Episode 106: Why Welcoming Everyone Gets Complicated with Garland Fuller

What this episode is about:

What does it actually take to build a space where people feel like they belong? Garland Fuller — culture consultant and founder of Third Space Academy — has made it her life's work to answer that question. We get into the gap between what organizations say they value and how they actually operate, why "I want everyone to come" is a lot trickier than it sounds, and what intentional community building really looks like in practice.

This one hit close to home — I share what I've been learning building my pop-up cinema project on Chicago's south side through the Change Collective fellowship, and Garland brings the strategic clarity to help it all click.

Let's get into it:

What is a culture consultant, actually? Garland breaks down the "people, place, program" framework and why culture is often the unseen force shaping how organizations actually operate — not just what's on the mission statement

Values: aspiration vs. reality — Why integrity and service are on everyone's list, what it actually means to walk the talk, and when it might be time to update values that no longer fit who your org has become

Third spaces are disappearing (or getting expensive) — From libraries to record shops to country clubs, Garland explains the spectrum of third spaces and who's really being invited in

The "I want everyone to come" trap — Why all-ages, all-inclusive spaces are aspirational but tricky, with real examples from Stephanie's micro cinema project (Poetic Justice vs. Disney night, anyone?)

Building the Community Impact Collective — Garland's digital sanctuary for femmes who are done fitting into boxes, why she built it for community over solo learning, and the Show and Tell Mondays that keep it real

Adapt or die: organizations that are going stale — A real talk about churches, legacy orgs, and what happens when your next generation isn't in your current membership

Practical strategies: surveying, focus groups, and why anonymous matters

Leadership advice that hits: People are watching you in the small moments more than the big keynotes

Chapters:

• 00:08 - Introducing the Guest

• 07:20 - Understanding Culture and Values in Organizations

• 16:55 - Creating All-Age Spaces: Building Community Connections

• 19:00 - Exploring Community Engagement

• 31:27 - Building Community and Support in Creative Spaces

• 36:14 - Facilitation and Empathy in Group Dynamics

• 44:21 - Facilitation and Engagement in Education

• 48:21 - Creating Third Spaces: Starting from Your Why

Things We Mentioned

Third Space Academy — Garland's coaching program for leaders building intentional community spaces

Community Impact Collective — Garland's digital community for femmes and changemakers

The Change Collective Fellowship — the civic leadership fellowship Stephanie participated in that sparked her pop-up cinema project

Soho House — referenced as an example of an exclusive, membership-based third space

Ray Oldenburg's concept of "third spaces" — the sociological framework underlying this whole convo (optional — confirm if mentioned explicitly)

All about... Garland

You're gonna love Garland — she's an award-winning People Strategist with over 15 years of expertise in HR, talent acquisition, employee engagement, and training. She's also an adjunct professor at the USC Price School and Principal Consultant at Fuller Circle Consulting, where she helps organizations build optimal, inclusive workplaces. Oh, and she founded Third Space Academy — so yeah, she's been busy.

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Episode Credits

Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Risha Brown

Lyrics: Queen Lex

Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam