Gather Connect Create || (formerly Cream City Dreams)

Hosted by Meagan Schultz

Entrepreneurship Society Culture Education

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Episodes

216

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Cream City Dreams is now Gather Connect Create! New name, same host 👋🏼 Bite-sized episodes with big connection! Join me weekly for inspiration, interviews and simple ideas you can use in your own community to create more connections IN REAL LIFE, no matter where you find yourself!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

July 8, 2026Episode 21514 min

Two Kids, One Mic, BIG Emotions: Calm Kids Podcast (SPECIAL Takeover Edition!)

➡ CLICK HERE to send me a text, I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode! Leave your name in the text so I know who it's from! I'm relinquishing the mic to my daughter and her friend today! It's a summer special! A Calm Kids podcast. They set the music, they decided the topic, they wrote the script ... and I think it's one you'll like. Especially if you've got kids in your life with BIG emotions. Heck, even if YOU'VE got big emotions. Listen as this 8 and 10 year old explain how we can handle anger and frustration and anxiety. And I know I'm biased here, but I have to say, I think their advice to kids is pretty wise. (now if only I saw it around my own house more often, but maybe that's a different episode). I also plug a local author, Jamie Lynn Tatera and highly recommend her Mindfulness & Self-Compassion Workbook for Kids, Volumes 1 & 2. And if you loved this episode, I KNOW Zoe and Maeve would love to hear from you. Drop me a line in one of the ways below and I'll be sure to pass on the fan mail! Support the showI'd love to hear what you think. Drop me a text (linked above) or an email: meagan@meaganschultz.com Or NEW (!) even more fun, drop me a voice memo HERE! And definitely stay in the loop when new episodes drop by signing up for my newsletter HERE! (I swear I never spam!) Cream City Dreams is now Gather Connect Create! New name, same host 👋🏼 Bite-sized episodes with big connection! Join me weekly for inspiration, interviews and simple ideas you can use in your own community to create more connections IN REAL LIFE, no matter where you find yourself!

June 24, 2026Episode 21441 min

Summer BONUS episode: What happens on a writing retreat?

➡ CLICK HERE to send me a text, I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode! Leave your name in the text so I know who it's from! Over the years, I've taken myself on many-a-writing retreat and each of them has been magical in its own way. On my latest retreat, however, one of my circle-sisters wrote a short story to share her experience and it was so fun, I knew I had to share it in a bonus summer episode! It was such a SWEET little story that captured the essence of our retreat so well. People often ask, what do you DO on these retreats? Well, let me tell you, by way of this story from Sally. But more than her story, we talk about what it was like for her to sign up and join this circle of women. Sally, a self-described introvert, talks about her fears of sharing her writing, her stories, and her full self. Fears we ALL have when we are in new spaces with new people. But what happens when we take one small step? When we sign up? When we raise our hand? When we say YES to the unknown? MAGIC. I hope you enjoy this sweet story and let it inspire YOU to say YES to something on your list this summer. Want to experience the MAGIC of a writing retreat like the one Sally describes in today's episode? Check out Laurie's Webpage HERE or Jen's Webpage HERE. Support the showI'd love to hear what you think. Drop me a text (linked above) or an email: meagan@meaganschultz.com Or NEW (!) even more fun, drop me a voice memo HERE! And definitely stay in the loop when new episodes drop by signing up for my newsletter HERE! (I swear I never spam!) Cream City Dreams is now Gather Connect Create! New name, same host 👋🏼 Bite-sized episodes with big connection! Join me weekly for inspiration, interviews and simple ideas you can use in your own community to create more connections IN REAL LIFE, no matter where you find yourself!

June 10, 2026Episode 21312 min

Goodbye for now ~ a Season 9 Finale

➡ CLICK HERE to send me a text, I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode! Leave your name in the text so I know who it's from! On today’s episode, I’ll fill you in on where I’m at and what my plans are for summer and for this podcast.For now, I’m on hiatus.I realized that I’ve been podcasting for the last 4 years - and specifically these last two years on my own - with nary a week off!One of the things I'm most excited about is getting off my screen and actually being with people this summer. IRL, face to face. I want to bring people together with some pop-up events around town, in the forest, in my backyard, or maybe around a fire pit (maybe with a guitar?).I’m also taking the summer to think more about what I want this podcast to be, how I want to be helpful with this platform, and the kinds of guests that can help me inspire listeners to find the courage to gather, connect and create more in their own lives. And it’s hard to figure this out when I’m in the middle of producing it.If you’ve got ideas for me, feedback on the podcast, stories of ways you’ve built community successfully, or people you think I should know about, I’d love to hear from you. Which episodes have you loved, which have you skipped? I’d love to know! Reply to this email or leave me a voice note HERE.There’s still a chance you’ll hear my voice on the pod this summer, but nothing planned. You may hear my daughter take over the podcast one week, or maybe I’ll read a poem or a meditation. Maybe I’ll leave you with some writing prompts, or invite you to a gathering I’m hosting locally or online. That’s the joy of having my own podcast, I can play. But I hope you’ll stick around, stay subscribed and stay connected.Support the showI'd love to hear what you think. Drop me a text (linked above) or an email: meagan@meaganschultz.com Or NEW (!) even more fun, drop me a voice memo HERE! And definitely stay in the loop when new episodes drop by signing up for my newsletter HERE! (I swear I never spam!) Cream City Dreams is now Gather Connect Create! New name, same host 👋🏼 Bite-sized episodes with big connection! Join me weekly for inspiration, interviews and simple ideas you can use in your own community to create more connections IN REAL LIFE, no matter where you find yourself!

June 3, 2026Episode 21216 min

8 Lessons I've learned from a YEAR off Social Media!

➡ CLICK HERE to send me a text, I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode! Leave your name in the text so I know who it's from! I wasn’t actually planning on this episode, I had intended to end the season today, but it dawned on me that it has been exactly one year since I gave up social media, and I thought that deserved an episode.(Social media = Facebook and Instagram for me) Not because I want the kudos or the congratulations although I am proud, and I think it’s OK for us to be proud of our accomplishments, but because I thought some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way might be helpful in case you were thinking of taking a break this summer yourself.Maybe you need a gentle nudge to delete the app, or put the phone down, or doom scroll for one less hour a day. If that’s the case, I hope this episode will be helpful.Support the showI'd love to hear what you think. Drop me a text (linked above) or an email: meagan@meaganschultz.com Or NEW (!) even more fun, drop me a voice memo HERE! And definitely stay in the loop when new episodes drop by signing up for my newsletter HERE! (I swear I never spam!) Cream City Dreams is now Gather Connect Create! New name, same host 👋🏼 Bite-sized episodes with big connection! Join me weekly for inspiration, interviews and simple ideas you can use in your own community to create more connections IN REAL LIFE, no matter where you find yourself!

May 27, 2026Episode 21141 min

Sound bath 101 with Parisa Shirazi Chavoya

➡ CLICK HERE to send me a text, I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode! Leave your name in the text so I know who it's from! In an effort to continue sharing ways to gather, connect and create, I wanted to talk with Parisa Shirazi Chavoya, owner and Founder of Parisa Yoga Shala about this sacred experience of sound, where the instruction is simply to show up, put your phone down, lie on the floor, feel the vibrations of crystal bowls, gongs and chimes, and let your body RECEIVE.Last week on the podcast, Thekla and I talked about summer screen balance and the intentional questions that might lead us to more balance: how do we want to feel as this season unfolds? What does it look like to show up, without distraction, present to ourselves and the people we love? Enter the sound journey!If you are new to sound bath, let this be a guide AND an invitation to find a sound journey near you! Or if you're local, experience one with Parisa. Find her website HERE Or her Instagram HEREAnd here is the LINK for the woman on Youtube I mention in the podcast if you're looking for a taste before you try it out in person! And if you try it out, be sure to let me know! Support the showI'd love to hear what you think. Drop me a text (linked above) or an email: meagan@meaganschultz.com Or NEW (!) even more fun, drop me a voice memo HERE! And definitely stay in the loop when new episodes drop by signing up for my newsletter HERE! (I swear I never spam!) Cream City Dreams is now Gather Connect Create! New name, same host 👋🏼 Bite-sized episodes with big connection! Join me weekly for inspiration, interviews and simple ideas you can use in your own community to create more connections IN REAL LIFE, no matter where you find yourself!

May 20, 2026Episode 21045 min

Sun & Screen: How to find your summer balance

➡ CLICK HERE to send me a text, I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode! Leave your name in the text so I know who it's from! Before the checklists fill up and the calendar gets away from you, there's one question worth sitting with first: How do I actually want to move through this summer? Not just what you'll do, but how you'll show up, especially when it comes to your screens and devices.Today's episode with Dr. Thekla Brumder Ross is all about how to find and maintain that balance as we head into the long, lazy days of summer! How do we fill them intentionally and not fall prey to the dreaded doomscroll? It's easier than you think! And we'll share tips and strategies, though ultimately, it's not a one-size-fits-all package, so you'll need to do the work! Here are a few of the links we talked about: Find Thekla on LinkedIn or her websiteHigh Tech Low Play: the report from the Institute for Family Studies The AI Doc: from Institute for Human Technology Your Attention Please documentarySupport the showI'd love to hear what you think. Drop me a text (linked above) or an email: meagan@meaganschultz.com Or NEW (!) even more fun, drop me a voice memo HERE! And definitely stay in the loop when new episodes drop by signing up for my newsletter HERE! (I swear I never spam!) Cream City Dreams is now Gather Connect Create! New name, same host 👋🏼 Bite-sized episodes with big connection! Join me weekly for inspiration, interviews and simple ideas you can use in your own community to create more connections IN REAL LIFE, no matter where you find yourself!

May 13, 2026Episode 20932 min

What is Forest Bathing? With Megan Bollen of Juniper Trails

➡ CLICK HERE to send me a text, I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode! Leave your name in the text so I know who it's from! In this episode I sit down with my friend and certified Forest Therapy Guide Megan Bollen to talk about forest bathing — what it actually is (hint: it's not a hike), and what happens when people finally slow down long enough to let nature do its thing.We also talk about Megan's own path to becoming a guide, her training through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides (ANFT), and the recurring themes she witnesses on every single walk — no matter the group.PLUS hear about my collaboration with Megan on Monday, May 18th and how you can join us (if you're local to Milwaukee) for a Forest Bath + Writing Circle. We'd love to slow down with you in the woods and on the page! Grab a spot and register HERE to join us. And find Megan online at Juniper Trails HERE. (but you're REALLY going to want to catch her in the forest IRL) Support the showI'd love to hear what you think. Drop me a text (linked above) or an email: meagan@meaganschultz.com Or NEW (!) even more fun, drop me a voice memo HERE! And definitely stay in the loop when new episodes drop by signing up for my newsletter HERE! (I swear I never spam!) Cream City Dreams is now Gather Connect Create! New name, same host 👋🏼 Bite-sized episodes with big connection! Join me weekly for inspiration, interviews and simple ideas you can use in your own community to create more connections IN REAL LIFE, no matter where you find yourself!

May 6, 2026Episode 20822 min

In praise of front porch season, in conversation with Dr. Jane R. Shore of School of Thought (part 2)

➡ CLICK HERE to send me a text, I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode! Leave your name in the text so I know who it's from! Front porch or back porch? It sounds like a trivial choice. But as Dr. Jane R. Shore unpacks this question in a recent Substack essay, that decision carries real weight, shaping who we encounter and how connected we might become in our own neighborhoods. And indeed, in our own lives! Find that essay HERE. Jane is the writer behind the Substack School of Thought and author of People-Based Learning: The Future of Learning is Human. Today we dig into one of her essays that uses this deceptively simple image as a lens for something much bigger: the way small, everyday choices determine whether we're open to the world or closed off from it.This is the conclusion of a two-part conversation on People-Based Learning in community, together, and across difference. Start with last week's episode if you haven't yet, then come back for this one.It turns out where you sit matters more than you think.Connect with Dr. Jane R. Shore:Website: schoolofthoughtphl.comSubstack: schoolofthought.substack.comPeople-Based Learning: The Future of Learning is Human — Amazon | RoutledgeTwitter/X: @shorejaneshoreSupport the showI'd love to hear what you think. Drop me a text (linked above) or an email: meagan@meaganschultz.com Or NEW (!) even more fun, drop me a voice memo HERE! And definitely stay in the loop when new episodes drop by signing up for my newsletter HERE! (I swear I never spam!) Cream City Dreams is now Gather Connect Create! New name, same host 👋🏼 Bite-sized episodes with big connection! Join me weekly for inspiration, interviews and simple ideas you can use in your own community to create more connections IN REAL LIFE, no matter where you find yourself!

April 29, 2026Episode 2071 hr 3 min

Why the future of learning MUST be human, with Dr. Jane R. Shore

➡ CLICK HERE to send me a text, I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode! Leave your name in the text so I know who it's from! What does it really mean to learn with people, not just from them? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Jane R. Shore, learning scientist, researcher, visual storyteller, and founder of a beautifully illustrated Substack, School of Thought, to explore her framework for People-Based Learning and why human connection is so incredibly important in education, workplaces, and everyday life.Seems obvious, right? It's almost too simple. And that, as you'll hear, is exactly what makes it so powerful.Her debut book, People-Based Learning: The Future of Learning is Human (Routledge, 2026), is the culmination of years of research, storytelling, and gathering people in meaningful ways.In this episode, you'll hear us talk about what People-Based Learning actually looks like in schools, with real examples from her own life and research; why belonging and relationship make learning 'sticky' and the three core elements of the PeBL framework: Connect, Reflect, and Affect.Stay tuned next week for the conclusion of our conversation when we hash out the Substack that inspired me to approach Jane for the podcast in the first place! Find that essay HERE. Connect with Dr. Jane R. Shore:Website: schoolofthoughtphl.comSubstack: schoolofthought.substack.comPeople-Based Learning: The Future of Learning is Human — Amazon | RoutledgeTwitter/X: @shorejaneshoreSupport the showI'd love to hear what you think. Drop me a text (linked above) or an email: meagan@meaganschultz.com Or NEW (!) even more fun, drop me a voice memo HERE! And definitely stay in the loop when new episodes drop by signing up for my newsletter HERE! (I swear I never spam!) Cream City Dreams is now Gather Connect Create! New name, same host 👋🏼 Bite-sized episodes with big connection! Join me weekly for inspiration, interviews and simple ideas you can use in your own community to create more connections IN REAL LIFE, no matter where you find yourself!

April 22, 2026Episode 2067 min

Wait, There's a Club for That?

➡ CLICK HERE to send me a text, I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode! Leave your name in the text so I know who it's from! As kids we didn't need a reason to start a club. A treehouse, a secret handshake, a made-up name (as in my case, The Silver Binder Club) ... and that was enough. But somewhere along the way we convinced ourselves that clubs needed a purpose, a committee, and very likely, an exorbitant membership fee. Let this episode be your reminder that they don't! Just a shared interest and a willingness to show up is all it takes. Today, I've got some great examples of clubs I've been invited to (or heard about) recently and I hope they inspire some club formations of your own! If they do, I'd love to hear about it! I'm always looking for ideas to share, so drop me an email or a voice memo (below). Support the showI'd love to hear what you think. Drop me a text (linked above) or an email: meagan@meaganschultz.com Or NEW (!) even more fun, drop me a voice memo HERE! And definitely stay in the loop when new episodes drop by signing up for my newsletter HERE! (I swear I never spam!) Cream City Dreams is now Gather Connect Create! New name, same host 👋🏼 Bite-sized episodes with big connection! Join me weekly for inspiration, interviews and simple ideas you can use in your own community to create more connections IN REAL LIFE, no matter where you find yourself!