It's time for our period-drama era
Chateaus, book recommendations, and cringe-free ice breakers
Big News: Community Council Applications Are Open!
Building community is a labor of love—rewarding, creative, purpose-driven—the kind of work that fills your cup.
But it can be lonely, too.
So often, the people creating the spaces are the very ones without a professional community of their own.
If you have been craving a space where you can connect with your gathering peers, trade hard-won lessons, and grow together.
We have something for you:
Community Council is a 4-day retreat in a chateau in Normandy (October 14–17) for seasoned community leaders, program designers, and relationship-driven founders. We’ll skip the small talk and dive into strategy jams, shared challenges, and just enough period-drama energy to make Maggie Smith proud.
👀 What makes it different? The agenda is entirely bespoke. Yes, there will be masterclasses—but we don’t lock in instructors until we know what you’re wrestling with. Everything is shaped by the people in the room, so it’s guaranteed to be relevant, real, and ridiculously useful.
👉 Apply by May 15 (or forward this to a community-minded friend who needs this space).
📚 Off the Shelf | Book Recommendations
Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
A must-read for anyone designing experiences where people feel not just seen—but celebrated. The hospitality mindset in this book is basically a masterclass in going from “nice event” to “I’ll never forget that moment.”
Pair it with your morning coffee and a pen—you’ll want to underline half of it.
💎 Internet Treasures:
- A Map-themed mixtape – CreativeQuests
What Sam’s building over at CreativeQuests is seriously inspiring. I just discovered this collaborative mixtape they put together for the latest Quest theme (kicking off with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, no less). It’s a brilliant way to blend music, meaning, and community. - “How to Be a Joiner” – Anne Helen Petersen
A thoughtful reminder that community isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up.
✨ Something to Try
We’ve been taking inspiration from Priya Parker and trying to use Magical Questions instead of icebreakers in our meetings. My favorite so far has been:
“What’s a secret hobby we don’t know about.”
Works beautifully at dinners, offsites, or team meetings. Creates room for stories instead of status updates. (check out more magical questions here)
👋 Come say hi!
I’ll be at CMX Summit speaking about The Power of Awe in Experience Design—how to create moments that move people from surface-level to something real.
Will you be there? Hit reply or find me after the talk—I’d love to meet some fellow community magic-makers IRL.
Until next time—keep gathering with intention.
—Christina
Founder, Community Council & BoardingPass
