A new episode of The Big Story examines the decline of dinner parties and what that shift could mean for social life.
The Story
A new episode of The Big Story podcast, posted October 23, 2026, explores “the death of the dinner party” and prompts listeners to reflect on when they last hosted or attended one.
Host Catherine Jette speaks with Cathrin Bradbury, a columnist for the Toronto Star, about what dinner parties are and what listeners may be losing as they become less common.
The episode points to several factors behind the decline, including generations living in smaller homes, drinking less, and having less expendable income.
The podcast episode also raises the broader question of what happens to social connection as the tradition moves “to the fringes.”
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