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The Awkward Handshake

The Awkward Handshake

By: Mary Williams & Megan Eckman
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About this listen

The Awkward Handshake is a podcast about networking, business, and what really happens in the room.


Hosted by two friends in business who’ve doubled down on the local scene, this show pulls back the curtain on the good, the bad, and the deeply awkward realities of networking. From event logistics and social dynamics to follow-ups, coffee chats, and conversions, we’re talking about how relationships turn into revenue in the real world — not the internet fantasy version.


We record from Sasquatch Media Grounds in Vancouver, Washington, and most episodes draw directly from our experiences attending multiple networking events a week across the Portland–Vancouver metro. Sometimes we’re joined by guests who host or design their own events. Sometimes it’s just us, downloading what worked, what didn’t, and what we wish someone had told us sooner.


Your hosts are Megan Eckman, co-founder of Fat Cap Design and author of PDX Spellbound, and Mary Williams, founder of Sasquatch Media Grounds and Sensible Woo.


This show is for people who take their business seriously, care about doing work that sustains them, and want to stop guessing where clients come from. Expect candid stories, sharp insights, and practical perspective on building a business through real human connection.

Business is people. Don’t be passive.

© 2026 The Awkward Handshake
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Episodes
  • Why We Love Small Talk
    Mar 13 2026

    Small talk gets a bad reputation.

    People love to say they hate it. They call it shallow, pointless, or awkward. But in reality, small talk is one of the most powerful social tools we have — especially in networking spaces.

    In this episode of The Awkward Handshake, Mary and Megan unpack why small talk matters more than people think and how it acts as the social bridge that helps strangers move toward meaningful conversation.

    Because before you get to the big ideas, the collaborations, and the business opportunities… you have to build comfort first.

    And that’s where small talk shines.

    Mary and Megan explore how small talk creates safety in a room, why it helps people regulate socially, and how it gives conversations somewhere to go. They also share why resisting small talk can actually make networking harder — not easier.

    If you’ve ever felt awkward starting conversations at events or wondered how some people make networking look effortless, this episode will change how you think about the humble art of small talk.

    In This Episode, We Talk About

    • Why small talk is often misunderstood
    • How small talk helps people feel safe in unfamiliar rooms
    • The role small talk plays in building trust
    • Why skipping small talk can make conversations feel abrupt
    • How small talk opens the door to deeper connections
    • The difference between transactional networking and relational networking
    • Simple ways to get better at starting conversations

    Keep in touch!

    Follow Megan Eckman

    • Fat Cap Design
    • PDX Spellbound

    Follow Mary Williams

    • Sasquatch Media Grounds
    • Sensible Woo
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • You’re More Than Your Elevator Pitch
    Mar 6 2026

    Most networking advice tells you to perfect your elevator pitch.

    But what if that’s the wrong place to start?

    In this episode of The Awkward Handshake, Mary and Megan sit down with Kellen Moody to talk about why people are so much more than the one-line explanation of their business — and why the best networking conversations rarely start with a rehearsed pitch.

    Kel brings a refreshing perspective on curiosity, connection, and the power of being a genuinely interesting human in professional spaces. Together, the three of them unpack how real relationships form, why curiosity is one of the most underrated networking skills, and how conversations become more meaningful when we let people show up as full humans instead of job titles.

    If you’ve ever felt boxed in by the pressure to “deliver the perfect pitch,” this conversation might be the permission slip you didn’t know you needed.

    Because the best rooms don’t reward the most polished pitch.

    They reward the most human presence.

    In This Episode, We Talk About:

    • Why elevator pitches can sometimes shut down real conversation
    • The role curiosity plays in building authentic connections
    • How to ask better questions in networking settings
    • Why being interesting matters more than sounding impressive
    • The difference between transactional networking and relational networking
    • How curiosity leads to stronger collaborations and referrals
    • Why your personality and interests belong in the room too

    Connect with our guest, Kellen Moody:

    • Kel's Website
    • Kel's LinkedIn

    Keep in touch!

    Follow Megan Eckman

    • Fat Cap Design
    • PDX Spellbound

    Follow Mary Williams

    • Sasquatch Media Grounds
    • Sensible Woo
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • Finding Your Yes Friend
    Feb 27 2026

    In this episode of The Awkward Handshake, Mary and Megan unpack what a “Yes Friend” really is — and why finding one might have less to do with being social… and more to do with nervous system awareness.

    What started as a conversation about building deeper friendships through networking turned into something bigger: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses… and how those stress patterns show up in business rooms when you’re trying to connect, stay grounded, and not accidentally agree to something you regret.

    A Yes Friend isn’t just someone you like.
    It’s someone who helps you get a better outcome in the room.

    And yes — it’s work. The good kind.

    In this episode, we talk about:

    • Why “Yes Friends” don’t just appear out of nowhere
    • How fight/flight/freeze/fawn responses show up at networking events
    • What it looks like to support a friend when they freeze or fawn
    • The “emotional readiness weight class” idea — and why it matters
    • Why some people disappear at events (and how that impacts trust)
    • How to be an “exit buddy” and rescue each other from conversations gracefully
    • The underrated power of small talk as social lubrication while your brain catches up
    • Why networking can trigger intense emotions (even if you didn’t expect it)
    • How being a connector creates compounding returns over time
    • Why follow-up can save almost any awkward moment
    • The truth: you can’t solve this only in your home office — you have to do reps in the real world

    If you’ve ever wondered why networking feels harder than it “should,” this episode will give you a new lens — and a much kinder interpretation of your own behavior.

    Keep in touch!

    Follow Megan Eckman

    • Fat Cap Design
    • PDX Spellbound

    Follow Mary Williams

    • Sasquatch Media Grounds
    • Sensible Woo
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
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