Two New Conversations + Founding Member Zoom

We may have to rename this Substack, "Ever gonna write about anything other than events?"

I promise to eventually write about something other than events. Soon. Next post. Probably. But yes it’s true I’ve been busy cooking up new events. If you’re sick of hearing about them, the good news is that this it for now. The month of October is set after what I’m about to share. And if you’re not sick of hearing about events, the good news is that I’m about to share three new ones, including one exclusive to this Substack community.

Last Friday was opening night for U2’s Sphere residency in Las Vegas. (I’m going this weekend!) I woke up Saturday and watched a bunch of videos and those videos apparently left me feeling inspired because I then cooked up two fresh small-group conversations, both brand-new topics. The first one has some serious U2 vibes. It’s called “What I Believe About God and What God Believes About Me.” The initial date (Thursday, October 12) is already sold out and so I’ve added a second date—Saturday, October 14.

The second small-group conversation topic actually isn’t new. It’s an experiment to see what happens when we get rid of the topic. Instead of gathering around a subject matter we know about in advance, I’m excited to see what happens when we simply show up and choose to talk about something we’re wrestling with or walking through. The group will take turns sharing and listening and encouraging. We’ll find common ground and common threads. My job will be to come up with questions as we go. The hunch and hope is that we end up experiencing connection. This “Magical Mystery Talk” is happening Thursday, October 19.

And last but not least, it’s time for another Founding Member Zoom. This event is exclusively for the special gang that is supporting Ever Get Home at the highest level. Their funding allows me to make writing a priority and to treat my Substack like a job, which is something I don’t take lightly. And yes, the special gang includes my special mom. (Crying emoji) Getting together on Zoom is a chance for me to express my gratitude, answer questions, and for all of us to get to know each other and enjoy each other’s company. I really loved the first one we did a few months back and I’m excited to do it again. If you’re not already a founding member, it’s not too late. You can upgrade at any time and the Zoom link will be sent to all current founding members along with anyone who joins the club right up to the day we meet, which is Tuesday, October 24. We’ll start at 8pm eastern and I’m happy to commit to three hours. You are welcome to join us when it works for you—it’s totally okay to be late—and you can stay as long (or short) as you like.

For those who prefer a simple list, here’s everything coming up in October:

Thursday, October 12 - “What I Believe About God and What God Believes About Me” (sold out)

Saturday, October 14 - “What I Believe About God and What God Believes About Me” (second date added)

Thursday, October 19 - “Magical Mystery Talk”

Tuesday, October 24 - Ever Get Home Founding Member Zoom (Open to all Substack founding members)

Saturday, October 28 - Small-Group Conversation Reunion (Open to all past participants)

November is not October but I’m excited about this one:

Friday, November 3 + Saturday, November 4 - All You Need Is Water (Everything I’ve Learned About Public Speaking)

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Like I mentioned at the start and joked about in the subtitle, I know it’s been very event-heavy around here in recent weeks. I promise to shift the focus to other parts of life in the days ahead. The honest truth is that I’m still figuring out what a sustainable career looks like post-TWLOHA. Events are part of that. Ever Get Home is part of that as well. I couldn’t do any of it without your support so thank you. Whether you ever spend a dollar or not, the fact that you’re reading the end of this post means you care and I don’t take that for granted. If you do decide to spend a dollar, it helps so much because Gracie’s treats cost money and we just had to replace the pink ball she’s been squeaking and fetching for the last four years.

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If you’re interested in making a speaking event happen, whether it’s in-person or virtual, big or small, I’m booked by Collective Speakers. They would be happy to hear from you.

EVEN NOW was the event I hosted with Levi The Poet during National Suicide Prevention Week. That night was super special. The EVEN Now recording—2.5 hours between Levi’s set, my talk, and Q&A—is still available, along with a few shirts.

If you’re curious about working together one-one-one in this new month, I’m not a counselor but there are a few parts of life and work that I really enjoy talking about and helping people navigate. Learn more here.