Katherine May, author of, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, is known for gently affirming our need to slow down, to feel, and to turn inward when the world wants speed instead.

Priya Parker, author of, The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, helps individuals, organizations, and communities design meaningful gatherings through intentional structure, clear purpose, and inclusivity.

In a recent episode of her podcast, How We Live Now, Katherine asks Priya how we can learn to share space again—with colleagues, family, and strangers.

Priya makes the case for gatherings with clear rules and purposes. These boundaries, she explains, help participants feel at ease and engage more deeply. Drawing from game design, she likens gatherings to “magic circles”—temporary spaces with distinct rules that invite new roles and shared experiences.

In a time shaped by division and disconnection, Parker’s approach offers a blueprint for meaningful connection—spaces where difference is respected, and intention replaces inertia.

PODCAST/TRANSCRIPT: Priya Parker on Gathering Well