Conference is a real-life space.

The Conference calendar lists discussion topics, times, and local places where anyone can come join the discourse. You don’t have to be an expert, but people will appreciate it if you are.
The discussions are free and unstructured, although a facilitator will be present to help make things click.
There’s no commitment or tracking; if you want to show up for some or all of the discussion, great. But there’s also no photography or recording; the folks who miss a discussion that they’re interested in will just have to hear about it from the folks who went.

Wanna discuss something interesting with a bunch of people? There are many ways, and each has limitations:

  • Friends and family are the first choice, but what if you’re super interested in something that they aren’t, or you want to hear some new perspectives?

  • Conferences are where experts go deep with the latest findings, but what if you’re not an expert, won’t travel and pay to attend, or want to talk about something that doesn’t even have an organized conference?

  • Lectures, panel discussions, and author events are great, but they focus on consuming and reacting to the views of the people onstage, rather than discussing everyone else’s ideas.

  • Online forums and Comments sections support some discussion, but they’re typically superficial, polarized, and filled with trolls and bots. Plus, your every word is slurped up by search engines and AIs.

  • Parties and other gatherings can work if you steer the conversation towards topics of mutual interest, but that’s easier for extroverts.

Rules: The rules of Conference are simple:

  • Be respectful

  • End conversations with thanks

  • Offer to treat people you learn from

  • No recording or photography

  • (Optional) You can show that you’re participating by wearing a leaf.

The word “conspire” comes from the Latin conspirare, which literally means “breathe with.” Let’s breathe together. Let’s talk.

Facilitators: A leaf-wearing facilitator for Conference will be at each venue to check in with and, well, facilitate.

Locations: Conference takes place at transit-accessible bars, cafes, public parks, and other locations in the East Bay that are open to the public, or at least the 21+ public, and not too loud for conversation. To suggest a new location, email locations@confcal.org.

Topics: See the calendar to read the topics discussed. To suggest new topics, email topics@confcal.org.

We’re looking for topics that are at least one of the following:

  • Local (East Bay, SF Bay Area)

  • Positive or constructive

  • Edgy, “alternative,” or not yet widely processed (but not threatening)

  • Helpful and practical

  • Good to discuss in real life

  • Not already discussed ad nauseum elsewhere

  • Not a flashpoint issue that tends to spiral down into a shouting match