The Conscious Cut
This podcast is dedicated to re-thinking sustainability in fashion and beyond. As a second-generation garment manufacturer, host Hoiki Liu has seen the challenges of overproduction, greenwashing, and unsustainable business models firsthand. Through conversations with entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers—especially those driving sustainable practices here in Hong Kong—we’ll explore real solutions for a more responsible and transparent future. Let’s cut through the noise and redefine sustainability together.
The Conscious Cut
Ep. 12 Building Bridges: Community Power for Sustainable Habits w/ Nicolle Macario & Avey Cortes
In this collaborative episode of The Conscious Cut, host Hoiki Liu teams up with Avey Cortes and Nicolle Macario, two visionary community builders in Hong Kong dedicated to fostering connection and conscious lifestyles. Avey, founder of the nonprofit Sweat With Us and the podcast Move Sweat Discover, shares how he launched free fitness classes for domestic workers during COVID, growing a supportive network of over a thousand members while promoting accessible wellness and inclusivity. Nicolle, creator of La Lusyon, discusses her shift from supporting sustainable brands like Hula and Fenxiang to helping entrepreneurs craft meaningful events that nurture lasting customer relationships and mindful habits. Together, they explore the power of shared values in overcoming isolation, mediating challenges within groups, and tying community efforts to environmental stewardship—like reducing waste through thoughtful event planning and encouraging reusable practices. Tune in for heartfelt insights on evolving from introverts to changemakers, and discover how building strong networks can inspire sustainable shifts in daily life.
Avey Cortes is the founder of Sweat With Us and Move Sweat Discover; Nicolle Macario is the founder of La Lusyon.
Thank you for listening!
Welcome to the Conscious Cut. I'm your host, Hoiki Liu. This podcast is all about rethinking sustainability across fashion, lifestyle and everyday practices. Through conversations with entrepreneurs, policymakers, educators and changemakers in Hong Kong and beyond, we'll explore real solutions, from industry-wide policies to the small habits we can all adopt. Let's cut through the noise and create meaningful change together.
Hoiki Liu:Welcome back to the Conscious Cut. In this special joint episode, we're diving into the heart of what makes sustainable change possible strong, supportive communities. As someone who's seen firsthand how collaborative drives real progress in fashion and beyond, I'm thrilled to chat with two incredible builders right here in Hong Kong Avi Cortez, the force behind the inspiring fitness nonprofit Sweat With Us and his podcast Move Sweat Discover. And Nicole Macario, founder of Lelution, who's been my go-to partner for creating workshops and building community events. We'll explore how to create spaces that empower people, foster connection, and how positive, healthy mindset ties into conscious living. Let's cut through to isolation and discover how community building can redefine our habits for a brighter, more responsible future. Thanks for being here, guys.
Avey Cortes:Thanks for the intro.
Hoiki Liu:So a little bit about how we met um avi. We met at family farm, so you lead all the classes. Well, not all the classes. You lead a lot of the classes there and I'm in your class often because he's very engaging, very captivating, and I don't feel like I'm allowed to stop when I'm in your class, which is the best thing and also you have. So you're in the Family Farm community. You also have your own communities at Moosewood Discover, where you interview various individuals on their the fitness journey and how it ties into their lifestyle and also a nonprofit sweat with us. I want to ask Avi first, with so many communities, because I know I've just mentioned street, but you're in so many more You're at Lululemon, what else are you at?
Hoiki Liu:You're at so many workout places, so many fitness communities. So I mean, what stands out for me, I guess, is Family Farm, because that's where we meet. What was the draw for you to join this community?
Avey Cortes:people, uh, within these uh initiatives. Um, so for family forum, obviously, you know, like I know I've known lindsay for a long time and um, it just seemed like a kind of natural, uh, I guess fit for us to work together.
Nicolle Macario:Um and yeah yeah, okay, so, but you are already in so many, as I said, so what was the reason for starting your own then?
Avey Cortes:Again, I don't think it was like an idea that I wanted to start my own community For Sweat With Us. It was an idea that I had for so long. You know, I think that fitness should be accessible to everybody, and the domestic workers, particularly in Hong Kong, they work so hard, they're like the heartbeat of our city and I found that they're often overload and so I just wanted to, you know, give back. Really, that's as simple as it was, and we started in the middle of COVID, when lockdown was like a hard thing.
Nicolle Macario:Right.
Avey Cortes:Where we were wearing masks. You had to have QR codes and like proven tests and all that. Sorry, like triggering everybody here.
Nicolle Macario:I forgot the name of the app. What was that app? Leave Home Safe.
Avey Cortes:Oh, yes, yes, oh, my God so there were all these restrictions and yeah, we just started right there, um, and it was 10 ladies, uh, in an event space in shengwan and yeah, I just wanted to give them fitness, connect with them, have them connect. And there was the same 10 ladies for probably I don't know four weeks or something like that. And then, word of mouth, one invited the other grew to 20. 20 grew to however many, and now I think we sit at like about a thousand.
Nicolle Macario:Oh, wow, that's amazing In our app. And now, besides having the domestic community, you also have a community of coaches that helps you run this program. So it's not all on you, right no, yeah.
Avey Cortes:I mean like as we, as we started to grow, I was like I can't be the only one yeah teaching these classes.
Avey Cortes:Um, and also I realized that I had this huge connection with different gyms and different trainers, and you know I can only teach a certain amount of things. So you know, like reaching out to my friend that was a yoga teacher, reaching out to my friend that was a Pilates teacher, reaching out to, you know, all these different gyms that had different movement modalities, just to kind of open it up and to be able to expand the offering. Yeah, can I?
Nicolle Macario:just say one thing yeah, please, I admire you for doing that. Yeah, because I mean, I'm Filipino and I'm not going to get emotional. But a lot of these domestic helpers, because they're coming from, they're leaving home, essentially, and they actually go through horrible health concerns.
Hoiki Liu:Yeah.
Nicolle Macario:Because they're at home and they're not. They're someone else's home and then they're not moving. And you know I think I've mentioned my fiance is a trail runner and a lot of them are volunteers, like they're domestic helpers, volunteers that are helping in each kind of each. What do you call it, like pit stop?
Avey Cortes:Yeah station.
Nicolle Macario:Pit stop and station and they've become runners themselves and it's helped them like beat cancer, yeah, and stuff like that and like I think people don't really look at domestic helpers. So I applaud you for honestly recognizing them and giving them a space and, yeah, just telling them that you know you can have jolly b, but you also have to like dance. You know like you gotta work out. Philippines is not a philippines is not a walking community, so workouts are also not seen as an everyday thing there. So just to show that here in hong kong it for them, it also they bring it home yeah like I'm sure they brought it home to philippines and like have it done with their family?
Nicolle Macario:I'm sure they called their family on facetime and whatever you taught them to teach them. So I'm sure there's the effect, even if it was just in hong kong so I applaud you for doing that.
Avey Cortes:Really, it means a lot to me. So I mean a large part of it as well, was I? You know I'm also part filipino. Yeah, and a large part of it was, you know, every sunday seeing the ladies on the streets you know, hanging out on their day off and I wanted to take them off the streets. Yeah, you know, like, yes, I can do an outdoor workout and we have done. Yeah, um, because of space issues, but I wanted them to also experience, you know, like what you and I and you know, we can afford these places.
Avey Cortes:Yeah, the boxing gyms and, you know, like the family forums yeah so I wanted to kind of have that accessible to them.
Nicolle Macario:Yeah yeah, it's the humanity that's involved there too, right, because they, like you guys said, they're pretty much the glue that binds our city together. Like a lot of the day-to-day the things that we can overlook is because they're here to hold it down yeah, yeah, take for granted exactly, and to not have any space for them on the day off.
Nicolle Macario:it's crazy. Yeah, you know that the one that is behind is it? Hermes, that road, they blocked that road, right. There's talk saying that they will not give them that space anymore for Sundays. Yeah, there's talks of that and I'm just like, well, where are they going to go? And the thing is, they get. I mean I know we're going a little bit off topic, yeah, sorry, but I have a mom and I help her at home and I told her to join many times. Right, I mean, she has her own ways of thinking. Like she tells me I want to get fat. She's like I want to be fat. Yeah, she's like rubber band. She goes in and out and a lot has to do with more like her personal life emotions that will drive her weight loss or weight gain. But anyways, that's beyond the point, when the other thing that her her push is is that, um, we have to go back to our spot every sunday or we're gonna yeah, yeah, interesting yeah, because they have like their little turfs.
Nicolle Macario:Yeah, they do like even when we're on holiday. She I was like you guys are welcome to come home and just enjoy the house, you know, watch Netflix, whatever. She'll only come. They did it because it was all the black rainstorms. I was like, but she's like that's the only reason. If it was not raining, like nobody's going to come because we need to hold down the outdoor.
Nicolle Macario:Near a fort. Yeah, yeah, that's funny. Yeah, we went off topic. Sorry, I like, but I mean so. I can tell it's evolved a lot from its early days and it's only been how many years since COVID Like five, six.
Avey Cortes:We celebrated our fourth anniversary, yeah.
Nicolle Macario:It's lovely.
Avey Cortes:Yeah, I remember seeing that big party you guys had at Moorgate, yeah, at Moorgate, and that's really good, yeah, okay, great.
Nicolle Macario:I'm going to jump in and ask Nicole now. I mean, I know you from. We did some work together. But I know you worked with Hula from Kittle. We met at the Yuen apartment. I know you work. You help out a lot with Perk by Kate. Yeah, just mention some names. But like everybody else, when I saw you at these places I thought you were like the marketing social media manager, yeah. So when I reached out to you I'm like, ok, I don't know what to do with my socials.
Avey Cortes:Yeah.
Nicolle Macario:And I'm like I'm not a social media marketer, just not marketer. Yeah, and as we spoke, I realized your specialty is also in building communities, creating strategies, having planning and realizing those goals to actually create these events that bring the communities together.
Hoiki Liu:Yeah.
Nicolle Macario:So it makes sense for me to see you take a step back from all these places and to start your own place, because obviously you've already built a community there for them. Yeah, so now you've got your own company called Lelution. Yeah, so can you tell me a little bit more about how you plan to use your company, lelution, to build more communities? I wouldn't say it's to build more communities, but I think it is definitely a place where I want to shine a light of knowing your business. I think that's like the main thing is that there's a lot of brands. I think we can all agree. You would think of the product and then the second thing you would think of is the marketing. Right, and that mostly that's where, as far as it goes, is the product marketing done. But people don't think about like, oh, how do I continue to communicate to my customer after I've bought the product? You still have to keep them in that funnel. And why is that important? It's important because at the same time, like once you buy something and then your relationship's done, and if you want to have a really proper running company, the conversion of new customers and returning customers needs to be equal. So in order to have a proper running business and that's how you get growth, I guess, and that's how you grow, that's how you scale at the same time. So you always have to constantly communicate with them, talk to them, but in a way that it's not hard selling. So then that's when all of these community buildings, these events happen, and that's when you know it can even go off topic, super off topic, that you can even I don't know do a bake sale, like. The list is endless when it comes to that.
Nicolle Macario:But at the same time, yes, I think a lot of these businesses changed a lot, especially during covid. Um, covid was because people lost touch, we weren't able to see each other, we weren't able to go out and everything. And that was kind of where I saw brands had a shift of like oh, it's no longer the brand name, they're now like meaning and yearning for something more. They're like I want to have this phone case because this, the owner of the phone case believes in this like it started becoming more than just the brand. There were ethos and values and morals, and I think that's what I want to shine a light with La Luzion is that it's not just saying like oh, it's not easy to just start, like it's not as easy as you think as to start a brand, but I want you to know, as a brand owner, that I'm here for you and we can build this together. So that's a very long answer, but, yeah, that's basically the goal.
Nicolle Macario:The goal of la luciane is I want to shine a light in more than just the basics. I think I mean I can't see, because we have worked together, so I appreciate how it's not like a company that comes in and just says I just want to buy your data, I just need the data, I just need to have the email addresses and all. But you're actually doing something to get people to gather together and to foster beliefs, I guess in a way, yeah, and to really throw them into something meaningful, like knowing you as well, like you want to change the world in understanding. Like manufacturers don't have the bottle, like, yeah, you're not the bottleneck, yeah, but there are people out there that really want to know your voice and you mean, like I don't have the bottle, like, yeah, you're not the bottleneck, yeah, but there are people out there that really want to know your voice, meaning like I don't know what the manufacturer does. Then let's bring those people to you.
Nicolle Macario:So, yeah, you also mentioned during covid that there was a lot of changes. I also say that I feel during covid there was a lot of changes in everyday habits, in the way we do everything. Right. One of the things that I focus on is spending it's I feel like our everyday habits on how we spend has changed drastically. Um, I keep saying how and like.
Nicolle Macario:I guess after world war ii and at some point when industrial revolution we start getting the production lines and the manufacturing space, um, and the fast fashion in the 2000s, all of that has been pushing us to constantly look for something new to replace the old thing.
Nicolle Macario:The old thing might not have a problem, but it doesn't matter.
Nicolle Macario:Time's up something new to replace it, and we've been really conditioned to feel like we need to get something new all the time, I guess since the 60s, 70s, but during COVID I'll say it's the first time, and this is not about sustainability driven, but probably just the way the world is at the time, like we were all in lockdowns, we couldn't go anywhere and then afterwards the economy is garbage, so no one has money.
Nicolle Macario:All of these factors in this last six years has really changed the way we're spending and I feel like it's a good time to keep pushing that, because for the first time, we're no longer just looking for something new and suddenly people start appreciating what they do have. Because you need to. You're stuck in this space with what you have, you're not getting anything new. This morning, you know, and then slowly we realized we don't need as much. And my point to that is I realize a lot of the brands that you work with, like I mentioned earlier Hoola, kittle, perk, by K Fenshang actually they all have this kind of shift towards a new business model.
Hoiki Liu:Yeah, for sure.
Nicolle Macario:Yeah, and is there a reason why you're working with these brands? And this goes for both of you? Like I said, you were with Lululemon for a lot of things. Like you were their ambassador, you're working with their shops. You guys both probably could have just jumped into something corporate. I'm not going to say it's easy, but at least the budgets are there right. A lot of times, if you want to get something done, the biggest obstacle most of the time is the budget. So you could probably have joined a corporate team where they have budgets for your community events, for you to do all these things. Why did you guys choose to do what you're doing? My voice, I guess you just don't get heard of. I think you agree right.
Avey Cortes:I think that, you know, at the heart of community is connection, as I mentioned, and I think sometimes with bigger corporations it tends to get lost and the purpose tends to be put to the side. It tends to be about like the numbers, you know, like hitting those daily goals and stuff like that, and that's fine. Yeah, that's fine.
Nicolle Macario:Yeah, that's fine that there are some people that are built for that life. I guess we're not yeah, and I think again. I have. I'm a very empathetic person and I can't do that if I'm just looking at numbers and hitting goals all day. And you have to remember these corporate companies. They're built for a reason, but I don't match that reason and that's also why I'm not there.
Avey Cortes:So yeah, we were talking off mic earlier on our way over here about the values that one has way over here about like the values that one has and that's important to kind of be able to connect in the purpose of fostering a community rather, than building a community.
Nicolle Macario:Yeah, that makes sense, yeah yeah, I agree because, again, it there need. I know that we shouldn't say leader, but there needs someone there or multiple people. If you have the same core values, that's already alone by itself. Secretly, that is how a community already has been built, yeah, yeah. So I guess, again, corporate built that we're not that yeah, and that's why we're not there, I guess because it's the, it's like you guys say, it's the communication, the, that, the, the core values, having that tight-knit community.
Nicolle Macario:You don't have to explain all your points to yeah, yeah, yeah.
Avey Cortes:That's what people will resonate with yes, really yes yeah.
Nicolle Macario:So you mentioned about being a leader. I want to actually go back deeper and dig, go back further and dig deeper on. And I know you guys both told me you are both introverts, which I was so shocked about because I'm like, oh, I am an ENFPA and I don't even know what that means. But I know I'm an extrovert, I know everybody knows I'm an extrovert. I don't think people realize, like least for me. I didn't realize you guys were introverts, which is so huh. As I said, like I would assume most introverts would be more quiet. You wouldn't want to lead a class, probably wouldn't want to start a company and start communities for people.
Nicolle Macario:I mean, how does that even work? What were you guys like growing up? I do want to understand.
Avey Cortes:I was quiet. As I understand from my family, my parents, I was quite quiet Also in comparison to my sister who was quiet as book and is an extrovert. I was quite like, but I think I aspire to be an extrovert. But I think I aspire to be an extrovert. I've learned to build and cultivate and grow my voice and so I think now in later years, being an adult, I'm trying to exercise that and I think that part of community is your own personal growth. So that's why personal development is super important to me.
Nicolle Macario:Yeah, yeah, I'm reversed. I probably was like you when I was a kid. I kept talking and talking, and talking. I was that girl in primary school and high school which was the master of ceremony at all events. I was the captain of the the yellow house team. I was the head of many things. I was the student body president, it was all of that. I was that chick, that girl, and. But you still consider yourself an introvert, are you? So I really do. I think I remember I did. I remember I met somebody and then that person was like you need to do the test again.
Hoiki Liu:Yeah.
Nicolle Macario:Because it doesn't seem that it's wrong, and I went like, no, I really am an INTP. I think it's INTP, if I'm not mistaken, and that happened. I was an E for so long until maybe I turned 28. That was when I changed into intp and I think it's because I lived such a loud life that I just want quiet, and I think that I think I ran out of steam I ran out of steam and I, I hid to lantau island and just like, went into my little cocoon.
Nicolle Macario:And then I think we just mentioned in our previous conversation that, yes, I am an extrovert, yes, I'm an introvert, but I really am an amovert, which is both. So, yeah, but yeah, as I grew, as I became an adult, I became more an introvert. Yeah, as I became an adult, I became more an introvert. Yeah, I do kind of see what you mean by. You will absorb and reflect the energy of the people around you. Because I have to say, I was just on a family trip to Guizhou and I was ready to hide in the caves and the mountains. I was like, oh, I don't need Hong Kong or the city life anymore, I'm going to just stay here forever.
Nicolle Macario:And I mean, I'm still trying to get back in my head that I am here yeah yeah, it's been like a week or so but speaking to you guys, I am getting my energies back. I've been very lethargic because I haven't had a chance to make it into a family, actually on that.
Avey Cortes:I think that my introverted personality lends itself to me, as you said before joining all these communities, Because I like to help people build things, so it's odd that I started to sweat with us. I like to be like the person next to them building. I don't necessarily like to be the person building everything and that's what I always wanted sweat with us to be like. I didn't want it to be about me I wanted it to be about the ladies.
Avey Cortes:So that's why I'm sometimes a little bit like sheepish. When they want to take photos with me, I'm like just take photos by yourself. Because it's not me, but I also understand that I'm the one that started it.
Nicolle Macario:Yeah, I think we're the same. I am the one that's like it's your dream. Yeah, it's your dream.
Avey Cortes:Yeah, I'm your fairy godmother I'll let like I'll just, I just want to help you, so go. That's. That's why I think we're just saying that's why we're working together.
Nicolle Macario:Like I have dreams I don't know how to get there like let's go, you know, but I get it like probably that's the introvertedness of like you're the shining the light.
Avey Cortes:I'm not like you, you go do it, oh, but I also like to step out.
Nicolle Macario:I guess it's like situations, right, yeah, yeah, and I mean I guess because we have all the experiences that we have, so you would morph into different situations and moments, um, but, like avi, you have so many, like you have a few people that you work with. Now, how do the different personalities come in play? Because I guess, like, even if you're in a community, there's going to be people with different communities. How are you, how do you decide who you're going to ask for help, for example, for leading classes or for arranging the schedules of who gets to come to these classes, and you know, how does all of that work?
Avey Cortes:I don't have any set formula or answer. Embarrassingly I just go on, vibe, you know I've been in the fitness industry, I think now for like a decade or so and I know a lot of people, some more than others, and so I will just lean on the ones that I know more, maybe some of the ones that are newer, the connections that I've made that are newer, because it's like fresh in the memory and you know it's no harm in asking those people, but I'm also I'm also a bit shy to ask for help sometimes, so I take a lot on myself, but it's all about teamwork yeah, yeah again back down to the connections that you have and connecting with people.
Nicolle Macario:Yeah, yeah, I agree, it is the vibes, them, it's the vibes. Yeah, do you guys see the communities that you've built? I'm just going to ask, like, if you step away from it because, like some of the communities you've built, you're no longer working with these companies. So what happens when you step away? Can you step away? I think I can step away because I'm not the leader. Does that make sense? Like I've left Hula and I've left Kiddo? Yeah, and we all know that Sarah and Denise are the ones in the forefront.
Nicolle Macario:So even if I have left, maybe the vision of communities would change just a tad bit. But it's okay. But I think it's different. If you have them leave Right, then it's different, then it think it's different. If you have them leave Right, then it's different, then it's going to be different. Yeah, I think the way I see it is like when Dior changes their creative director, if that designer changes, the community does change, right, yeah, it's either the people who are from the past designer will leave or stay Okay, or the ones that are in the new one come in or they don't. So that's kind of how I see it. I guess, most of the time when you guys step away, you already feel that there is a momentum to the community that like, even if people come and go, it's okay, right.
Hoiki Liu:Yeah.
Nicolle Macario:But I know that I have had some people that have messaged me and being like, oh my god, you left. And I'm like, yes, I have. And they're like, how are you? And I was like, oh, that's sweet and yeah, but they're still supporting that business even if I have already left. So, yeah it, it. I think it's as long as the leader, then yeah, we're just the fairy godmothers. So, yeah, I, yeah, I don't know, I don't think you can leave. I mean, obviously your podcast. You can't leave that, yeah.
Hoiki Liu:Yeah.
Nicolle Macario:Because you are the face of it. So yeah, that's a different story.
Avey Cortes:Yeah, but I do think that like things can change very quickly once key people leave.
Nicolle Macario:Mm-hmm.
Avey Cortes:And I see that a lot in corporate. Yeah, there's change very quickly once key people leave, and I see that a lot in corporate, like those bigger corporations the values change. Then it becomes about the numbers, it becomes less about connection and there's always questioning why and the why, which is also a very valid question.
Nicolle Macario:But yeah, so I guess then, then in that case is there a formula. But how do you keep a community sustainable? And I don't mean in the environmental sense, but over time, move Sweat, not sorry, move Sweat Sweat. With Us has been quite a few years now. How does that?
Avey Cortes:sustain. I mean, I think that it comes down to the people. So I started to activate within the community, get some of the ladies more involved in helping to book the classes, helping to get the people in and helping with all the app and all that kind of stuff, helping with the organization of certain events, and I found that was a good way to kind of sustain the purpose of it, because it's again, it's about them, it's what they want, it's how they want to move, rather than just me dictating like oh, I just met someone from X amount X gym the other day. You'll love to work out there. You know, it's not about me and my opinions and my you know connections, it's about them.
Nicolle Macario:I don't know how I'm going to answer that. I guess again because I work with brands it's not something I've built. I've helped them build it.
Nicolle Macario:And I have seen shifts. I guess in my industry it's a little bit different, because once you start tapping into different people, that's how the community sustains people. That's how the community sustains. So, for example, like if, uh, one of my brands, you know, got a new ambassador, then again there's like a new community person and then the existing group are like, oh, who's she and what's she like, like stuff like that. And then if that ambassador already has an existing community, they're now welcomed. That's true.
Avey Cortes:It's become this like what happens to the old ambassadors?
Nicolle Macario:then they're still there. They're still there and they're still like they. I've seen it so beautifully done as well that they've come together. I mean, I've definitely bought more from the brand you were working with. Yeah, that happens too, issues too, so yeah, yeah. So I just feel it's just a just evolving all the time, and sometimes it's not even in your control, it just happens, and sometimes somebody out of you know your group would just say like, oh, maybe do this, and I'm like, yeah, okay, we'll do it, and then it just evolves without control as well sometimes. What about the difficulties? What is the most difficult thing about sustaining a community?
Nicolle Macario:I guess it's when you give up, really like if you stop, actually, when you just stop I mean also, but they're like you know it's we, we've made it all sound so nice so far, but like I'm sure there's people that come into a community and you're like, like you might not say out loud, but in your head you're like dude, you're not moving, you're not participating. Yeah, like, like your head you're like dude, you're not moving.
Hoiki Liu:You're not participating.
Nicolle Macario:What are you doing here? How do you protect your community at the same time?
Avey Cortes:I think specifically for Sweat. With Us there have been moments where there was friction between certain individuals. There was opinions about the way things are run, like the way you can book a class, for example, and my answer to all of that stuff was like we're not saving lives here. Essentially, you know we're just offering you free fitness classes and so you know, like, if you're on the wait list you're not losing anything, it's free.
Avey Cortes:Yeah, right, yeah, you know like, oh, you don't agree with this person. Well, that's fine. Yeah, you have to respect that. That's their opinion and that's their voice. You don't have to like them, you don't have to like what they say, but you have to respect it. Yeah, what they say, but you have to respect it, yeah, and so, yeah, I mean, it's just about like educating, I guess, and that's always been my stance to educate. Not tell someone what to do, but to educate, yeah educate, and sometimes you do.
Nicolle Macario:You do have to play the role of mediating. Yes, like I mean, I'll bring up somebody that I respect a lot sarah v from women of Hong Kong, that's even you can imagine how many voices are in that. You know in that one group chat and she mediates so well of being like, respect each other's opinions, but we're not here to crush someone's feelings down.
Avey Cortes:Yeah.
Nicolle Macario:And she does a really good job doing it online as well.
Hoiki Liu:Yeah, that's typical. I'm like damn like she's good Her team job doing it online as well.
Nicolle Macario:Yeah, that's typical, I'm like damn, she's good, her team's very on it as well. When someone messages immediately, I think, maybe the next five seconds, I saw that message deleted and I was like they're on it, they're very on it. And yeah, I think educate and mediate, that would be my answer if somebody nasty like bad vibes.
Avey Cortes:I also think that, like this is a side, a side thing, but like to read a message you can, you're reading it in a certain way sometimes yeah like it's not always the way it's put out there yeah, like they're coming from somebody else. That's why I try not to write or read without any emotion, because I'm like this 21st century. No so if I come up with text messages.
Nicolle Macario:That's why I try to always add like an emoji so it looks nicer, but a lot of people find that really cringy. Yeah, I mean I do. I mean it's not community, right, well, it is community but not community. But, like, I deal with a lot of customers and sometimes they like really just give it to you and I same I have to take a step back because maybe to that person, that bag is all she got, like that's, there's nothing else in that world that matters to her besides that bag and she needs to buy that bag now. And you, you just have to be like I'm so sorry, like I really were trying to do something for you, but it just it's not happening. Like it's just again mediate. So, but yeah, there are some people out there. Yeah, because I find like I get when I get triggered, I'm just like, yeah, and that's not wrong either, like that's not to have that emotion either, but it's also just like, yeah, just mediate, just mediate. Yeah, I mean I guess that's a great tip, that was always gonna. I mean I want to start a sustainable, focused community. What if I see you guys have for me, mediated?
Nicolle Macario:So this is a podcast where we try to focus more on sustainable in the environmental sense. How does that tie into the communities that you're building? I mean, I know I mentioned with you a lot of the brands that you work with Are already. Yeah, do you select them because of that? Or like, to be honest, I think we all understand that, like communities is not someone I just select, yeah, it again, it just happens because, again, of the morals and the values that was heightened. Yeah, I guess a lot, yeah, aligned and like, for example, like hula functiondo. Those are all sustainable brands, people already who value that are in it already, but the external factor is like finding the ambassadors, I guess, and then that's how it happens.
Nicolle Macario:I guess, if you want to tie it back into sustainable in terms of the environment, I guess simple things is that if you know how many people support you's how many people you have to support, don't go overboard it like, for example, maybe we're doing an event and you decide to make an event for 10 000 people, but you don't have 10 000 people, so you don't need to buy 10 000 cakes or something like that. Yeah, you don't have to. So that's like I guess it's so different example, but like you get what I mean, like, as long as you know the people, then you know what practices you should make. Don't be wasteful, don't be wasteful about it. That's one thing I definitely practice being, and it saves costs, yeah, at the same. So, yeah, just know your numbers, I guess. And, avi, you have such a big audience. Do you preach to them ever? Or you've got sponsors right, Sponsors for things like you know. Bring your own water bottle, because we do have free water on premise, things like that.
Avey Cortes:Yeah.
Nicolle Macario:That's what I keep reminding you yeah, I mean I, yeah, I think that the no, I don't know, I mean I do have to say a lot of the titas that are helping us in hong kong. Their everyday practices are pretty sustainable. Yeah, they're not going to be wasteful, and one of the things I've mentioned is because they're Tupperware, yeah, it's because of what you have doesn't even allow you to be wasteful. So, yeah, yeah, I think I would. I guess the best thing I can say is that when you have a community, my only junction is really just thinking of events. It's just don't, don't just know the numbers you have and just work with that.
Nicolle Macario:And don't like. You get what I mean. If you know that that studio can only accommodate 30, then just accommodate 30. If it's such a hit, then do a second class. But, yeah, just don't overdo it. Every time you overdo it you're wasting something. Wasting something, yeah, no matter if it's somebody's. Your time, yeah. Your money, yeah. Resources like that in itself is already being sustainable. So, yeah, I have one quick tip before we end today's podcast, and I know Avi has been trying and my tip didn't work for you.
Avey Cortes:What is that?
Nicolle Macario:I know he sees me do this all the time, and my quick tip on sustainability with fitness is how you take care of your clothes after you sweat in it. So a lot of people, I mean I think often like one of the reason activewear volumes is so good is because you will throw out your activewear Eventually. It will start to smell. How long does it usually take people?
Avey Cortes:I don't know three months maybe I don't know Like some of the bigger brands claim that they have like anti-sting.
Nicolle Macario:Does it work, though? There's one shirt, I know that is not exercise.
Avey Cortes:To a certain period of washes the lifespan is longer than others.
Nicolle Macario:I would assume for a lot of people it might be, I don't know 50 really sweaty workouts.
Avey Cortes:I mean, I'm just like a hot mess of the workout.
Nicolle Macario:Cut that out. So yeah. So my tip here is I'm prolonging the life of your sportswear. So the reason why our sportswear often stink and smell is because it's almost always made with polyester and spandex. Right, polyester fiber is what happens after you sweat it. If the sweat is allowed to dry, the that bacteria will hold on to and it will stay inside the polyester fibers. So the next time the garment is rehydrated I I like if you're sweating in it again or if you spilled water on yourself just once it's rehydrated it'll start to smell because those bacteria stay. Yeah, will come back out. So my trick is after every workout because Family Farm is super, super sweaty I walk straight into the shower with all my clothes and I rinse out all my workout here right away.
Nicolle Macario:Rinse all the sweat out of it. No body soap on or anything, nothing, just water. Rinse it all out and bring it out. Make sure if there's no sweat in it, if it's just water, it will still have that maybe moldy smell, but it won't be the same as bacteria. So it's much easier to clean out water what if like?
Nicolle Macario:I'm just asking again because I know a lot of trail runners out there but what if you don't have like a shower? Yeah, so that's the issue. You probably. My best trick is you need to find a water source where you can just river or something. Let the water flow. You really just need to wash out the sweat, Okay.
Avey Cortes:Or buy the products that have silversense.
Nicolle Macario:Yeah, that's a very good one, Because if it doesn't have that and it just has an anti-stink property, it probably added some chemicals onto the fiber. But it will be gone after 20 washes. That's the standard.
Hoiki Liu:Yeah okay.
Nicolle Macario:So it sees me doing that all the time With my wet clothes and I roll it in a towel and I try to step out and get it dried as much as possible before I roll it in a towel, and I try to step up and get it dried as much as possible before I bring it away for the day. That's good to know, and of course you still try to wash it that night. You know, yeah, the next day nothing's going to be good.
Nicolle Macario:Yeah, all right. So thank you so much for coming to my podcast today. Thank you, it was lovely to focus on communities and to have you both on board today. Yeah, thank you, it was lovely to focus on communities and to have you both on board today.
Hoiki Liu:Yeah.
Nicolle Macario:Thank you.
