The Commudemy Podcast

Belonging Beyond Borders: Pixie Cigar on Building Community Through Curiosity and Human Connection

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Pixie Cigar, community builder, systems thinker, and ecosystem designer, for a thoughtful conversation about belonging, curiosity, and what it takes to build communities that create meaningful impact. Pixie shares how growing up across multiple countries as a “third culture kid” shaped her perspective on human connection, adaptability, and community building. From global educator networks to e-commerce ecosystems, her work focuses on designing systems that help people genuinely connect, collaborate, and grow. At its core, this conversation is about building communities that don’t just generate activity — but create real value for the people inside them. We explore: 🌍 How navigating different cultures shaped Pixie’s approach to community and belonging🤝 Why authentic human connection starts with curiosity and empathy⚙️ The systems behind successful communities and why community can’t operate in isolation from the business📊 Why engagement metrics alone can be misleading when measuring community health🧠 The misconception that “more content” automatically creates stronger communities🤖 How AI can help scale community operations while making human skills even more important Follow and explore more of Pixie’s work: 📲 LinkedIn: Pixie Cigar [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pixie-cigar/] If there’s one takeaway from this conversation, it’s this: the strongest communities are built through intentional human connection, not just participation. 🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.

From Order Taker to Problem Solver: Dr. Keith Keating on Redefining Learning at Work

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning & Development Officer at BDO Canada and author of The Trusted Learning Advisor, for a powerful conversation about learning, resilience, and what it really takes to thrive in a world of constant change. Keith shares his deeply personal journey, from dropping out of high school and struggling to find his place, to discovering the power of learning and ultimately building a career dedicated to helping others unlock their potential. We unpack what it means to “learn how to learn,” and why that skill is no longer optional, but essential for survival in today’s rapidly evolving world. At its core, this conversation is about redefining the role of learning, not as something we consume, but as something we own, apply, and use to create real impact. We explore: 🧠 Why learning is no longer a skill - but a survival mechanism in a world of constant change  📉 How traditional approaches to training fall short, and what it means to move beyond “checking the box”  🤝 What it takes to build a true learning culture - from psychological safety to individual ownership  🔄 How organizations can embed learning into the flow of work to drive real performance and collaboration  🚀 Why the future of L&D isn’t about delivering content, but solving problems and driving business outcomes  🤖 How AI is transforming the way we learn - and why it’s forcing the industry to evolve faster than ever Follow and explore more of Keith’s work: 📲 LinkedIn: Keith Keating [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-keith-keating-1976963a/]🌐 Website: keithkeating.com [http://keithkeating.com/] If there’s one takeaway from this conversation, it’s this: learning isn’t something that happens to you - it’s something you choose, every single day. 🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.

Visualizing Latin America’s Potential: Ernesto Canales on Latinometrics and the Power of Insightful Data Storytelling

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Ernesto Canales, co-founder of Latinometrics, for a thoughtful conversation about data storytelling, curiosity, and the power of making complex ideas accessible. Ernesto shares his journey from Torreón, Mexico, to studying in the U.S., discovering economics and analysis, and eventually co-building a publication that helps readers make sense of Latin America through clear, visual, data-driven stories. We unpack how Latinometrics grew from an idea into a widely trusted platform for founders, operators, investors, and policymakers — and why its success comes from more than just charts. At its core, this conversation is about turning information into insight, and insight into something people can actually use. We explore: 📊 How Ernesto and his team turn dense data into simple, compelling stories 🧠 Why curiosity, not complexity, is the key to building a better relationship with data 🌎 What Latin America’s growth reveals about technical talent, soft skills, and opportunity 🤝 How Latinometrics is building community by making data more human, interactive, and engaging Follow and explore more of Ernesto’s work: 🌐 Latinometrics: latinometrics.com [http://latinometrics.com]📲 LinkedIn: Latinometrics [https://www.linkedin.com/company/latinometrics/] If you’ve ever felt intimidated by data, this episode is a reminder: the goal isn’t to know everything — it’s to ask better questions. 🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.

People. Purpose. Paper: Jace Wallace on Building Community Through Daily Action

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Jace Wallace, founder of Uhsteem and creator of The Daily, for a grounded conversation about self-leadership, community building, and the power of simple, action-based tools. Jace’s journey spans music, film, entrepreneurship, and community-led experiences - and it all traces back to an early creative spark: making beats as a kid, building with friends, and discovering what it means to create with people, not just for them. We unpack how a tour that didn’t go as planned became the catalyst for The Daily, including the “champagne moments” practice: celebrating real wins (big or small) as fuel to move forward, especially when life feels overwhelming. We explore:  🥂 Why celebrating yesterday’s wins can reset your mindset today  ✍️ How The Daily turns reflection, goals, and affirmations into one simple system  🤝 What it really takes to build community - safe spaces, shared ownership, and passing the mic  🌍 Jace’s North Star, People. Purpose. Paper, and his his vision to take Uhsteem global Follow and explore more of Jace’s work:  🌐 Uhsteem: uhsteem.com  📲 Socials: @uhsteem [https://www.instagram.com/uhsteem/?hl=en] 👤 Jace: @iamoliverlastname [https://www.instagram.com/iamoliverlastname/?hl=en] If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or stuck in “survival mode,” this episode is a reminder: progress doesn’t start with perfection -  it starts with intention. 🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.

Learning That’s Felt, Not Delivered: Adrian Duke on Designing Immersive, Interactive Experiences

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Adrian Duke — Co-Founder & CEO of iX Labs — to kick off Season 3 of the Commudemy Podcast with a deep dive into immersive, gamified, and experiential learning. Based in Vancouver, Adrian leads iX Labs at the intersection of storytelling, spatial design, gaming, and emerging technology. His work challenges traditional approaches to learning by designing experiences that are felt, not just delivered. Adrian shares his unconventional journey - from building extreme amusement rides and escape rooms to architecting XR-powered learning environments for global brands - and explains why interactivity, emotion, and shared experience are the real drivers of engagement and retention. We explore: *  🎮 How gamification and interaction design transform how teams learn and collaborate *  🧠 Why technology should support learning, not distract from it *  🌍 The difference between AR, VR, and XR — and how blending physical and digital worlds unlocks deeper engagement *  🤝 How experiential learning reveals leadership styles, communication gaps, and team dynamics in real time *  📊 What engagement really means — and how data, metrics, and self-reflection shape better learning outcomes *  ✨ Why storytelling and emotional connection matter as much as content Follow and explore more of Adrian’s work:  🔗 LinkedIn: Adrian Duke [https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianduke/] 🌐 iX Labs: ixlabs.ca [http://ixlabs.ca]📸Instagram: [https://www.playfulperspectives.com]https://www.instagram.com/ix_labs_studio/ [https://www.instagram.com/ix_labs_studio/]  🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.