Joe Pope shares his passion for home brewing beer and smoking meats, revealing how his science background and connections with the craft beer community sparked his brewing journey. He talks about experimenting with different styles, giving his beers creative names, and the fun of sharing these creations with friends and colleagues. Joe emphasizes the importance of genuine relationships and how hobbies outside work foster those connections, especially in his role as a business development leader. He also discusses Hinge’s unique “Hinge Has Your Back Day,” encouraging employees to celebrate their interests and build a positive culture. Joe believes that embracing one’s “And” makes professionals more relatable and successful.

· Sharing your personal "And"—your hobbies or passions outside work—can help build better relationships and make you more successful professionally.
· Joe found more success when he embraced who he really is and shared that openly, even on platforms like LinkedIn.
· He believes understanding clients’ and colleagues’ interests outside of work leads to stronger connections and better business outcomes.
· Creating a supportive, human-centric environment starts at the top and is essential for a positive agency culture.
· At his company, they have an annual “Hinge Has Your Back Day,” encouraging employees to step away from work and do what they love, reinforcing the value of having interests beyond just the job title.

Catherine Mattis shares her journey from overcoming a fear of public speaking to performing stand-up comedy across the New York. She explains how comedy has helped her find her voice, improve her resiliency, and become a more confident communicator, all skills she uses daily as a public accountant. Catherine emphasizes the importance of having passions outside of work, ensuring she avoids an identity crisis as work changes happen. She also discusses her positive workplace culture at LVBW, where differences are celebrated and personal interests are openly embraced. Catherine keeps her workplace humor appropriate and finds that clients and colleagues are genuinely curious about her comedy background. Her biggest advice: your hobbies matter and the right environment will appreciate and support who you truly are.

· Catherine emphasizes the importance of having something outside of work to avoid an identity crisis. Comedy helped her discover who she truly is.
· Performing comedy, especially dealing with tough crowds and bombed sets, has helped her develop resilience that translates directly into handling feedback and challenges at work.
· She points out that being "naturally funny" is just a starting point. Consistent practice, writing, and effort are what make someone good at comedy, or any skill.
· Catherine stresses how a supportive and human-focused work environment makes it easier (and more motivating) to bring your whole self to work and build real relationships.
· She encourages listeners not to hide their passions and hobbies, as sharing them openly leads to authenticity, better energy, and sometimes even helps you find the right people and organizations to surround yourself with.

Rachel Farris shares her journey as a passionate foodie and how her love of food connects her with people at work and beyond. She talks about growing up watching cooking shows, recreating dishes with her sister, and traveling specifically to try unique foods from around the world. Rachel reveals how documenting her food adventures on the Belly app helps her share recommendations and stay connected with friends and former colleagues. She emphasizes the power of food to build relationships, break the ice with clients, and foster a sense of community in any workplace. Rachel also encourages listeners to share their own interests at work, noting that people love to see others light up with passion. Her story is a vibrant reminder that who you are outside of work matters and can unify teams in meaningful ways.

· Rachel is a passionate foodie who travels specifically to try local dishes and recreates them at home. Food is a central hobby that lights her up both personally and professionally.
· She believes talking about personal passions like food helps build meaningful relationships at work, even bridging gaps between colleagues of different titles, generations, and backgrounds.
· Rachel emphasizes that being open about your interests and personal life at work can create trust and deeper human relationships, leading to better teamwork and mutual support.
· She shares that firms should create open spaces and events where people can share and celebrate their "And"s, showing that this positively impacts morale, retention, and overall culture.
· Rachel encourages listeners to share their unique hobbies or interests at work, saying people are more receptive and interested than you might think as it often leads to unexpected connections and memorable relationships.