Hello Good People,
It's Shivawn here, your companion on a creative quest for social good. I am incredibly grateful that you've taken a moment to join me on this exciting journey and offer your support. As you may or may not know, I founded Seated with Strangers about two years ago, and it's a project that's close to my heart. Let me share with you the story behind it.
Seated with Strangers was born during the midst of the pandemic when I found myself in a unique and challenging situation. Just two weeks before the world changed, I had relocated back to the area where I grew up. Suddenly, I found myself without a community and stuck at home, trying to navigate this new chapter of my life.
To be completely honest, those times were tough.
But amidst the uncertainty and isolation, the Seated with Strangers podcast emerged as a beacon of connection. It brought people together during a time when we all needed it the most, transcending borders from the US to London. From there, we began hosting dinner parties, and let me tell you, the response exceeded all my expectations, especially in terms of the impact it had on our guests. We had people flying to Atlanta and other locations just to be part of it.
SWS DINNER PARTY IS SO HARD TO CAPTURE IN WORDS BECAUSE IT'S AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER
It's a feeling. A feeling I can best describe as safe. & the conversations did not disappoint! The beauty of having built-in questions to ask at the table is it takes the pressure off to come up with something interesting to say to complete strangers (haha!). Also, the range of questions! From fun and light to serious and introspective, they really gave us a chance to know each other in a well-rounded way.
Whitney Hall beautifully sums it up, "In all, I will say this is an experience I hope every person gets to have at some point in life."
Throughout this incredible journey, I've been a one-woman show, handling everything from podcast editing to researching, finding restaurants and guests, coordinating schedules, marketing, product development, and much more. I'm grateful for my friends who have filled in the gaps and supported me along the way, but the time has come for additional assistance (and I'm learning to ask for help).
So here we are, with Seated with Strangers having been nominated for podcast of the year, achieving a spot in the top 10 percent of globally shared podcasts about dinner parties in various locations, and amassing an impressive 31,135 (and counting) downloads for our magazine. It's now time to take the next step.
Our goal is to continue supporting creatives, our cherished strangers, and the remarkable restaurants and chefs we've encountered. We're aiming to develop a pilot show for Seated with Strangers, and this is where you come in. I'm seeking your support to create this pilot show, assembling a team of film crew and creatives, along with talented chefs and engaging guests.
Because I'm dedicated to being thorough and official, you can find my pitch deck for Seated with Strangers, as well as details on how your support will make this project possible.
Once the pilot show is completed, the plan is to pitch it to various creative outlets. By donating the cost of a cup of coffee, ranging from $1.00 to $1,000 (or more if you're feeling particularly generous), you'll play an integral role in helping me turn this dream into reality.
Your generosity won't go unnoticed. As a supporter, you'll receive updates on our progress, exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses of our filming process, and the opportunity to provide us with feedback. You can even apply to become a guest on our pilot show.
There are also other ways you can support us – by sharing this post with someone who shares our passion for connection and by subscribing to our podcast.
Should you have any questions or want to reach out, please feel free to email me at [email protected].
Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we can make Seated with Strangers' film project a reality.
Thanks :)