● Michael Kauffman: Build Something That Lights You Up
Michael Kauffman is the founder of Catskill Crew, a local newsletter that has grown into a media company, events engine, product lab, and community platform for the Catskills. For Michael, the newsletter is only the beginning: a way to support local businesses, create reasons for people to gather, and build something that feels deeply rooted in place.
Brian and Michael talk about what it means to build a local media company that is community-led. Michael shares the winding path that brought him there, from startups and health tech to an existential reset on a fly-fishing trip that pushed him to stop chasing market opportunities and build something he wanted to run for the rest of his life.
The conversation ranges from rebuilding a Catskills town to matching venues with musicians, from seed swaps and local farms to the pressure of AI and screens. At the center is a simple argument: humans need nature, social life, and work that actually lights them up. One friend in the real world beats any number of connections in the metaverse.
Learn more about Michael's work at https://catskillcrew.com/ and https://thenewsletter.club/.
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