Hospitality isn’t a styled table—it’s how people feel in your presence. In this heart-tugging conversation, Abby Kuykendall reframes hospitality as the art of helping others feel known, loved, and seen—whether you meet in a tiny apartment, a messy kitchen, or a neighborhood park. She draws a bright line between entertaining (me-focused aesthetics) and hospitality (others-focused welcome), shares the spiritual roots behind “practice hospitality,” and gets real about rejection—why a few no’s shouldn’t stop you from inviting again. With stories from her own seasons of life, Abby shows how rhythms change (hello, nap schedules) but the mission doesn’t, and why outdoor gatherings often make connection simpler, cheaper, and more relaxed.

You’ll leave with practical moves you can try tonight: start with an invitation, set two or three “non-negotiables” (clean-ish bathroom, empty sink, drinks ready), and keep food simple—potlucks with specific asks, air-fried crowd-pleasers, or even “waffles at 10” after a game. Abby also spotlights her cookbook The Living Table and the snack-drawer mindset that tells guests, “Make yourself at home.” If you’ve ever delayed community until your house, budget, or schedule looked “perfect,” this episode is your permission slip to begin—outside if you can, imperfectly on purpose, with an invitation that opens the door to real connection.

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