Audio Links:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id157359638
What if the best conversations aren't about being interesting, but about being present?
David Rich is the founder of Palabra, a story driven event format he has hosted hundreds of times across nearly every continent, from intimate dinners to gatherings of over 100 people. What started as a personal search for deeper friendships after moving back from Spain has grown into a platform used by corporations, families, and entrepreneurs to build genuine relationships. His approach to storytelling and presence has made him one of the most sought after voices on modern connection.
Takeaways:
Great conversations need a container. Without intentional structure, people default to small talk, so David designs prompts and formats that give people permission to go deeper.
Listening is a skill, not a given. Most people listen to respond rather than to understand, and creating space without distractions like phones changes the quality of connection almost instantly.
Stories unite, opinions divide. Palabra events stay opinion free by design, which is why people from wildly different backgrounds can leave a dinner feeling more connected rather than more divided.
Vulnerability doesn’t require drama. A good event isn’t measured by tears or big reveals, it’s measured by whether someone normally closed off opened up even slightly more than usual.
Let humans do human things. As AI takes over more of daily life, David believes the analog, in person moments of genuine storytelling are becoming more valuable, not less.
Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on.
"A good event isn't that someone cried, so it was a good event. It's that people become a little bit more of themselves." - David Rich
Impact estimates vary by project. For the most up-to-date figures, please refer to the transcript
Connect with David:
Guest’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjrich/
Guests Website: https://www.palabra.co/
🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by BERMANFALK
Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/