Story of the Week
The Craving for Real in an AI World
Every Monday night, I do something that would have seemed ridiculous to me five years ago: I sit in my home office and go live on YouTube while opening Pokémon cards.
That's it. A grown man opening cardboard with cartoon animals on them.
And yet, 6,000 to 7,000 people show up every week to watch. It’s part of their weekly ritual. They tune in over dinner with their families, sneak a view while at work, and participate in the live chat like they're hanging out with friends.
Why? Because it's live. It's real. It's authentic. I make mistakes, I fumble, I lose my train of thought — and that's exactly what people want in a world that's increasingly automated and artificial.
The $0 Marketing Phenomenon
Here's what happened with Card Party: I announced the event, and within hours, people were booking flights and hotels.
No sales page, no marketing funnel, no ad spend. Just pure demand for human connection around a shared interest.
This isn't unique to Pokémon. I'm seeing this pattern everywhere:
- Local meetups selling out instantly
- Live streams outperforming polished videos
- Small, intimate events commanding premium prices
- Communities choosing in-person gatherings over virtual alternatives
The common thread? People are choosing human experiences over digital convenience.
Start Small, Think Human
You don't need 5,000 people to create magic. Some of my most impactful events have been the smallest ones.
Years ago, my friend Chris Ducker and I started hosting 1-Day Business Breakthrough events — just 20 entrepreneurs in a rented co-working space in San Diego. We'd spend the day masterminding together, solving real business problems, then have dinner afterward.
No stage, no microphones, no production crew. Just real conversations between real people trying to build real businesses. Those intimate gatherings created some of my favorite memories and strongest professional relationships.
The Coffee Shop Strategy
Your first "event" could be as simple as:
- Meeting five people from your online community at a local coffee shop
- Hosting a skill-sharing session in a park
- Organizing a walking meeting with fellow entrepreneurs
- Creating a monthly breakfast club for people in your industry
The magic isn't in the venue or the production value — it's in bringing people together around something they care about.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
As AI becomes more prevalent, human experiences become more valuable.
As digital interactions become the norm, in-person connections become premium.
As everything gets automated, authenticity becomes the differentiator.
People can get information anywhere. They can watch polished content anytime. But they can only get genuine human connection in real-time, with real people, in real spaces.
The Live Stream Advantage
If in-person isn't possible, live streaming is the next best thing. There's something magical about shared time that recorded content can't replicate.
When I go live on Monday nights, people aren't just watching — they're participating. They're commenting in real-time, reacting to what's happening, feeling like they're part of something bigger than themselves.
The imperfections aren't bugs — they're features. They prove it's real, it's happening now, and they're experiencing it together with others.
Your Human Experience Challenge
This week, I challenge you to plan one human experience for your community:
Option 1: Go Live — Schedule a live stream where you share something you're passionate about. Don't script it, don't over-produce it. Just show up and be human.
Option 2: Meet Up — Organize a small gathering (even just 3-5 people from your network). Coffee shop, park, co-working space. Somewhere you can have real conversations.
Option 3: Create Ritual — Start a regular touchpoint where your community can connect in real-time. Weekly live Q&As, monthly virtual coffee chats, quarterly in-person meetups.
The goal isn't perfection — it's connection.
In a world moving toward artificial everything, the businesses and creators who prioritize authentic human experiences will be the ones that people remember, trust, and choose to support.
Stop hiding behind polished content and perfect presentations. Your community doesn't want another webinar — they want to connect with you and each other.
Here's to getting real!
