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!

Follow Megan Eckman

• Fat Cap Design
• PDX Spellbound

Follow Mary Williams

• Sasquatch Media Grounds
• Sensible Woo