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Founder's Reflections

Personal reflections from Alten on meaningful conversation, positive psychology, and the philosophy behind FlourishTalk

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The FlourishTalk Revolution: Imagine the Possibilities

What if meaningful conversation could change the world? From individuals to couples to communities to nations—imagine the ripple effects when we truly listen to each other.

By Our Founder
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The Science of Connection: What 36 Questions Taught Me About 23,000

In 1967, two psychology students kissed at UC Berkeley and fell in love. Their research on the 36 questions that create intimacy inspired everything we do at FlourishTalk.

By Our Founder
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Why Conversation Cards Are Everywhere—and How We're Making Them Accessible to All

From $260 Pip Decks to free apps, conversation tools are booming. But who gets left out? A reflection on democratizing the science of meaningful dialogue.

By Our Founder
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What One Billion Views Taught Me About Vulnerability

How philosopher Topaz Adizes filmed 1,200 conversations, created the Emmy-winning {THE AND} series, and proved the world hungers for depth—and what it means for FlourishTalk.

By Our Founder
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Where It All Began: The BeWell Story

How a university wellness program with simple conversation cards saved thousands of students—and gave birth to FlourishTalk's mission to democratize meaningful dialogue.

By Our Founder
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The Loneliness Epidemic: A Conversation Solution

When Britain appointed a Minister for Loneliness, the world took notice. Here's how FlourishTalk can help address a crisis affecting 1 in 4 adults worldwide.

By Our Founder
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Investing in Conversation: More Than Just Questions

Explore with curiosity, grow without judgment. Discover how FlourishTalk creates safe spaces for meaningful dialogue where all opinions are welcome and possibilities are unlimited.

By Our Founder
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Why R250 Matters: The Philosophy Behind FlourishTalk

What does R250 buy you elsewhere versus here? Understand the lasting value of professional conversation tools and why investment in meaningful dialogue pays dividends for a lifetime.

By Our Founder
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The Anatomy of a FlourishTalk Card: Design with Purpose

Every element serves learning, memory, and growth. Discover the intentional design behind each card—from AI-generated visuals to personalized messages—and why nothing is arbitrary.

By Our Founder
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Conversation Skills as Future Skills: FlourishTalk and the Fourth Industrial Revolution

As AI reshapes work, the skills that make us human become our greatest advantage. Discover how FlourishTalk aligns with UN and WEF frameworks for developing essential 21st century competencies.

By Our Founder
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SERIES: PART 1 OF 3

The Silent University: Where Critical Dialogue Went Missing

Universities were built for dialogue, but conversation has quietly disappeared. What happened—and what are we losing? Part 1 explores the conversation crisis in higher education.

By Our Founder
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SERIES: PART 2 OF 3

The Graduate Attributes Gap: Aspirations Without Infrastructure

Universities know what they want to develop—but how do graduate attributes actually get cultivated? Research reveals a critical gap between beautiful aspirations and missing conversational infrastructure.

By Our Founder
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SERIES: PART 3 OF 3

Building the Conversational University: FlourishTalk's Role

How 23,383 evidence-based questions across 37 categories provide the conversational infrastructure universities need. Complete mapping of graduate attributes to FlourishTalk's research-backed platform.

By Our Founder
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The Affiliate Revolution: Amplifying Meaningful Conversation

Why spreading FlourishTalk isn't about sales—it's about democratizing human connection. How conversation ambassadors earn while addressing the loneliness epidemic through trusted networks.

By Our Founder
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The Science of Belonging: Why We Need Each Other

What 85 years of Harvard research reveals about connection, loneliness, and meaningful dialogue. From neuroscience to ubuntu philosophy—why relationships are the foundation of flourishing.

By Our Founder
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Group Conversations, Group Discounts: Making Meaningful Dialogue Affordable for Everyone

How FlourishTalk removes cost barriers for families, teams, classrooms, and communities. Why 50-80% group discounts aren't losses—they're revenue multiplication through personalized anti-piracy.

By Our Founder