Discussion: Listening

* * Shoes-Off Venue * *
This venue requires that you remove your outdoor footwear on arrival.

* * Feel free to bring food or drinks * *
* * Participation is optional - you can join us to speak or to listen * *

Listening is more than the passive reception of sound; it is an intentional act of attention. To listen is to open oneself to another’s perspective, to suspend the instinct to respond, and to allow meaning to unfold at its own pace. Good listening requires a willingness to let the other person’s words shape our understanding rather than simply confirm what we already believe.

The benefits of genuine listening reach far beyond polite communication. When someone feels heard, trust deepens and connection becomes possible. Listening can reveal nuances we would otherwise miss, emotions underneath statements, assumptions hidden between the lines, or insights that only emerge when space is given. It also broadens our worldview, inviting us to consider alternatives to our own habitual thinking.

Yet listening is often more difficult than it seems. Our minds rush ahead, rehearsing replies, judging statements, or wandering toward unrelated thoughts. Sometimes we resist listening because it threatens our sense of certainty or challenges our identity. Distractions—both internal and external—pull us away from the present moment, making sustained attention a rare skill. Listening asks for patience, humility, and vulnerability, qualities that are easy to admire but harder to practice.

Fundamentally, listening is a practice of presence. It is the choice to meet another person, or even ourselves, without pretense or defensiveness. When we listen well, we create a space where understanding can grow and where differences can be explored rather than feared. In this way, listening becomes not just a communication technique, but a way of relating to the world with greater depth and openness.

Do you consider yourself to be a good listener? What are the benefits and challenges of truly listening? How can we all be better at listening to and understanding each other?

Join us for fun, friendly and substantive discussion about the important topics of the day. All viewpoints are welcome for this friendly, moderated discussion.

How it Works
Everyone will be invited to share their opinion, share relevant facts and reasoning, and respond to the views of others.

Our moderator will ensure that everyone has equal opportunity to speak and that dialogue will be kept respectful. All viewpoints are welcome. After the event, you are invited to stay for friendly, informal discussion if you wish.

Name and Pronoun Preferences
If you have specific pronoun preferences or any other requests to help ensure that you feel comfortable and respected, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the event organizer. Your needs and preferences are important to us, and we want to make sure our gatherings are supportive and inclusive for all attendees.

Aren't you worried about having an event with 50+ people?!?
No because there will not be 50 people at the event. On Meetup, many attendees cancel at the last minute, and many are no-shows who skip the event without cancelling. I set the RSVP limit to 55 people, I reduce that limit to 45 in the last two days before the event, and then 20-30 people will actually attend.

This allows us to hit our attendance target of 15-30 people, and it ensures that attendees have their spot guaranteed weeks in advance. This makes the guest count inaccurate, but it's the simplest way to provide you a reliable and positive RSVP experience.

Suggested Reading
Any suggestions?

Ideals
Please read the Studio 42 Ideals before attending the event:
http://stu42.co/ideals

Admission
Admission is free. We accept donations to help fund our events.

Latecomers
Latecomers are welcome but we start promptly at 6:05pm so if you arrive late, you will miss out!