Why are these called "Interesting Person" potlucks?
Most people are interesting when asked the right questions. That’s why the format is simple — each
guest brings a topic, idea, or question to share with the others.
What are some examples of some questions people might ask?
What's the most interesting location you've ever travelled?
What is something you really want to do before you die?
What is something you're interested or passionate about?
What gives you hope for the future?
What is one thing you'd like to improve about yourself?
What brings meaning to your life?
What is Buddytree?
Buddytree was founded by Glen Brauer and developed by a
small team
to give people an easier way to meet interesting people in their city and build their chosen family.
The platform leverages trust and accountability to improve safety and reduce no-shows. Since 2021, people in several countries have hosted or attended hangouts and made new connections.
Click here
to view testimonials from Buddytree users.
Is this like Eatwith?
Eatwith is often geared toward travelers looking for full meals in private homes. Our gatherings, by contrast, are designed for locals who want to make new connections in their own city. Guests bring after-dinner potluck items—like drinks, appetizers, or desserts—and connect in a relaxed, welcoming setting. They’re also more affordable than traditional hosted dinners.
How do trust points work?
Since 2021, the Buddytree community has been building trust through this system. You earn 1 trust point each time you attend a gathering, and another point if someone adds you to their buddytree because you made a good impression. You lose 1 point if you cancel more than 24 hours before, and 2 points if you cancel within 24 hours. The more points you earn, the more trusted your profile becomes — and this helps reduce no-shows.
Is there a fee to attend?
There is a one time cost of $0.50 to verify your ID through Buddytree.
However, there is currently no additional charge to attend these gatherings while we build up our community of hosts and attendees.
We do accept donations since it costs money to run our Facebook ads.
Who created this?
Interesting Person Potlucks are part of the Meaningful World umbrella of projects,
founded by Glen Brauer. Through initiatives like Buddytree and Meaningful Discussions, Glen has helped to organize
over 1,500 events in 11 countries, all focused on friendship, community, and meaning. You can learn more about him
on his LinkedIn profile.
How many of these potlucks have been hosted?
Glen Brauer, the founder, has personally hosted several Interesting Person Potlucks in his own home using the Buddytree platform. These gatherings successfully brought people together in a comfortable setting and led to several new friendships, proving the concept before making it available more widely.
Are you looking for investors?
Yes — Buddytree has already raised $90k CAD to support development of the platform, and we’re open to connecting
with people who want to help take it further. If you’re interested in learning more, please reach out at
glenb@meaningfulworld.org.
When will I hear back after I request to attend?
Most hosts respond within 24–48 hours. If you’re not approved, try other potlucks or join online hangouts to build trust points.
You can also become one of our hosts and have others request to attend your potlucks (see Host FAQ section).
What if less than 5 people sign up?
The potluck will be cancelled since we've found that 5-7 people is ideal for these gatherings.
Can I bring a friend?
Only approved guests may attend, as seating is limited. If a friend is interested, please have them request to join through Buddytree.
What items should I bring?
Bring a drink, appetizer, or dessert to share.
What if I have food allergies?
Bring something you know you can enjoy. The main focus is on the people and the conversations.
How can I improve my chances of being approved to attend?
Put yourself in the host’s position — they want to know who’s coming into their home. Choose a friendly photo, use your full name in your profile (so hosts can Google you), and add a link to your LinkedIn profile.
Click here
to add social media links to your Buddytree profile.
Can I see a picture of the living room before I RSVP?
Yes — hosts are required to show a photo of their living room so guests can get a sense of the space.
What if my request to attend isn’t approved?
Don’t take it personally — each host has preferences for who they’d like to meet. Improve your chances
by joining online hangouts where you can earn trust points and be added to other people’s buddytrees.
You can also become one of our hosts and have others request to attend your potlucks (see Hosting section).
How can I maximize my chances of making a good impression on people?
Friendship Bootcamp was specifically created to help people build stronger social skills and confidence. It’s a great resource if you’d like to prepare for making meaningful connections at potlucks.
How many people attend these gatherings?
5 people including the host — ideal for a typical living room (a couch for three people and two chairs). Hosts may invite more if they have the space, as long as they respect the format and intention.
How long do these gatherings last?
Typically about 2 hours.
Is there a cell phone policy?
Please disable notifications and avoid using your phone during the gathering out of respect for the conversation.
Is alcohol allowed?
Hosts set their own policy and will indicate it on the event page. Please drink responsibly and respect the host’s rules.
Can photos be taken?
Ask the group before taking photos. Avoid posting identifiable images of others without their permission.
Are pets and children allowed?
Hosts indicate if pets are present. These gatherings are for adults (18+) only.
Accessibility & parking
Hosts include notes about stairs, elevators, and parking/transit when possible. If you have specific needs, message the host in advance.
Is smoking allowed?
No — there’s a strict no-smoking policy at all gatherings.
How much should I spend on my potluck item?
Since everyone brings a drink, appetizer, or dessert, about $15 is a good guideline.
How do I give feedback or a review?
You can message the host through Buddytree with private feedback, or contact us via the platform if something needs attention.
How do I build more trust?
Show up on time, participate respectfully, and add people to your buddytree when you’ve had a good experience. Attending more hangouts steadily increases your trust points.
Can I contact people afterwards?
Yes — view their Buddytree profile and use the 'Send message' option. You can also add them to your buddytree to schedule private gatherings with others to build your chosen family.
How can I report someone as inappropriate?
You can report issues through the
Contact Us
feature in Buddytree. All participants are required to be respectful, whether during online hangouts or in person.
Who are the hosts?
You can view the list of hosts here.
Glen, the founder, is the first host for potlucks in Vancouver.
We’re carefully adding more hosts as we grow. If you’re interested, email glenb@meaningfulworld.org.
What are the benefits of being a host?
You get the convenience of meeting interesting people in the comfort of your own home, and—unlike guests—you don’t have to pay to attend.
What house rules should I list?
Examples: shoes on/off, fragrance-free, pet areas, quiet hours, alcohol policy, photo policy, and any building requirements (elevator/code).
What are the requirements of being a host?
Just like guests, all hosts must create a Buddytree profile and verify their ID through the platform. You must provide your full name in your profile so guests can Google your name, and you must provide a picture of your living room so guests can get a sense of the space.
If I become a host, how often am I obligated to host?
That’s completely up to you. You may want to just do it once to see if you like it.
How can I improve my chances of people requesting to attend my potlucks?
Put yourself in the guests’ position — they want to know whose living room they’ll be meeting in. Choose a friendly photo, use your full name in your profile (so guests can Google you), and add a link to your LinkedIn profile.
Click here
to add social media links to your Buddytree profile.
What if I need to cancel as a host?
Please avoid cancellations. If unavoidable, cancel as early as possible and message guests. Frequent cancellations may affect your ability to host in the future.
Do I still need to provide a potluck item?
Yes. All attendees—including hosts—bring either a drink, appetizer, or dessert to share.
Can I host female-only potlucks?
Yes — you can state in your requirements that all attendees must be female, or all male for that matter.
Okay, I’m ready to host — what do I do?
That’s great to hear! Since we’re rolling out this service carefully and adding new hosts gradually, the first step is to get in touch with us directly. Please email
glenb@meaningfulworld.org, and we’ll walk you through the process of becoming a host.
