Future of Journalism

This year, Backstory is launching a **five-month Book Club series dedicated to Mercè Rodoreda**, one of the most renowned Catalan writers of the 20th century. The series runs from January to May, in parallel with the CCCB exhibition *Rodoreda, a forest*, and is designed to introduce English-speaking readers to Rodoreda’s work through its translations. Across five monthly sessions, we will read five key works by Rodoreda, guided by **translators and scholars who have played a central role in bringing her writing into English**. Each session combines close reading, contextual discussion, and open conversation, always in an accessible, non-academic format. The series will conclude with a **guided group visit to the CCCB exhibition**, thanks to their support. ### 📅 Session 2 — February ### [📖 In Diamond Square](https://backstorybookshop.shop/product/in-diamond-square/) **Original title:** *La plaça del Diamant* **Translator:** Peter Bush **Publisher:** Virago Press **Original publication:** 1962 In Diamond Square is Mercè Rodoreda’s most widely read and internationally recognised novel. Set in Barcelona before, during, and after the Spanish Civil War, the novel follows the life of Natàlia (Colometa), offering an intimate portrayal of womanhood, war, survival, and identity. Through its restrained yet powerful prose, the novel has become a cornerstone of modern Catalan literature. ### 👤 Guest: **Peter Bush** Peter Bush is an award-winning literary translator based in Barcelona and one of the most prominent translators of Catalan literature into English. His translations include works by Josep Pla, Joan Sales, Emili Teixidor, Quim Monzó, Teresa Solana, and Prudenci Bertrana, among many others. His translation of In Diamond Square has played a key role in introducing Rodoreda’s most important novel to English-speaking readers worldwide. Peter’s long-standing engagement with Catalan literature and his deep knowledge of its literary landscape make him an ideal guide for this session.

[ENG] **Please read the full description for details on booking.** On this guided tour with a difference, discover how to live life lucidly in the present moment, open to your senses, listen to yourself and start to be your own guide! Using a walk through the streets of Barcelona as practice, I will guide you in a mindfulness meditation which will help you get out of your head, bringing attention to your senses and the felt sensations in the body, stepping into deeper awareness of yourself, making your experience of the city even more magical and vibrant. We will begin our time together in the hidden oasis of carrer d’Allada Vermell, in the barrio of El Born, with an initial guided meditation. From this point of connection to yourself, anchored in the present, will we continue the practice walking through El Born with its winding streets and surprises around every corner. On our magical tour of sensorial delights, lasting approximately 2 hours, we will take in such places as the Palau de la Musica, Casa Perris, Funky Baker, Santa Maria del Mar and Santa Caterina Market, ending up at a nearby square for a chat about your experience. Take the opportunity on your trip to tune into yourself and see how things start to unfold magically! Leave your guidebook at home, instead come into your senses and discover your inner guide! The experience is suitable for single travellers and includes a tea or coffee and delicious pastry. **Please note, this is a paid tour. For more details and to book:** https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/1562789 or https://www.eventbrite.es/e/magical-mindfulness-tour-of-the-senses-el-born-barcelona-tickets-916187099277 *** [ESP] **Por favor, leerlo la descripcion entero para detalles de reservacion.** En este tour guiada única, descubre cómo vivir la vida con lucidez en el momento presente, ábrete a tus sentidos, escúchate a ti mismo y comenzar a ser tu propio guía. Mientras paseamos por las calles de Barcelona, te guiaré en una meditación de atención plena (Mindfulness) que te ayudará a salir de tu cabeza, poniendo la atención sobre tus sentidos y las sensaciones en el cuerpo, entraras en una conciencia más profunda de ti mismo, dándote una experiencia de la ciudad aún más mágica y vibrante. Comenzaremos nuestro tiempo juntos en el oasis escondido de la calle d'Allada Vermell, en el barrio de El Born con una meditación guiada inicial. Desde este punto de conexión contigo mismo, anclado en el presente, continuaremos la práctica caminando por el barrio con sus sorpresas en cada esquina. En nuestro recorrido mágico de delicias sensoriales, que dura aproximadamente 2 horas, visitaremos lugares como el Palau de la Música, Casa Perris, Funky Baker, la Basílica de Santa María del Mar y el Mercado de Santa Caterina, terminando en una plaza cercana para conversar sobre tu experiencia. ¡Aprovecha la oportunidad en tu viaje para sintonizarte contigo mismo y ver cómo las cosas comienzan a desarrollarse con magia! ¡Deja tu guía en casa, en su lugar, entra en tus sentidos y descubre tu guía interior! La experiencia es adecuada para viajeros individuales e incluye un té o café y delicioso pastel. **Esto es un tour pagado. Para mas info y reservar:** https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/1562789 o https://www.eventbrite.es/e/magical-mindfulness-tour-of-the-senses-el-born-barcelona-tickets-916187099277

*Com vaig aprendre a conduir* va rebre el Premi Pulitzer 1998 i el Premi Tony en la seva reestrena de 2022. Una dona guarda un secret que, després d’anys de silenci, està a punt de revelar. Coseta –malnom que es va guanyar a l’instant de néixer, definida pel seu sexe– ens guia en un viatge emocional a través de les corbes de la memòria: al seient d’un cotxe, al menjador de casa, als passadissos de l’institut, allà on la seva educació afectiva i sexual es va construint, deformada per la visió misògina i sexualitzada del seu entorn. Amb una estructura fragmentada i esquitxada d’humor i cançons, *Com vaig aprendre a conduir,* reconstrueix els moments clau de la complexa relació de la protagonista amb el seu oncle Peck, en la qual es va teixint la teranyina subtil i perversa de l’abús disfressat d’afecte. Autoria: **[Paula Vogel](https://www.salabeckett.cat/membre/paula/)** Traducció: **[Helena Tornero](https://www.salabeckett.cat/membre/helena-tornero/)** Direcció: **Marilia Samper** Repartiment: **Mireia Aixalà, Ivan Benet, Alba Gallén, Blai Juanet Sanagustin** i **Kathy Sey** Escenografia: **Sebastià Brosa** i **Paula Bosch** Una producció de la Sala Beckett Duració: 1h 50m Preu D'11 € a 22 € Promoció abans de l'estrena: 50% de descompte per a les primeres funcions (Limitada a 50 entrades/funció) Enllaç a venda d'entrades: https://salabeckett.koobin.cat/com-vaig-apendre-a-conduir-040226-2000 NOTES IMPORTANTS: * Cada participant gestiona la compra de la seva entrada. * Només ha d'indicar RSVP = "Sí" qui ja hagi adquirit o reservat la seva entrada. Si us plau, no us apunteu si no la teniu, perquè altrament ens complica determinar el quòrum real. * Us recordem que aquest grup no té cap interès comercial, és una simple trobada d'aficionats, apassionats, addictes i bojos pel teatre. * En acabada la funció, ens quedarem al bar de la Beckett per fer-hi un mos o un beure i comentar l'obra. Amb l'antelació suficient abans obrirem llista per saber quants llocs a taula cal reservar.

*Tome una bebida, busca un sitio y ponte a dibujar ✍️* **Sala de Artistas** es un espacio abierto para sentarse, compartir y dibujar en compañía. No es una clase ni un taller: **no hay estructura ni expectativas**. Trae tus propios materiales, elige un lugar y dibuja lo que te apetezca: a otras personas, el espacio, objetos o simplemente ideas sueltas. 🖤 Abierto a todos los niveles Ven un rato o quédate más tiempo. El espacio existe igual. *Grab a drink, find a spot, and draw ✍️* **Artists’ Room** is an open space to sit, share, and draw together. It’s not a class or a workshop — **no structure, no expectations**. Bring your own materials, choose a seat, and draw whatever you feel like: each other, the space, objects, or just loose ideas on paper. 🖤 Open to all levels Come for a while or stay longer. The room exists either way.

Hi and welcome to our next Socrates Café philosophy meetup! Do you have a hunger for deeper understanding of yourself and the world? Do you value deep, honest and respectful dialogue? If yes, then this meetup will be very interesting for you. • WHAT IS A MEETUP ABOUT? At every meetup we have a discussion using Socratic method: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_method](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_method) We ask, answer and discuss questions and ideas to stimulate critical thinking and to widen our perspectives with new concepts and thoughts. The main purpose of these meetups is to enrich ourselves with the perspectives of others, not to convince others about our own perspectives. Our meetups are about our own philosophies of life and not necessarily what the great philosophers and academics have said or written. It is not a debating club or a platform for proselytizing. Instead, we place the emphasis on questioning, open mindedness and challenging our own assumptions while listening to and respecting the views shared by others. A Socrates Café meetup is considered a success when participants leave a discussion with many more questions than they had at the beginning. • WHAT TOPIC IS DISCUSSED AT THE MEETUP? Participants suggest topics at the beginning of each meeting. We then vote and choose that event's most popular topic for discussion. No academic training in philosophy necessary; just enthusiasm for exchanging ideas and points of view. Some examples of subjects chosen on previous meetups: * What ideals are worth dying for? * Why are we never satisfied? * Why is it that human beings know that the society is going wrong, leaders are well informed about it and things continue as is? * Is identity necessary? * How can it be that people in democratic societies are so obsessed with power? (Desire to be different, better, stronger than others) * What is friendship? • WHO PARTICIPATES AT THIS MEETUP? Anybody is more than welcome to join our meetups. Our events gather people from different backgrounds, different cultures, while no philosophical background is mandatory. Our usual participants are people that have a hunger for deeper understanding of themselves and the world. People that value deep, honest and respectful dialogue. The inspiration for Socrates Cafe originates with the book of the same name, written by the philosopher Christopher Phillips. (Socrates Cafe: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy, 2002). Phillips felt that the Socratic method of dialogue and discussion should be practiced not just in academic settings, but among everyday people interested in examining deep questions together. Hundreds of Socrates Cafe groups now exist around the world. To learn more, visit [[https://socratescafe.com](https://socratescafe.com/)]([https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsocratescafe.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C1b245fc060a24a1b22c508dd324f736a%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638722038989360624%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pLtcEu25qgDHP1XvhFs5Cx4L1rRDYmqwnNWgxalKovY%3D&reserved=0](https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsocratescafe.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C1b245fc060a24a1b22c508dd324f736a%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638722038989360624%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pLtcEu25qgDHP1XvhFs5Cx4L1rRDYmqwnNWgxalKovY%3D&reserved=0) "Protegido por Outlook: [https://socratescafe.com/.](https://socratescafe.com/) Haga clic o pulse para seguir el vínculo.").

Bienvenidos a nuestro intercambio de francés \~ español! Si te gustaría practicar francés/español, aprender más y conocer nuevas personas al mismo tiempo, este es el sitio para ti! Sólo hablaremos español y francés por lo que se recomienda un poco de comprensión de ambos idiomas :) Todos saben que no es fácil aprender otro idioma, así que ayudémonos y divirtámonos! Somos un grupo pequeño, generalmente entre 7-15 personas. Locales, expatriados y viajeros son bienvenidos. Este evento es gratis, pero por favor apoye al bar y consuma un mínimo de 1 bebida 🍺☕🍷 Cualquier pregunta \~ envíame un mensaje! ESPERO VERTE PRONTO :) Salut et bienvenue dans notre échange linguistique français \~ espagnol! Si tu souhaites pratiquer le français et l’espagnol, en savoir plus sur ces cultures et rencontrer de nouvelles personnes, ce groupe est fait pour toi! Nous ne parlerons que espagnol et français donc une petite compréhension des deux langues est recommandée :) C’est pas facile d’apprendre une nouvelle langue alors aidons-nous les uns les autres! Nous sommes un petit groupe, généralement entre 7 et 15 personnes. Les locaux, les expatriés et les voyageurs sont les bienvenus. Cet événement est gratuit, mais merci de soutenir le bar et de consommer au minimum 1 boisson 🍺☕🍷 Des questions \~ envoies-moi un message ! J'ESPÈRE TE VOIR BIENTÔT :)

* **Encuentro creativo y relajado para pintar paisajes invernales** * **Pintaremos sobre rodajas de madera natural** * **Usaremos pintura acrílica** * **Un espacio para desconectar, disfrutar y estar en el presente** * **✨ No necesitas experiencia previa** * **🤍 Yo te guío paso a paso** * **😊 Ven a pasarlo bien, sin presión ni expectativas** **💶 Precio** **💳 20 € por persona** **👯‍♀️ 17 € por persona si vienes con un amigo/a** * **🎨 Todos los materiales están incluidos** * **📷 Te llevarás un pequeño reportaje de la experiencia** * **🗓️ Fecha: Sábado 7 de febrero** * **⏰ Horario: 10:00 – 12:30** * **📍 Lugar: Rubí Centre** **📩 Reserva tu plaza directamente con Tanya** * **Puedes reservar escribiendo por Whatsapp 646838523** * **O por correo: cromacatart@gmail.com** **📱 Instagram** **👉 @cromacatart** **✨ Un plan creativo para disfrutar del invierno con calma, color y naturaleza** **✨ Conecta con el proceso y el momento presente**

Resistance is not the enemy. It’s friction. And friction is how we know something matters. Resistance doesn’t tell you it’s here. * It looks like needing to clean the kitchen instead of writing. * It looks like feeling “tired” before doing something meaningful. * It looks like choosing the lower-quality option in a moment that actually matters. In this workshop, we won’t try to eliminate Resistance, overpower it, or “push through” it. Instead, we’ll see how Resistance operates in your life, what it’s protecting, and how it quietly redirects you away from depth, honesty, and change. Using Shadow Journaling and the Reveal → Reclaim → Rewrite method, this session will help you: * recognise Resistance earlier, before it runs the show * understand the role it plays in protecting your energy, identity, or safety * reclaim a sense of choice inside moments of friction * learn how to renegotiate how Resistance shows up, rather than just hoping it will disappear **This is not a productivity workshop.** **It’s not about discipline, willpower, or “getting over yourself.”** It’s about learning how to work with human nature instead of against it. The session is reflective, grounded, and practical. There’s no pressure to share, no fixing, and no emotional performance required. If you’re curious about the patterns that slow you down, this workshop will give you tools you can use immediately, on the page and in daily life. Resistance doesn’t need to be defeated. It needs to be understood. When it’s seen clearly, it becomes negotiable.

Join a Barcelona-wide collaboration from different international orgs and green groups to watch a documentary, followed by a discussion of ACTIVE collaboration to achieve greater impact TOGETHER 🌱 -> 🌳 The more of us attend, the more strength we have in our numbers! We will: 1\. Watch a documentary "Inhabit" together \(with popcorn\!🍿\) 2\. Collaborative conversation aimed to unite and reinforce our efforts and maximise our impact\. **To cover the cost of this beautiful space, the entry is €5, paid in CASH or card at the venue.** Currently participating groups: *ESA Logika* *Association Cambium Permacultura en Formación* *Clima Book Club/ Mobilising Hope* *Fashion Cares* *Soil to Soul* *Clean Beach Initiative* *(IBEI Alumni association)* *Climate-KIC* ... **Are you part of an organisation**? Drop us a line (hola@esalogika.com), sign up and join the party! **Are you an individual who cares about the planet**? Sign up and join the party! See you soon in sala Foix

Comenzamos el año con nuestro segundo encuentro del Colectivo Farina. En esta ocasión cambiamos nuestro foco de la minimización a la optimización de ingredientes, centrándonos en el zero-waste como principio fundamental. Reflexionaremos sobre el desperdicio y el uso eficiente de recursos para crear recetas con alimentos que quizás solemos botar. Colectivo Farina, un espacio creado por Bifaz para cocinar colectivamente, reconectar con los ingredientes y recuperar técnicas simples, manuales y ancestrales. Jueves 5 de Febrero 18:00–22:00h Akasha Hub — Carrer de la Verneda 19, Nave 1 Apúntate en meetup Plazas limitadas

[ENG] **Please read the full description for details on booking.** On this guided tour with a difference, discover how to live life lucidly in the present moment, open to your senses, listen to yourself and start to be your own guide! Using a walk through the streets of Barcelona as practice, I will guide you in a mindfulness meditation which will help you get out of your head, bringing attention to your senses and the felt sensations in the body, stepping into deeper awareness of yourself, making your experience of the city even more magical and vibrant. We will begin our time together in the hidden oasis of carrer d’Allada Vermell, in the barrio of El Born, with an initial guided meditation. From this point of connection to yourself, anchored in the present, will we continue the practice walking through El Born with its winding streets and surprises around every corner. On our magical tour of sensorial delights, lasting approximately 2 hours, we will take in such places as the Palau de la Musica, Casa Perris, Funky Baker, Santa Maria del Mar and Santa Caterina Market, ending up at a nearby square for a chat about your experience. Take the opportunity on your trip to tune into yourself and see how things start to unfold magically! Leave your guidebook at home, instead come into your senses and discover your inner guide! The experience is suitable for single travellers and includes a tea or coffee and delicious pastry. **Please note, this is a paid tour. For more details and to book:** https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/1562789 or https://www.eventbrite.es/e/magical-mindfulness-tour-of-the-senses-el-born-barcelona-tickets-916187099277 *** [ESP] **Por favor, leerlo la descripcion entero para detalles de reservacion.** En este tour guiada única, descubre cómo vivir la vida con lucidez en el momento presente, ábrete a tus sentidos, escúchate a ti mismo y comenzar a ser tu propio guía. Mientras paseamos por las calles de Barcelona, te guiaré en una meditación de atención plena (Mindfulness) que te ayudará a salir de tu cabeza, poniendo la atención sobre tus sentidos y las sensaciones en el cuerpo, entraras en una conciencia más profunda de ti mismo, dándote una experiencia de la ciudad aún más mágica y vibrante. Comenzaremos nuestro tiempo juntos en el oasis escondido de la calle d'Allada Vermell, en el barrio de El Born con una meditación guiada inicial. Desde este punto de conexión contigo mismo, anclado en el presente, continuaremos la práctica caminando por el barrio con sus sorpresas en cada esquina. En nuestro recorrido mágico de delicias sensoriales, que dura aproximadamente 2 horas, visitaremos lugares como el Palau de la Música, Casa Perris, Funky Baker, la Basílica de Santa María del Mar y el Mercado de Santa Caterina, terminando en una plaza cercana para conversar sobre tu experiencia. ¡Aprovecha la oportunidad en tu viaje para sintonizarte contigo mismo y ver cómo las cosas comienzan a desarrollarse con magia! ¡Deja tu guía en casa, en su lugar, entra en tus sentidos y descubre tu guía interior! La experiencia es adecuada para viajeros individuales e incluye un té o café y delicioso pastel. **Esto es un tour pagado. Para mas info y reservar:** https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/1562789 o https://www.eventbrite.es/e/magical-mindfulness-tour-of-the-senses-el-born-barcelona-tickets-916187099277

**Proyeccion + lab Musical** **18h-18h45 El Futuro (Im)posible #1/10** Imágenes para pensar el presente: comienza el ciclo documental (10 episodios) Creado por **Piensa Patagonia** y dirigido por **Martín Haas y Antonio Balseiro**, *El Futuro (Im)posible* propone un recorrido animado y profundamente humano por los grandes desafíos socioambientales del siglo XXI. Lejos del catastrofismo, el documental ofrece una mirada regenerativa que pone en foco experiencias comunitarias y soluciones reales que ya están sucediendo. La película cuenta con la participación de un equipo multidisciplinario y reconocidas voces de la cultura argentina como **Julieta Zylberberg, Martín Piroyansky, Malena Villa y Verónica Llinás**, entre otras. 🤝 Una propuesta pensada como espacio de encuentro, diálogo y construcción colectiva, dirigida a jóvenes, estudiantes, educadores, movimientos sociales y a todas las personas interesadas en los desafíos sociales, ambientales y culturales de nuestro tiempo. **18h45-19h25** **Lab Musical con Ombeline** Flash practice, Flash jam, Pon en el pote de sorteo la cancion/obra que quieres practicar en grupo, **ESP** *Creemos firmemente que para ser eficientes y saludables en el manejo de la actual crisis ambiental y social, necesitamos equiparnos con herramientas y conocimientos que nos ayuden a empoderarnos y cultivar nuestra "esperanza activa". La serie Culture Jam tiene como objetivo hacer precisamente eso.* **CAT** Creiem fermament que per ser eficients i saludables a l'hora de fer front a l'actual crisi ambiental i social, ens hem de dotar d'eines i coneixements que ens ajudin a empoderar-nos i a conrear la nostra "esperança activa". La sèrie Culture Jam a pretén fer-ho. **ENG** *We strongly believe that to be efficient and healthy at dealing with the current environmental and social crisis, we need to equip ourselves with tools and knowledge that help us to be empowered and to cultivate our "active hope". The Culture Jam series aims to do just that.*

A casual (but coordinated) coffee break to meet new friends, take a Zoom break, and get your AM caffeine fix. Stop by for a few minutes or stay the whole time. Bring a friend or wander in solo. Come for the coffee and company, or just bring a book to read while surrounded by other in-real-life, community-seeking humans. Come by every Friday, or just when you happen to be in town. Make it whatever you need it to be that week. It's not an \*event\* per se, but we hope these Friday meet-ups can become a fixture of the bookshop! Gathering spot will be in the downstairs area of the bookshop (near the Community Library). Coffee and tea are 1.50€ and can be purchased at the cash register upstairs. Find more info on our Instagram (@backstorybookshop) or website (www.backstorybookshop.com).

OWASP is ending use of Meetup, so I built an eventbrite for the event. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-development-risk-case-studies-and-how-agentic-ai-is-the-future-of-appsec-tickets-1981450622150?aff=oddtdtcreator AI is transforming how software is designed, developed, and deployed, dramatically accelerating velocity while introducing new categories of risk. As organizations adopt AI-assisted coding, autonomous agents, and increasingly complex model interactions, traditional application security approaches struggle to keep pace. This talk examines emerging AI-driven risks through real case studies from the field, highlighting issues such as insecure code generation, data-leakage pathways, model manipulation, and evolving supply-chain threats. We will explore how engineering teams must adapt their people, processes, and governance models to secure AI-augmented development workflows effectively. The session will then introduce agentic AI as the next evolution in application security—autonomous systems capable of continuous analysis, multi-step reasoning, and real-time remediation. Attendees will learn how combining agentic AI with modern practices can reduce developer friction, improve coverage, and create a future-ready application security strategy designed for the demands of AI-native software development

**People Analytics 101: Making Sense of Compensation Data** Compensation data is one of the most widely used and widely misunderstood forms of people analytics. The session will cover where compensation data comes from, including market pricing data, internal payroll data, and benchmarking sources, and how companies think about structuring and analyzing that information. We will explore how compensation data is leveraged to set salary ranges, manage internal equity, support hiring and retention, and align pay with business strategy. A portion of the session will address common data challenges and limitations, such as market noise, inconsistent job matching, and incomplete datasets, while keeping the primary focus on practical use rather than technical depth. The session will also look ahead at where the space is going, including the growing impact of pay transparency laws, expanding pay equity requirements, and emerging regulations in the US and Europe that require organizations to report on gender and pay gaps. The goal is to give attendees a clear mental model for how compensation analytics works today and why getting it right is becoming increasingly critical. (note: we are back at Rev1 this month!) **About Our Speaker** [Alex Moore](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexscottmoore/) is the founder of [Moore Cooperative](https://moorecooperative.com/), where he advises organizations on compensation strategy, pay equity, and people analytics. His work focuses on helping organizations like the Ohio Supreme Court design, analyze, and communicate compensation systems that are data-informed, defensible, and aligned with organizational goals. Alex lives in Granville, Ohio and has three little kiddos. More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

**How to take control of your subconscious and harness its power!** Join us for an eye-opening lecture where the speaker will break down complex ideas in a clear and practical way. You’ll gain insights into: ✅ The true definition of the subconscious ✅ How it generates unwanted emotions ✅ Its real purpose and function ✅ What determines the pressure it exerts on you And the most important topic: **How do you take control of your subconscious!** But this isn’t just another lecture where you sit and listen passively. It’s interactive and engaging—you can ask questions at any time. 📅 Reserve your spot now! Seats are limited, so don’t wait too long to sign up. Location: 1266 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH 43215 Hosted by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation

**Our February novel is: Julia by Sandra Newman** **This month is a classic, dystopian, fiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction, and science fiction novel. The book is 394 pages in print and 14 hours and 20 minutes on audiobook.** **An imaginative, feminist, and brilliantly relevant-to-today retelling of Orwell’s 1984, from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia, by critically acclaimed novelist Sandra Newman.** Julia Worthing is a mechanic, working in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. It’s 1984, and Britain (now called Airstrip One) has long been absorbed into the larger trans-Atlantic nation of Oceania. Oceania has been at war for as long as anyone can remember, and is ruled by an ultra-totalitarian Party, whose leader is a quasi-mythical figure called Big Brother. In short, everything about this world is as it is in Orwell’s 1984. All her life, Julia has known only Oceania, and, until she meets Winston Smith, she has never imagined anything else. She is an ideal citizen: cheerfully cynical, always ready with a bribe, piously repeating every political slogan while believing in nothing. She routinely breaks the rules, but also collaborates with the regime when necessary. Everyone likes Julia. Then one day she finds herself walking toward Winston Smith in a corridor and impulsively slips him a note, setting in motion the devastating, unforgettable events of the classic story. Julia takes us on a surprising journey through Orwell’s now-iconic dystopia, with twists that reveal unexpected sides not only to Julia, but to other familiar figures in the 1984 universe. This unique perspective lays bare our own world in haunting and provocative ways, just as the original did almost seventy-five years ago.

It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went? Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence? Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp.

The topic for February is "Transitions" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

Join members of the local UX and Digital Design community for a casual monthly breakfast. There _might_ be a little snow, but there _will_ be effectively infinite serve-yourself coffee, so it evens out if you ask me. Just a reminder, while the other locations are great too, we’re at the Lane Ave one this time.