The Power of a Blank Page with The Strangers ProjectWhat happens when we put down our phones and share our stories with strangers?

In the Season 2 premiere of The Negative Space, host Patricia McLoughlin sits down with Brandon Doman, founder of The Strangers Project, and designer and community strategist Exa Kutler to explore the power of human connection in an increasingly disconnected world.

What began as a notebook and a simple invitation to write has grown into a traveling community engagement project featuring more than 100,000 anonymous handwritten stories. By creating spaces where people can share their experiences without judgment, prompts, or digital distractions, The Strangers Project offers a rare opportunity for reflection, vulnerability, and belonging.

Together, Patricia, Brandon, and Exa discuss the role of anonymity in building trust, the surprising themes that emerge across thousands of stories, and what it means to create meaningful community during a loneliness epidemic. They also explore the challenges of sustaining mission-driven creative work, lessons from bringing the project to Webby Awards Creator Weekend, and the future of preserving these powerful stories for new audiences.

In a culture that often rewards speed and performance, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes the most impactful thing we can offer is a blank page—and the space to be seen.

In this episode:

• How The Strangers Project grew from a spontaneous idea into a global community initiative
• Why anonymity can foster honesty, empathy, and connection
• What 100,000+ stories reveal about our shared human experiences
• The role of in-person engagement in an increasingly digital world
• The challenges and opportunities of sustaining long-term social impact work
• What's next for The Strangers Project

Learn more about The Strangers Project at strangersproject.com and on Instagram @strangersproj

If you're in New York City, you can visit The Strangers Project at the World Trade Center Oculus (Thursday–Sunday, 2:00–6:30 PM)

Learn more about the Anthem Awards and The Negative Space at anthemawards.com and on Instagram @anthemawards.

Set the new standard for good and enter your impact work into the Anthem Awards before July 31st!

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