podcast

Many military families don’t live near a large installation. Jennifer Holliday, Alabama’s first Military Family Liaison shares what it takes to coordinate support for geographically dispersed families and what any service provider can do to build that connective tissue in their own community.

What does it actually take to build a community where people feel cared for — and where that care turns into action? In this episode, we talk with Julika von Stackelberg of Cornell Cooperative Extension about her Community Resilience Builder Program and what years of bringing people together has taught her about connection, shared responsibility, and sustaining community across transitions — including for military-connected families.

In this replay episode from 2024, Jessica and Bob share a practice to help us engage people in the meaningful conversations we need to have, in order to plan and do our work together.

In this replay episode from 2024, Jessica and Bob talked about the “chaordic stepping stones,” a helpful tool for going below the surface with a group, and share four questions that can help groups work toward a clear statement of purpose together.

How does a small North Carolina city become a national example of collaboration between military and community? Mayor Will Lewis says it starts with relationships – and a willingness to show up for one another. In this replay episode from early 2026, Jessica talks with Havelock, North Carolina Mayor Will Lewis about what it looks like when a city and an installation grow together.

What is the value of using a systems lens in community work? In today’s archive episode, we are hearing from Bob and Jessica about solving issues in your community on a systems level, not just on a focused project level. What can you do to help you and your community start thinking about the whole system?

This episode is specifically about the Community Capitals Framework and how to get connected with the assets that already exist in your community. Collaborating with others in your community is important, but if you are finding yourself overwhelmed or with limited capacity, this framework and practice are a great way to get started. You don’t have to make everything happen yourself!

In this episode Erin and Jessica discuss why icebreakers sometimes suck the energy out of the room and share real world examples of what it is like when they actually work. Then Erin shares a practice on how to design an icebreaker that makes team building, making connections, and getting work done easier.

How do you build community connections that actually work? Have you ever gotten stuck as you try to build community partnerships? In this month’s Listener Q&A, Erin and Jessica answer questions about classic partnership problems: What do you do if you can’t find time to build connections during work time; How do you navigate miscommunication years into a partnership? If I can only do one thing, what should I focus on?

Do you see yourself as a generous collaborator? Have you ever been generous with a collaborator, only to leave disappointed? In this episode from the archives, Bob and Jessica discuss what generosity can do for you in your relationships and why it can be challenging to offer generosity to new people. Then Bob guides us through a simple reflection to dig into your motivations and align with your values.