Joy doesn’t just come from self-care — it grows when we invest in our communities.
In this episode of Work is Third, I sit down with my friend and community-builder Gnora Mahs to talk about the surprising ways joy and connection show up in our lives. Gnora shares how baking sourdough bread for neighbors, making friends at the dog park, and even emailing city council about crosswalks can spark community and joy.
We also talk about road trips, reading weeks, and our visit to the Museum of Bad Art — all reminders of how joy, rest, and community overlap with the boundaries we set for ourselves.
This conversation echoes themes we’ve heard across other episodes: the restorative power of travel, the necessity of relationships, and the courage it takes to show up—for ourselves and for our communities.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
· Investing in community brings joy and fulfillment.
· Road trips offer unique experiences and opportunities for connection.
· Local advocacy can lead to tangible change.
· Finding joy in absurdity can enhance our experiences.
· Shared interests create lasting connections.
Keywords
travel, community, joy, relationships, advocacy, workculture, self-care, road trips, local engagement, personal growth, embracing opportunity, adventure
📂 Section Markers
01:09 Section 1: Road Trips, Reading Weeks, and Resetting
28:32 Section 2: Ways We Build Community
📌Episode Chapters/Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
02:13 The Importance of Travel and Resetting
04:45 Road Trip Adventures and Reflections
07:45 Work-Life Balance and Taking Time Off
10:39 Innovative Work Practices: Summer Fridays and Reading Weeks
13:21 Building Community Through Shared Interests
15:55 Navigating Political Differences in Community
17:52 The Role of Food in Building Connections
20:43 The Things that Connect Us
29:40 The Magical Bread Fairy
30:48 Building Community Through Local Action
34:49 Advocating for Change in Our Neighborhoods
38:31 Investing in Community Relationships
41:43 Finding Joy in Community Engagement
44:58 The Importance of Shared Experiences
49:15 Closing Reflections on Community and Friendship
💬 Quotes to hold on to:
· “Joy comes from investing in my community—even when it feels like hard work.” –Gnora Mahs
· “One of the ways we can best advocate for ourselves is by finding connections with others.” – Dawn Hunter
· “It’d be easier to scroll on TikTok all night, but I put my phone away, say hello, and learn people’s names. That’s how community starts.” – Gnora Mahs
· “Sometimes the most radical thing we can do is care about our neighbors and show up for small changes.” – Dawn Hunter
· “Say yes to more weird sh*t—that’s how friendship and joy happen.” – Gnora Mahs
Let’s Stay Connected
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