Episode
If It Floats, It's Invited: Erik Hillesheim, Seattle Paddle Rave
- Podcast
- How We Connected
- Published
- Jun 30, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2774
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://www.chamberofconnection.org/
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/how-we-connected-7614718/episodes/if-it-floats-it-s-invited-erik-hillesheim-seattle-paddle-rave/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/how-we-connected-7614718/if-it-floats-it-s-invited-erik-hillesheim-seattle-paddle-rave.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
On this week's How We Connected, Aaron checks in from Memphis, where the Peabody has a duck parade and the tailor who once dressed Elvis, then heads to Nashville to meet leaders hoping to open a Chamber of Connection. Charlotte is off to see her grandma and family in Minnesota for the Fourth of July. This week's guest, Erik Hillesheim, moved to Seattle from Minnesota knowing just one person and figured the fastest way to find his people was to build something. It started with Seattle Swim Club, a Friday cold plunge that grew to hundreds on TikTok. Paddle Rave followed last Fourth of July, when a group text for 20 people turned into 100, then 500, then 1,000 paddleboarders around a DJ on Lake Union. Erik lays out the part nobody sees: six city offices, 15 partners, neighborhood associations, insurance, and federal permits filed 135 days ahead with the Coast Guard so others can be spontaneous. He believes water is a conductor of connection, and Paddle Rave stays free, a triangle of music, nature, and each other. This year it becomes Lake Union Concerts, adding Dock Rock, a rock series for a wider crowd. As Erik says, "If it floats, it's invited." --- How We Connected explores the conversations that power communities across the United States. Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and speak with leaders whose work strengthens local connection. Episodes offer human stories, practical insights, and ideas you can use in your own community. Aaron Hurst , Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, is a longtime entrepreneur focused on purpose and community. He founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation and wrote The Purpose Economy . Charlotte Massey , Co-Founder of the US Chamber of Connection, leads community programs…