What started as Ric Pratte’s simple desire to grab a beer with fellow remote workers has blossomed into AVL Digital Nomads—a thriving 3,800-member community that's become a cornerstone of Asheville's professional landscape. In this episode, Ric shares how a casual meetup at Wedge Brewing four years ago evolved into a cornerstone local organization hosting dozens of monthly events.

From intimate lunch gatherings for introverts to collaborative learning sessions on AI and leadership, AVL Digital Nomads addresses the unique challenges facing full or part-time remote workers: loneliness and lack of professional development. With 40+ volunteer organizers and 450+ monthly participants, the community has expanded beyond Asheville through their parent organization, Thrive Remotely, which includes a global newsletter and chapters in other cities.

Ric discusses the economic impact of remote workers on Asheville and shares his favorite local recommendations for getting out and about.
https://avldigitalnomads.org/
https://news.thriveremotely.io/

Find your host, Laura Jurgens, PhD, Relationship & Intimacy Coach at https://laurajurgens.com Laura specializes in helping people overcome the disconnection from Desire Gaps with their partners.

Find her other podcast, Sex Help for Smart People, here: https://laurajurgens.com/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.