Episode Summary
"I'm a mother now. I'm no longer a hostess."
In this episode, Emily Breder talks with Olivia Jones and Tyshon Boone, co-founders of Prism Spaces in Chicago, about how two performing artists turned community managers are rewriting the coworking playbook.
It starts with art: ballet and theatre degrees, open mics, and local gallery walls. But it doesn't stop there.
Olivia and Tyshon bring a radical hospitality to their space—filtered water, lavender air, feminine care supplies, and no surprise charges for coffee.
They run Prism like it's their baby, and their members feel it.
We talk pricing pressures, staying accessible, and what happens when your coworking community drinks more tea than your Amazon cart can handle.
Plus: the tensions of being best friends and business partners, and how sometimes community shows up as a serenade of Backstreet Boys covers.
This one's for anyone who's ever wondered if coworking could be built with soul.
Timeline Highlights
[00:04] Emily invites listeners to the next Unreasonable Connection
[00:59] Tyshon and Olivia share their arts backgrounds and coworking origin story
[03:17] Olivia on pivoting from ballet to real estate to community building
[06:02] How Prism supports local artists—with zero gatekeeping
[07:44] Raffle prizes, theatre tickets, and the unexpected artsy side of members
[08:57] A whole band forms during open mic night
[10:13] Why charging for coffee isn’t the Prism way
[12:42] Snacks, lavender, poodles, and the art of creating a welcoming space
[14:19] The challenge of staying focused when your cofounder is your best friend
[17:26] Why Olivia sees herself more as a mother than a manager
[20:15] Cabo on the patio—how they use space design to shape member moods
[21:55] The tension between financial sustainability and radical accessibility
[25:06] Tyshon on member input, toilet flushes, and investing in the experience
[26:45] How they divide work as a duo with different day jobs
[29:24] The Chicago coworking boom—and how Prism stays different
[32:09] How to find Prism online and get a free first day
Detailed Episode Breakdown
Meet the Artists-Turned-Owners
Tyshon and Olivia met at the University of the Arts—he a theatre major, she a ballet dancer. Years later, they’ve taken their creative DNA and poured it into coworking.
The Art of Building Community
From open call gallery walls to raffle tickets for local plays, Prism isn’t just art-friendly—it’s art-first. Even their members bring surprise creativity to the table (or stage).
Space as Care Work
Olivia doesn’t see herself as a manager. She’s a mother to a living, breathing space. That care is evident in feminine supplies, quiet fountains, and complimentary snacks.
Best Friends & Business Decisions
Running a space with your bestie sounds dreamy—until your 1 PM meeting turns into cocktails and binge-watching. Tyshon and Olivia share how they navigate love and logistics.
Pricing with Integrity
What do you do when your members say, “You should charge more,” but you want to keep the doors open for everyone? Olivia and Tyshon talk real numbers, trust, and hard choices.
Why Prism Doesn’t Feel Like a Business
Between poodle greeters and morning lavender scents, members don’t feel like customers, and Olivia and Tyshon don’t want them to. But that doesn’t make running the place any easier.
Links & Resources
Referenced by Guests:
Prism Website – https://prismpartners.space
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