I don't think gathering is rocket science.

I actually think a lot of gathering gets very complicated because we think it is rocket science.

It's actually very, very, very human.

I'm Jocelyn K. Gly, and this is Hurry Slowly, a podcast about pacing yourself,

where I explore how you can find more creativity and meaning in your life

through the simple act of slowing down.

Many of the conversations I've had on the podcast thus far have revolved in some way around

self-management and the individual, how you can make wiser decisions or how you can manage your attention better.

But today, we're zooming out from the individual perspective to talk about the collective,

to talk about the transformational possibilities that arise when you gather a lot of bodies together in one place for a specific

purpose. My guest is Priya Parker, the author of a deeply thoughtful new book called The Art of

Gathering, How We Meet, and Why It Matters. Her unique background spans everything from fostering dialogue for

conflict resolution through her work on race relations on college campuses around America,

to creating environments for intimate connection through her dinner series The 15 Toasts.

And after years of investigating what helps people come together in a meaningful way,

Priya has come to believe that all the best gatherings share one common feature.

They have a specific, disputable purpose.

One that some people will resonate with and some people will disagree with, one that forces you

as the host to be intentional about who you invite and why. Pria's conviction is that by being

very clear about your purpose and setting boundaries that protect that purpose, you can unlock

something special.

You can create a space where people feel like they have permission

...