I can’t stop thinking about Gloria Steinem’s living room. For years, Steinem gathered people in her New York City brownstone and asked them to sit together, without a head of the table, without hierarchy. She called them “Talking Circles.” She said the practice was inspired in part by Indigenous traditions of gathering in a circle,…
Many people think that charisma is an innate trait. As a behavioral researcher who has spent over 10 years studying what makes people magnetic, I’ve found that this isn’t the case. Highly charismatic people have conversation patterns that they use to be more memorable. But anyone can use them to make stronger connections and leave…
People love their AI companions. And they’re increasingly relying on AI to navigate the hardest parts of human relationships. Between 2022 and mid-2025, the number of AI companion apps surged by 700%. Surveys have found that seven in 10 Gen Zers use AI to navigate workplace conflicts, and about half use it in their dating…
Concept Ventures was an early investor in billion dollar AI firm Eleven Labs. Reece Chowdhury A venture capitalist says one of the biggest reasons startups fail hinges on the relationship between co-founders. Reece Chowdhry, founding partner of Concept Ventures, said early teams often split within two years because their co-founders clash or lack a shared…
Cambridge Dictionary named “parasocial” as Word of the Year for 2025. Francesco Carta Fotografo | Moment | Getty Images AI chatbots, Taylor Swift, and social media influencers all played a part in deciding Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year, 2025: “parasocial.” Parasocial — revealed by the global dictionary on Tuesday as its word of the…
