📄 Episode Summary

Why are some events forgettable—and others unforgettable? Why do people still show up when they can stay home in their slippers and scroll?

In this episode, Bernie sits down with Mark Masters—founder of You Are The Media and Creator Day—to dismantle the idea that good events are about big names and flash.

They talk about how consistent community touchpoints, from weekly emails to 7 am swims, create trust long before you open the doors.

You’ll hear how to move from passive attendance to meaningful connection—and why scaling too fast might ruin the thing people came for in the first place.

This isn’t about selling out a room.

It’s about building a culture where people feel like they belong—and come back because they want to, not because you paid for their attention.

If you run a coworking space, host events, or want to make your gatherings feel like something, this conversation will help you stop guessing and start building for real.

No fluff. No hacks. Just the truth about what makes people show up—and stay.

⏱️ Timeline Highlights

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

[00:36] Mark introduces You Are The Media and Creator Day

[01:15] Creator Day: relevance, connection, and a tan by the sea

[02:50] What makes an event move from “nice” to “necessary”?

[03:30] Why passive learning is dead—making room for shared experience

[04:46] This is not an event hacks podcast

[05:51] The long road: why consistent effort beats flashy launches

[06:24] Why people don’t go out anymore—and what that means for events

[07:38] Zoom fatigue and why hybrid wasn’t enough

[08:03] Coworking: make the commute worth it

[09:29] Stage time vs. human connection

[10:41] Confidence, kinship, and meaningful returns

[11:48] The new watercooler: what togetherness means

[13:56] Why your event needs an ecosystem

[14:54] Breaking down Mark’s ecosystem: newsletter, Lunch Club, membership

[15:59] Yes, swim club counts

[17:56] The accidental brilliance of coworking breakfasts

[18:46] Why scaling often means losing connection

[20:50] Small events, strong returns, deeper bonds

[22:31] Mark’s advice to coworking leaders: know your people, design for connection

[24:15] The You Are The Media newsletter: Thursday mornings, no fluff

🔍 Shared Experiences, Not Just Speakers

Mark unpacks why today’s events need more than microphones and stage lights.

It’s not about the “expert on the podium”—it’s about who’s in the room.

Creator Day’s structure flips the script: talk-led mornings and collaborative afternoons.

The goal? Confidence, connection, and showing up for each other.

📅 Consistency Over Flash

The myth of the last-minute launch is dead.

Mark explains how a reliable rhythm—weekly newsletters, regular meetups, shared rituals—creates trust. People don’t show up for your event.

They show up for everything around it.

🌊 Swimming, Lunch, and the WhatsApp Thread

From 7 a.m. swims to Friday lunches, community happens in the spaces between.

It’s not just strategy—it’s lived experience.

Mark walks us through the quiet power of these rituals and how they give your events backbone.

🔁 Scaling Without Losing the Plot

More people isn’t always the goal.

Mark talks about designing for the right people.

That means knowing names, building warmth, and making space where folks want to return—not just RSVP.

🔗 Links & Resources

* You Are The Media newsletter every Thursday

* Creator Day 2025

* Unreasonable Connection Event on Luma

* Coworking Values Podcast on LinkedIn

* The Coworking Community Builder Cohort

* 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 Mark Masters 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 lives, build careers, and strengthen 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