Impromptu Speaking

***In this meetup, we explore why traditional feedback systems fail and what it really takes to build a culture of dialogue.*** ***\*\*\*Attention! This is an in-person event only. We need a minimum of 10 attendees for gaining the most value (besides the hosts). We will notice you in advance for a go/no go around February the 20th, 2026 \*\*\**** *Drawing from real consultancy experience and organizational case studies, we’ll unpack how feedback is shaped by deeply embedded systems of judgment, social conditioning, business culture, and biological responses to threat.* **Cool concrete case studies shared of different organizations with a diversity of challenges.** Let’s be honest: the word “feedback” can make your stomach clench. We brace for awkward conversations that end in painful silence, or we swallow our frustration to keep the peace. We worry about disrupting relationships or being misunderstood, so we often say nothing at all. But what is the true cost of this silence? Misunderstandings fester, trust erodes, and team morale quietly slips away. Ironically, by avoiding feedback to protect our relationships, we often end up creating the very disconnection we feared. As a result, we've developed a deeply unhelpful relationship with feedback treating it as a confrontation to be dreaded rather than a conversation for connection and growth. **Shift consciousness, habits, and leadership behavior at every level. Explore how to create cultures of dialogue instead of confrontation, where people feel seen, heard, and able to grow.** *** ### **Agenda** 17:30 - 18:00 Walk in 18:00 - 18:45 * Welcome & personal story * Current Systematics of Feedback 18:45 - 19:15 FOOOOD 19:15 - 20:30 * Clear Case Studies Example(s) of Feedback Systematics * Change the System of Feedback 20:30 Netwerk + Walk Out 21:00 Please go home you lovely people **Who Should Attend:** * Leaders * HR Professionals * Scrum Masters * Agile Coaches * Change Agents * Anyone who want to move beyond labels and is interested in creating a feedback culture.

**Would you like to stand out at Storytelling, Communicating and Public Speaking?** **Have you ever wondered what your world would look like if you could:** **1.** Be part of a distinctively compatible, supportive and fun community that encourages each other to tangibly improve together? **2.** Connect on a deeper wholehearted level to the people you speak to, and become a highly influential Storyteller, Communicator and Public speaker? **3.** Speak to any person or group of people with high confidence, high relevance and high influence? At SPACE, you’ll be immersed into a compatible and connected community, to learn/improve both the practical/technical skills and structure to deliver great stories and speeches, as well as the mindset to be 100% present, focused and connected to your audience while communicating. Attending **consistently** is vital to the learning process! **Our concept:** **Community, Connection and Communication,** through practice and feedback of relevant, effective and influential communication; aimed at helping improve our communities, and this way help the world become a better place. **Who is it for:** SPACE is for anyone willing to grow and help others succeed. We go beyond the basics of traditional communication/public speaking, creating a more significant, more peaceful and more plentiful world, for you and the people you interact with. We master the mindset by experiencing the "practice & feedback" of vital skills, such as Presence, Focus and Connection, plus speech Relevance, speech Structure and speech Delivery, while communicating. Every participant delivers short stories/speeches, which are constructively evaluated by a friendly, open, non-judgemental and supportive audience. **Think of your own stories/speeches to deliver during the meeting** \- relevant to you/your life \(work\, business\, family\, social talks\, challenging talks\, etc\) \- we'll all give you our wholehearted feedback with high kindness and best intentions 💟 💟 **What will you master?** • A mindset of high presence, high focus and high connection. Genuinely connecting to the people you speak to, becoming highly influential • Giving and gaining feedback, openly, compassionately and confidently • Mindset and practical and technical skills and structure for great stories and speeches (skills for life) • Speaking with high confidence, high relevance and high influence **Speaking genres?** • Storytelling • General topics • Comedy • Business • Debating **Why is it called SPACE?** 1\. We meet at a **physical space** to enable true connection face-to-face and strengthen our community 2\. We are a **safe space** without judgment, errors or criticisms; we yet strive for high-value, sound feedback and meaningful growth - fully committed to **facilitating space** for everyone to be their true authentic selves. 3\. We all create a **space for functional growth** of your confidence and skills to communicate and present in front of others, tapping into your inner-self wisdom. **Who is it for?** For everyone who wants to learn and/or improve storytelling, communication and public speaking - C**onsistency** is vital to your learning process at conscious but more fundamentally at subconscious level **When?** Every Thursday from 18:30 to 21:00 – free event - please diarize it and turn up 5/10 minutes earlier for free tea/coffee - After the session, we continue to enjoy tea, socialise and strengthen our community **Where?** Buurtkamer Rijn 58 Dynamo - At Rijnstraat 58, 1078 RD Amsterdam ⚉ ***If you can’t attend, please deregister your attendance so someone else can take your spot!*** **⚉** While the meetings are facilitated in English to enable inclusion, we encourage members to deliver speeches in Dutch too. Join our WhatsApp community just by asking at any of our meetings! **Contact:** +44 7985 623 265 (call/text/WhatsApp/Signal)

Hey Everyone! 👋 **Location:** \- On\-site: Dataroots Offices\, Arnould Nobelstraat 32 Leuven \- Online: Zoom link TBA **Practicalities for the evening on Thursday, March 5th:** \- 18:00: Doors Open\, pizza & drinks \- 19:00: Speaker Talks \- 20:30: Networking & Drinks **Welcome to edition 14 of the Generative AI Belgium Meetup! 🚀** This time, we go on a quest. Many epics speak of the brave and the adventurous going on a quest to conquer, slay, tame, or train a dragon along the way. The last three years of AI developments have their own stories of creativity, novel paths, and unforeseen challenges that seemed too big to tackle. In this edition, we want to bring some stories of people and teams who didn't choose the easiest path, but the most interesting one. Join us on March 5th at Dataroots, Arnould Nobelstraat 32, Leuven, to meet these brave souls and get a feel for what it takes to tackle a challenge from scratch. Whether it's navigating the dragon that is the EU AI Act, training and running a custom language model, or building production-ready systems, every path has its own fire-breathing challenges. See you there! **Line-up:** \- 🐉 [Niels Tack](https://www.linkedin.com/in/niels-tack/): Taming The EU AI Act - Compliance as code \- 🏰 [Sohum Bhatt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sohum-bhatt-530114230/): Taming Local LLMs to build applications \- ⚔️ [Maarten Vandeperre:](https://www.linkedin.com/in/maarten-vandeperre/) Taming AI Sovereignty \- 🤺[Lode Nachtergaele:](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lodenachtergaele/) Taming Agentic RAG - How Agentic Beats RAG Big thanks to Dataroots for hosting us and to our sponsors: In The Pocket, BruCON, Red Hat, Collibra, Plainsight & Volta Ventures for supporting the community.

**Design Reimagined Utrecht (DRU) - 05 March 2026** Hosted by University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (HU) Join us for an evening of professional insight and networking as we explore how to integrate service design into your everyday role and master the art of the persuasive pitch. 📅 **Date & Time** **Date:** Thursday, 5 March 2026 **Time:** 18:00 – 21:00 📍 **Location** **Venue:** Hogeschool Utrecht, Room 0.011 **Address:** Padualaan 99, 3584 CH Utrecht 🎙️ **Featured Speakers** **[Bindu Upadhyay](https://www.linkedin.com/in/upadhyaybindu/)** \| Senior Service Designer\, **GitLab** Topic: ***"Adopting a Service Design mindset for your role."*** **[Varsha Prasad N M](https://www.linkedin.com/in/varshnm/)** \| Founder\, **IdeaCompass** Topic: ***"Designing the Pitch: Crafting Stories That Win Support."*** 🌯 There will be snacks and drinks. 🔗 **Join the Community** Space is limited, so please ensure you register your attendance through our Meetup page.

¡Compartamos juntos con el grupo de personas más divertido de la ciudad!... ¡en español! No necesitas ser un hablante fluido o nativo.... ¡Solo atrévete a compartir! Te esperamos a las 20hrs.... ¡Entrada gratuita! ¡Nos vemos! ¡Hasta entonces! 😃 Let's share together with the funniest group of people in town!... in Spanish! You don't need to be a fluent or native speaker.... Just dare to share! We wait for you at 20hrs ....Free entry! Nos vemos! Tot dan! 😃 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/habladores/ Meetup Link: https://www.meetup.com/nl-NL/los-habladores/ Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/los_habladores_utrecht/ Los Habladores!

Met veel enthousiasme kondigen we de eerste meetup van 2026 aan, gehost bij Flink Software in Nijmegen. **Programma** 17:30 - 18:00 Inloop + hapje/drankje 18:00 - 18:45 **Tame your Llama, run AI in Java** \- Lutske de Leeuw 18:45 - 19:00 Pauze 19:00 - 20:00 **Breaking Bad (Code): An Interactive Guide to Security Code Review** \- Arjan Gelderblom \(First8 Conclusion\) 20:05 - 21:00 Netwerken en gezelligheid **Tame your Llama, run AI in Java** \- Lutske de Leeuw Ready to supercharge Java projects with AI? This session will demonstrate how Java developers can harness the power of Llama models locally to create AI-driven applications without needing a deep machine learning background. The session begins with the essentials, covering environment setup, and dives into loading and running Llama models in Java. Through hands-on examples, attendees will learn how to use Llama for powerful tasks like natural language processing and classification, bringing intelligent features to Java applications. Forget complicated setups and steep learning curves. By the end of the session, participants will be equipped to incorporate advanced AI into their Java apps with ease. Whether enhancing user experiences, automating tasks, or improving decision-making, this talk provides practical skills to bring cutting-edge AI to any project. Takeaways: \- How to set up and run Llama models in a Java environment\. \- Practical applications of Llama for natural language processing and classification\. \- How to seamlessly integrate AI\-driven functionality into existing Java projects\. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the world of AI with Java. This session offers a code-centric, hands-on dive into Llama, leaving attendees with actionable skills ready for immediate use in real-world applications. **Breaking Bad (Code): An Interactive Guide to Security Code Review** \- Arjan Gelderblom \(First8 Conclusion\) Most security vulnerabilities slip through code review not because they're cleverly hidden, but because reviewers don't know what patterns to recognize. While automated tools catch obvious flaws, the subtle logic errors and architectural weaknesses that lead to real breaches require a trained human eye—and most developers have never been taught how to look. This interactive talk transforms participants from passive code readers into active security reviewers. Through five progressively challenging code review exercises drawn from real-world vulnerabilities, attendees will learn to spot security flaws across multiple vulnerability categories. Between challenges, we'll build a systematic framework for security-focused code review: developing an attacker's mindset, recognizing dangerous patterns, performing data flow analysis, and prioritizing security concerns based on risk. This session is designed for developers at any experience level who conduct or participate in code reviews. No prior security expertise required—just bring your ability to read code and willingness to think like an attacker. **We kijken ernaar uit je te zien op 5 maart! 👋**

⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) **Join the Utrecht** **Dinner Club and make new friends!** Each meetup brings together 4–6 people for casual conversations over dinner. We use the Groupvibe platform to facilitate the meetup and ensure everyone’s a good fit. **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) We’ll share the exact location of the upcoming meetup the night before only if you have bought a ticket or membership plan. **Why this works:** \* Smaller groups make real conversations easier. \* Discover new restaurants in your city, together. \* Curated dinner venues with good food and vibe. \* If you hit it off with your group, there’s plenty of time to hang out afterwards. **Note:** RSVPs on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. The event on [Meetup.com](http://meetup.com/) is only a placeholder. This meetup is organized by Groupvibe, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.

Join us for a fun session of improv theatre in English! A great opportunity to meet new people in Utrecht and learn something new with [Improv Utrecht](https://improvutrecht.nl). Everyone can partcipate, you don't need any experience in theatre nor fluency in English. In this session you will: * Meet fellow international and local players. * Learn the basics of improvisation, a 21st-century skill that is useful in many aspects of life. * Get out of your head. * Enjoy failing. * Play funny and moving theatre games. * Laugh a lot, while surprising yourself and others. Doors open: 19:50-20:00, come in with the others ([SIDE entrance, at the Troelstralaan](https://maps.app.goo.gl/ntLDUqbkDxMHjp7B7)). After 20:01 the door may be closed, but you may find a participant who knows the door code. Workshop: 20:00-22:00 Every Friday except in school holidays Afterwards we have drinks at [O'Leary's](https://maps.app.goo.gl/gL878K1MZf8v5fpm7) pub together ### How to sign up Full details about how to sign up and any other questions you may have can be [found on our website](https://www.improvutrecht.nl/drop-in-workshops/). An RSVP in this Meetup event is not enough! We track attendance by counting the attendants in GrasshopperSignup. If you flag yourself as attending and can no longer make it, please delete your x in the sheet so that someone else can take your spot. If you leave your contact details at the Signup form we will contact you if there is a problem with a drop-in you are scheduled to attend. We also have a WhatsApp group with a variety of members from across Utrecht where we share events and updates. You can find our courses and shows on [our website](https://www.improvutrecht.nl). Participation is pay-what-you-can, but we suggest a donation of €10-20 by cash or Tikkie to help cover costs (location, travel) and show your appreciation for our professional trainers who dedicate their Friday to promoting improv.

## Details **What is Toastmasters?** Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that’s been empowering people to become confident communicators and leaders since 1924. Worldwide, there are more than 266,000 members in over 14,200 clubs in 150 countries. In the Netherlands, there are over **40 clubs** across the country, including those in major cities such as Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Rotterdam. This network of clubs and their learn-by-doing program is sure to help you improve. You can visit Toastmasters clubs as a guest or become a member. **What does a meeting look like?** Some of the members give short, prepared speeches, which other club members later evaluate. A typical meeting also includes short impromptu speeches. In this improvisation part of the meeting, everybody gets a chance to speak, including guests, if they wish. We usually end the evening with a drink at the bar. **How do I become a guest at a meeting?** It’s easy! Simply RSVP for one of our upcoming meetings here on Meetup to let us know you’re coming. If you have any questions, contact us at [utrechttoastmasters@gmail.com.](http://utrechttoastmasters@gmail.com./) If you visit and like us, we can talk about membership! **Additional information** Our cozy venue has a maximum capacity of 30 people - perfect for an engaging. Please be on time to grab a seat and mingle before the speeches begin!

## 🎨**Activity for EXPATS & English Speakers** ☕ Are you an art enthusiast living in or around **Amersfoort, Hilversum, Utrecht, Nieuwegein, IJsseltein, De Bilt and the rest of cities of the Utrecht's province** who love painting or drawing? Maybe you've felt the joy of creating but struggled to find others who share your passion and speak **ENGLISH**? **You're not alone! 😉** ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## 🖌️**About this event** You will meet other Art Lovers like you to Draw, Paint and have some drinks Together ! Our events are not just about sketching or creating art—they’re about building connections. Every two weeks, we meet at a café to have a relaxing time drawing a painting. Please keep on mind that **ENGLISH i**s the official language we will use to integrate everyone in our conversations. ⭕⭕⭕➡️ **IMPORTANT ⬅️** ⭕⭕⭕⭕ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**Book formally your Seat 🪑via [WHATSAPP](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** **If you want to confirm officially your attendance and separate your seat🪑. Book your seat in meet-up, and contact us via [WHATSAPP HERE](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f) to receive more information on the address of our activities.** **Thanks a lot for your understanding!** 💐🥰 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**How Does It Work?** This event is simple, this initiative takes 2 Hours. Most of the participants use pencils, water pencils or watercolours. Main aim is to socialize while we draw. There will be plenty of time to talk and get to know each other. We have to mention that this event is suitable for all levels. Many have started to draw in our event actually. Also it is very important that you **[JOIN US AT OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f),** to stay up to date on our upcoming events and participate in our Drawing and Painting Contests! **👉: [https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** 🍀 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### ☕**Where?** We will meet in different cafes mainly in the *center of Amersfoort ( and some occasions in other cities around)*. I will inform you of the exact place some days in advance this event. The place will depend on the number of attendees. ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### **🎟️ What is included?** 🟢 **2 HOURS TO HAVE FUN!** 🟢 **15 mins warming-up creative activity and paper material**🖌️🎨 🟢 New friendships and **conversations in ENGLISH** in a relaxed atmosphere 🟢 **Souvenir picture** with you and the rest of Art Lovers 📷 🟢 Exclusive **access to our Art Lovers Community** on which you will receive: ***\~\~\~ Drawing challenges,*** ***\~\~\~ Training content,*** ***\~\~\~ FREE Entries only to members*** ***\~\~\~ Drawing Competitions*** 🟢 Time to **create alongside fellow artists and amateurs** 🟢 The freedom to **work at your own pace** 💃🕺🎈 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 🖼️**Art Materials?** Bring your own practical art materials to be adaptable to sketch on a coffee table. Like your sketchbook, pencils, watercolor, markets, pencils, your Tablet..etc ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## **See you to Paint, Draw, and drink together!🌟☕🍷🍪🍰**

We’re heading out onto a **brand new trail** on the Veluwe, one we’ve never walked before. That alone makes this hike extra exciting. New paths, new views, and that lovely feeling of discovery from start to finish. From the start we dive **straight into the forest**, following winding woodland paths that slowly pull us deeper into the heart of the Veluwe. The forest feels calm and spacious, and with spring just around the corner you’ll notice nature quietly waking up. Budding trees, fresh greens, birds getting busier. It’s that in between season where everything is preparing itself. After several kilometers of forest walking, the landscape opens up as we reach the **Hoog Soerensche Veld**. Wide open fields, big skies, and that classic Veluwe contrast between forest and heath. From here we continue towards the **Asselsche Heide**, one of the quieter and more scenic parts of the Veluwe. This section offers lovely viewpoints, open heathland, and long sightlines that really give you that spacious Veluwe feeling. We finish where we started, completing a **full loop hike** through forests, open fields, and heathland. **📍When and where to meet?** We’ll meet at 11h30 at busstop Hoog Buurloseweg https://maps.app.goo.gl/sCMJ8Kg7MTUcYu1j7 ⏰ **We start walking a few minutes after meeting up** — we don’t wait for latecomers, as the forest calls and daylight is short this time of year. **🚗 Coming by car?** You can park here but please also do your own research: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sCMJ8Kg7MTUcYu1j7 **⏸️ Planned Breaks** After 9 km: 30 min lunch break in nature After 15 km: 15 min break in nature **💸 Payment** Please pay as soon as you sign up: To keep things fair for everyone, if we don’t receive your payment within 48 hours, we will need to remove you from the participant list. If there’s a waiting list, this will happen sooner (in less than 48 hours). If that happens, no worries — you’re always welcome to sign up again if there’s space. 🌟 Early Bird Deal! Join now for just €4 — available for 3 days (72h). After that, the price will be €5. Please pay here: [https://tikkie.me/pay/jto80gauep7vg7g1s9gp](https://tikkie.me/pay/jto80gauep7vg7g1s9gp) **👟 Good to know** * Refund policy: Cancellations are fully refundable up to 1 week before the event (This is Monday 2 March at 23h59). After this period, the fee becomes non-refundable. * Hike difficulty: Our hikes are moderately challenging. Please only join if you’re confident you can keep up with the group’s pace (5 km/ h)— it’s more fun for everyone when we can walk together without long waits. * If the pace is too challenging: We may kindly suggest you continue at your own pace. We’ll give you clear directions to the nearest bus or train so you can return comfortably. * At your own risk: You participate at your own risk, so please make sure you have appropriate insurance coverage for outdoor activities. * Payment note: With Tikkie we only see initials (e.g., J. Doe instead of John Doe). Please include your Meetup name in the payment note so we can match it easily. * Friends joining: If you bring a friend, make sure they also register and pay. * What to bring: Snacks, lunch, and water/ or hot thee/ coffee. * Stay connected: Join our WhatsApp group to be the first to hear about future hikes — ask for the QR code during the hike. * T-shirts: Fairwear-certified organic cotton, eco-friendly inks — €25. Sustainable, odor-resistant, and perfect for hiking. Let us know your size and we’ll bring one for you.

Welcome to the event page of the Walk & Talk in Arnhem city center, taking place on Sunday March 8th, 2026. This event is open for everyone to join, including Dutch and internationals, and it’s meant for connection, relaxation and meeting new people. **Practical information** \- The meetup of this walk is at 13:00 at Arnhem station\, near Burger King\. We’ll start walking after 10 minutes\. \- A walk like this is at a casual pace and usually takes about 2 hours\, including breaks\. This walk focuses on an area\, not a specific route\, so there’s some room for suggestions of participants\. \- We will take a coffee break at a café in between or afterwards if there's enough interest\. Everyone pays for their own\. \- B\-YOU: Bring your own umbrella\, in case of rain\. If the weather is really unacceptable we will go to a café instead\, or cancel the entire event\. You will be updated if either is the case\. \- You can leave at any time you like\. Our walks are generally circular\, so we are usually close to a bus stop\. **Sign up via Meetup OR E-mail** Please sign up for this event by RSVP on Meetup OR send an e-mail to ‘[urbanarnhem@gmail.com](mailto:urbanarnhem@gmail.com)’. We ask for a 2,- euro contribution per person to help maintain our Meetup page. This will be handled via Tikkie about 72 hours before the event. We hope to see you there! \*\*\* **Disclaimers** \*SOCIAL MEDIA We might upload some of our photos and videos on social media. If you don't want to be recognized, please let us know. Our Instagram is: [@urbanrural.arnhem](http://instagram.com/urbanrural.arnhem) \*RESPECT & SAFETY Everyone partaking in the event must be treated with respect, and safety is being highly prioritized. Anyone violating this can and will be required to leave. Please contact the organizer if you feel something is wrong.

Join us for a beautiful hike in the Austerlitz area * We **start at 11:15** From: Raadhuisplein 1, 3951 XT Maarn https://maps.app.goo.gl/WogeofsFNuDyBgrN9 * Length: \~16 km (4 - 5 hr hiking) * What to bring: lunch, water, snack. * For whom: As always, sporty folks that like to combine social event with being active in nature. **Getting there by Train:** * To train station: Maarn https://maps.app.goo.gl/UkHaTRXZZW9zG3dn9 **Getting there by Car:** * Parking in the streets close to: Raadhuisplein 1, 3951 XT Maarn https://maps.app.goo.gl/WogeofsFNuDyBgrN9 **Note:** * Please **pay a small fee (3 euro)** to help us cover the (increased) yearly Meetup contribution of 240 euro. We'll ask you to pay before the start of the hike (can be on the day itself). No refunds, but in the unlikely event that hike would be cancelled and you already paid, you don't need to pay for your next hike. Thank you so much! Use the **safe link** here: https://betaalverzoek.rabobank.nl/betaalverzoek/?id=vezo1ouZS0yORJXINF58jA * Keep in mind that the hike can be canceled when the weather is very bad (**always check the event before you go**). * If you RSVP 'yes' we expect you to show-up. Please do not cancel less than 24 hours before the hike. **No-shows** will lead to your removal from the group. Thanks for the understanding. * By signing up for this event, you agree to release the organizers from any responsibility and liability in all claims. As the participation is strictly voluntary and you freely choose to join, it is the responsibility of individuals participating to ensure that they are fit enough and have adequate coverage to protect themselves.

The topic for March is "Our Bodies, Ourselves" 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!

Inspired by our successful events like "Saturday Mornings @ East Market" and other "Pot Luck in the Park" lunches, this gathering promises to be a blend of fun conversations, language exchange, and cultural insights, all while sharing wonderful foods with each other. Please bring a dish to share and anything you would like to drink. We will provide plates, plastic silverware and napkins. So, come hungry and ready to chat!

Whether you've never done improv before, or you've done it for so long you knew Del Close on a personal level, or anywhere in between, come join us! Swing by *Gresso's* for the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup** for some fun and games! The idea behind improv is to create entire scenes from scratch based on a suggestion from the audience. This can be done in game form, like *Whose Line Is It Anyway*, *ComedySportz*, or *Wild 'n Out*; it could also be done to tell stories, like *Middleditch and Schwartz*. Our meetup, which is central Ohio's longest running (and free!) weekly comedy event, brings the games (and occasionally different forms) for you to play in a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment. Not only is it a lot of fun, but you get to work on thinking faster on your feet, plus it's an excellent way to meet new people and make friendships that'll last a lifetime! Ask yourself if you want to join the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup**, and say "Yes, And" that you'll have fun!

Whether you've never done improv before, or you've done it for so long you knew Del Close on a personal level, or anywhere in between, come join us! Swing by *Gresso's* for the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup** for some fun and games! The idea behind improv is to create entire scenes from scratch based on a suggestion from the audience. This can be done in game form, like *Whose Line Is It Anyway*, *ComedySportz*, or *Wild 'n Out*; it could also be done to tell stories, like *Middleditch and Schwartz*. Our meetup, which is central Ohio's longest running (and free!) weekly comedy event, brings the games (and occasionally different forms) for you to play in a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment. Not only is it a lot of fun, but you get to work on thinking faster on your feet, plus it's an excellent way to meet new people and make friendships that'll last a lifetime! Ask yourself if you want to join the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup**, and say "Yes, And" that you'll have fun!

Come attend a free in-person seminar where you will find out why you: -Feel isolated -Can't express yourself openly -Get nervous or anxious in front of people -Run out of things to say or feel tongue-tied -Feel introverted -Don't feel comfortable in any social setting -Can't make more friends -Are shy and miss opportunities to connect in a meaningful way And we cover what you can do about any one, some or all of the above. This seminar is the weapon against loneliness, isolation and boredom, come join us! COME TO THIS SEMINAR AND LEARN THE SECRETS TODAY This seminar is brought to you by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center. 1266 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215

[The Board Walks](http://www.theboardwalks.com/) are for curious people who love deep conversations. If that sounds like you, **bring a thoughtful topic** and join us for a 5-mile walk (10,000+ steps!). **HOW IT WORKS** **Step 1: Bring a topic** Before you arrive, think of **one** topic you want to explore. A question. A thought that's been on your mind. An obsession you want to geek out on. This is your ticket to the event. **Step 2: Circle up & share** We gather in a circle. Your friendly walk host gives a speech to set the tone. Everyone shares: your name, what you're grateful for, and your topic. That's it. 60 seconds. **Step 3: Walk, talk & float** We walk 5 miles. You naturally drift into conversation with 2-3 people at a time, pulled by topics that spark your curiosity. When you're ready to move on, just say: "I'm going to float!" **Step 4: Feel more alive** Two hours flies by. You're back where you started — but you feel different. More alive. More energized. More connected to yourself and others. That's why regulars join 20+ times. *For more details, read our [Orientation Guide.](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation)* **HOW TO BRING A GREAT TOPIC** A great topic = something you're genuinely curious about. Recent topics include: * "What are you passionate about right now?" * "What makes a good friend?" * "What's a belief you used to hold that you've completely changed?" * "How do you want to be remembered?" * "What would you do if money wasn't a factor?" Think of your topic like the dish you're bringing to our conversational potluck. If everyone brings an A+ dish (i.e. energizing, uplifting, expansive), we'll all walk away feeling lighter and brighter. **WHAT TO EXPECT** This isn't a fitness event with casual chitchat. It's a walking think tank where we explore life's big questions together, beyond small talk. *If you're looking for light banter or a standard networking event, this probably isn't the right fit.* But if you crave depth, genuine connection, and conversations that make you feel alive? You'll love it here. **FAQ** * Wear casual athletic attire and sneakers. It's a long walk! * We have multiple first-timers at each event. We work hard to create a welcoming, inclusive, clique-free space. * We welcome people of **all** ages, backgrounds, and industries who align with the [intention](https://www.theboardwalks.com/ground-rules) of this space. * Rain or shine, we've been out here nearly every week since July 2022. If the event is cancelled, we'll let you know. * Dogs, babies in strollers, parents, and friends are welcome — please text/email them the event link so they can RSVP and prepare a topic! **LOGISTICS** * If you'll arrive over 10 minutes late, we suggest skipping the event. It's hard to find us once we start walking, and your host can't answer messages during the event. * This walk is designed for everyone to *move together at the same steady pace* (about 20 min/mile). This format works best when the whole group moves in unison. If you have mobility limitations, we kindly encourage you to find an event better suited to your needs. * Read our [Orientation Guide](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation) for full details. * If you enjoy the event, send **[this](http://www.theboardwalks.com/)** to a friend or sign up for our **[newsletter](https://theboardwalks.beehiiv.com/)**. We're in multiple cities with more on the way. 🤠👋 **IF YOU WANT TO GO DEEPER...** [The Board](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board) is the next step: a high-trust collective for renaissance people devoted to creating, connecting, and building lives that light us up. * This is a global HQ for people who crave big talk, deep connection, and dream collaborations with people across industries. If the walks feel like a spark... The Board is the fire. Apply [here](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board).

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."