Check Out Maureen Maloney’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maureen Maloney.

Hi Maureen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have kind of a unique story. I’m the 9th of 10 kids and grew up on a farm outside of a really small town in north Florida. My family moved there from the Boston area when I was a kid, so I was very much an outsider. That’s part of what has led me to live all over the world – I never really had a place I considered home. I moved around and traveled a lot during my 20s and 30s, working as a science/outdoor educator and in the hospitality industry.

Serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Madagascar was a major transition for me. It was the first time I really embraced the unknown in a big way and found a home in the global community. As I integrated into life in Madagascar I started to realize how similar the people around me were to my family and friends at home. I had started creating videos and wanted to film a documentary, initially focusing on science topics. However, it occurred to me that talking to people about science wasn’t going to make nearly as much of a difference as helping people understand their connections to others around the world.

There’s a great proverb from Madagascar that says ‘All who live under the sky are woven together like one big mat’. I think there are too many invisible barriers that make us feel separate from each other, so helping people form connections has become my mission. Filmmaking is one way I’ve done that. I think being able to see and hear people tell their stories is critical to creating those connections.

Recently this mission has led me to start a new journey as a startup founder. While Denver has a great sense of community, I’ve heard a lot of people say they feel disconnected. I get a sense that people need help connecting and finding activities they love, so my new business, Gathery, aims to solve this issue. The vision is for it to be a beacon of connection by helping people find small nearby events. The aim is to rekindle a sense of community in Denver. There are so many great adventures, creators, and small businesses within our city that I want to help people discover. Gathery launches in early May, and I’m really excited to bring this to Denver. People can connect with us now on Instagram @Gathery.place.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Seeking comfort is a natural instinct for me, yet there’s an inherent part of my spirit that relentlessly drives me out of my comfort zone. Embracing challenges and navigating uncomfortable situations, such as dodging boulders while crossing a glacier, has been a staple of my journey. I’ve always cherished these moments for how they made me grow as a person.

In recent years, I’ve encountered the multifaceted challenges that accompany motherhood—from profound sleep deprivation to the daunting costs and uncertainties of childcare. Despite these hurdles, the joy and fulfillment that come from witnessing my son’s growth and fostering his curiosity about the world are immense. The challenges of both adventure and motherhood have sculpted me in profound ways, and I wouldn’t exchange these experiences for anything.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My career has been fueled by my desire to make a positive impact on the world. This mission has guided me through various roles—from a biologist and science educator to a video producer, and finally, to my current endeavors in film, television, and entrepreneurship. Navigating such a diverse career path has certainly presented its challenges, including the necessity to acquire new skills, forge new connections, and adapt to varying professional environments at every turn.

What fills me with the most pride is not just the breadth of my journey but the depth of impact I’ve managed to achieve along the way—and I consider myself just at the beginning. My work with Wild Air Films, my production company, allows me to support purpose-driven businesses and organizations by sharing their stories. Storytelling is a passion deeply ingrained in me, and it’s something I envision continuing far into the future because of its powerful ability to connect and inspire.

However, it’s my latest venture, Gathery, that currently excites me the most. With Gathery, I aim to bring people together, encouraging them to engage with and rediscover the vibrancy of their local community, its creatives, businesses, and the adventures that lie within. It’s this blend of storytelling, community building, and entrepreneurial drive that sets me apart and defines the unique impact I strive to make in the world.

Follow Gathery on Instagram @gathery.place to get updates about the launch in May!

Visit Wildairfilms.com to learn more about my video and documentary work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wildairfilms.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gathery.place
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenlmaloney

Image Credits
Chloe Porterfield