Security Check:
I’m Dhru, and I help people get healthy and feel good.

What’s your historical Los Angeles and New York connection?
I mostly grew up in a small town called Bear, Delaware, but I always wanted to live in Manhattan. After I dropped out of college I started hosting parties, dinners and potlucks in Manhattan for the wellness community.

Describe your experience in LA and your experience in NYC
New York, for me, was a great place to start a new company at 26. The hustle, the energy, the meetings, the late nights. It was inspiring to constantly see people building and working pretty hard. It was also a little easier to get community together. If I was hosting an event for 40 people, I’d have to worry that 60 people would show up. The city was amazing when I was in startup mode, but when the time came for more breathing room and a more ocean LA was calling me. When I moved to LA I felt like I was on vacation everyday. I still do. The sun, the palm trees, the ocean. I hope I never get use to it. When it comes hosting community, LA is a little different. It’s not as easy to get 15 people together last minute, but there are so many people here in general interested in wellness which is incredible. LA is home base now, but I love visiting New York every other month.

What was the biggest challenge of moving from LA to NYC?
I took me a while to understand how to host events and gatherings in LA. Hosting for my immediate friends is easy, but building bigger communities took time. Now, along with a few other friends, we host a monthly event called The Shine. It’s an evening of inspirational talks, music and philanthropy. I finally feel like I cracked the code for community in LA.

How can NYC and LA best engage with each other?
While I think it’s great to learn from each other, it’s also amazing that LA and New York are totally different places with different energies. The more LA and New York appreciate each other for what they are, instead of trying to change each other, the more we’ll all be able to enjoy what they have to offer.

Favorite LA secret spot
Going to be a little selfish here and say The Shine. It’s less of a spot, and more of a destination. If you’re new to LA or looking to meet amazing people it’s seriously one of the best gatherings of people.

Favorite NY secret spot
One of my favorite places to chill, have tea and meet people is the Rubin Museum of Art.

If you weren’t building what you were now, what would you be doing or building?
Writing a blog teaching people how to both make amazing friends and be amazing friends.

Inflight Entertainment: What song/album/podcast/show have you been engaged with lately?
My favorites are always Planet Money, Dave Ramsey Show, and The Hidden Brain on NPR.

From the 2462 Miles newsletter: connecting NEW YORK CITY + LOS ANGELES