Upcoming Course & Discourse

Church and State: Organized Religion in the United States Today

A drive through the any corner of the country shows that houses of worship abound: meeting houses, temples, chapels, megachurches, mosques, a more. Religion can foster community, instill morality. It might also fuel intolerance, create in-groups and out-groups, even undermine democracy. But at its core, what is the role of organized religion in modern community? Join a conversation about organized religion in the United States today, how it contributes to social cohesion, where it exacerbates division, and how we engage with one another.

Saturday April 11, 7pm

The Missus: Beyond the Roles, Norms, and Stereotypes

Saturday May 2, 7pm

May is for Mother’s Day! Tradwives’ professed desire for a return to simpler times stands in contrast to feminist ideals and progress towards an equitable system. How is there a conversation about differently shaped families — single mothers, two fathers, chosen families — at the same time as the concept of tradwives gains popularity? Join a conversation where we break down the loud stereotypes and expectations and the quiet concerns about gender and gender roles today.

More Than the Game: Sports Diplomacy

Saturday June 13, 7pm

The Winter Olympics kick off 2026, the World Cup follows months later: global sporting events offer moments to compete, to bond, and to interact on a world stage. Politics and athletics are deeply intertwined. What opportunities do these events create for diplomacy, and where do tensions emerge? Join to explore sports as an opportunity for soft power, a universal language, and, at times, a risk for corruption.

Fear in an Age of Uncertainty

Saturday July 11, 7pm

From political volatility to climate anxiety, technological disruption to rapid change: today's defining issues carry the common undercurrent of uncertainty. Join for a discussion about the role fear plays in shaping our decisions, our institutions, and our sense of the future. We'll consider when fear is useful, when it misleads us, and how societies navigate moments of profound change.

Express Interest in Our Events

Select the event(s) that interest you and we'll do our best to ensure you receive an invite for at least one! We curate the guest lists to ensure a diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints. There is a suggested donation of $99, if this is a barrier to participation please fill out the form anyways. Your participation is what's important.

Past Course & Discourse

What is Art?

“What is Art?” Is a can of tomato soup art by itself, or only if Andy Warhol paints it? Last year Sotheby's sold a piece called Comedian, a $0.35 banana duct taped to a wall, for $6.2 million and the buyer ate it. Who decides that is art?

Me, Myself, and AI

AI is everywhere. Maybe ChatGPT has become your new assistant or perhaps Gemini helps you digest Google search results. The job you have wants you to integrate AI tools and work more efficiently. The job you’re applying for states “no generative AI cover letters accepted.” Join for a conversation on the utility of AI in personal and professional life.

Roses are red, violets are blue, do chocolate and oysters promise more than they do? Do aphrodisiacs offer psychological and physiological effects, or only placebo? Join for a conversation that starts in the history of aphrodisiacs and moves through a conversation on the intersection of alternative medicines, desperation, and wishful thinking.

Love Potions: Facts and Fictions of Aphrodisiacs

Black, and White, and Grey All Over: Nuance in a Polarized World

One theory says that media tells people what to think about, rather than what to think. Outlets compete for viewers, meet commercial incentives, and fulfill neverending demands for the newest, first, most clickable articles. In a segment on NASA, do we need to pitch to the flat-earthers in the name of balance? Join for a conversation with journalists and media consumers alike on the role of media, the role of the consumer, and how to approach the sensationalized news of the day.