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Find Your Freaks

Find Your Freaks

By: Tonya Kubo
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Ever felt too weird, too loud, too soft, too real — or just too complicated to belong? This podcast is your proof that you’re not alone. Find Your Freaks features raw, unfiltered conversations with people who are building belonging in unexpected places — and doing it by showing up exactly as they are. Hosted by community strategist Tonya Kubo, this show digs into the messy, beautiful truth of what it takes to find your people. New episodes on Thursdays starting June 2025. Come for the stories. Stay for the humanity. And if something hits home? Tell your weirdest friend and visit Ever felt too weird, too loud, too soft, too real — or just too complicated to belong? This podcast is your proof that you’re not alone. Find Your Freaks features raw, unfiltered conversations with people who are building belonging in unexpected places — and doing it by showing up exactly as they are. Hosted by community strategist Tonya Kubo, this show digs into the messy, beautiful truth of what it takes to find your people. New episodes on Thursdays starting June 2025. Come for the stories. Stay for the humanity. And if something hits home? Tell your weirdest friend and visit https://findyourfreaks.com/Copyright 2026 Tonya Kubo Economics Personal Development Personal Success Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 026 – Accessibility Is Belonging with Dr. Catrina Mitchum

    026 – Accessibility Is Belonging with Dr. Catrina Mitchum
    Jun 11 2026
    What if accessibility isn't a checklist to complete, but one of the most powerful ways we create belonging?We love to talk about community — how to build it, grow it, and sustain it. But here’s the truth: you can’t have community without access. And too often, accessibility gets reduced to a narrow conversation about compliance, accommodations, or disability when it’s really about something much bigger.In this episode of Find Your Freaks, Tonya Kubo sits down with learning experience designer and online education expert Dr. Catrina Mitchum to explore what accessibility actually means and why it matters far beyond legal requirements. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience teaching adults online, Catrina shares how thoughtful course design, clear communication, and a willingness to ask better questions can help more people participate, learn, and belong.Together, Tonya and Catrina unpack the hidden barriers that often prevent people from fully engaging in learning communities, from cognitive overload and unclear instructions to assumptions about technology, culture, and prior experience. They also challenge the idea that accessibility is something extra we do after the fact, arguing instead that it should be woven into the foundation of every community and learning experience from the start.At its core, this conversation is a reminder that accessibility isn't about perfection. It's about making intentional choices that help more people feel seen, supported, and welcomed into the room.In This Episode, We ExploreWhy accessibility is foundational to belonging and communityHow accessibility extends far beyond captions and compliance checklistsThe hidden role cognitive load plays in learning and participationWhy clear instructions and context make learning more accessibleHow providing options helps people engage in ways that work best for themThe connection between accessibility, inclusion, and community buildingCommon mistakes course creators make when trying to be accessibleWhy asking people what they need is often the most powerful first stepHow accessibility benefits everyone, not just those with disabilitiesPractical ways business owners and educators can make immediate improvementsEpisode Highlights[03:15] Why accessibility is really about belonging[08:20] Expanding accessibility beyond captions, ramps, and compliance[19:30] The role cognitive load plays in learning and participation[24:40] Why learners need to understand the purpose behind what they're doing[30:15] How accessibility strengthens communities and invites diverse expertise[44:15] The simple question that can make any space more welcoming: “What would make this a pleasant experience?”Meet Our GuestDr. Catrina Mitchum is on a mission to revolutionize the online course creation space. A recovering academic who has been teaching adults online since 2009, she combines her expertise in learning experience design, instructional strategy, and accessibility to help overwhelmed small business owners create courses that actually support learner success. Through her work, Catrina helps aspiring course creators build engaging, accessible learning experiences that prioritize people over perfection.Meet Your HostTonya Kubo is a community strategist, writer, and rebel with a cause: helping people find the place where they truly belong. She’s spent nearly two decades building online spaces that feel more like chosen family than comment sections, and she’s not afraid to call out the fluff in favor of real connection. As the founder of Find Your Freaks, Tonya brings together unconventional thinkers, builders, and bridge-makers who believe that “normal” was never the point. When she’s not hosting the show, she’s raising two daughters, leading client communities, and making meaning out of the mess.Key Quotes“Accessibility isn't optional. It's foundational to belonging.”“When we make things accessible to more people, it helps far beyond the people we were originally trying to serve.”“You are not the only expert in the room, and that's exactly how community should work.”“It's okay if you don't know what people need. Asking is a really good first step.”“What would make this a pleasant experience?”Resources & MentionsDr. Catrina MitchumCourse Creator PlaybookDr. Catrina Mitchum YouTube ChannelSupport the ShowIf Find Your Freaks matters to you, help us keep it ad-free by buying us a coffee (or two!). Every dollar goes to production so more weirdos can find their people.You can purchase Find Your Freaks merchandise online through Abilities and Attitudes.Let's Stay FreakyFacebook GroupLinkedInInstagramPodcast HubWhat's NextIn the next episode, Tonya explores what accessibility really means beyond captions, transcripts, and compliance checklists. Building on her conversation with Dr. Catrina Mitchum, she examines how removing unnecessary barriers creates stronger communities, deeper belonging, and better experiences for...
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    45 mins
  • 025 – Small, Strange, and Sacred Spaces

    025 – Small, Strange, and Sacred Spaces
    May 28 2026
    Why some communities become collaborative while others turn territorial, and what that reveals about belongingSome communities feel expansive. People share resources freely, celebrate each other’s wins, and welcome newcomers like there is enough room for everyone. Other spaces feel guarded. Information gets hoarded, collaboration feels performative, and every new voice quietly registers as competition.In this solo episode, Tonya Kubo explores why that difference is rarely about whether people are “good” or “bad” and almost always about structure. Using examples from fiction writing communities, nonfiction publishing, online business spaces, and personal development ecosystems, Tonya breaks down how scarcity shapes behavior and how communities unintentionally teach people whether to connect or protect themselves.This episode digs into the emotional architecture behind collaboration, competition, trust, and belonging. Why do some spaces naturally create generosity while others create defensiveness? Why do people become territorial when identity, expertise, or authority are tied to success? And what happens when communities reward visibility, curiosity, and shared discovery instead of exclusivity?More than anything, this conversation is an invitation to stop asking whether people are “engaged enough” and start asking what behaviors the space itself rewards. Because communities do not become collaborative by accident. They become collaborative when safety, generosity, and contribution are intentionally reinforced.You’ll hear how:Fiction communities often feel more collaborative because success is additive, not mutually exclusiveScarcity changes how people share knowledge, support others, and respond to newcomersNonfiction communities become more territorial when trust is tied to the creator instead of the ideaCommunity structure teaches members how to behave, whether intentionally or notPsychological safety creates generosity while fear creates defensivenessRewarding collaboration publicly changes the emotional temperature of a spaceBelonging grows when people stop treating each other like threatsAmbition and collaboration do not have to exist in opposition to each otherEpisode Highlights[01:15] The difference between communities that feel like potlucks versus cage matches[03:40] Why fiction ecosystems naturally encourage collaboration[07:10] How nonfiction spaces tie trust to authority and identity[10:45] Why self-help and business communities often become more territorial[14:20] The role scarcity plays in shaping community behavior[17:05] Why plagiarism fears feel more personal in nonfiction spaces[20:10] How communities teach members what behaviors are rewarded[23:15] The connection between psychological safety and generosity[26:00] Why belonging grows when people stop treating each other like threats[28:05] The question every community leader should ask about their spaceResources & MentionsEpisode 024 – Interview with Michelle ChouinardClutter-Free Academy by Kathi LippThe Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie KondoMeet Your HostTonya Kubo is a community strategist, marketing consultant, and rebel with a cause: helping people find the place where they truly belong. For nearly two decades, she’s built online spaces that feel less like comment sections and more like chosen family. She’s the fixer you call when your Facebook group has gone straight-up Lord of the Flies and the bouncer at the door of internet nonsense. As the host of Find Your Freaks, Tonya brings together unconventional thinkers and bridge-builders who know “normal” was never the point. Her favorite spaces? The ones where the freak flags fly high.Support the ShowIf Find Your Freaks matters to you, help us keep it ad-free by buying us a coffee (or two!). Every dollar goes to production so more weirdos can find their people.You can purchase Find Your Freaks merchandise online through Abilities and Attitudes.Let’s Stay FreakyFacebook GroupLinkedInInstagramPodcast HubWhat’s NextNext time, Tonya Kubo sits down with Dr. Catrina Mitchum to explore why accessibility is not just a compliance issue — it’s the foundation of belonging. Together, they unpack what it really means to create online spaces where people can fully participate, connect, and thrive.
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    30 mins
  • 024 – Mystery Writers and Passionate Readers with Michelle Chouinard

    024 – Mystery Writers and Passionate Readers with Michelle Chouinard
    May 14 2026
    What happens when the people around you stop feeling like competitors and start feeling like collaborators?There’s a stereotype about writers that most of us recognize immediately: the guarded creative protecting their ideas because success feels limited. And in some spaces, that mindset makes sense. When opportunities feel scarce, people naturally become more protective.But in this episode of Find Your Freaks, Tonya Kubo sits down with bestselling thriller author M.M. Chouinard to explore what happens when a community operates differently. In the mystery writing world Michelle inhabits, success often feels additive rather than competitive. Readers recommend authors to each other. Writers cheer each other on. Collaboration becomes part of the culture instead of a threat to it.Together, Tonya and Michelle unpack how the structure of a community shapes the way people connect, share, and belong. Michelle also shares her path from developmental psychology and academia into thriller writing, along with the role fandom, creativity, and online connection have played in her life and career.At its core, this episode asks an important question for community builders: Are people naturally territorial, or are they responding to environments that taught them success is mutually exclusive?In This Episode, We ExploreWhy some communities naturally encourage collaboration while others create competitionHow scarcity changes the way people connect and share with each otherThe unique culture of the mystery writing and reading worldMichelle’s transition from academia and developmental psychology into thriller writingThe role fandom plays in creating belonging and identityWhy readers often become the bridge between creators rather than gatekeepersHow creative communities shape the emotional experience of successWhat community leaders can learn from environments where generosity thrivesEpisode Highlights[03:45] Michelle’s journey from psychology professor to bestselling thriller author[09:20] Why mystery readers rarely stop at just one author[15:10] How abundance thinking changes the culture inside creative communities[22:35] The emotional difference between collaborative and competitive spaces[29:40] Why fandom creates connection faster than traditional networking[36:15] The hidden pressures creators feel when success seems limited[42:05] What community builders misunderstand about scarcity and behavior[47:10] Why belonging grows faster in spaces where people openly share opportunitiesMeet Our GuestM.M. Chouinard is an Edgar Award–nominated bestselling author known for weaving psychology, suspense, and human complexity into gripping thrillers. She is the author of The Serial-Killer Guide to San Francisco series, the Detective Jo Fournier thriller series, and the standalone psychological thriller The Vacation. Before becoming a full-time author, Michelle earned a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Stanford University and served as a founding faculty member at University of California, Merced. When she’s not writing dark and twisty stories, she enjoys caffeine in all forms, amateur genealogy, crafting, baking, and absolutely anything related to Halloween.Meet Your HostTonya Kubo is a community strategist, writer, and rebel with a cause: helping people find the place where they truly belong. She’s spent nearly two decades building online spaces that feel more like chosen family than comment sections, and she’s not afraid to call out the fluff in favor of real connection. As the founder of Find Your Freaks, Tonya brings together unconventional thinkers, builders, and bridge-makers who believe that “normal” was never the point. When she’s not hosting the show, she’s raising two daughters, leading client communities, and making meaning out of the mess.Key Quotes“When success feels limited, people protect themselves. When success feels expansive, people start pulling others in.”“Readers don’t usually want one good book. They want a whole shelf full of authors they can trust.”“Community changes when people stop seeing each other as obstacles and start seeing each other as possibilities.”“Scarcity doesn’t just shape money. It shapes behavior, trust, and belonging.”Resources & MentionsM.M. Chouinard Official WebsiteThe Serial-Killer Guide to San Francisco SeriesDetective Jo Fournier SeriesThe VacationEdgar AwardsSupport the ShowIf Find Your Freaks matters to you, consider buying us a coffee to keep the show ad-free. Every dollar supports production so more weirdos can find their people.Find Your Freaks merchandise is available through Abilities and Attitudes.Let’s Stay FreakyFacebook GroupLinkedInInstagramPodcast HubWhat’s NextIn the next episode, Tonya explores why some communities naturally foster collaboration while others create competition and territorial behavior. Drawing from this conversation with Michelle, she unpacks how scarcity shapes the way people connect, share ...
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    50 mins
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