Dear Bri: Community Strategy, Fiascos, and Drama
Episodes
28 episodes
Community Platform Showdown: Skool vs Circle vs Mighty vs Heartbeat
Community strategy is hard enough without having to pick between 50 different tools. If you’ve ever stared down the long list of platform options—Circle, Heartbeat, Mighty Networks, Skool, Kajabi, and more—and thought, "How do I even choose?", ...
How can community repair our polarized politics? With Rebecca Davis, Director & Producer of Join or Die
In this episode, we’re hearing from Walking on Eggshells. Our letter today is from a community builder who wants to know how we can bridge the political gap in our families and communities when it all feels so impossibly polarized.To bet...
Part 2: What common mistakes should I avoid when setting up my community platform? (Solo Series)
In the second episode of this two-part Solo Series, we’re hearing from Hungry for Good Advice. Our letter today deals with a community creator who's looking for some tips to set up their community platform right the first time.Over the ...
Part 1: What’s the best all-in-one platform for building a paid community? (Solo Series)
In the first episode of this two-part Solo Series, we’re hearing from Studio Dreamer. Our letter today deals with a community creator who is ready to build a proper home for their paid community but is unsure which all-in-one platform best suit...
How do I handle negative feedback in my community? With Lindsay Rothfeld, Head of Community at Kira Learning
In this episode, we’re hearing from Stuck in Community Time Out. Our letter deals with a community builder who presented some negative feedback, along with ideas for improvement in someone else's community, but was shut down by the founder....
Can my community handle anonymous posts without spiraling into chaos? With Amanda Northcutt, CEO of Level Up Creators
In this episode, we’re hearing from Anonymously Anxious About Anonymity. Our letter today deals with a community builder who has seen firsthand how opening a community to anonymous posts can go downhill fast, and wants to know if it's possible ...
How do I stop being the main source of value in my community without letting it fall apart? With Pia Silva, founder of No BS Agency Mastery
In this episode, we’re hearing from Burnt Out and Bound by Dependency. Our letter today deals with the exhausting dynamic where you're the one person everyone is dependent upon for value in the community, and how to shift away from that....
How do I stop comparing myself to others? With Charmaine Jennings, Founder & CEO of Strategic Charm
In this episode, we’re hearing from The Jealous Host. Our letter today deals with a community builder stuck in a comparison spiral, whose insecurities are taking the wheel and making them feel like they're competing with community members and o...
How do I turn my beta test into a vibrant, scalable, and sustainable community? With Jac White, Founder of Honeybees Group
In this episode, we’re hearing from Community Creator at the Crossroads. Our letter today deals with someone who's proven the concept for their community but is overwhelmed with what comes next and how to build something truly sustainable and s...
When and how should I hire someone to help me with my community? With Kristen Pavle, Relational Designer
In this episode, we’re hearing from Overwhelmed on the Delegation Struggle Bus. Our letter today deals with figuring out how to get the right type of help to make sure your community will thrive even when you're not there.To b...
How can I foster peer-to-peer connection & learning in my community without always relying on my guidance? With Diana Davis, Business Coach
This week on Dear Bri, we hear from Seeking Community Connection, and they’re in the middle of one of the most universal dilemmas in online community management: how to foster peer-to-peer connection and learning.To solve this community ...
How can I effectively couple an online community with an in-person retreat? With Eric Plantenberg, Founder of the Abundant Living Retreat
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 ...
How do you know when to keep pushing or when to let go of your community? With Salome Schillack, CEO & Founder of The Launch Lounge
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 mo...
What’s step one for someone totally new to creating their own community space? With Marjorie Anderson, Director of Community for Exos
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 Marjor...
Where is community building today and where is it headed? With Zach Hawtof, CEO at Tightknit
In this episode, we’re hearing from Curious in Colorado. Our letter today deals with knowing whether jumping onto the community train is worthwhile by understanding the future of community building.To better help Curious in Co...
How do I find the first members for my niche community? With Murtaza Bambot, Founder & CEO at Heartbeat
In this episode, we’re hearing from Sensitive in Seattle. Today’s letter deals with how to grow a community where joining that community might in and of itself be taboo.To better help Sensitive in Seattle, I’m bringing in the ...
What do I do if a community member is trauma dumping? With Mallory Contois, Head of Community at Mercury
In this episode, we hear from Negativity in New York. Today’s letter deals with the nuanced line between keeping your community positive while making space for people to be honest and real about the struggles they are experiencing.
How do I deal with potential conflict between members in my online community? with Carrie Melissa Jones, CEO of the CMJ Group
In this episode, we’re hearing from Hesitant in Honolulu. Our letter today deals with a sensitive subject between two community members and the question of whether to take a proactive approach or not to try to control the potential conflict in ...
How do I bring more diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into my community? with Community Consultant Jae Washington
In this episode, we’re hearing from Hopeful in Houston. Our letter today deals with a community builder who wishes they had better guided their community through diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).To better hel...
If I build it, how do I make sure they come to my online community? with Alli Ball, founder & CEO of Food Biz Wiz
In this episode, we’re hearing from Eager Beaver in Baltimore. Our writer today fell into the age-old myth: build it and they will come. Thankfully, they’ve since switched their mindset and realized that it takes a heck of a lot of consistent m...
How do I deal with a toxic community member? with Andrea Middleton, Community Empowerment Leader at Reddit
In this episode, we’re hearing from Toxic Member in Toronto. Our letter today deals with a toxic community member stirring up trouble to revolt against the community manager.To better help Toxic Member in Toronto<...
How do I serve my community AND still meet big business goals? with Jelani Memory, VP & Publisher at DK
In this episode, we’re hearing from Constrained in Columbus. Our letter deals with creating a vibrant and engaged community under the pressure of big business goals.To better help Constrained in Columbus, I invited Jelani Memo...
What can a community manager do when members become too critical? With Community Director Ami Defesche
In this episode, the inspiration stems from a late-night LinkedIn DM from a distressed community manager handling a tumultuous Discord community. They felt overwhelmed and discouraged by all the suggestions and criticism constantly coming from ...
Where is the best place to build my online community? With Community Strategy Consultant, Noele Flowers
In this episode, we’re hearing from Community in a Conundrum. Our letter today deals with the question of where to host a new online community. Specifically, as it relates to Facebook, Slack, and all-in-one community platforms like Heartbeat.
How do I set boundaries & avoid burnout as a community manager? With Taylor Harrington, Head of Community at Groove
Welcome to The Dear Bri Podcast, an advice column for community conundrums, fiascos, and drama. In this episode, we’re hearing from Frazzled Fairy-Marketing-Godmother. Our letter today comes from someone who clearly has a big heart for their on...
