About us
Learn, Grow, Pay It Forward http://bit.ly/Conversation_Day_Pictures
Are you a lifelong learner of wisdom? Do ask why? Do you ask how to master new skills?
"Manhattan Lectures & Conversations" (MLC) is a group of growth-minded volunteers looking for engaging conversations and lectures. The vision is to connect people who love learning—old and young, singles and couples, boroughs and islanders alike, in a way that fosters both community and growth.
NYC has some of the greatest minds on earth coursing through it on a daily basis, so let's take advantage of that fact and get our learn on!
Additionally, we will have coffee and discussion after each lecture for those who are interested.
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About "Conversations New York"
http://bit.ly/Conversation_Day_Pictures
**https://photos.app.goo.gl/SDkQ9AqcCKKKVFCC6**
Imagine…
Hundreds of New Yorkers coming together in small groups of neighbors
and fellow citizens to discuss topics of intensive interest…
Hosted at no cost and at convenient locations and times…
Aided by simple guiding principles…
Inspired by the city’s grand tradition of robust conversation…
Our vision is to inspire, organize, publicize, facilitate and celebrate a renaissance of healthy dialogue in New York City.
Our Mission:
1. Encourage and support interesting and important conversations among New Yorkers at the grass-roots level,
2. Establish simple, affordable, and sustainable infrastructure to foster such conversations throughout the city year-round.
3. Add to the worldwide image of New York as a metropolis where culture and intellect thrive among the people.
4. Maintain conversations with a human face by discussing topics in-person.
Note: For access to all CNY-sponsored events, go to www.conversationsnewyork.com and subscribe to our blog,
follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/conversationsnewyor....
and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/conversationsnewyork
Please review our policies, values, expectations, roles/responsibilities here:[ www.meetup.com/Manhattan-Lectures-C...](https://www.meetup.com/Manhattan-Lectures-Conversations/messages/boards/thread/49055714)
Join our network:
"NYC Myers Briggs Personality Typing Meetup"
"TED Talk Inspired Meetups"
"Conversations New York"
"Applied Psychology NYC"
Featured event
13th Annual Conversation Day in Bryant Park
You are invited to join the conversation in Bryant Park:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYLvoMCCQiK/ (6 min.)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DxPyujK96qFauebW2
https://www.instagram.com/conversationsnewyork/
Imagine hundreds of New Yorkers gathering in small groups to discuss topics that matter most, hosted at convenient locations and times, and guided by simple principles that foster meaningful conversation.
Our Vision: To spark a renaissance of healthy dialogue in New York City, inspired by the city's rich tradition of robust conversation.
Join us on:
Saturday, June 13th, from 3-5 pm
Bryant Park Fountain Terrace https://youtu.be/g4CmWNxgsic
Note: After 12:00 PM on July 12th, please check the event status at ConversationsNewYork.com for any updates, including possible rain cancellation.
Register to attend:
- Enter from 6th Avenue and West 41st Street
- Check-in at the yellow Welcome Table by the Fountain for your name badge
- If you need assistance, call Event# 646-727-0911 (please call, do not leave a voicemail or text)
Register now to be a part of this annual event!
Conversations New York Presents
"CONVERSATION DAY"
Conversation Day in Bryant Park is hailed as “one of the most enjoyable events in the City” by the dean of American travel writers, Arthur Frommer, and featured on major metropolitan radio and TV.
Host: Margarita, Michael, Li, MBTI NYC
Host: Jeff, Keeping It Real: The Art & Science of Purposeful Leadership, Conversations New York
Host: Laurence, Center for Inquiry NYC
Host: Max, The Lyceum
Host: Bill, "What happened to the political center?"
Host: Cole, Ren, Jawaun, Elle, Edith, David, NY Philosophy, NY Philosophy Club
Host: Mike, Conversations New York
Host: Yen, Manhattan Lectures & Conversations
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Conversation Day is celebrated worldwide annually on the second Saturday in June by social/cultural activists in over 20 cities including London, Paris, Lagos, Beijing, Tokyo, Bangalore, Kuala Lumpur, and Riyadh.
Conversations New York (CNY), the foremost program of free public conversations. www.ConversationsNewYork.com
Ronald Gross, Founder and Director of Conversations New York, grossassoc@AOL.com
Discuss one of the exciting topics with other lively-minded New Yorkers, sharing your thoughts, experiences, and ideas. Conversations will start each hour on the hour.
Topics will include:
● Happiness, Peace, Friendship, Love
● Truth, Wisdom, Self-Discovery
● Overcoming Our Political Divides
● Coping and Thriving in NYC
● What’s Really Funny?
● Education Reform
● AI generated philosophical questions and many others!
Share your photos on our Facebook page and Instagram
#conversationday #conversationsnewyork #bryantpark #nyc #philosophy #thingstodonyc #nyclife
NYC OUTDOOR EVENT 3 PM - 5 PM. 5:30 PM after Party hosted by Margarita and Michael at Vanderbilt Eateries.
Upcoming events
6
FTI: Power, Responsibility & Survival: Why Social Science Matters More Than Ever
·OnlineOnlineWe’ve spent centuries accelerating progress through hard science—but have we kept pace in understanding how to use that power responsibly?
This session explores a critical imbalance: while technology has driven massive gains in productivity and capability, advancements in the social sciences—how we govern, allocate power, and define responsibility—have lagged behind. The result is a world where increasingly powerful tools are placed in human hands without equally strong systems to ensure they’re used wisely.
We’ll dive into:
- Why technological progress without social progress creates systemic risk
- How society currently grants and restricts power (degrees, laws, incarceration—and their limits)
- The concept of aligning power with responsibility to minimize harm and maximize collective well-being
- Whether and how we should vet leaders (e.g., for altruism and fairness) before giving them authority
- What a modern “social science breakthrough” could look like—and how it could shape the future of civilization
This is a discussion about survival, ethics, and design at the highest level:
If humanity continues to increase its power, how do we ensure that power is used to expand freedom and well-being—not destroy it?Expect a thoughtful, challenging conversation aimed at building frameworks that scale with the world we’re creating.
A little about our host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (FreeThinkerInstitute.org), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.Format:
Lecture and discussionNote:
Social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
To get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zg
After registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.
Here’s our legal notice:
For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.3 attendees
FTI: Happiness, Habits, and Science: What Positive Psychology Gets Right
·OnlineOnlinePositive psychology is often associated with ideas like happiness, gratitude, and “living your best life.” But what does the actual research say—and how useful is it in real life?
In this event, we’ll explore the field of positive psychology from a grounded, practical perspective:
- What is positive psychology, and how is it different from traditional psychology?
- What does the research say about happiness, meaning, and well-being?
- Which practices (if any) actually improve people’s lives?
- Where does the field fall short or get oversimplified?
This is not about feel-good slogans. It’s about understanding what holds up under scrutiny—and what we can realistically apply.
Expect a thoughtful, open discussion focused on evidence, lived experience, and honest reflection.
A little about our host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (FreeThinkerInstitute.org), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.Format:
Lecture and discussionNote:
Social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
To get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zg
After registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.
Here’s our legal notice:
For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.1 attendee
FTI: Emotional Intelligence (EQ): The Hidden Driver of Success and Impact
·OnlineOnlineIQ can open doors—but EQ determines what happens once you walk through them.
In this session, we break down what emotional intelligence really is, why it plays a critical role in leadership, relationships, and decision-making, and how improving it can dramatically increase both personal success and collective outcomes.
We’ll cover:
- The core components of EQ (self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social skill, motivation)
- Why high EQ individuals consistently outperform in leadership, negotiation, and team environments
- How EQ influences trust, influence, and long-term relationship building
- Practical ways to measure and improve your EQ in real-world situations
- How stronger EQ at scale leads to better organizations, communities, and outcomes
This isn’t just about being “nice”—it’s about building the awareness and control needed to navigate complexity, align incentives, and create win-win outcomes in every area of life.
A little about our host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (FreeThinkerInstitute.org), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.Format:
Lecture and discussionNote:
Social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
To get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zg
After registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.
Here’s our legal notice:
For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.2 attendees
FTI: What Makes America Great? A Cross-Perspective Dialogue
·OnlineOnlineAmerica means different things to different people—and that’s exactly why this conversation matters.
This Free Thinker Institute event brings together individuals with diverse political perspectives to explore a simple but powerful question: What truly makes America great—and where are we falling short?
We’ll examine:
- Core strengths: opportunity, innovation, freedom, community, resilience
- Real challenges: inequality, polarization, trust in institutions, global role
- How different groups define “greatness”—and where those views overlap
- What we should preserve, improve, or rethink moving forward
- Practical ideas to bridge divides while strengthening the country
The goal isn’t to debate winners and losers—it’s to understand, challenge assumptions, and find common ground where progress is possible.
Expect a respectful, candid discussion focused on learning, not labeling—and on building a clearer, shared vision for America’s future.
A little about our host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (FreeThinkerInstitute.org), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.Format:
Lecture and discussionNote:
Social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
To get familiar with our past events, feel free to check out our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmixGB9GdrptyEWovEj80zg
After registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.
Here’s our legal notice:
For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.2 attendees
Past events
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