For GOOD’s summer issue, we wanted to facilitate an honest conversation about failure—and we had a hunch that it’d be best to host that kind of dialogue over drinks and dinner. So we worked with our friends at First Seating to make it happen in a tasty, entertaining, and meaningful way. We wanted their perspective about what it takes to truly spark a thoughtful discussion, in the office or anywhere collaboration happens.
Stale sandwiches and canned soda around the same old conference table. Sound familiar? Though corporate America is in the midst of reinventing the modern office—through workplace cocoons, chairless spaces, and office-sanctioned video games—the way colleagues get together to talk through big ideas remains largely unchanged. Enter Carolyn Sams and Isis Krause, two creative strategists and food aficionados on a mission to revolutionize the way we work—and dine—with each other.
When organizations need to shift gears, it’s time to “change the energy in these types of meetings,” they say. For Sams and Krause, that means inviting colleagues into a safe, progressive setting that allows them to feel comfortable opening up to each other. First Seating’s best sessions turn into “a mix of strategy workshop and team retreat,” they say. “We talk about the big, key questions or challenges facing an organization—who we are, where we are going, what we believe in, how we should get there—and we do so in a way that feels engaging and inspiring for everyone.”
And, according to Sams and Krause, one of the best ways to encourage that kind of mindset is to cook a meal together. Preparing food engages all the senses, and loosens people up enough to have a really meaningful conversation. But long before it’s time to plan a menu, First Seating recommends interviewing attendees in advance, informally designing and planning out possible solutions to talk through together the day of the event. “Since people have already been thinking about these ideas, they’re ready to jump in,” say Sams and Krause.
Still, “a long day of thinking and talking is hard, even with great food.” So Sams and Krause think it’s important to guide the discussion, encouraging participants to switch between different modes of thinking and interacting by moving around the space and playing hands-on games. At the end of the day, they say, the most honest conversations come out of exciting, memorable experiences. Food can help make that happen—but there’s no one way to get there.
“As entrepreneurs, there is no formula we have to follow,” they say. “Our business is proof of that.” For anyone looking to collaborate in a more authentic way, hosting a mealtime conversation is a good way to start. Don’t miss Sams’ and Krause’s tips for hosting your own meaningful meal by clicking through the slideshow above. (Plus, get a sneak peek at what it took to facilitate GOOD’s recent conversation about failure.)
Say goodbye or make amends.Image via Canva - Photo by Inna Postnikova
Friends recording on a camcorder.Image via Canva - Photo by capturenow
This is an AI-generated image using the language "A beautiful woman with long eyelashes and red lips surrounded by swirls of colorful makeup." AI/Canva/Elyssa Goodman 
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.