How to make friends & get good gossip

Do you want to know the secret to making deeper friendships? Throw a dinner party.

You'll feel less lonely, take care of people you love, and find out what's really going on in your community. Dinner parties are sort of a lost art, and our notions of what makes a worthy dinner party are being warped by social media.

We're here with tips on how to throw one without feeling self-conscious. Brittany is joined by two dinner party experts: architecture & design journalist Carly Olson and chef & writer Garrett Schlichte .

They discuss the pitfalls and pleasures of modern dinner parties, including how to host one without breaking the bank. (0:00) Why dinner parties are the perfect way to connect (2:01) Dinner parties of the past vs. now (4:57) How modern home design prioritizes individualism (8:32) Why social media discourages community building (14:00) Advice for throwing a good dinner party (16:58) How to let go of your anxiety of having people in your home (19:51) Ban the phones at home! Follow Brittany Luse on Instagram: @bmluse For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at .

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