1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,080 Speaker 1: Coming up on you need therapy. 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,000 Speaker 2: We talk about all the time at folks that a 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 2: better question is an invitation for a better conversation. If 4 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:11,319 Speaker 2: I only am ever asked how I am and what 5 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 2: I do for work and where I'm from, then I 6 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 2: only have a chance to explore those things unless I 7 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 2: look to someone else and say, hey, I really want 8 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 2: to throw a curveball in and talk about anything else. 9 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 2: And so I think even just the slight shift in 10 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 2: some of these questions has been a game changer. Instead 11 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 2: of what do you do? How do you spend your time? 12 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 2: Instead of where do you live in town? What is 13 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 2: your favorite way to spend a day in town? 14 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 1: I started to realize that not being an expert isn't 15 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 1: a liability, it's a real gift. 16 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 3: If we don't know something about ourselves at this point 17 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 3: in our life, it's probably because it's uncomfortable to know. 18 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,919 Speaker 3: If you can die before you die, then you can 19 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 3: really live. There's a wisdom at death's door. I thought 20 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 3: I was insane, Yeah, and I didn't know what to 21 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 3: do because there was no internet. 22 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,199 Speaker 1: I don't know, man, I'm like, I feel like everything 23 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: is hard. Hey, y'all, my name is Kat I'm a 24 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:14,119 Speaker 1: human first and a licensed therapist second, and right now 25 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 1: I'm inviting you into conversations that I hope encourage you 26 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: to become more curious and less judgmental about yourself, others, 27 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 1: and the world around you. Welcome to You Need Therapy. Hello, 28 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: and welcome to a new episode of You Need Therapy podcast. 29 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: My name is Kat and today you're in luck because 30 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: it is not just me and I will introduce our 31 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: guest in a second. But before we do that, reminder 32 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: that although this podcast is called You Need Therapy, I 33 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:47,320 Speaker 1: am a therapist. It does not serve as a substitute 34 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: or any kind of therapy that would be legitimate and real. However, 35 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: I always hope that you can get something out of 36 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: these episodes. Now back to the interesting part, the fun part. 37 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: You don't have just me today, you have my friend 38 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: Emma macaulay, who is the founder and CEO, which is 39 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 1: a fancy, nice titled have of Folks table here to 40 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: talk about stuff that we actually love talking about here. However, 41 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: I was just talking to Emma a second ago, which 42 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: you can say, Hi, I like talking about you like 43 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: you're not here. So this is Emma, and I was 44 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: just telling her before. We've done a bunch of episodes 45 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: on here, and I've talked a lot about connection and 46 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: loneliness and friendship and all of that, and sometimes I 47 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:37,079 Speaker 1: feel like I'm a what's the phrase broken record? 48 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 3: Ah? 49 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: Yes, and I've told you guys this before. Sometimes I'm like, oh, 50 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: I've already talked about this, or are you gonna get bored? 51 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: But I also noticed that I'm getting annoyed with myself 52 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: of repeating myself. Not that you guys don't want to 53 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: hear it, it's that like, Okay, Catherine, you keep talking 54 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:56,959 Speaker 1: about this, nothing's happening, And Emma hit the nail on 55 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 1: the head as we were talking before about why that 56 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 1: maybe is happening. And so I'm kind of getting ahead 57 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: of myself. But basically, we're here to talk about friendship 58 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: and connection and loneliness and talking to people in third 59 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 1: places and you know all of those things that go 60 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 1: along with that, and part of that is talking about 61 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: a business that you started that is so interesting and 62 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: so cool, also so creative. It just sounds fun to 63 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: be doing that. 64 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 3: It's fun to have fun as it turned out. 65 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, So what I want to do to start before 66 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: we get into all of the nitty gritty is I 67 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: want to hear a little bit of your backstory. Tell 68 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: the people where you came from. We were talking about 69 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: your previous job before. I want to know, like how 70 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: the like steps led you to this, because what you're 71 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: doing now is not something that you go to college 72 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: and you're like, I want to do that. 73 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 3: It's relieving to hear you say that. 74 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 1: I've never I've never heard somebody say that before, and 75 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: I think that also just for anybody listening, that's often 76 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: the case. You end up doing something and you're like, 77 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: I didn't go to college to do that, which is free. 78 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 1: So tell me where you came from. Where did you 79 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: come from? I love the start from the very beginning, 80 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: From the very beginning. At Folkstable, we talk a lot 81 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 1: about what your origin story was, and so that is 82 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: how I'm thinking about this. But Hi, everybody, it's so 83 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 1: fun to be here, so fun to be sitting here 84 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: with Kat and just excited to chat through the real 85 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: reel of it all today. I think that's the whole 86 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 1: bit of folk Stable is we're trying to figure out 87 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: how we make these very nebulous concepts like connection and 88 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: friendship and third places actually feel more real and really 89 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: accessible in our lives, so and less scary and less scary, 90 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: less pressure. We joke that it is fun to have 91 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: fun and it's cool to care and your story matters. 92 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 2: So more of that today. Okay, the question of where 93 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: did I come from? 94 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: Where does it come from? 95 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 2: Did you get here? So the shortened spite of this 96 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 2: is I did not train to do this. I would 97 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,040 Speaker 2: not have imagined my life to be like this, and 98 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 2: thank gosh, I couldn't have seen this far out and 99 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 2: known exactly what this would take form as. But the 100 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 2: start of folks table, as I think a lot of 101 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 2: good and or wonky ideas, is that it started in 102 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 2: my attic. 103 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 1: Which is one what's your addict? 104 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 3: Like funky funky addict? 105 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: Because my attic's scary. 106 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 2: My attic became, thank gosh, a bit of an inviting space, 107 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 2: but it did have a little bit of a we 108 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 2: got a fixed wrapper. So in my old space, this is, 109 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,720 Speaker 2: I guess two and a half years ago. For context, 110 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,359 Speaker 2: this is not the bio that you find on the website, 111 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 2: so we'll give you all the fun of it all. 112 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 2: I was working in politics, and I was working in education, 113 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 2: and that was still in kind of the post pandemic 114 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 2: during pandemic era, and so that was a tough time 115 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 2: to be talking about work. And I found that my 116 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 2: job in my time, in my nine to five was 117 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 2: a bit of a buzz skill for people. And the 118 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 2: last thing I wanted to be talking about reality of 119 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 2: work and weather was all I was getting stuck in 120 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: a young person in a hustling, bustling, exciting city. So 121 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 2: I thought, okay, let me get my friends together. We'll 122 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 2: do dinner parties and we'll just talk about anything else. 123 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 2: And I pitched them on the concept and they said, ah, 124 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 2: we love the dinners, we hate the topics. 125 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:17,159 Speaker 3: What do you mean? 126 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 2: I was so excited to talk about things like you 127 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 2: and I talk about like the infrastructure of our society 128 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:27,280 Speaker 2: and friendship and why you know, we can't figure out 129 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 2: this thing of being young, single, fun people. But the 130 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 2: reality of how the dinner's got going is that it 131 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:35,159 Speaker 2: was people would come, they were invited to bring a friend. 132 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 2: And so this concept of dinner with strangers really took 133 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 2: off an attic. 134 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: So you were eating dinner with strangers in your attic. 135 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 2: And here's the better bert gat is that I did 136 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:44,360 Speaker 2: not have a dishwasher. 137 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 1: So first of all, you're doing all of that yourself. 138 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 3: All the cooking. 139 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 1: I'm still stuck on what it's your act. 140 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 3: You're still talking about that. 141 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: It was a cute little dusty a frame of a space, 142 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 2: but it's not there's like air. 143 00:06:57,440 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 3: There was air, Okay, there was a window. 144 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 2: Okay, you have but like folding tables mixed match chairs, 145 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 2: that's kind of cool. It was cute, send you a photo. Okay, 146 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,239 Speaker 2: the early days, but early days took off. We passed 147 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 2: three hundred people. There was a wait list of oh, 148 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 2: I don't even know a lot. And that was when 149 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 2: I thought, you know what, I think this is real. 150 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: Wait a second, as you're doing that, it's you invite 151 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: your friends and they bring a. 152 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 2: Friend, and it's if you come once, you pass it 153 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 2: on to somebody else, and then so I can't come twice. 154 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 2: We hit so many people we couldn't get people back through, 155 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 2: which was a bummer. And that's when I thought, this 156 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 2: is a broken way. 157 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 3: To do this. 158 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: When you say we, it's you and yourself or did 159 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: you join forces? 160 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 2: I do say we a lot, but it really was me, 161 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 2: myself and I. 162 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 3: There's a couple. Okay, more question. 163 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: That definitely sounds like that therapy really cool. So that 164 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: has to also because in my head, I'm like, there's 165 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: no freaking way, Hey, I'm doing that on my own. 166 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: I want to hear a little about like your personality 167 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: in general. Yeah, what's your inteagram? 168 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 3: Ooh, I'm an eight? 169 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: Okay, I thought you're gonna say seven. Is there at 170 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: least a wing there? 171 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 3: I don't think so. I think I'm an eight wing nine. 172 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 2: I think Okay, we might find otherwise by the end 173 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 2: of this podcast, but I'm. 174 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: Not an expert in that. I just like assume anybody 175 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: who's like fun as a seven, which I guess that's 176 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: not true. Okay, So talk about what it's like to 177 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: connect with people, because some people are like what she did? 178 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: What it's wild? 179 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'll put it this way. 180 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:37,319 Speaker 2: I come from a huge family, was constantly around interesting 181 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 2: conversations connection growing up. My nuclear family is small, but 182 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 2: our Christmas is an off years we're sixty plus, we 183 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,199 Speaker 2: do an annual family camping trip where we have an 184 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 2: intergenerational canoe race. Right, Like we are a family of 185 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 2: storytellers and activities and like it's your bloody care. It's 186 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 2: like the way we all show up and at family 187 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 2: unions we joke that we always have circles. You always 188 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 2: stand up and give an update on your life and 189 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 2: who you are and where you're at. And so I 190 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 2: think this version of like me fundamentally believing people are 191 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 2: interesting and have interesting things to talk about, and we 192 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 2: owe them the time and effort to ask better questions 193 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 2: to get to a place where we can understand that. 194 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 2: I wasn't getting to experience that in my social life 195 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 2: as a young twenty something in Nashville. 196 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: I love that you said that. I said last week 197 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: on Couch Talks, the Question Answered episode of this podcast, 198 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: and somebody said this to me years ago. They said 199 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: people want to tell their stories, they just have to 200 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: be asked. 201 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 3: God. 202 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: Yes, And I brought that up because people want to 203 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 1: talk a lot of the times they might be afraid 204 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 1: to talk, but people want to talk. But what just 205 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:46,599 Speaker 1: came in my head. I'm having a squirrel moment. I 206 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: was like, on dates, Yeah, I want to tell you 207 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: about my life, but I want you to ask me 208 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: a question. But we don't know how to ask questions, 209 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 1: or we feel uncomfortable asking questions or awkward or am 210 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: I allowed to ask that question. So you saying that's 211 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 1: people deserve to have people in their life that they know, Yes, 212 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 1: that I ask for you, that was natural. 213 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 3: I'll put it this way. 214 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 2: We talk about all the time at folks that a 215 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 2: better question is an invitation for a better conversation. If 216 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 2: I only am ever asked how I am and what 217 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,719 Speaker 2: I do for work and where I'm from, then I 218 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 2: only have a chance to explore those things unless I 219 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 2: look to someone else and say, hey, I really want 220 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 2: to throw a curveball in and talk about anything else. 221 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. 222 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 2: And so I think even just the slight shift in 223 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 2: some of these questions has been a game changer. Instead 224 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 2: of what do you do? How do you spend your time? 225 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 2: Instead of where do you live in town? What is 226 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 2: your favorite way to spend a day in town? Oh 227 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 2: my gosh, And these slight shifts, right, we're not asking, 228 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 2: like tell me your deepest, darkest fears, and we're not 229 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 2: asking people to like get into the underbelly of their lives, right, 230 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 2: We're just simply making these shifts that offer such a 231 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 2: different way to think about very regular things in your life. 232 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 3: Life, which, as you and. 233 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:02,719 Speaker 2: I talked about before we started, is kind of the 234 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:03,559 Speaker 2: whole point of life. 235 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, So for myself, I think one of the reasons 236 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: I struggle with asking certain questions is I've been trained 237 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 1: that a lot of the things that I talk about 238 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: with somebody are confidential and I know how triggering or 239 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: scary or I know from a different perspective that like 240 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: this is between me and you, and so I oftentimes 241 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: think in my head I have to be invited in 242 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: to ask those questions. Yeah, but that's my own issue 243 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 1: with separating. Like work Catherine and like fun social Catherine 244 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: at a wedding too. It will be two years ago 245 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 1: in September A sitting at a table I was meeting 246 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: my now husband's family, part of his failing for the 247 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:44,199 Speaker 1: first time. I was sitting at a table with a bunch 248 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: of people thatn't know kind of like not close family 249 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 1: at that table, but distant cousin, uncle, second removed kind 250 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 1: of people. And I think the guy asked me what 251 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 1: do you like to do for fun? Or like what 252 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: do you like to do or something like that, and 253 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,359 Speaker 1: my response was, I really don't. 254 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:02,679 Speaker 3: Like me that question. 255 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 1: I never know what to say. It's because it's like, oh, 256 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 1: I like to like the typical things I like to 257 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 1: hang out with my friends and play like I always 258 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: sound like a robot when I answer that. But I 259 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: think I just said, I don't know. That's a hard 260 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:15,960 Speaker 1: question for me to answer. It's what I said, and 261 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: he goes, well, you're great at making conversation, aren't you? 262 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: That was his response, and I just go. 263 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 3: Okay, okay, I locked the window to you. 264 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: Part of me was like, I don't want to talk 265 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,680 Speaker 1: to you anymore now it's there. But I think what 266 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 1: that hit me because if that question would have been 267 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 1: asked in a different way, It's not that like I'm 268 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 1: terrible conversation, it's that that question is a hard question 269 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: to answer and not feel super lame. We all say 270 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 1: that from time. 271 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 3: That stuff. 272 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: Who likes being asked what do you do for fun? 273 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: But you saying what's your ideal day? In Nashville? I 274 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 1: could talk about that for four. 275 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 2: Hours, and I think even gosh, we could talk about 276 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 2: questions forever, like what's the thing you're jazzed about right now? 277 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 2: What's something that you can't stop talking about right now? 278 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 2: Or here's now we'll fast forward and we'll talk about 279 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 2: with full looks like now, because thank gosh, it's not 280 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 2: still in my attic. 281 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 3: And thank gosh, I'm not so cooking. 282 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 2: But one of the questions we do play what we 283 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 2: call the game at our coffees, at bars and at dinners, 284 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,959 Speaker 2: and there's always the option to swap questions because we 285 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 2: never know what question, to your point, is just going 286 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 2: to strike a nerve with somebody, factors beyond our control 287 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 2: and factors beyond theirs. And so the way that we 288 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 2: flip this question is what is the question that you 289 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 2: wish somebody would ask you? 290 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 3: And that invitation has been a game changer at our. 291 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 2: Tables when you wish someone would ask or what have 292 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 2: you not had a chance to talk about as much 293 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,959 Speaker 2: lately that you're really thinking about that's been on your mind. 294 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 2: And I think that's the other piece that you talked 295 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 2: about too, is so many of the questions that we 296 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 2: get asked are about our activities, are about our hobbies, 297 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 2: are about where we spend our money. And I think 298 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 2: the other interesting part to me is that is less 299 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 2: than half of our being. There is this other half 300 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 2: that is stuck to the top of our head we're 301 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 2: thinking about and what is taking up our time of 302 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,679 Speaker 2: thought and how we're thinking about moving through time and 303 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 2: space differently, and I think those questions at our tables 304 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 2: have been just as meaningful for people, and we often 305 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 2: try to forward face those questions when they are about 306 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 2: how you're thinking. Rare do we call people to reflect 307 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 2: on as much of what's happened in the past at 308 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 2: our tables because we want people to experience connection in 309 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 2: a very future, facing tomorrow, looking ever after, feeling experience. 310 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 2: Rather than this constant state of reflection with strangers, it's 311 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 2: a constant state of forward looking with strangers. 312 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 3: And that's really cool too. 313 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: What I was thinking when you said that was it's 314 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 1: really hard for a lot of people to just blanket 315 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: tell you about themselves because we're constantly trying to identify 316 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: and get to know who we are. So when I 317 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: get asked a question like that is about tell me 318 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 1: who you are versus what you're thinking about, that feels 319 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 1: so different, Like. 320 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 2: It's a space, Oh my god, it gives you some 321 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 2: breathing room. And like, also, you and I laughed about 322 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 2: this before we started. We talk about it folkstables all 323 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 2: the time. That number one, it is natural to have 324 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 2: a vulnerability hangover the next day. It doesn't matter if 325 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 2: you are an introvert or an extrovert or an ambivert 326 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 2: we all, myself included, who has now talked to hundreds 327 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 2: and hundreds and hundreds of strangers in my life, I 328 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 2: still always have that I. 329 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 3: Cannot believe I just said that. 330 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 2: I cannot believe I just did that, And that is 331 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 2: very natural and that's very human, and think gosh, I 332 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 2: think the other part is that we offer people a 333 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 2: lot of permission to have those draft, one version one 334 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 2: thoughts on the spot. That is all we are asking 335 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 2: for at the tables. In fact, we do not want 336 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 2: people to feel like they ever would have seen the 337 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 2: questions before or have had a chance to kind of 338 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 2: get their head on straight about what they're going to say, 339 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 2: because that is the novelty of that night. Your questions 340 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 2: are different, your people are different. The repeat experience of 341 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 2: folkstable that you can access that high quality connection again 342 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 2: and again and again, and so we love that so 343 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 2: much that for some people they orient connection towards the 344 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 2: conversation they had, for some people they orient connection towards 345 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 2: the people that they met, and either way, both of 346 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 2: those things change each time, so that you can continue 347 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 2: to return to tables and access this type of connection, 348 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 2: be you someone as we hear a lot of people 349 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 2: looking for friends, they want to meet new people, they 350 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 2: want to mix it up, whether they've been here or 351 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 2: they're new here. They're just looking for more people. I 352 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 2: think the other side this came from Tyler, and Tyler's 353 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 2: feedback is one that will stick with me for forever. 354 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 2: They said, you know, my life is really full and 355 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 2: really rich. I'm so blessed, I am married, I have 356 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 2: incredible friends, Like I've worked really hard to. 357 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 3: Build community in Nashville. 358 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 2: And they said, but I keep coming to Folk Stable 359 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 2: because I need to experience types of conversations and first 360 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 2: draft thoughts with people that do. 361 00:16:55,880 --> 00:17:00,040 Speaker 1: Not know me. Okay, because sometimes it is so so 362 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 1: much easier to be vulnerable with people that don't know 363 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: you than the people that know you. 364 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 2: Best and that you don't owe any responsibility to see again. 365 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: Oh my god, yeah, that yes right. 366 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 2: And so I love that we have some people who 367 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 2: do experience Folks in the way of their life is full, 368 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 2: their relationships are sound, they are quote unquote good, but 369 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 2: they still come to us because they're seeking a richer, 370 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,119 Speaker 2: broader social life. And then we have a really you know, 371 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:28,439 Speaker 2: kind of traditional experience, which is coming to meet new 372 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 2: friends and explore new restaurants and get to know people 373 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:31,400 Speaker 2: in a new way. 374 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: And part of that is just being seen in a 375 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: different way. Yeah, I want to be seen in a 376 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: different way. I don't want to be seen as the 377 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 1: wife or the husband or this friend or this. I 378 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:43,639 Speaker 1: would want to come and like not even tell anybody 379 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 1: what I do for a lit. 380 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 3: Hundred percent, and we wouldn't ask you. That's the joke. 381 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 2: We don't even really talk about work or whether at 382 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:52,199 Speaker 2: the tables, so chances are we would never know. 383 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:56,679 Speaker 1: I can only know what it's like from my perspective 384 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 1: of this. But oftentimes when I go to experiences like that, 385 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: or I'm doing certain things that involve this caliber of 386 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: connecting with people or knowing about connection, I freeze because 387 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: I'm like, people are gonna expect X y Z of me, 388 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 1: or I'm supposed to have a good answer, or I'm 389 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: supposed to be really deep, and like sometimes I'm not 390 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 1: that deep, just to have fun, and I get exhausted 391 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 1: by that sometimes. And so going to something where like 392 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,360 Speaker 1: nobody cares what I do and nobody's going to ask 393 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: me allows me to show up and be seen in 394 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:32,119 Speaker 1: a way that I want to be seen that doesn't 395 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:33,120 Speaker 1: happen is also real. 396 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:33,880 Speaker 3: That's so real. 397 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:36,919 Speaker 2: You were asking about, like Emma Lore Before all of this, 398 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 2: I used to also be a middle school teacher. 399 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 1: Crazy, just the worst time of my life. 400 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,880 Speaker 3: Just really smelly and sprightly and spunky. 401 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:46,400 Speaker 1: We all were. 402 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 2: So I just got wrecked by thirteen year olds and 403 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:55,199 Speaker 2: was better for it. But I think that ultimately, like 404 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,199 Speaker 2: the content I was teaching seventh grade social studies at 405 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:01,639 Speaker 2: the time, it was an untested subject and so the 406 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:03,919 Speaker 2: freedom that we had every day in my class just 407 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,399 Speaker 2: to like become a better version of ourselves while we 408 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 2: were talking about the Fall of Rome was so cool, 409 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 2: and so I think about that a lot. I was 410 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 2: asked the other day of like, and we can talk 411 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 2: about this. We're releasing the app component of Folks and 412 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 2: we're growing and we went to south By Southwest this year. 413 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 1: And I can't wait to hear about that's just crazy. 414 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 2: I mean, we're in an incubator right now and through 415 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 2: the Entrepreneur Center and just like full fledged break neck 416 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 2: pace startup mode, which is thrilling. And the question was 417 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 2: for as far and as wide and as broad as 418 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 2: folks will go, what is the. 419 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 3: One thing that you want to be true about? 420 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:45,959 Speaker 1: It? 421 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 2: Every single table, every single time, and again me and 422 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 2: an exercise trying to force myself to do the very 423 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 2: same thing that we're asking other people to do. 424 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 3: Is like the draft. 425 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:58,879 Speaker 2: One thought, and I thought of my middle schoolers because 426 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,159 Speaker 2: it was this version of like, whatever, whatever version of 427 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 2: you shows up to class that day, or in our instance, 428 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 2: to tables that day. I hope that you can be 429 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 2: excited by that person, and if not, at the end 430 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 2: of the table, that you feel better about yourself when 431 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 2: you left, show up as you are. Thank you for coming. 432 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 2: Is that version of yourself? Thank you for being here today, however, 433 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 2: and whoever you are, and thank you for coming, and 434 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,120 Speaker 2: whatever version of you experienced this like moment of growth 435 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 2: and honesty at the end of it. So I hope 436 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 2: those two things are always true. 437 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:36,679 Speaker 1: So take me back, because we got a little we 438 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:39,359 Speaker 1: were stuck in the attic. We're still in the attic, 439 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,320 Speaker 1: but we're like kind of automatic at the same time. 440 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:44,679 Speaker 1: How did it go from the attic to what it 441 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:48,160 Speaker 1: is now? Because you're talking about attic and then you're atlasest. 442 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:49,920 Speaker 1: That is crazy, That's great. 443 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 3: That is crazy. 444 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, in a short amount of time. Yeah, it's wild. 445 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 2: So actual Timeline Folks was established in January of twenty 446 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 2: twenty three. By February of twenty twenty three, you marketed, 447 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,120 Speaker 2: and by March of twenty twenty three, we were at 448 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 2: our first restaurant and that was a sold out event. 449 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 2: We had sixty people. We did two seatings math six 450 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:17,720 Speaker 2: tables of five strangers at each yikes. And so that 451 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:19,919 Speaker 2: was quote unquote the start, like not in my attic, 452 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 2: working with community and restaurant partners and like really delivering 453 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 2: on this experience of truly anyone off the street can 454 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:29,479 Speaker 2: show up, can talk to strangers, can ask better questions, 455 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 2: and get better at getting to know people. 456 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 1: Did you have the game? 457 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 3: We did, but it's. 458 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 2: Taken on a lot of different versions and I can't 459 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 2: wait to talk more about that. So we were pretty 460 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,880 Speaker 2: much monthly and we were still hosting kind of these 461 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 2: larger or medium sized events. You'd show up, there was 462 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 2: kind of like an amba of like thirty to sixty 463 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:48,439 Speaker 2: to eighty people and you were still put at a 464 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 2: table of strangers. We were running that through our system 465 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 2: and getting really good at our algorithm on how we 466 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 2: pair people. We were working really closely on who you 467 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 2: were matched with when you showed up, and then how 468 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 2: you were seated with different people at tables. We were 469 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 2: paying a ton of attention to the feedback around what 470 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 2: did lead to better conversations and connections and how much 471 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 2: warm up time do people need and when do they 472 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 2: want to stretch their legs and just kind of being 473 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 2: total nerds about like the science of connection and friendship 474 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 2: and novelty and strangers. We kept that at a really 475 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 2: aggressive pace, I would say, because I think as I 476 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:24,160 Speaker 2: approached my life and you asked kind of like who 477 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:25,679 Speaker 2: are you as a person, It's very much like if 478 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 2: I'm going to go for I'm going to go for it. 479 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,400 Speaker 2: And so I very much felt that, like I care 480 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 2: about this right now, they are a heck of a 481 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 2: lot of other things I could be doing in my 482 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 2: life that are also exciting to me. And so while 483 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 2: this has my attention, and while this seems to be 484 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 2: working for other people, let's keep going. 485 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:42,120 Speaker 1: And you're still working a full time job. 486 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 3: I was working at a full time job. Yeah. 487 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 2: I was a government early by day and a folks 488 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 2: or by night. And I left my job in October 489 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 2: of twenty twenty three, which is crazy to say that now, 490 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:57,119 Speaker 2: and you all can't see me. But I did what 491 00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 2: everybody does with crazy life decisions, and I got bang. 492 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:04,239 Speaker 1: But the thing work for you is the thing they 493 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 1: don't work for everybody. Gosh, oh I moved to anybody. 494 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: Did anybody say like, don't do it? 495 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 2: Oh? 496 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:11,400 Speaker 3: For sure? 497 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 2: They were just the like, okay, we're quitting job and 498 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:15,000 Speaker 2: doing big haircut. 499 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:16,600 Speaker 3: Got it, God? 500 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 1: And it moved. So you don't have that attic anymore. 501 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:22,199 Speaker 2: Well, I do have a different attic, okay, which is 502 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 2: the attic that now we pull a lot of close 503 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:26,879 Speaker 2: to all nighters in. There's a big whiteboard. It's like 504 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,600 Speaker 2: the very startup energy. It is really fun and like 505 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,160 Speaker 2: such a nice homage to the original attic. But yeah, 506 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 2: we moved really fast, and so then by March of 507 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 2: twenty twenty four we were at south By Southwest, and 508 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 2: then September of twenty twenty four this year, in just 509 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 2: two weeks less than we'll be launching the web based app. 510 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:45,959 Speaker 2: And I think all of this to say is because 511 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 2: what we came to find is that, as you and 512 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 2: I have talked about, connection has gotten really complicated for 513 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 2: people when I say app, and I even hesitate to 514 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 2: use that word. It is so associated to dating apps 515 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:58,359 Speaker 2: for people, which just make me have goosebumps and not 516 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 2: the good kind of way. And so I think for us, 517 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 2: it's like, how do we get back to the basics. 518 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 2: That's why Folks as a brand uses very simple primary colors. 519 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 2: That's why Folks Table as a brand uses really simple 520 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 2: language like pull up a chair, talk to strangers, connect 521 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:18,880 Speaker 2: to something. We are trying to demystify and decomplicate this 522 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:21,400 Speaker 2: thing that has gotten really messy. You and I also 523 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 2: talked about there's a lot of lip service given to connection. 524 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:25,440 Speaker 3: People talk a lot. 525 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 2: About swiping and liking and clicking, and we laugh of like, 526 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 2: you know, members club and run clubs and actual clubs 527 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 2: and where people are seeking to find people. And I 528 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 2: think what was so important to me when I saw 529 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 2: the demand at these monthly events was that we could 530 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 2: shift that into something that was not just this big 531 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:46,919 Speaker 2: thing you geared up for once a month, was actually 532 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:49,399 Speaker 2: something that you could do multiple times a week or 533 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 2: once a week within your budget, and that was more accessible, 534 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 2: i e. Showing up to a restaurant, a coffee shop 535 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 2: or a bar for a table of six strangers. Often 536 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:01,400 Speaker 2: that felt like real life to me, or at least 537 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,560 Speaker 2: a real life that I want, rather than these big 538 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:07,920 Speaker 2: novel one off experiences that felt like a bit of. 539 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:08,400 Speaker 3: A band aid. 540 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:10,359 Speaker 1: That's what the app is doing, and that's what the 541 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:14,119 Speaker 1: app is doing. So what I'm hearing you say is 542 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 1: there's going to be a way and is this local 543 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:20,639 Speaker 1: to Nashville, Local to Nashville for now? Okay, if I 544 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:24,159 Speaker 1: have this app, I can sign up for an event 545 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: any day, any day, show up to a place with 546 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:31,639 Speaker 1: five six random people, and then I'll be able to 547 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 1: have a similar experience as I would at this big event. 548 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:37,200 Speaker 3: I wish you all could see cut starts right now. 549 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 3: It's crazy. That's so cool, so cool. 550 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:44,159 Speaker 1: So this ide me think of, do you know what 551 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 1: grouper is? 552 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:49,919 Speaker 2: The fish that's such a good. 553 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 3: Today? Take the vase I did. There's a fish line. 554 00:25:55,320 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: And years ago, this was at the beginning of dating apps. 555 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:04,680 Speaker 1: This thing came out called Grouper, and it was an 556 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 1: app where you would like sign up for a day, 557 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: you would bring two friends and then whatever sex you're 558 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:15,400 Speaker 1: interested in dating is coming and they're bringing two friends 559 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 1: that you don't know where you're going, the app will 560 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:18,959 Speaker 1: tell you where to go. Then you go there, and 561 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 1: then the first drink is on the app, but really 562 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: you pay for it because it's cost money to do this. 563 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 1: But the issue with that is you get there and 564 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:30,879 Speaker 1: you would sit down and then it's like, now what 565 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 1: do you do? And then there's like the conversations with 566 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 1: this person's talking to that person that talking that person. 567 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:41,399 Speaker 1: There's no cohesiveness. And I think I did it twice. 568 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 1: I don't remember. It didn't last. All I know is 569 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 1: that that no longer exists. And what I'm hearing in 570 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:49,159 Speaker 1: that is like, this is a solution to one of 571 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: those problems. One, there's not this pressure of like I 572 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:54,200 Speaker 1: have to like this person and it's a flop if 573 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 1: I don't want to make out with this person. So 574 00:26:57,560 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: it's not about that. 575 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 3: I haven't heard about that the next part. 576 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:09,679 Speaker 1: And then also there's not this pressure to like force 577 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 1: something real because it's just about connection versus like creating 578 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 1: this intense connection with this person, this one on one thing. Yeah, 579 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 1: I love that. 580 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:21,080 Speaker 3: That's so cul, it's really fun. 581 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 2: I Also I'm just like tickled at all this too, 582 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:26,360 Speaker 2: because I think, again, connection can be such a weighty, 583 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,200 Speaker 2: like what is this word and what is this moment? 584 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:31,919 Speaker 2: The game that we play, it is meant to be fun. 585 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,959 Speaker 2: Talking to strangers is meant to be fun, especially at 586 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 2: the end of a work day, especially with how you 587 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 2: and I just talked about like the woes of the world, 588 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 2: whether that is whatever is plaguing anybody on any given day. 589 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 2: We want this to be something that is just fun 590 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 2: and adults need more of that. It should be really 591 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:48,840 Speaker 2: easy to access, and so I'll give you like really 592 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 2: tangible examples of what this looks like and sounds like 593 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 2: in the old folkslore, like everybody at the table had 594 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:58,119 Speaker 2: like hand clappers and eggshakers and cowbells, like make some noise. 595 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:00,280 Speaker 2: We're trying to be a good part or do our 596 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:01,960 Speaker 2: restaurants right now, so we don't have as much in 597 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:03,880 Speaker 2: their cow bells, but yeah, feel free to like throw 598 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:05,760 Speaker 2: up some snaps on your own and like whack the 599 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:08,159 Speaker 2: table here and there. But the questions we even added 600 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 2: in wild cards, and this was feedback we got of 601 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 2: like some tables rightfully, so we're heading into really interesting, 602 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:19,120 Speaker 2: uncharted territory, really thoughtful conversations, and they needed a chance 603 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 2: to like come up for air. Yeah, like, okay, the 604 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 2: Brussels sprouts just landed on the table and we're hearing 605 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:28,400 Speaker 2: about your hope, streams, wants wishes. 606 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 3: Let's take a break. 607 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, how we programmed the game to offer that without 608 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:35,040 Speaker 2: us being there as facilitators is really important. So he 609 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 2: threw in wild cards like freeze, everybody, do a teeth check. 610 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 2: Does anybody have food in their teeth? 611 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:41,840 Speaker 3: Oh my god? 612 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 2: Or like stop everyone go around the table again and 613 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:50,360 Speaker 2: say your name. Names are hard. Real moments are programmed 614 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 2: and built into this game because you and I, like 615 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:56,000 Speaker 2: we laughed, are social creatures and still have these faux paus. 616 00:28:56,640 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 2: It's not that we're trying to erase the photpaus at 617 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 2: the table. That's very human, that's very fun. But how 618 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:03,240 Speaker 2: can we just like name those moments that are real 619 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:06,240 Speaker 2: when you're talking to strangers, when you're asking questions like that, 620 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:08,560 Speaker 2: Like I just kind of think we are working to 621 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 2: meet the moment and exceed it to your point of 622 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,800 Speaker 2: like how people come in with these expectations for who 623 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 2: they are, how they talk, how they engage, and then 624 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 2: kind of meet. 625 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 3: Them in this moment of reality. So that's the game. 626 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:22,600 Speaker 1: I want to go back to where you were saying that. 627 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:24,400 Speaker 1: I don't know exactly how you said it, but like 628 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:27,120 Speaker 1: we got kind of like exhausted by these what is connection? 629 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 2: Like? 630 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 1: What does that mean? 631 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 3: Yeah? 632 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 1: I think I don't want to hear your take on this. 633 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: I feel like because it has been this and I 634 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 1: don't think there's one thing to blame. I think it's 635 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 1: a mix of social media. It's a mix of people 636 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 1: caring more about relationships. It's a mix of going to 637 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 1: therapy and that being a thing people are allowed to 638 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:48,320 Speaker 1: do now. It's a mix of a lot of things. 639 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:50,960 Speaker 1: But I feel like connection to so many people when 640 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:53,840 Speaker 1: you hear that word this, it's this automatic like I'm 641 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:57,640 Speaker 1: gonna talk about my trauma. Oh yeah, And I have 642 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,959 Speaker 1: to do a lot of somewhat even like ching around 643 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:04,400 Speaker 1: this with clients, specifically when they're making new friends or 644 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:07,400 Speaker 1: a lot of times dating. Connection doesn't have to be 645 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 1: as intimate as that is or as vulnerable. I can 646 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:13,239 Speaker 1: still connect and not have this like deep deep, deep 647 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 1: vulnerability that I have to express. And I think all 648 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:19,480 Speaker 1: of those things, because we use those words together connection, intimacy, 649 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 1: like trust, vulnerability, we think they all have to be 650 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 1: happening all the time. For any of them to exist, 651 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 1: and I don't think that's true. And I think that's 652 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:34,240 Speaker 1: actually hurt a lot of our relationships because we haven't 653 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:37,640 Speaker 1: built trust over time with people and allowed people to 654 00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 1: have the right to hear parts of my story. And 655 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 1: I think people have felt a lot of like, well, 656 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:45,560 Speaker 1: I wish that that person didn't have that piece of me. 657 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 1: And at the same time, it's like, wait, I just 658 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:51,440 Speaker 1: want to have fun, and so do I want to 659 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:54,480 Speaker 1: have fun or do I want connection? I love you 660 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 1: saying like we're doing that. We can ask those questions, 661 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:00,720 Speaker 1: to have those questions, that's right, but also those questions 662 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:05,120 Speaker 1: take a lot from me. Like when you said vulnerably hangover, 663 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:08,680 Speaker 1: some of that that's not like shame hangover. Sometimes it's not 664 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,719 Speaker 1: always like I shouldn't have said that. Sometimes it's like whoa, 665 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:15,120 Speaker 1: they're for real and it's not. It doesn't mean it's bad, no, 666 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 1: But I can't do that every single I can't. Ye 667 00:31:18,560 --> 00:31:20,120 Speaker 1: maybe somebody that can do that. 668 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 3: Totally I cannot. 669 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:23,760 Speaker 1: And that I think is sometimes when I get home 670 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 1: from work, I'm not even talking about myself at work. 671 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 1: I get home and I'm like TV on or instead 672 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:32,880 Speaker 1: of talking to my husband. I'm like, can we play monopoly? 673 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 1: Like Monopoly deal? There's no way I'm playing an actual 674 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:38,960 Speaker 1: whole game of Monopoly, let's be clear. But I don't 675 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:40,560 Speaker 1: want to do that and I don't have the energy. 676 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:43,040 Speaker 1: But I still want to be in relationship with somebody, 677 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:46,520 Speaker 1: that's right. So do you see that same thing where 678 00:31:46,560 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 1: those things it feels like they have to be connected, 679 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:52,160 Speaker 1: and you're you're showing us like these things can be connected. 680 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 1: They have relationships with each other, but they don't all 681 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:58,640 Speaker 1: have to exist all the time for your relationships to matter. 682 00:31:58,760 --> 00:31:59,280 Speaker 3: Yeah. 683 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:01,040 Speaker 2: No, I love that, even you talking about like you've 684 00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:03,800 Speaker 2: gotten home and it's like do we sit in silence 685 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 2: and like look at the TV or play monopoly or 686 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 2: like how do we just like zone out chill out. 687 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 2: I think the other thing we hear from a lot 688 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:10,760 Speaker 2: of people, myself included, is like if I get to 689 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:12,320 Speaker 2: the end of the day and I'm like, ooh, I 690 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:14,720 Speaker 2: might have like a little left in me. But now 691 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 2: the challenge of finding people to make the plan to 692 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:21,160 Speaker 2: land on the restaurant, to get the reservation, to put 693 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:23,600 Speaker 2: the outfit on, to get the combo of people to 694 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:26,600 Speaker 2: drive Acrosstown and park the parking. 695 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:27,640 Speaker 1: Oh it's done. 696 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 2: Takes me out, and he takes me out, And so 697 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:32,400 Speaker 2: I think that that's also where we get really excited 698 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 2: just from like the logistics of connection. We can tackle 699 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 2: a lot of that for people. I use language all 700 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:40,560 Speaker 2: the time, like let's throw elbows to like get good 701 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:43,320 Speaker 2: parking spots, and let's throw elbows to like have people 702 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:45,600 Speaker 2: not have to worry about the combination of people or 703 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:49,200 Speaker 2: the place they're going done. Your question, which I thought 704 00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:53,360 Speaker 2: was so timely, was basically it's the question of how 705 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:55,440 Speaker 2: do we define connection or what does that look like 706 00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:57,880 Speaker 2: in life? Right now, there's two things that come to mind. 707 00:32:57,920 --> 00:32:59,440 Speaker 2: One hundred I should say that come to mind, but 708 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:01,920 Speaker 2: the two that I'll try to spit out is Number 709 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:05,240 Speaker 2: one great research from Nick Epley, and he spent some 710 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 2: time I think, at U Chicago and Harvard, and he 711 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:11,880 Speaker 2: talks about how we as social creatures don't actually understand 712 00:33:11,960 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 2: our needs and wants around connection very well. And it's 713 00:33:15,280 --> 00:33:17,720 Speaker 2: wonderful because he gives us a lot of permission. It's 714 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:19,800 Speaker 2: why this thing hasn't felt good because we don't actually 715 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:23,880 Speaker 2: understand ourselves that well. And he talks about much like 716 00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:25,840 Speaker 2: some people wake up in the morning and are so 717 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 2: excited to go work out, and others wake up in 718 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:31,040 Speaker 2: the morning and that sounds like the worst thing. Ever, 719 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:34,240 Speaker 2: we all as humans need to move our bodies and 720 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:39,880 Speaker 2: experience that level of health. Similarly, everybody is a social creature. 721 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 2: Some people might wake up and seek a room full 722 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:46,000 Speaker 2: of people. Other people might wake up and want one encounter, 723 00:33:46,160 --> 00:33:49,880 Speaker 2: one quality one. But we as humans, especially now, are 724 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 2: underestimating how much we need to your point, this varied 725 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 2: nature of connection and relationships. We need people who are 726 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 2: close to us, who we are fundamentally just accompanying in life. 727 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:05,920 Speaker 2: They know what type of cereal you like, and they 728 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:08,239 Speaker 2: know what your drunk drawer looks like, and they know 729 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:10,680 Speaker 2: the state of your car, And we need people in 730 00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:14,840 Speaker 2: our life that you see consistently and somewhat irregularly. I 731 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:16,600 Speaker 2: would say that first here that I mentioned kind of 732 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:19,520 Speaker 2: the accompaniment. Those are your friends and those are your partners. 733 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:22,520 Speaker 2: That next layer is your community, people that you run 734 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:27,440 Speaker 2: into in classes or workout or activities, and you have 735 00:34:27,480 --> 00:34:29,400 Speaker 2: the chance to run into them consistently, but also you 736 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:32,600 Speaker 2: see them a bit randomly. That's important too. And then 737 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:34,200 Speaker 2: that kind of third tier for me that I think 738 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:36,320 Speaker 2: a lot about in terms of connection. Is all of 739 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:39,160 Speaker 2: the random encounters. It's the barista that you lock eyes with, 740 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:42,880 Speaker 2: It's the individual that you bump into at the grocery 741 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:44,279 Speaker 2: store and you all talk about how you both like 742 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:48,239 Speaker 2: the same oatmeal. It is slowing down when you're going 743 00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:51,800 Speaker 2: through the DMV to actually look across and say, hey, hello, 744 00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:53,360 Speaker 2: this is crazy. I can't believe this is still the 745 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:54,319 Speaker 2: way that we do this. 746 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:59,799 Speaker 3: Shout out to the DMV. It is, so that's top 747 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 3: of my mind. 748 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:06,480 Speaker 1: But if you okay, I gotta stop you, because if 749 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:09,280 Speaker 1: I was at the DMV, which I have not changed 750 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:11,200 Speaker 1: my last name. I got married six months ago. I 751 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:14,200 Speaker 1: have not done that, partly because I don't want to 752 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:16,719 Speaker 1: have to like go through all of ra the hiccups 753 00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:18,279 Speaker 1: in that fact that I have to go to the 754 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:20,120 Speaker 1: DMV and I might have to go more than once 755 00:35:20,480 --> 00:35:22,359 Speaker 1: sounds horrible. So if I was there, if we could 756 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:25,200 Speaker 1: rebrand the DMV. But if you look at me and 757 00:35:25,239 --> 00:35:27,960 Speaker 1: you said that, it would have changed my experience. 758 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:32,320 Speaker 2: But nobody's doing saying that I am, and that's why everybody. 759 00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:35,200 Speaker 1: No. 760 00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:38,640 Speaker 2: But I just joked of like shout out to friends 761 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:41,040 Speaker 2: who know that anywhere we go when we say we're 762 00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:44,120 Speaker 2: leaving there like okay, so that means like thirty minutes 763 00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:46,400 Speaker 2: from now. And I'm like, I don't know what's talking about. 764 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:48,399 Speaker 2: As I turn around and talk to the stranger next 765 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:57,319 Speaker 2: to me, let me say, connection is a habit. Talking 766 00:35:57,360 --> 00:35:59,880 Speaker 2: to strangers is a habit, is a muscle that you build. 767 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:03,279 Speaker 2: These days when we're working so hard indoors, working to 768 00:36:03,320 --> 00:36:05,759 Speaker 2: bring this thing out of doors, I find that even 769 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:07,319 Speaker 2: I come out of it and I'm like, oh, how 770 00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:07,839 Speaker 2: do I do this? 771 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:10,640 Speaker 3: What do I say? Again? I kind of forgot you? 772 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:13,680 Speaker 2: And I also were talking about rebranding the DMV. I 773 00:36:13,719 --> 00:36:16,640 Speaker 2: think on that I get really excited fundamentally, Kat of 774 00:36:16,680 --> 00:36:20,240 Speaker 2: like if folks takes on the life and the legs 775 00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:22,640 Speaker 2: that I think it can and could, that is a 776 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:25,680 Speaker 2: posture in your life towards how you talk to strangers. 777 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:28,879 Speaker 2: And that is far reaching beyond tables that is at 778 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:31,080 Speaker 2: the DMB, that is at the airport. That changes the 779 00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:33,840 Speaker 2: way that we exist in social infrastructure. That to me 780 00:36:34,440 --> 00:36:36,479 Speaker 2: is nerdy as shit, but I think it is really cool. 781 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:40,160 Speaker 2: And then we also were talking about nature and types 782 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:42,719 Speaker 2: of connection. The last piece I'll say, RAINA. Cohen has 783 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:44,279 Speaker 2: a great book that just came out called The Other 784 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:47,560 Speaker 2: Significant Others. Oh, she really gets into it, and she 785 00:36:47,640 --> 00:36:50,279 Speaker 2: talks about how we as a society, from like a 786 00:36:50,360 --> 00:36:55,560 Speaker 2: legal structure, from even like contracts and just parameters of society, 787 00:36:55,840 --> 00:36:58,759 Speaker 2: we don't have the right language for people that mean 788 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:02,400 Speaker 2: more to us if they aren't your husband, wife, partner, 789 00:37:03,239 --> 00:37:06,080 Speaker 2: and like the level of depth or meaning that friends 790 00:37:06,120 --> 00:37:08,759 Speaker 2: can offer, like that term isn't always right for like 791 00:37:08,800 --> 00:37:11,360 Speaker 2: what people mean to us sometimes. And so she just 792 00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:14,120 Speaker 2: writes this whole book with case studies and wonderful stories 793 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:17,800 Speaker 2: and really poignant examples of like we are still missing 794 00:37:17,840 --> 00:37:22,200 Speaker 2: the terminology at times of like deep friendship or random 795 00:37:22,239 --> 00:37:27,000 Speaker 2: connections that changed us, or like the vocabulary of relationships 796 00:37:27,239 --> 00:37:29,759 Speaker 2: just isn't quite where it needs to be. No less 797 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:33,080 Speaker 2: our society doesn't really recognize that. So again more in 798 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:35,319 Speaker 2: the name of like connection brain. But I just think 799 00:37:35,360 --> 00:37:38,160 Speaker 2: that on both sides, whether it's as you mentioned, these deep, 800 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:42,920 Speaker 2: deep relationships that have shaped our character or disposition or 801 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:46,440 Speaker 2: daily approach, or these people that we do not know 802 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:50,000 Speaker 2: and that we bump into, run into experience in these 803 00:37:50,040 --> 00:37:54,520 Speaker 2: moments of unexpected both are so critical for us to 804 00:37:54,560 --> 00:37:57,960 Speaker 2: have this very well rounded life that is also fun 805 00:37:58,080 --> 00:38:00,359 Speaker 2: and lets us grow and lets us be and let's 806 00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:01,919 Speaker 2: us shake an egg and clap a hand. 807 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:06,800 Speaker 1: And I use the example of like the workout and 808 00:38:07,160 --> 00:38:09,040 Speaker 1: the way that I might want to move my body 809 00:38:09,040 --> 00:38:10,880 Speaker 1: could be different than somebody else. I still need to 810 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:13,680 Speaker 1: like move my body for my health, but I'm drawn 811 00:38:13,719 --> 00:38:16,799 Speaker 1: to different ways exactly, just like in connection, like not 812 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:20,040 Speaker 1: everybody has to have the same types, but because we 813 00:38:20,120 --> 00:38:23,680 Speaker 1: lack the language, we don't realize that, and we don't realize, Oh, 814 00:38:23,840 --> 00:38:26,120 Speaker 1: it doesn't have to be that way. I don't want 815 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:29,040 Speaker 1: that it can be this way. Now, I think I'm 816 00:38:29,080 --> 00:38:32,040 Speaker 1: a hodgepodge of all the types of relationships, but just 817 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:35,200 Speaker 1: the idea that I could go to an event to 818 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:40,319 Speaker 1: just have fun be seen yep, with no like attachment 819 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:42,920 Speaker 1: to like. Now, I have to maintain these relationships. We 820 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 1: must be friends well, and maybe something happens, but correct 821 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:49,120 Speaker 1: I think that's a beautiful part of this is permission happen. 822 00:38:49,719 --> 00:38:52,000 Speaker 1: There's permission for that to happen, but it is not 823 00:38:52,040 --> 00:38:54,759 Speaker 1: a requirement that these people now have to be, you know, 824 00:38:54,920 --> 00:39:00,000 Speaker 1: pinned on your text message iPhone Like that feels so like, oh, 825 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:01,920 Speaker 1: because I want that, I want to be able to 826 00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:05,399 Speaker 1: have fun be seen. I love answering random questions like that, 827 00:39:06,640 --> 00:39:07,879 Speaker 1: what do you like to do for fun? I don't 828 00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:09,640 Speaker 1: like to answer that one. I don't like that one, 829 00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:12,080 Speaker 1: But I just love that idea of you can just 830 00:39:12,120 --> 00:39:14,320 Speaker 1: go to this event and have fun, and it's whatever 831 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:15,400 Speaker 1: happens happens. 832 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:18,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, to the point of big events and what's gonna 833 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:19,279 Speaker 2: happen is what's going to happen. I got to put 834 00:39:19,280 --> 00:39:23,120 Speaker 2: a plug in here. September sixteenth, it is National Sit 835 00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:25,480 Speaker 2: with a Stranger Day, and that for us is like 836 00:39:25,600 --> 00:39:28,279 Speaker 2: better than our company birthday. That is like the best 837 00:39:28,280 --> 00:39:31,520 Speaker 2: freaking national holiday we could ever think of. And so 838 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:35,080 Speaker 2: we're throwing a big, free event in Nashville, and the 839 00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:37,880 Speaker 2: whole point is to try to give people an experience 840 00:39:37,960 --> 00:39:40,480 Speaker 2: and a taste of who we are and what we're about, because, 841 00:39:40,800 --> 00:39:42,719 Speaker 2: like we've talked about, we're trying to remind people that 842 00:39:42,760 --> 00:39:44,520 Speaker 2: it is fun to meet new people, doesn't have to 843 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:47,200 Speaker 2: be complicated, doesn't have to have this high pressure, high 844 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:49,800 Speaker 2: stakes at folks, it is always friends first. 845 00:39:49,800 --> 00:39:50,280 Speaker 3: For us. 846 00:39:50,680 --> 00:39:53,120 Speaker 2: We are not a dating app, We're not a member's club, 847 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:56,240 Speaker 2: we're not a dinner club. It's a way for people 848 00:39:56,239 --> 00:39:58,680 Speaker 2: to come together. And I think that this event we're 849 00:39:58,719 --> 00:40:00,239 Speaker 2: so excited for, I don't want to take too to 850 00:40:00,320 --> 00:40:03,960 Speaker 2: do much, but that's really where we'll showcase the new 851 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:06,239 Speaker 2: way of Folks, which, as we have previewed as this 852 00:40:06,280 --> 00:40:10,040 Speaker 2: web based app where people can connect and experience more regularly. 853 00:40:10,640 --> 00:40:13,279 Speaker 2: But I think what's also fun about this type of 854 00:40:13,320 --> 00:40:16,640 Speaker 2: an event for us, similar to how we rocked it 855 00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:19,440 Speaker 2: at south By or similar We just pulled off a great, 856 00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:21,959 Speaker 2: big event at the First Art Museum, which is amazing 857 00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:24,200 Speaker 2: and if you haven't gone, I think what we're trying 858 00:40:24,200 --> 00:40:26,560 Speaker 2: to remind people of is that these very kind of 859 00:40:26,680 --> 00:40:30,279 Speaker 2: traditional form function off the shelves way of networking, of 860 00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:34,600 Speaker 2: meeting people, of experiencing life as we know it can 861 00:40:34,719 --> 00:40:37,560 Speaker 2: all take on a better, different flavor. As you said, 862 00:40:37,640 --> 00:40:39,839 Speaker 2: if we ask better questions and we keep getting better 863 00:40:39,880 --> 00:40:42,359 Speaker 2: at getting to know people, that to me is something 864 00:40:42,360 --> 00:40:43,920 Speaker 2: that we could stay up to the rest of our lives. 865 00:40:44,120 --> 00:40:46,479 Speaker 1: I have to ask these questions because one this event 866 00:40:46,520 --> 00:40:49,160 Speaker 1: sounds so cool, and two I imagine people are having 867 00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:52,080 Speaker 1: the same thoughts that I'm having. So imagine you're somebody 868 00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:55,000 Speaker 1: who wants new friends, right, That's why I want to 869 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:58,279 Speaker 1: go to this, Yes, but I'm scared. What do they 870 00:40:58,320 --> 00:41:01,840 Speaker 1: expect like when they show up? Like yep, I imagine 871 00:41:01,840 --> 00:41:03,239 Speaker 1: some people are going to know each other. So if 872 00:41:03,239 --> 00:41:05,919 Speaker 1: I show up not knowing it, I might see somebody 873 00:41:05,960 --> 00:41:08,480 Speaker 1: I know, but like I expect that I will know nobody. 874 00:41:09,080 --> 00:41:10,840 Speaker 1: How do you place me at a table? How do 875 00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:13,400 Speaker 1: I sign up beforehand? Like? W how does this work? 876 00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:16,000 Speaker 2: Sign up beforehand? We know that you're coming. That's always 877 00:41:16,040 --> 00:41:17,799 Speaker 2: fun for us too, as we say, you know, be 878 00:41:17,880 --> 00:41:20,520 Speaker 2: able to properly welcome you in that way? Complete a profile. 879 00:41:20,719 --> 00:41:22,799 Speaker 2: The profile you'll see is like a little bit of 880 00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:25,160 Speaker 2: a wink in a nod in the Folks universe. It 881 00:41:25,239 --> 00:41:27,600 Speaker 2: helps us get to know you better. So it's questions 882 00:41:27,719 --> 00:41:32,880 Speaker 2: like do time with strangers? Does that energize you? Or 883 00:41:32,920 --> 00:41:36,239 Speaker 2: does that not energize you? And your options might be like, man, 884 00:41:36,320 --> 00:41:39,319 Speaker 2: I'm wiped out or I'm piped up. You know, how 885 00:41:39,360 --> 00:41:42,719 Speaker 2: often are you taking the lead in conversation that is 886 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:45,000 Speaker 2: not my jam or that's my bread and butter? Like 887 00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:47,000 Speaker 2: you will get a sense of where we're going with 888 00:41:47,040 --> 00:41:50,440 Speaker 2: these questions. He'll get a screen that says, congrats, you're registered. 889 00:41:50,480 --> 00:41:52,160 Speaker 2: We can't wait to see you there. If you can't 890 00:41:52,200 --> 00:41:54,240 Speaker 2: come to the event, people shall should complete a profile 891 00:41:54,239 --> 00:41:56,160 Speaker 2: because that helps us be able to talk to you 892 00:41:56,160 --> 00:41:58,680 Speaker 2: better about future events, so and so forth. But you'll 893 00:41:58,680 --> 00:42:00,000 Speaker 2: show up to the event, You'll see a bunch of 894 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:02,279 Speaker 2: friendly folks, volunteers and people that we love in a door. 895 00:42:03,360 --> 00:42:05,680 Speaker 2: You'll move through the space and not totally to ruin 896 00:42:05,719 --> 00:42:07,880 Speaker 2: all the surprises, but you'll be paired with a stranger. 897 00:42:08,920 --> 00:42:10,800 Speaker 1: Okay, I like that. Keep going. 898 00:42:10,920 --> 00:42:14,680 Speaker 2: So we intentionally have somebody there for you to kick 899 00:42:14,719 --> 00:42:15,399 Speaker 2: off your night with. 900 00:42:16,080 --> 00:42:18,879 Speaker 1: And then that's another person that's just going to the event. 901 00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:21,600 Speaker 2: Correct, Okay, And so here let me say loud and clear, 902 00:42:21,719 --> 00:42:23,920 Speaker 2: if you are coming with people to this event, you 903 00:42:23,960 --> 00:42:26,960 Speaker 2: better wave goodbye to them at the door and get 904 00:42:26,960 --> 00:42:29,360 Speaker 2: ready to debrief on the way home, because we're going 905 00:42:29,440 --> 00:42:31,320 Speaker 2: to mix it up. And then you'll move into the 906 00:42:31,360 --> 00:42:33,360 Speaker 2: space and we have what we call just a conversation 907 00:42:33,440 --> 00:42:36,880 Speaker 2: based experience or a conversation based program planned for people 908 00:42:37,480 --> 00:42:40,839 Speaker 2: and shocker, it's different questions and it's moving people around 909 00:42:40,880 --> 00:42:42,799 Speaker 2: the room, and it's trying to get people to make 910 00:42:42,800 --> 00:42:45,920 Speaker 2: combinations and pairings that they've never had before. It is 911 00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:48,279 Speaker 2: a standing event. We get a nod to the sit 912 00:42:48,360 --> 00:42:51,120 Speaker 2: down social network, and we're actually gonna stand. 913 00:42:50,800 --> 00:42:51,520 Speaker 3: At this event. 914 00:42:51,680 --> 00:42:55,479 Speaker 1: So that is not that normal like dinner using the game. 915 00:42:55,560 --> 00:42:57,160 Speaker 2: This is a different it's a different event. This is 916 00:42:57,200 --> 00:42:58,560 Speaker 2: a big activation for us. 917 00:42:58,840 --> 00:43:01,200 Speaker 1: Okay, so I'm getting to the stranger, but I might 918 00:43:01,760 --> 00:43:03,080 Speaker 1: then eventually leave that person. 919 00:43:03,160 --> 00:43:03,520 Speaker 3: That's right. 920 00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:05,319 Speaker 1: I don't want you to give away any of the secrets, okay, 921 00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:07,600 Speaker 1: fun Okay, So I want to make that clear because 922 00:43:07,640 --> 00:43:10,200 Speaker 1: if somebody's nervous about going to an event where they 923 00:43:10,200 --> 00:43:14,560 Speaker 1: don't know anybody, that's part of the way it's created 924 00:43:14,640 --> 00:43:16,880 Speaker 1: is even if you go with people, you aren't going 925 00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:18,720 Speaker 1: to be like standing around twiddling your thumbs. 926 00:43:18,760 --> 00:43:20,680 Speaker 3: Oh no, no, no, you've. 927 00:43:20,480 --> 00:43:22,800 Speaker 1: Taken care of that for the spot for you. Okay, 928 00:43:22,880 --> 00:43:24,280 Speaker 1: that's the way. I love that phrase. 929 00:43:24,320 --> 00:43:25,799 Speaker 3: We have a spot phrase, spot for you. 930 00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:29,040 Speaker 2: I think that that's the best part too, is like gosh, 931 00:43:29,040 --> 00:43:31,680 Speaker 2: how do I say this? Of like I was maybe 932 00:43:31,719 --> 00:43:34,520 Speaker 2: the kid who loved assigned seats because I knew that 933 00:43:34,520 --> 00:43:36,640 Speaker 2: that meant that that was where I was meant to be. 934 00:43:37,239 --> 00:43:39,000 Speaker 2: And I just think a lot about that at folks. 935 00:43:39,040 --> 00:43:41,440 Speaker 2: It's not that we're trying to prescribe conversation and it's 936 00:43:41,480 --> 00:43:43,279 Speaker 2: not that we're trying to tell you you can't sit 937 00:43:43,360 --> 00:43:45,799 Speaker 2: other places. I think we just want people to know 938 00:43:45,800 --> 00:43:46,920 Speaker 2: that at the end of the day, that there's a 939 00:43:46,920 --> 00:43:50,080 Speaker 2: spot for them to land in conversation, in with connection. 940 00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:53,480 Speaker 1: I love that. I also am that person that I 941 00:43:53,520 --> 00:43:56,319 Speaker 1: want there to be assigned seats everywhere, because what about 942 00:43:56,320 --> 00:43:58,200 Speaker 1: the person who's like sitting on the end and doesn't 943 00:43:58,200 --> 00:44:00,000 Speaker 1: know if they're allowed to sit there or somebody gonna 944 00:44:00,280 --> 00:44:02,279 Speaker 1: take their spot, or are there in the way. 945 00:44:02,360 --> 00:44:05,760 Speaker 2: And oh, folks Table is the sit down social network, 946 00:44:06,120 --> 00:44:08,720 Speaker 2: and we are all about a new way to come together. 947 00:44:09,400 --> 00:44:12,000 Speaker 2: We talk a lot about pull up a chair, talk 948 00:44:12,040 --> 00:44:14,600 Speaker 2: to strangers and connect to something. And so what that 949 00:44:14,680 --> 00:44:17,760 Speaker 2: means is that you book a seat at a table 950 00:44:18,080 --> 00:44:21,320 Speaker 2: for coffee shops, bars and restaurants across town with people 951 00:44:21,320 --> 00:44:23,719 Speaker 2: that you don't know. You'll get sat with anywhere from 952 00:44:23,719 --> 00:44:26,120 Speaker 2: four to six strangers, and then you'll show up and 953 00:44:26,160 --> 00:44:28,719 Speaker 2: you'll play the game. And that's all about getting to 954 00:44:28,719 --> 00:44:31,560 Speaker 2: know people in a better new way by asking better questions. 955 00:44:32,080 --> 00:44:35,680 Speaker 2: We talk about folks Table as a social startup and 956 00:44:35,760 --> 00:44:38,480 Speaker 2: for us, really what that means is our just do 957 00:44:38,600 --> 00:44:42,040 Speaker 2: it line is talk to strangers and we're a platform 958 00:44:42,120 --> 00:44:46,799 Speaker 2: for social connection through in person experiences and we're just 959 00:44:46,840 --> 00:44:47,640 Speaker 2: really excited. 960 00:44:48,680 --> 00:44:50,840 Speaker 1: I'm excited for this, And I also think there's a 961 00:44:50,840 --> 00:44:56,359 Speaker 1: whole other conversation here around you following with this thing 962 00:44:56,440 --> 00:44:59,279 Speaker 1: that came from just a desire you had in your heart. 963 00:45:00,160 --> 00:45:03,560 Speaker 1: And I think that hopefully people have heard parts of 964 00:45:03,600 --> 00:45:05,640 Speaker 1: your story in this, but again, it would be a 965 00:45:05,680 --> 00:45:09,920 Speaker 1: whole other conversation around how to allow yourself to dream 966 00:45:09,960 --> 00:45:12,520 Speaker 1: about something and then go for it when it doesn't 967 00:45:12,520 --> 00:45:15,360 Speaker 1: seem conventional, Like going back to what I said about like, 968 00:45:15,760 --> 00:45:19,360 Speaker 1: nobody goes to college to start folks table, Like I 969 00:45:19,400 --> 00:45:22,239 Speaker 1: don't think so it's not a major epick. And I 970 00:45:22,280 --> 00:45:26,520 Speaker 1: think sometimes so often we get stuck in the well. 971 00:45:26,560 --> 00:45:27,880 Speaker 1: This is what I plan to do. This is what 972 00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:30,839 Speaker 1: I've always done. Similarly, how we get stuck in our 973 00:45:30,880 --> 00:45:33,239 Speaker 1: relationships is these are the ones that I have. These 974 00:45:33,280 --> 00:45:35,680 Speaker 1: are the conversations that I have. This is what I do. 975 00:45:35,840 --> 00:45:39,640 Speaker 1: And you have given an example of sometimes it's okay 976 00:45:40,000 --> 00:45:42,680 Speaker 1: to start planting another seed somewhere and watering it a 977 00:45:42,680 --> 00:45:44,320 Speaker 1: little bit more and seeing what happens. 978 00:45:44,320 --> 00:45:44,880 Speaker 3: Oh, I love that. 979 00:45:44,880 --> 00:45:47,480 Speaker 2: I would say two things on that. One is I 980 00:45:47,600 --> 00:45:50,400 Speaker 2: have to my name mentioned the team that makes this possible, 981 00:45:50,800 --> 00:45:54,759 Speaker 2: Dallas who is co founder and CEO, and Garrett who 982 00:45:54,880 --> 00:45:58,480 Speaker 2: has come in to help lead marketing and brand, and 983 00:45:58,520 --> 00:46:00,759 Speaker 2: how we sound and what it looks like. I think 984 00:46:00,800 --> 00:46:02,759 Speaker 2: what's so fun about that with all three of us 985 00:46:02,880 --> 00:46:05,480 Speaker 2: is none of us have gone to business school and 986 00:46:05,680 --> 00:46:08,000 Speaker 2: all of us fundamentally are people who do the things 987 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:09,719 Speaker 2: that we say that we're going to do. And that's 988 00:46:09,760 --> 00:46:12,400 Speaker 2: how any of this started, was by us talking and 989 00:46:12,440 --> 00:46:15,879 Speaker 2: holding each other to monthly goal sessions. What went well 990 00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:18,799 Speaker 2: last month, what contributed to that, What are you looking 991 00:46:18,800 --> 00:46:20,640 Speaker 2: forward to next month? And how can the three of 992 00:46:20,680 --> 00:46:23,200 Speaker 2: us support each other? And so for them to know 993 00:46:23,680 --> 00:46:25,239 Speaker 2: my brain and as you said, my heart in that 994 00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:27,840 Speaker 2: way around what was taking up a lot of my 995 00:46:27,920 --> 00:46:31,040 Speaker 2: time in thought, and for them to, as good friends, 996 00:46:31,040 --> 00:46:33,400 Speaker 2: do hold me to that, and then for me also 997 00:46:33,480 --> 00:46:36,279 Speaker 2: to have the self trust that if I say that 998 00:46:36,320 --> 00:46:38,800 Speaker 2: something is important, that that's something that I'm going to 999 00:46:38,840 --> 00:46:41,359 Speaker 2: continue to make important in my life, be that whether 1000 00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:43,680 Speaker 2: I have the playbook for it or not. Other thing 1001 00:46:43,719 --> 00:46:45,200 Speaker 2: that I wanted to ask you, Kat, because you get 1002 00:46:45,239 --> 00:46:47,399 Speaker 2: to ask a lot of people questions and I love 1003 00:46:47,440 --> 00:46:49,680 Speaker 2: doing that too. What is the question that you wish 1004 00:46:49,800 --> 00:46:53,200 Speaker 2: somebody would ask you in life right now? Or what's 1005 00:46:53,280 --> 00:46:55,239 Speaker 2: the thing that you love talking about that you haven't 1006 00:46:55,239 --> 00:46:56,480 Speaker 2: gotten to talk about as much lately? 1007 00:46:57,239 --> 00:46:59,880 Speaker 1: So I want to answer the first one. What is 1008 00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:04,680 Speaker 1: the question that I wish more people would ask me? 1009 00:47:05,440 --> 00:47:09,359 Speaker 1: Four things just propped in my head, one being I 1010 00:47:09,400 --> 00:47:14,640 Speaker 1: wish there was more space for people to ask what 1011 00:47:14,680 --> 00:47:16,920 Speaker 1: do you want to do in your life that you're 1012 00:47:16,960 --> 00:47:19,160 Speaker 1: not doing right now? Like what else do you want 1013 00:47:19,200 --> 00:47:21,200 Speaker 1: to do? I don't have an answer for that. I 1014 00:47:21,200 --> 00:47:23,279 Speaker 1: could talk about that for hours, but I think that's 1015 00:47:23,320 --> 00:47:26,280 Speaker 1: something people want to know what I'm doing, but nobody's 1016 00:47:26,320 --> 00:47:28,960 Speaker 1: asking me, like what do you want to do in 1017 00:47:28,960 --> 00:47:31,320 Speaker 1: the future, Like what are some things on your list 1018 00:47:31,480 --> 00:47:36,480 Speaker 1: that you're afraid to start or talk about or dig into? 1019 00:47:36,880 --> 00:47:39,640 Speaker 1: I think that is what I would want. And then 1020 00:47:39,640 --> 00:47:41,799 Speaker 1: what was the other one? I'll answer both of them. 1021 00:47:41,880 --> 00:47:43,800 Speaker 2: No, I love that the first one you talked about 1022 00:47:44,040 --> 00:47:45,680 Speaker 2: something you wish people to ask you, and then the 1023 00:47:45,680 --> 00:47:48,520 Speaker 2: second one is we also reframe it, which is what 1024 00:47:48,600 --> 00:47:50,400 Speaker 2: is something that you wish you had a chance to 1025 00:47:50,440 --> 00:47:51,360 Speaker 2: talk about more often? 1026 00:47:51,960 --> 00:47:54,480 Speaker 1: Oh, it's the same question, rephrase oh okay, and that 1027 00:47:54,520 --> 00:47:57,239 Speaker 1: makes it seem so different too. I guess I would 1028 00:47:57,239 --> 00:47:59,640 Speaker 1: say the same thing. Look at you guys with your 1029 00:47:59,719 --> 00:48:02,799 Speaker 1: like are you framing? You could be therapists. I need 1030 00:48:02,840 --> 00:48:04,279 Speaker 1: you in my office. When I ask a question and 1031 00:48:04,320 --> 00:48:06,279 Speaker 1: somebody's like huh, I'm like, okay, let me ask it 1032 00:48:06,360 --> 00:48:08,440 Speaker 1: different what but they sound so different? 1033 00:48:08,880 --> 00:48:11,480 Speaker 2: We do kind of laugh that folk stables either become 1034 00:48:11,600 --> 00:48:14,600 Speaker 2: like the greatest blind date or the greatest group therapy. 1035 00:48:15,080 --> 00:48:19,600 Speaker 1: Literally the question that I asked, that question be thatids 1036 00:48:19,640 --> 00:48:21,160 Speaker 1: all the time. It is like, what's something that you 1037 00:48:21,200 --> 00:48:23,040 Speaker 1: wish people? Well, I say a lot of times, what's 1038 00:48:23,040 --> 00:48:25,600 Speaker 1: something you wish people knew about you? Like that you 1039 00:48:25,640 --> 00:48:28,239 Speaker 1: haven't been invited to share. I like that, but that's 1040 00:48:28,320 --> 00:48:30,000 Speaker 1: kind of the same idea. 1041 00:48:30,320 --> 00:48:33,000 Speaker 2: The silly ones that we ask are as you can imagine, 1042 00:48:33,000 --> 00:48:35,880 Speaker 2: like what's the state of your drunk drawer? And people 1043 00:48:35,920 --> 00:48:39,960 Speaker 2: take that like very metaphorically, or like what's the name 1044 00:48:40,000 --> 00:48:44,239 Speaker 2: in your car? Or like describe your notes app on 1045 00:48:44,280 --> 00:48:48,919 Speaker 2: your phone, or like very normal everyday things that are 1046 00:48:48,960 --> 00:48:52,160 Speaker 2: like a window of course into us. And so I 1047 00:48:52,160 --> 00:48:53,960 Speaker 2: also think of kind of the state of the state 1048 00:48:54,040 --> 00:48:56,200 Speaker 2: of any of us. Sometimes can be wrapped up in 1049 00:48:56,239 --> 00:48:57,000 Speaker 2: those things too. 1050 00:48:56,960 --> 00:48:59,560 Speaker 1: And you learn so much about answering a silly question 1051 00:48:59,680 --> 00:49:02,600 Speaker 1: like that, even if they answered it plainly of like 1052 00:49:02,760 --> 00:49:05,560 Speaker 1: it is meticulous and it's or it's empty, or it's 1053 00:49:05,600 --> 00:49:07,319 Speaker 1: like I can't I'm looking at my right now, it 1054 00:49:07,320 --> 00:49:11,560 Speaker 1: doesn't shut all the way. Something bothering up and like 1055 00:49:11,640 --> 00:49:14,520 Speaker 1: stuff falls through the back of it. I keep are 1056 00:49:14,560 --> 00:49:15,960 Speaker 1: we talking about We're talking about all of them, right, 1057 00:49:18,760 --> 00:49:20,920 Speaker 1: So I love that just you get so much out 1058 00:49:20,920 --> 00:49:23,400 Speaker 1: of that kind of question. What I'm also hearing at 1059 00:49:23,400 --> 00:49:27,160 Speaker 1: the end of this conversation is doing this and showing 1060 00:49:27,239 --> 00:49:29,400 Speaker 1: up to these events too, is just a way for 1061 00:49:29,480 --> 00:49:32,160 Speaker 1: you to learn how to talk to people in your life, 1062 00:49:33,120 --> 00:49:35,759 Speaker 1: talk to the friends you already have. And so that 1063 00:49:35,880 --> 00:49:37,920 Speaker 1: idea of like, oh I don't have too many friends, 1064 00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:40,960 Speaker 1: which people feel that way, and I totally get that 1065 00:49:41,520 --> 00:49:43,200 Speaker 1: you don't have to make any new friends. It might 1066 00:49:43,280 --> 00:49:46,320 Speaker 1: just show you how to have different kinds of off yeah. 1067 00:49:46,200 --> 00:49:46,640 Speaker 3: Different way. 1068 00:49:46,800 --> 00:49:48,719 Speaker 2: I love that you said that too, and again, you 1069 00:49:48,760 --> 00:49:50,279 Speaker 2: and I could go on forever and ever, and I'm in. 1070 00:49:50,400 --> 00:49:53,520 Speaker 2: But I think the importance of the language we chose 1071 00:49:54,040 --> 00:49:58,200 Speaker 2: of connect to something, right. We didn't say connect to someone, Oh, 1072 00:49:58,320 --> 00:50:00,680 Speaker 2: we said connect to something. Because I think that at 1073 00:50:00,760 --> 00:50:05,920 Speaker 2: times that something is also yourself. Yeah, sometimes you need 1074 00:50:05,960 --> 00:50:09,759 Speaker 2: to go to a folk stable to remind yourself of 1075 00:50:09,800 --> 00:50:12,720 Speaker 2: who you are, what's important to you, what gets you giggling. 1076 00:50:13,640 --> 00:50:16,640 Speaker 2: What is the state of the state of your junk drawer? Yeah, 1077 00:50:16,680 --> 00:50:18,560 Speaker 2: and why that is totally permissible to have one that 1078 00:50:18,600 --> 00:50:20,960 Speaker 2: doesn't shut or fifteen of them. 1079 00:50:21,280 --> 00:50:23,319 Speaker 3: And that is a connection to yourself. And that is 1080 00:50:23,600 --> 00:50:24,080 Speaker 3: just as. 1081 00:50:24,000 --> 00:50:27,880 Speaker 2: Powerful in our quest for connection and friendship and discovery 1082 00:50:27,920 --> 00:50:30,520 Speaker 2: and reflection that you get to have that with yourself 1083 00:50:30,760 --> 00:50:32,080 Speaker 2: as you would also with others. 1084 00:50:32,680 --> 00:50:34,040 Speaker 3: So that was important to us. 1085 00:50:33,880 --> 00:50:37,359 Speaker 1: And that's not again, we could go on forever. That's 1086 00:50:37,400 --> 00:50:40,319 Speaker 1: not narcissistic. I think so often people are like, well, 1087 00:50:40,360 --> 00:50:42,840 Speaker 1: I can't talk about myself, and I can't you know what. 1088 00:50:43,360 --> 00:50:46,520 Speaker 1: I've been on a lot of horrible dates where not 1089 00:50:46,600 --> 00:50:49,960 Speaker 1: one question was asked, and that goes back to like, 1090 00:50:50,000 --> 00:50:52,000 Speaker 1: thank you for asking me a question, because yeah, all 1091 00:50:52,120 --> 00:50:54,680 Speaker 1: day and that's my job. So it's like I'm not 1092 00:50:54,800 --> 00:50:58,160 Speaker 1: mad about that. But sometimes it is like I have 1093 00:50:58,239 --> 00:51:00,480 Speaker 1: these stories that I want to tell and maybe that's 1094 00:51:00,480 --> 00:51:09,920 Speaker 1: why I started podcast. But that's not narcissistic to want 1095 00:51:09,960 --> 00:51:13,360 Speaker 1: to be able to share your story and parts of 1096 00:51:13,400 --> 00:51:16,879 Speaker 1: your stories and take up space and talk and maybe 1097 00:51:16,960 --> 00:51:20,000 Speaker 1: that this is a like stepping stone into allowing that 1098 00:51:20,040 --> 00:51:23,239 Speaker 1: to happen. I'm so glad you said that at the end. 1099 00:51:23,280 --> 00:51:26,440 Speaker 1: That like the connecting to yourself and allowing yourself to 1100 00:51:26,480 --> 00:51:29,920 Speaker 1: be heard, even if it's you hearing yourself is part 1101 00:51:29,920 --> 00:51:32,400 Speaker 1: of this thing I'm obsessed with that. 1102 00:51:32,800 --> 00:51:34,360 Speaker 2: You do that very well too, and I think you 1103 00:51:34,360 --> 00:51:35,600 Speaker 2: give a lot of people that permission. 1104 00:51:35,800 --> 00:51:37,719 Speaker 1: Oh well, thank you. How do you want people to 1105 00:51:37,760 --> 00:51:39,359 Speaker 1: find out about you? Like? Can you give us your 1106 00:51:39,440 --> 00:51:41,799 Speaker 1: handle and your the website? We'll link it all so 1107 00:51:42,239 --> 00:51:44,120 Speaker 1: if you're hearing this and you're driving or something, you 1108 00:51:44,160 --> 00:51:45,759 Speaker 1: can go click it. But can you just tell us 1109 00:51:45,760 --> 00:51:47,640 Speaker 1: what those things are? Absolutely well, come hang out with us. 1110 00:51:47,680 --> 00:51:48,960 Speaker 1: We can't wait to meet you and see you and 1111 00:51:49,000 --> 00:51:51,080 Speaker 1: know you. You can find us on. 1112 00:51:51,120 --> 00:51:55,120 Speaker 2: The interweb were www dot folks table That is f 1113 00:51:55,160 --> 00:51:57,160 Speaker 2: o l x folks table. 1114 00:51:57,320 --> 00:51:58,200 Speaker 3: Wait do I'm. 1115 00:51:58,040 --> 00:51:58,719 Speaker 1: Gonna interrupt you? 1116 00:51:58,840 --> 00:51:59,600 Speaker 3: Please go for it. 1117 00:51:59,640 --> 00:52:01,000 Speaker 1: Can you tell us about the name? 1118 00:52:01,120 --> 00:52:03,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, because that's important to his name is important. Yeah, 1119 00:52:03,200 --> 00:52:06,360 Speaker 2: folks folx it's a nod as the word itself means, 1120 00:52:06,400 --> 00:52:09,680 Speaker 2: just for a more broad and inclusive version of folks. 1121 00:52:09,719 --> 00:52:12,000 Speaker 2: So for us, it means that everybody has a seat 1122 00:52:12,000 --> 00:52:14,120 Speaker 2: at our table. And then you can find us on 1123 00:52:14,160 --> 00:52:18,000 Speaker 2: Instagram and TikTok, though we are less present on the 1124 00:52:18,080 --> 00:52:21,400 Speaker 2: ladder and doing better perhaps on the former, but Instagram 1125 00:52:21,560 --> 00:52:25,319 Speaker 2: is folks folx dot table, and I think it's the 1126 00:52:25,360 --> 00:52:25,759 Speaker 2: same on. 1127 00:52:25,719 --> 00:52:29,960 Speaker 1: TikTok Okay, Yeah, TikTok is a whole other animal. 1128 00:52:30,200 --> 00:52:31,320 Speaker 3: That's a whole other session. 1129 00:52:32,480 --> 00:52:34,960 Speaker 1: Yes, we could talk about connecting on TikTok for hours 1130 00:52:35,000 --> 00:52:36,839 Speaker 1: and hours. All right, Well, thank you so much. Chat 1131 00:52:36,840 --> 00:52:38,400 Speaker 1: This has a bit of a last I'm so excited 1132 00:52:38,520 --> 00:52:40,080 Speaker 1: you're going to come back and talk to us again. 1133 00:52:40,160 --> 00:52:40,960 Speaker 3: This is part one. 1134 00:52:41,239 --> 00:52:43,640 Speaker 1: You've heard it here first. This is part one. You 1135 00:52:43,640 --> 00:52:47,319 Speaker 1: can follow the podcast at Unied Therapy podcast on Instagram, 1136 00:52:47,800 --> 00:52:51,680 Speaker 1: and if you have any questions, feedback, anything for me, 1137 00:52:51,800 --> 00:52:55,080 Speaker 1: you can send that to Katherine at Unied Therapy podcast 1138 00:52:55,120 --> 00:52:58,560 Speaker 1: dot com and you can follow me at kat van Buren, 1139 00:52:59,160 --> 00:53:01,000 Speaker 1: which I keep my seen that because I forgot that 1140 00:53:01,040 --> 00:53:03,439 Speaker 1: I changed that. I didn't go to the DMV and changed 1141 00:53:03,480 --> 00:53:05,319 Speaker 1: my last name. I just changed it on Instagram. That 1142 00:53:05,320 --> 00:53:06,279 Speaker 1: felt easier to. 1143 00:53:06,320 --> 00:53:08,920 Speaker 3: See you there. All right. 1144 00:53:08,920 --> 00:53:10,319 Speaker 1: Well, I hope you guys have the day you need 1145 00:53:10,360 --> 00:53:18,520 Speaker 1: to have and I will talk to you soon Bye.