Insights and activities from September’s Joyful Connection Masterclass
The Connection Masterclass community came together in September and reminded us that connection ignores perfection, and instead, it thrives in play, curiosity, and presence. It’s built in the small moments when we let go, listen closer, and choose to show up as we are.
This month’s panellists, Ryan G, Sergio Santamaría, and Dr. Roxana Sufan each brought a different spark: the rhythm of play, the structure of belonging, and the calm of awareness. The exercises they introduced were made to be accessible, repeatable, and deeply human.
Curious about how you can practice these at home or with your colleagues? Read along for a better understanding.
Radio Ramp Mad Libs – Ryan G
The room lit up the moment Ryan G grabbed the mic. A lifelong broadcaster turned creator of Excitement Sessions, he knows how to make words feel alive. For him, joy is a decision rather than a peripheral experience, one we make every time we choose to connect with energy instead of hesitation.
His activity, Radio Ramp Mad Libs, captured that feeling perfectly. Participants filled in playful blanks using favorite songs, dream vacations, and causes close to their hearts, then performed their “radio intros” live, like DJs on air.
What began in laughter quickly turned into something deeper. A story about travel and a passion for ending homelessness sparked a wave of genuine curiosity across the room. Ryan showed how even lighthearted prompts can peel back layers and reveal what matters most.
How to try this yourself:
- Write your script. Fill in the blanks with personal, playful details.
- Perform it aloud. Deliver it with confidence and humor, don’t worry about it being perfect.
- Reflect together. Notice how quick stories often reveal the deepest truths.
Mediums of Connection – Sergio Santamaría
Every friendship starts somewhere, but staying connected takes intention. That’s what drives Sergio Santamaría, founder of People People, a nonprofit helping adults make and keep real friendships.
After a decade analyzing NBA data for teams like the Rockets and Pistons, Sergio turned his analytical mind to a more human problem: loneliness. His framework, Meet, Make, Maintain, maps how we form and sustain friendships, and this session focused on the middle step, the Make.
Through his concept of mediums, he showed how shared passions from music to movement to social causes become the bridges between people. Participants shared their own, discovering how common mediums spark comfort while uncommon ones invite curiosity.
When Sergio and Roxana connected over hiking and explored “Authentic Relating” as an uncommon medium, the message was clear: connection grows through both familiarity and discovery.
How to try this yourself:
- Identify your mediums, the 3-5 interests or values that define how you connect.
- Notice which are common and which are uncommon.
- Deepen both. Celebrate the shared and stay curious about the unfamiliar.
The Noticing Game – Dr. Roxana Sufan
When the world feels loud, presence can feel like rebellion. That’s what Dr. Roxana Sufan invited everyone to experience in The Noticing Game, a mindfulness-based Authentic Relating practice that turns awareness into connection.
With a background in molecular biology and years spent in the pharmaceutical industry, Roxana knows what pressure feels like. Her approach is rooted in something simple: noticing what’s happening right now, in the body, the mind, and in the heart, and naming it aloud.
The exercise began with one phrase: “Right now, I notice…” From there, participants spoke honestly, warmth in the cheeks, tightness in the chest, curiosity rising. In her demonstration with Ryan, the entire energy of the room softened. Vulnerability, it turned out, was contagious.
How to try this yourself:
- Begin with awareness. Pause, breathe, and tune in to what’s present.
- Speak it aloud. Start with “Right now, I notice…” and share without judgment.
- Listen with presence. Begin your response with “Hearing that, I notice…” and let the moment unfold.
A Masterclass That Stayed With Us
Ryan brought laughter and lightness. Sergio offered clarity and structure. Roxana opened space for stillness. Together, they showed that connection doesn’t need grand gestures, just intention, honesty, and a little play.
September’s Joyful Connection Masterclass proved that every conversation can be a doorway. Every shared laugh, a spark. Every moment of awareness, a bridge. We’re grateful to everyone who brought their energy and openness in September. The Connection Crew can’t wait to welcome you back for the next masterclass.
Written on 17 Oct 2025.
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