Connecting Beyond Apps & AI

Connection as a business (or not), with Richard Lucas

Can social connection be a business model? How does one navigate scalability and profitability? On this episode we explore the economic vs. moral incentives behind pursuing increasing social connection. Our guest is Richard Lucas, a serial entrepreneur and community organizer. Links for the show notes: https://www.meetup.com/open-coffee-lisbon/ [https://www.meetup.com/open-coffee-lisbon/]https://www.meetup.com/lisboncommunityconnectionsgroup [https://www.meetup.com/lisboncommunityconnectionsgroup]https://www.meetup.com/opencoffekrakow/ [https://www.meetup.com/opencoffekrakow/]https://www.meetup.com/krakownewcomerswelcomeclub/ [https://www.meetup.com/krakownewcomerswelcomeclub/] https://www.meetup.com/open-coffee-tirana [https://www.meetup.com/open-coffee-tirana] https://www.meetup.com/opencoffeewwa/ [https://www.meetup.com/opencoffeewwa/] https://www.linkedin.com/company/open-coffee-sydney [https://www.linkedin.com/company/open-coffee-sydney] https://luma.com/calendar/cal-jGAqpKJErdKArb2 [https://luma.com/calendar/cal-jGAqpKJErdKArb2] Open Coffee Cambridge https://luma.com/9ic93jzj [https://luma.com/9ic93jzj] https://lisboncommunityevents.substack.com/ [https://lisboncommunityevents.substack.com/] https://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/group/camentrepreneurs [https://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/group/camentrepreneurs] https://www.sundayassembly.org/ [https://www.sundayassembly.org/]http://ted.com/participate/organize-a-local-tedx-event [http://ted.com/participate/organize-a-local-tedx-event] Making an event buzz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vruIDwpiQtI&t=1s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vruIDwpiQtI&t=1s] Events before events https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxPGLuS74Y4&t=1s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxPGLuS74Y4&t=1s] Richard Lucas links  My podcast https://newbooksnetwork.com/category/special-series/entrepreneurship-and-leadership [https://newbooksnetwork.com/category/special-series/entrepreneurship-and-leadership] TED profile  https://www.ted.com/profiles/54403 [https://www.ted.com/profiles/54403] https://richardlucas.com/about [https://richardlucas.com/about] https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardhlucas/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardhlucas/]Quora https://www.quora.com/profile/Richard-Lucas-3 [https://www.quora.com/profile/Richard-Lucas-3] Opportunity Readiness TEDxTarnow https://www.ted.com/talks/richard_lucas_to_change_the_world_start_with_yourself [https://www.ted.com/talks/richard_lucas_to_change_the_world_start_with_yourself] Showing up Very Early | Richard Lucas | TEDxShenkarCollege  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QXqQMtrRU8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QXqQMtrRU8] How to start a movement https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement [https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement]

Social health 101, w/ Jackie Ourman

Why is studying modern human connection so interesting and important? What is 'the loneliness epidemic', and why are Americans lonelier than ever? (And why are we hardwired to hate the word 'loneliness'?) Why is improving our national 'social health', that is, our strength and network of relationships, the challenge of our times? In this foundational episode, we give you the 411 on an emerging and FASCINATING field of study-- social health-- and tease its impact on every aspect of modern American (and global) life. 00:00 Welcome, & fast facts 02:18 Jackie Intro - a therapist's perspective 05:43 Why this matters to us 10:41 Stigma & Cavemen 15:21 The opportunity & challenge before us 22:38 Reframing the problem 25:24 AI chatbots 28:13 A positive vision & call to action

Loneliness & Politics w/ Charles Derber, author of Bonfire

In this interview, Boston College Professor of Sociology Charles Derber shares and discusses the research in his book Bonfire: American Sociocide, Broken Relations, and the Quest for Democracy [https://www.routledge.com/Bonfire-American-Sociocide-Broken-Relations-and-the-Quest-for-Democracy/Derber/p/book/9781032793634]

The role of UX Research in AI, w/ Katy Mogal

Why is the field of UX Research more important than ever? How does UX Research and human-centered design factor into the AI revolution? In this episode we sit down and discuss why paying attention to and learning from humans is more important than ever in a world of AI. 01:04 About Katy & UX Research 04:09 The role of UX Research in AI 10:49 UXR matters more than ever 17:19 The role of Ethics in AI 26:25 Social Upskilling 30:37 The future of UXR 36:29 Final messages & takeaways

Designing for connection w/ Irad Eichler, CEO of Circles

In this episode, we interview Irad Eichler, CEO of Circles, a technology company that enables people to find and join support groups for $15/month. We discuss how to design meaningful ways for people to connect at scale, the role of hope, empathy, and belonging in communities, how AI functions into loneliness, and how to develop meaningful metrics to evaluate impact. Circles: https://circlesup.com/ Connecting Beyond: https://www.connectingbeyondpodcast.com/ 00:00 Intro & About Circles 03:28 Designing the journey for comfort 05:10 The 167 Hour Problem 09:41 Articulating the value of groups 13:53 Introducing the concept of groups 21:30 The value of narrowly scoped groups 23:50 Advice to other founders 25:23 The risk of convenience 29:19 Using tech to scale vs. communicate 34:56 Irad's message for listeners