MindShifting is about the power of our brains and how they can also can become our own worst enemies, triggering “saboteurs” that keep us isolated or stressed. Sometimes, the best way to shift our mindset is through something as simple and universal as a shared meal.

I recently sat down with Risa Crandall for an episode of MindShifting with Mitch on LMC Media. Risa is doing something about the isolation and   emptiness that seems to be pervading society.

Risa and I actually first connected through the Larchmont Mamaroneck Lions Club, a thriving community group where I’m constantly inspired by neighbors who are finding innovative ways to serve others.

Risa has launched a beautiful initiative called “Love Is … Community Suppers.”

After the passing of her father, a Manhattan butcher who believed deeply in the power of simple food, she began hosting free monthly dinners for strangers in Larchmont. Her mission is simple: fostering connection in an increasingly isolated world.

During our talk, Risa emphasized that “the world needs connection.” Eating together produces a neurological cocktail; communal eating triggers a potent mix of dopamine (released by the pleasure of the food) and oxytocin (the “bonding hormone” released during social interaction). This combination essentially rewires the brain for happiness and resilience, making the experience more than just a meal.

Many attendees are moved by the fact that the meal is truly free and offered without any strings attached. Many had to overcome their own saboteurs to attend, to break the isolation bubble and their distrust of others. The combination of good food and a non-judgmental environment allowed their defenses to drop. Risa saw people who were strangers at the start of the meal engaged in deep, meaningful conversation by the end.

The diners are not the only beneficiaries. Risa also described her process in the kitchen as a form of mindfulness, saying, “When you’re cooking, you’re really concentrating… I really found that very meditative.”

Risa was quite candid about the internal hurdles she had to clear before the “Love is Community Suppers” became a reality. Her fears were a mix of personal vulnerability and the “saboteur” voices that often hold us back from starting something new. Risa had to overcome imposter syndrome, the fear of rejection, the weight of her dad’s legacy, and her perfectionist saboteur to take that first step.

If you find yourself inspired by Risa’s story and want to dive deeper into how you can influence, motivate, and collaborate with others by managing your own mental shifts, my book, MindShifting: Conflict and Collaboration, explores these themes in detail. It provides a roadmap for navigating the “me versus you” dynamics in all areas of life—from parenting to professional leadership.

Let’s all try a “tiny experiment” this week to bring a little more connection into our lives. Here is the whole episode, including the poignant origin of the term, “Love Is”.