Friendship Resources
We are lonelier than ever.
The average American hasn't made a new friend in the last five years.
We spend 50 minutes a day on Instagram and 180 minutes a day on TikTok, yet just 4 percent of our time with friends.
Research has shown that people with close friends are happier, healthier, and live longer than people who lack strong social bonds.
This refreshing, positive guide offers practical habits and playful reminders on how to create meaningful connections, make new friends, and deepen relationships.
Friendship in the Age of Loneliness
RESOURCES GUIDE
Here is a useful (and forever incomplete) list of books, podcasts, and experiences (and even apps!) that can help you make new friends and build your community.
In a Book Club or hosting a friendship-themed dinner party? Use the Book Discussion Questions.
Looking for friendship rituals to inspire you? Check out the Friendship Ritual Library.
Looking for educational resources? Check out Center for Humane Technology’s Youth Toolkit.
Crisis Text Line: If you are in a crisis or feel like you need to talk to someone, please know there are people out there for you. Crisis Text Line can help you or a friend deal with loneliness. Reach a counselor by texting HOME to 741741 for free 24/7 support, or visit crisistextline.org.
EXPLORE THE RESOURCES GUIDE
Books
Podcasts
Supportive Communities & Experiences
Games and Products
Apps and Online Tools
Books
A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit
Alone Together by Sherry Turkle
Back to Human by Dan Schawbel
Belong by Radha Agrawal
Better Together by Robert D. Putnam
Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman
Black Futures edited by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham
Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam
Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown
Build Your Dream Network by J. Kelly Hoey
Cojourn by Molly Keehn and Karl Henricksen
Connect by David Bradford and Carole Robin
Connected From Afar by Kat Vellos
Community by Peter Block
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
Friendship by Lydia Denworth
Frientimacy by Shasta Nelson
Get Together by Bailey Richardson, Kevin Huynh, and Kai Elmer Sotto
How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
How to Not Die Alone by Logan Ury
How We Show Up by Mia Birdsong
Loneliness by John T. Cacioppo
Lost Connections by Johann Hari
Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazi
Platonic by Marisa G. Franco
Radical Friendship by Kate Johnson
Reclaiming Conversation by Sherry Turkle
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
Teaching Community by bell hooks
Team Human by Douglas Rushkoff
Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now by Jaron Lanier
The Art of Community by Charles H. Vogl
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
The Art of Showing Up by Rachel Wilkerson Miller
The Business of Belonging by David Spinks
The Business of Friendship by Shasta Nelson
The Friendship Cure by Kate Leaver
The Lonely Century by Noreena Hertz
The Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile
The Shallows by Nicholas G. Carr
Together by Vivek H. Murthy
Tribe by Sebastian Junger
Tribes by Seth Godin
Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino
Un-Lonely Planet by Jillian Richardson
We Should Get Together by Kat Vellos
Podcasts
2 Dope Queens with Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson
Are You Being Real? with Mark Shapiro
Call Your Girlfriend with Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman
Code Switch with Shereen Marisol Meraji and Gene Demby
Conversations That Don’t Suck with Kyla Sokoll-Ward
Deep Questions with Cal Newport
Dope Labs with Zikiya Whatley and Titi Shodiya
Ear Hustle by Radiotopia
Get Together by People & Company
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness
Growth Marriage with Nate Bagley
Gutted Stories with Allie Stark
Heroine with Majo Molfino
How to Make Friends by Life Kit from NPR
On Being with Krista Tippett
Oprah’s Super Soul Conversions
Startup Pregnant with Sarah K Peck
Staying In with Emily & Kumail with Emily Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani
Still Processing with Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham
Sway with Kara Swisher
The Art of Charm with AJ Harbinger and Johnny Dzubak
The Lonely Hour with Julia Brainbridge
The Michelle Obama Podcast with Michelle Obama
Together Apart with Priya Parker
Unlocking Us with Brené Brown
What Are Friends For with Gabrielle Ruiz & Pallavi Sastry
What’s the Big Idea with Andrew Horn
Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel
Your Undivided Attention by The Center for Humane Technology
You’re Going to Die: The Podcast
Supportive Communities & Experiences
A platform for young people to share their experience with social media and help reimagine the future, created by Center for Humane Technology.
A nonprofit, unique learning destination where you experience time differently, exploring what matters to you while surrounded by mountain air and ancient redwoods.
Shifts the focus from idea generation to idea execution. Brings together some of the world's most productive creative visionaries and leading researchers
A conference and web platform to highlight Black tech innovators and provide more opportunities and information to help Black people in tech succeed.
Grows progressive people power across America by empowering local young people’s organizations to strengthen our democracy, fix our economy, and correct injustices through on-the-ground organizing.
Connects women to body, soul, and community through wellness education and Jewish spirituality.
A leading provider of modern, interactive, and action-oriented diversity and inclusion training workshops.
Introduces teens to a path of mindfulness and meditation to deepen emotional awareness, understand conditioned behavior, and live in accordance with their most authentic aspirations.
Addresses the strong lack of engagement between minorities and the mental health care industry which arises as a result of cost, stigma, and lack of cultural competency. Achieve this by matching users with licensed professionals that share their unique traits, values, and sensibilities.
A team of passionate community-builders on a mission to educate and connect the next generation of social entrepreneurs and changemakers creating bold, innovative social impact.
To Help Bridge the Divide for Creatives with Disabilities. The initiative started in alliance with the disabled community, who are tired of being underrepresented and under-appreciated.
A non-profit that focuses on providing technology education for African-American girls.
A global organization whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.
A media tech company, home to the largest network of brands specifically serving Black millennials through original content, video, and unique experiences.
An inventory of cross-disciplinary interestingness, spanning art, science, design, history, philosophy, and more.
A citizens' organization uniting red and blue Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America.
Committed to continued research into the practice and fundamental principles of comprehensive anticipatory design science and its relevance to contemporary global issues and design practice.
A home for people committed to building a world where everyone belongs.
Tech-free summer camp for adults where grown-ups go to unplug, get away, and be kids again.
Relax, create, and play at a camp for grown-ups.
A 12-week virtual camp where students entering 6th-12th grade engage with today’s most pressing social justice topics from nonprofit leaders who are creating a better world.
An immersive digital detox experience in Ontario, Canada.
Summer camp for grown-ups.
A non-profit addressing the harmful extractive attention economy by inspiring a new race to build humane technology that aligns with humanity. Looking for educational resources for students? Check out Center for Humane Technology’s Youth Toolkit.
Empowering professional community builders.
Coa: A Mental Fitness Community
Build your emotional fitness with live, therapist-led classes and one-on-one therapy.
Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness
Engage diverse stakeholders, increase public awareness, promote innovative research, and advocate for policy change that combats the adverse consequences of social isolation and loneliness and advances approaches that improve social connectedness for all Americans.
A national organization that builds the power of low-income people, especially people of color, to fight for a society where everyone can thrive.
Develops programs and tools to unlock the collective potential of the impact ecosystem to change the world. Maintains a global calendar of conferences and events in the space.
Cross-functional, cross-industry conference that brings together culture champions from all over the world to share insights on building and transforming culture in the workplace.
A sober, morning dance party, with 500,000 community members around the world.
Global movement to have conversations about death over dinner.
An organization dedicated to creating balance in the digital age. Produces device-free events, as well as workshops, retreats, Camp Grounded (summer camp for adults), and corporate trainings to bridge the gap between disconnecting and connecting.
A global trade association for digital wellness experts and organizations.
A community of people with disabilities (and the allies who support us), on a mission to amplify disabled voices.
A high-impact membership community of trailblazing, entrepreneurial women.
A community of care givers and care seekers gathered in one place to help you and your family through life’s most important time.
Workshops and continuing education courses in Big Sur, California that help people reach their full potential.
Creates a safe space for underserved and at-risk young men of color to talk about what’s going on their lives without worry of feeling ashamed.
Find a men’s group near you.
A speaking agency representing a diverse range of new voices.
Organizes and resources teams of neighbors to provide unconditional support to one another as they journey from crisis to resilience.
An online summit that brings together community leaders from all over the world to learn from and support each other.
Formerly Campus Progress, Generation Progress educates, engages, and mobilizes a new generation of young progressives.
Encore.org’s campaign to mobilize 1 million adults 50+ to stand up for—and with—young people today.
Learn secrets about how to make friends.
Where women who care about meaningful friendships gather to inspire, learn from, and meet each other.
A network of hubs developed and led by young people who are exceptional in their potential, their achievement, and their drive to make a contribution to their communities.
A community built around meaningful conversations and delicious feasts, a moveable social club for those who value authenticity.
Educates and connects extraordinary purpose-driven leaders ages 21-39 to create an abundant and sustainable world for all.
A Millennial-led spiritual startup collaboration between Harvard Divinity School and the Fetzer Institute.
Offers you a unique ecosystem of resources, inspiration, and collaboration opportunities to grow the positive impact of your work.
Institute for Compassionate Leadership
Takes leaders on a journey where you discover your purpose for creating meaningful change in today’s world. Six-month training program offers executive coaching, mentorship, and tools to become a compassionate, self-aware leader.
A not-so-secret club for men to explore emotional mastery and personal transformation.
Women’s professional development organization working to close the gender wage and leadership gap, with 20k members and 18 chapters across the country.
A community of queer women in and around tech.
A conversational model developed by dialogue experts to facilitate connection between people despite their differences, and even identify areas of common ground and shared understanding.
Small dinners that consist of respectful conversation, guided activities, and delicious food shared among 6-10 guests who have differing political viewpoints.
Non-profit that leads crowd-funded transcontinental train journeys for diverse groups of young innovators to explore America’s new frontiers, grow as leaders, and launch projects that benefit and inspire their communities.
A collaboration between leading neuroscientists, meditation teachers and technologists to catalyze the creation of digital technology that enhances our individual and collective well-being.
The world’s first midlife wisdom school.
Seeks to reach millions, mobilize hundreds of thousands, and organize tens of thousands, so that Black political power is a force able to influence national and local agendas in the direction of our shared Vision for Black Lives.
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana.
Find Mutual Aid Networks and other community self-support projects near you.
A global movement of young people working to increase and improve philanthropy and impact investing by bridging communities of wealth and social entrepreneurship.
Works to recruit, train and promote the next generation of progressive leaders. NLC recruits Fellows from outside traditional power structures and equips them with the skills necessary to be civic leaders in their communities and workplaces.
A place for thinkers, builders, designers and technologists to meet, share inspiration, and make better digital public spaces.
A movement that celebrates friendship in a safe space.
An alliance of spiritually diverse millennials, religious women, and key partners working to create a more just, equitable and loving world.
The preeminent global forum for young leaders aged 18-30; gathers the brightest young leaders from around the world, empowering them to make lasting connections and develop solutions to some of the world's most pressing issues.
Empowers people who don’t yet have a consistent Shabbat practice to build one that feels authentic, sustainable, and valuable.
A global community that builds solutions for the world’s toughest problems.
Building resiliency together: a team-oriented solution to workplace burnout.
Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley
Brings together researchers, organizers, stakeholders, communicators, and policymakers to identify and eliminate the barriers to an inclusive, just, and sustainable society in order to create transformative change.
A high-touch boutique consulting firm building human-centered solutions for innovative organizations with diversity, equity & inclusion in mind.
Community gathering of authentic storytelling by different agents in the local, sustainable food system.
A transformative journey through Israel for global changemakers on a mission to repair the world.
A community-driven exploration of death and celebration of life through creativity and conversation.
People-powered solutions for the common good.
Create communities of listeners who return to the same public spaces to practice heart-centered listening all over the world.
Accelerating entrepreneurial approaches and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.
Organizes events dedicated to accelerating a new global market at the intersection of money and meaning.
Twice annual event, that represents a global convening of black swans and wayward thinkers.
Brings together entrepreneurs, activists, educators, and innovators struggling to create change. Hosts transformative 5-day Institute for Social Innovation where Fellows learn from proven changemakers, are pushed to take bigger risks, and find new life-long allies.
Discover products created by female founders. Hear stories of inspirational female leaders. Attend events focused on fundraising and growth. Receive speaking opportunities.
Designing experiences that connect and inspire a community of today’s brightest leaders.
A movement of young people fighting to stop the climate crisis.
A community of people that bring strangers together for great conversations.
A job board and community for women in tech.
A network that aims to boost women on the tech-world ladder.
Exploring innovative solutions to tech diversity and inclusion.
A mass meditation movement that gathers thousands of people for large-scale moments of quiet, connection, and unplugged performances.
The Civil Conversations Project
A project by On Being; an evolving adventure in audio, events, resources, and initiatives for planting relationship and conversation around the subjects we fight about intensely—and those we’ve barely begun to discuss.
An immersive 2-day event for leaders who are committed to building positive teams and cultures.
A worldwide community of 20- and 30-somethings who have each experienced the loss of a parent, partner, child, sibling, close family member, or friend; with dinner conversations happening in 100 cities around the world.
The Growing Social Wellness Landscape
A list of organizations and apps, curated by Kasley Killam, with a mission to reduce loneliness, building community, and facilitate connection.
Want to meet positive people in NYC or virtually? The Joy List features events that you can attend solo, and leave with a new friend!
A personal development organization that offers experiential training and support groups for all kinds of men.
A nonprofit media and public life initiative. Explores the intersection of spiritual inquiry, science, social healing, community, poetry, and the arts.
A social venture to increase the range of voices and quality of ideas we hear in the world. Increases the number of women thought leaders contributing to key commentary forums.
Hosts shared meals to build trust and connection among people of different identities and perspectives.
Activates artists to build power, shift culture, and heal spirits through community organizing and social movements.
A community of young people, spanning five continents, bound by their curiosity and creativity.
Harnesses the power of relationships to create a new social fabric of diverse individuals deeply engaged with young people facing the most significant opportunity and achievement gaps.
An international & interdisciplinary community platform, which unites thought leaders, researchers and projects on Social Health, Loneliness Interventions & the Future of Human Connection.
A national leadership development program for college-aged progressive leaders.
A non-profit bringing diverse communities creatively into the conversation of death and dying.
A global community of people dedicated to living with deeper wisdom, compassion, and awareness in the digital age. Hosts conferences, meet-ups, and workshops throughout the year.
A media company at the intersection of women, entrepreneurship, and technology. Creates content, community, and events for aspiring and current women innovators in technology.
A community dedicated to inspiring more women to take action.
Women/Womxn, BIPOC, and Inclusivity Speaker Initiative
Aims to increase the number of underrepresented speakers speaking at companies and conferences, as well as ensure that speakers of all background are paid competitively as compared to their colleagues.
Women of Color Equity Initiative
Aims to increase the number of women of color in management and executive roles in corporate and non-profit organizations.
A non-profit dedicated to inspiring women to excel in technology careers.
Annual gathering of remarkable people in Portland, Oregon.
Games and Products
Actually Curious: A card game that builds connections through meaningful questions.
Alegoria Game: Social board game sparking fun and genuine conversations to hold space for connection and belonging.
Better than Small Talk: Conversation-starter cards that help people deepen their friendships, build community, and have better conversations.
Convers(ate): Sparks meaningful conversations with thoughtful questions about things that matter.
Custom Camps: Play-based team retreats for the perfect off-site.
Late Nite Art: A creative learning and development lab that designs programs for companies and conferences around the globe.
Play on Purpose: A professional development toolkit that will accelerate growth and learning with your group.
Scaling Intimacy: Trains leaders from around the world in the empathetic and strategic process of creating transformational experiences built on meaningful connections.
The Go Game: Team-building and gamified events for your team, company, or event.
Where Should We Begin: A game of stories by Esther Perel.
Apps and Online Tools That Promote Connection
While it’s my intention to help you spend less time looking at your phone, here are a few apps and online tools that help you meet people and connect with other humans. For an extensive list of the social wellness landscape, read this article by loneliness expert Kasley Killam.
ATLETO: Connects you with like-minded athletes based on location, skill level, frequency, and mode to provide the best sports experience possible.
Big & Mini: Create generation-spanning friendships in minutes. Connects people virtually to combat social isolation and bridge the generation gap.
Bloom: Online experiences exclusively for people over the age of fifty to connect.
Bumble BFF: The friendship mode of the Bumble dating app.
Cuppa: Have 1:1 virtual coffees with curious minds from Twitter.
Cocoon: A beautiful messaging app for sharing daily life with your closest groups. Private, permanent, and paid for by people instead of advertisers.
Dex: A personal Customer Relationship Management (CRM) app that helps you build stronger relationships.
Dial Up: A voice-chat app that connects you serendipitously to the people you want to stay in touch with.
Donut: A Slack app that helps connect teams serendipitously for virtual coffee, peer learning, and more.
Eventbrite: An event management and ticketing website that allows you to see events and experiences happening near you.
Evlyn: A mobile application for storing messages for loved ones and distributing them when you pass away.
Fabriq: Prioritize and track your most important relationships: get reminders to reach out consistently.
Friend App: Helping people add a spotlight on their local friends, so they can make more plans in real life.
Friender: Connects people with common interests.
Goodnight Zoom: Remote storytelling with an isolated senior.
Hey! VINA: Tinder for (girl) friends. Swipe right to meet new friends and join communities of people like you.
Houseparty: A social networking app that allows up to eight people to video chat at once in a “room.”
Hylo: Community management, messaging, and collaboration all in one place.
KINND: A pioneering friend-making platform where knowledge, skill & energy exchange is the currency of connection.
Koya: Surprise friends and loved ones with location-specific messages and gifts.
Listenly: Schedule a listening session with an experienced, trained listener.
Lunchclub: Curated 1:1 professional connections based on your background, goals, and interests.
LoveBomb: An app that makes it fun, quick, and easier than ever to stay connected with those you care about.
Lvrsnfrnds: A safe online social club centering intimacy & relationships for you to thrive, one conversation at a time.
Meetup: A service used to organize online groups that host in-person events for people with similar interests.
Nextdoor: A private social network for your neighborhood community.
Marco Polo: A video communication app that helps you feel close, even when life gets busy.
Meals Together: Creating companionship through intergenerational dinner parties over video calls.
MeetMe: Meet, chat, and have fun with new people.
Meet My Dog: Enables dog owners to discover, connect, and share with other dog owners in their community.
Mon Ami: Volunteer management technology to make it easier to coordinate volunteer efforts and build connections across generations in a time of need.
Nearify: Discover events near you like live music, comedy, concerts, festivals, theater, and more.
Papa: Pairs older adults and families with Papa Pals for companionship and assistance with everyday tasks.
Peanut: Shows you like-minded mothers near you and makes it easier to meet.
REALU: Find real people in real time; meet interesting people near you; do something with them in the real world.
Stitch: Community and companionship for anyone over fifty.
Squad: An invite-only community for millennials and Gen-Zers looking to move beyond the screen and build real-life connections.
Tribute: Makes it easy to create a collaborative video montage that you can give as a gift on any important occasion.
Walkie: A community where you say what you want to talk about and get to have a phone call with an interested person right away.
We3: Find the most awesome people nearby; meet new friends in groups of three.
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