Press Kit
On this page, you’ll find all of the following. If you need something that isn’t provided below, please send a message to kat@weshouldgettogether.com
Bios
Book blurbs
Kat’s main web links
Social media handles
Tech rider
Headshots of Kat along with photographer credits
Bios
Short: Good for podcasts, press articles, and mini intros
Kat Vellos is the author of the book, We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships. Her work is all about helping people foster friendship and community — especially in places not built for connection (which is most of them!). That’s why she advocates for urban design that fosters social cohesion. Learn more at katvellos.com
Medium: Good for podcasts, press articles, and mini intros
Kat Vellos is the author of We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships and the creator of the Better Conversations Calendar and BFF Builder. A former UX designer for major tech companies, she now helps people foster meaningful friendship and community in environments not built for connection—which is most of them. This is why Kat advocates for urban design that supports and strengthens social cohesion. Kat’s writing is read in over 100 countries, and she’s been featured by The New York Times, NPR, Communication Arts, and The Good Life Project.
Long (for those who like more context and backstory)
Kat Vellos is a trusted expert on cultivating meaningful friendships and building social connection in places that weren’t designed for it — like most modern cities and neighborhoods. She’s the author of We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships, and the creator of tools like Better than Small Talk and the Better Conversations Calendar. Her book and products help people transform disconnection and platonic longing into authentic connection and belonging.
In her former career as a UX designer at Slack and Pandora, Kat helped millions of people enjoy work and music more. While designing intuitive software by day, she spent her nights and weekends researching friendship and loneliness because the 30-something friendship desert is real and she refused to take “how about we meet up in six weeks?” for an answer. The result was her debut book, which thousands of readers around the world read and use to strengthen their friendships.
Today, Kat’s work expands beyond individual friendships to focus on the broader systems and spaces that foster (or hinder!) the formation of friendship and community. She advocates for urban design that fosters social cohesion through third places, walkable neighborhoods, green space, and mixed-use development that makes spontaneous connection easier and more joyful. Whether she’s consulting on workplace belonging or helping neighbors create DIY third places, Kat believes that healthy connection should be designed into every place where humans spend their time.
Her work has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Communication Arts, and The Good Life Project. She’s spoken at TEDx Talks, Congress for The New Urbanism, San Francisco Design Week, and at The Atlantic’s Pursuit of Happiness conference alongside Surgeon General Vivek H Murthy. Kat’s clients range from the classroom to Fortune 500 corporations, and can be found from the coast of California to the canals of The Netherlands. She welcomes booking inquiries for paid speaking engagements and project collaborations. When she’s not working, you can find Kat gardening while listening to audiobooks, knitting under a heated throw blanket, or on the hunt for the Bay Area’s best tacos.
Book Blurb: We Should Get Together
Tiny Blurb
We Should Get Together offers solutions for the four biggest challenges that adults face when making and maintaining friendships. It's filled with practical tips and creative ideas to help you start having better friendships right away.
Medium Blurb
We Should Get Together is the handbook for anyone who’s ready for better friendships, yesterday. Full of relatable stories, practical tips, 60 illustrations, 55 activities, a book club discussion guide, and 300+ conversation starters, it’s perfect for anyone who wants to create a life full of thriving, dedicated, fulfilling friendships.
Long Blurb
In We Should Get Together, educator and coach Kat Vellos tackles the four most common challenges of adult friendship: constant relocation, full schedules, the demands of partnership and family, and our culture’s declining capacity for compassion and intimacy. Combining expert research and moving personal stories pulled from hundreds of interviews with a diverse group of adults, We Should Get Together is the modern handbook for making and maintaining stronger friendships.
Links to share
Kat’s book, newsletter, group programs, and events: https://weshouldgettogether.com/
Platonic Action Lab: https://weshouldgettogether.com/products/p/platonic-action-lab
Newsletter: https://weshouldgettogether.com/newsletter
You and your event participants can share testimonial feedback here: https://testimonials.weshouldgettogether.com/r/NAhR9y
Social Media
Website: weshouldgettogether.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katvellos
Instagram: @katvellos_author - Note: As of January 2025, I no longer post on Instagram. You’re welcome to tag me if you want to, but you don’t have to.
Tech Rider
Introduction: For my introduction, your announcer is welcome to read any of the bios above that best suit your event and audience. You’re welcome to add relevant commentary about what brings me to your organization specifically.
Mic preference: I strongly prefer to use a clip-on lavalier mic. If this isn’t possible, my second preference is a podium mic. My last preference is a handheld mic because I like to talk with my hands.
Tech equipment needs:
- HDMI adapter with a USB-C port to attach my Macbook Pro laptop to for displaying slides
- Clicker for advancing slides
- A large-display digital clock or time counter set on the ground in front of the stage for tracking my time
- Podium or table to set my laptop on
Photos
Photo credit for all portraits: Alethia Williams
