Is this what democracy looks like? A 3 session Premise Pod

Is this what democracy looks like? A Three-Session Premise Pod

Three sessions: Sundays 5:00-7:00PM

April 12, 26, May 10

Portland, Oregon

Most of us can feel it, even if we can't quite name it: something is shifting. The institutions we grew up trusting feel shakier. The news is loud and the facts are contested. Showing up and voting feels both essential and insufficient. And somewhere underneath the noise is a question that is both urgent and ancient:

💬 In this three-session Pod, we'll sit with that question in a way our culture rarely makes room for. Not as a civics lesson. Not as a debate between left and right. And not as a doom spiral. Instead, we'll use founding documents, surprising fiction, and some of the sharpest political writing of the last century to look at how democracies are built, what they ask of ordinary people, and what it actually takes to keep them alive.

You'll meet three times with the same group, guided by an experienced Premise facilitator.

⏳ Prep takes less than 2 hours and we send you the reading & film.

🔗 We meet in Portland and the group is capped at 15 people.

We'd love for you to join us.

Use code "Pod" for 20% off your first Premise Pod

What Are Premise Pods? A Small Group, A Big Question, Guided Deep Conversation

What if you had a space in your week for a real conversation?

Not small talk. Not debate. Something deeper.

A Premise Pod brings together a small group of curious adults to explore one big life question over three sessions. You’ll engage with a short set of readings or film (designed to take under two hours and we send you everything you need), then come together for a guided, in-person conversation sesion that builds over time.

This is not a class.
There are no lectures.
No expertise required.

Just a room full of curious people thinking, questioning, and making sense of being human together.

What is Premise?

Premise is a space for guided conversations about life’s big questions, using short works of literature, essays, and film as a starting point.

It’s where people come to step out of their routines, meet others they wouldn’t normally encounter, and engage in meaningful, intellectually rich dialogue.

Unpretentious. Welcoming. Thoughtful.

Built for real life.

What is a Pod?

A Pod is a three-session experience with the same group, centered on one enduring question.

• One question that gets more interesting over time
• One consistent group (so conversations can deepen)
• Three sessions (every other week)
• Light preparation that fits into a busy life (about 60–90 minutes per session)

Pods are designed for people who want something deeper than a one-off event — connection, continuity, and a shared thread of conversation.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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