Episode Description
At the turn of the 20th century, there were hundreds of third places in every city. Those slowly disappeared. And now they’re coming back.
Drew Wahl has spent over a decade inside some of the world’s most interesting clubs, and he sees a deeper shift happening. Third places are coming back. People want real rooms with real people where the phones go away and the conversations actually matter. As Chief Partnership Officer of the Sonato Alliance — a network of nearly 90 independent private social clubs worldwide — Drew sits down with Mary to talk about why clubs are resurging, what members really want, how culture defines a club’s identity, and why a club is a living, breathing thing you come back to, not just a place you visit. If you’ve ever wondered what happens behind the door with no sign on it, start here.
“Clubs are one of the last bastions where you can limit technology. You’re actually interacting with the human.”
Key Takeaways
- Why social clubs are the “tip of the spear” in the return of third places
- What makes clubs one of the last AI-free, tech-limited spaces and why that matters
- Why a club is a living place and what it means that conversations stay there
- What members actually want (hint: it’s not the food)
Guest
Drew Wahl, Chief Partnership Officer of the Sonato Alliance
