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The Carlsbad Chamber Podcast is a podcast dedicated to connecting San Diego North County leaders in business, education and civic engagement. Join us every week as we talk with people dedicated to all aspects of our quality of life and are dedicated to leaving a lasting impact.
Host (Bret Schanzenbach):
Good morning and welcome to Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact. I’m Bret Schanzenbach, President & CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, and your host today. I’m thrilled to welcome Audrey Maria Adams, founder of YNSOTM Co (pronounced “yen-SOD-um”). We’ll unpack the name and the mission in a bit—welcome, Audrey!
Guest (Audrey Maria Adams):
Thanks, Bret—happy to be here.
Bret:
Let’s start with your roots. Did you grow up here?
Audrey:
I grew up about as far from Carlsbad as you can—Hartford, Connecticut. I later moved to D.C. for college at The Catholic University of America, where I earned a B.A. in Politics (with a minor in Philosophy and Psychology) plus a certificate in video production/digital storytelling, and then an M.A. in Political Theory. I was fascinated by how politics, philosophy, and psychology all ask: What is human nature, and how do we design systems where people flourish—at home, in organizations, and in society?
Bret:
So not necessarily a career in day-to-day politics?
Audrey:
Right. I loved political theory—Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas—asking how to build a society aimed at the highest human good.
Bret:
You also have a deep gymnastics background.
Audrey:
My grandfather owns a gymnastics center in Connecticut. I basically grew up there, started coaching at 14, competed through high school, went to Nationals, and later, after moving west, returned as a coach and even competed again—became a finalist and medalist at an adult gymnastics competition in New Mexico last year. Coaching and mentoring—whether in gyms or schools—has been a constant.
Bret:
Speaking of schools—what was DC Reads?
Audrey:
It’s a tutoring/service program supporting D.C. schools. I started as a classroom aide/tutor my first semester and eventually led the program in 2021–2022, coordinating about 50 college tutors as schools reopened post-COVID. Rebuilding community was a priority.
Bret:
How did you end up in North County?
Audrey:
Two vehicles! During COVID I built a travel van and drove Route 66 to San Diego in 2021 to visit my cousin in Carlsbad—fell in love with the area. Later, my beloved moped (my everyday ride in D.C.) was stolen twice. That was my sign to move. I relocated in October 2022.
Bret:
You first got involved locally through a mental-health startup, right?
Audrey:
Yes—introducing breathwork and mindfulness to students in San Diego Unified. I started as a coach and became a partner. When I transitioned out around October 2023, I knew I wanted to keep pursuing work rooted in presence and connection.
Bret:
And then a profound personal event changed your trajectory.
Audrey:
My cousin’s husband John—a gifted trombonist in the Marine Corps Band—tragically passed away on October 1, 2023. That loss reshaped my priorities: slow down, be present, choose work that deepens connection. Around then I’d begun handing out “kindness cards”—simple notes to strangers. One day I gave a card on Carlsbad Beach to a woman who later told me it was the day after her husband’s memorial. It reminded me: you never know what people are carrying, and small acts of presence matter.
Bret:
You turned that courage into a “rejection game,” too?
Audrey:
Yes—celebrating the No’s to build courage. Then in June 2024 I took a B2B sales role (direct sales for AT&T), talking to 50–60 businesses a day. It taught me to approach people with openness, collaborate, and handle rejection. That led to a role at a local insurance agency in August 2024—which is where I really piloted the ideas behind my consultancy.
Bret:
You brought “unreasonable hospitality” into insurance?
Audrey:
Exactly—based on Will Guidara’s concept. We asked: How do we turn a dry task into a memorable, joyful experience? Examples:
• Hand-delivering an iPad charger and a small care package to a client recovering from COVID so she could sign docs.
• Making a $100 donation to the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens in honor of a client’s late mother on the anniversary of her passing.
These weren’t gimmicks—they were about presence, attentiveness, and making people feel seen.
Bret:
Let’s talk about the company: what is YNSOTM Co?
Audrey:
The name comes from a line in my master’s thesis: “You are Not So Other Than Me.” The acronym became YNSOTM (pronounced “yen-SOD-um”). The mission: take your business to its most joyful and powerful expression through creative strategy and conscious culture design.
Bret:
Make that tangible—what do you actually do?
Audrey:
Two core offerings:
1. For Individuals: a Clarity Call using a Maslow-inspired framework to locate bottlenecks on the path to self-actualization, then craft fun, actionable steps.
2. For Businesses: a Culture Audit—diagnose engagement, presence, and service gaps; design brand voice, customer journeys, team rituals, and experience playbooks that create moments of delight and belonging. I also help with copy, web content, partnerships, and community strategy.
A current client is a professional musician pivoting into a healing/performance-confidence practice. I’m helping articulate her value, build a joyful brand identity, and go to market.
Bret:
How can listeners connect?
Audrey:
Reach out to me directly (DMs or email). I’m local in North County and happy to chat about Clarity Calls and Culture Audits.
Bret:
Audrey, this was wonderful. Thanks for sharing your story and your heart for this community.
Audrey:
Thank you—this was a joy.
Bret:
Thanks for listening to Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact. If you got value from today’s episode, please follow and tell a friend!