{"podcast":{"title":"How We Connected","slug":"how-we-connected-7614718","podcast_index_feed_id":7614718,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/69321d954a0500b7572aafcf","website_url":"https://www.chamberofconnection.org/","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/69321d954a0500b7572aafcf/1765223877031-7f8d5e36-499f-4fe1-89c1-88a9d5684aa6.jpeg","author":"US Chamber of Connection","episode_count":34,"summary":"How We Connected brings listeners inside the conversations that power communities right across the United States. Every week, hosts Aaron Hurst and Charlotte Massey share what they’re building at the US Chamber of Connection and the moments of connection showing up in their own lives. They talk with a community leaders from around the country about the relationships, collaboration, and human stories behind meaningful change. Join us every week for a reflections and practical advice on the ideas you can carry forward into your own communities. Aaron Hurst Aaron Hurst is the Co-Founder and CEO of the US Chamber of Connection and a long-time leader in the movement to strengthen community through work. A serial entrepreneur and social innovator, he previously founded Imperative and the Taproot Foundation, two organizations that reshaped how companies think about purpose, service, and meaningful work. His book The Purpose Economy helped define a new era in which connection, meaning, and relationships stand at the center of business value. At the Chamber, Aaron focuses on reconnecting America by mobilizing community builders in every town and city. Known for turning big ideas into pract…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-22T08:18:34.739111+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/how-we-connected-7614718"},"episode":{"title":"No Philosophers Required: Ren Yu, Co-Founder, New York Philosophy Club","slug":"no-philosophers-required-ren-yu-co-founder-new-york-philosophy-club","published_at":"2026-02-24T14:19:29+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/how-we-connected-7614718/no-philosophers-required-ren-yu-co-founder-new-york-philosophy-club","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/how-we-connected-7614718","url":"https://www.chamberofconnection.org/","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/69321d954a0500b7572aafcf/e/699d3bbd3a5156c5d2dcd6f2/media.mp3","summary":"In this episode of How We Connected from the US Chamber of Connection, hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst catch up on their weekends - Charlotte's elaborate reality-TV-themed 30th birthday party planning and Aaron's dinner debate about whether vampires are cannibals. Aaron shares updates on the upcoming Connected Cities Summit in Seattle, including plans for a \"Declaration of Interdependence.” They welcome guest Ren Yu, co-founder of the New York Philosophy Club, who shares how he went from being an only child to building a community of over 6,000 members in New York City. Ren describes how the club works: attendees receive a sheet of questions exploring a single word - topics like suffering, longing, or death - and discuss in small groups of four or five, rotating through three 30-minute sections before heading to a jazz bar or park for informal after-party. He talks about keeping moderation light, costs low, and the format intentionally accessible - no philosophy degree required. Ren shares the club's vision for expanding to other cities, piloting in high schools, and potentially adapting the model for other settings, while preserving the quality and magic of the experience. 00:00 Introduction 02:29 Birthday Plans and Sexy Vampires 12:51 Connected Cities Summit 18:36 Interview: Ren Yu of NY Philosophy Club 24:30 What is Philosophy Club? 31:40 Growing to 6,000+ Members 33:40 Future Expansion 41:49 Reflection --- 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 ,…","meta_description":"In this episode of How We Connected from the US Chamber of Connection, hosts Charlotte Massey and Aaron Hurst catch up on their weekends - Charlotte's ela…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2954,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/how-we-connected-7614718/episodes/no-philosophers-required-ren-yu-co-founder-new-york-philosophy-club/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/how-we-connected-7614718/no-philosophers-required-ren-yu-co-founder-new-york-philosophy-club.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}