I was so excited to introduce these two, here's why: Matthew Stafford thinks of himself an introvert, and yet he’s been hosting 10 person startup founder dinners, once a month, for 13+ years(!). Matt Ackermann is a self-described extrovert, gracing conference stages and making content for decades, with a community service attitude like few others I know (ex. coaching, PorchFest, etc.!). Plus, they’re both music nerds. AND, they’d never met. Until now. We delved into several fascinating topics, including: The power of helping others without expecting anything in return The importance of collecting, curating, and connecting people and ideas How to build and maintain valuable networks The art of being a good conversationalist in networking settings Embracing failure as a stepping stone to success The value of trusting your gut instincts in business and life Matthew Stafford shared insights from his "Nine Others" initiative, which brings together entrepreneurs to share challenges and support one another. Matt Ackerman discussed his experiences in the financial advisory world and his community-building efforts through events like PorchFest. We also had some fun discussing our desert island music picks and reminiscing about our first websites. The conversation highlighted the importance of curiosity, compounding goodwill, and being a champion for your ideas and community. Overall, this episode was a fantastic exploration of how to build meaningful connections, foster creativity, and make a positive impact in both business and personal life. I'm grateful to have had these two insightful guests on the show, and I hope our viewers found the conversation as enriching as I did.