A year ago I set a table.
Here’s what happened next
Sixteen dinners later, on questions from our relationship to AI, nature, work, modern love, death, friendship, the politics of belonging, performance, trust, community as a verb, and more — we’ve shared food prepared with care and moments that can’t be captured or documented, but that were felt and shared.
Something is clearly becoming. These days, I need to remind myself that The Oneliness Project has never been something I controlled (although my Virgo moon, Capricorn rising really would love to). It’s a living thing that keeps becoming itself, and I’m responding to it, trying to stay true to what it is and what it isn’t.
Now, summer is back. Here’s what’s been cooking and where we could cross paths, maybe? 🌼 Thank you for being part of this, in one way or another.
Shared Table Picnic & Dinner(s)
Sunday, June 7 — Tending to What Matters 🌿 Shared Table Picnic for men. On the relationship to care. What we were taught to do with it, what it costs us, and what it might mean to tend to it properly. Co-hosted with Jindy Mann, Leader Brother Son and Jack Becher. Sign up here!
Sunday, June 14 — The Ones We Call Family 🫂 Shared Table Dinner at C*Space Berlin, on family — biological, chosen, complicated, and otherwise. Bring someone who feels like family to you and join us!
🐝 More outdoor summer editions coming, stay tuned!
On the road 🌍
June 22 — Cannes, France. My first time at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. I’m joining a session called 3 3 3 — Three Minutes. Three Slides. Three Signals on what we’re sensing and feeling right now through the lens of loneliness and oneliness. Palais Terrace, 1:30pm. If you’re around, come say hi!
June 24–25 — Paris, France. Hosting a session on loneliness and oneliness confessions at the hotel bar🍹 (where else) as part of the House of Beautiful Business x Pullman Hotels collaboration called The Source Code. 150 guests, 24 hours immersive, by invitation only.
June 26 — Amsterdam, Netherlands. Hosting a workshop at Omek Summit 2026, a full-day gathering for biculturals of African descent and allies at CRCL Park. A day about finding the power within, navigating uncertainty, and building what you need when the doors don’t open for you. I’ve been working with Omek for a few years now and cannot wait to finally be in community with them!
Btw: Did I tell you about this?! 👀🧡
Earlier this year, I helped bring the platform and community Daily Connect into the world, after practicing in a self-organized way for the past two-years-ish.
Daily Connect is a 15-minute daily practice of deep listening for individuals and teams. Informed by social neuroscience and contemplative research, now available for anyone to try over a brand-new platform we built and a membership base starting from 10 EUR / month (including a two-week trial).
Want to learn more? Join our free, 45-min. intro sessions (Zoom):
Tuesday June 17 · 12pm EDT · 6pm CEST · Register here
Wednesday June 18 · 8am ICT · 9am SGT · Register here
The Oneliness Podcast is back 🎧
Season 2 of The Oneliness Podcast is launching soooooon! New conversations, going deeper. Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and stay subscribed here; episodes land alongside essays.
Got ideas on whom I should invite as a guest? Drop me a line!
Open for collaborations: fall 2026 🟡
Speaking: conferences, panels, organisations, anywhere loneliness, oneliness, connection, and community belong in the conversation. More here.
Shared Table Dinners at your organization: a facilitated gathering for your team, community, or network. Learn more here.
Collaborations: if something here resonates and you want to think together, reply to this email or find me at monikajiang.org.
Tips wanted: spots to write in (l)oneliness 🌊
I’m writing a book, and I’d love any tips for an escape, close(r) to nature. It could be a writing residency, a place you visited and loved where I could find some loneliness and oneliness :) , a home swap — I have a lovely Berlin flat, and I’m happy to trade. If something comes to mind, reply to this email.
And if you want to support the book from wherever you are — becoming a paid subscriber here is the most direct way. 💛
Phew. That’s it for now. Thank you for being here!
With love,
Monika
