Founder2Founder with Aaron Spivak
Entrepreneurship isn’t just a career—it’s a relentless, all-consuming way of life.
Welcome to Founder2Founder a raw and unfiltered podcast where host Aaron Spivak pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build something from the ground up. No sugarcoating, no overnight success stories—just deep, honest conversations with some of the most driven, underrated, and game-changing founders of our time. From brutal setbacks to game-changing mindset shifts, Aaron goes beyond the polished success stories to uncover the unglamorous, deeply personal side of building a business.
As a seasoned entrepreneur himself, Aaron goes beneath the surface and gets into the nitty-gritty of what it truly takes to succeed. He’ll dive into the habits, behaviors, and routines that set elite founders apart, the tactics and strategies that are working today, and the mindset shifts required to push through the hardest moments. Through raw personal stories, late-night struggles, and breakthrough moments, guests open up about what it really means to grow, not just as a founder, but as a person.
Each week, Aaron sits down with visionary entrepreneurs from high-growth startup founders to seasoned CEOs, for real, unfiltered conversations about the highs, lows, and everything in between. Whether you're scaling a company, launching your first venture, or just looking for inspiration, this podcast will give you the insights, motivation, and real-world advice you won’t get just anywhere. If you're ready to strip away the illusion and get real about what it means to build, sacrifice, and thrive, this is the podcast for you. Join us every Wednesday!
Founder2Founder with Aaron Spivak
From 0 to 2,000+ Person Events: Lucy Nelles on Community, Profit, and Scale
In this episode of Founder2Founder Aaron Spivak sits down with Lucy Nelles, leading community-building expert and co-founder of Coffee & Chill Miami, the wildly popular bi-weekly sober wellness party that now draws over 1,000 guests per event. With over 100 sold-out events and collaborations with top global brands, Lucy has cracked the code on making in-person gatherings profitable, scalable, and deeply impactful.
She shares how she went from feeling isolated in a new city to building a movement, and now teaches others to do the same through her program, Community Mastery. Listen in for insights on team structure, brand partnerships, pricing strategy, and how to build meaningful connections without alcohol.
Chapters:
02:14 – Introducing Lucy: From Isolation to Community
03:46 – The Move to Miami & Early Challenges
04:34 – The First Event That Sparked It All
05:10 – Ice Baths, Stock Tanks & the Rise of a Trend
06:59 – How Coffee & Chill Was Born
08:03 – Losing $10K on One Event (and What She Learned)
09:30 – The #1 Mistake Event Hosts Make
11:00 – The First Coffee & Chill: JBL Speakers & 250 Guests
12:38 – Gradually Raising Ticket Prices & Building Trust
13:57 – Driving Repeat Attendance Every Two Weeks
16:24 – Special Collaborations: Art Basel, F1, NFL
17:18 – How Lucy and Her Co-Founder Divide and Conquer
19:39 – Keeping a Healthy Co-Founder Relationship
21:06 – Investing in Learning for Herself and Her Team
24:28 – Launching Community Mastery to Serve Others
26:09 – Balancing Two Businesses Without Burnout
27:37 – Time-Blocking, Non-Negotiables, and Systems
30:26 – Expanding Coffee & Chill Into New Cities
31:45 – How to Stand Out in a “Saturated” Market
33:31 – Rethinking Nightlife: No Booze, All Wellness
38:54 – Why Lucy Quit Drinking and What Changed
43:07 – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Through Results
45:45 – The Bigger Mission: Building In-Person Culture
Guest Links:
Website: https://coffeeandchill.com/
Instagram: @luceilanelles & @coffeeandchillmiami
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