Airplane Mode Podcast | Marissa Meizz on Community Building and the Search for Friendship
From a viral TikTok to worldwide meetups—how Marissa Meizz turned “No More Lonely Friends” into a movement making friendship easier (and way less awkward) for adults everywhere.
On episode 4 of the Airplane Mode podcast we sat down with travel creator Marissa Meizz—the founder of No More Lonely Friends—to dig into how she turned a viral moment into a worldwide meetup movement. If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to make friends as an adult, this conversation is for you: candid, funny, and full of practical ideas for turning strangers into your next favorite people.
From viral TikTok to IRL meetups
Marissa’s journey started like a lot of 21st-century success stories—years of working behind the camera, making videos and learning the social media ropes, and then, overnight, a TikTok blew up. Within a week she hosted a Central Park meetup where 200–300 people showed up. That spontaneous energy became No More Lonely Friends, a community built around bringing people together in person.
But she didn’t pivot overnight into full-time travel, she juggled a full-time job and funded early meetups out of her own pocket, flying or driving to host weekend events and then returning to work Monday morning. The work was exhausting, but she loved it. The core of Marissa’s philosophy is simple: she loves making people feel seen and connected.
Why treating friendship like dating actually works
One of the clearest ideas from our chat is that you have to approach friend-making intentionally. Marissa repeats it like a mantra—treat friendship-building like dating. That means asking thoughtful questions, planning a “friendship date,” and being willing to try more than once if the first meetup doesn’t click. Friendship often requires effort up front, and that effort pays off.
“Every single person is—no matter what they say—lonely in some sort of aspect or has been lonely at some point,” Marissa told us.
She emphasized that the way you meet someone matters. Shared low-stakes activities—parks, games, short adventures—create instant common ground and make future hangouts easier. If you met someone while laying on grass and sharing snacks, it’s easier to say “let’s hang out next weekend” than if you’d only exchanged numbers in a crowded bar.
Parks, adventures, and deliberate meetups
Marissa designs meetups to be outdoors and activity-based whenever possible. Why parks? They’re familiar, open, and psychologically comfortable. Being outside, she says, reduces the white-noise distractions of bars and gives people something to do together that isn’t transactional.
Conversation starters that actually work
Marissa shared her favorite icebreakers—questions that get past small talk and spark real conversation:
- “What’s the best memory you’ve had in the last year?”—Opens storytelling and follow-ups
- “If you could give a TED Talk right now, what would it be about?”—Surfaces passion and personality
- “What’s a hobby you love to bring a friend to?”—Helps you find shared activities quickly.
She also loves playful prompts (a dinner where you can’t ask “what do you do?”) and creative games that force you to listen. These techniques keep conversations fresh and help you learn something meaningful about the person across from you.
Bravery, solo adventures, and micro-exposures
If you want to get better at meeting people, Marissa recommends building a “social bravery” muscle one small risk at a time: take an archery class, try a trapeze lesson, sign up for an improv night, or eat solo at a restaurant. These choices put you in new social contexts, make you more comfortable with small awkward moments, and often lead to unexpected connections.
Use social media to deepen, not replace, IRL connections
Marissa is a big believer in using social to nurture friendships you make in person. Following someone’s posts can make the first in-person meeting feel less strange, and it gives you topics to bring up later.
But she warns about parasocial pitfalls: watching from afar isn’t the same as engaging. Use social to learn about people, then invite them to real-world hangouts when possible. She has friends she met online years ago and finally met in person—when they did, the connection slid in easily because the relationship had been cultivated over time.
Quick friend-making rituals to start today
- Sign up for one small class in your city this month—dance, archery, trapeze, pottery—something only one person usually signs up for.
- Show up to a meetup with two “real” questions written on your phone so you don’t default to small talk.
- Follow three people you’d like to be friends with and genuinely engage with one post a week—comment, ask a question, then invite them to coffee if it feels right.
Final thoughts
Making friends as an adult takes intention, a little awkwardness, and creativity. Marissa’s approach is hopeful and practical: design meetups that lower barriers, treat friendship like dating (put in the effort), and use both online and in-person moments to build real connection. If you’re tired of scrolling and ready to meet people who get you, start with a park, a silly question, and a willingness to be a little brave.
Check out the full episode HERE.
