The best part of a walk is not always the walk.
It's the question you keep thinking about afterward. The person who remembers what you told them last Saturday. The conversation that continues after the five miles are over.
After 500+ walks across 20+ cities, we've learned that getting people together is only the beginning.
How you welcome someone matters. How you listen matters. And having somewhere to see each other again can make the difference between a lovely conversation and a friendship with room to grow.
This week's Trail Tale brings together five lessons we'd keep, whether you're joining a group, hosting one, or hoping to turn more familiar faces into friends.
Small choices. Better conversations. More reasons to come back.
Let's dive in. 🧡
Twin Cities' first Saturday. A lake view and a whole new chapter. 🧡
Sacramento had plenty of personality in the frame. The dogs fit right in. 🐾
Nashville's Saturday crew: big smiles, good company, and a tiny walking buddy tucked into the group. 🐾
(Don’t see your city? We share more photos on Instagram and in each Meetup group. Otherwise this email would be longer than a CVS receipt.)
🏆 Michael's next chapter is getting published.
Michael, one of Nashville's original regulars, has been keeping the group updated on an article he submitted to a major news organization. Now it's been accepted for publication! Congratulations, Michael! 🎉
🏆 Polina put our Minnesota chapter on the map.
Our new host, Polina, led the Twin Cities' first walk with four amazing people joining her. With five people in the group, everyone had a chance to talk with everyone else. What a great start to the Minnesota chapter! 🧡
🏆 Aveiro kept the good company going.
After the morning walk, Jenna and some of the group returned to the salt flats for a barefoot outing in the salt and mud. We love seeing the gathering continue beyond the walk. Here's to more mornings that turn into afternoons together! 🧡
5 Lessons from 500+ Walks
What helps strangers feel comfortable enough to start talking? And what makes them want to come back?
After 500+ walks, here are five lessons we would keep. Some ask something of us. Others ask something of the setup.
The trail conversations got a microphone. 🎙️
We're launching The Board Talks, bringing our favorite trail conversations into podcast form.
Our first guest is Catherine Woodiwiss, a journalist and experience architect I met on The Board Walks in Austin. She turns “wouldn't it be cool if?” into actual gatherings, including a play reading that became a performance in an art gallery.
We talk about finding your own voice, inviting people into an idea, and making room for what matters without doing everything at once.
Watch or listen to our conversation here: YouTube · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · Substack.
Recently on The Board Walks, people brought these topics:
What's a piece of advice that changed how you think? (San Antonio)
What do you do purely because you enjoy it? (San Antonio)
What's your favorite myth? (Aveiro)
What's your newest obsession? (Sacramento)
What makes a relationship meaningful to you? (Sacramento)
Screenshot these. Steal with pride. Bring one to your next dinner party to shift the conversation from "meh" to marvelous.
Quick hits:
🎙️ Who should we talk to?
Know someone who would make a great guest on The Board Talks? Reply to this email with their name and a way for us to connect with them. Bonus points if they've joined us on a walk! 🧡
🌍 Know someone who would make a great host?
Think of the person who remembers names, introduces people, and makes newcomers feel welcome. They don't have to be the loudest voice, just someone who makes room for others.
If someone came to mind, send them our host application.
📸 Send us your Saturday.
Have a favorite photo from last weekend's walk? Hit reply and send it our way. We would love to see what your chapter got up to.
Find people who ask you questions, too.
It's a lovely feeling when you don't have to carry the conversation. Someone wants to hear about your latest obsession, brings one of their own, and suddenly you're both losing track of time.
The Board is our application-only private community for more of that: monthly Salons and spontaneous one-to-one Spark Calls with people who bring curiosity, depth, and a sense of fun.
Saturday morning. Five miles. Good company. Always free, in 20+ cities.
Come alone or bring a friend. Phones away, bring whatever's on your mind. You don't need to know anyone to join us. And if someone would enjoy coming along, send this their way.
Find your city, check the local details, and RSVP for Saturday.
Can't make it this week? No explanation needed. We'd love to see you another Saturday. 🧡
See you Saturday,
Elle & Cameron Hogan
Founders of The Board Walks
