Just Press Record: Matt Ackermann And Matthew Stafford

On every episode of Just Press Record, I pick two fascinating people who don’t know each other, invite them to sit down for a barstool-style conversation, and we… just press record.

If you’re a believer in multi-disciplinary thinking, practicing curiosity as a habit, and (always) remembering to have some f****** fun, you’re going to love listening in as these guests uncover truths about themselves and each other.

And make sure you stick around until the end, because I take notes throughout the conversation, and re-surfacing big ideas before we sign-off produces some incredible insights.

Matt Ackermann is the Chief Content Officer at Integrated Partners, which translates to him being an expect content creator, producer, and marketer (and book author!). He knows how to find what works about an idea and turn it up to 11. Plus, he’s got a soft spot for community service.

As a matter of fact, Ackermann helped bring Porchfest to his hometown in New Jersey. The event puts local bands on neighborly porches all over town and encourages the whole community to mingle and enjoy the arts. That and coaching youth sports make up some of his favorite hobbies, which is exactly the type of local involvement I knew he would love this next guest for.

Matthew Stafford is the co-founder of 9others, a business owner/operator/founder small dinner network. Matthew and his business partner have spent over 13 years hosting monthly 10-person dinners of stranger to build community. It’s no Porchfest, but it’s a major effort that gets another whole community mingling, mixing, and talking to each other in a way that wouldn’t happen unless somebody like Matthew stepped up.

People don’t just come together. Stories don’t just write themselves. Somebody has to set the stage.

Matt Ackermann and Matthew Stafford are hard-wired to be stage setters.

That’s how I knew this would be a great conversation.

We talked about both of their books and most purposeful work.

We talked about networking as an introvert vs. as an extrovert.

We talked about how to get out of a bad conversation.

We talked about… quiddity? Yeah, quiddity. Not a Harry Potter thing.

We talked about what makes a great leader, and where they’ve both met them in their work and lives.

Somewhere in there I think we made it up to 7 words that start with “C” to help organize it all too.

And last but not least, we did an abridged round of Desert Island Discs—we all weighed in on this, see if you can guess the 3 albums I picked on the spot (and then guess how much I’m still torturing myself over all the things I left out).

You will not attend a conference or networking event the same way after you listen to these two talk.

It’s Matt Ackermann and Matthew Stafford on Just Press Record: