Parties As Portals
MINDFUL CONNECTIONS FOR MODERN TIMES
A 6-week social experiment for thoughtful singles who want to meet people the human way again.
Potlucks. Field trips. Honest conversations. A small group learning to date with curiosity instead of pressure.
Rachel and Adam have built a community around a central belief: that love is for everyone. They are prototyping a new relational culture of care, curiosity + connection.
Modern dating often asks us to make big decisions about people we barely know.
Parties as Portals takes a different approach.
Instead of trying to engineer perfect matches, we focus on something more powerful: bringing a small group of thoughtful humans together and creating the conditions for real connection to unfold over time.
Over six weeks, participants gather for a series of dinners, field trips, conversations, and playful social experiments designed to help people actually get to know each other. Some connections will be romantic. Many will be friendships. All of them expand your world.
The spirit of the experience is simple: approach dating like an anthropologist.
Come curious. Notice what you learn about others—and about yourself.
Participants tend to be people who are:
thoughtful about how they move through the world
open to meeting people outside their usual circles
interested in growth, conversation, and shared experiences
willing to treat the people they meet with kindness, even when attraction isn’t there
Across six weeks, something special happens. Strangers become familiar.
Conversations deepen. Unexpected connections emerge.
Some people find romantic sparks.
Others leave with new friendships, activity partners, and a wider circle of people who make their lives richer.
The goal isn’t just to meet someone.
It’s to expand the ecosystem of connection in your life.
That’s the portal.
Who This Is For (and Not For)
This experience is for people who:
Are curious about people and open to learning from the people they meet
Want to expand their social world, not just find a partner as quickly as possible
Are willing to show up consistently for six weeks
Treat others with kindness and respect—even when attraction isn’t mutual
Enjoy thoughtful conversation, playful activities, and meeting people outside their usual circles
This may not be the right fit if:
You’re looking for a fast matchmaking service or guaranteed romantic outcomes
You prefer one-on-one dating and don’t enjoy group environments
You’re not able to attend most of the gatherings during the six-week experience
You’re not open to meeting people with different backgrounds, personalities, and perspectives
Parties as Portals works best when participants come in with curiosity instead of expectations.
What You’ll Leave With
A meaningful increase in your chances of meeting aligned people
Real connections (romantic and platonic are both possible)
Momentum in your dating life instead of staying stuck or passive
Clearer discernment about who and what is right for you
A new way of relating that you can take into every future connection
A community of thoughtful people you didn’t have before
Catch a glimpse of the previous cohort:
What They Are Saying:
“The living room instantly felt like a safe space. People had the courage to share their experiences and listen to each other.
I started seeing my past relationships with a kind of clarity I hadn’t had before.
The group bonded quickly, and it was lovely to attend events with new friends.
Now I’m thinking again about the possibility of romantic love — and realizing how much I want that in my life.”
— Michael
“I have been struggling to put myself out there and this felt like a comfortable place to do that.
The energy was very welcoming and helped me with my fear of socializing.”
“I didn’t expect to make friends like I did. I’m so thankful to have met so many amazing people in the same phase of life.”
“I walked in thinking ‘that guy isn’t for me.’ But as we talked, I realized how much I pre-judged before even having a conversation.”
“Being around other singles helped me practice identifying what I need and want. I have way less shame about being single now.”
“Feeling less pressure to present an image of myself in a perfect way.”
“It refreshed my hope for sustaining relationships — friendly and romantic.”
“I went from feeling like I was hanging out with strangers to hanging out with friends. Super lovely.”
“In modern life we spend so much time on devices. I appreciated the opportunity to meet people in person and actually get to know them.”
“I’m used to things escalating quickly. I loved that this slowed it down.”
Dating like Anthropologists
Instead of trying to impress each other, we intentionally practice observation.
Dating like an anthropologist means:
• noticing instead of performing
• gathering data instead of rushing conclusions
• staying grounded in your own experience
WHO THE APRIL/MAY COHORT IS FOR
Hetero, left-leaning, 20s–40s
Kind, go-with-the-flow, open, adventurous
Growth-oriented and willing to participate
Especially powerful if you:
overthink dating
tend to overgive or attach quickly
are tired of apps but still want love
want community and romantic possibility
It is our hope to create more cohorts with diverse sexualities and ages. If you would like to be an early-adopter/investor of a future cohort, please send an email hello@in-good-co.com.
Join us on 3/21 + 3/22 for niche gatherings.
Join the next Cohort (April + May 2026)
Choose the rate that reflects your current financial reality
$950 — Supported Rate
For people navigating financial constraints.
$1,250 — Standard Rate
For those with stable income.
$1,750 — Sustainer Rate
Helps support access for others.
Early bird: $200 off before March 14
Spots are intentionally limited to keep the group intimate.
Meet Your Hosts
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Ryan — Host & Resident Vibe Curator
Ryan brings a thoughtful, grounded presence to the space—and an eye for beauty that makes everything feel a little more intentional.
Many of the gatherings unfold in his welcoming home, where conversation flows easily, and his very good dog Clifford is abundant with his love. If he weren’t in his current field, he could easily be an interior designer—his space has a way of instantly putting people at ease.
He’s also a bit of a host-with-the-most: mixing cocktails, making introductions, and helping the room settle into a relaxed, welcoming rhythm.
When he’s not traveling for work or heading out on a new adventure, you’ll likely find him tending to his ever-growing collection of plants or hosting friends.
Like the others, he’s not just holding the space—he’s in the experience alongside everyone else.
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Rachel Joy Barehl, FOUNDER
Rachel Joy Barehl is a dating doula, superconnector, photographer, and anthropologist of modern dating—known locally as the Columbus Matchmaker.
For over a decade she has documented love in its many forms—weddings, families, friendships, and the quiet moments in between. That work eventually led her to create spaces where people don’t just look for love, but learn how to experience connection differently.
Her approach blends structure with intuition—bringing thoughtful people into the same room, guiding meaningful conversations, and trusting what can unfold when the right conditions are created.
Parties as Portals is one of the ways she’s prototyping a new relational culture—one rooted in curiosity, presence, and real human connection.
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Adam — Co-Host & Nervous System Regulator
Adam is Rachel’s partner in life and love, and a licensed massage therapist known for his calm presence and ability to help people feel at ease almost immediately.
He brings a steady, grounding energy to the gatherings—helping people settle into the room, slow down, and connect more naturally with one another.
When he’s not offering bodywork or helping support the flow of the evening, you’ll likely find him cooking, laughing with friends, or dreaming up ways to build a life rooted in community and care.
Together, Rachel and Adam are building this experiment in relational culture both in their own partnership and in the community around them—creating spaces that feel warm, human, and a little bit like home.
“The world needs more low and low pressure places to meet up, hang out, and see what blooms. I’m ready to meet my person AND I love the idea building connections slowly over time in a community of other single people. It’s sounds simple. I believe what Rachel is building is radical.”
-Lori
Parties as Portals
AN IMMERSIVE SPACE FOR DATERS AND AUTHENTIC RELATERS.
In Good Company is a home base for daters.
A soft place to land for the big-hearted and curious.
A playground for the brave, tender parts of you.
A pit crew for people putting real effort into love.
And sometimes, a co-pilot and wing woman when the path forward isn’t obvious.
Here, we practice connection differently.
Together, we’re prototyping a new relational culture—
one built on curiosity, courage, and kindness.
Because love was never meant to be navigated alone.