The Awkward Handshake
The Awkward Handshake is a podcast about networking, business, and what really happens in the room.
Hosted by two friends in business who’ve doubled down on the local scene, this show pulls back the curtain on the good, the bad, and the deeply awkward realities of networking. From event logistics and social dynamics to follow-ups, coffee chats, and conversions, we’re talking about how relationships turn into revenue in the real world — not the internet fantasy version.
We record from Sasquatch Media Grounds in Vancouver, Washington, and most episodes draw directly from our experiences attending multiple networking events a week across the Portland–Vancouver metro. Sometimes we’re joined by guests who host or design their own events. Sometimes it’s just us, downloading what worked, what didn’t, and what we wish someone had told us sooner.
Your hosts are Megan Eckman, co-founder of Fat Cap Design and author of PDX Spellbound, and Mary Williams, founder of Sasquatch Media Grounds and Sensible Woo.
This show is for people who take their business seriously, care about doing work that sustains them, and want to stop guessing where clients come from. Expect candid stories, sharp insights, and practical perspective on building a business through real human connection.
Business is people. Don’t be passive.
The Awkward Handshake
Latest Episodes
Come for the Romance, Stay for the Community with Grand Gesture Books
What if one of the best “networking spaces” in your city… is a romance bookstore?In this episode of The Awkward Handshake, we sit down with Katherine D. Morgan, the owner of Grand Gesture Books, a romance-focused ind...
How Kaitlin Carpenter Built Creative Mornings Portland
What does it take to build a creative community that people actually want to keep coming back to?In this episode of The Awkward Handshake, we sit down with Kaitlin Carpenter, the organizer behind Creative Mornings Portla...
Is This a Business Problem… or a Therapy Problem?
What if the thing blocking your business… isn’t actually your business?In this episode of The Awkward Handshake, we sit down with Micah Freeman, a licensed therapist, to talk about the overlap between mental health, nervous...
Networking in the Wild: BookCon NYC
What happens when you take your networking skills out of your home city… and drop them into a massive conference?In this episode of The Awkward Handshake, it’s just Mary and Megan (recording after returning from BookCon NYC) shari...
Unlock Collective Built Portland’s Most Trusted Queer Network
What does it actually take to build a community where people feel safe enough to show up as themselves?In this episode of The Awkward Handshake, we sit down with Polly Bilchuk and Oliver Dinero, the founders of Un...