Professors

At the group's first meetup, we will informally discuss whether self-improvement has an end or is a never-ending process. To inspire the discussion, I selected two short blog posts with opposing perspectives. The [first post](https://markmanson.net/self-improvement#:~:text=There%27s%20a%20paradox%20with,the%20need%20to%20improve%20yourself.) is by Mark Manson, the author of *The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F#ck*. He argues that: “*There’s a paradox with self-improvement (...): the ultimate goal of all self-improvement is to reach the point where you no longer feel the need to improve yourself (…). The whole goal of improving your productivity is to reach the point where you never have to think about how to be more productive. The whole point of pursuing happiness is to reach the point where one no longer has to think about being happy. (…)* *The only way to truly achieve one’s potential, to become fully fulfilled, or to become “self-actualized” (…), is to, at some point, stop trying to be all of those things.”* The [second post](https://maartenvandoorn.medium.com/self-improvement-doesnt-have-an-end-it-is-the-end-6bbb3247ff6f) is by Maarten van Doorn, who wrote it as a reply to Mark Manson’s post. Van Doorn argues that self-improvement doesn’t have an end because it is an end in itself: *“‘The paradox of self-improvement’, as Mark calls it, is not that self-improvement, despite appearances, has as its ultimate goal something that’s ‘in your head’. No, the true paradox of self-improvement is that it’s perhaps the only kind of improvement that is not done for the sake of whatever it is being improved, but for its own sake.* *Self-improvement has intrinsic value and, in contrast to productivity, becoming better and exercising skills are essential components of what makes life worth living (…)* *Personal growth shouldn’t be thought of as a band-aid to fix something. That’s not what it’s for. What it’s for, is to prevent you from settling for eternal boredom — and your life from going by unnoticed*.” What do you think? **Reading the posts beforehand is optional** — Just in case you want to read them, here are the links: * ‘[What is self-improvement’ by Mark Manson](https://markmanson.net/self-improvement#:~:text=There%27s%20a%20paradox%20with,the%20need%20to%20improve%20yourself.). * ‘[Self-improvement doesn’t have an end, it is the end’ by Maarten van Doorn](https://maartenvandoorn.medium.com/self-improvement-doesnt-have-an-end-it-is-the-end-6bbb3247ff6f) We will also have time to talk about ourselves and brainstorm ideas for next meetups. See you soon. Ángel

This group is for anyone who writes - for any reason. Have a thesis or article you need to write? Trying to finish a novel or an academic paper? This group is for you. We are currently meeting in-person at Locus Workspace. If you have any questions, contact Sonya Lano here or on Facebook or Messenger (https://www.facebook.com/sonya.lano). We start at 9:00, introduce ourselves, and share a few words about what we're working on and what we hope to accomplish during the session. At the end of the session, you can give us a brief recap of how it went. We'll break at noon. The afternoon session starts at 2:00 pm. You're welcome to join both sessions or just one. Please come as close to 9:00 as you can if you come for the morning session. If you come to the afternoon session, we are usually back by about a quarter to 2:00.

NOTE THE TIME CHANGE TO 9AM Hi All, Come and join us for social running and a coffee! We meet at the main gate of Vystaviste - tram stop Vystaviste Holesovice. We will run in Stromovka. Usually we run around 50mins and it is up to everyone how many kilometres. We welcome all levels of runner. We can all run together or, if there is more of us, we can split into groups and at the end of the run we all meet close to the starting point to go for a coffee to a nice local coffee place (where they also sell cakes and great chocolate). If the weather is great, we can also just sit in one of the outside coffee placces in Stromovka and enjoy the sun. This is where we meet: http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/7/3/1/600_447930513.jpeg

Join us for a movie night at **Kino Atlas** on **Saturday, May 30th.** We’ll meet at **18:45** ***at the Kino Atlas Cafe*** before the film starts at **19:15**. I will be waiting at the cafe, so please look me up (reference my meetup photograph). We'll be watching *[Five Plums (Pět švestek)](https://kinoatlaspraha.cz/?program=8121),* a new drama by Jan Svěrák about a group of old friends revisiting advenures of their younger days. Come enjoy this screening and stay for a drink and a chat about the film afterwards! **NOTE:** Please buy your own tickets (available online: [tickets](https://goout.net/en/tickets/pet-svestek/fpplb/)). (I got row 4, seat 7) **Kind request:** If you register to attend but later cannot make it, please update your RSVP in time — thank you!

This will be a simple first meeting for anyone in Prague who feels connected to Paramahansa Yogananda, SRF, Kriya Yoga, meditation, or sincere spiritual practice. We will meet casually for tea or coffee, introduce ourselves, and talk about what kind of informal circle would be helpful here in Prague. There is no pressure, no formal structure, and no expectation that anyone needs to be advanced or experienced. I am a relatively new SRF student myself, so this is not a teaching group. It is simply an attempt to create a friendly space for spiritual community. Everyone is welcome: SRF students, readers of Yogananda, meditators, curious beginners, international residents, Czech locals, and sincere seekers from any background. The goal is simply to meet peacefully and see whether there is interest in continuing. Event will be held in English. Location is to be decided upon depending on the amount of people who will show interest. **Please note:** To respect SRF guidelines, we will not share or discuss private SRF Lessons material, and we will not teach SRF meditation techniques. Anyone curious about SRF practice will be warmly directed to the official SRF Lessons and resources.

Who can attend this meetup: The tour is an introduction to Prague and is mainly for expats and visitors to our city but everybody who would like to join is invited. ***Important***, please also fill in the booking form on our [website](https://freewalkingtourprague.eu/en/schedule) if you are planning to come (otherwise we will not expect you). Description: Meet us by the Powder Tower, the historical gate to the Old Town and starting point of the Royal Route. Then have an educative walk through the narrow and picturesque streets of the historical center of Prague. Enjoy the unique diversity of architectural styles from Gothic to Art Nouveau. See some of the most interesting sites and get to know fascinating facts and legends of the 1000-year old capital of Bohemia. End the tour at the riverside 5 minutes away from the Charles Bridge, from which you can continue the tour on your own (or again with us) towards Malá Strana or Prague Castle. ====== Meeting point: We will be standing by the Powder Tower at the side of the Namestí Republiky square with a green umbrella in hand :) Map: https://goo.gl/maps/tzqKpZ2945S2 Price: there is no fixed price, you will be able to decide yourself how much you value the tour. If you don't know how much is best (and can afford it) we recommend 200Kč, but it really depends on you how much you contribute. Join us also on our [Facebook profile](https://www.facebook.com/freewalkingtoursprague/) :) and if you are travelling to other cities check out our friends at the [Free Tour Community website](https://freetourcommunity.com/). For any questions, please contact us at info@freewalkingtourprague.eu. Unfortunately, the meetup application does not always send us phone notifications. Reminder - only people who booked on our [official free walking tour website](https://freewalkingtourprague.eu/en/schedule) can join the tour and if the tour shows fully booked on the website it means there are no free spots. The meetup list doesn't count in this case. We look forward to meeting you, Michal, Amanda, Lana, Iva & Chris

**The Most Chill Speed Friending Event in Town 😎✨** Expand your social circle like eating tapas: bite-sized, fresh, and absolutely zero pressure. 👋 Tapas Topics is built for people who value smaller social circles, natural connections, and a well-structured evening. Get a feel for up to 6 new people a night without going too deep, too fast. We do the heavy lifting for you so you can simply enjoy the freedom of meeting new people with ease. ✅ **Short Rotations** → You get around 10 minutes per person. It's the perfect amount of time to see if you click, with an automatic escape hatch to keep everything light and fresh. ✅ **300+ Digital Icebreakers**→ You can wing conversations naturally or simply tap into our app's "conversation menu" for a fresh new topic anytime you want. ✅ **Clear Structure** → No awkward standing around wondering how to start. Everyone gets a comfortable seat, a clear rotation, and a guaranteed chat with lovely people. 🔥 **THE BETA TEST** We are perfecting our custom app and rotation flow before transitioning to a paid model. Entry is 100% FREE until the end of June! All we ask in return is your candid feedback afterward. 🙌 🕒 **SCHEDULE** 17:35 - Doors open: Arrive early, grab a drink, and open our web app. (**Walk through the restaurant to the OPEN ATRIUM on the right**) 17:45 - The Clock starts! ⏱️ 19:00 - Wrapping up 19:30 - Afterparty 👉 **The Afterparty**: Once we wrap up, we transition into our famous social mixer, The Bar Nomads, right close by. Grab a drink and dive deeper with the people you clicked with (Free entry!). 🍹 👉 **Contacts:** We keep it organic. No automated matching systems here—just ask for their details directly at the afterparty! 💡 **Good to Know:** The event is hosted in English. It's relaxed, cozy, and open to both expats and locals. Just come as you are! *Note: By attending, you consent to being photographed (casual snapshots during the event and a group selfie at the end).*

**Teachers: Let’s talk shop, make new professional connections and life long friendships! Please 30CZK to support the cost if the monthly fee and anyone who forgets to pay.**

🚣‍♂️🌿 Trade the city noise for the rhythm of the river… Step into a hidden gorge carved by the Sázava River and let the current guide your adventure. As you paddle through calm waters and gentle bends, each turn reveals towering rock formations, lush greenery, and moments of pure calm. Whether it’s your first time in a canoe or you’ve paddled before, this journey is all about enjoying the ride. Spend 5–6 hours on the water, soaking in nature at its best, with plenty of breaks to relax, swim, and take it all in. We’ll even stop for lunch in one of the charming riverside villages tucked along the valley. No stress, no rush—your experienced guide will be there every step (and stroke) of the way, making sure you feel confident, safe, and ready to enjoy every moment. ✨ Paddle. Relax. Discover the Sázava. **What is included :** • Professional and friendly guide • Transportation from Prague • Visit Český Šternberk (13th century early Gothic castle) • Canoe rental (Samba) • Paddles, life jackets, waterproof bags or barrels. • See picturesque cabins from communist era • Visit the Sázava Monastery (former Benedictine abbey and a monastery in Bohemia, established by Bretislaus I, Duke of Bohemia around 1032) You can pay for the trip via: • Bank transfer: 7392420507/6363 • Revolut: @augustetqc • Wise: @agustind162 **More information at :** [https://www.facebook.com/events/2506704323104972/](https://www.facebook.com/events/2506704323104972/)

**The friendliest human pretzel making on a Sunday morning 🥨🥰** We gather at 10:00 AM for a quick warmup (everyone on their own) and then start the timer with 5-minute rounds and 30-60s rests. About 90% of people roll No-Gi. If you want to bring your Gi, make sure to reach out to someone to coordinate before you arrive. ✅ **No experience needed** → Ask someone to show you around. It is up to them if they will (this is not a formal class, but the vibe is always friendly!) 🥋 ✅ **No structure** → Roll every round, drill techniques, or just sit out and watch. 🤼 ✅ **No partner needed** → We rotate! Feel free to ask anyone taking a break. 👋 ✅ **Mat etiquette** → Clean gear, short nails, and flip-flops off the mat.🧼🩴 Wear a mouthguard (or do not complain afterwards!). 🛡️ ✅ **BONUS gym access** → Your entry includes access to the adjacent weight room if you want to pump some iron! 🦾 ✅ **Tickets** → Buy one entry to the GYM (150 CZK or a Multisport card) at the reception. **ASK for the RECEIPT** and have it ready to show before stepping onto the mat. 🎟️ *If you want to make new friends and have some good wrestles, grab your gear and let's make some Sunday pretzels!! 🥨🤼‍♂️🔥* **Pro-tip:** Bring a water bottle! 💧 Note that there is no big hangout afterwards—we warm up, roll, thank everybody, and then go home to enjoy the rest of our Sunday. ✌️

⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) **This is a curated, small-group meetup make new friends in Prague.** Each meetup brings together 4–6 like-minded people for casual conversations over brunch. We use the Groupvibe platform to organize and ensure everyone’s a good fit. 👉 **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:** [https://groupvibe.com](https://groupvibe.com) Once you register, and **buy a ticket or become a Groupvibe member**, we’ll share the exact location and match you with your group. **Why this works:** \* Smaller groups make real conversations easier \* Matching helps avoid awkward dynamics **Note:** RSVPs here on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. This meetup is organized by **Groupvibe**, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.

**IMPORTANT NOTICE:** Hi everyone, event listings are moving to the Shut Up & Write! website. You can join the new group and RSVP to upcoming events here: [https://www.shutupwrite.com/series/id2uL39KDN00](https://www.shutupwrite.com/series/id2uL39KDN00) If you don't have a Shut Up & Write! account yet, you can [sign up here](https://www.shutupwrite.com/signup). If you have any questions or would like any help, please [contact us here](https://www.shutupwrite.com/contact). Thank you! The Shut Up & Write! Team \-\-\- Hello, we are starting SU&W at Scouts Institute this Sunday! Please find us at a table across from the cafe. The event starts at 12, and the writing starts at 12:15! We will have 45 minutes of writing, followed by a 15 minute break. Then another 45 minutes of writing. Please purchase something to support the cafe and the space ☺️ Follow us on Whatsapp! https://chat.whatsapp.com/HeZDsZNFD8BKn8JohRlbkI

**The Easiest room to walk into on a Saturday night** 🤩🌍 We are a welcoming, high-energy tribe of locals, newcomers, and expats alike. Half the room is our stable core, the other is always brand new! We skip the awkward small talk and go straight for REAL connections ✨, naturally transitioning into a great party 🤩 later on. Our rules are simple: No pressure, no city masks, and absolutely no standing alone. Just grab a drink 🍹 and jump right in. You’ll leave feeling energized, connected, and a little bit more like a true Praguer. 😎🤙 👉 If you want to dive deeper, just show up and JOIN our LOCAL WhatsApp community of 250+ Praguers!

**6-a-side Football** practice at Pražačka Football artificial grass pitch. Maximum of 186 participants for 3 teams of 6. **Kick off at 12h00**. Everybody is welcome, no age, gender nor any restriction of any type to join. Cost: **90 crowns**. Please send the money using the **QR Code** stored here: https://imgur.com/a/PjU32Fi In case of any Opt-out within 24h of the session, or no show, the payment will be due (you still can ask someone to come instead of you, as your spot will be booked)

QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.

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!

Topic to be announced. **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

Click Here For More Videos: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17bwkttXhV/ *********************************** Salsamante Dance Academy will be at Swerve Every Tuesday Night to share the Rhythm & Energy of Bachata & Salsa. These are Beginner Level lessons to get you comfortable and understand the two dances. Spread the Good News to all. Swerve Dance & Fitness Complex 640 Lakeview Plaza Blvd A, Worthington, OH 43085 Bachata 7pm-8pm Salsa 8pm-9pm $15 - One Lesson $20 - Both Lessons

**The Behavior Gap: Where Products Win or Lose** Teams today have more data than ever, and yet many still struggle to understand why customers adopt, engage with, or abandon their products. Teams sprint, ship faster, and chase more signals… all while metrics stall and confidence drops. The missing piece isn’t more data. It’s often the behavioral insight between the metrics, explaining why the numbers move in the first place. Dashboards can tell you what customers did, but understanding why they did it (and how to influence what they do next) requires a deeper blend of insights. This session is about closing that gap. Drawing from real-world experience designing and scaling products as [ZoCo Design](https://zocodesign.com/)’s CEO, [Lacey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) will share how to cut through the noise and identify the insights that actually change behavior—moving people, and moving metrics. You’ll learn: * Why understanding customer behavior is a quant and qual challenge * How to spot the signals that actually predict behavior change * Where AI accelerates insight, and where it creates distraction * How to get meaningfully closer to customers, without adding more tools This talk reframes how to evaluate performance and identify what levers actually improve it, helping your team to make smarter bets with greater confidence. Every meaningful outcome is driven by behavior change. And when you know how to design for behavior, you stop guessing, and start building things that work. **About Our Speaker** [Lacey Picazo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) is the Founder and CEO of ZoCo, a healthcare product studio that turns complex, high-stakes ideas into products that drive real-world adoption. She partners with healthcare organizations to uncover critical care delivery insights, focus product strategy through behavior design, and build solutions that patients and providers actually use. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

## 🤝 Host Information A co-hosted event by ProductTank Columbus & Women in Product Columbus 💡 About the Workshop AI adoption is stalling across organizations — not because of a lack of motivation or tools, but because it's fundamentally a behavior design challenge. This hands-on workshop applies proven Behavior Design models and methods to help you move from a vague organizational wish to boost AI adoption to 3-5 concrete, testable interventions you can act on starting tomorrow. Whether you're a product manager, on a product team, or just someone trying to get AI to actually stick at work, you'll leave with a clear picture of what's worth focusing on, what to ignore, and how to drive real, sustained adoption — no guesswork required. 🛠️ What to Bring Laptop: Fully charged and ready to go. AI Assistant: Have your favorite AI assistant pulled up. (Dom will be using Claude, but feel free to use whichever assistant you prefer!) 🍕 Logistics & Perks Food & Drink: Pizza and drinks provided! Parking: Plenty of free spaces available on-site. ###

Private Group. Closed to the Public Knowing ourselves and understanding our abilities is the first step toward wielding our gifts with control and accuracy. In subsequent classes we will verify and hone our talents with activities and discussion. These are hands-on workshops and participation is expected. The goal of our series will be to develop expertise in areas of particular interest such as mediumship, channeling, divination, healing and, etc.. Our ultimate directions will be determined by class members as we evolve. I look forward to sharing and discovering with you. - Cynthia