Lancaster, Pennsylvania

The Society of Curious Minds

Monthly guided conversations & live podcast. Hundreds of intriguing questions over coffee & snacks.

Reserve a seat How it works

“Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?”— Neil Gaiman

Gatherings

The next gathering

Registration required Lancaster

A Monthly Guided Conversation

When: Saturday, September 26 · 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Where: Urban Arts House · 430 W Orange Street, Lancaster, PA
Provisions: Coffee & light bites
Cover: $18.88

Student or starving artist?Request a 50% promo code Former attendee? Once a year, send us a short video interview.Send it with WeTransfer (free) ↗Get your next gathering free

Reserve a seat Directions

After that: Saturday, October 24 · same place, same time.

Tickets are sold through Ticket Tailor. Every gathering needs a reservation, so we know how many tables to set.

How it works

Three hours. No small talk.

Once a month, a room in Lancaster fills with people skipping the usual small talk for something a bit more interesting. You don’t need to know anyone and you don’t need to prepare. You bring the curiosity; we bring the questions.

The Society was founded by Jocelyn Reed. It is a discussion space — not a platform for recruiting, selling or advancing an agenda.

I
Arrive & settle
Check in, take a coffee, find your first seat. By attending, everyone agrees to the Code of Conduct.
II
The live podcast
The first fifteen minutes are a live podcast recording. The guest is a past attendee who applied for it. Nobody is picked from the audience, so if you’d rather just listen, settle in and enjoy it.
III
Guided rounds
Small tables and as many questions as you like each round. A prompt opens the conversation; cue another whenever you’re ready. Where it goes is up to the table.
IV
Rotate
Between rounds the seating changes, so you keep meeting new people.

The Podcast

Recorded live, at the start of every gathering

Fifteen minutes and one guest, recorded in the room before the first round begins. Every guest is a past attendee who applied to be on it. No one is put on the spot, and introverts are welcome to simply listen.

Episodes are on their way. Coming soon

Be the guest

Anyone who has attended a gathering can apply to be the podcast guest. Write to us and we’ll send you the application.

Ask for an application

The Code of Conduct

What everyone agrees to before they sit down

What people bring to these tables is their candour.
This is how we keep that safe.

Code of Conduct

To create a space that is thoughtful, welcoming, and safe for all participants, everyone attending agrees to the following:

Respect & Engagement

Treat all participants with respect, curiosity, and goodwill, even when disagreeing.
Engage in good faith: listen to understand, not simply to respond.
Allow space for others to speak; avoid dominating conversations.
This is a discussion space, not a platform for proselytizing, recruiting, or advancing personal, political, spiritual, or commercial agendas.

Personal & Emotional Boundaries

Participation is voluntary. No one is obligated to share personal experiences, beliefs, or emotions beyond what they freely choose.
Respect emotional boundaries. Avoid pressuring others to disclose, diagnosing others, or attempting to “fix” or advise fellow participants.

Privacy & Confidentiality

To preserve a sense of safety and openness, please do not record conversations or take photos of others without their explicit consent.
What is shared in conversation should be treated with care and discretion.

Alcohol & Substances

This is an alcohol free space. Please help us maintain a safe community for those in recovery, as well as for our attendees under the age of 21.

Age & Supervision Policy

Attendees under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times during the event

Physical Boundaries & Safety

Physical contact of any kind (including hugging or touching) should occur only with clear consent.
Harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or personal attacks of any kind will not be tolerated.
If you feel uncomfortable, please speak with the organizer.
By attending, participants agree that the organizer is not responsible for injuries, losses, or damages related to participation in the event.

Venue & Property

Participants are financially responsible for any damage they cause to the venue or its contents.
Please treat the space and its furnishings with care.

The organizer reserves the right to ask anyone to leave at any time to maintain the safety, integrity, and spirit of the gathering.

Current version · 24 August 2026 Agreed to by everyone attending

Bring it to your city

Want to host a gathering?

Lancaster is where the Society began. If you’d like to bring the format to your own city, we’d like to hear from you.

Get in touch

For venues & partners

Our home

Gatherings are held at Urban Arts House, 430 W Orange Street, Lancaster. For partnerships, press or anything else, write to us.

Write to us

Contact

Questions? Write to us.

societyofcuriousmindsconnect@gmail.com

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