Sonnamaker. The conversation was moderated by Jane Bunch from Revalue, a values-based investment advisory firm. Together, we explore how news and storytelling shape our communities, the responsibilities of storytellers, and the role of local media in building trust and engagement.

We dig into why reframing our relationship with media is essential for meaningful participation, how to engage with local and analytical news sources, and how storytelling can serve as a framework for action rather than just passive consumption. We also discuss strategies for focusing on impactful stories, avoiding burnout, and collaborating across diverse perspectives. If we think of stories as tools for shaping our communities, what changes in how we participate?

Check out Tyler Sonnemaker and his work:

• https://kaheawaimedia.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylersonnemaker/

Follow Revalue and their event series The Future Is Now:

• https://www.revalueinvesting.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/revalueinvesting

Check out more from Storylinking:

• https://storylinking.com (the full show site)

Key moments from this episode:

01:30 Panel Introduction: The Future is Now

01:50 Meet the Panelists: Tyler and Tom

04:27 The Power of Storytelling in Communities

04:34 Building Trust Through Storytelling

07:27 Engaging with Diverse Perspectives

09:49 Reframing Our Relationship with News

14:57 Self-Care and Collective Action

15:36 Activism and Organizing Through Stories

18:31 Finding Local and Analytical News Sources

23:43 Positive Shifts in Local Media

27:52 Responsibilities and Privileges in Storytelling

32:04 Q&A: Engaging the Media and Community

42:06 Conclusion: Intentional Media Engagement