About us
In ancient Greece, the Agora was a place where people gathered to exchange ideas, host performances, and engage with their community. Inspired by this tradition, our group is a space for thoughtful conversation, shared experiences, and intellectual adventure.
Whether we're discussing philosophy, cooking a meal together, exploring museums, or traveling to new places, Agora is about connection—with each other and with the world around us. This is a community powered by the people who show up, and everyone's voice helps shape what we create together. If you enjoy deep conversations, meaningful experiences, and the company of inquisitive minds, join us as we create our own modern-day Agora.
Agora isn't just another discussion to join or event to attend—it's an invitation to explore what might be possible for ourselves and the world around us.
REQUIREMENTS
No credentials are needed—just a willingness to share your experiences and ideas and to learn from others. This means listening respectfully even when you disagree, and being mindful not to dominate the conversation. Our goal is to create a supportive, engaging environment where everyone feels heard.
NOTE ON ATTENDANCE
If you need to cancel, please do so as soon as possible to be respectful of the organizer and others who wish to participate. Repeated cancellations or no-shows may result in being moved to the waitlist for future events, with attendance depending on whether spots open up. If you're on the waitlist, keep an eye out—spaces may become available at the last minute!
FEEDBACK
All feedback is welcome, and the organizer checks messages regularly. Agora belongs to its participants as much as it does to the organizer, and the goal is for it to grow into something shaped and co-created by its regular members. If you enjoy your experience and feel inspired, we’d love for you to take part in shaping future events—whether that’s hosting a discussion, organizing a hike, cooking a meal together, planning a trip, or bringing new ideas to the table. If you have something to offer or would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Upcoming events
4
Literary Reading Group: “Everything That Rises Must Converge" by F. O'Connor
Cafedu, Škrétova 490/12, Prague, CZWe will discuss our reactions and interpretations of Flannery O'Connor's story about the post-segregationist South, readable online here.
This is an unofficial continuation of our discussion of O'Connor's story we read last time, but if you weren't there you're still welcome to attend this one as there will be plenty to discuss regardless.
I look forward to speaking about it with you!
12 attendees
Community and connection restauration project
Grebovka, Havlíčkovy Sady, Prague, GB## What IdeaVerse is about
We meet usually once a month to discuss some of the current challenges as well and perhaps come up with new ideas on how to overcome them. For those who came regularly, this next meetup would be slightly different. We will do a workshop on solving real world problems.
The problem we will attempt to solve is the dissolution of communities and spaces where people connect in person, and with it, our increased isolation and loneliness.
There are many reasons why this is happening:
- replacement of religion with science as a beacon of meaning, which seems to be much less great at inspiring connection;
- economic forces boosting our ego, and make it easier to pay for random strangers for help then making lasting connections with people.
- political polarization
- (anti)social media (as I call it) and now AI offering simulations of relationships.
- climate change increasing our distrust in a better future and the importance of investing in life and people. Research shows some people keep this anxiety bottled up to avoid being ostracised for "ruining the vibe" and this leads to decreased socializing in time.
- closing down of third spaces like churches, malls and retail stores (due to online shopping), youth centers and increase in remote work.These are all causes we'll explore, together with examples of how other people expressed they feel about this issue from research, reasons why this issue exists as well as examples of small victories against this tide.
We'll work in small groups putting all this knowledge together with out imagination and attempt to find local solutions to similar problems here in Prague.
This is is more than a discussion. It's an exploration of our ability to work together to effect change in ourselves and in our social circles.
Some suggested reading/watching:
- "Contrary to the perception that isolation and loneliness primarily affect older people in high-income countries, they impact the health and well-being of all age groups across the world. One in four older people experience social isolation and the rates are broadly similar in all regions. Among adolescents, between 5–15% experience loneliness, according to research findings." (3 minute read - WHO launches commission to foster social connection)
- "Many popular sitcoms center around what's known as a third place-- for example, Central Park in Friends or the Bull and Finch Pub from Cheers. Like the theme song goes, it's somewhere where everybody knows your name, where you can socialize in a place other than your home or work and build some community.
But with the whole world accessible on your smartphone, it's kind of hard to resist the call of the couch. And it's hurting us more than we think." (10 minute Podcast Third places’ may be the answer to America’s loneliness epidemic) - “These verdicts mark an unsurprising breaking point. Negative sentiment toward social media has been building for years, and now it’s finally boiled over,” said Mike Proulx, a director at Forrester, a market research company. (4 minute read - How the landmark verdict against Meta and YouTube could hit their businesses)
The meeting is free to attend, but please buy a drink or two at our patron's place, to make them happy.
13 attendees
Past events
70
Group links
Members
687
