Shows
More of ThatSophia Bentaher: Turning the 'Third Culture Kid' Experience into a SuperpowerIn this episode, we welcome Sophia Bentaher, a French-Moroccan gem of a human and 'Third Culture Kid' - growing up in a different environment then where your parents were raised (she grew up mostly in St Louis). She has turned navigating a multicultural upbringing into her superpower, leading to the creation of rich and vibrant communities around the world.Sophia explains how embracing her identity as a Third Culture Kid helped her connect with people from varied backgrounds and fostered her remarkable ability to build inclusive, welcoming spaces.The episode also takes us through Sophia's...
2024-11-131h 15
More of ThatMadeleine Ireland: Starting a swim club and moving from Australia to Los AngelesJoin us in this episode as we dive in with one of our close friends, Maddie Ireland, a community-builder, swim lover, and health coach, who founded the Venice Swim Club. Maddie shares her personal story of transitioning from a drinking culture in Sydney to embracing a healthier lifestyle in Los Angeles as well the magic she's felt while hosting a weekly swim club.Through her commitment to the Venice Swim Club, Maddie has created an inclusive and supportive environment where friendships and even romantic relationships flourish. She discusses the evolution of the club, from welcoming beginners to...
2024-10-311h 17
More of ThatCassandra Michler: purpose-driven entrepreneurship, experiential event production, and navigating burnout through spiritualityIn this episode, we sit down with Cassandra Michler, a purpose-driven entrepreneur who has founded seven businesses, starting with MoonLab Productions nearly a decade ago. Cass takes us through her impressive career trajectory, from helping her grandfather with nonprofit events in her early years to managing multimillion-dollar events for brands such as Uber, Instacart, Disney, and Fujifilm by her early twenties . We delve into the founding of MoonLab's purpose-driven culture and the transformative journey to creating a holistic business ecosystem.Cass opens up about her personal journey through burnout during the pandemic and a life-changing experience in...
2024-08-081h 02
More of ThatFinding your people: our tips and tricksIf you've just moved to a new town or are just looking to cultivate your *dream* community but aren't sure how, we've got you! More of That co-founders Meredith and Eric share their tips and easy actionable items to finding your tribe and becoming the community you're ready to attract, as well as deeper advice on cultivating meaningful friendships from the ground up!
2024-06-1940 min
More of ThatRafe Offer (Sofar Sounds): bringing intimate music experiences to a global audienceIf you live in a bigger city, chances are, there is a Sofar Sounds near you! Sofar Sounds is a pop-up music experience that brings presence and intimacy back to live music. It's now in over 300 cities globally!Today, we sit down with Rafe Offer, the founder of Sofar Sounds, to hear about how one fateful evening of wanting to hear the live music at a noisy bar was the catalyst for starting Sofar Sounds, and the learnings and magic that has ensued as it has rapidly expanded around the world to become a globally-recognized movement.
2024-05-231h 04
More of ThatSusan Mactavish Best (POSTHOC Salons): Igniting belonging through intimate eventsIn this episode, we explore the artful world of intimate gatherings and deep connections with Susan McTavish Best, the mastermind behind POSTHOC salons. With a background as a silicon-valley PR maestro and city guide writer she has woven together communities from the ground up, one meal and conversation at a time.This episode explores and celebrates the salon, an age-old tradition reimagined by Susan, where a carefully selected guest list and the warmth of homemade food set the stage for deep conversations and connection. As we wrap up, the conversation shifts to societal issues around connection, from t...
2024-03-141h 09
More of ThatKyle Kazanjian-Amory (Don't Tell Comedy): building a global network of secret pop-up comedy showsIn this episode, we talk with the founder of Don't Tell Comedy, Kyle Kazanjian-Amory, about how a desire to perform more in the stand-up circuit in LA led him to hosting backyard comedy shows with friends. This ended up scaling into what is now known as Don't Tell Comedy, a global network of secret pop-up comedy shows. Kyle gives us the low-down on how it scaled, growing pains, and values of supporting up-and-coming comedians that have become part of the fabric of Don't Tell Comedy. If you're looking for how to turn your pain point into your purpose, this e...
2024-02-211h 08
More of ThatJustine "Magic" Bean: building community from the ground upJustine, also known as the Queen of Venice Beach and a real life Mermaid, is a maritime archeologist turned community builder. She has started over half a dozen whatsapp groups with over 500 people per group and is currently putting her IRL expertise of community building to use in the digital world as head of community for two apps currently in stealth mode. We've done More of That experiences with Justine and have both deeply admired how she leads from her heart and the intentionality she puts behind fostering friendship and community at large. If you're going through a...
2024-02-011h 17More of ThatBe Your Own Catalyst: A meditation to take inspired actionAt More of That, we love the phrase "be the catalyst." It's the idea of being the agent of change rather than waiting for something to come to you and finding ways to spread that change for others who need it. We love it so much that we've hosted 2 events called just that. One of the things we mean by being the catalyst is becoming what you're ready to attract. Whether you're ready to call in new community, a new partner, a new job, or something else, listen to this to get into the energy and feeling of...
2024-01-1517 minMore of ThatBest Morning Ever: a recap and takeaways from our consistent series!This year, we hosted a consistent series, Best Morning Ever, born out of Meredith's desire to share her Monday morning routine with the community.Every week for 36 weeks, we started our Monday with the More of That community at Best Morning Ever where we'd connect, do yoga, breathwork, meditation, journaling, and have delicious matcha- all before 8:30 AM.We had over 1,000 attendees and collaborated with over a dozen brands and partners. In this episode, we talk about how Best Morning Ever was created, how it grew, our learnings from it, and mostly, the power o...
2023-12-2832 min
More of ThatOliver Evans (The KINN): Creating a hub for community and innovationOliver Evans is the founder of The KINN, a co-working space, community space, and incubation space in the heart of Venice (also where we've hosted many More of That events).Oliver talks about his early entrepreneurial pursuits - from working in nightlife and events in NY, to pivoting his purpose, getting into endurance events, and eventually ending up in LA. We discuss The KINN's mission to create an environment in Venice that transcends the profit-centric models of co-working space through intentional space design and engaging programming that can spark collaboration and fuel entrepreneurial spirits.
2023-12-201h 21
More of ThatMeditation Episode: Listen to this before your holiday socializing!With the holiday season upon us, which can be both beautiful and triggering, we wanted to provide you with tools to navigate social activities, release social anxiety, and show up as your best self. Through a guided meditation and questions for reflection, you'll feel reset, empowered, and ready to own your energy in any social interaction. We hope you enjoy!
2023-12-1219 min
More of ThatLeah Zaccaria (shefayoga): from corporate burnout to wellness leaderLeah Zaccaria is founder of shefayoga studio here in Venice (where we've hosted many More of That events!), Shefayoga studio and Hauteyoga in Seattle, and author of Seen: A memoir.Leah is an absolute force in the Venice wellness scene and shares her inspirational story of going from being a burnt out CPA to finding her true passion in yoga and wellness to how she persevered and thrived amidst the challenges in stepping into her new passion.If you're wanting to learn to trust your inner voice and take action on your dreams, this episode i...
2023-12-061h 24More of ThatHelping your different worlds collide (solo episode with Mer + Eric)In this mini solo episode, we talk about their tactics within and beyond More of That (especially recounting Meredith's recent festival wedding in the desert) to help friends and family from different worlds feel comfortable enough to expand outside of their comfort zone.Expect interesting tales and tactical takeaways of how you can host unforgettable experiences that leave all your guests feeling connected and inspired.
2023-11-2235 min
More of ThatAaron Suarez: From Remote Year to More of ThatAaron Suarez is a powerful force in More of That, helping us create magic for all of our events and vision of the movement for the last year and a half. In this episode, we sit down with Aaron and hear about his journey into community building - from organizing crazy adventures around the globe working for Remote Year to how the love of music has given him his community roots here in LA. We touch on a number of topics including social anxiety, the importance of pushing through discomfort, and the challenges of making and sustaining...
2023-10-181h 04
More of ThatBlake Rose and Brian Price (OLA Beach Tennis): Finding flow state and bringing beach tennis to the massesBlake Rose and Brian Price of OLA Beach Tennis join us in this episode to talk about building community through flow state and how they brought beach tennis from Brazil to West LA. They started their brand OLA last summer and they have already introduced thousands of people to this fast-growing beach sport via their weekly Open Play nights, tournaments, and corporate events.In addition to highlighting the powerful momentum OLA Beach Tennis has created in West LA, we also reminisce with Blake and Brian on how they were some of the first attendees of...
2023-09-271h 25
More of ThatAlper Nakri and Deniz Hotamisligil (Turkish Breakfast Club): creating connection through food experiences inspired by Turkish traditionsDuring this episode, we sit down with our good friends Alper Nakri and Deniz Hotamisligil, founders of the Turkish Breakfast Club. Turkish Breakfast Club started out as a fun gift both wanted to share on the playa at Burning Man, where they suprised many Burners with an elaborate Turkish breakfast spread at sunrise. This soon became a HUGE hit when Alper and Denis took this concept to LA, and they've now hosted many Turkish Breakfast Clubs where people can connect authentically over food and good conversation.In this episode, Deniz and Alper share the origin...
2023-09-0759 min
More of ThatMary Davis (Worthy of Love): hosting birthday parties for families experiencing homelessnessIn this episode, we are joined by the eternally inspirational Mary "Mandie" Davis who started Worthy of Love a decade ago in 2013 to provide birthday parties for children experiencing homelessness. Since then, Worthy of Love has thrown monthly birthday parties for over 10,000 children experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles and Houston, TX.Mary talks about how Worthy of Love was born, how it's grown, and how the movement has caught on and snowballed since. This is truly a tear-jerker episode and for anyone who is wondering how to create meaningful impact from the heart, this episode...
2023-08-241h 22
More of ThatZach Poll: Mental Health is HOTTIn this episode, we sit down with our friend Zach Poll, who founded Mental Health is Hott, an apparel company that sparks positive conversations around mental health and whose proceeds provide therapy for those who can't afford it. We sit down with Zach to talk about how mental health and vulnerability can bring us closer to others while also improving our relationship to ourselves. Topics Covered:What is Mental Health is HottZach’s story having a family member commit suicideBuilding community around mental healthWays to connect with people authentically around mental healthThe future hopes for Mental heal...
2023-05-171h 10
More of ThatJulia Grace: Creating belonging through dance with The Wave Silent DiscoIn this episode, we talk with a community builder who has led thousands through dance and other forms of expression to combat loneliness and foster connection, Julia Grace. Julia is founder of The Wave Silent Disco, a "movement" movement that has led thousands of people through silent disco musical journeys to connect more deeply with themselves and each other and Alma Cares, an organization that helps combat loneliness in the elderly population through music, movement, and art. Julia grew up using dance to foster her own belonging in the world and has now turned it...
2023-05-101h 21
More of ThatDoug Cartwright: Creating community in an otherwise solitary professionIn this episode, we have our good friend Doug Cartwright on the pod. Doug founded Alchemy Sales Coaching, a powerful mastermind for people in door-to-door sales to receive mentorship, community, sales techniques, and holistic mindset and wellness tips. Doug used to be the "Brad Pitt" of door-to-door sales, raking in over $1 million at his peak in the industry. While at the top of his game, he was, paradoxically, deeply lonely. This led him to found Alchemy Sales Coaching, giving the mental, financial, and social support to young sales reps at the top of their field...
2022-11-081h 06
More of ThatAshlyn Showalter: Creating a music festival with your friendsOn this pod, we have one of our besties, Ashlyn Showalter, who is a force of nature in the Venice community. Ashlyn is co-founder of Mycelium Festival, an intimate festival of 250 people where entrepreneurs and creatives connect on a deeper level, and is a business coach for women.In this episode, we cover:How Ashlyn moved to LA knowing no one and began to create her own communityHow to set healthy boundaries as you're building community to still leave time for yourselfHow Ashlyn co-created the intimate Mycelium Festival (with Eric and others!) to be a catalyst...
2022-10-201h 13
More of ThatMuita Muthee: From Kenya to California our photographer's journey of finding and building communityWe met Muita Muthee last year when he took photographs for one of our very first More of That experiences. Since then, he has become a staple in the More of That family and hasn't just given us iconic photos of our community, but has also become the heartbeat of our community.Muita is an extremely talented director, writer, and photographer and on this week's episode, he tells us about his life in Kenya, courageously following his dreams to pursue his creative passions, which led him to leaving everything in Kenya behind to come to LA. Muita...
2022-08-241h 27
More of ThatJesse Israel (The Big Quiet): From bike, burger, and medi clubs to mass meditationsIn this episode, we speak with Jesse Israel, leadership coach, speaker, and founder of The Big Quiet, a mass meditation movement that has brought thousands of people together for conscious connection in places like Madison Square Garden, Central Park, SXSW and even in stadiums with Oprah.Jesse had been cultivating community long before The Big Quiet, and he talks with us about how as a burnt-out music exec, he turned to meditation to reconnect to his life. We dive into how Jesse started-by hosting simple meditation circles around NYC and how it snowballed into a...
2022-08-031h 03
More of ThatImari Tuakli: Becoming the next version of yourselfIn this episode we are joined by coach, motivational speaker, community-builder, experience curator, and podcast host of "You're Not Going to Like This," Imari Tuakli. Imari's purpose and passion is helping everyone get out of their own way and awaken to their potential. Topics we cover:-How to start taking steps toward your best life-Imari's breaking point and how he began his self development journey-Imari's philosophy on hosting impactful experiences-The importance of self-work and how it's tied to building your tribe If you're interested to learn more about Ima...
2022-06-061h 19
More of ThatTommy Sobel (Brick): How to master digital wellnessTommy Sobel is the world’s premiere digital habits coach, having helped 1000’s of busy top-performers reclaim tens of 1000’s of hours of productive time. Using his background in neuroscience and behavior reconditioning, Tommy trains business leaders to improve their relationship with screens through coaching, proven systems and community, so they can reclaim 100+ productive hours each month, grow their business faster and enjoy more time off. His company Brick is a community for people who are dissatisfied with their relationship to screens and want to spend more time engaged with others in the real world. Brick throws highly curated phone...
2022-05-191h 07
More of ThatEvan Cudworth: Finding your party vibeOur dear friend, More of That MVP and the world's first ever party coach Evan Cudworth joins us for a discussion on how to find your vibe partying. Being someone who was in the rave scene for over a decade, Evan talks about how you can find the confidence and freedom partying in your own way- with or without alcohol. Having recovered from "burning the candle at both ends," Evan now helps others find their authentic party vibe.Topics covered:What is a party coach and a vibe curator?Going to extremes to find balanceHow to...
2022-04-241h 06
More of ThatBe the Catalyst: The More of That Magic to hosting inclusive and unforgettable experiencesConnection? Inclusivity? Intimate, unforgettable gatherings? Do you want to cultivate MORE OF THAT in your life?In this special episode, More of That founders Eric and Meredith talk about the secret sauce to hosting your own unforgettable experience. Topics covered: How More of That started with storytelling potlucksWhat is a storytelling potluck and how does it give everyone a voice?Step-By-Step processes of how you can host your own experiences that will leave people wanting MORE OF THAT. Click here to get a special PDF with the step-by-step process.
2022-04-2032 min
More of ThatWill Smith: Using academics and sport to build Africa’s future leadersMeredith met Will Smith when they both did their Masters in African Studies at Oxford University in 2014. Since then, Will has either founded or co-founded three nonprofits and one social enterprise. Will co-founded his first organization, LEAD Monrovia Football Academy, in 2015 with former Liberian national soccer team player Sekou Dgeorges Manubah. LEAD MFA is a leadership academy in Monrovia, Liberia which trains Liberia’s youth in soccer, academics, and leadership skills. After LEAD MFA’s amazing success, Will helped co-found another leadership development organization, LEAD Morocco, in 2019. Now, Will has created LEAD Edu, a global initiative that establishes, supports, and...
2022-04-1353 min
More of ThatKristen Michaela aka KittyPlays: Creating community through gaming on TwitchKristen Michaela, also known online as KittyPlays, is one of the most famous female gamers in the world and a trailblazer in the gaming industry. She's built a powerful online community of over 1 million on Twitch, half a million on YouTube, and over 300k on instagram. In this episode, we talk about how she created a career and community out of doing what she loved in gaming and how as she's evolved and had her own spiritual awakening through the years, she's taken her community with her along the way.If you'd like to see more of K...
2022-03-311h 12
More of ThatChelsea Briggs: Converse like a red carpet pro - the secret to fostering connection with anyoneChelsea Briggs is a self-made powerhouse in the hosting world and has spent the last decade interviewing some of the biggest stars in the music industry: from Shawn Mendes to Ed Sheeran to Fifth Harmony... you name it. As a Billboard Reporter and on-camera talent for Live x Live, Chelsea has earned a reputation of authenticity on -and off-the red carpet and in this episode, she shares with us the secrets to fostering genuine connections with others.For more on Chelsea, you can check her out at @chelsea_briggs on instagram
2022-02-261h 05
More of ThatTracy Komlos: Building community for entrepreneursWithin months of moving to LA from NY last year, Tracy Komlos had already become a super-connector and force for community in town. In this episode, we talk with Tracy about how she started her journey as a community-builder, her multiple projects, and what it takes to cultivate community in your own life. Tracy first made a career out of community-building by founding Pangea, the #1 leading retreat company for female entrepreneurs. Since then, Tracy has co-founded LA Hike Club, a group that meets weekly on Wednesdays to hike in LA. It snowballed from her and her roommate last year...
2022-02-2659 min
More of ThatBoye Fajinmi of TheFutureParty: culture, business, and celebrating your Future NowOn today's episode we are joined by TheFutureParty's founder Boye Fajinmi. TheFutureParty is a digital media and IRL company that was originally started a decade ago to celebrate and connect young professionals in entertainment through parties, panels, and dinners. It has since grown into a 100,000 person strong newsletter that is at the pulse of culture and business and has continued to create epic experiences and helps brands create community. Originally born in Nigeria, Boye grew up in Minnesota and moved to LA for college and work after, where he resides today. Boye started his career at WME a...
2022-02-1052 min
More of ThatAngel DeSantis: When communities turn into cultsYou are NOT going to want to miss this episode with Angel DeSantis, an esteemed mindset and wellness practitioner, who was born into the Children of God Cult, now called The Family International, a cult with 14,000 members and communes in 180 countries that gained notoriety for its treatment of children. Angel talks to us about what it was like growing up in the cult and how it colored her belief system, how she eventually left the cult at age 23, and how she’s since rebuilt her belief system and mindset from the ground up after starting from scratch in the wo...
2022-01-281h 35
More of ThatBrigitte London and Jenny Kozena: Sisters creating international community with IntroOnlyWhat do you do when you move to a new place and are looking for YOUR people? Brigitte London and Jenny Kozena are the masterminds behind IntroOnly, a digital platform with curated IRL events. The Czech sisters combined Brigitte's engineering background from Uber with Jenny's background as an interior designer to create this curated community hub 2 years ago as a way to solve the problem new people in new cities looking to connect with others who are far away from home. This was especially pertinent for this sisters who have moved dozens of times all over the world, having...
2022-01-2050 min
More of ThatSam Whitmore: Crypto + community. What is the connection?The crypto world has become a hub for people wanting to connect and spread the ideas of decentralized finance. Sam Whitmore demystifies DAOs (decentralized autonomous networks) run on crypto and how they are harnessing the power of community online and in real life. Sam Whitmore was the Head of Engineering for Kensho, a fintech company which was acquired for $550 million in 2018, and now is involved in the crypto space as a founding member of the DAO Blank.Foundation and as a consulting smart contract engineer.
2022-01-1351 min
More of ThatHow to cultivate more of what you love in 2022New Year's resolutions can be short lived if we don't take time to define the clear why or feeling behind certain goals. If you're looking to expand into your best self yet, join us for a short and powerful episode where Meredith and Eric give their formula for setting intentions, doing a life audit to clear out the things that are keeping your life cluttered, and then connect to how you want to FEEL in the new year and which things help you cultivate MORE OF THAT. At the end of the episode, Meredith leads...
2022-01-0232 min
More of ThatJulia Ama: Bridging the intersection of global movements on and offline with GRLSWRL and TinderIn this very special More of That episode, we are joined by Julia Ama, Meredith's former roommate and the reason Eric and Meredith met in the first place (!)Not only is Julia a super-connector, but she is also a community building powerhouse. Julia is co-founder of GRLSWRL, a female founded skateboarding collective that started as nine women getting together to skateboard in Venice and has since grown to a global movement with womxn all over the world. As if that isn't cool enough, Julia is also a Senior Product Manager at Tinder and helped launch "Explore" which helps people...
2021-12-1555 min
More of ThatGreg Drach: Using a personal running journey to start Midnight Runners, a global running communityRunning is undoubtedly a deeply personal journey. But when you combine personal will with the power of community, you are bound to surprise yourself on what you can achieve. Greg Drach must've known this deep down in 2015 when he was looking to start an accountability running group in London as he trained for his next marathon. Flash forward 6 years, Midnight Runners is now a global movement in many cities around the world that has helped thousands of people lace up their shoes and hit the streets. We talk with Greg about how his personal pain point turned...
2021-12-0853 min
More of ThatHeidi Uzelac: Building communities of confident and connected womenIn this episode we are joined by an absolute POWERHOUSE of a woman, Heidi Uzelac. Heidi is the founder of PowerFemme Fitness, an online community that helps women transform their health from the inside out. She has changed the lives of hundreds of women around the country. And if that isn't enough, Heidi is also the founder of PowerFemme Productions, a production company that champions the stories of powerful women. Heidi shares with us how she alchemized her own adolescent struggles with body image, a divided home, and instability to cultivate an unshakable internal sense of belonging that she...
2021-12-011h 03
More of ThatSky Cowans: Documenting and creating community with curiositySky Cowans of the one and only YouTube Channel Sky Life is a video beast and a spiritual crusader. Sky enters into very unique communities such as Breatharians, Satanists, and modern day Witches, exploring different spiritual and biohacking techniques to expose her viewers to new perspectives, mindset tools, and ways of life. Sky discusses the skill and importance of entering into new communities with curiosity instead of judgement and how to cultivate an online sense of belonging and community for the people who engage with the content she puts out. Sky has over 200k subscribers and 160 videos on...
2021-11-2349 min
More of ThatEddy Roche: Building an outdoor fitness movement with DMN8Eddy Roche is an entrepreneurial force of nature. Coming from Australia to the US in his 20s, Eddy weathered many failed startups until he started to follow his passion of helping people feel their best through fitness. His outgoing personality and love for getting people moving led him to form DMN8, LA's first outdoor fitness movement and community. DMN8 has already served thousands of people in LA, and it has an extremely unique way of making everyone who steps foot in this outdoor gym feel like instant family. In this episode, Eddy shares how his winding entrepreneurial j...
2021-11-171h 05More of ThatThe origin story of More of That with founders Meredith and EricWelcome to our first ever More of That episode. On this episode, we talk about the More of That origin story, how we both came to find each other through a serendipitous sublet involving Ironmans, how community and belonging played vital roles in each of our lives, and how the pandemic super-charged our desires to bring authentic connection and play to the world. If you want to know how we started More of That and how all the dots connect in retrospect to form the perfect movement, stay tuned for this episode! More of That was founded b...
2021-11-1150 min
Wise MillennialUnique Experiences, "More Of That" │ Eric Dybvig & Meredith Baker, Co-FoundersJOIN US IRL: www.instagram.com/wisemillennial Eric Dybvig & Meredith Baker, Co-Founders of "More Of That", unique and "bar-alternative" experiences to foster deeper meaningful connection, sits down IRL to discuss their origin story, their experiences living across the world and the psychology of tribalism, loneliness & social anxiety, how to prevent people from being "cliquey"?, alcohol and why many Millennials rely on substance-use for social connection, insights into their ideation process, differences between being single vs. in a relationship, and the what the future holds for More Of That....LEARN ABOUT MORE OF THAT: ...
2021-10-1131 min