Latest / Pretty In Pink Again / Episode 65: Why Women Are Craving Connection Again: Friendship, Community & Life Beyond Motherhood with KINN Founder Amy Bucceri

Transcript

Episode 65: Why Women Are Craving Connection Again: Friendship, Community & Life Beyond Motherhood with KINN Founder Amy Bucceri · Pretty In Pink Again

• 0:00
  I'm Christina.
• 0:00
  And I'm T.
• 0:01
  And this is the Pretty in Pink Again podcast.
• 0:03
  Where motherhood meets rediscovery.
• 0:15
  Hello.
• 0:16
  Welcome back to the Pretty in Pink Again podcast.
• 0:18
  We have a special guest for you Amy Buccieri, founder of Kin a space that started as a modern shared workspace for women, but quickly evolved into something so much bigger: community, connection, friendship, networking, creativity, and honestly, a place where women can feel seen again.
• 0:34
  In a world where so much connection happens online, Amy created something that brings women back together in real life, whether that's through Mahjong nights, needlepoint classes, co-working, panels, events, or simply having a trusted place to walk into.
• 0:48
  What we loved most about this conversation is that Kin isn't about a workspace.
• 0:53
  It's about women becoming resources for one another.
• 0:55
  Trusted recommendations shared experiences, supported systems, almost like a real-life Angie's List and sorority all built into one.
• 1:04
  We are so excited to talk about how Amy built Kin, why women are craving intentional connection again, and how community can change your life.
• 1:12
  Amy Bucciari, welcome to the Pretty and Pink Again podcast.
• 1:15
  Thank you.
• 1:16
  Right now people are seeing you, owner of very successful business, Kin, which is here locally, expanding nationwide.
• 1:25
  But tell us about what the last year looked like.
• 1:28
  It was looking pretty grim for a while.
• 1:29
  New mom, laid off.
• 1:31
  Yeah.
• 1:32
  So It all starts in 2022.
• 1:33
  I moved here from Philly with my husband, so we found Avon and we fell in love, and we were like,"We'll make friends when we have our kids." We both worked remote.
• 1:40
  We had great communities at work.
• 1:42
  We were like,"We'll be fine.
• 1:42
  We'll just make friends when we have our kids." And got pregnant, had our son Ollie in April'24.
• 1:47
  He came at 36 weeks.
• 1:48
  I had really severe preeclampsia.
• 1:49
  It was like a whole thing, and had my son.
• 1:52
  Surprise, all those friends that I was gonna have when I had my baby did not pop up.
• 1:55
  So I white-knuckled it through postpartum, and 13 months postpartum I got laid off from my job in people strategy and tech.
• 2:01
  My whole vertical, everything that I had built over the past few years was just canceled by private equity.
• 2:07
  We were bought.
• 2:08
  And I just kind of sat here with my little 13-month-old, no community outside of my parents- In a new town in a new town.
• 2:14
  Didn't know anybody.
• 2:15
  Didn't know anybody.
• 2:16
  No job.
• 2:17
  Uh, so I spent four weeks trying to be a stay-at-home mom, and I flunked out pretty early.
• 2:21
  And- As most of us do as most of us do.
• 2:23
  Yeah And I realized that I couldn't spend 12 months looking for a new job in tech.
• 2:28
  I knew that it would take a long time.
• 2:30
  AI was on the scene.
• 2:31
  Yeah, you have all this new- Gen- Right yes new technology popping up, so much to compete with.
• 2:35
  Yeah.
• 2:35
  Right.
• 2:36
  So much.
• 2:36
  Right.
• 2:36
  Jobs were changing.
• 2:38
  I was at a company where I was doing a lot with not a big title,'cause we were a small company, and so it was hard to translate what I was doing to the right jobs.
• 2:46
  So I decided I was gonna do something else, and I panic-posted in some mom groups and started having some coffees with women, and started hearing a lot of the same stories that I was experiencing was,"It's really hard to meet people.
• 2:58
  I work from home all day looking at my dishes," or,"My au pair's there and I have to hide in a back office all day, and I can't come out to pee," and all of these shared struggles that weren't my journey alone.
• 3:08
  They were so many other women's.
• 3:10
  And people were meeting with you, having coffee with you.
• 3:12
  Yeah.
• 3:13
  Y- and you were essentially a stranger.
• 3:14
  Stranger.
• 3:14
  And they were sharing their deepest, darkest secrets- Yeah something that's so personal to talk about- Yeah with you.
• 3:19
  Almost immediately in Caffe Nero in downtown West Hartford.
• 3:22
  Love it.
• 3:23
  And we would just sit there and talk and talk and talk.
• 3:25
  And I, I heard the same story, so I knew there was something in this story.
• 3:28
  And when I had my son, I was so baffled by the lack of infrastructure for mothers specifically.
• 3:35
  It is such a massive transformation.
• 3:38
  There's language around it now, the mattresses.
• 3:41
  Transition and there's nothing but, what, a six-week checkup.
• 3:44
  I think my six-week checkup was two minutes- Right you guys.
• 3:47
  Like, nothing.
• 3:48
  You're good to go.
• 3:48
  Bye.
• 3:49
  Yeah.
• 3:49
  Everything looks great down there.
• 3:50
  Yeah.
• 3:51
  Cl- check off this thing to see if you have depression, which by the way- Do you, are you having another baby?
• 3:54
  Do you want an IUD- Yeah or are you, are you good?
• 3:57
  Literally, done.
• 3:58
  So explain the word infrastructure- Yes'cause I feel like that's a really interesting way to think about that.
• 4:03
  So specif- you're saying that there was, you were finding there was a lack of infrastructure- Infrastructure for mothers.
• 4:09
  Yeah.
• 4:09
  Like, that's what you were finding.
• 4:10
  Yes.
• 4:10
  There's, if you look around at big transitions, college, kindergarten, all of these big moments in our lives, there is a really solid framework for how you navigate it.
• 4:22
  You go to kindergarten transition day.
• 4:25
  Sometimes they go to the bus, for they go on the bus, and they check it all out, and there's always a whole system around how to help you navigate it.
• 4:33
  What about, like, planning a wedding?
• 4:35
  Correct.
• 4:35
  You know what I mean?
• 4:35
  You're just, like, loaded with information.
• 4:37
  Yes, infrastructure.
• 4:38
  Right, right.
• 4:39
  Well, even your baby shower, you're loading yourself with- Right.
• 4:41
  Yes stuff- Yes that you probably don't even really need, yep.
• 4:46
  But it makes you feel calm.
• 4:47
  Yeah.
• 4:47
  Right?
• 4:48
  Preparing.
• 4:48
  You go to college, there's a whole office- Right for new students, right?
• 4:51
  Right.
• 4:51
  Right.
• 4:52
  We go into the probably the hardest transition of our life, motherhood, and they're like,"Six-week checkup, you're all set.
• 4:56
  Good luck finding a lactation consultant, and, you know, circle back when you're ready." And you're like- And a trusted community.
• 5:00
  Yeah you're like,"Whoa.
• 5:02
  Hold on." And so I felt, in my experience, I had no support, and the people that I had found, some were wonderful, some were less wonderful.
• 5:11
  And I felt like there had to be a bigger way to help support mothers.
• 5:15
  And so, I put out a survey in two Facebook groups, two mom Facebook groups, the Simsbury Moms group and the West Hartford Moms group.
• 5:22
  And it was long.
• 5:23
  It was like a 15-question, Questionnaire, and 85 people responded.
• 5:27
  Oh my God.
• 5:27
  So your wheels are already turning at this point.
• 5:29
  You're"I'm feeling like I'm onto something," just from those few conversations- Yes those coffee dates.
• 5:33
  Yes.
• 5:33
  And then you're like,"Let's poll the audience." Yes.
• 5:35
  "Are there more of us?" Yes.
• 5:37
  And there were.
• 5:38
  Tons.
• 5:38
  And 85 people responded to a stranger- Correct essentially.
• 5:42
  Some random girl.
• 5:43
  You are a transplant stranger- Mm polling- Wow her peers,"What are you looking for?" Yeah.
• 5:48
  "I wanna supply it." They clicked in, 75% of them left their name and said they would wanna meet for coffee.
• 5:52
  What were the type of questions that you were asking them?
• 5:55
  What were you- Yeah kind of fishing for in those forms?
• 5:57
  Yeah.
• 5:58
  So I really wanted to know about, demographics.
• 5:59
  Did you work from home?
• 6:01
  Are you in the office and you're still interested in this?
• 6:03
  Are you a entrepreneur?
• 6:04
  What type of mom are you?
• 6:06
  Not that we need to be a type, and how much would you pay for something like this?
• 6:10
  What kind of community experiences would you like?
• 6:12
  What kind of learning experiences would you like?
• 6:14
  I saw, the vision was always a big hub for mothers- Oh a space that you could go- Yeah that felt- Like you were seen in all facets of your life Like you were with your people Correct.
• 6:23
  Yeah.
• 6:23
  And that you were, like, cherished almost.
• 6:25
  Yeah.
• 6:26
  And so, I had a lot of conversations, and then I found the space, and I think the space is really what brought Kin the most to life.
• 6:33
  It's really hard to find commercial real estate as, like, a solo girly, right?
• 6:36
  Mm-hmm.
• 6:36
  I didn't have tons of money behind me to find a broker and do all this build-out, so I had to find the right space.
• 6:42
  My idea was small.
• 6:43
  I didn't have a big backing, and so a lot of people laughed at me and were like,"Cute idea," like,"Good luck.
• 6:48
  See how it goes." But I found my space.
• 6:50
  I negotiated the rent myself.
• 6:53
  Uh, me and Claude went through the lease, and- And how did you fund it?
• 6:58
  Because you were laid off at the time.
• 6:59
  It's not like you were sitting on a pile of cash- No and you were like,"Oh, I'm allotted this amount of money to- Right.
• 7:04
  Fund my idea." Yeah.
• 7:06
  So I self-funded it myself.
• 7:07
  Wow.
• 7:08
  Um, I had always had, a little bit of a consulting background.
• 7:12
  I'd always worked on little special projects.
• 7:15
  I also teach at the college level, and always had for the past six years.
• 7:18
  And so I went on Upwork, which, for those that don't know, it's a freelancer marketplace, and you can scour jobs, and it's you and tons of other people, and you bid for jobs.
• 7:30
  And you can put in your budget.
• 7:31
  They sometimes give you a budget.
• 7:33
  And I found all these jobs, and I bid for them, and I started working right away on my own little business, and all of that money funded Kin's build-out.
• 7:41
  Wow.
• 7:41
  I did it so lean.
• 7:43
  I found the least expensive people, these kind of shining diamonds in the rough and had them come support.
• 7:48
  I designed it myself.
• 7:49
  I did the logo myself and a friend.
• 7:51
  Jack of all trades.
• 7:53
  All of it myself.
• 7:53
  Wow.
• 7:53
  Listen, lean and mean.
• 7:55
  Mm-hmm.
• 7:55
  There is something to be said- Yeah about starting off- on a skeleton crew- Skeleton and just figuring it out it out.
• 8:01
  Yeah.
• 8:02
  So we a- it was all on, like, coffee and intuition, and I think good vibes around it, and we opened on January 5th.
• 8:08
  Wow.
• 8:09
  And so you said that you had originally intended it to be a hub for mothers, but you positioned it as, a working space, right?
• 8:17
  So how did that kind of come into play, and wha- I guess, how were you trying to blend the two together?, Were you finding there was a need for that based on some of the responses you were getting from people in the community?
• 8:26
  1,000%.
• 8:27
  I think my biggest challenge was I was a work from home mom, so where was I gonna meet anyone, right?
• 8:31
  No one's gonna come over and introduce themselves to you at, when you're sitting by yourself at a coffee shop.
• 8:34
  Right.
• 8:35
  And so, uh, but most of the people that responded to my- questionnaire were work from home moms who were like,"If I look at my dishes for one more day, I'm gonna go crazy.
• 8:44
  I have no inspiration.
• 8:45
  I could have probably gotten two promotions, but I'm so distracted at home.
• 8:49
  I need somewhere else." And so that's where we really, I really launched was in the coworking space.
• 8:55
  But the community was always the most important thing for me.
• 8:58
  So that was always in the back of your mind was that you wanted it to be for moms.
• 9:02
  Correct.
• 9:02
  I'm sure, like, with the pandemic too, it really changed, like- Yes how people were working- Yes and maybe, like, a blend of working from home, some in the office- Yes part-time.
• 9:11
  Like, I'm sure- Yeah you know, the shift of motherhood- Yeah it just really changes things for a lot of people.
• 9:16
  1,000%.
• 9:16
  I mean, I think depending on what your job is, some jobs do require you to be locked in crunching numbers or whatever.
• 9:22
  But other jobs, really you perform better when you're inspired by others or when you can- Right riff off of others.
• 9:28
  Yeah.
• 9:28
  And I think that if you are a member here and you're working there- Yeah maybe you enter the understanding of I can riff off of these other people.
• 9:35
  Yes.
• 9:35
  They can come up to me, and this is how we can all- work together.
• 9:39
  But your model is so much more than- a coworking- Thanks...you know, place.
• 9:43
  And there are those.
• 9:43
  There's a ton of coworking spaces- Yeah which are a great idea.
• 9:46
  Yeah.
• 9:47
  But you tailored this to a very specific type of woman.
• 9:50
  Walk us through how you blended that together.
• 9:54
  So it kind of happened by accident.
• 9:55
  I, I'm a community builder by nature, right?
• 9:57
  I was VP of programs for my sorority.
• 9:59
  This was always what I loved to do.
• 10:00
  I was a classroom teacher for a very hot minute.
• 10:02
  And so building community and doing fun things together and connecting has always been my love language.
• 10:07
  And so I don't think there was ever a world where I built a business that wasn't anchored in community.
• 10:12
  But when I got the keys to Kin, I got the keys on October 1st, we had our brand photography that day.
• 10:17
  Like, we hustled, we got it set up, we were good to go, and Eddie from Xfinity came out to set up our Wi-Fi.
• 10:22
  Sorry, Eddie, I was really mean to you that day.
• 10:24
  I really didn't mean to be.
• 10:25
  He came to set it up.
• 10:27
  He looked around, and he said,"You can't have Wi-Fi in this building." And I was like,"I'm sorry." A co-working, a, a co-working facility.
• 10:33
  It's 2026.
• 10:33
  Like- I'm sorry, Eddie, I don't think you understand.
• 10:35
  No.
• 10:36
  So I have my little iPhone.
• 10:37
  Oh my God.
• 10:37
  I'm going through my contract like,"Do I have to pay?" Like, w- w- is Wi-Fi not part of a normal...
• 10:43
  'Cause it was just me and Claude.
• 10:45
  And so we couldn't have Wi-Fi.
• 10:46
  He told me that we could have a satellite.
• 10:48
  Oh my God.
• 10:49
  But it wouldn't work in the rain or snow.
• 10:51
  Um In, in climate weather any, which we never have here- Oh, yeah so that would be no problem.
• 10:56
  Oh my God.
• 10:57
  Um, and so I, my plans to soft launch a co-working space in the fall were, like, completely dead.
• 11:04
  So Eddie told me- Pivot.
• 11:05
  Yeah.
• 11:05
  Gotta pivot.
• 11:06
  Yeah, where's the little, like, Friends thing?
• 11:08
  Yeah.
• 11:08
  Eddie told me that day that they would have to excavate from the other side of a brook to bring the coax cable to Kin.
• 11:14
  Start swimming.
• 11:15
  Wow.
• 11:15
  Start swimming, Eddie.
• 11:17
  Um, at the same time, my roof was also leaking every time it rained, which caused a couple challenges.
• 11:21
  Geez, Kin really does not like the rain.
• 11:24
  Kin yeah, the rain and Kin are not friends.
• 11:26
  Um, and so I had to pivot really quickly.
• 11:28
  And so what I did instead was launch experiences at Kin.
• 11:32
  So community events to help introduce the community to Kin.
• 11:36
  And the conversations I had through those events, I really learned that's what women were craving.
• 11:41
  Outside of just a space to work, they were craving other women in the same season of life that needed more connection.
• 11:49
  And we did a grown-up book fair, like think the Scholastic Book Fair you did as kids or your kids go to, but for us.
• 11:54
  So like, you know, smut books and all these fun different books that we had.
• 11:58
  And little stickers and cute little bookmarks and little tchotchkes that, you know, you used to love getting at the Scholastic Book Fair, we had that.
• 12:05
  We had a networking night.
• 12:06
  We had a speed dating night for moms, which has become one of our flagship events.
• 12:10
  And people came.
• 12:11
  I mean, so many people came.
• 12:13
  This was all just through mommy Facebook groups.
• 12:14
  I did no formal marketing, no paid social ads, no nothing.
• 12:19
  Can you tell- teach us how to get on a mommy Facebook- 1,000% group?
• 12:22
  Because- Mom Facebook groups.
• 12:23
  Why did- It's- What?
• 12:24
  I know.
• 12:24
  It's a huge resource.
• 12:26
  Like- The last guest we had the Reset Brunette- Yeah she said that she started her business from a mom Facebook group, because mothers can be desperate at times.
• 12:33
  Yeah, because moms are always- They're looking- looking for something for something.
• 12:36
  I- Yep you know that meme with the guy from The Office when he's holding up the music?
• 12:40
  Have you seen that?
• 12:40
  Yes.
• 12:40
  Like, on the reels?
• 12:41
  Yes.
• 12:41
  Yes.
• 12:42
  That is me in the mom Facebook group.
• 12:43
  Because every week it's like,"How do I make friend as a mom?" And I'm like,"Guys, please just come to an event.
• 12:47
  I promise you- I got you you will feel good." But it is co- I mean, there's three and a half thousand people in the Sinnisberry Moms group, all having the same shared experiences of isolation in motherhood, navigating transitions.
• 13:00
  And I think I thought that the newborn phase was the transition, but every stage is a transition.
• 13:04
  Mm-hmm.
• 13:04
  You are adjusting to a new kid every few months, and a new f- favorite thing, and a new, new, new.
• 13:09
  It, the transitions don't, I think, ever stop in motherhood.
• 13:13
  No.
• 13:13
  And our community is very varied in age.
• 13:15
  I'm actually the youngest Kin member.
• 13:16
  Wow.
• 13:17
  The oldest one is in her mid-50s, and her kids are out of college, and even she's still going through transitions, right?
• 13:23
  Of course, you always are going through a transition.
• 13:25
  You know?
• 13:25
  And to share that perspective- Incredible is probably one of the best things you can get out of Kin.
• 13:30
  Incredible.
• 13:31
  And I honestly think that everything happens for a reason, right?
• 13:34
  Like, I'm sure you feel that, because this ended up being so successful.
• 13:38
  Incredible, yeah.
• 13:39
  And you kind of pivoted- Yeah based off of what you originally thought.
• 13:42
  Yeah.
• 13:43
  But I feel like if it really was positioned- That's the blend right there yes, I think- Yeah if it was fully positioned as a work from home space, right, there are a lot of them.
• 13:51
  You have a lot of things to compete with.
• 13:53
  So then you tackle the mom angle, and like, oh, it's a great place for moms to come.
• 13:57
  Yeah.
• 13:57
  But like you said, what moms were really craving was connection and community.
• 14:02
  Yeah.
• 14:02
  And oh, by the way, we have a place for you to work- Yeah too.
• 14:05
  And I feel like that model actually works better.
• 14:08
  And I think people hear co-working space and think, I have to have a nine to five.
• 14:12
  No.
• 14:12
  We've got a book nook.
• 14:14
  If you drop your kids off for two hours at their drop-in preschool, and you don't wanna go home and look at your laundry once a week, come sit in our book nook and read a book.
• 14:22
  Or come sit here and do your...
• 14:24
  We have a mom that's a stay-at-home mom, she comes and does her family admin once a week, and she has a babysitter for two hours on Monday afternoon, and she comes and she does her bills, and all of X, Y, and Z.
• 14:33
  And it's a space to go to take a deep breath, and it was really built intentionally that way.
• 14:38
  You said your space is for moms that are more than, defining themselves as just mothering.
• 14:44
  Correct.
• 14:44
  Your space is for those who are doing more and who are looking for more- Yeah and are looking to anchor themselves in community.
• 14:50
  Yeah, and- And you are helping provide that.
• 14:52
  And I think that goes back to that misconception.
• 14:54
  Am- ambition in motherhood is a really loaded word, and it's a really big word- Mm-hmm that's coming up right now.
• 14:59
  Yes.
• 14:59
  And I think it can often feel very divisive, because I think there are parents that don't feel like they're, you know, looking for the corner office or wanna be in the C-suite, and they don't feel ambitious.
• 15:10
  But in my mind, ambition is just having something that you want, that you wanna keep growing in, something that you wanna keep learning, right?
• 15:17
  Right.
• 15:17
  You can be ambitious, and you can be ambitious in your mahjong game.
• 15:21
  Right.
• 15:21
  You can be ambitious in learning AI, and you can be ambitious in being on the PTA, there are so many different ways that you can be ambitious.
• 15:31
  Right, not just being ambitious- Just climbing the corporate ladder and monetizing it financially.
• 15:35
  And so this is a space where ambition can look like whatever it looks like for you, but You prioritize being a whole person outside of being a mom with a capital M.
• 15:45
  And I think it's really important, I know Kin has all of these really, really cool initiatives.
• 15:51
  You have learning Mahjong- Yeah and needlepoint, and, like, skills, and just, like you had mentioned, like, learning AI.
• 15:57
  Yes.
• 15:57
  And you have all of these things that are going on that are important to kind of be in the know on.
• 16:04
  Yep.
• 16:04
  And it's also just really healthy to maybe learn a new skill- Yes in this kind of part of your life.
• 16:10
  Yeah.
• 16:10
  Right?
• 16:10
  And so I like that this is a space where you can feel like you can go and learn something new.
• 16:15
  There's always power in learning something new.
• 16:18
  Always.
• 16:18
  And so you have Mahjong nights- Yeah and you have needlepoint classes where you can learn and then take it at home- Yep and maybe do that.
• 16:25
  Yep.
• 16:25
  And not only that, it sounds like your members are learning from each other.
• 16:29
  That's right.
• 16:29
  Because one thing, like, I love the saying, like, if you like it, I love it.
• 16:34
  There is nothing better than a recommendation.
• 16:36
  Yeah.
• 16:36
  And when you are in those years of you just had a child, you are in the most vulnerable state of your life.
• 16:42
  100%.
• 16:42
  So anything that is said to you, you are like a sponge, you can absorb it.
• 16:46
  Yeah.
• 16:46
  So it's like you have to be protective of what you're hearing around you, and I often lean to social media, and Pinterest, and things for inspiration, but sometimes I can very easily feel uninspired and pretty shitty about what I'm doing and how I'm spending my time.
• 17:02
  A thousand percent.
• 17:03
  And I think that social media has so many positives, right?
• 17:06
  I can share out what, what's happening- Yeah at Kin, and I can share my journey.
• 17:09
  But it also can be pretty dark when you're isolated and alone.
• 17:12
  It can totally connect you, and I feel like you can be very inspired- Yep like we're saying.
• 17:17
  But you can go down, like, a deep, dark rabbit hole.
• 17:19
  And I do think that as moms, you're vulnerable, you're impressionable, and it's maybe not the best place for connection, yeah, a thousand percent, especially in early motherhood, I think, when you have a fresh newborn.
• 17:33
  And you're, you, the, you get stuck on the sleep algorithm, or I got stuck on a lot of, like, fringe, scary things that happened with- Yeah unsafe sleep or- Yeah then you're panic-stricken.
• 17:43
  I mean, the way I used to put Ollie in the car seat this kid was like,"Ugh." And then all of a sudden you're starting to get things about,"Don't vaccinate your kids-" Yes"and don't do this-" Yes"and don't do that." You're like,"How did we get here?" How did we get here?
• 17:51
  How did we get here?
• 17:52
  And it feels, motherhood feels so polarizing, because I feel like you have to pick a side.
• 17:57
  Sleep train, not sleep train.
• 17:59
  Baby-led weaning, purees.
• 18:00
  Yeah.
• 18:00
  Breast feed, bottle.
• 18:01
  Bre- ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba.
• 18:02
  And really, most of us live right here.
• 18:04
  And so I think when you get out of the online spaces, and you come into the real-world spaces, you will learn that we have so much more in common than we do different.
• 18:14
  And you also learn that every kid's different.
• 18:17
  There's no magic to get them to sleep.
• 18:19
  There's no magic to get them to eat their greens.
• 18:21
  It's just your kid is so different, and we can do tips and we can try tricks, it levels us out, I think, when we all come together in a space.
• 18:29
  And I also think, T says this all the time, and I think this was also very helpful in our friendship, was it's important to be around people who are ahead and behind you.
• 18:39
  Mm-hmm.
• 18:39
  It's wonderful to be around, if you wanna call, like, moms, like, peers, right?
• 18:43
  So, maybe the kids that are the same age as your kid, it's nice to have people around you that know what's going on.
• 18:48
  Yeah.
• 18:49
  You know?
• 18:49
  Like, i- in the exact- Yeah moment.
• 18:50
  Because especially early on, months can make a difference, right?
• 18:54
  Mm-hmm.
• 18:54
  But it also, for me and my type of personality, like, that's not the best.
• 18:59
  It's needed, but it wasn't, the best to be immersed in.
• 19:02
  Yeah.
• 19:02
  And I always found it so helpful to see moms that were ahead of me, maybe who had older kids that could be like, hey, it, this phase that you're in does not last forever." Yeah.
• 19:13
  "Here's what you can do." You know?
• 19:14
  Like, the, you- you're getting perspective from not in the thick of it.
• 19:19
  Yeah.
• 19:19
  Right?
• 19:19
  Yeah.
• 19:19
  And then it's also helpful, I find myself now turning to mothers who have younger kids, who now my kids are not newborns and we're out of that trench, and I'm giving advice to them.
• 19:30
  And it's just so nice to be surrounded by all of that- Yeah and not just, like, tunnel vision, you're just hearing the noise from the people that are within your space currently.
• 19:41
  And that's what you've created at Kin.
• 19:43
  Oh, my gosh.
• 19:43
  You've created that Kin Community.
• 19:45
  A thousand percent.
• 19:45
  I you, the thing I'm fretting about as a mom right now is age gap in my kids, right?
• 19:49
  Which you can only control so much, but- What's the right age gap?
• 19:53
  When do we wanna start thinking about a second?
• 19:54
  How do we navigate that?
• 19:56
  We've got moms who have kids with a seven-year age gap.
• 19:58
  We've got moms with kids with an 18-month ga- age gap.
• 20:01
  And I can ask them,"Okay, social media tells me that they shouldn't be ha- past- Right a four-year age gap- Right'cause they're gonna be like only children.
• 20:07
  What's your experience?" And she's like,"That's stupid.
• 20:10
  Don't worry about it." Or,"Amy, you can only plan for so much." Or maybe all you were looking for is a friend just to listen, to- Yes"Hey, Amy, what's going on in your life right now- Yes that's making you have this conversation?" Right.
• 20:22
  "Are you thinking about having another baby?" Yes.
• 20:24
  Like, maybe sometimes you're not even looking for an answer.
• 20:26
  Mm-hmm.
• 20:26
  Sometimes you're looking for a conversation.
• 20:28
  1,000%.
• 20:28
  You know?
• 20:28
  Do you think that women are lonelier now than ever?
• 20:31
  Oh, without a doubt.
• 20:32
  I think we are in a space where motherhood has been- It's so judged divided and judged.
• 20:37
  It's divided, it's judged, it's polarizing.
• 20:39
  Um, there's actually a phenomenal documentary coming out called No Country for Mothers, which we're premiering at Kin on June 17th.
• 20:45
  Wow.
• 20:46
  And it's about this.
• 20:47
  It's that we are trad wife, working mom, n- this or that.
• 20:51
  Labels.
• 20:51
  No in between.
• 20:52
  Right.
• 20:52
  Right.
• 20:53
  And it's pitting us against each other And I think that's what makes us feel so lonely because you, there are spaces where I would never talk about sleep training.
• 21:00
  At Kin, I'll talk about anything because I know it is a judgment-free zone.
• 21:04
  Right.
• 21:04
  And I think people feel there's so much more judgment in parenting than there ever was.
• 21:07
  It's a space for mothers where, and you're the main character.
• 21:10
  Yes.
• 21:10
  We're not a mommy group.
• 21:12
  We are, you are the main character.
• 21:13
  It is about you.
• 21:14
  It is decorated to feel like it is for you.
• 21:17
  Velvet couches, beautiful wallpaper.
• 21:20
  A space that my child would ruin ma- in maybe five seconds so that we get to have these beautiful spaces, and we get to feel like there's a space just for us.
• 21:27
  It's like a reminder that this is for you.
• 21:30
  Yes.
• 21:30
  Right?
• 21:31
  Exactly.
• 21:31
  So you've built this beautiful Kin community.
• 21:34
  Talk to me about what community means to you and what it looks like at Kin.
• 21:40
  I think community is a space where you feel like you fit, and that you are your own and your whole self there.
• 21:50
  And so I think it's been really important to build a space where women feel like they can come and they can bring their whole self, whether or not they felt like putting on their cutest outfit or they wanted to come in their sweats.
• 22:00
  It is a space where you are seen as your whole self, not as just a part of yourself, and where any version of you is accepted.
• 22:07
  And I think when we say kind of,"Kin's like a sorority or a clubhouse or a girls club," it can be kind of misconstrued as a cliquey place or a place that I won't fit in, but it's so far from that.
• 22:18
  I think when the space is right, there is no cliquiness.
• 22:22
  When the space is right, people just kind of fit right in when they enter.
• 22:26
  I hear all the time that, you know,"I've never fit into a space like I fit into Kin," because everyone's looking for the same thing.
• 22:32
  When you enter that room, you know everyone's there for the same reason.
• 22:35
  No one's coming to Kin that doesn't wanna meet, meet people and make friends.
• 22:38
  You know, if you are- if that's not your vibe, you're not gonna come and, and join an event at Kin.
• 22:43
  And you are surrounded by women that all are looking for the same thing and are grounded and anchored by a, a shared experience.
• 22:51
  I think that- Yeah that's why it makes sense that you do kind of relate it to a sorority.
• 22:55
  Yes.
• 22:56
  And I think that you're looking at it as, the positives, right?
• 22:58
  It's kind of like- All the good things that come with this thing built in- right, like built-in friendships- Yeah and activities that now you don't have to plan.
• 23:05
  You know how long it takes, like, girls to get a girl dinner- Oh, my God on the calendar or, like, any sort of, like, book club or anything that you're trying to do.
• 23:13
  Yeah.
• 23:13
  It's so nice to have that planned for you.
• 23:15
  Yeah.
• 23:15
  So if you look at it that way, it's a great thing.
• 23:18
  B- and it- but I could see how that could be completely misconstrued as- Totally"Oh, well," you know, you don't wanna- you don't want people to feel, like, turned away.
• 23:26
  Yeah.
• 23:26
  Like they're not gonna feel like they're gonna be included.
• 23:29
  Exactly.
• 23:29
  Well, because women have, have had bad experiences where they haven't been with the right people, they haven't been in the right situation.
• 23:35
  Yeah.
• 23:36
  And instead of just simply saying, like,"This wasn't the best fit for me," sometimes you put it onto the other people.
• 23:41
  Like,"They were mean, they were cliquey," this and that.
• 23:43
  Yeah.
• 23:43
  Yeah.
• 23:43
  Now you've created a space where everybody is welcome.
• 23:47
  And There's something for everybody.
• 23:48
  Yeah.
• 23:48
  You know?
• 23:49
  There's someone for everyone.
• 23:50
  We've got such a wide breadth of personalities, from more introverted people to more extroverted people.
• 23:56
  And I think sometimes people can see our reels and our posts about our events and be like,"Wow, they all look like they're best friends.
• 24:02
  Like, would I be able to fit in there?
• 24:03
  Like, are they, is it too late?" It is so not too late.
• 24:06
  We signed six new members this week who are all joining in toge- who are all joining together.
• 24:10
  And I was saying to, to you earlier, Christina, like- I think the way to connect, the way that we've forgotten is shared experiences.
• 24:20
  Mm-hmm.
• 24:20
  I think if anyone listening thinks back to their closest friends in life, whether that was childhood, college, or now, it's probably through a shared experience.
• 24:29
  Right.
• 24:30
  And so as- Something so basic so basic.
• 24:33
  But as moms, we don't get to do a lot of those things because like you just said, it takes us six months to plan something, and no one's planning some big event.
• 24:40
  We're gonna go to dinner.
• 24:41
  Right.
• 24:41
  We're- Well, and you're also planning activities for your kids.
• 24:44
  Correct.
• 24:44
  You're planning your kids to have all these shared experiences- Correct and then your shared experience is sitting on the sidelines- The sidelines watching them with- Right a mom- Yeah hoping that you hit it off with her.
• 24:53
  Yep, and kind of sitting there like,"Do you think we can chat?" Like,"I don't know if she wants to chat." So stressful.
• 24:57
  So instead, let's do something with our hands and, play mahjong, do needlepoint, watercolor, whatever.
• 25:04
  We do, moms speed dating night.
• 25:06
  You have cards in your hands with questions.
• 25:08
  It's like icebreakers.
• 25:09
  No one uses them, but, like, you have them in case you need them, and that just lowers the temperature to building connection.
• 25:16
  Last week we did watercolor.
• 25:17
  We had a watercolor night.
• 25:18
  It was so much fun.
• 25:19
  At the end of the night, one of our members drank the paint water instead of her glass of champagne.
• 25:23
  Oh, my God.
• 25:23
  And- That would be me it's so funny.
• 25:25
  Like, it's just a nice light moment, and now- Yeah you have a shared experience with that person.
• 25:29
  It's not that serious.
• 25:29
  Yeah.
• 25:30
  And next time you can be like,"Remember, make sure you don't ma- that's not Diet Coke." Yeah, you have a memory.
• 25:33
  "That's brown water." You have a memory.
• 25:35
  And you start to build these do you remember when moments.
• 25:38
  Do you know what I also love- Those are the best is that we've talked about this on our podcast too, is like, there's plenty of ways that you can try to go out and put yourself out there to meet people, and one of them that gets recommended all the time is anything athletic or physical.
• 25:52
  Yeah.
• 25:52
  And for me- And tennis is not for everybody.
• 25:55
  Tennis is not for everyone, me included.
• 25:56
  Like, I love tennis, but it's a very, very intense skill to learn.
• 26:00
  Yes.
• 26:01
  You need to keep up with it.
• 26:02
  You need to be in very athletic shape, which I'm sorry, but, like, me coming off a year postpartum is not that time of my life.
• 26:09
  No.
• 26:10
  And so I like that this feels so much more attainable- You don't have to hire a personal trainer before you go and not intimidating.
• 26:18
  You know?
• 26:18
  Nope.
• 26:19
  And I honestly think that there's, I think that there's something to be said about, yes, that's great, you know, like, if that's something that you can go out and do.
• 26:25
  But I think that, like, learning mahjong, for example, to me- Mm sounds so great.
• 26:29
  Like, I wanna l- use my mind, right?
• 26:31
  Spruce that up a little bit- Yes'cause that's where I need some help right now.
• 26:34
  Yes.
• 26:34
  Yeah, it is so us.
• 26:35
  You guys have made needlepoint cool again.
• 26:36
  Like, needlepoint sounds so relaxing.
• 26:38
  Like, slow clap for you.
• 26:39
  Like, needlepoint sounds like something that you can do, like you, you could probably learn it there- Yeah but then I'm sure you can go home and like- Yeah instead of scrolling on your phone, you're like needlepointing.
• 26:48
  Yes.
• 26:48
  It sounds very relaxing.
• 26:50
  It's so relaxing.
• 26:50
  I think we're all so quick to go to our phones, especially as a business owner.
• 26:54
  Like, my business lives on my phone.
• 26:56
  I don't wanna miss anything.
• 26:56
  So at night with my husband, I was like sitting there- Same.
• 26:59
  We're all doing that like,"Did you watch that third of The Pitt or did you watch- Right play on your phone?" I was like,"I didn't hear a thing.
• 27:02
  Let's watch it again." And so when I needlepoint, my hands are busy- And then you're missing the shared experience with him.
• 27:07
  Totally.
• 27:07
  He's like,"Okay, I guess I'm not important anymore." So now I needlepoint, and so we get you started at Kin.
• 27:12
  You can buy a canvas or bring your own.
• 27:14
  We'll teach you how to do it, and then take it home, and come back once a month and do it with us or don't.
• 27:18
  Um- I feel like all these fun activities are either wasted on our youth or then on the old, the elderly- That's what I was gonna say at the senior center.
• 27:24
  Yes.
• 27:25
  It, it is giving me like senior center vibes, you know?
• 27:28
  And like- But cool girl.
• 27:29
  Yes.
• 27:29
  I know.
• 27:29
  Cool girl.
• 27:29
  Grandma hobby.
• 27:31
  I saw something on your Instagram too that was like you do outings too, so like that's why I was like this really is like a, like a hot mom senior center, right?
• 27:42
  Like- We have a limo.
• 27:43
  We're going down to Fairfield County next week.
• 27:46
  of us.
• 27:46
  We're gonna go to Retail 101, which if you haven't been, you should go.
• 27:49
  Kin's, like, fully furnished from Retail 101.
• 27:51
  Uh, we're gonna go to Terrain for lunch, and then do some shopping.
• 27:54
  That's a great spot.
• 27:54
  Playing hooky.
• 27:55
  I got married at Terrain in, um, Pennsylvania.
• 27:57
  Oh, beautiful.
• 27:58
  Oh, I love it.
• 27:58
  Really?
• 27:58
  I didn't realize that there was more, there wasn't just the one.
• 28:00
  Is that Westport or Fairfield?
• 28:01
  Westport.
• 28:01
  Westport.
• 28:02
  Westport.
• 28:02
  Yeah, that's a great spot.
• 28:03
  And then there's a ton in PI.
• 28:03
  Yeah, beautiful.
• 28:04
  Yeah.
• 28:04
  Oh, wow.
• 28:05
  It's amazing.
• 28:06
  Yeah, so we do all these fun things.
• 28:07
  We're gonna do mom camp.
• 28:08
  All of, like, the fun things that you wanna do in one day.
• 28:11
  Take a day off from whatever you're doing- I love that and come join us for a fun fun day.
• 28:15
  You know, the fact that- That would be so fun yeah you are a complete transplant to this area, and you didn't start Kin on your high school girls being,, the first founding members.
• 28:23
  You started this at, you used the word cold.
• 28:25
  Cold.
• 28:26
  And you polled a community.
• 28:28
  You did, like, a research study- Yep on women.
• 28:30
  Yep.
• 28:31
  Mothers in particular- Yeah and you created this.
• 28:33
  And actually, like, the members almost created it alongside with you.
• 28:36
  Totally.
• 28:36
  You were asking people what they needed, what they wanted- Yeah and you put it all into play.
• 28:40
  So the way we built it was we pre-sold 20 founding memberships.
• 28:44
  They sold out in nine days, and there was not a single person that bought a founding membership that I had met more than three times.
• 28:49
  Wow.
• 28:49
  Total.
• 28:50
  So it works in a cold market.
• 28:52
  My goal is for this to grow and expand.
• 28:55
  We're already expanding into another building right in our shared area, but I want there to be a Kin everywhere.
• 28:59
  I want every mom to have access to a community like this, because I believe in, in the power of it so much.
• 29:05
  I've seen it firsthand how it has changed women's lives already.
• 29:09
  And you can see it in the way that they show up.
• 29:11
  We flooded, Kin flooded in February, like fully flooded.
• 29:14
  I was there, thank goodness.
• 29:15
  We had members show up that night at 9:00 PM, brought a wet vac- To help clean?
• 29:19
  To help me clean.
• 29:20
  I've got a reel of it.
• 29:21
  You can go see it.
• 29:21
  The proof's in the pudding.
• 29:22
  We got it back up and running in 24 hours.
• 29:25
  I, um, had an iron transfu- my first iron transfusion on Monday, fell asleep by accident at home, and missed a meeting with someone that wanted to partner with us.
• 29:33
  One of my members closed her computer, took her on a tour, had the meeting for me.
• 29:37
  Didn't even know she was coming, and completely covered for me, because they believe in this community so much.
• 29:42
  You also ta- Talk about taking pride.
• 29:44
  Yeah.
• 29:44
  You also talked about how, so obviously it's a wonderful community and everybody's there for each other.
• 29:50
  But also if you think about how cool it is that you have all these women, all of these mothers from all walks of life, right?
• 29:57
  And everybody has a background and a specialty, and you have all these people coming into one room- Yeah and how powerful that must be.
• 30:04
  And you kind of used the word, like, Angie's List.
• 30:07
  Yeah.
• 30:07
  It's like an Angie's List of everybody, right?
• 30:10
  Exactly.
• 30:10
  Like, what do you need?
• 30:11
  You need an OB, you need a recommendation- Yeah for a pediatrician.
• 30:15
  You need somebody to, you know, put a new deck on your house.
• 30:18
  I'm sure someone has a recommendation for that.
• 30:20
  1,000%.
• 30:21
  Right?
• 30:21
  And we're almost to the point now where we have one of everything.
• 30:23
  We have a pediatrician.
• 30:24
  We have an OB.
• 30:25
  My attorney, she's a Kin member.
• 30:26
  Like, we have one of everything almost at Kin.
• 30:29
  And, and that's even more of a reason why the model will be so franchisable.
• 30:33
  Yeah Every 20 miles or so, you need to look for that- 100%, right again.
• 30:37
  And sometimes finding an expert is a very daunting task.
• 30:40
  Yes.
• 30:41
  And having a middleman, a layperson, to sort of translate that- Yeah for you, like this was my personal experience with this person.
• 30:47
  Yeah.
• 30:47
  This was my personal experience with somebody either working in the home or caring for my child- Yeah or just my own- Yeah postpartum experience and how I navigated through it, and even, even adding to that, I don't think I've shared this yet, Hartford's a really interesting market for working women.
• 31:03
  You have either Travelers and The Hartford and the insurance scene, or you have like the manufacturing scene, and outside of that, there's not a ton of industry for jobs.
• 31:12
  So when I got laid off, there was no hybrid roles for me here.
• 31:15
  Like, there was no- I didn't know anybody.
• 31:18
  Now at Kin, you've got 40 women who all work in different companies and different industries that could refer you to a job, that could introduce you to a warm contact.
• 31:26
  The network expands- Yeah, you're- so much wider you build, you're, you're kind of entering a network.
• 31:30
  Correct.
• 31:31
  Right.
• 31:31
  And that all do wanna support each other, and so one member just got referred for a job somewhere.
• 31:36
  And, um, we're launching a layoff program so that if you got laid off, you get a Kin membership for a discounted rate, and we'll get you as part of this network.
• 31:44
  Mm-hmm.
• 31:44
  We'll help you with your resume.
• 31:45
  We'll do all of these things to help stand you up, and that's why it's not cliquey, because it's such an empowered and an empowering place.
• 31:53
  Mm-hmm.
• 31:54
  And I think we very often underestimate women, but even more moms.
• 31:58
  Mm-hmm.
• 31:58
  Because if you think about how much you have to do on a daily basis as a mom, but I think we are a phenomenal time.
• 32:04
  We're so good at our time because we only have so much time, and we wanna support each other because we know what the journey looks like.
• 32:10
  And not to like always shit on online, right?
• 32:12
  But I feel like it's just easier to trust a recommendation for anything, whether that is something personal, or whether it's I need help with this, I'm looking to do this in my life- Yeah I need a referral for this.
• 32:24
  Yeah.
• 32:24
  It's so much easier to trust word of mouth than dealing with algorithms and dealing with- Yeah Reddits and f- opinions online.
• 32:32
  Like, I feel like this is just such a healthier more traditional way to do things, right?
• 32:38
  Yeah.
• 32:38
  And it's like bringing that back.
• 32:39
  Yeah.
• 32:40
  And I also think these mom groups now are multi-thousand people.
• 32:43
  The Simsbury, I mean, Simsbury Connecticut Moms Group is 3,700 people.
• 32:46
  When you ask for a recommendation, somebody loves it, somebody hates it.
• 32:50
  Y- you get all over the place on feedback, and so having a smaller subset of people that can give you advice, I think is, makes it so mus- so much less overwhelming.
• 32:59
  Mm-hmm.
• 32:59
  Right.
• 32:59
  Right.
• 32:59
  We mentioned expanding, and there's been so much interest- Yes in this model, and in expanding Kin into other communities, into other states.
• 33:09
  And I think that that's not only so exciting for you, like, that's, congratulations on that.
• 33:14
  It's incredible that there's been this sort of like, strength behind you.
• 33:18
  Yeah.
• 33:18
  Right?
• 33:19
  Like, really just so in awe of what you were able to build in such a short amount of time, and it speaks to how incredible of an idea it was.
• 33:26
  But even for, like, our PIPAs listening, I'm always on the prowl we hear, we have moms from all walks of life, you know?
• 33:33
  And people are at different phases of their life, and people might be looking for something that they can franchise or they can build off of, and this seems like an incredible opportunity to do that.
• 33:46
  Yeah.
• 33:46
  I built Kin from the start to be replicable, because back to where we started with infrastructure, there's no infrastructure anywhere.
• 33:53
  No.
• 33:53
  There's some little things that have popped up, but a- fundamentally, there's no infrastructure for mothers anywhere.
• 33:58
  And so if it works in Avon, Connecticut, it will work all over the country.
• 34:03
  And so as I was building, I was building in a way that was, A, nimble, and B, I tracked and wrote everything down.
• 34:10
  So I've made the plans already for how to build a community like this.
• 34:14
  We are still very much in our growing phase.
• 34:17
  And so my goal is to expand to towns all over the country, and it and it be something that mothers can do, and a business that moms can build and run for themselves, that has financial positive impact on their families.
• 34:30
  Yes.
• 34:30
  What's so exciting, and what's so nice about this, is that it doesn't feel competitive.
• 34:35
  Back to like what T was saying about everybody in a community, there's these mom groups with thousands of moms in that.
• 34:42
  So you're not gonna run into competitiveness, you know?
• 34:46
  Like, moms want something easy- Yeah that's close by.
• 34:49
  Yeah.
• 34:49
  So someone else can open one of these a little bit away, you know, and s- and it wouldn't, you wouldn't run into like a conflict, right- Mm-hmm of, so this is just something that almost every town should have.
• 35:01
  Yeah.
• 35:01
  Right?
• 35:01
  Because there's enough moms- Yeah in each town.
• 35:03
  Well, this concept, I think, is gonna resonate with so many communities.
• 35:07
  Mm-hmm.
• 35:07
  So when you started this initial concept, you thought a lot of your members were gonna be maybe- Yeah younger moms- Yeah with little kids- Right that were looking to sneak out.
• 35:14
  Yeah.
• 35:15
  But you said that's not really where you've- No landed with your members.
• 35:18
  No.
• 35:18
  You said the sweet- you're the youngest member, and a lot of your members are in their 40s- Yeah maybe kids that are a little bit older- Yeah school age.
• 35:25
  Yeah.
• 35:25
  It spans, moms are looking for community because it, y- the transition is consistent, right?
• 35:30
  So each transition, I think, your kids are in sports, all of a sudden they're not on the same team anymore, and you don't see the same- Right.
• 35:35
  Yeah mom.
• 35:36
  Or they've moved classrooms, or the middle school's, or the elementary school's split to two middle schools- Yeah, they divide or whatever, right?
• 35:41
  These shifts naturally continue to happen in motherhood.
• 35:44
  And so when we center the friendships around the moms and not the kids, it is much easier to have such a wider network, and you're also exposed to so many more people than, just like you were saying, the people that are in the exact same phase of life.
• 35:58
  So we have many moms who are in their late 40s, early 50s, who are in a new season of their kids are going to college, they're empty-nesters, they're still looking for that anchor and that space.
• 36:08
  We have one woman that joined just for the book club, and she was like,"Amy, I'm only joining for the book club," and I was like,"Okay." And now she is my number-one ride or die.
• 36:15
  She's at every event.
• 36:16
  I don't think she's missed one.
• 36:18
  She's in her early 50s, and she's phenomenal.
• 36:21
  She's so fun.
• 36:21
  She's so cool.
• 36:22
  Everyone dies to see her, because she's got amazing advice, and she's- She brings real-life perspective She brings such perspective lived, lived perspective.
• 36:30
  Li- lived and experience.
• 36:30
  Yeah.
• 36:30
  Yeah.
• 36:30
  And somebody younger might be able to teach her something new too.
• 36:33
  I mean, I think that if you're signing up for Kin, you're not a closed-off person.
• 36:38
  I think that if you are maybe somebody that's set in their ways- Yeah maybe a little bit more closed off, you're not looking for this.
• 36:43
  No.
• 36:43
  But if you are looking to be creative, and you are ambitious- Yeah whether that is, like in a personal, professional way- Yeah or just across the, you know- The gamut across the gamut, I think that this is for you And I think going back to the expanding, I think Kin needs to remain somewhat small, right?
• 36:58
  Which is why it can go f- to town and town and town.
• 37:01
  You don't want a community of more than 60, 70 people- Right before it starts to feel- It gets too big like not a community at all.
• 37:07
  Right.
• 37:07
  Exactly.
• 37:07
  Right?
• 37:07
  Right.
• 37:08
  And so my s- you know, I've got 1,000 square feet.
• 37:10
  It's not much bigger than that because if it gets bigger than that, then we're gonna lose the, the heart of the space.
• 37:17
  And so you can have one 10 miles away- Right because you do wanna keep it, small chapters or small pods of this community, um- And you also want the recommendations to be the best of the best.
• 37:28
  Exactly.
• 37:29
  Realistically, there's not 10 good of everything- No in a town.
• 37:32
  No.
• 37:32
  There's usually, like, one- One if you're lucky.
• 37:34
  Yeah, 1,000%.
• 37:35
  You know, and if you really wanna keep that, the spirit of it- you don't wanna dilute it, yeah.
• 37:39
  Yeah, nope.
• 37:39
  And you don't wanna dilute the community.
• 37:40
  You know, you want- I said this to Christina the other day, a lot of people wanna join Kin just for the mahjong.
• 37:45
  So they're like,"Can I just pay to come play at mahjong?" Right.
• 37:48
  And the answer is no, and it's not no for the reasons that you would think.
• 37:52
  But the beauty of Kin and what makes Kin so special for the members is each other and the community.
• 37:57
  So if you're just dropping in here and there, you're not gonna get the same experience- Yeah that you're gonna get as an actual true- That- member that makes sense because you want people that are going to commit to it.
• 38:07
  Exactly.
• 38:07
  You want people that are gonna be around, you know?
• 38:09
  Exactly.
• 38:10
  And so you don't want that drop-in vibe.
• 38:11
  No.
• 38:11
  Which makes a lot of sense.
• 38:13
  Yeah.
• 38:13
  We, I mean, we always do one, like, come join us for one thing- Right and see how you feel- Right and see if you wanna be a part of this community.
• 38:18
  But- And I'm excited to play tonight.
• 38:19
  I know.
• 38:19
  I know.
• 38:19
  Christina's coming tonight.
• 38:20
  I know, and I wanna learn mahjong so bad.
• 38:21
  Wait, tell us a little bit about this because we have somebody actually coming on in a few weeks- Yeah to talk all about mahjong- Yeah, because it's-'cause it is- everywhere now all the rage.
• 38:30
  I wanna thank whoever made it cool again.
• 38:32
  What do you think it is about women and hobbies and connection- Mm-hmm and why this took off?
• 38:37
  Maybe I just answered my own question.
• 38:39
  No, I have an answer really good there.
• 38:40
  I was just driving here, and there's a golf course right along the road.
• 38:42
  Yeah, mm-hmm.
• 38:43
  And I was thinking about golf courses and why golf has been around and popular for men for such a long time.
• 38:48
  Right.
• 38:48
  Think about it.
• 38:49
  It's a group of four.
• 38:50
  Yep.
• 38:50
  It's a sh- it's a shared experience.
• 38:52
  There's a little bit of competition or growth in there, right?
• 38:55
  Right.
• 38:55
  You're trying to do a little bit better every time.
• 38:57
  Right.
• 38:57
  Little healthy competition.
• 38:58
  Little healthy competition.
• 38:59
  Um- Very social very social, but you can also talk about the game if you get stuck.
• 39:03
  Right, right.
• 39:03
  Right?
• 39:04
  If you're not vibing with the people, then- Yeah you could get really into this game, or you could...
• 39:07
  You know, there's something to talk about, and it's, it's time that you get to shut the world off.
• 39:12
  And mahjong is very similar.
• 39:14
  You can't have your phone out on a golf course- You can't have it and you really shouldn't have it out while- In mahjong- you're playing mahjong either.
• 39:17
  No.
• 39:18
  Yeah, wow.
• 39:18
  For that time, right, we play for an hour and a half, your brain is focused on mahjong, and you can chitty chat, but you're focused on the game.
• 39:26
  And it's pairs of four.
• 39:28
  You can show up alone or with a group.
• 39:30
  It really is so similar to golf.
• 39:33
  For women.
• 39:34
  For women.
• 39:34
  Yeah.
• 39:34
  And I think- Well, women are taking it on more.
• 39:36
  Yes.
• 39:36
  Right.
• 39:36
  And I think that's why that type of hobby is really taking off, because it's social in a way that's not intense, right?
• 39:43
  We talk about, we talked about like- Social events work because it takes the pressure off.
• 39:48
  Having a coffee for my mom in a Facebook group is, like, number 10 pressure stressful, right?
• 39:52
  You're sitting across from each other.
• 39:54
  You have to ask questions.
• 39:54
  It's a blind date.
• 39:55
  It's so serious.
• 39:56
  Yeah.
• 39:56
  You're asking questions until you find something- Connect that you have in common.
• 39:59
  And y- Yes unfortunately, at least in my experience, the commonality is we both have a five-year-old, and that not, is not always the best place to connect- No with somebody.
• 40:08
  Which is why I don't think they last-?
• 40:09
  because things shift.
• 40:10
  Because if you're having a bad day because your two-year-old didn't sleep through the night, and now they're grumpy, and now they're cranky, and this and this- Yep they can't bring a perspective to it.
• 40:18
  Nope.
• 40:19
  So sometimes some of these most beautiful friendships are- Yeah when you have somebody a little bit ahead of you- Yeah, for sure that can bring some perspective to your maybe bad day.
• 40:26
  Yeah.
• 40:26
  Yeah.
• 40:26
  And then maybe you do the same for them the next time.
• 40:29
  Exactly.
• 40:30
  And you're meeting them in a social light experience.
• 40:32
  And there's also this beauty of training our brains.
• 40:35
  Yes.
• 40:35
  And I think Mahjong- Unneeded I don't think it turns your brain off.
• 40:38
  It- Well, it requires your brain to work a little bit- It requires it to work but just in a different capacity than what we normally have to do.
• 40:43
  Yep, and it's also not a game where when it's someone else's turn, you can zone out.
• 40:47
  And so- You have to pay attention You're, like, in it.
• 40:50
  I say, you know, I've got a, a very full plate.
• 40:52
  I have a toddler, a husband, a business, and I still have other side jobs.
• 40:56
  It's my one time a week that my brain is not thinking about anyone or anything else, and that is such a treat and such a gift.
• 41:04
  It's very freeing.
• 41:05
  Yeah.
• 41:05
  And to know- It allows you to do all those other things and have your brain on for so long.
• 41:09
  To li- I can- Yep totally see why this, I'm sure this is here to stay.
• 41:12
  I feel like it's trendy, but it's been- Here to stay around forever, so I feel like it's just, like, coming back.
• 41:16
  But I feel like this is, like, this generation's, like, Cards- 1,000% Right, or Bingo or something, right?
• 41:21
  Yeah, it's not, I don't think it's going anywhere.
• 41:23
  Where it's like it's not going anywhere, and we're so excited.
• 41:25
  We're gonna have an expert on to talk all about Mahjong in a couple of weeks, and then T is going to play tonight- Yeah, she's coming again tonight at Pin, which is so exciting.
• 41:32
  I really wanna learn, but we need a da- we need a daytime one.
• 41:35
  We'll make a plan.
• 41:35
  We've got a couple things on our list- Yep so we'll add that to it.
• 41:37
  So t- well, since you brought that up- Yep let's segue into what does the social calendar look like for one of your members?
• 41:42
  Yes.
• 41:42
  'Cause that is something that you curate yourself every month.
• 41:45
  I do.
• 41:45
  I'm sure you know, you, you take in all the feedback.
• 41:48
  Yep.
• 41:49
  It really started it really started out as, like, my list of things that I really wanted to do.
• 41:52
  All your favorite things.
• 41:53
  But I couldn't take anyone.
• 41:54
  Like, I didn't have anyone to go with.
• 41:55
  Mahjong was very much first.
• 41:56
  We did headshots, so every other month we do headshots with my family photographer who, Ashley Miller, she's incredible.
• 42:02
  She comes, we do a touch-up bar.
• 42:04
  We make the moms feel beautiful.
• 42:05
  It comes as part of their membership.
• 42:07
  June is great.
• 42:08
  We're doing our hooky day, which I mentioned.
• 42:09
  We're going down to Fairfield County.
• 42:11
  We've got a collaborative event with Body in Motion.
• 42:13
  We're gonna do dry needling and cupping and a wellness evening.
• 42:16
  We have a pop-up with the new Pilates studio, Ritual- So exciting who you met at, um- Mm-hmm Dawn's party.
• 42:20
  I know, I love how you're doing all these community events.
• 42:22
  So many.
• 42:23
  We're doing a closet swap and a baby item swap, so moms are bringing all their clothes and their baby items that they don't need anymore.
• 42:29
  You did a community baby shower recently.
• 42:30
  We did the community baby shower.
• 42:32
  Yeah.
• 42:32
  We had 65 people come- So exciting.
• 42:34
  Wow and meet all of these amazing vendors that I personally vetted.
• 42:37
  You vetted, yeah.
• 42:38
  Um, that I know-'Cause again, impressionable, vulnerable people Makes a difference.
• 42:43
  Yeah.
• 42:43
  We gave away an UPPAbaby cruise, which Leah won- Yay, Leah And so there's so many different things for different people.
• 42:51
  We just launched our expecting moms cohort, which is like I would've dreamed to have had.
• 42:55
  Like, if there's one thing I would've dreamed to have had- Yeah, that same is a group of women that were expecting at the same time, and so that when you all delivered, you had each other, and you could come to our postpartum groups together.
• 43:04
  We had, like, a small version of it in the winter, and I'm leading that postpartum group with them now, and, like, I could cry every week.
• 43:10
  It's just so amazing to see them go through this journey together opposed to the loneliness that I felt when I went through it.
• 43:16
  And it wasn't that long ago that you went through this.
• 43:17
  No.
• 43:18
  You know?
• 43:18
  Two years.
• 43:19
  Two years, it's really not a long time- No that you went through that.
• 43:22
  No.
• 43:22
  And so it still feels so close to home, and so to be able to provide that for the community is, like, the biggest gift I think I could ever give.
• 43:29
  So joining something like this- Yep what, walk us through the different membership options.
• 43:34
  You mentioned that there was a social.
• 43:35
  Yep.
• 43:36
  There's a social option- Yeah and that kind of gets you into some of the events- Yeah and maybe some of the games- Yeah and s- and some of that, but there's other tiers.
• 43:42
  Other tiers.
• 43:43
  So yeah, our social only is half of our membership, and it's$85 a month, which is, like, one dinner out with your girlfriends.
• 43:48
  Mm-hmm.
• 43:48
  And you have a menu of six to 10 events you can come to each month.
• 43:52
  Almost- Pays for itself.
• 43:53
  It speaks for itself.
• 43:54
  For sure.
• 43:54
  Literally.
• 43:54
  Almost all of them are included.
• 43:56
  There are a few that are a slight upcharge if we have to bring in vendors, like we did color, color reading.
• 44:03
  That was quite expensive, so we had to bring a vendor in.
• 44:05
  But these are things that, that the women have asked for, right?
• 44:07
  I take a little poll every month in our Slack channel to say,"What do you guys want this month?" People asked for tarot card readings, so that'll be coming in July.
• 44:13
  And then, so almost every event is included.
• 44:16
  There's always a book club, there's always Mahjong, there's always a craft club, and then any other fun things that we feel like doing.
• 44:23
  And then we also have the Slack channel that I've mentioned a few times.
• 44:25
  That is a messaging app that allows you to have separate channels for different things.
• 44:30
  So we have a Life After Littles channel.
• 44:32
  We have a Bravo channel, which you know has been popping recently.
• 44:36
  We have a Mahjong channel.
• 44:37
  We have a co-working channel, an entrepreneur moms channel, all these different ways that you can kind of meet your people in a little subset.
• 44:43
  Like, connect within the community, right?
• 44:45
  And we build them as people come in.
• 44:47
  So I'll say to you,"Hey, like, what kind of things are you looking for?" Someone last week asked for a cooking Slack channel, so we're gonna add that in there.
• 44:53
  The community's almost building itself- Mm-hmm based on who's joining and who's participating.
• 44:57
  I'm sure as members are joining and more experts are coming in- Yeah and people are sharing- Things will be fluid.
• 45:03
  Right so fluid.
• 45:03
  You know?
• 45:03
  Um- And- And you're gonna have to cap off pretty soon.
• 45:05
  Yeah, that's my goal, by, we're getting warm.
• 45:08
  So that is our social only.
• 45:10
  You are a part of the community even if you don't need a workspace.
• 45:13
  Mm-hmm.
• 45:13
  We have a part-time coworking, which is our most popular.
• 45:15
  That's six days a month.
• 45:17
  I made it six days so you had kind of at least a once a week rhythm and then an extra two days to kind of fit in where you needed it.
• 45:24
  That is your one day to get out of the house if you are a work from home parent, if you have one day of childcare.
• 45:30
  Like, that's your day to come and do something just for you.
• 45:33
  And most of our women that cowork have said to me they didn't know that they needed it until they did it.
• 45:38
  And people convert right away once they try it out and they come for a day because they just feel so much relief not being at home in all the chaos.
• 45:47
  Even if you have an office at home, you are still drawn to your dishes, you are still drawn to the laundry, you are still drawn to the kid that's crying downstairs with their nanny.
• 45:55
  Yeah, I was gonna say, it's so hard.
• 45:57
  It's so- I'm, uh, I'm, I'm a working mom- Yes and so I f- and, and I work from home, obviously.
• 46:01
  Everything is based out of my house.
• 46:02
  Yep.
• 46:02
  And I struggle daily- Yes with just the kids being there while I'm there.
• 46:06
  Yes.
• 46:07
  He- I'm hearing one cry, they happen to see me, and all of a sudden- All over I'm sucked away- Yes for 25 minutes.
• 46:13
  Yes.
• 46:13
  And so it's, I love having that flexibility- Yeah but it would be so nice to have somewhere to go, you know?
• 46:19
  Where you're like- Yeah I can just get out, and I, and I'm able to focus, and then I'm also able to- Yeah socialize at the same time- And be inspired and meet other people.
• 46:26
  Yeah.
• 46:26
  Yeah.
• 46:27
  You know?
• 46:27
  But you know there's little touch points, right?
• 46:28
  Like every Wednesday we do Sushi Wednesday.
• 46:30
  We order sushi together, one of us goes, picks it up, we get McDonald's diet Coke on the way back.
• 46:34
  Right?
• 46:34
  We have these little anchors in the week that you can look forward to.
• 46:37
  Right.
• 46:38
  And so your Kin Day becomes a thing that you look forward to.
• 46:40
  That's so nice.
• 46:41
  And our co-working membership comes with all the social, so it's all together.
• 46:45
  And then we also have an unlimited option.
• 46:47
  We find that the unlimited is really valuable for our moms who have kids who are at school.
• 46:51
  Mm-hmm.
• 46:51
  Who come home from the bus at 3:00, and they still have to get work done from 3:00 to 5:00- Right or 3:00 to 5:15.
• 46:56
  Oh, wow, good point.
• 46:56
  So they come- It's like two hours of wasted time.
• 46:58
  a lot of our moms don't, can't waste it.
• 47:00
  They have babysitters.
• 47:01
  Yeah, like they actually work a 9:00 to 5:00.
• 47:02
  They've got a lot they've got to get done.
• 47:03
  Right.
• 47:03
  And so they will come at 3:00, at 2:45, and they'll be there 2:45 to 5:00.
• 47:06
  It's almost like- They're happy hour they have the babysitter for the end of the day- Exactly or something, and then they're still able to go and get work done.
• 47:12
  They come right over.
• 47:13
  Wow.
• 47:13
  And what's really cool about Kin is that every member has, every co-working member has a code to the door.
• 47:18
  And so you can access it really 24/7, within reason.
• 47:23
  If we have an event, of course check the calendar.
• 47:24
  Right.
• 47:25
  We have a, Kin has an app, so you check in on your app, and you use it really when you need it.
• 47:30
  Wow.
• 47:30
  Because motherhood doesn't exist just 9:00 to 5:00.
• 47:32
  Right.
• 47:33
  A lot of us have to work outside of these 9:00 to 5:00 hours, so we are super flexible with you, and if you have to stay a little bit longer and we close at 5:00 and I leave, just lock up on the way out.
• 47:42
  We are such a trusted, trusting community.
• 47:45
  It's like a home away from home.
• 47:46
  Um, it's, it's, and our- It sounds like your model really is more than just like them being a member- Yeah of your club.
• 47:53
  No.
• 47:53
  It seems like they take- Ours ownership in it, and it's ours.
• 47:56
  Yeah.
• 47:56
  Yeah.
• 47:56
  Yeah.
• 47:57
  It totally is.
• 47:57
  I mean, I, we got a delivery with diet Cokes the other week, and one of them was like,"Am, do you want me to unload the diet Cokes in the fridge?" I was like,"Yes, please.
• 48:04
  I'm in a meeting." Yeah, it's true like membership.
• 48:06
  It's true.
• 48:06
  It's what you really strive for, not only creating it- Yeah but being a part of something like that.
• 48:11
  Yeah.
• 48:11
  Like you wanna feel like this is your home away from home, like you know where everything is.
• 48:15
  Yes.
• 48:16
  You get to kind of, you like- Yes know the lay of the land, all of that.
• 48:19
  And then you obviously, as a business owner, that must feel so good to just- Oh, my God feel like people take it and treat it as their own.
• 48:26
  It just speaks to- The business model- Yeah but also, like, what you've created, you know, and, like, the sense of community that you've created.
• 48:33
  There's been so many pinch me moments.
• 48:35
  I get DMs all the time asking if they can open their own.
• 48:37
  I get DMs about investing or how do they be a part of it.
• 48:41
  There's- I've had so many moments over the last four months that have truly been absolutely mind-blowing pinch me moments, and those are them.
• 48:47
  And it- you just opened the doors in January.
• 48:48
  January 5th.
• 48:49
  And this is recording- Unbelievable recorded in May.
• 48:50
  Mm-hmm.
• 48:51
  It really just speaks to how much- Yeah this was needed.
• 48:54
  What are some- And how, and how much this could be needed.
• 48:56
  Yeah.
• 48:56
  What are some of the things you can tease that are coming to Kin?
• 48:59
  Oh, so Kin ha- is expanding already.
• 49:02
  So exciting.
• 49:02
  Um, we are taking on...
• 49:04
  We are in negotiations, I should say, to take on some new space.
• 49:07
  It includes private offices, which people have really been asking for.
• 49:11
  So you get the private office and the community.
• 49:13
  That comes with an amazing flex space.
• 49:15
  There are a lot of ideas already brewing, and Christina has quite a few- Yes ready.
• 49:19
  We're like- She can't wait to have- We have lots of ideas for spaces And so already expanding I would never have dreamed that I would have three buildings five months into this business.
• 49:29
  Unbelievable.
• 49:29
  Um, we continue to grow our memberships.
• 49:31
  We continue to grow different options.
• 49:33
  I just was in a meeting this morning about launching a trying to conceive group for women that are trying to conceive.
• 49:39
  We have a really good infertility specialist if you want one.
• 49:41
  Love that.
• 49:42
  And so for- I love experts, and I feel like women also- Love experts love experts.
• 49:45
  Yes.
• 49:45
  And I think that they l- appreciate them in a forum- Yes, yes like that where they feel safe- Yes to ask vulnerable questions- Yes and also receive important information.
• 49:54
  Yes.
• 49:54
  That's why the lunch and learns- The lunch and learns are really cool.
• 49:56
  Like, panels could be really fun.
• 49:58
  We had 24 women come to our AI lunch and learn.
• 50:00
  Wow.
• 50:00
  And it was me, my whole background was, was learning and development, so this is, like, my favorite thing to do.
• 50:05
  And we sat and we went through it together, and then a couple of us popped up a week later and t- all took a, a webinar together.
• 50:11
  And I think what's been really cool about building this business and what would be really cool for anyone that was looking to join at some point is I am not the smartest person in the room at Kin.
• 50:19
  There are so many women that are so smart that I can ask questions, that I can learn and grow from.
• 50:26
  And so that has been really cool to just surround myself with women that, like, we have one member in particular, she's a lawyer, and she goes on calls, and I'm not eavesdropping, but you can hear her calls.
• 50:35
  You're in awe of everything she's saying.
• 50:36
  Oh my God, if I could speak like her on a meeting, I would just be like...
• 50:39
  She's in- incredible.
• 50:40
  Well, when you listen back to this podcast, you do speak very well.
• 50:44
  Thanks so much.
• 50:44
  You do speak like, I'm sure, like her, but.
• 50:46
  It, but it's, it's like learning through osmosis and- Yeah being around these women.
• 50:49
  You know what even- It's very empowering to be around.
• 50:52
  And I'm sure, like, we feel the same way, and I feel like that's why we connected so early on- Yeah was we, I feel like we have a very similar mission- Agreed here at Pretty in Pink again.
• 51:00
  100%.
• 51:01
  We feel in awe of the people that literally sit across from us in this chair- Yes all the time.
• 51:06
  Like, we cannot, we feel honored that we even know these people- Mm and can interview them, and that our listeners get to listen to all of their expertise about a topic.
• 51:16
  And it is incredible what women know and what- Yeah what could happen when women come together.
• 51:21
  And I feel like you probably heard, like, just like we did, right, when it's like,"Oh, you're starting a motherhood podcast?" Oh, God.
• 51:28
  Like,"How cute." And you're like,"No." It's not cute.
• 51:31
  It's empowering, and I'm sure you feel the same way.
• 51:35
  The best compliment I ever had was when I, I took this little Connecticut, Connecticut Women in Business does this great class where you can get a grant at the end, so if anyone's starting a business, definitely look into that.
• 51:45
  And we had to pitch our businesses.
• 51:46
  This was last summer in August I took the class, and we had to pitch our businesses to a different, all different panelists.
• 51:52
  And I pitched it to this man who was 85.
• 51:54
  He was a pharmacist by trade, and he was a professor, and he was like,"That's a terrible idea.
• 51:59
  It's never gonna work." And that was probably the best compliment I could have gotten, right?
• 52:02
  Because it's not supposed to resonate- With him with an 85-year-old pharmacist.
• 52:05
  You're like,"Excuse me.
• 52:06
  Can I get a new panel, please?" You know?
• 52:08
  And- Right that's not knocking him.
• 52:10
  Right.
• 52:10
  It wouldn't make sense to him.
• 52:11
  Right.
• 52:12
  But yeah, I got so many like,"Ooh, she's struggling and she's going rogue, and this isn't gonna work, but, like, good luck to you," or,"Wow, you know, her husband must be making a ton of money, and she's just making this pretty pink hobby," right?
• 52:23
  No.
• 52:24
  No.
• 52:24
  And we made- Self-funded a lot of hard sacrifices to make this work which I would do in a heartbeat again and again, but no, I'm building this to be big, and it already, I mean, it already is.
• 52:34
  It already is.
• 52:35
  It already is.
• 52:35
  That is so, so incredible.
• 52:36
  Thank you for sharing that.
• 52:37
  I know.
• 52:37
  Because I think a lot of people, it's important to hear the behind the scenes and that it can be doable.
• 52:41
  Yes.
• 52:42
  Yeah.
• 52:42
  'Cause I think that some people think, like,"I didn't go to school for this"- Yeah or,"I don't have a degree," or,"I just have an idea"- Yeah or,"Who else would wanna be part of it?" Yeah.
• 52:49
  Or,"The people that I've pulled around me don't think- Yeah it's a good idea, so it must be a bad idea," or somebody saying,"Ah, that's cute," or- Yeah you get discouraged very early on.
• 52:57
  Totally, and I think, I didn't have a background in business.
• 53:00
  I think the best thing that I did with Kin was de-risk it from the start.
• 53:04
  Every time I add something or do something new, it's already de-risked.
• 53:07
  So we opened at breaking even with pre-selling our, pre-selling our founding memberships.
• 53:12
  So what's the worst that could happen, right?
• 53:13
  We lose the members and we turn it into an event space?
• 53:16
  I tried.
• 53:16
  Right?
• 53:17
  What's the worst that can, what truly is the worst that can happen?
• 53:19
  And I think if you go in with that really optimistic mindset, you do wor- you do figure it out.
• 53:25
  We are so smart.
• 53:26
  Yeah.
• 53:26
  We are so capable.
• 53:27
  We can figure out hard things all the time, and there's been many a bumps in the road of Kin.
• 53:32
  Amazing.
• 53:32
  So we love to have these, like, little rapid fire segments'cause I feel like they're just so fun.
• 53:37
  So mahjong or needlepoint?
• 53:40
  I don't think you could choose because they're so different.
• 53:42
  I know, they're, they're very different.
• 53:43
  I know one you have to do with other people.
• 53:45
  Yeah, one is social- Yeah and one is kind of could be on your own, so both I feel could be an answer.
• 53:50
  Both?
• 53:50
  Both.
• 53:50
  Both.
• 53:51
  But I would lean, if I had to pick, like if you were like,"Amy, you can't leave without your picking-" Yeah I think I'd pick mahjong.
• 53:55
  Yeah,'cause it's social.
• 53:56
  'Cause it's social.
• 53:56
  It's all about the things that we talked about.
• 53:58
  Totally.
• 53:58
  That makes a lot of sense.
• 53:59
  But even mahjong now I'm playing on my phone by myself.
• 54:01
  Yeah, girly, not tonight.
• 54:02
  'Cause I'm just trying to get, like learn it- Learn it a little bit before I go and be with other people- Yeah and slow them down.
• 54:07
  You're practicing.
• 54:07
  I'm just trying to practice.
• 54:08
  But tonight it's all newbies, so it's perfect for you.
• 54:10
  Oh, that's great.
• 54:10
  Yeah.
• 54:11
  Love that.
• 54:11
  What about- Also, you can fake it in mahjong too.
• 54:13
  You can.
• 54:14
  If anybody's, like, nervous- you can fake it.
• 54:15
  You can just sit there and fake it.
• 54:16
  Nobody needs to know.
• 54:17
  Yeah.
• 54:17
  No one needs to know.
• 54:18
  What about an ideal girls' night at Kin?
• 54:21
  Well, we do a lot of really fun, very curated events.
• 54:25
  We're doing this beautiful Mother's Day brunch, but I think my favorite are the more impromptu ones.
• 54:29
  So we did a Secret Life of Mormon Wives watch party.
• 54:32
  Um, we all got, like, matching Mom Talks sweatshirts, which I think was the closest we've gotten to, like, the actual sorority vibe.
• 54:37
  We kind of moved ourselves back this way a little bit.
• 54:39
  But next week we're watching the Summer House reunion, which I think we're all so jazzed for.
• 54:43
  I think the nights where we come totally as we are- Like low-key.
• 54:46
  Right and they're low-key are so much fun.
• 54:47
  Yeah, which is always the best girls' nights, honestly.
• 54:49
  Always the best girls' nights, for sure.
• 54:51
  You know?
• 54:52
  What do you think every woman needs?
• 54:55
  Something for themselves.
• 54:56
  Ooh.
• 54:57
  I- Life job.
• 54:57
  I think you have to have something that you're passionate about and that you care about or that feels important to you.
• 55:05
  I think it's so easy to get wrapped into motherhood, and I think we're often told we have to- motherhood has to be all-encompassing, and it sure is.
• 55:15
  But I think having something that's only yours, that's truly yours, that lights you up and brings you joy, that could be a business, that could be needlepoint, that could be getting the lines right when you mow the lawn.
• 55:26
  It doesn't matter, but something that lights you up inside- That you take pride in, that's just for you that you take pride in- Yeah I think makes this all feel so much more manageable.
• 55:36
  Do you think you had that before you had Kin?
• 55:38
  No, and it's funny you say that because about four months into Kin even being an idea, before we were open, I said to my husband,"A, I didn't realize what I was missing until I found Kin.
• 55:49
  I didn't realize how much of my spark I had lost," because it happens so slowly over time that you wake up all of a sudden, and I wasn't changing out of sweatpants all day'cause I was working from home, and- You're like,"Who am I?
• 55:58
  What do I like?" What do I...
• 55:59
  I had no hobbies.
• 56:00
  You know?
• 56:00
  Right.
• 56:00
  Right.
• 56:01
  I was a big Pure Barre girl in my 20s.
• 56:03
  I didn't wanna do that postpartum.
• 56:04
  Like, there were so many parts of myself that had quietly disappeared in motherhood.
• 56:09
  And so finding Kin again and finding that joy made me realize, A, what I had lost, but also that my husband needed it.
• 56:17
  We were both fully remote, and so he wasn't getting out either.
• 56:20
  And he's looking at me like,"You found this amazing thing.
• 56:22
  What do I have?" And so it also encouraged me to encourage him to find that for himself as well, because I think it is night and day- Yeah from- Inspired women inspire others.
• 56:33
  Yeah.
• 56:33
  Oh.
• 56:33
  They inspire their children.
• 56:34
  They inspire their spouses.
• 56:35
  Yes.
• 56:35
  Yes.
• 56:35
  Correct.
• 56:35
  They inspire their friends.
• 56:37
  You know, what I've heard, you know, when you're in your 20s and you're dating and you're trying to find somebody, you're not ever gonna find anybody unless you love yourself first.
• 56:44
  Yeah.
• 56:44
  That's essentially what you're saying.
• 56:45
  Yeah, 1,000%.
• 56:45
  You need to find something for yourself, and this isn't just find a hobby that you're good at or find something that you like to do- Yeah you know, to fill your time.
• 56:53
  Yeah.
• 56:53
  Like, it's, it's so much more than that meaning.
• 56:56
  Yeah, and T, I think that you said the thing about the kids, too, and I think it's so- inspiring for kids to see their parents doing things for themselves.
• 57:07
  You know?
• 57:07
  I really think that there's so much power in that, and it's so healthy.
• 57:11
  It's a, it, it creates a very healthy family culture- Yeah when everybody has things for themselves.
• 57:18
  Correct.
• 57:18
  Moms and dads included.
• 57:20
  Because we would want that for our kids.
• 57:22
  Like, I would want- Right any future daughter I had or my son to have something for themselves, right?
• 57:26
  Right.
• 57:26
  And so we have to show them these things.
• 57:29
  I wanna show my son me building this business- Yeah and, you know, what we've created and I think it's, I think it's the most critical thing a woman can have.
• 57:36
  That is so- I love that.
• 57:37
  I love that so great.
• 57:37
  And taking pride in what you do- Mm-hmm and everything that you do.
• 57:40
  For sure.
• 57:41
  Well, it's really translated into your business.
• 57:43
  We're so lucky that we have a chapter local to us.
• 57:45
  We're excited to see- I know how you- I know expand this.
• 57:49
  And thank you for coming on our podcast and- But we can't let you leave.
• 57:53
  We can't let you leave without our pink spotlight.
• 57:54
  So we do our pink spotlight every episode, which is our person, place, thing, tip, mantra, any tip that we have- Mm-hmm that makes life a little bit better.
• 58:04
  Mm.
• 58:04
  Could be a product.
• 58:05
  It could be something that, like a frame of mind.
• 58:07
  It could be an experience.
• 58:09
  Anything that you wanna kind of leave- the audience with, our listeners with.
• 58:13
  T, do you have one?
• 58:14
  We'll let- we'll leave you to simmer- Yeah with that one for a second Little.
• 58:17
  T, do you have one for us?
• 58:19
  I do.
• 58:19
  So this is a s- really silly one, but I've been doing it now for, like, the past month, and it works.
• 58:23
  Yeah.
• 58:23
  Monday, everybody hates Monday in this house.
• 58:26
  Yeah.
• 58:26
  They hate it.
• 58:26
  They think it's, like, the worst day of the week.
• 58:28
  It is.
• 58:28
  Nobody gets- wants to get up.
• 58:29
  So I've been doing Cookie Monday.
• 58:31
  Ooh.
• 58:32
  And we have cookies after school, and I tell everybody,"It's Cookie Monday." Mm.
• 58:36
  We all get cookies, and I either make cookies, or I go to Crumbl Cookie, or we've- Crumbl been doing Cookie Monday.
• 58:42
  Something as simple as that.
• 58:43
  One week we did, uh, Donut Monday and went to Luke's Donuts.
• 58:46
  But it's, like, something to make Mondays a little bit more palatable and to get my kids on the bus, or off the bus.
• 58:53
  Love it.
• 58:53
  Love it.
• 58:54
  Or off the bus- It's like a little treat for everybody and transition- Yep Yeah to something else.
• 58:57
  Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 58:57
  And it's not like a bribe, like,"I'll give you a cookie if you're good." Like, it's like- No"Cookie Monday.
• 59:02
  Let's-" It's something to look forward to- Yeah.
• 59:03
  Love which is what you were saying before with, like, Sushi Wednesday.
• 59:06
  Yes.
• 59:06
  It's like something if you know it's coming, it kind of gets you through the week.
• 59:09
  It's something really silly.
• 59:09
  Yeah.
• 59:09
  It's something really silly.
• 59:10
  Right.
• 59:11
  Love.
• 59:11
  How cool.
• 59:11
  But I feel like my kids enjoy when I frame things- Yeah like that.
• 59:15
  Like, this weekend- Positively it's gonna rain, and it's gonna kinda be, like, shitty weather.
• 59:19
  So instead of being like,"Oh, we're going to Boston this weekend, and it's gonna be raining"- Yeah I made a little itinerary on ChatGPT, like, super simple itinerary.
• 59:28
  Yeah.
• 59:28
  And it says, like,"Bon Tempo Weekend in Boston," like- Yeah aquarium, slime museum, cannolis.
• 59:34
  So fun.
• 59:35
  And, like, when it's written out like that, it looks like it's so much fun.
• 59:38
  It makes it special.
• 59:38
  Yeah.
• 59:38
  So special.
• 59:39
  Yeah.
• 59:39
  So I'm trying to make- It's kind of back to the, like- Yeah romanticizing things- Yep and making every, like, little day things- Yeah special.
• 59:44
  Love So I've been making- I love that mundane things instead of fighting with my kids, trying to make it sound more fun, and they are buying into it.
• 59:50
  Oh, yeah.
• 59:51
  So there's my- Love tip of the week.
• 59:53
  Love.
• 59:54
  Oh, I love that so much.
• 59:55
  That's a- that's a really good one.
• 59:56
  Thank you.
• 59:57
  So mine this week I went on a girls' 40th trip a couple weeks back, and I didn't really get to share a ton about it, but it was something that we planned.
• 1:00:07
  It was one of those, like, rare instances where, like, one of us threw it out there, like,"Could we make this weekend work?" And we somehow, five of us did.
• 1:00:14
  It's, like, unheard of- Unheard of, but it was like a little college get-together with some of my girlfriends that I danced with at UConn, and we were able to make it work, and it was so nice that everybody was able to make it work.
• 1:00:27
  And honestly, I, you know, booked it.
• 1:00:29
  Yeah.
• 1:00:29
  Like, when I heard about it.
• 1:00:30
  I was like,"Yes, I'm in.
• 1:00:32
  I'll make it work." And I had a lot of anxiety leading up to the trip, and was like,"Can I make this work?" Like, you're always finding reasons not to go.
• 1:00:41
  Yeah.
• 1:00:41
  And I pushed myself through it.
• 1:00:42
  I really had a tough time that week.
• 1:00:44
  Mm.
• 1:00:44
  I had a lot of guilt, and which is not like me,'cause I feel like- Yeah I'm always in the frame of mind of like,"You need to do things for yourself." But I was really down on myself that week, and I made it work, and I really truly came back like a different person.
• 1:01:00
  I felt very refreshed.
• 1:01:02
  It was so nice to spend time with my girlfriends who I haven't, we haven't all been in the same room together in years.
• 1:01:08
  And it was it was such a good reminder that you do have to do things- Yeah for yourself.
• 1:01:13
  It was hard on me.
• 1:01:14
  It was hard on our family to make it work and to have all the moving parts going smoothly, but you have to do it.
• 1:01:21
  Yeah.
• 1:01:22
  And there should not be shame in doing that.
• 1:01:24
  Totally agree.
• 1:01:25
  And so it was such a great experience, and I'm so glad I went.
• 1:01:29
  Good for you.
• 1:01:29
  Yeah, it's amazing.
• 1:01:29
  And it was quick.
• 1:01:30
  It was quick.
• 1:01:30
  It was a double week.
• 1:01:31
  Doesn't it take two days?
• 1:01:32
  Yeah.
• 1:01:32
  No.
• 1:01:32
  No.
• 1:01:32
  You can get yourself lit up again- Yep.
• 1:01:35
  Yep with people that you met doing shared experiences with- Exactly.
• 1:01:38
  Yep back in college- Yep that you love.
• 1:01:39
  How important that is.
• 1:01:40
  So important- Yep to fill your cup.
• 1:01:42
  Yep.
• 1:01:42
  Totally is.
• 1:01:42
  Yep.
• 1:01:43
  Okay, mine is you can tell I've been living under a rock for a while, but mine is my Nuuly box, for one reason and one reason only.
• 1:01:49
  I never know if I'm gonna like clothing until I've worn it for a little while.
• 1:01:55
  And my closet is full of clothes that I thought I would love, I tried on, I thought were so cute, and then I wore it, and like something didn't fit quite right, or like I had a bad feeling in it, or like something went wrong.
• 1:02:04
  So my closet is full of clothes that I thought were gonna be cute that I never wear.
• 1:02:07
  And so I love this Nuuly box because you get five items or six items a month.
• 1:02:11
  It's all from like Free People, Anthropology, and Hill House, and beautiful brands.
• 1:02:15
  You get to wear it and see if you like it and see if it feels good- Mm versus just like buying- Like try before you buy.
• 1:02:22
  Exactly.
• 1:02:22
  Yeah.
• 1:02:22
  And then they have a thrift shop, and you can buy it all at super discount.
• 1:02:25
  Wow.
• 1:02:25
  So it's my Nuuly.
• 1:02:26
  So you can either keep- So are they not new?
• 1:02:27
  You can keep or send back?
• 1:02:28
  No.
• 1:02:28
  Okay.
• 1:02:28
  Keep or send back.
• 1:02:29
  Yep.
• 1:02:29
  It's like renting clothes.
• 1:02:30
  Yep.
• 1:02:30
  Right.
• 1:02:30
  Oh, nice.
• 1:02:31
  It's like Rent the Runway- Okay but like not fancy.
• 1:02:34
  You get, it's$98 for six items of clothes- Wow which like I would spend in 30 seconds.
• 1:02:39
  Yes.
• 1:02:40
  And- You could easily spend that on one or two pieces- One or two pieces an even one piece of clothing.
• 1:02:44
  So I got six dresses for the whole month- Wow of May.
• 1:02:46
  I did happen to order this Nuuly box when it was 80 degrees outside, and then it went cold for weeks Kind of a doozy of a box, but like now I bought this dress for 60% off.
• 1:02:55
  I love it.
• 1:02:56
  I'm keeping it.
• 1:02:56
  Oh.
• 1:02:56
  And I know that I feel good wearing it.
• 1:02:58
  Right.
• 1:02:58
  It's sustainable clothing too, especially if it's- Yes, love that.
• 1:03:01
  I love- Exactly I love that whole mission.
• 1:03:03
  And too, if you're somebody that maybe for work, if you have to take pictures- Yes maybe you wanna be sh- seen in different outfits for different events- Exactly and you don't want to be in repeat.
• 1:03:12
  Same stuff.
• 1:03:13
  This is a perfect thing for that.
• 1:03:15
  It's, I tend to wear bright colors and pinks and things that you are, like very memorable.
• 1:03:19
  Like, I'm not a capsule- Right wardrobe girl.
• 1:03:21
  So you have to kinda rotate that and you may like get tired.
• 1:03:23
  Yeah, you're gonna see me in this dress three times and you're gonna remember it.
• 1:03:25
  Right, right, right.
• 1:03:25
  So it's nice to know that each month something new is coming.
• 1:03:27
  So that's my kinda favorite thing of the month.
• 1:03:29
  That's a great tip.
• 1:03:30
  I know.
• 1:03:30
  Yeah.
• 1:03:30
  That's a really pretty dress.
• 1:03:31
  Yeah.
• 1:03:31
  I like the cut- I know and I like the color.
• 1:03:32
  It's one of my favorites.
• 1:03:33
  And you can throw a jean jacket over it.
• 1:03:34
  Yeah.
• 1:03:34
  Perfect.
• 1:03:35
  All right.
• 1:03:35
  Well, it was so great to have you on.
• 1:03:37
  Can you share where to find you and anything about KINN,'cause you have such a fun social media presence too.
• 1:03:44
  Thank you.
• 1:03:44
  So you guys should follow KINN.
• 1:03:45
  Yes, come follow us.
• 1:03:46
  We're meet at KINN, M-E-E-T at KINN, K-I-N-N on Instagram and our website's at KINN, so A-T K-I-N-N.
• 1:03:52
  Okay.
• 1:03:52
  You can explore all our memberships, all our events.
• 1:03:55
  There's so many different things that you can explore, and we'd love to have you join us and- I know follow along.
• 1:03:59
  And if you're interested in, like helping her expand this, hit her up- Yes'cause I feel like you are onto something, like truly.
• 1:04:06
  Yeah, DM me.
• 1:04:06
  Let's chat.
• 1:04:07
  Truly.
• 1:04:07
  We're gonna have a interest form up in a couple weeks, so I'll definitely send that back over to you.
• 1:04:11
  Aw, that was- And thank you both for having me.
• 1:04:13
  I so appreciate it.
• 1:04:14
  Thank you for being here- Love you and sharing- Yep KINN with our listeners.
• 1:04:16
  For sure.
• 1:04:17
  Because not just, like for our near listeners, near and far.
• 1:04:20
  It was amazing.
• 1:04:21
  Aw, all right.
• 1:04:21
  It was so nice to have you on.
• 1:04:23
  Thank you so much.
• 1:04:24
  Let's mj.
• 1:04:24
  Let's mj.
• 1:04:25
  We'll see you next week.
• 1:04:25
  Bye.
• 1:04:25
  Bye.
• 1:04:25
  Okay.
• 1:04:25
  All right.