November 3, 2025 • 6 mins
What would you pay for a hug? In today’s episode of The Jubal Show, we dive into a trending event that’s getting thousands of Americans to shell out $200 just to hug strangers. From three-hour hugging marathons to “hug battles” and eye contact challenges, is this a sad, desperate trend—or a revolutionary way to fight loneliness and boost your mental health?
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Have I eve been touched yet?
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Today?
Speaker 3 (00:02):
It's a Jewele show by Well, if that's the one
thing you're missing today, like had my coffee? Got my
car keys? Oh dang it haven't been touched yet? Don't worry.
There's a new event that you might want to attend,
and it's getting popularity all over the nation. Groups of
people getting together and doing something that some people call
sad and desperate and others call inspiring and beautiful. Okay,
we'll tell you what it is next and you can
(00:24):
see if you want to go to one of these
events and enjoy some touch right after this, it's able show.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Who's ready to get touched? It's a Jewle show.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Well, I asked the question because there's a new type
of event that's sweeping the nation and it'll probably be
coming to your neighborhood soon too. And people are saying
that it's ridiculous, while others say it's a beautiful experience.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Here's what's happening.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Thousands of people all over the country are paying at
least two hundred dollars to go to events where they
hug strangers. Wait, what's two hundred bucks to hug a stranger?
People are paying two hundred bucks to hug a stranger.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Is that that they're investing in their Yeah, that's not
that's two hundred dollars worth.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
The service is provided by an organization called The Fields,
which hosts meetups in major cities all throughout the country
for singles seeking non sexual physical closeness. You two hundred
bucks to get into one of the events where you
can just hug people.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Well, they say you're supposed to have like eight hugs
a day, isn't it. It's like eight hugs a day
or something is supposed to be what helps keep your
nervous system like stable, and so you know, they encourage
parents to hug their kids when they're little, and then
as you get older, you still hug touches a really
big part of your overall health.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
So I kind of get it. I know it sounds.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Weird, but the loneliness epidemic is real and people can
make money off of them.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
The gatherings lasts for about three hours. Three hours, yes,
and have different prompts for vulnerability. I don't know exactly
what that means, but you're encouraged to give deep eye
contact while you hug, and yes, long long hugs.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
What do you are you hugging someone for the full
three hours or do you hug one person for ten minutes.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
I think it might be up to you maybe just
walk around and hug strangers and look deeply into their eyes,
all for two hundred bucks. Or you can maybe hug
one person for three hours. But if that person doesn't
want to be hugged the whole entire three hours, that's
gonna be awkward.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Things a little boomed to intimate.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
I feel like at that point too, it's like we're
graduating to like cuddling, so like, let's not stand here
and hug, let's just lay down and spoon.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
But you're spending two hundred dollars, you know how many
Chipotle meals or how that can even be like a
not that expensive flight.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Like if it's a pure energy exchange, then what you
take away from that gives you energy for a while,
So maybe that two hundred dollars is a good investment.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
The high contact thing, though, doesn't feel appropriate. That changes
it for me.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
We're talking about a new trend of events all over
the country that are for people to play two hundred
dollars to get in and just hug people for three hours.
During the warm up, participants are encouraged to hug the
air for five minutes to warm up their hugs.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
You can do them. That's weird by yourself. Do it
right now by yourself. But I mean you're not doing anything.
I've been standing there with your arms wide open. That's
a song.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
The event includes one portion where they play hold Me Closer,
Tiny Dancer, eighteen times in a row, and you just
hug and listen to that and stare deeply into a
stranger's eyes. Oh, but you go to one of these
texting four one oh sixty one. People are saying that
it's sad, ridiculous. Others are saying it's a beautiful experience.
Would you pay two hundred dollars to go to an
event just to hug and get hugged by random people?
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Okay, before you answer that question in your mind, ask
yourself this, how many times do you actually genuinely get
hugged today? Maybe a week Jubowl Victoria. How often are
you getting hugged?
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I have no idea. It depends.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Yeah, it depends if I see my girlfriend that day,
If I see her that day. We have there's lots
of hugging going on.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Okay, you I don't. Then what about peace?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
I hug myself constantly.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
I guess, yeah, oh that's true. I do have a dog.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
When we don't hug, we've barely touched.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Okay, Victoria, are you hugging and one?
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Well I would if I want a hug, it can
go to the bar and I'll hug a stranger.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
That's the same thing, but I'll save myself two hundred dollars.
I don't need to pay two hundred dollars to go
hug a stranger. Well, not everybody is like cute the
av I can just fandomly hug stright. Not everyone this
event is gonna be cute. Now I know they paid,
then they understand what they're there for. It's different. I
know that sounded bad, but you know it's true.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Three hour hugging event that cost you two hundred dollars
to get into, also has a hugg ring. It's sort
of like a boxing ring that escalates the intensity into
a hugging battle.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Royale.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
So I don't know how wins or loses in the
hug battle, but they do have hug battles, so that's
kind of fun to watch.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
I'm gonna out hug you watch this get over here? No,
I would win that hands down.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Would you pay two hundred dollars to go to an
event where you just hug random strangers and get hugged
text in four one oh six one? It also have
they have hug fuel snacks. There many protein bars shape
like Teddy bears.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Oh dang, I know it's really cute.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I like how people are hanging out water and protein
like it's a race or something like get.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Something serious that they have to like train for.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
And I mean, how how tight is your grip While
you're really gripping, then your muscles are definitely flexing. And
if you're there for a different reason trying to show
off those guns, what's up?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Bebe they so merched like certified hugger t shirts but
you can only get one if you hug three strangers
in a row.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Oh, I would win. See Okay, I don't.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
I just don't understand, Like it it's like a stranger
that you're just going paying money to be around strangers.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Well, if you think about it, it's actually kind of
messed up because these people are capitalizing on those very
innocent people that would hold up those signs on the
side of the street that just said free hugs, and
people really took them up on that, and that really
was something. And then they're like, hey, people are giving
free hugs. We could make money off a hug.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, I think that's the surprising thing that people paying
two hundred bucks, you'll do it.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
That's the expensive But that's why that's the part I
don't understand.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Well, actually, you know what, if I was going to
a hugging event, I probably would not want to go
to one that was free. So yeah, maybe up that
to five hundred bucks and I might be interested.
Have I eve been touched yet?
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Today?
Speaker 3 (00:02):
It's a Jewele show by Well, if that's the one
thing you're missing today, like had my coffee? Got my
car keys? Oh dang it haven't been touched yet? Don't worry.
There's a new event that you might want to attend,
and it's getting popularity all over the nation. Groups of
people getting together and doing something that some people call
sad and desperate and others call inspiring and beautiful. Okay,
we'll tell you what it is next and you can
(00:24):
see if you want to go to one of these
events and enjoy some touch right after this, it's able show.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Who's ready to get touched? It's a Jewle show.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Well, I asked the question because there's a new type
of event that's sweeping the nation and it'll probably be
coming to your neighborhood soon too. And people are saying
that it's ridiculous, while others say it's a beautiful experience.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Here's what's happening.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Thousands of people all over the country are paying at
least two hundred dollars to go to events where they
hug strangers. Wait, what's two hundred bucks to hug a stranger?
People are paying two hundred bucks to hug a stranger.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Is that that they're investing in their Yeah, that's not
that's two hundred dollars worth.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
The service is provided by an organization called The Fields,
which hosts meetups in major cities all throughout the country
for singles seeking non sexual physical closeness. You two hundred
bucks to get into one of the events where you
can just hug people.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Well, they say you're supposed to have like eight hugs
a day, isn't it. It's like eight hugs a day
or something is supposed to be what helps keep your
nervous system like stable, and so you know, they encourage
parents to hug their kids when they're little, and then
as you get older, you still hug touches a really
big part of your overall health.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
So I kind of get it. I know it sounds.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Weird, but the loneliness epidemic is real and people can
make money off of them.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
The gatherings lasts for about three hours. Three hours, yes,
and have different prompts for vulnerability. I don't know exactly
what that means, but you're encouraged to give deep eye
contact while you hug, and yes, long long hugs.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
What do you are you hugging someone for the full
three hours or do you hug one person for ten minutes.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
I think it might be up to you maybe just
walk around and hug strangers and look deeply into their eyes,
all for two hundred bucks. Or you can maybe hug
one person for three hours. But if that person doesn't
want to be hugged the whole entire three hours, that's
gonna be awkward.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Things a little boomed to intimate.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
I feel like at that point too, it's like we're
graduating to like cuddling, so like, let's not stand here
and hug, let's just lay down and spoon.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
But you're spending two hundred dollars, you know how many
Chipotle meals or how that can even be like a
not that expensive flight.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Like if it's a pure energy exchange, then what you
take away from that gives you energy for a while,
So maybe that two hundred dollars is a good investment.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
The high contact thing, though, doesn't feel appropriate. That changes
it for me.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
We're talking about a new trend of events all over
the country that are for people to play two hundred
dollars to get in and just hug people for three hours.
During the warm up, participants are encouraged to hug the
air for five minutes to warm up their hugs.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
You can do them. That's weird by yourself. Do it
right now by yourself. But I mean you're not doing anything.
I've been standing there with your arms wide open. That's
a song.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
The event includes one portion where they play hold Me Closer,
Tiny Dancer, eighteen times in a row, and you just
hug and listen to that and stare deeply into a
stranger's eyes. Oh, but you go to one of these
texting four one oh sixty one. People are saying that
it's sad, ridiculous. Others are saying it's a beautiful experience.
Would you pay two hundred dollars to go to an
event just to hug and get hugged by random people?
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Okay, before you answer that question in your mind, ask
yourself this, how many times do you actually genuinely get
hugged today? Maybe a week Jubowl Victoria. How often are
you getting hugged?
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I have no idea. It depends.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Yeah, it depends if I see my girlfriend that day,
If I see her that day. We have there's lots
of hugging going on.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Okay, you I don't. Then what about peace?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
I hug myself constantly.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
I guess, yeah, oh that's true. I do have a dog.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
When we don't hug, we've barely touched.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Okay, Victoria, are you hugging and one?
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Well I would if I want a hug, it can
go to the bar and I'll hug a stranger.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
That's the same thing, but I'll save myself two hundred dollars.
I don't need to pay two hundred dollars to go
hug a stranger. Well, not everybody is like cute the
av I can just fandomly hug stright. Not everyone this
event is gonna be cute. Now I know they paid,
then they understand what they're there for. It's different. I
know that sounded bad, but you know it's true.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Three hour hugging event that cost you two hundred dollars
to get into, also has a hugg ring. It's sort
of like a boxing ring that escalates the intensity into
a hugging battle.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Royale.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
So I don't know how wins or loses in the
hug battle, but they do have hug battles, so that's
kind of fun to watch.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
I'm gonna out hug you watch this get over here? No,
I would win that hands down.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Would you pay two hundred dollars to go to an
event where you just hug random strangers and get hugged
text in four one oh six one? It also have
they have hug fuel snacks. There many protein bars shape
like Teddy bears.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Oh dang, I know it's really cute.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I like how people are hanging out water and protein
like it's a race or something like get.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Something serious that they have to like train for.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
And I mean, how how tight is your grip While
you're really gripping, then your muscles are definitely flexing. And
if you're there for a different reason trying to show
off those guns, what's up?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Bebe they so merched like certified hugger t shirts but
you can only get one if you hug three strangers
in a row.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Oh, I would win. See Okay, I don't.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
I just don't understand, Like it it's like a stranger
that you're just going paying money to be around strangers.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Well, if you think about it, it's actually kind of
messed up because these people are capitalizing on those very
innocent people that would hold up those signs on the
side of the street that just said free hugs, and
people really took them up on that, and that really
was something. And then they're like, hey, people are giving
free hugs. We could make money off a hug.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, I think that's the surprising thing that people paying
two hundred bucks, you'll do it.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
That's the expensive But that's why that's the part I
don't understand.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Well, actually, you know what, if I was going to
a hugging event, I probably would not want to go
to one that was free. So yeah, maybe up that
to five hundred bucks and I might be interested.
Host
Jubal Fresh
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