"Build Where People Already Are"

Gina Bianchini thinks one of the biggest mistakes community builders make is choosing the wrong place to gather people. The founder and CEO of Mighty Networks joins Seth Resler to explain why building a community on platforms like Facebook Groups, Discord, Slack, or WhatsApp can actually work against the relationships you’re trying to create. Gina argues that communities thrive when people feel like they’re entering a distinct space with its own culture, identity, and purpose — not just another feed competing for attention. The bad community advice she tackles: “We need to be where everyone already is.” Along the way, Seth and Gina discuss: * The difference between an audience and a community * Why member-to-member interaction matters more than creator engagement * How communities become more energizing than content creation alone * Why charging for a community often increases participation * The hidden downside of “making it as easy as possible” * Why creators don’t need massive audiences to launch successful communities * How AI and algorithmic feeds are making human connection more valuable Gina also shares a surprising example of how the exact same yoga community behaved completely differently after moving off Facebook and into its own dedicated space. If you’ve been wondering whether your audience is ready for community — or whether you’re building in the wrong place — this conversation will change the way you think about where belonging actually happens.