
The Community Experience
What makes a community flourish? How do we build vibrant, supportive online communities? Can brands and organizations facilitate authentic connection through community?If you’ve ever found yourself asking these questions, you’re in the right place. The Community Experience was designed to explore all things community and to help community facilitators design online communities that thrive, whether yours is a niche community based on fandom, or tied to a personal brand or business. Each week, join host Jillian Benbow to learn practical strategies and insights from people on the cutting edge of community building, as well as a peek behind the curtain into the inner workings of our own branded online community, SPI Pro.We believe that community-driven content and commerce is changing the landscape of work and life. Through unbridled curiosity, we believe we can help the world increase the impact potential of online communities. Join us for the ride and embrace the experience! New episodes drop every Tuesday, wherever you listen to podcasts.
Latest episodes

Dec 13, 2022 • 50min
Community-Powered Courses (CPCs) with Jordan Godbey
#068 Here at SPI, we're going all in on community as a business model. Now, we're taking our commitment to a new level! Our brand new All-Access Pass, a community-powered education experience, is the ultimate way to learn from every single one of our courses at your own pace while connecting with fellow entrepreneurs on the same path. All for an insane bargain! But what exactly are community-powered courses, and how do they work? In this episode, Jordan Godbey of GrowthCommunity.co gives us the low-down on leveraging connection for better student outcomes. Jordan is a Circle Expert and a digital membership wiz. He helps his clients create community-powered learning experiences that change lives and generate millions in revenue. Today, Jordan and our host Jillian dive into the pros and cons of CPCs, the value of accountability for skill acquisition, pricing, monthly versus annual subscriptions, and much more! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/cx068.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 6, 2022 • 53min
Brand Partnership Wizardry with Justin Moore
#067 Brand deals are a great way to enhance your membership and generate more revenue, but there's a catch. You see, the key to successful sponsorships is that they're win-win-win relationships. Our guest today, Justin Moore, explains that and shares his blueprint for attracting lucrative partnerships that benefit you, your members, and the brands you partner with. Justin is the founder of Creator Wizard. Having run an influencer marketing agency, he now has access to insider knowledge about why big brands choose to work with some creators and pass on others. So how do you get sponsors even if you don't have a massive community? What are the steps to crafting an irresistible pitch that gets companies excited to work with you? How do you incorporate brand collaborations into your community without sleazy marketing tactics? Join us for this epic conversation with Justin to find out! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/cx067.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

8 snips
Nov 29, 2022 • 56min
The 7 Steps Tatiana Figueiredo Used to Make $100K Revenue in 12 Months
#066 How do you create a digital experience worthy of a high subscription cost? Who are the people most likely to sign up, and how do you find them? What are the common mistakes you should avoid in your first year? In this episode, Tatiana Figueiredo returns to the show to answer these questions. She shares her blueprint for running thriving communities and generating $100K in revenue within the first year. Tatiana has made it her business to teach people how to create engaging and profitable memberships while avoiding burnout. If you haven't already, be sure to also listen in on our previous chat with her in episode 43! Today, we do a deep dive into the incredible 7-step method Tatiana uses to go from idea to income-generating community. She and our host Jillian discuss interviewing your target audience, paid beta launches, leveraging community-adjacent content, and much more. Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/cx066.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 22, 2022 • 48min
How Butter’s Anamaria Dorgo Leads Collaborative Communities
Anamaria Dorgo, Head of Community at Butter, shares tips for facilitating collaborative communities and the importance of co-creation. They discuss building a global community, incorporating user feedback, and the value of communication and transparency. The chapter also includes rapid-fire questions and reflections on life, with the guest expressing a desire to inspire and take action. Wrapping up, they discuss the thriving Butter community and offer listeners a free trial and discount for Butter Pro.

Nov 15, 2022 • 52min
Hot Takes on the State of Community with Matt Gartland of Team SPI
#064 Entrepreneurs are scrambling to jump on the community-powered course bandwagon that’s taking digital learning by storm. But what are CPCs, exactly? Are they the right fit for you? And how do you create experiences that actually enhance student outcomes? SPI CEO Matt Garland joins our host Jillian to answer all of that. Today, we go all in on how community is reshaping educational content. We dive into the benefits but also steer course creators away from trendy methods that don’t make sense for most brands. You’ll also get a sneak peek at SPI’s All Access Pass. This brand-new community-powered education experience is the ultimate way to take on all of our courses at your own pace and connect with fellow entrepreneurs. Listen in on this episode to get a look at the inner workings of our business and learn how to implement the latest tactics for maximum success. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/cx064.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 8, 2022 • 1h 14min
Looking Past the Default With Dr. Evelyn R. Carter
#063 What is the best way to guide online discourse toward compassion and inclusivity? Research shows that it does not matter what you say or how you say it. When discussions go awry, what matters is that you say something. Today’s guest, Dr. Evelyn R. Carter, runs cutting-edge studies on detecting and discussing racial bias. She is a social psychologist and president of Paradigm, a platform for building diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizations. In this episode, Dr. Carter shares the steps for planting the seeds of empathy in others and the gold standard approach for changing undesirable behavior within a community. She and Jillian, our host, chat about using research to inform and shape company policy, how stereotype threat theory affects us, self-regulating your bias, and leading with firm kindness. This is a fun and enlightening conversation that reveals the science-backed tools we can use at work and in our personal lives to reshape the culture around us. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/cx063.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 snips
Nov 1, 2022 • 56min
Communicating Community Value with Erica Kuhl and Brian Oblinger of In Before The Lock
#062 Does the work you put into community actually have an impact on your business? How do you connect the dots between what you do and the bottom line? How do you tell a compelling story that illustrates the value you provide? We tackle all that and more with our special guests, Erica Kuhl and Brian Oblinger of the In Before The Lock podcast. If you’re familiar with Salesforce’s Trailblazers, that’s Erica’s baby. Brian’s background is equally impressive, with leadership roles in community starting in the early '90s. This episode is jam-packed with strategies for community builders and managers at any level. We discuss the value of business acumen and why starting a membership without a budget is ideal. Erica and Brian also share tips for building strong relationships online and caution us against some of the top mistakes big brands make. You’re not going to want to miss this one! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/cx062.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 25, 2022 • 54min
Co-creating Leaders in Your Community with Reina Pomeroy of Good Inside
#061 Running a thriving online community is no picnic. We often talk about tools and platforms that can help, but what if the answer is empowering your members to manage themselves? Today’s guest, Reina Pomeroy, runs the Good Inside parenting community for Dr. Becky. She has been active at the intersection of marketing, brand, and community for many years and is here to let us in on some of her top strategies. In this episode, we talk all about leadership programs and sharing moderation privileges with VIPs in your community. By leveraging existing dynamics within your membership, you can shine a light on top contributors and phase out time-consuming tasks. Reina and our host Jillian also dive into digital etiquette, oversharing, and boundaries. They explore and zero in on essential tips for community builders at every level. So how does a leadership program actually work? Listen in on today’s chat to find out! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/cx061.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 21, 2022 • 5min
Harness the Power of Community: Free Live Seminar Tuesday 10/25!
The Business of Community Summit is a one-day virtual summit focused exclusively on the business thinking, decisions, and strategies needed to reach the economic potential of community for your business. You'll walk away with a clear roadmap for launching your own community this year! Visit SmartPassiveIncome.com/BCS to register for free.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 18, 2022 • 50min
Leveraging Newsletters with Dylan Redekop of Growth Currency
#060 Newsletters are having a moment right now. In fact, people are going wild over the weekly tips, tools, and advice we deliver through Unstuck. But does publishing a newsletter make sense for community builders? Can you use it to grow your membership and drive engagement? Can you do it in a way that’s quick and effective? We ask Dylan Redekop of Growth Currency to share his expertise with us. His incredible weekly emails teach his subscribers how to start newsletters, get people to sign up, and earn an income. Dylan talks about all of that today. For busy community managers, we uncover the easiest way to source content and reap the benefits of a weekly newsletter. We also chat about finding the voice that connects with your members, leveraging multiple platforms, attracting sponsors, and monetization opportunities. Listen in on this wide-ranging discussion to find out about the possibilities! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/cx060.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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