Girlhood Social Club creating belonging among women in the Twin Cities
Kacie Riddle and members of Girlhood Social Club at a club gathering in September 2024.
Courtesy of Kacie Riddle
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
February is often a month of the year that people get together to celebrate love, relationships, friendships and connection.
But finding those friendships and relationships has become more and more difficult for young people as they try to make connections coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as they graduate college, move to a new city and begin their careers.
In 2023, the World Health Organization declared loneliness a pressing public health concern and a study from Northwestern University found loneliness peaks in young adulthood and old age.
Kacie Riddle noticed many young people, especially young women, were craving a space to foster connection and new friendships. She started Girlhood Social Club last year, a Twin Cities-based social club for young women to meet other young women through monthly events and social gatherings. The club has exploded in popularity in the last few months, with hundreds of girls attending her monthly events.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Riddle joined Minnesota Now to talk about the community she’s created through Girlhood Social Club.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.
Audio transcript
NINA MOINI: February is often a month of the year that people get together to celebrate love, relationships, friendships, and connections. But finding those friendships and relationships has become more and more difficult for young people. In 2023, the world health organization declared loneliness a pressing public health concern, and a study from Northwestern found loneliness peaks in young adulthood and old age.
Our next guest is hoping to change that for young people. Kacie Riddle is the founder of Girlhood Social Club, a twin cities based social club for young women. It's a way for women to meet other young women through monthly events and social gatherings. She also has a podcast of the same name, Girlhood Social Club. Kacie joins me now in the studio. Thank you so much for being here, Kacie.
KACIE RIDDLE: Hi, Nina. Thanks for having me.
NINA MOINI: Well, isn't that something that we were just hearing in our last segment about just connection and loneliness and how to get out of your shell and your comfort zone? In your words, could you tell me what inspired you to start Girlhood Social Club and what it is?
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah, so I started the podcast first in summer of 2023, and I found that I was craving the real connection in real life. I had girls who were following me, but they would message me and be like, I resonated with this podcast episode today, and I really wanted to somehow bring that to life.
And I'm not a huge reader, but I knew I wanted something similar to a book club. And if I have an idea, I execute it as soon as I can. So without planning at all, I thought of Social Club on a Thursday, and on the following Sunday, I launched it with no plans. And it started in March of last year. And if you would have told me when I started it last year that it would be what it is today, I wouldn't believe you.
NINA MOINI: So what's a social club or what is it? What made you lean toward that?
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah, I've always said that I can talk to a wall. That's something that is kind of my special sauce. I love talking to new people and meeting new people and learning about them. And I also just know how important it is for women to find community post-grad.
And so I didn't have a traditional college experience. I didn't go to college on a campus. My friends were from work or through mutual friends. And I wanted to have a space where women could come together for fun, themed events, and be able to meet each other, get out of their comfort zone, find a safe space, and just be able to do fun things together.
I think that, right now, in the day of social media, you see so many influencers in Los Angeles or New York who are doing these cool brand trips or brand dinners. And why can't we do that here in Minnesota?
NINA MOINI: Absolutely.
KACIE RIDDLE: That's definitely where the inspiration stemmed from.
NINA MOINI: So what are some examples of what the meetups or the activities are like?
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah, so my very first meetup was just 25 of my friends. We had a picnic. And I kind of facilitated the conversation and we played a game and it was very low key and fun. And from there, people would bring their friends. And then, their friends would bring their friends. And then, in August of last year is when a tiktok I posted just blew up.
And I had 50 girls that I had never met before come to a charm necklace event in a park in Edina. And it was so beautiful to watch the conversation flow, and I just got to sit back and watch. It was such a special way to watch women connect and be like, oh, actually, I went to high school with this girl, or my friend's brother is friends with her. So it was just-- it was so special watching that connection happen in real life.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, and even sometimes if you're from here, like I grew up here, the older you get, people get busy, you lose touch. Sometimes, even if you had friends at one time in your life, things can change and it gets harder to find new friends, even if you are from somewhere.
KACIE RIDDLE: Totally.
NINA MOINI: So I'm curious who's showing up to the events? Is it like I'm new to town? I'm all alone? What's going on?
KACIE RIDDLE: Totally. It's a mix of both. I have girls who come that will come with no friends, that will come alone. I had a girl come to an event in July where I only had six people there, and she had just moved from Juneau, Alaska the week before. And she comes to every event now.
And I have just found that word of mouth is really where I'm getting the most traction. I think social media is amazing. But really, if I have 50 girls coming to an event, you have to imagine they're all going to work the next day. Their coworkers are saying, what did you do over the weekend? And that person tells one person tells another, person tells another person. And that has what's been really cool for me is meeting people who found me from-- I commented on Star Tribune's Instagram post a couple weeks ago and got five followers from that. So it's a lot of different circles coming together.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, it's the mixture of online and in-person connection. But I know a lot of people really struggle with showing up to things alone on their own. Do you have any advice for someone who is just mortified by that concept?
KACIE RIDDLE: Totally. That is the hardest part. I think the hardest part is talking yourself up, walking in, not knowing anybody. What is nice is I have an incredible group of friends that come to every event that I know are going to walk up to somebody who's by themselves, and that's how every event feels. I want it to continue to feel personal and intimate, even though it's getting bigger and bigger.
And so, I always say, I always speak at every event, and I always say, if you came alone, I want you to take a moment and be proud of yourself for coming by yourself. Because if I put myself in their shoes, I don't know if I would be able to do it. But I want people to know that they're walking into a place that's going to be safe and accepting, and they're going to leave with a new friend, or at least a charm necklace or a candle or a memory that they get to take with them.
NINA MOINI: And I'm also curious, how are you defining young? What is the age range? Are all ages welcome?
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah, good question. I definitely try and aim for making the events 21 plus. I think that that post-grad age between 22, 23, 24, that's most of the audience right now. But I do kind of hope that it ages with me. I'm 26 and I have friends that are coming that are in their 30s, and they're still finding joy in being around that-- the other group of girls. And if a 50-year-old came to me and was like, I would love to come. Please, if you're listening and you are 50 years old and you want to come, you are more than welcome.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, drop some knowledge on everybody.
KACIE RIDDLE: Yes, exactly.
NINA MOINI: Well, what about why you did choose to focus on women, though, and what it is about just bonding with other women that drew you to that?
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah, I read a quote that was like, whenever I leave a group of women, I always have this glowing ball of light coming out of my chest. And that is exactly how I feel. And I think that that is something that you can't experience unless you're actually in it and doing it. And I have found that I was feeling that with my friends. But now, I leave these events and I'm overwhelmed with how much joy I feel. And I want every woman that walks in the door to feel that way.
But Girlhood is also-- it's an idea, it's a concept, it's a feeling. So anybody that resonates with the word girlhood is welcome to the events. I do want to make it a place where people can show up and know that it's going to be safe and accepting and inclusive. Girlhood is, if you resonate with it, you're welcome.
NINA MOINI: Awesome. And so six people attended your first event. I understand 300 are attending the Galentine's themed event happening tomorrow in Saint Paul. Tell me a little bit about the event. Can people still come?
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah, absolutely. So Galentine's is my biggest event yet. My last event, I had 150 and we've doubled in size to 300 for tomorrow. This one is pretty full, but I do have a lot of events on the horizon. I'm doing a collaboration with Lucky Shots Pickleball in March, and there's still tickets available for that. That one I really wanted to make for people like me who didn't grow up playing sports but are still interested in learning a new hobby.
I am not athletic, but I will take any opportunity to talk with girls and learn something new. So I just try and give opportunities and experiences that you wouldn't normally have. So that's the next one. And there's still tickets available for that. And every month, I plan an event. And we also just started a pop up book club as well, so that's going to meet monthly, too.
NINA MOINI: Awesome. We have about a minute left, and I wanted to make sure to ask you this because we've all gone to events. Maybe it's like a networking event or a wedding and you meet someone and you hit it off and you think, I really want to be friends with this person, but then you go home and you have to make that other leap, to send a text or reach out. What is your advice for that second point of contact to really keep that relationship going?
KACIE RIDDLE: Totally. They're just as excited to meet you. They're just as eager to have a new friend as you are. I've always been the one that's like, oh, maybe I'm coming off too strong or I'm too excited about a friendship. And then, when I actually say that to the other person, they're like, oh, wait, no, I was really excited to meet you, too.
So just remembering that, at the end of the day, we're all girls and we all want to meet each other and we all want to make each other feel welcome and safe and loved. And it's just the beauty of connection and friendship.
NINA MOINI: And everybody needs that, Kacie. Thank you very much and congratulations on this wonderful thing you're doing in all of your success.
KACIE RIDDLE: Thank you, Nina, thanks for having me.
NINA MOINI: That was Kacie Riddle, the founder of Girlhood Social Club, a twin cities based social club for young women.
Our next guest is hoping to change that for young people. Kacie Riddle is the founder of Girlhood Social Club, a twin cities based social club for young women. It's a way for women to meet other young women through monthly events and social gatherings. She also has a podcast of the same name, Girlhood Social Club. Kacie joins me now in the studio. Thank you so much for being here, Kacie.
KACIE RIDDLE: Hi, Nina. Thanks for having me.
NINA MOINI: Well, isn't that something that we were just hearing in our last segment about just connection and loneliness and how to get out of your shell and your comfort zone? In your words, could you tell me what inspired you to start Girlhood Social Club and what it is?
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah, so I started the podcast first in summer of 2023, and I found that I was craving the real connection in real life. I had girls who were following me, but they would message me and be like, I resonated with this podcast episode today, and I really wanted to somehow bring that to life.
And I'm not a huge reader, but I knew I wanted something similar to a book club. And if I have an idea, I execute it as soon as I can. So without planning at all, I thought of Social Club on a Thursday, and on the following Sunday, I launched it with no plans. And it started in March of last year. And if you would have told me when I started it last year that it would be what it is today, I wouldn't believe you.
NINA MOINI: So what's a social club or what is it? What made you lean toward that?
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah, I've always said that I can talk to a wall. That's something that is kind of my special sauce. I love talking to new people and meeting new people and learning about them. And I also just know how important it is for women to find community post-grad.
And so I didn't have a traditional college experience. I didn't go to college on a campus. My friends were from work or through mutual friends. And I wanted to have a space where women could come together for fun, themed events, and be able to meet each other, get out of their comfort zone, find a safe space, and just be able to do fun things together.
I think that, right now, in the day of social media, you see so many influencers in Los Angeles or New York who are doing these cool brand trips or brand dinners. And why can't we do that here in Minnesota?
NINA MOINI: Absolutely.
KACIE RIDDLE: That's definitely where the inspiration stemmed from.
NINA MOINI: So what are some examples of what the meetups or the activities are like?
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah, so my very first meetup was just 25 of my friends. We had a picnic. And I kind of facilitated the conversation and we played a game and it was very low key and fun. And from there, people would bring their friends. And then, their friends would bring their friends. And then, in August of last year is when a tiktok I posted just blew up.
And I had 50 girls that I had never met before come to a charm necklace event in a park in Edina. And it was so beautiful to watch the conversation flow, and I just got to sit back and watch. It was such a special way to watch women connect and be like, oh, actually, I went to high school with this girl, or my friend's brother is friends with her. So it was just-- it was so special watching that connection happen in real life.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, and even sometimes if you're from here, like I grew up here, the older you get, people get busy, you lose touch. Sometimes, even if you had friends at one time in your life, things can change and it gets harder to find new friends, even if you are from somewhere.
KACIE RIDDLE: Totally.
NINA MOINI: So I'm curious who's showing up to the events? Is it like I'm new to town? I'm all alone? What's going on?
KACIE RIDDLE: Totally. It's a mix of both. I have girls who come that will come with no friends, that will come alone. I had a girl come to an event in July where I only had six people there, and she had just moved from Juneau, Alaska the week before. And she comes to every event now.
And I have just found that word of mouth is really where I'm getting the most traction. I think social media is amazing. But really, if I have 50 girls coming to an event, you have to imagine they're all going to work the next day. Their coworkers are saying, what did you do over the weekend? And that person tells one person tells another, person tells another person. And that has what's been really cool for me is meeting people who found me from-- I commented on Star Tribune's Instagram post a couple weeks ago and got five followers from that. So it's a lot of different circles coming together.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, it's the mixture of online and in-person connection. But I know a lot of people really struggle with showing up to things alone on their own. Do you have any advice for someone who is just mortified by that concept?
KACIE RIDDLE: Totally. That is the hardest part. I think the hardest part is talking yourself up, walking in, not knowing anybody. What is nice is I have an incredible group of friends that come to every event that I know are going to walk up to somebody who's by themselves, and that's how every event feels. I want it to continue to feel personal and intimate, even though it's getting bigger and bigger.
And so, I always say, I always speak at every event, and I always say, if you came alone, I want you to take a moment and be proud of yourself for coming by yourself. Because if I put myself in their shoes, I don't know if I would be able to do it. But I want people to know that they're walking into a place that's going to be safe and accepting, and they're going to leave with a new friend, or at least a charm necklace or a candle or a memory that they get to take with them.
NINA MOINI: And I'm also curious, how are you defining young? What is the age range? Are all ages welcome?
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah, good question. I definitely try and aim for making the events 21 plus. I think that that post-grad age between 22, 23, 24, that's most of the audience right now. But I do kind of hope that it ages with me. I'm 26 and I have friends that are coming that are in their 30s, and they're still finding joy in being around that-- the other group of girls. And if a 50-year-old came to me and was like, I would love to come. Please, if you're listening and you are 50 years old and you want to come, you are more than welcome.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, drop some knowledge on everybody.
KACIE RIDDLE: Yes, exactly.
NINA MOINI: Well, what about why you did choose to focus on women, though, and what it is about just bonding with other women that drew you to that?
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah, I read a quote that was like, whenever I leave a group of women, I always have this glowing ball of light coming out of my chest. And that is exactly how I feel. And I think that that is something that you can't experience unless you're actually in it and doing it. And I have found that I was feeling that with my friends. But now, I leave these events and I'm overwhelmed with how much joy I feel. And I want every woman that walks in the door to feel that way.
But Girlhood is also-- it's an idea, it's a concept, it's a feeling. So anybody that resonates with the word girlhood is welcome to the events. I do want to make it a place where people can show up and know that it's going to be safe and accepting and inclusive. Girlhood is, if you resonate with it, you're welcome.
NINA MOINI: Awesome. And so six people attended your first event. I understand 300 are attending the Galentine's themed event happening tomorrow in Saint Paul. Tell me a little bit about the event. Can people still come?
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah, absolutely. So Galentine's is my biggest event yet. My last event, I had 150 and we've doubled in size to 300 for tomorrow. This one is pretty full, but I do have a lot of events on the horizon. I'm doing a collaboration with Lucky Shots Pickleball in March, and there's still tickets available for that. That one I really wanted to make for people like me who didn't grow up playing sports but are still interested in learning a new hobby.
I am not athletic, but I will take any opportunity to talk with girls and learn something new. So I just try and give opportunities and experiences that you wouldn't normally have. So that's the next one. And there's still tickets available for that. And every month, I plan an event. And we also just started a pop up book club as well, so that's going to meet monthly, too.
NINA MOINI: Awesome. We have about a minute left, and I wanted to make sure to ask you this because we've all gone to events. Maybe it's like a networking event or a wedding and you meet someone and you hit it off and you think, I really want to be friends with this person, but then you go home and you have to make that other leap, to send a text or reach out. What is your advice for that second point of contact to really keep that relationship going?
KACIE RIDDLE: Totally. They're just as excited to meet you. They're just as eager to have a new friend as you are. I've always been the one that's like, oh, maybe I'm coming off too strong or I'm too excited about a friendship. And then, when I actually say that to the other person, they're like, oh, wait, no, I was really excited to meet you, too.
So just remembering that, at the end of the day, we're all girls and we all want to meet each other and we all want to make each other feel welcome and safe and loved. And it's just the beauty of connection and friendship.
NINA MOINI: And everybody needs that, Kacie. Thank you very much and congratulations on this wonderful thing you're doing in all of your success.
KACIE RIDDLE: Thank you, Nina, thanks for having me.
NINA MOINI: That was Kacie Riddle, the founder of Girlhood Social Club, a twin cities based social club for young women.
Download transcript (PDF)
Transcription services provided by 3Play Media.