Intelligent Conversation

Meet us for in-person talks at Zalando on February 17, 2026! Join us for an evening of practical talks on how GenAI is reshaping modern engineering workflows, from code agents to production-grade, guardrailed systems. Please make sure you register with your full name, as it will be checked by security on arrival. **📅Date and Time:** Tuesday, February 17, 2026 Doors open: 18:00 Opening & announcements: 18:30 Talks start: 18:35 Wrap-up & networking: \~20:30 📍**Location:** [Zalando Office BHW](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GELYd8FH7AnqEFNF8) Berlin Hedwig-Wachenheimstraße 7 (BHW) The main entrance is on the west-side of the building (towards Uber Arena). Participants should register at the Helpdesk, and will be picked up from there. 📝 **Agenda:** **18:00 – Doors Open** Pizza, drinks, and networking **18:30 – Opening** Short welcome and announcements from the organizers (5 min) ### **18:35 – Talk #1** **Building Blocks of Modern Code Agents: Reusable Skills and Role-Based Subagents** **[Alexey Grigorev](https://www.linkedin.com/in/agrigorev) — DataTalk.Club** A practical map of modern code agent types and the two key building blocks that make them reliable in real-world development workflows. Code agents appear in many forms today: chat-based assistants, cloud agents running CI-like workflows, and IDE or terminal agents embedded directly into development environments. In this talk, we’ll map these main categories, discuss what each is good at, and highlight where they commonly fail. We’ll then zoom in on two core building blocks used in modern agent tooling: * **Skills / playbooks** — reusable, step-by-step workflows (e.g. understand the repo → implement a change → run checks → produce a clean diff) * **Subagents** — specialized roles such as planner, implementer, reviewer, and tester that split complex work into focused, reliable steps **Format:** 20 min talk + 10 min Q&A ### **19:05 – Talk #2** **Guardrailed Agents at Scale: Zalando’s Support Agent for Incident Triage and Stakeholder Q&A** **[Ivan Potapov](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-sur/)**, **[Saugandh Karan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/saugandh-karan/)**[ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/saugandh-karan/)— Zalando SE We’ll share how Zalando built and shipped a specialized internal support agent that helps engineering teams answer stakeholder questions and triage operational alerts — without drowning in context or compromising production safety. The agent enriches user requests with relevant observability context (metrics, logs, traces, recent deploys), summarizes what matters, and produces a severity assessment with recommended next steps. A key challenge is context explosion: pulling “all the data” quickly becomes noisy, slow, and risky. We’ll walk through the architecture patterns and guardrails that keep the system production-ready: * Retrieval and ranking strategies * Strict tool boundaries * Policy-driven response formats * Evaluation checks to prevent overconfident or unsafe guidance Finally, we’ll cover rollout and migration: introducing the agent alongside existing workflows, aligning it with architecture guidelines, and iterating based on real incident feedback. **Format:** 20 min talk + 10 min Q&A ### **19:35 – Pizza, Drinks & Networking** Invite your friends and join our meetup. Special thanks to our hosts **[Zalando.](https://en.zalando.de/?_rfl=de)**

Greetings All, The Spiritual Discussion Programme (in English) on BLESS RADIO 1 is on today from 7pm to 9pm CET time which is 6pm to 8pm UK time. The topic is "What we experience in life is our doing" To listen visit [www.blessradio1.com](http://www.blessradio1.com/) Alternatively you can listen on [zeno.fm/radio/blessradio1](http://zeno.fm/radio/blessradio1) We are also live streaming on YouTube. Goto [www.YouTube.com](http://www.youtube.com/) Search for Blessradio1 Grail Message What we experience in life is our doing (i.e. TOPIC OF THE SHOW) After the show, you can also listen to the recording of the show on YOU TUBE (as above). Hope you can listen tonight and join in. You are welcome to join in the discussion by: PLEASE call /text / WhatsApp us with your questions or comments on +44 7939 641 958. OR MESSAGE us on Bless Chat box on [www.blessradio1.com](http://www.blessradio1.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2fGBcwr_zqUzBvp1UNYPsReHJqU4HJqhn3rg3XZGIk-3b5QHFKoJQolAs_aem_ONWb__d3tcI4BshpKmv6ag) Regards, Saad Farooqi

Note: This talk will be in English. / Hinweis: Dieser Vortrag wird auf Englisch gehalten. Join Aemal Sayer for an exciting live coding session where he demonstrates the power of combining enterprise-grade n8n workflow automation with modern AI-assisted development using Replit. In this 45-minute hands-on demo, Aemal will build a complete n8n execution monitoring dashboard from scratch using Replit's AI-powered "vibe coding" approach. Watch as a production-ready observability solution takes shape in real-time, featuring interactive charts, server-side pagination, advanced filtering, and direct integration with Supabase for secure data management. What you'll see: \- Live building an enterprise n8n monitoring dashboard \- Real\-time workflow execution tracking and analytics \- How AI\-assisted development accelerates enterprise tooling \- Best practices for n8n observability at scale About the Speaker: Aemal Sayer is an n8n Ambassador and CTO & Co-Founder of Avanai, an official n8n Expert Partner. Avanai helps enterprises reimagine work through AI agents and automation that deliver measurable results, from defining AI strategy and building intelligent agents to running and optimizing them as managed services. With over 20 years of experience in software engineering and a track record of collaborating with organizations like Siemens, Klarna and Allianz Aemal brings deep expertise in turning complex workflows into efficient, cost-saving solutions. Format: 45-minute live demo + 15-minute Q&A

In diesem Kurs beschäftigen wir uns mit verschiedenen Texten aus unterschiedlichen Bereichen. Das können u.a. kurze Geschichten, Gedichte, Zeitungsartikel, Kolumnen oder Videos sein. Immer sind es Themen, die uns gefallen, die wir besonders interessant, wichtig oder manchmal auch richtig schlecht finden. Gemeinsam versuchen wir die Position der Autor*in, den Stil und die Argumentationsstruktur zu verstehen. Dazu diskutieren wir über das, was wir verstehen, welche Meinung wir zu dem Thema haben oder welche Fragen offen bleiben.
Gerne könnt ihr uns auch Themenvorschläge mitbringen oder zuschicken.
Der Kurs richtet sich an interessierte Menschen mit einem B2-Niveau (oder so ähnlich), die Lust haben sich weiter mit der deutschen Sprache zu beschäftigen und ihren Wortschatz zu erweitern.
Die Termine sind sporadisch.

Informal meetup for anyone interested in or working with OpenClaw/Clawdbot. No talks or presentations. We'll discuss setups, learnings, and entrepreneurship. The group is intentionally small (6-8 people) to keep things relaxed. Come as you are. Stay as long as you like.

**Conscious Connected Breathwork by STUDIO B (https://www.studio-bewusstseinserfahrungen.de/)** This group is dedicated to **Conscious Connected Breathwork**, a powerful somatic practice for deep emotional release / nervous system release. Intensive states of awareness are possible. Through **conscious, connected breathing**, rhythmic music, and guided facilitation, participants are invited to access deeper layers of awareness, release stored stress and emotions, and reconnect with their inner resources. There are **no substances involved**. The work is grounded, body-based, and trauma-aware. I am a 200 h facilitator. ### This group is for you if you want to: * release stress, tension, and emotional blockages * explore non-ordinary states of consciousness through breath * experience clarity, emotional relief, and deep relaxation * release stucked emotions from the body ### Each session typically includes: * introduction and intention setting * guided conscious connected breathwork * music-supported journey * integration and grounding ### Contraindications This practice is **not suitable** for people with any of the following conditions: * pregnancy * epilepsy or history of seizures * severe cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure not medically controlled * recent surgery or acute physical injury * glaucoma or detached retina * severe asthma * diagnosed psychosis, bipolar disorder, or severe psychiatric conditions If you are unsure whether this practice is appropriate for you, please **consult your healthcare provider** or contact the facilitator in advance. **No prior experience is required.** Beginners are welcome. Sessions are guided with care, structure, and clear boundaries. This is a **safe, respectful space** for self-exploration, presence, and embodied awareness. Sessions are held in English & German. German participants are very welcome.[STUDIO B](https://www.studio-bewusstseinserfahrungen.de/)

What if your AI agent could talk to other agents… without you in the middle? 👀 Welcome to **Sprint #2 of the Agentic AI Engineering Lab** — a hands-on playground for developers, tinkerers, and curious minds. This time, we’re diving into the **[A2A (Agent-to-Agent) Protocol](https://a2a-protocol.org/)**, an emerging open standard designed to enable seamless communication and collaboration between autonomous AI agents. We won’t just talk about it....We’ll build, experiment and break it. Join us to see what happens. *** ### 🧪 What We’ll Do **10:00** — Quick round of introductions **10:10** — Intro session: Understanding the A2A Protocol **10:30** — Build time (hands-on experimentation) **12:00** — Live demos + technical teardown **12:45** — Wrap-up + takeaways *** ### 🚀 What to Expect * Hands-on building, not passive listening * Real agent-to-agent experiments * Collaboration with fellow builders * Fast ideas, quick tests, lots of learning *** ### 🚫 What Not to Expect * Long lectures * Step-by-step tutorials * Sales pitches * Perfect code This is a **lab** — we learn by building, breaking, and iterating. *** ### 👩‍💻 Who Should Join Curious developers, tinkerers, and engineers, with basic knowledge of AI Agents. Bring: * Laptop with dev setup * Access to an LLM (Claude / OpenAI / Ollama) * Comfort building small things in any language *** ### 📍 Location We first assemble at **Steinecke** (opposite **Martin-Luther Hospital**) before heading to the private boardroom. So, please **arrive before 10:00 AM CET.** Spots are limited to keep it interactive.

Deep Conversations – No Performances This is not a debate club. This is not a place to prove how smart you are. It’s a space for thoughtful, slow, and honest conversations. We value listening as much as speaking. We care more about questions than answers. Silence is welcome. Reflection is welcome. Ego performances are not. If you’re looking to dominate a discussion or “teach” the room, this probably isn’t for you. If you’re curious, self-aware, and open to being challenged — you’ll fit in. Small group. Real dialogue. No intellectual showmanship. This is a contribution-based event. Suggested amount: €5. It helps cover the Meetup platform and keeps the group sustainable. No pressure — but contribution reflects commitment.

Mit dem Titel "Philosophie 2.0" wird nicht zu viel versprochen. Nicht alles was mit 'Philosophie' bezeichnet wird, hat damit auch zu tun. Das gilt allgemein. Wörter werden zu oft nicht präzise gebraucht, aber wenn man alles mit beliebigen Wörtern bezeichnen würde, könnte man nichts mehr genau verstehen, könnte nichts mehr genau begreifen. Also blieben die Irrtümer bestehen. Das hätte mit Philosophie aber definitiv nichts mehr zu tun. Was also ist das Gegenteil belanglos-vieldeutigen Wörterverdehens mit hochassoziativen Sprüngen bei denen allerlei übersehen wird und ergo das Wesentliche nicht mehr als solches klar erkannt werden kann? Maximal exakte Begriffsklärung. Und das geht! Das geht über einen systematischen Aufbau aller Kategorien - gestützt über einen Algorithmus, welcher Kategorienfehler automatisch vermeidet und mithilft, das Ganze im Blick zu behalten. Dass dies für uns Personen gar nicht so einfach ist, sieht man daran, dass jede Person (auch Du) irgendwann irgendwelchen Irrtümern aufgesessen ist. Jede Person, die sich also für irgendetwas ernsthaft (nicht wegen blanglosem Amüsement, oder wegen ideologischer Rechthaberei) interessiert und ergo dafür offen ist seine Auffassungen weiterzuentwickeln, ist bei dieser Veranstaltung goldrichtig. Ablauf: Bei unserer Diskussion geht es dabei nicht um irgendein festes Thema, sondern jeder schreibt ein Wort in seinem Interessengebiet auf einen Zettel und wir ziehen diese paarweise für je eine Runde. Die beiden Wörter haben gemeinsame Kategorien, aber es gibt auch Unterschiede. Wer diese nicht alle kennt, kann nicht behaupten, dass er tatsächlich begriffen hat, wovon er meint, dass es ihn interessiere; dass er definitiv wüsste wovon er spricht. Dieses Problem hatte schon Sokrates erkannt. Nur haben wir jetzt einen Algorithmus, welcher zu absoluter Genauigkeit verhilft um diese Irrtümer loszuwerden. Daher 'Philosophie 2.0'. Siehe dem Bild oben werfen wir die Bedeutung (die Menge aller Kategorien einer Begrifflichkeit) per Beamer an die Wand. Wir sind nicht in der Schule, d.h. es gibt keinen Zeitdruck, keine Noten, keinen Wettbewerb und keine Profilierungsmotive, sondern jeder hat alle Zeit der Welt um über die schematisch dargestellte Bedeutung nachzudenken - und diese zu hinterfragen. Die grafisch dargestellten Bedeutungen des Algorithmus sind nicht perfekt. Es geht nicht darum irgendetwas zu akzeptieren, sondern andersherum: die Bedeutung anzugreifen und zu verbessern. Jeder kann sie ändern! Die Diskussion ist also eröffnet. Jeder muss Gründe angeben. "Kann ein Walfisch ein Wellensittich sein?" \~> Natürlich nicht, denn Säugetiere sind keine Vögel. "Kann ein Fenster ein Getränk sein?" \~> Jeder weis, das ist unmöglich, denn Festkörper sind keine Flüssigkeiten. "Kann eine Demokratie eine Republik sein?" "Kann eine Vermutung eine Meinung sein?" "Ist etwas zu begreifen das Selbe wie etwas zu verstehen?" Nichts regt dermaßen zum nachdenken an wie die Bedeutung der Begrifflichkeiten algorithmisch stabilisiert zu systematisieren. Und wenn wir uns nicht einig werden? Die Diskussion läuft auch nach der Veranstaltung weiter. Jeder kann online von zuhause die Diskussion fortführen - mit dem selben mitdenkenden Algorithmus. Man könnte sagen, es sei ein neues Gesellschaftsspiel - ohne Wettkampf, sondern in kollektiver Bereicherung an Klarheit, von der alle gigantisch profitieren, obschon jeder nur einen sehr kleinen Teil beiträgt. Das "Spiel" funktioniert auch mehrsprachig, denn der platonische Raum der Begrifflichkeiten ist der eindeutige Raum, auf den das Vokabular einer Sprache nur referiert. Man kann auch von Zuhause aus online mitmachen. Den Zugang können wir dann über die Kommentare hier organisieren. Bring deinen Laptop mit, dann wird es einfacher... Dieses Spiel macht klug: Schach trainiert zwar das Konzentrationsvermögen, hat aber mit der Wirklichkeit nichts zu tun. Dieses Spiel hingegen schon, denn genau mitdenken zu können setzt voraus genau zu unterscheiden. Wer die Bedeutung der Wörter sauber ausdifferenziert wird immer klüger. Mach mit!

Meinungsaustausch, Investmentideen, Buchbesprechungen, Charttechnik, Fundamentalanalyse. Wir diskutieren über die Themen Börse, Investment und Trading. Verkehrssprache ist deutsch. Egal ob Anfänger, Profi oder "will nur mal gucken": jeder ist willkommen und kann mitreden. Die Veranstaltung ist insbesondere geeignet für aktive Händler in Einzelaktien, Optionen und Rohstoffen. Es geht viel um technische Analyse und technische Markteinschätzung, aber auch um fundamentalanalytisch basierte Einzelaktienauswahl, Volatilitätshandel und Optionshandel. Es gibt ein Musterdepot, dessen Struktur und Performance als Diskussionsgrundlage dienen soll. Jeder kann seine Meinung dazu äußern. Das Musterdepot findest Du bei wikifolio.com unter https://www.wikifolio.com/de/de/w/wf000bit01 Meinen Youtube-Kanal findest Du hier: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCmOeA2-rAS2P8YZNp11N6Q Kryptowährungen spielen thematisch nur eine untergeordnete Rolle. Der Kurzvortrag mit Diskussion startet pünktlich 17.15 Uhr. Wer viel Aufmerksamkeit braucht, kommt einfach zu spät und wird von allen angeschaut :-) Wer noch Kontakte knüpfen oder quatschen möchte, sollte schon ca. 16.30 Uhr kommen. Die Veranstaltung endet püntklich um 19 Uhr.

🗓️ Conversations in both English & German – everyone’s welcome! Join us for a relaxed afterwork meetup where tech meets creativity – no pitches, no pressure, just good conversations with interesting people from across Berlin’s creative and digital scenes. We’ll kick things off with a short intro from us – the founders of the political communications agency wahlwerkstatt – sharing a few insights into our new project: plenarbot.ai, a German-language AI assistant designed to support political work across the DACH region. After that, it’s all about open exchange and getting to know each other – founders, freelancers, creatives, coders, strategists and curious minds. Bring your ideas, your stories or just yourself – and join us for a drink and good company. Relaxed atmosphere. Bilingual crowd. Inspiring minds. Let’s connect Berlin’s tech & creative communities 🍻

**What happens when artificial intelligence meets very human emotion?** This Wednesday, **Mercury Toastmasters Berlin** explores that question inside the *Historic Imperial Breakfast Hall at **Das Center, Potsdamer Platz.*** *In a world shaped by algorithms, one skill becomes more powerful, the ability to speak with clarity, empathy, and presence.* *Experience the **power of prepared speeches** loaded with bold ideas, participate in our **dynamic Impromptu Session**, and **gain valuable insights** during our feedback segment.* Leave with practical tools, fresh ideas, and renewed inspiration. Whether you want to speak up at work, boost your presence, or just meet inspiring people, you’ll feel at home at Mercury Toastmasters Berlin. *** **[What to Expect:](https://mercurytoastmasters.de/find-toastmasters-meetings-in-berlin/)** ✨ A supportive space to speak, grow, and connect 🎤 Engaging prepared speeches ⚡ Fun, fast-paced impromptu speaking challenges 💬 Feedback session you can actually use 🌍 A friendly, international crowd (around 25–30 people) **Schedule** (times may vary) ⏰ 19:15 - Doors open & networking 🎙️ 19:30 - Prepared Speeches 🏓 20:35 - Impromptu Session (Guest welcome to join) ↩️ 21:00 - Constructive feedback 💬 21:30 - Food, drinks & relaxed socializing **No experience needed.** ***Come curious. Leave energized.*** *** **🤙 [Hear it from our members:](https://maps.app.goo.gl/eRtvR9DRNqU9WZQn7)** *“You can sharpen your public speaking skills and gain tons of confidence, while having fun and making new friends. Mercury is well-structured, fun, and affordable.”* — *Therese Pitt* *“Mercury gave me a safe place to speak, create, and grow. I love the multicultural vibe and supportive community. It’s the best place to learn and have fun.”* — *Krisztina Linka* *** **[Did You Know?](https://mercurytoastmasters.de/about-mercury-toastmasters-berlin/)** Toastmasters is where people go to get better at speaking—and grow into confident communicators and leaders. Today [Toastmasters ](https://mercurytoastmasters.de/about-mercury-toastmasters-berlin/)has 350,000+ members across 16,000 clubs in 143 countries. And [Mercury](https://mercurytoastmasters.de/find-toastmasters-meetings-in-berlin/) is one of the best places to experience it. So bring your curiosity, your energy—and just be yourself. Whether you’re just starting or ready to level up, there’s a place for you here. *** **[Wondering what you get as a member?](https://mercurytoastmasters.de/membership-mercury-toastmasters-berlin/)** Think expert feedback, real-world speaking practice, and a supportive crew that’s got your back. [See you Wednesday night! 🎉](https://mercurytoastmasters.de/find-toastmasters-meetings-in-berlin/)

📆 Agenda * 19:00 Welcome to the PUB (Python Users Berlin) – setting up * 19:15 Main talk * 20:00 Lightning talks * 20:30 Social gathering 🎙 Main talk by [@esc](https://github.com/esc): Whirlwind tour of [Numba](https://github.com/numba/numba) In this talk I will take you on a whirlwind tour of Numba -- the Python just-in-time (JIT) compiler. I will equip you with with a mental model of how Numba works and what it is good at. At the end, you will be able to decide if Numba could be useful for you. 📚 Resources * https://github.com/esc/numba-talk ⚡️ Lightning talks Time will be open at the end of the night for lightning talks (short 5 minute presentations). Please bring your ideas and inspirations with.

**In a time of division and isolation, come be part of the community that's rebuilding the town square, one table at a time.** In BreadBreakers, we use the common space of the dining table to have conversations where neighbors can **hear, be heard, and know one another.** If you're hungry for good discourse and deeper community, join us for a Community Dinner in Reston and help blaze the trail to a healthier, more connected society and democracy. Here’s how it works: For just two hours, multiple tables of people set aside the need to "win" and instead focus on sharing, listening, and connecting. Guided by experienced table hosts, we'll tell our stories, try to understand each other, and practice being in community with those with different views or backgrounds. **At this dinner, participants will get to choose between three different topics, including some current events.** Topics range from the political, to the spiritual, to the philosophical, to the off-the-wall - but no matter which table you choose to sit at, you can be sure it'll be like no dinner conversation you've had before! You can also **suggest a topic** by emailing us at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com. Food will be provided for free. For those who wish to provide a donation to help fund BreadBreakers, you can [give here](https://pushpay.com/g/restorationrestonumc?fnd=pO6G-N7oO7FH7Mp1u-x6mA&fndv=Lock&r=No&lang=en&src=pcgl) or at the event. We'll have vegetarian and gluten-free options available. If you have any additional dietary restrictions (Celiac Disease, vegan, etc.) please let us know at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com so that we can implement the appropriate food handling procedures. **Join us, invite a friend, and be a part of the movement to mend our fractured society and normalize a better way of talking with one another.** BreadBreakers, an initiative by [Restoration United Methodist Church](https://restorationreston.org/breadbreakers) in Reston, VA, is a religiously inclusive community. All faiths and all stripes are welcomed. Our leadership, volunteer team, and community include people who attend Restoration and people who don't.

**Is it unrealistic or even naive to think that we should try to live a virtuous life in today’s world?** **As children we’re taught to be good, to be kind, to be honest. Yet as we get older, some of these virtues get lost or sacrificed for the sake of expediency or convenience, or a sense that they’re just not compatible with the world today. Even worse, some might think it could allow others who don’t hold to these values to take advantage of us. But what is the impact on a society that no longer values these ideals? What is the impact on us as individuals? Can a spiritual perspective help us to recognize the inherent value of these qualities?** **Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspectives offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on the importance of nurturing – and valuing! – good people. Join us for a lively discussion as together we explore how developing qualities like truthfulness, integrity, and kindness can enable the progress and improvement of society as a whole.** **“Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues.” – Bahá’í Teachings** **\*\*\* The event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.**

**\| The Spirituality of Depolarization** *** **In a world increasingly marked by division and conflict, finding common ground has never been more crucial – and seemingly more difficult. At the same time, if we’re willing to go outside of ourselves, there are a growing number of grassroots efforts – thousands in the US alone! – all exploring various means of depolarization. In this context, might there be a role for spirituality to help guide us towards these aims, towards greater empathy and understanding for one another?** **More and more it seems like we can each pick and choose the bubbles we want to live in, with many of those bubbles drifting further away from others. And while there can be comfort to be found in this, are we maybe also missing out on an even better world we could be living in? What would an approach to our lives and our communities look like that speaks to our fundamental commonalities instead of our differences? How might we find and strengthen a common ground that unites while respecting our unique perspectives and contributions? What has the unique power to connect each and every one of us, to help us find that common ground, to better understand and express our essential oneness as human beings?** **Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspective offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on the role of spirituality in navigating polarized communities and bridging divides. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore how spirituality can help foster a society strengthened by unity and based on understanding amongst its citizens.** **“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” – Bahá’í Teachings** **\*\*\* This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.**

Join us for conversations that go beyond small talk, diving into topics like the shifting nature of spirituality, the challenges and joys of midlife transitions, the impact of culture and capitalism, and the search for meaning in art, travel, and daily life. Our gatherings are about genuine, thought-provoking dialogue, with no set leader or strict agenda—just an open space to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences that matter to us. The direction of the discussion is shaped by everyone who shows up, making each event unique and enriching. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others who are also seeking deeper conversations. Let the conversation flow from topic to topic. Optional questions are listed below.
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Optional Questions: Life Stages & Transitions
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1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging?
2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists?
3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about?
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Optional Questions: Identity After the Roles
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4. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you?
5. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed?
6. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted?
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Optional Questions: AI & Being Human
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7. What human experiences will AI never truly understand?
8. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do?
9. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated?
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Optional Questions: Belief & Meaning
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10. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space?
11. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live?
12. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self?
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Optional Questions: The Modern Psyche
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13. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have?
14. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire?
15. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept?
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Optional Questions: Work & Purpose
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16. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you?
17. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors?
18. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years?
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Optional Questions: Relationships & Connection
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19. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why?
20. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best?
21. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others?
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Optional Questions: Time & Mortality
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22. What are you running out of time to say or do?
23. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite?
24. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail?
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Optional Questions: Society & Culture
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25. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense?
26. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing?
27. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years?
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Optional Questions: Personal Philosophy
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28. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way?
29. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out
30. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

This is the first of several meetings on *Nature's God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic*, by Matthew Stewart. For this meeting, please try to read the first three chapters (pages 1-129 in the paperback). **Where did the ideas come from that became the cornerstone of American democracy?** America’s founders intended to liberate us not just from one king but from the ghostly tyranny of supernatural religion. Drawing deeply on the study of European philosophy, Matthew Stewart brilliantly tracks the ancient, pagan, and continental ideas from which America’s revolutionaries drew their inspiration. In the writings of Spinoza, Lucretius, and other great philosophers, Stewart recovers the true meanings of “Nature’s God,” “the pursuit of happiness,” and the radical political theory with which the American experiment in self-government began. [LINK](https://a.co/d/bkTWJNb) I hope to see you there! Fred

Hello everyone! Who doesn't love Pizza! We'll be meeting at Andy's Pizza in Tyson's Galleria and doing some old-fashioned networking, beer-drinking, and pizza-eating. I guarantee a fun time, or else your pizza is free :) **Location:** Andy's Pizza, Tyson's Galleria, 2001 International Dr, McLean, VA 22102 **Overview:** Join us at AI Innovators Network for our upcoming meetup in Tysons dedicated to exploring the latest trends in Artificial Intelligence. Whether you're an AI enthusiast, a professional, or someone curious about the intersection of technology and AI, this event is perfect for networking, learning, and sharing insights. Connect with like-minded individuals from DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland as we dive deep into the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation driving innovation and progress in Artificial Intelligence.

**In a time of division and isolation, come be part of the community that's rebuilding the town square, one table at a time.** In BreadBreakers, we use the common space of the dining table to have conversations where neighbors can **hear, be heard, and know one another.** If you're hungry for good discourse and deeper community, join us for a Community Dinner in Reston and help blaze the trail to a healthier, more connected society and democracy. Here’s how it works: For just two hours, multiple tables of people set aside the need to "win" and instead focus on sharing, listening, and connecting. Guided by experienced table hosts, we'll tell our stories, try to understand each other, and practice being in community with those with different views or backgrounds. **At this dinner, participants will get to choose between three different topics, including some current events.** Topics range from the political, to the spiritual, to the philosophical, to the off-the-wall - but no matter which table you choose to sit at, you can be sure it'll be like no dinner conversation you've had before! You can also **suggest a topic** by emailing us at [BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com.](http://BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com./) Food will be provided for free. For those who wish to provide a donation to help fund BreadBreakers, you can [give here](https://pushpay.com/g/restorationrestonumc?fnd=pO6G-N7oO7FH7Mp1u-x6mA&fndv=Lock&r=No&lang=en&src=pcgl) or at the event. We'll have vegetarian and gluten-free options available. If you have any additional dietary restrictions (Celiac Disease, vegan, etc.) please let us know at [BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com](mailto:BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com) so that we can implement the appropriate food handling procedures. **Join us, invite a friend, and be a part of the movement to mend our fractured society and normalize a better way of talking with one another.** BreadBreakers, an initiative by [Restoration United Methodist Church](https://restorationreston.org/breadbreakers) in Reston, VA, is a religiously inclusive community. All faiths and all stripes are welcomed. Our leadership, volunteer team, and community include people who attend Restoration and people who don't.