GCUC Podcast - Justin Gurland, Founder & CEO of The Maze

Episode notes

What if the best social club in New York didn’t revolve around alcohol, but around connection? On this episode of the GCUC podcast, we sit down with Justin Gurland, Founder & CEO of The Maze, an alcohol-free members club in New York City that’s redefining how adults gather, connect, and build community. After nearly two decades of sobriety and a career in behavioral health, Justin saw a gap: plenty of places to drink together, but almost nowhere designed for meaningful connection without alcohol at the center. Enter The Maze, a thoughtfully designed social club where professionals, creatives, and entrepreneurs can meet, collaborate, and form real relationships in a hospitality-driven environment rooted in wellness and intentional programming. Justin joins GCUC Founder Liz Elam to discuss the growing alcohol-free movement, the loneliness epidemic in big cities, and why rebuilding social networks is one of the most powerful drivers of human well-being. They also dive into the surprising rise of sober-curious culture, the role hospitality plays in community spaces, and what coworking operators can learn from the next generation of membership clubs.

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