All I Really Need to Know I Learned at the “Today ”Show's“ ”Fan Fest (Exclusive)

I spent nearly three weeks following the 'Today' anchors around as the show launched its first-ever fan experience this fall

Jenna Bush Hager and I find ourselves talking about the last time we tried a new food.

For me, it's escargot. For Jenna, it's not a food exactly, but a new food tradition: intentional, sit-down dinners with her family. It's Oct. 23, and we're at Platform by the James Beard Foundation to celebrate the Today show's Taste of Today event.

We're midway through what the show has dubbed its inaugural Fan Fest. For the first time in the show's more than 70 year history, the team launched a series of events this fall designed to bring their audience closer to their anchors. As I'm talking to Jenna about just that, someone starts tugging on my ponytail from behind.

"Little sister!" I hear Savannah Guthrie say before I spin around to see her grinning at me. I've never had an older sister before, but I know I've ended up with the best one of all.

Just moments later, Dylan Dreyer is earnestly offering to help me navigate gluten-free eating after learning I'm new to that world (Dylan, if you're reading this, I still want your recommendations), and Craig Melvin walks by us just to give me a high-five. There's an 85 percent chance Craig thinks I work at the Today show, simply because I'm around so much.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

The whole point of Today's Fan Fest was to give Today fans a chance to connect with the anchors they watch every morning, and to give the anchors a chance to actually get to know some of their dedicated audience members. This journalist went into the profession because of Savannah, so needless to say, I fit right in with the crowd.

The other thing you should know about me is that my mom is a Kindergarten teacher. Robert Fulghum's book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten is a staple in her classroom (and therefore, a staple in my life).

I present to you my version: All I Really Need to Know I Learned at Today Fan Fest.

Sunday Sitdown Live — Nov. 10

Find your passion and pursue it relentlessly.

"It's just such a tribute to the connection we formed over almost 10 years ago now with these viewers who watch and send us pictures from all over the world with their mugs. And so to be able to be in a room with them is just so special and feels so good," says Willie Geist, who sat down with comedian, actor and bestselling author Jim Gaffigan for a special, live taping of Sunday Sitdown at City Winery.

This marked Willie's third Sunday Sitdown Live, and the irony is he doesn't get better with each one. He's just always been this good.

"With these kind of celebrity interviews, I think it's disarming for them to see, number one, this person is prepared, and number two, we're just talking," Willie tells PEOPLE of his standard (and impressive) choice not to use cue cards. "Because the idea behind these Sunday Sitdowns was to get 'em out of the studio and make 'em longer. And, so to the extent you can take away all the things that are artificial about TV and almost bring it to a podcast level where we're just talking, I think the no notes helps that."

Willie is what you'd call a natural, and you can tell he really loves his job. There's a sort of magic that happens when people get the chance to do what they're best at.

Willie's interview with Jim Gaffigan will air on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 8 a.m. ET on NBC.

Read with Jenna Girl's Night Out — Oct. 27

Being yourself is a superpower.

"I mean, I was the kid that loved to read The Bluest Eye in eighth grade," says Jenna, who brought her community of book lovers together at Virgin Hotels in the heart of the city for a night of conversation with Allison Williams, star of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel, Regretting You, and authors Heather Aimee O'Neill, Carley Fortune and Kennedy Ryan.

"Something that's beautifully written, totally captivating, but also that you'd want to recommend to a friend. That's what I look for," Jenna tells PEOPLE when asked about what types of stories resonate with her the most, now that she has her own imprint, Thousand Voices Books. "I'm always interested in female focused stories too. I can't help it."

Everyone talks about how important it is to be authentic — it's become a bit of a buzzword these days. Few people actually are. Jenna's just as funny and real on stage (and on TV) as she is off; it's why she's been able to nurture such a dedicated community of readers and of viewers. She'll crack a joke at her own expense about getting intro trouble as a teen, and then she'll ask Allison Williams an insightful question about parenting while she platforms authors and carries on a family legacy of literacy and librarians.

And, Jenna makes it all look really easy (and then she's still brave enough to admit it's not). Her podcast is called Open Book with Jenna for a reason.

Start Today Fan Fest Walk — Oct. 27

No amount of progress toward your goal is too small.

"Don't bench yourself before you've even started. Whether you go walk to your mailbox and back because that's what you can do that day or you just get up from sitting on the couch — you don't have to go walk around the block or go walk 10,000 steps," says Today fitness contributor Stephanie Mansour. "I tell people 'Start today, one step at a time.'"

Al Roker is Start Today's Chief Motivation Officer. He'll tell you the job is made-up, but he knows the ethos behind it matters. Countless members of the Start Today Community gathered for a two mile walk from the plaza to the Fleet Feet store at Columbus Circle, where they were greeted with refreshments and gifted a brand new pair of Altra sneakers.

"We kind of build a community in all of these different facets: training programs, fun runs. It's all the same message [for us], which is connecting to the community and educating them," says Fleet Feet's Marketing Director Joseph Doviak.

Taste of Today — Oct. 23

Food brings us together, and it's best enjoyed in the company of those you love.

"When the chefs come on the show for food segments, I really do try to play ball," says Carson Daly, who joined Savannah and Ayesha Nurdjaja in making her Chicken Shawarma with White Sauce in one of the night's three live demonstrations.

At Platform by the James Beard Foundation, even the most challenged cooks among us become culinary experts (Savannah's contribution to the TODAY Loves Food cookbook that inspired this event, for example, is chips and guac and the Savanita, her twist on a margarita — my kind of girl).

Dylan and Craig also joined David Rose to prepare his Ancho Grilled Skirt Steak with Chipotle Chimichurri, while Jenna and Sheinelle Jones teamed up with Katie Lee Biegel to make her Chopped Dill Pickle Salad.

"We never take it for granted because you guys could watch any show. You could get your news anywhere," Savannah said to the well-fed crowd to close out the evening. "And your loyalty and kindness and warmth towards us, it really lifts us and fills our hearts. So thank you, so, so much."

Making Space Wellness Day — Oct. 21

Find joy in the everyday.

"I was moved to tears, but that's not always surprising. I didn't know that you could be transformed on a random day, and it happened today. It already happened," says Hoda Kotb, who sat down with Alicia Keys at the Wythe Hotel for a live taping of her Making Space podcast.

The day also included a guided journaling session with Suleika Jaouad (remind me to come back here in 5 years time to see if everything worked out the way I hope) and a lesson in breath work with Christine Goulding, whom Hoda credits for helping her launch her next chapter with her wellness business Joy 101.

The thing about Hoda is she looks at you like you're the only person who matters in the whole world. And you believe her. We usually chat on the phone any time I interview her for PEOPLE.

"I'm so happy to see you, and IRL!" she says, greeting me with a big hug.

Hoda also likes to say that while some days are really extraordinary, some days are just a Tuesday or a Wednesday. And those days still matter, too.

This happened to be an extraordinary Tuesday.

Fan Fest Kickoff on the Plaza — Oct. 20

Don't take a single moment for granted.

Ten years ago, I was the fan on the plaza, anxiously awaiting the moment Savannah would come by so I could shake her hand (she did come by, and the photo I have of us is near and dear to my heart).

Ten years later, I stood on the other side of the orange barriers (inside the plaza this time!) and I got to run around and wave and look at everyone's signs, and then I got to watch Savannah, Craig, Jenna, Dylan, Carson and Sheinelle do the same thing because all four hours of the show were broadcasting live outside to kick off Fan Fest.

"You can tell that people genuinely watch the show. They care about our families, they care about what's going on, so it's nice to be able to be up close with them," Sheinelle tells PEOPLE of the inaugural event.

What you don't see on TV every morning is the anchors running to greet the fans during commercial breaks, trying to get every hug and every selfie and every autograph in with only seconds to spare. And still, they're remarkably present with everyone they meet.

"I think the best part about Fan Fest is having the time to really get around and say hi to every single person. Sometimes we just don't — [the crew] whisks us in and whisks us out. So, I liked being out there all four hours and really getting to actually chat with some of the folks," says Savannah. "It's so meaningful to us. I'm just always so touched by it when people say, 'We love you guys. We watch you every day.' Or, 'I remember when your babies were born.' The connection they feel is real, and we feel it too."

I say goodbye to Savannah, and I walk out of 30 Rock through the revolving door that the anchors use when they head to the plaza. It's past 11 a.m., so all of the fans have dispersed (for now, that is.)

They'll be back tomorrow. This is Today on NBC, after all.

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