On this week’s episode of The Found Podcast, host Molly Knuth sat down with Leslie Shalabi, co-founder of Convivium Urban Farmstead in Dubuque, Iowa, and had a conversation that hit especially close to home.

As someone who’s passionate about the importance of gathering, community, and creating meaningful connections, this episode felt like a reminder of why this work matters.

Leslie shared the story behind Convivium, a community food project founded on a simple but powerful idea: to tackle disconnection by bringing people together around food, learning, and shared experiences. What started as a bold idea between two corporate professionals searching for more has grown into a movement grounded in hospitality, nourishment, and community resilience.

The Concentric Circles of Change

One of the concepts I loved most from this conversation was the idea of change happening in concentric circles. It’s a model I can implement and carry forward, and one listeners will likely find comforting and actionable too.

In a world that feels overwhelming, it’s easy to believe that if we’re not making massive, world-altering changes, we aren’t making a difference. But the truth is, our most meaningful work often happens in small, intimate spaces. It starts with ourselves: caring for our own bodies, tending to our mental and emotional health, choosing kind and generous thoughts even when things feel out of control.

From there, we expand our impact outward: first to our immediate families and communities, and eventually to the wider world around us. But as we reflected in the interview, most of our energy and influence will always live in those inner circles — and that’s not a shortcoming. It’s how sustainable, authentic change is built.

The Root of Hospitality and Personal Legacy

Another moment that stood out in this episode was Leslie’s reflections about food and hospitality as tools for connection. I was especially moved by a story Leslie shared about the roots of hospitality in Arab culture, where every interaction begins with a small offering — a cup of coffee, a bite of food — as a simple but profound act of welcome.

As a Midwest girl with family roots that run deep, this story felt personal to me as Leslie elaborated on it. Though I didn’t grow up immersed in traditional Arab customs, I realized that the heart of hospitality had been passed down through my family in gathering around food too.

Food, gatherings, and offering warmth to others had always been a part of how Leslie connected to her own heritage, and now it’s central to the work she does both in her community of Dubuque and now with listeners on The Found Podcast.

It’s a powerful reminder that legacy isn’t built in grand gestures. It’s built in the way we make people feel, the meals we share, the connections we nurture.

The Opposite of Depression Is Expression

One of the most beautiful sentiments from this week’s conversation was Leslie’s idea that the opposite of depression is expression. In times of stress, fear, and overwhelm, creative expression (whether through cooking, writing, gardening, or gathering people together) can be an antidote to disconnection and despair.

For Leslie, that creative expression takes shape through the work at Convivium. For me, it’s through storytelling and hosting conversations like these on The Found Podcast. And for listeners, it’s an invitation to find your own ways to express, connect, and build meaning right where they are.

Catch the Full Conversation

You can listen to this week’s interview with Leslie Shalabi wherever you get your podcasts, and trust me when I say it’s one you’ll want to sit with, reflect on, and maybe even send to a friend. Because connection matters. And it starts with us.

An Invitation to Come Together in Real-Life Community: Hey Sister!

If this conversation stirred something in you, Molly wants you to know there’s a place for you to experience this kind of connection in real life. Hey Sister!, a one-day event for rural women, is happening on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Washington, Iowa — and it’s all about building meaningful relationships, finding your people, and creating a fulfilling life right where you are.

It’s not a stuffy conference or networking luncheon. It’s a gathering for women who are juggling big dreams alongside small-town life, and who want to learn, laugh, and leave with practical tools for both their business and personal lives.

Speakers include Katrina Klooster on creating the culture you crave, Crystal Blin on embracing growth and evolution, Malia Gudenkauf of Little Miss Finance on financial empowerment, and event founder Lexie Marek Beeler on time management for the rural woman. Plus — there’s a flower arranging workshop, incredible conversation, and the kind of fresh inspiration we all need this time of year.

I’ll be there too, and I’d love for you to join in. Grab your ticket at heysisterevent.com and let them know Molly sent you.