House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy

Sarah Harmeyer: Is There Room At Your Table?

House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy

Show Notes

Have you ever wanted to gather people, but then something stops you? What if I burn the apps? What if the house is a mess? Will people bring something, or chip in? Or, the biggest fear of all – what if nobody shows up?

Sarah Harmeyer, the founder of Neighbor’s Table, calls herself a “people gatherer,” and is an expert at bringing people together. Sarah offers some practical advice and much comfort. In her view people just want to be invited. As she says, we should be about blessing, not impressing.

Also – In the spirit of building more connection, we have released “Recipes for Connection.” Gathering stories and ideas from all over the country, this booklet offers all sorts of ideas for connecting over food. So whether you’re deepening relationships with old friends or creating new connections, we hope “Recipes for Connection” will be an inspiration to get together.

Download the booklet at SurgeonGeneral.gov/recipes.

(01:51) Sarah Harmeyer and why she started Neighbor’s Table

(11:29) What are the essential ingredients for gathering people?

(13:45) What are some things Sarah does to create a great vibe?

(21:43) How gathering simply comes down to caring and kindness

(25:57) Gathering is joy and service

(29:27) Who is the new Surgeon General of SoHip, Dallas?

More from House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy

Jan 15, 2025

As Dr. Murthy's term as the 21st U.S. Surgeon General comes to a close, House Calls is ending, too.

Jan 7, 2025

As Dr. Murthy prepares to conclude his term as Surgeon General, the moment is , the moment is bittersweet: serving as Surgeon General has been the honor of his lifetime, and saying goodbye is hard.

Dec 23, 2024

On a recent trip to India, the Surgeon General sat down with the delightful and inspiring father-daughter duo of Aamir and Ira Khan. Aamir is a renowned and beloved actor and producer, appearing in some of India’s biggest films. Ira Khan is founder of the Agatsu Foundation, a peer support and counseling center in Mumbai.

Dec 11, 2024

“You can re-imagine anything.” This was life advice that fashion designer Phillip Lim was given by his mother. His family escaped the Khmer Rouge and came to America as refugees. They had no resources and had to start over from scratch. Somehow, Phillip rose to become one of the most successful fashion designers in the world. He started his label 3.1 Phillip Lim with his business partner when they were both just 31 years old. In this heartfelt episode of House Call, we catch Phillip in a moment of evolution, surprising the fashion world by stepping away from his company and starting a new, unknown chapter in his life. As he opens up about his continuous journey of becoming, of re-imagining his life, Phillip and the Surgeon General ponder: how do you distinguish between success and fulfillment? How does being part of a community help our mental health? Why is creativity and sense of play so important? What is the connection between beauty and the values we live? While they come from very different worlds of medicine and fashion, Phillip and the Surgeon General are both guided by love of community, a desire to help others, and the inspiration of their mothers. (02:46) What role has Phillip Lim’s mom played in his life? (06:20) How did Phillip Lim maintain a sense of optimism in his early life? (09:20) How did curiosity and creativity put Phillip Lim on an unexpected path? (15:27) How did Phillip Lim navigate the competitive world of fashion? (18:54) What practices does Phillip Lim use to stay grounded? (23:02) What is the difference between success and fulfillment for Phillip Lim? (26:33) How can we find the courage to make big life changes? (31:58) How is Phillip Lim building community and advocating for mental health? (42:32) What message does Dr. Murthy have for Phillip Lim’s mother? (48:05) Phillip Lim asks Dr. Murthy for advice on empowering others to be seen, heard, and show up for each other. We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at [email protected] with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Nov 27, 2024

Do you feel you can no longer talk with people who hold different opinions? Has anger become the predominant tone? If we want this to change, how can we as individuals, change the way we talk and connect when we differ?

See all episodes →