Hey friends, welcome to Meatball.
To Meatball. This isn't going to be a long
episode, but it's going to be a real one because I've been
thinking a lot about the kind of energy we bring into the spaces
that we share, especially our board game spaces.
You know, those nights around the table when the world,
terrible as it may be, just kind of fades away.
It's just us dice, cardboards and laughs.
Rules that we all agree on and the people at the table.
That's shared experience that we're building.
I'm starting a new series where I chat with a diverse group of
content creators across the board game community and across
the globe. Each week I'm going to chat with
one of these content creators and we're going to talk about
how they got into the hobby content creation, and they're
going to share their thoughts on what the community gets right
and what the community gets wrong.
And lately, I've been feeling like we have some work to do.
If I'm being honest, there were times when I saw it and I didn't
say anything. I told myself that it wasn't my
place. But the truth is, if we're not
creating spaces where everyone feels welcome, we've already
lost. And if I'm also honest, I've
made promises to people and I've failed to keep them.
There have been times where I've been harsh when all I had to do
was just be kind and exercised a bit of patience.
Community isn't just showing up, it's how we show up.
And today I just want to talk about the vibes that we need to
be projecting and the ones we need to be spreading.
We need welcoming vibes, the kind that say I'm glad you're
here with body language, tone and particularly with your eyes.
And I don't always succeed, but we have a really welcoming
community. You're going to hear that
throughout this series. Every content creator talks
about, they really talk about how welcoming this community is.
However, in order for us to have of unity, we have to embrace
diversity, cannot ignore one and have the other, despite what
some people might want you to believe.
But together, our board games are better, our laughs are
louder, and our shared experiences are that much more
passionate and overwhelming. Many curious vibes, the kind
that asks questions instead of making assumptions, that
celebrate new people, new players, new cultures, and, like
one content creator says in the series, shared stories that
bring us together. It's what this podcast is all
about, uniting players around the world.
That's always been the tagline from the very beginning.
We need accountable vibes. We learn, we listen, we change,
and by facing these weaknesses, we're stronger and united as we
embrace diversity. Lives that don't demand
perfection but offer patience, particularly with the rules
lawyer at the table. Because we can learn a lot from
each other and we carry things around that you don't always
see. But I believe in this community.
I really do. It's why I do this podcast.
There's so much good here. There's so much joy and
connection. I've been doing this for over
three years now. This is why I'm here.
So we have to ask ourselves, are we creating spaces where people
feel seen? Are we honoring the full
humanity of the people sitting across from us?
Not just tolerating them, not just including them, but
actually valuing them? I've thought about that a lot
lately. I'm going to strive to do
better. I hope you do too.
I mean, that's what community really is, right?
It's not just a word that we throw around, but it is
something that we build, right? We open a rule book, we unbox a
game, and we have these shared experiences.
We use our energy with intention, curiosity, and
gratitude. So thanks for taking time to
listen and enjoy this ride that we're about to be on.
This is an amazing journey. I have met some amazing content
creators, grateful people. I'm grateful to all of you who
have joined. And it's probably going to be a
permanent feature of this podcast going forward.
And I'm so glad that you are joining me on this journey.
Thanks for watching and always be kind to each other and let's
play more games.