Episode 10 - The Magic of the Longest Table: Belonging, Agency & Everyday Connection with Venu Gupta and Maryam Banikarim
In today’s episode, my guests Venu and Maryam and I explore the magic of bringing neighbors together to share a meal, plus interdependence, compassion, and the power of invitation.
I met Venu when she was on an around-the-world trip with her family; she was in Tanzania at the time, and we went so deep, so fast, it left an indelible mark on me. I published a two-part interview with her soon after.
So when I was booking guests for the first season of Mighty Forces, I knew Venu had to be a guest, but I wasn’t sure who to pair her with. Then she posted on LinkedIn about hosting “The Longest Table” in Chicago, a free, community event that brings people together for a shared meal and conversation. Reading about the gathering, it felt like the antidote to so much of what ails us as a country right now. I followed a link and soon I was reading about the founder of The Longest Table movement, Maryam Banikarim, whom I immediately registered as a true creative powerhouse. The conversation I wanted to bring to the podcast started to come into view.
A photo Maryam shared of The Longest Table in NYC
To my delight, Maryam was game to chat, so on a Friday afternoon in December, she and Venu joined me to record this week’s episode. And, let me tell you… everything went wrong. Truly. We began the episode with Maryam’s dog, Charlie, throwing up on the bed next to her. Auspicious!! Soon, Venu’s smoke alarm went off (because it was on the fritz - no one was in danger)…and then it went off again…and again.
We were hysterical. Truly, it was the most joyful, if disjointed, hour. (For any fans of Good Hang with Amy Poehler, our experience was giving strong “first episode/Rachel Dratch” vibes!)
I ultimately opted to edit these moments out of the episode, because I wanted to do The Longest Table justice and share a coherent conversation about what it is, what it takes to create authentic belonging, and related themes. But it felt wrong robbing you all of the madcap hilarity we experienced, and then Maryam urged me to make and share a blooper reel, and I could not resist. Enjoy:
What we talk about
Why some people act on inspiring ideas while others don’t
The “unlock” of letting go of caring about looking cool
How there’s no “one size fits all” way to show compassion or participate in the world
How belonging is built through invitation rather than responsibility
Why grace, curiosity, and trust matter more than perfection
The quiet power of small, compassionate gestures
The magic that happens when we stop treating each other like strangers
Mentioned in the episode
About Maryam Banikarim
Learn more about The Longest Table and join the Longest Table community on Instagram. And be sure to listen to Maryam’s podcast, The Messy Parts (see also: The Messy Parts on YouTube).
Maryam Banikarim
Maryam Banikarim is a convener, an Emmy Award-winning storyteller, and host of The Messy Parts Podcast, exploring the real stories behind success.
With over 25 years as a C-suite executive driving growth at Fortune Media, Nextdoor, Hyatt, Gannett, NBCUniversal, and Univision, she now convenes senior marketing leaders as Chair of the WSJ Institutes CMO Council. Maryam has built movements that spark connection and joy, including co-founding NYCNext during the pandemic, leading the WE NYC campaign, and creating The Longest Table, a nationwide potluck initiative connecting neighbors.
A sought-after speaker with a TED Talk on navigating life’s obstacles and keynotes for Columbia Business School, Pfizer, and Disney, Maryam also advises organizations through her practice, MaryamB, on brand strategy, community building, and creative impact. Recognized among Fast Company’s “Top 10 Disruptors” and New York Post’s “50 Most Powerful Women in NYC,” she lives in New York City with her family and dog, Charlie.
About Venu Gupta
Learn more about Venu’s coaching and consulting firm for social impact orgs, Solidarity Futures and connect with her on LinkedIn.
Venu Gupta
Venu Gupta is the Founder and CEO of Solidarity Futures, a coaching and consulting firm that supports social impact organizations to be more effective.
Venu has 20+ years of experience in leading strong teams, multi-million dollar fundraising wins, and strategy for forward-thinking nonprofits. She has held leadership roles for national nonprofits, including Mother Jones and the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. As the Executive Director of the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms, she steered a city-wide endeavor to increase diversity in the legal community of Chicago.
Venu serves on the board of Free Speech For People. She holds a J.D. from Harvard Law and an M.B.A. from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Venu would like to devote her “Give a Damn” shout-out to the nonprofit organization Sista Afya Community Care, an organization focused on the mental health of Black women, where she’s a board member. As Venu puts it, “Mental health is catalyst for connection, and connection is a fuel for mental health.”
