Community Case Studies

Podcasters

"What do you do when you’re not inheriting a community—but building one from scratch inside an existing organization? In this episode of Community Case Studies, host Seth Resler sits down with Elsie Escobar—a longtime leader in podcasting and the Creator Success & Community Manager at Captivate—to explore what it actually looks like to build a community from the ground up. Unlike past guests who share established playbooks, Elsie is in the middle of the process right now. She walks through how she’s auditing what already exists, listening before building, and using small, intentional events to uncover what members actually need. The “members” here are independent podcasters—creators trying to grow sustainable shows—while the mission is to support them not just with tools, but with connection, feedback, and a sense of belonging. Along the way, Elsie breaks down the difference between audience and community (and why it matters), the role of co-creation, and how communities evolve as they scale—from intimate groups where everyone knows each other to larger ecosystems that require new structures. She also shares practical advice for anyone tasked with building a community inside an organization: start with clarity (acquisition vs. retention), establish your baseline metrics, and resist the urge to jump straight to platforms. This is a real-time case study in community-building principles in action—messy, thoughtful, and grounded in lived experience. "

Small Business Owners

What if the real value of a membership isn’t the content — but the connection? In this episode of Community Case Studies, host Seth Resler talks with Emily and Alan Braithwaite, founders of Yellow Tuxedo and creators of the Digital Circus community. After pivoting from an outdoor events business during COVID, they began helping small business owners improve their online visibility. What started as Zoom trainings quickly evolved into a community-first space focused on support, safety, and human connection. They share: Why they keep the membership intentionally small How low-ticket access builds trust and fuels higher-ticket services The shift from content-heavy sessions to co-working and conversation Lessons learned from early mistakes — including offering too much Why community must be co-created, not controlled You’ll also hear stories of real-world connections sparked inside the community — from collaborations to friendships that began on roller coasters. At its heart, the Digital Circus exists to help entrepreneurs stop feeling alone and start moving forward — together. YELLOW TUXEDO: https://www.yellowtuxedo.co.uk/

Everyday Creatives

What if creativity isn’t a “nice-to-have,” but a missing piece of wellness—and community is how you unlock it? In this episode of Community Case Studies: How Belonging Is Really Built, host Seth Resler talks with Meagan Mahaffy, founder of Art Gurl, a Brooklyn-based creative community helping people reconnect with their creativity—and with each other—offline. After a decade working at institutions like the Smithsonian and MoMA, Meagan burned out. What pulled her back wasn’t another productivity hack or wellness trend—it was simply making art for the sake of self-expression. When she couldn’t find a space where others could do the same, she created one. What started as a few workshops in the back of a restaurant quickly became a thriving, in-person community where friendships form, phones stay away, and creativity becomes a shared language. In this conversation, Meagan breaks down how Art Gurl actually works as a community—not just an audience: Why “art is wellness” is the mission that attracts the right people How low-stakes creativity acts as an ember that sparks connection and belonging Why in-person spaces create deeper trust than social media ever can How Art Gurl’s multi-stream revenue model supports the community without exploiting it What repeat attendance and member-driven evolution reveal about real engagement This episode is a powerful reminder that community isn’t built by content alone. It’s built by creating a space where people feel safe to show up, express themselves, and be seen—together. ART GURL: https://www.artgurl.org/

Museum Professionals (Museum Computer Network)

What if the reason your conference feels forgettable isn’t the quality of the speakers—but the lack of real connection between the people in the room? In this episode of Community Case Studies, host Seth Resler talks with Max Evjen, a museum technologist and longtime board member of the Museum Computer Network (MCN), about how one of the oldest professional communities in the museum world has quietly been getting community right for decades. MCN is a nonprofit professional community for museum workers who use technology across education, interpretation, marketing, fundraising, and collections. Its mission hasn’t changed much since the 1960s: help museum professionals grow their digital capacity by connecting them to ideas, proven practices, and—most importantly—to each other. In this conversation, Max breaks down how that mission actually shows up on the ground. You’ll hear how MCN: Prioritizes connection over content, designing conferences where relationships matter more than slide decks Clearly separates its shared mission from its business purpose, and why that clarity matters Creates embers like “I found my people,” psychological safety, and a genuine desire to contribute Uses mentorship, onboarding, and feedback loops to help members move from newcomers to leaders Engineers the conditions for serendipity—moments where unexpected collaborations lead to real-world impact You’ll also hear why MCN members repeatedly step up—volunteering time, sharing expertise, and even financially supporting the organization—not because they’re asked to, but because they believe in what the community stands for. If you’re running conferences that people attend once and never return to—or building a community that looks healthy on paper but struggles to create real relationships—this episode offers a clear model for what to do differently. Listen for how MCN designs its spaces, rituals, and feedback loops—and consider which of those ideas you could borrow for your own community.

Podcast Editors (The Podcast Editors Club)

What happens when a niche inside a niche becomes a thriving global community? When podcast editor Steve Stewart couldn’t find a place to talk shop about post-production, he built one himself—the Podcast Editors Club, which has since grown into the largest and most diverse community of podcast editors in the world. What started as a simple Facebook group for sharing tips has evolved into a thriving professional network, a business resource, and even a springboard for collaborations like the Podcast Editors Mastermind show and the Podcast Editor Academy. In this episode of Community Case Studies, host Seth Resler talks with Steve about: * How the Club carved out its niche within the larger podcasting world * The rules and rituals that keep the space focused and supportive * The difference between “lurkers” and active contributors—and why both matter * How real-world meetups and online engagement feed each other * The moments of serendipity that turn online conversations into professional partnerships Steve’s story shows how powerful community building can be when it starts with one simple goal: find your people.