Connection in Practice: Serendipity, Reciprocity and Community-Building
This episode marks Rose Claverie’s conversation with Sunny Bates for the Harvest Series.
Recorded at Harvest in Kaplankaya, they come together to explore a question that feels increasingly urgent in our modern world: what does real connection truly mean?
In this thoughtful and expansive dialogue, Sunny Bates challenges transactional networking and reframes connection as an act of generosity, curiosity, and courage. Reflecting on community, asking, and vulnerability, this episode is a powerful reminder that human connection remains one of our most essential tools.
Chapters
00:00 – Welcome to Harvest
00:29 – What makes a connection extraordinary
01:14 – Sunny Bates’ work and background
01:53 – Networking without discomfort
02:30 – Shyness, asking, and vulnerability
03:48 – Becoming a connector from childhood
05:12 – Why people fear uncomfortable personalities
06:00 – Giving generously and transformation
06:10 – How travel reshaped connection
07:31 – Networks, generosity, and ripple effects
08:25 – Introverts, extroverts, and curiosity
09:29 – Managing energy and meaningful interactions
10:39 – Hiring, trust, and deep evaluation
12:08 – Approaching busy or guarded people
13:53 – When connection becomes transactional
15:02 – Personal mission and alignment
16:05 – Rejection, fear, and asking again
17:25 – Phones, avoidance, and modern disconnection
18:46 – Advising TED and building communities
20:26 – Sustaining engaged communities
22:02 – Connection as political resistance
24:14 – Regretful connections and responsibility
28:24 – Courage, motherhood, and career risk
32:14 – The courage to ask
32:54 – Closing reflections
You can follow us on Instagram at @HarvestSeries or @rose.claverie for updates.
Watch our podcast episodes and speaker sessions on YouTube: Harvest Series.
Credits:
- Sound editing by: @lesbellesfrequences
- Technician in Kaplankaya: Joel Moriasi
- Music by: Chambord
Harvest Series is produced in partnership with Athena Advisers and Capital Partners
Harvest Series Founders: Burak Öymen and Roman Carel
