We Need to Mingle More – The Mingle Project
I recently watched The Mingle Project by Michael Smerconish, and I believe it’s one of the most important hour-long videos you can find on YouTube right now. It’s not a flashy TED Talk, and it’s not full of bite-sized soundbites… but it’s packed with ideas we need to hear.
Smerconish makes the case that our society is suffering because we no longer mingle. We don’t ride the bus together, go to the same community events, or attend the same local schools. We don’t join clubs or congregations like we once did. We’ve stopped volunteering, inviting people over, and forming friendships outside our own bubble.
The video walks through the data. Depression, loneliness, absenteeism… all rising. Cross-class friendships are declining. People with less formal education are far less likely to participate in community groups or host others in their homes. And we’ve lost something else that once served as the glue for local communities… shared media. Local newspapers are fading, and with them goes a common story that helped neighbors feel like they were part of something bigger.
One thing that stuck with me was this: we’re not only disconnected from people who are different from us… we’re increasingly disconnected from everyone. That has consequences. The famous Harvard study that began in 1938 found the people who live the happiest lives are the ones with good relationships. Yet today, many young people aspire most to wealth and fame, not connection. We’re chasing the wrong goals.
This video aligns closely with the keynote I deliver: Human Interaction (H.I.) in an AI-Driven World. I’ve been speaking about the power of connection since 2005. The title of my is new, but the message is not. Relationships, mentorship, and community aren’t soft skills. They’re essential.
I don’t know Michael Smerconish and he has a far bigger platform than I do… but I want to help get this message out. We need to bring attention to the importance of showing up, joining in, and being part of something.
Watch The Mingle Project. Share it. Talk about it. And then, maybe, go join something.
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Thom Singer is a professional keynote speaker and the CEO at the Austin Technology Council.