Summer is all about having fun: long days, warm nights, and getting together with the people you love. Today’s episode is your playbook for making that time you spend with people more exciting and meaningful. Mel is joined by Priya Parker, one of the world’s leading experts on human connection. Her book “The Art of Gathering” is the most renowned work on how to bring people together and create moments that feel joyful and unforgettable. In this episode, she will teach you simple ways to create real connections and make the time you spend with others memorable and fun. Whether you’re planning a gathering, a wedding, a shower, a party, a family dinner, a work meeting, or you just want to make new friends and feel less alone, this episode will change the way you connect with other people. You’ll learn: -The #1 conversation starter that makes people feel instantly connected to you -How to become the person everyone wants to be around - 7 ways to bring people together and create real connection -How to make any dinner, party, meeting, or family visit more meaningful -How to make family time less tense and more fun -How to build connections when you’ve moved somewhere new -Why “keeping the peace” can quietly damage relationships -How healthy conflict can bring you closer to the people you care about After today you will have the tools and simple steps to create better conversations, stronger friendships, and deeper family connections and have a whole lot more fun. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-407. Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. In this episode: 00:00 Meet the Guest 02:19 Why Most Parties Suck 05:08 Thinking of Throwing a Party? 08:07 The Biggest Mistake To Avoid When Throwing A Party 18:38 The Secret to Better Family Gatherings 24:44 The Trick That Creates Instant Connection 30:05 Avoiding Conflict is Ruining Your Relationships 40:10 How to Handle Difficult People 44:55 How Great Hosts Create Instant Connection 50:27 How Great Hosts End the Night 54:19 The Fastest Way to Make New Friends 57:36 5 Questions That Make Any Conversation Better 01:02:11 The Secret to Creating Meaningful Connections Verizon: verizon.com/switch-to-verizon This episode is brought to you by Apple Pay Visit your local Ashley store or head to ashley.com to find your style. — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com​ — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins​?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah