How to Host A Dinner Party

#10. Christmas Couch Special Pt.2 - Ho Ho Hold Me

This episode is brought to you by the Annas who recorded this in the same state, in the same house, in the same living room, on the same couch. For this reason the audio quality isn't as crisp as it is on other episodes, but the content is just as juicy.
 
After exploring the different experiences that folks may have of Christmas in Pt. 1,  this episode is about the different ways that we can support ourselves and each other through this big time.  The Annas share different somatic practices (such as a hug) that might be useful while at the dinner table on Christmas Day or throughout the Christmas holidays more generally. 
The hope is that this episode will serve as a tool and a companion to provide guidance and comfort to you and your little people as we navigate our way through the Christmas break and into the New Year. 
 
We can't wait to see you all next year! Stay juicy folks!
 
Follow us on Instagram at @howtohostadinnerparty to stay up to date with behind the scenes and future episodes. 

#09. Christmas Couch Special Pt.1 - Tis’ the Season to be Jacked Up

This episode is brought to you by the Annas who recorded this in the same state, in the same house, in the same living room, on the same couch. For this reason the audio quality isn't as crisp as it is on other episodes, but the content is just as juicy. 
 
This episode is an exploration of the big feelings that emerge for so many people at Christmas. It is an acknowledgment of the magic, the connection and the joy that is experienced by many at this time of year, but also an acknowledgment of the loss, the loneliness and the grief that is experienced by many. We get curious about the ways in which both experiences can be held and nurtured. 
 
We discuss the reasons for the overwhelm experienced at this time of year and what can be happening for folks on a neurobiological level. We also explore some ways that we can support our nervous systems during this big time, on Christmas day at the dinner table, but also more generally throughout the holidays. There will be more on this in Christmas Couch Special Pt.2. 
 
Follow us on Instagram at @howtohostadinnerparty to stay up to date with behind the scenes and future episodes. 

#08.Bowerbird Sex Dens and Party Bags

We have reached the finale of Season 1! In this episode we do a recap of the previous episodes and the juicy topics that we have explored during the season. We acknowledge that transitions and endings can be challenging - in a dinner party setting and throughout our days and lives. We ask the question "what is your relationship with endings?" and we discuss ritual as being a helpful tool for managing the feelings that arise in relation to endings. We also ask the question, "did curiosity kill the cat?" or is in fact curiosity the most powerful relational tool we have. 
 
 
We explore the neuroscience of transitions and the reasons why they are so challenging for big people and little people. We discuss ways that we can make the unknown, known to assist with transitions and endings. We explore some different ways, such as transitional objects and countdowns, to help big people and little people to move from one space to the next. We make the unknown, known for you all by sharing our plans for the podcast beyond Season 1 and cannot wait to dive deeper into some of the topics we have already explored and to get curious about new topics we are yet to uncover. There was also talk of guests in the next season (oooooh).
 
 
Stay juicy. 
 

#07. F*** Capitalism, Eat Cake

Mary Oliver teaches us that 'Joy is not made to be a crumb'. In this episode we consider that joy, pleasure and aliveness might actually be a juicy cake, covered in icing.
 
This episode explores how we hold, define and practice pleasure in our own lives. We talk about the politics of pleasure and reclaiming it as our birthright from the reigns of the chief thief of our joy - capitalism.
 
We hope this episode places pleasure back where it belongs, in the small, micro moments of your day-to-day lives and in those moments re-remember what it means to be human.
 
References:
Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey
Euphemia - full spectrum pleasure coach 
"microdosing pleasure"
 
Andreas Weber- Matter and Desire: An Erotic Ecology"Having the courage to feel your own needs and also to trust those feelings amounts to having the guts to stand up publicly and demand a different politics, one suitable to the demands of aliveness.”
 
Adrienne Maree Brown- Pleasure ActivismAll of their work is amazing but I quoted Pleasure is our measure of freedom
 
The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love
“Concepts like self-acceptance and body neutrality are not without value. When you have spent your entire life at war with your body, these models offer a truce. But you can have more than a cease-fire. You can have radical self-love because you are already radical self-love.”
 
 

#06. These are the Times to Gather

These are hard times, uncertain times and divided times.
In this episode we talk through our bodies response to the referendum outcome in Australia over the weekend and ways in which we are attending to the pain and grief in our hearts for our kin who are suffering all over the world.
We dive into polyvagal theory as a way of understanding the states of our being and why numbness, disassociation, rage and disconnection arise in our bodies. We explore different ways to move into regulated presence, through social connection and deep listening.
This whole episode leans on the wisdom and work of Joanna Macy in our conversation to move through gratitude, joy and newly imagined possibilities.
 
References:
 
Hieroglyphic Stairway by Drew Dellinger
 
Vikki Reynolds - "Resisting Burnout"
 
Joanna Macy - The Work That Reconnects
 
Stephen W. Porges - Polyvagal Theory
 
Bayo Akomolafe - The Times are Urgent: Let’s Slow Down

#05. Growing our Hands Back

In this episode we explore the magic of collaboration, giving everyone a job and growing our hands back so that we can reconnect with what is most important to us. We discuss the rich conversations and connections that arise with a shovel in hand or whilst peeling lemons in your neighbour's kitchen. We dream of a world where people work together, ask for help when they need it, delegate tasks and collaborate with those around them. 
 
 
 
References:
Joanna Macy - The Work that Reconnects
 
https://www.joannamacy.net/main
 
 
Window of Tolerance
 
https://mi-psych.com.au/understanding-your-window-of-tolerance/
 
 
The Handless Maiden
 
https://www.terriwindling.com/blog/2020/06/the-handless-maiden.html
 
 
The Art of Frugal Hedonism: A Guide to Spending Less While Enjoying Everything More - by Annie Raser-Rowland and  Adam Grubb 

#04. An Ode to the Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake

In this weeks episode we explore the power of collaboration and intention when organising a party. We name and normalise both party hosting and attending anxiety, especially for highly sensitive children and adults (like us). We discuss ways to support children and adults to be able engage in parties in a meaningful way. We reminisce about a simpler time in terms of children’s birthday parties, where Women’s Weekly birthday cakes were king and pass the parcel in the backyard was enough. We ask the question, are we having the parties that our ancestors dreamed up for us? 

#03.What to do When Our Guests Shit Us

This episode acknowledges that in social situations, we can't always choose who we have around us. We explore the idea that our dinner party guests can be like mirrors, reflecting parts of our subconscious back to us.  As a way to manage the feelings that arise in us as a result of our guests (aka anyone in our world) we explore the magic of boundaries and the idea of nature as a co-host, a space-holder and a powerful regulator. 
 
 
References:
Prentis Hemphill - "Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously"
 
The Compost Heap by Sophie Strand
 
 
The Set-Up -Lisa Dion
 
 
Tara Brach - The Sacred Pause
 
 
Essentialism : The Disciplined Pursuit of Less - Greg McKeown

#02. What You Are Serving Is Yourself

This episode is an exploration of the idea of authenticity and being yourself. It is a re-homing and re-claiming of the term 'authenticity' from the grasp of capitalism. Within this episode is an invitation to tune in, and trust, the wisdom of our bodies as a way of sharing our true selves with each other. 
 
 
References:
The myth of the Lindworm
 
 
Anake is the Greek Goddess, in Greek literature, necessity or fate personified.
 
 
A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Lifeby Parker J. Palmer (Author)
 
 
The Moon Palace by Martin Shaw
 
 
The mirror neuron system
 
 
Understanding "The Set Up"/Offering in Synergetic Play Therapy
 
 
Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower

#01. Safety is the Sexiest Thing

Dive into the first ever episode of How to Host a Dinner Party as we explore the fundamentals of being human. We discuss the importance of establishing safety in our bodies and the way that this contributes to the depth of our relationships. 
Follow us on Instagram at @howtohostadinnerparty to stay up to date with behind the scenes and future episodes. 
 
 
References:
 
Dan Siegel's hand model of the brain
 
Lisa Dion's four threats of the brain