GCUC Podcast - Coworking, Hospitality & The Future of Work

Magda Al-Nugaidi, Managing Director at Uncommon, starts her day rowing on a misty river before sunrise, a practice that keeps her grounded and energized to rethink the workspace from the ground up. She’s turning offices into spaces where people feel inspired, supported, and truly connected. The future of work isn’t just desks and square footage, its design, wellbeing, and community. In this episod...

The flexible workspace industry is exploding, but here’s the hard truth: most operators are flying blind. Enter Jonathan Bevan (CEO of Techspace) and Elliot Gold (Co-Founder of Work. Life). They’re on a mission to change the game with the Workspace Intelligence Network, WIN, an operator-led alliance built to weaponize data for growth. In this episode, Liz Elam pulls back the curtain on how WIN is...

In this episode of The GCUC Podcast, host Liz Elam sits down with Thom Wernke, co-founder of StartDock, for a deep dive into the evolution of coworking, the power of community, and the realities of scaling without losing your magic. From his early days launching an IT company in university to running six stunning, canal-side coworking spaces in the Netherlands, Thom shares how an unexpected pivot...

Bonus Europe Podcast, Introed by Liz Elam-  Podcast Description Guests: Jean-Yves Hauer Founder at SocialWorkplaces/ Coworking Europe & Zoe Ellis-Moore CEO & Founder of Spaces to Places  Liz introduces this special crossover episode spotlighting a new global initiative in which she  teams up with Jean-Yves Hauer of Coworking Europe. Jean Yves is sitting down with Zoe Ellis-Moore, founder o...

From building one of Canada’s top coworking brands to crushing triathlons, Kane Wilmot knows what it takes to push limits and lead with resilience. In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, Liz Elam chats with the co-founder and CEO of IQ Offices about scaling a premium flexible workspace brand, navigating new market challenges, and why endurance training has made him a stronger leader. Kane shares ins...

How do you create a coworking experience that not only attracts members but keeps them happy and engaged long-term? In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, Liz sits down with Megan from 25N Coworking to reveal the secret sauce behind their legendary onboarding and hospitality strategy. Megan shares how 25N sets the tone for community from the very first touchpoint, delivering a high-touch experience...

If you know Liz & GCUC then you know our obsession with the book Unreasonable Hospitality. We consider it the bible of our industry and evidence that Coworking should be in the hospitality industry. When we heard from our friend Brad Krauskopf that a top member of his team was attending the Unreasonable Hospitality summit, we knew we had to get her take on the experience. Rebekah (Bex)  Murphy...

Raj Choudhury, Professor at London School of Economics and Political Science joins Liz Elam to reveal what “work from anywhere” really means, and why it matters now. Dr. Raj Choudhury, a Professor at London School of Economics and Political Science and widely recognized expert on the future of work, draws on over a decade of research and global case studies, including companies like Airbnb and Spo...

Liz Elam sits down with Juda Srour, the CEO and Co-founder of Jay Suites and Jay Conference, for a candid conversation about what it takes to grow a coworking and event space brand in one of the world’s most competitive real estate markets. Juda began his journey in the industry at just nineteen years old, launching his first location and building Jay Suites from the ground up. Today, the company...

Ana Bernardo, Head of Operations at Work. Life, joins GCUC founder and host, Liz Elam for a conversation that’s thoughtful, energizing, and real. From her beginnings in science to leading teams in the coworking industry, Ana’s story is rooted in curiosity, growth, and leading with care. Liz and Ana dive into her passion for sustainability and talk about how to implement and encourage your members...

Join Liz Elam of GCUC and Laura Kozelouzek of Quest Workspaces in this engaging podcast episode! They dive into Laura's recovery from a helisking incident, morning routines, and the evolving post-COVID business landscape.   Highlights include: The influence of morning routines and mindset on leadership. The transformation of workspace design: macro to micro trends. A new take on WeWork, profitabil...

What comes after coworking? A smarter, fairer, more human way to build our cities—and Jonathan O’Byrne is here to tell us how. Get ready for a deep dive on this week’s GCUC Podcast, Liz Elam, GCUC Founder sits down with coworking pioneer and author Jonathan O’Byrne to unpack the big ideas behind his new book After Coworking. From the early days of Collective Works to leading 1,000 staff across Asi...

I did the unthinkable... I forgot to record. So I used AI to clone my voice and make y'all a little teaser. Enjoy! 

The best conversations aren’t polished—they’re real, raw, and exactly what we need. That’s the energy Emilie Lashmar brings to this powerful episode with Liz Elam, recorded amid unpacked boxes, barking dogs, and refreshing honesty. Emilie, Event Producer of GCUC UK, opens up about leading through transition, the evolving future of coworking, and why human connection—not perfection—is the real curr...

On this episode of the GCUC Podcast, host, Liz Elam is joined by siblings Giles and Niki Fuchs—the visionary minds behind Office Space in Town (OSiT) and the iconic Burgh Island Hotel. From transforming historic buildings into thriving coworking hubs to running one of the UK’s most beloved heritage hotels, their story is one of bold decisions, emotional design, and a shared vision for the future o...

In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, Liz Elam sits down with Liz Simon, Chief Operating Officer at Industrious, to discuss how the company is scaling with intention, staying true to its hospitality-driven brand, and redefining what coworking can be. Liz Simon shares valuable insights on enterprise client trends, CBRE’s influence on growth, and how partnerships like the one with Delta Airlines are...

Imagine everyone buzzing about the groundbreaking deals, the career-launching connections, and the game-changing partnerships forged at the coworking event of the year. Now, imagine you weren't there. Liz Elam, GCUC founder, and Stormy McBride, her powerhouse director, are pulling back the curtain on why Boston and the iconic New Balance track are the epic setting for this year's GCUC. They're rev...

GCUC founder Liz Elam sits down with Nir Kelner, CEO of Brain Embassy, to delve into the future of coworking. Nir shares how Brain Embassy is reimagining workspaces by blending hospitality with innovation, offering unique experiences like exclusive outdoor retreats and expanding into global markets. He also highlights the resilience of Israel’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Tune in for a thought prov...

Ben Wright, Head of Global Partnerships at The Instant Group, joins Liz Elam, founder of GCUC, for an enlightening conversation about the evolving coworking landscape. Ben reveals the driving forces behind Instant Group’s global expansion, how technology is shaping the future of workspaces, and the importance of fostering authentic partnerships in today’s competitive market. From adapting to indus...

What sets you apart? In this inspiring episode, Liz Elam (GCUC Founder) chats with the incomparable Cat Johnson,(Cat Johnson Co, Founder), coworking community builder, writer, and coach. Cat shares her journey into thought leadership and how she’s helping others uncover their “unfair advantage.” From authentic storytelling to finding balance between creativity and structure, Cat offers wisdom and...

This one contains a GCUC exclusive announcement… Join us for a powerful conversation with Drake Rankin, CEO of Green Hive Spaces, as he shares his journey from a college dropout to launching a coworking franchise!  Drake chats with Liz Elam (GCUC founder) about the transformative power of thoughtful space design and how it fosters authentic human connections and sparks spontaneous networking. He d...

With 47 locations across the globe, Mindspace has redefined coworking on a massive scale. Join Yotam Alroy, co-founder of Mindspace, on the GCUC Podcast as he shares the journey of transforming a basic concept in Tel Aviv into a world-renowned hub of innovation and hospitality. Discover the secrets behind Mindspace’s boutique hotel inspired workspaces, their ability to foster genuine community con...

In this dynamic year-end episode, Liz Elam dives into the Megatrends shaping the coworking industry in 2025. From the dramatic WeWork developments to the pivotal shift toward hospitality, Liz offers a fast-paced, insightful overview of where the industry is headed. Explore the rise of hyper-focused spaces, the transformative power of AI, and the evolving real estate landscape. Learn how branding,...

Have  you heard of Radious? Liz Elam sits down with the CEO,  Amina Moreau, the visionary CEO of Radious, a company redefining workspaces by transforming residential properties into flexible, inspiring environments. Amina shares her journey of building Radious from the ground up, driven by her passion for autonomy and sustainability in the workplace. Listen as Amina discusses the challenges of sca...

This week, Liz Elam sits down with Tony Aleksandrov, the dynamic founder of WorkBetter, Bulgaria’s leading coworking provider. Tony shares his inspiring journey from working in Germany with Mindspace to returning home and building a coworking powerhouse from the ground up. Listen as Tony discusses WorkBetter’s rapid growth, how they achieved 100% occupancy with zero turnover, and why focusing on h...