New Charleston, SC venture “The Drop In” encourages human connection through diverse experiences and ideas

According to a new Meta-Gallup survey, one out of every four adults has reported feeling very or fairly lonely. With 25 years of combined experience in executive leadership, coaching and development, Charleston trailblazers Gillian Zettler and Chandler Frisbie are on a mission to inject a sense of belonging and connection into their communities through the launch of their brand-new venture, The Drop In.

“The Drop In is a platform for diverse experiences and ideas that encourage human connection,” says Zettler. “We’re purposefully kicking things off with the inauguration of our ‘Happier Hours’ series- joyful in-person events, rooted in movement and music, that offer opportunities for mindfulness and attention in the midst of life’s many obstacles.”

The first of The Drop In’s Happier Hours will take place on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 4:00-7:30 p.m. at Festival Hall. Guests can expect a performance from Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and poet Mary Lambert, along with a 50-minute movement from FORWARD__Space, a dance-based workout founded by renowned choreographer Kristin Sudeikis. Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, aimed at supporting and removing the stigma around youth mental health, will also be collaborating. Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, Dec. 19 ($45 per person). 

“It’s no secret that our nation and our world is facing a raging mental health crisis that has left many of us feeling broken and alone,” shares Frisbie. “Through compassion, curiosity and transparency, our hope through The Drop In is to see our community move, both physically and emotionally, into lighter, more purpose-filled places of belonging.”

Community builder, partnership maker, and team leader, Zettler brings nearly two decades of experience in amplifying people and ideas to her role as Co-Founder of The Drop In. She previously served as the Executive Director & CEO of the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, where she spent nearly a decade flexing her creative and business acumen, designing more than 200 programs and events annually. Amongst her many leadership roles, Zettler is also a CHIEF member, lululemon ambassador, Co-Founder of Motivated to Move and Founder of G. Zettler Collective. She was recently inducted into the Liberty Fellowship Class of 2025 and was selected from a pool of more than 400 nominations.

Frisbie, a former Division I softball player at the College of Charleston, has been improving her community’s well-being for over a decade through training college athletes in conditioning and breathwork, serving as a lululemon educator, and inspiring students in her spin, yoga and workout classes. She was previously inducted into South Carolina’s Finest, an organization of influential young professionals supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and was named Charleston’s Best Personal Trainer for 2023 by the Charleston City Paper.