What we’re about
https://thinkersanddrinkers.international
Building on the success of our 10,000+ members in locations all around the world, we are a group of locals, internationals and visitors alike who aren't afraid of thinking while drinking.
We are dedicated to the following:
Open Communication
In Person Social Networking
Adventures
Community Involvement
Good Times with Great People
We are open to anyone with an open mind, drive for new ideas and creating connection with people in your community.
//Ian & Co.
**********Reviews of our group:
- I was new to San Antonio and eager to find a fun, interesting crowd. Enter T&D under the inspired leadership and direction of one Ian C. Perry. It's been a 18 months of great conversations, killer hangs and hilarious misadventures. And I met my best friends and boyfriend through the meetup! These are my kinda people. -- Sherry, 38, Tennessee
- Thinkers n Drinkers has been a fascinating experience for me. It is a discussion group with a wide range of topics and a diverse group of people that NEVER got heated. Even though the topics can be controversial and polarizing, no one was ever shouted down or became visible angry, only diplomatic and personal conversations. Thinkers n Drinkers is a safe space where one can speak and share freely. Ian is a fantastic facilitator that sets a space that is open and inclusive. All perspectives are welcomed, encouraged and nurtured. The community created through Thinkers n Drinkers lives on outside of the weekly meetings through friendships and adventure outings. Thanx Ian!!!! -- Alexei, 31, Texas
- Drinkers and thinkers is a place that challenges your thinking and to learn about perspective. I always loved being intrigued by other people's opinions and learn more about the topic of that night. I am more of a listener than a talker but it did make me more confident in speaking and not being judged. Its a great group that I got to experience a few times. -- Juanita, 19, Colorado
- The best part about this group is getting to meet really cool people. You get share and express your ideas and opinions on different topics of life and also welcome in new ideas you may never have thought about before. Plus the drinking part is always fun. -- Lacey, 26, Florida
- It all started a couple years ago with a discussion on what defined happiness. Since being hooked by that enlightenment, I have enjoyed many discussions (with beer in hand) over subjects ranging from relationships and religion to success and money. Sometimes broad like "What is success". Sometimes specific like "Is monogamy necessary in a relationship". I always thought the taboo topic of politics would have made things interesting for the diverse/open minds in the group, but maybe it would have led to unfriending on Facebook, so better left unspoken and we all stay Thinkers, Drinkers and Friends. -- Joe, 63, Texas
- Moving across the country is like any big change in life. Finding yourself in new surroundings and meeting new people is simple enough however, most often you find yourself having superficial conversations and making light acquaintances. Thinkers and Drinkers was a breath of fresh air. I found myself surrounded by people who like me wanted to have meaningful conversations, people who wanted to delve deeper than the normal light chat we all find in a bar. The group breaks down the barriers by combining fun, social activities like meeting in bars, camping, outdoor activities, coupled with honest exploration of a variety of topics.
I would highly recommend this to anyone searching for good conversations and great friends. -- Jason, 38, Connecticut
- Diverse, witty, brain stimulating, and headed by the most awesome Meetup organizer. I miss it tremendously and might move to Stuttgart. Wait no more and join the fun. -- Ikram, 35, Morocco
- A friend invited me to a Thinkers and Drinkers meet-up. I don't drink, so I was a bit doubtful. I am SO glad I went! The conversation was wonderful, and the people even more so. I've since gone on multiple camping trips and other various T and D events, made new friends, connections, and a slew of inside jokes. The events are always well-organized, and the founder, Ian, is a total hoot. You are and always will be welcome, and he makes sure you know it :) -- Kara, 29, New York
Connect:
Instagram: @ThinkersDrinkersInternational
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersdrinkersinternational/
Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/user/thinkersdrinkersinternational
Upcoming events (4)
See all- The Growing Influence of Mega CorporationsJohnny Pistolas, Washington, DC
LOCATION & DAY: Johnny Pistolas in Adams Morgan on Wednesday. We will meet on the 1st floor by the back bar area.
The purpose of Thinkers and Drinkers is to facilitate casual but meaningful and interesting conversations with other people in a face-to-face setting. The topics cover a wide variety of issues and are different for every meeting. While conversations may get heated at times, we ask that all members be respectful of each other and refrain from personal insults.Note: Please try to arrive on time, so we can start not long after 7 PM. (Also, happy hour ends at 7:30).
***
Topic: The Growing Influence of Mega CorporationsThe Movie/TV franchise "Alien" depicts a near-future dystopia where Earth is not ruled by governments, but by 5 supreme mega-corporations that control everything. While entirely fiction, a world where mega-corporations are more powerful than governments may not be as unrealistic as many would think.
Growth of Mega Corporations
In 1990, the largest company in the US, Exxon, had a market valuation of about $64 billion. This amount was about the same size as the GDP of tiny countries like Luxembourg or New Zealand at the time. But over the past 35 years, large corporations have outpaced the rest of the economy by huge margins.Today, the largest company by market capitalization is Nvidia, valued at over $4.3 trillion. To put this figure into perspective, only three countries (the US, China, and Germany) have GDPs greater than this amount.
With this economic power comes political influence, and companies have used this to their advantage in both the US and abroad to gain special treatment.
- Apple convinced Ireland to defend its low-tax deal against the EU’s €13B ruling because of its economic importance.
- Amazon triggered a bidding war where U.S. cities offered billions in subsidies to host its HQ2.
- Google threatened to withdraw its search engine from Australia to pressure lawmakers over a news-payment law.
- NVIDIA's CEO made a special deal with Trump to allow the company to sell its chips in China in exchange for 15% of revenue.
Looking forward, there does not appear to be any movement or legislation that will limit the growth of these corporations. On the contrary, advances in AI and other industries that require huge amounts of capital to start, like space development, are projected to continue to outpace the rest of the global economy.
Fall of Previous Mega Corporations
This is not the first time in history that corporations have been as powerful as certain governments. The Dutch East India Trading Company (VOC) famously controlled territory and had its own navy. During the Gilded Age in the early 1900s, companies like Standard Oil had tremendous influence to crush its competitors and even alter US foreign policy.Eventually, all previous mega-corporations met their end. The VOC met its end through war with Britain, and the mega-corporations like Standard Oil were broken up by the US government. Other mega-corporations from the Gilded Age like US Steel, the first $ 1 billion company, slowly lost their influence as rivals and industry trends slowed their growth to a crawl.
Questions to Consider:
- Should governments take more action to limit the power of mega-corporations?
- Is the concern about mega-corporations' influence overstated?
- How does growth in private military contractors (PMCs) or mercenaries play into this topic?
- Do people, as individuals, have stronger loyalties to their company (or pocketbook) than to the country they live in?
SUPPORT THINKERS AND DRINKERS: Thinkers and Drinkers International is a registered 501(c)7 nonprofit organization. We work hard to create an organization that adds value to our communities while keeping membership free for all. If you find value in what we’re doing, please consider donating through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thinkers
- Pop Topics!Johnny Pistolas, Washington, DC
## Details
LOCATION & DAY: Johnny Pistolas in Adams Morgan on Wednesday at 7:00pm. We will meet on the 1st floor by the back bar area.
TOPIC: Always a fan favorite, YOU get to decide tonight's topic! Come prepared with a brief question to pose to the group. Group questions will be anonymously submitted via a piece of paper in a hat. The host will draw questions at random and spend a designated period of time discussing each.
Questions that we don't get to or those that require extra time may be brought back at a later event for a deeper dive into the subject.
SUPPORT THINKERS AND DRINKERS: Thinkers and Drinkers International is a registered 501(c)7 nonprofit organization. We work hard to create an organization that adds value to our communities while keeping membership free for all. If you find value in what we’re doing, please consider donating through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thinkers
CONNECT:
Instagram: @ThinkersDrinkersInternational
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersdrinkersinternational/
Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/user/thinkersdrinkersinternational
Email: ThinkersDrinkersInternational@gmail.com - Ghosts, Zombies & Shrek: A Modern Horror StoryJohnny Pistolas, Washington, DC
## Details
LOCATION & DAY: Johnny Pistolas in Adams Morgan on Wednesday at 7:00pm. We will meet on the 1st floor by the back bar area.
TOPIC: Modern dating feels like wandering alone through a haunted house: ghosts everywhere, a few zombies who won’t stay gone, and the occasional Shrek who just wants you to love them for their swamp. 🧟👻💚 . Terrifying stuff!!!
Come laugh (and maybe cry) with us as we unpack the spooky, silly, and downright swampy side of today’s dating scene.
This won’t be a lecture. It’s a space for everyone to share stories, perspectives, and even a little healthy debate. Come curious, leave inspired.
Looking forward to seeing everyone and welcoming new faces at this event!
SUPPORT THINKERS AND DRINKERS: Thinkers and Drinkers International is a registered 501(c)7 nonprofit organization. We work hard to create an organization that adds value to our communities while keeping membership free for all. If you find value in what we’re doing, please consider donating through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thinkers
CONNECT:
Instagram: @ThinkersDrinkersInternational
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersdrinkersinternational/
Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/user/thinkersdrinkersinternational
Email: ThinkersDrinkersInternational@gmail.com
