Bringing people together through playful connection, plus finding your weirdos with Stefano Sacchi of Epic Llama
Belongfulness: The creative ways people are building community and re-weaving our social fabric
English - November 22, 2023 15:44 - 54 minutes - 101 MBSociety & Culture Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Stefano Sacchi, founder of Epic Llama, designs playful experiences to inspire human connections. Stefano has dedicated his work to creating inclusive spaces that break down barriers and allow people to authentically interact.
I was struck by his belief in the duty creatives have to put themselves out there, shine their unique light, and inspire others. Stefano embodies the spirit of building community by bringing people together for meaningful shared experiences.
Catch the interview by searching Belongfulness on YouTube or your favorite podcasting platform.
--
ESTABLISHING THE BREAKING BERLIN MEETUP
Upon his arrival in Berlin, Stefano took the initiative to form Breaking Berlin. His goal was to gather individuals who embraced their uniqueness and thrived on creativity. Through a series of social experiments and enjoyable events scattered across the city, Stefano aimed to draw in like-minded souls he was eager to engage with.
"It was my need really to, my desire to just find... the weirdos that I belong to."
Stefano saw Breaking Berlin as a funnel for friendships. He started with small experiments like laughing chains on the subway, and it grew into a consistent Meetup with waiting lists.
--
IMPORTANCE OF FACILITATION AND HOSTING
Stefano believes high-quality facilitation and hosting transforms mediocre events into wonderful ones. He loves when gatherings have a dedicated host who welcomes guests, explains the schedule, and facilitates activities and connections.
"All those things are beautiful little facilitation tricks, hosting tricks that can really, really make any gathering, any gathering from mediocre to wonderful, from boring to brilliant."
"If you put effort into hosting and organizing and designing in the space, you should absolutely be paid for your efforts."
Stefano says hosts who put time into thoughtful organizing and design deserve to be paid. He aims to facilitate events slowly, opening people up level-by-level like they're his best friends. This warm, welcoming energy makes his events feel friendly rather than formal.
--
Full recap and video on our site: