Share your Latest TV Show Binge, Favorite Read or Go-To Game at Media Club
In 2021, my wife Karla and I moved from Columbus, Ohio to Issaquah, Washington. As a remote worker, I quickly learned how hard it can be to make new friends in a new city. It took a long time to build a local friend group—and while I’m lucky to have that now, I also realized how important it is to keep creating opportunities for new connections to form. That’s why I started the Issaquah Highlands Media Club.
This club is for anyone aged 14 and up who wants to get to know their neighbors in a friendly, low-pressure setting. We meet at Blakely Hall on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
Coffee and tea are provided, and I usually bake something to share (think banana bread, cookies or cupcakes). While others are welcome to bring treats, it’s not expected. The only thing you need to bring is yourself.
What makes our club different? There’s no homework. You don’t have to read a book or watch a movie before showing up. Instead, we just talk about the media we’re already consuming—books, shows, music, podcasts, video games or whatever else has been on our minds. The conversation flows naturally from there.
Join us at Media Club at Blakely Hall every first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
It’s a model I developed after hosting a traditional book club in Ohio. Getting everyone to agree on one book (and read it on the same timeline) turned out to be harder than expected. Avid readers already have an ever-growing book list, and casual readers often don’t want the pressure. So, we changed the format: bring whatever you’re reading and tell us about it. Over time, we expanded our focus to include all forms of media—and the Media Club was born.
In our Issaquah group, we’ve talked about everything from our favorite fantasy series and Viking rock bands to AI ethics, YouTube rabbit holes and the best co-op video games. We’ve swapped podcast recommendations, compared notes on how to use ChatGPT in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, and geeked out over nostalgic movies and TV shows. It’s a reflection of who we are and what we care about—but more importantly, it’s a way to connect.
What I love most is that anyone can walk in without preparation and instantly participate. In a culture where we’re constantly plugged in and consuming content, it’s refreshing to take a couple of hours each month to process that media in person, with real people. The conversations are fun, sometimes deep, and always welcoming.
Success, for me, isn’t about numbers. If attendees leave feeling a little more connected to their neighbors and supported by their community, then we’re doing something right. That’s what Media Club is all about.
Interested in joining? Come by Blakely Hall on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. We’d love to meet you—and hear what you’ve been reading, watching, playing or listening to lately.
Nathan Weller is a Wynhaven resident and the Media Club group leader.
