In this episode, we’re hearing from Ready to Retreat. Their letter explores how to deepen connection in a thriving online community through an in-person retreat.

To better support them, I invited Eric Plantenberg as my guest expert. He’s a client, friend, and mentor—and the founder of the deeply transformative Abundant Living Retreat. I’ve been to many retreats, but none like his. Tune in to hear how Eric creates powerful containers for in-person retreats, what it takes to be a great facilitator, and a fresh, liberating way to approach goals and meaningful connection.

In this episode:

(04:36) The communitea: Ready to Retreat’s letter

(07:43) It's critical to have both an online and an offline experience

(10:02) What makes a great facilitator of in-person experiences

(12:10) The seemingly contradictory way to having the best experience

(16:11) How to effectively draw people into a retreat

(18:06) The gap between aspirational and actual values

(20:45) Matching retreat leadership to real-life leadership

(23:54) Eric's journey of founding Abundant Living and Humm Kombucha

(28:37) The commitments behind such a transformative container

(32:36) Holding the tension is critical for a valuable community

(34:15) It's your job to provide value, not make people comfortable or not

(39:24) It's better to have fewer but truly engaged members

(42:39) Goal setting, releasing the outcome, and becoming who you want to be

Resources Mentioned:

👥 Join Izozi Membership.

🌄 Get Your Ticket to Abundant Living (and join Bri there!)

📕 Check out the Way of the Peaceful Warrior.

📺 Watch Eric's TEDxTalk, The Anatomy of Results.

❤️ Sign up for Heartbeat. Bri’s recommended community platform.

💛 Join Ember. Community creators building community-powered businesses.

🔥 Ready to hear the stories we almost kept to ourselves? Here's this week's secret episode with Eric!

Eric Plantenberg

🖥️ Website

📱 LinkedIn

Bri Leever

🖥️ Website

📹 Youtube

📱LinkedIn

Want your story to be next? Submit an anonymous letter about your community conundrum, fiasco, drama, or other dilemma here.

*Dear Bri is produced by Ideablossoms.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, we’re hearing from Wavering But Hopeful. Our letter today deals with the very tough reality of deciding whether to continue putting in the effort to keep your community going or to close the doors when it feels like there’re more times when it isn’t working.

To better help Wavering But Hopeful, I invited Salome Schillack as my guest expert. She has been through over a decade of owning her craft and her expertise, and five years of running her own community membership, which she tastefully sunset after realizing it was no longer in alignment. Having been in Wavering’s shoes, her insights deeply resonate.

So, even if you’re not thinking of whether or not it’s time to shut down your community, make sure to tune in to this episode because you’ll discover what to anticipate, what to think about, and the questions you need to ask now in order to build a community for longevity and to decide if stopping or pivoting is the way to go.

In this episode:

(00:00) The tale of how Bri and Salome first met

(00:00) The communitea: Wavering But Hopeful’s letter

(00:00) Salome’s own experience of building a membership and making the decision to close it

(00:00) What ultimately wasn’t working in Salome’s membership

(00:00) How Salome’s community journey translates into Bri’s matrix of communities

(00:00) Approaching the decision to close the doors or pivot as a marketer

(00:00) How to turn your community around if shutting it down is not the way to go

(00:00) Bri’s own experience of getting it wrong, pivoting, and relaunching her community

(00:00) What to ask yourself and keep in mind for a community that lasts and lights you up

(00:00) If you’re also wavering, know you’re not alone

🤫 A boundary that felt impossible (but built more trust). Here's the bonus conversation with Salome!

Resources Mentioned:

🧑‍🏫 Check out the 4 Types of Communities Masterclass.

🎙️ Tune into Salome’s podcast, The Launch Lounge Podcast.

❤️ Sign up for Heartbeat. Bri’s recommended all-in-one community platform.

Salome Schillack

🖥️ Website

📱 LinkedIn

Bri Leever

🖥️ Website

📹 Youtube

📱LinkedIn

Want your story to be next? Submit an anonymous letter about your community conundrum, fiasco, drama, or other dilemma here.

*Dear Bri is produced by Ideablossoms.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, we’re hearing from Community Newbie. Our letter today deals with how overwhelming it can be to enter the world of community-building without really knowing where to begin.

To better help Community Newbie, I invited Marjorie Anderson as my guest expert. She is the Director of Community for Exos and the Principal Strategist at Community by Association L.L.C. Marjorie is a bright light in the community spaces, has been professionally building community for 11+ years, and has helped many people get started with community.

So, tune in for some incredible plant analogies that will make you look at both problems and community in a whole new way, the tools you need to lay a strong foundation for your new community, and tips on what you can do to have the best community for both you and your members.

In this episode:

(03:16) The communitea: Community Newbie’s letter

(04:21) Stop feeling stuck with Marjorie’s beautiful oak tree analogy

(07:24) Who should be looking to build community, and who shouldn’t

(10:24) Beware of sabotaging your own community

(11:36) Let’s make one thing clear: Community DOES really work

(16:02) 3 foundational questions and a boundary to get you started with building community

(24:35) The importance of interviewing 10 of your ideal members and what to ask them

(27:27) Build the unique community you and your members want and have a manager

(33:24) Listen to your community members with  equal parts authority and empathy

Resources Mentioned:

📗 Learn more about The Mom Test.

❤️ Sign up for Heartbeat. Bri’s recommended all-in-one community platform.

💛 Join Ember. The place for go-getter community creators building community-powered businesses.

🔥 Ready to hear the stories we almost kept to ourselves? Here's this week's secret episode with Marjorie!

Marjorie Anderson

🖥️ Website

📱 LinkedIn

🎙️ Podcast

Bri Leever

🖥️ Website

📩 Newsletter

📹 Youtube

📱LinkedIn

Want your story to be next? Submit an anonymous letter about your community conundrum, fiasco, drama, or other dilemma here.

*Dear Bri is produced by Ideablossoms.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.