We should party more

September 20, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In 2023, only about 4% of adults said they went to a party on a weekend or holiday. More than half of Americans report feeling isolated. For Vox’s Explain It to Me, host John Glenhill explores whether the decline of the social gathering is part of the loneliness epidemic—and whether we can learn to party again. Drawing on historians, professional event producers, and a conversation-design expert, the episode makes a case that throwing a good party is a practical skill, not a personality trait. The advice is concrete, grounded in psychology, and aimed at anyone who has forgotten how to open their home to other people.

The lost art of gathering

Historian Willich traces the party back to medieval religious festivals, where drinking, dancing, and rowdiness were part of churchgoing. She describes the sociological concept of "collective effervescence," coined by Émile Durkheim in 1912: the surge of euphoria people feel during peak communal experiences, whether at a sports match, a concert, or a dance floor. In increasingly secular societies, she argues, nightlife and parties are one of the few remaining ways to access that feeling of being part of something larger than oneself.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:51) **Host JQ loves to party** - The host describes his personal approach to throwing parties, including inviting everyone and a memorable blindfolded icebreaker.
2 (02:43) **The loneliness epidemic and the decline of parties** - Victor Jeffries and host JQ set up the episode's premise: social gatherings are in decline, contributing to widespread isolation.
3 (03:49) **The ancient history of parties: from church to dance floor** - Historian Willich traces the evolution of parties, arguing they were once inseparable from religious ritual and are now a secular source of collective euphoria.
4 (06:13) **Parties as engines of cultural and societal change** - Willich argues that nightlife and private parties have been crucial spaces for artistic innovation and social transgression.
5 (07:48) **The rent party: turning homes into clubs** - Willich describes how private home parties, like New Orleans fish fries and Harlem rent parties, funded rent and birthed new music scenes.
6 (10:31) **The core elements of a great party** - Willich identifies low, flattering lighting, good music, and a sense that "anything can happen" as the essential ingredients.
7 (14:11) **The host's role: creating comfort and disarming guests** - Professional event producer Halston Bruce explains that the host's primary job is to make people feel comfortable and welcome.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

We’re lonely, isolated, and bored. The solution may be as simple as an invite and killer playlist.

This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.

A raucous loft party. Photo by Hiroyuki Ito/Getty Images.

If you have a question, give us a call at 1-800-618-8545 or email [email protected].
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