Meet Megan Fullmer of San Luis Obispo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Fullmer.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in a multigenerational family, and gathering around the table was often the one time when we were all seated in the same room and had a chance to hear from each other and connect as a group. From a young age, I remember appreciating how food brings people together. As I grew up, I began to see gathering around a table as a natural way to help people from different backgrounds and belief systems come together.
I moved to San Luis Obispo, California, in 2018 and was struck by how hard it was to build an intergenerational community. I missed talking to people in different phases of life than me. I missed how being around children reminds you not to take life too seriously and to see the world around you with constant wonder. I missed the wisdom of our elders and the comfort of hearing someone older say, “Everything is going to be okay, and you will figure it out.”
I felt like my friends and I were in a vacuum of similar ideas and perspectives on life.
I began to notice that I was not alone in feeling disconnected from a broader sense of community. I often heard people share that they did not know where to start when it came to making new friends or meeting new people. People felt fatigued by the lack of deep connection available in large group settings. It can also feel lonely and disconnected to see people through the lens of social media. It’s easy to spend time with friends without discussing topics that allow you to get to know them in a new way.
The idea of gathering strangers around a table began to form over several years. In 2025, I decided to take the leap and host my first event. I was largely inspired by reading The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. After reading her book, I felt like the missing piece of my dream had fallen into place.
I knew I wanted to keep the gathering small so guests could connect with everyone. I decided to start with six guests. I knew I wanted the gathering to be all women, for the guests to be strangers to each other, and that the group would include as diverse an age range as I had access to.
I wanted the night to center around a discussion topic. I did not want people to fall into the easy, surface-level conversations that feel safe. I wanted the gathering to be a space that required guests to participate in creating connections rooted in transparency, risk, and vulnerability.
My intention was that guests would begin the night as strangers and, through vulnerable conversation, connect over our shared human experience. Everyone would know the discussion topic in advance and willingly choose to participate.
As I planned what I considered a trial run, I knew I was more excited about curating a gathering than cooking for one. I wasn’t sure how I was going to manage the food aspect of my vision. A few days later, my friend Hannah Brooke reached out and said she wanted to cook for my event! It was a perfect pairing.
The first event was hosted in my backyard, and I asked each guest to bring a poem that described the season of life they were in. Some guests wrote their own poems, while others found poems that resonated with them. Hannah Brooke prepared a delicious meal, we spent three hours reading poetry and sharing our hearts. We spent much of the dinner in tears as each guest showed great courage by opening up and speaking about painful and beautiful aspects of her life.
During this event, I was absolutely blown away. I had started the evening feeling so nervous because I had never facilitated a group before. Afterward, I felt like I had found what I wanted to do with my life. Nothing matched the feeling of watching a group of women who were a little nervous and did not know each other open their beautiful hearts. Suddenly, the atmosphere changed, and we were tenderly human. We may not know the same struggles, but we know grief, joy, sorrow, pain, love, delight, and so much more.
After that night, I began building a website and looking for a venue where I could host these events for the broader community.
My friend Hannah Brooke agreed to be the chef for each event, and together we have been creating these gatherings ever since. It has been such a privilege to create a space in downtown San Luis Obispo where women ranging in age from their 20s to their 80s can meet and talk about taboo topics.
Our events now include around nine guests. We have discussed topics like sex, aging, grief, motherhood, creativity, body image, and loved ones who have passed away.
Women have continued to show up with openness, courage, and curiosity. Many guests come alone, not knowing anyone else around the table. By the end of the evening, they’re exchanging phone numbers, making plans to meet again, collaborating on creative projects, and discovering friendships they never expected.
One of my greatest joys has been watching the community continue long after the table has been cleared. Every gathering leaves me with so much hope in humanity.
We are still in the early days of Ritual Abode, and I am excited to keep growing and hosting more events that inspire deeper connection, provoke new ideas, and expose us to fresh perspectives. I have enjoyed developing my group facilitation skills and learning how to guide each evening from the guests’ arrival through the close. I have also had the joy of watching our chef, Hannah Brooke, create meal after meal that brings everything together.
It has taken the support of my community to get Ritual Abode to where it is today, and it will continue to take that support as we grow. I love that I am not doing this alone, and I feel so grateful for the community I have built—one that has allowed me to follow this dream and bring it to life.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I would say one of the biggest struggles I’ve faced while building my first business is finding the right pricing for each event. I’m also learning to have patience and allow things to grow, knowing it takes time to build something sustainable.
Another challenge has been learning how to have direct and clear conversations with the people I collaborate or partner with—communicating what I need from them and how I envision the event so they know how to show up, offer support, and understand the expectations.
I’ve had to cancel events because no one bought tickets, and that was hard. But I learned from those experiences. There have also been times when I felt like I was scrambling to fill seats so I wouldn’t have to cancel. Those moments can feel deflating and cause me to question whether people like what I’m doing or want to be part of it. But I’m learning to understand why certain events didn’t work, make adjustments, and keep going.
It can be hard to find the right formula. I have to practice not letting the response to one event affect me or the belief I have in what I’m offering.
Another part that has felt vulnerable and challenging is learning how to facilitate a group conversation. Most of the time, I feel like it goes well, but there have been moments when the conversation felt flat or I felt like I didn’t do a good job managing the flow. I worry that it affected the guests’ experience.
But that is all part of growing, putting yourself out there, and gaining experience.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I thoughtfully host intimate gatherings in San Luis Obispo. I facilitate group conversations, setting boundaries to create a container, gently holding those boundaries to support the group and conversation flow. I really love table-scape design and being creative with setting up a space so that when a guest walks in they feel comfortable, inspired, and welcomed. I am most proud of is my ability to bring people together and create a safe space to open up and share.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I am very lucky to have a lot of friends who own their own businesses and my partner is a long time business owner with a lot of knowledge. My partner has been my biggest help in figuring out the numbers for running my business, dreaming about ways it can grow, and coaching me through moments when I am discouraged or am feeling stuck.
Between my partner and friends, I have a wealth of resources to pull from. What has worked well for me has been spending years building community. A community that is excited to help each other, share, and not gate keep.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ritualabode.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritualabode/

Image Credits
A few of the photos were taken by Jordan Hossini