Dinner With Strangers: Jess Janz On The Friends We Haven't Met Yet

About this sermon

In a world where we're more connected than ever—and lonelier than we'd like to admit—what if the answer isn't finding the right people, but simply pulling up another chair? This week, Jen sits down with writer, poet, and community-builder Jess Janz to talk about her beautiful new book, The Table Where We Meet, and the unlikely social experiment that grew into the phenomenon known as Dinner With Strangers. What began as a simple gathering around a table with a few curious questions has now welcomed more than a thousand people into conversations that move far beyond small talk and into the territory we all secretly long for: belonging. Together, Jen and Jess explore why so many of us feel disconnected, what makes a question powerful enough to crack a person open, and how vulnerability creates the conditions for genuine connection. They discuss the courage it takes to gather people, the surprising magic that happens when strangers choose honesty, and why community is less about finding your people and more about becoming the kind of person who creates space for others. Whether you're craving deeper friendships, navigating loneliness, or simply wondering how to build a bigger table in your own life, this conversation is a hopeful reminder that meaningful connection is still possible—and it might be closer than you think. In this episode, you’ll hear: ● The hidden costs of loneliness and our culture's growing hunger for belonging ● Why "What's your favorite movie?" might be the wrong icebreaker question—and what to ask instead ● What happens when one person chooses vulnerability first ● How gathering around a table can become an act of healing, resistance, and hope ● Why community isn't something we stumble into—it's something we create Thought-provoking Quotes: ★ “It is so surprising to me in the rooms now where I gather or bring people and they opt in and they go, Yeah, I want to be here. Looking out and being like, wow, you all came to this thing, signed up for this thing, and are willing to put yourself out there in this way. And it never ceases to amaze me. The trust that's put in me as well. I'm bewildered all the time.” – Jess Janz ★ “There's alchemy in holding a heavy dish for the person beside you, getting in each other's space, reaching across, and filling water glasses. All of that is so disarming; it doesn't have to be intimidating. It shouldn't be a roadblock to connection—it should be the bridge.” – Jess Janz ★ “I want to know where the river of conversation is leading. How do we lower the stakes and find comfort in our conversation, and through that, as a byproduct, learn more about each other as we go along?” – Jess Janz ★ “Loneliness and helplessness is something that is weaponized in our lives right now and so it’s radical to be in community together.” – Jess Janz Resources Mentioned in This Episode: ➢ The Table Where We Meet: Lessons Learned From Dinner With 1000 Strangers by Jess Janz - https://amzn.to/4eeBx6r ➢ With Strangers - https://www.with-strangers.co/ ➢ Jen’s dinner party for her daughter - https://www.instagram.com/p/DY0tbZBFvtm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== ➢ Awake: A Memoir by Jen Hatmaker - https://amzn.to/4a5UuFZ ➢ Dan Mangan - https://danmanganmusic.com/ ➢ Where to buy Jess’ book - https://www.jessjanz.com/book Guest’s Links: Website - https://www.jessjanz.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jessjanz/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jess.janz/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@withstrangersco Pinterest - https://es.pinterest.com/jessjanz/_saved/ Substack - https://substack.com/@jessjanz Connect with Jen! Jen’s Website - https://jenhatmaker.com/ Jen’s Instagram - https://instagram.com/jenhatmaker Jen’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenHatmaker/ Jen’s Facebook - https://facebook.com/jenhatmaker Jen’s YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JenHatmaker The For the Love Podcast is presented by Audacy.

Topics

• Relationships
• Friendship