Curious Souls Cafe

Run of Show

Your quick-glance facilitation guide.

The Welcome (10 Mins)

Wait for everyone to grab their drinks and settle in.
Hand out physical question cards or ask them to scan the table's QR code.

Say something like: "Welcome, everyone! I’m [Your Name]. The goal of Curious Souls Cafe is simple: we’re here to skip the small talk and dive into real, meaningful conversations. Just a quick reminder before we start: we are all peers here. This is a space for fun, personal reflection, and philosophical exploration, not a space for professional counseling or advice.

There are two ground rules today. First, this is a safe, non-judgmental space—we give each other space to finish and listen to understand, not to debate. Second, we have a strict 'Right to Pass' policy. If a question makes you uncomfortable, or you just prefer to listen, simply say 'pass.' No pressure at all."

Round One: Curated Questions (40 Mins)

Option A: Team Colors

Split the room into 3 teams (Blue, Yellow, Red).
Have each team collaborate to choose exactly ONE question to discuss deeply.

Say something like: "We are split into the Blue, Yellow, and Red teams. I want your team to collaborate and agree on ONE question you want to discuss together.

I'm going to roll the dice. If it lands on your team's color, your team gets to lead the way! You will present your question to the room and kick off the discussion."

Option B: Reveal & Match

Have everyone pick a question from their app/cards that resonates with them.
Open the Virtual Dice in the app (or grab physical dice).

Say something like: "Take a look at your cards and pick a question you’d like to answer today. If you are using the app, tap your card to reveal its secret color.

I am going to roll this colored dice. If it lands on Blue, everyone holding a Blue card gets to start first! The person asking the question gets to answer it first, then we’ll open it up to the table."

Option C: Paired Chat

Present 4 question cards to the group (using the app or physically).
Tell participants to pair up with the person next to them.

Say something like: "I've put four questions up on the board. Pick the one that resonates with you the most.

I want you to pair up with the person sitting next to you. Take 10 minutes to discuss your chosen questions just between the two of you. After that, we'll regroup and share what we learned with the whole table."

Optional Challenge Twist: If you are using the dice to decide who starts, remind them that rolling a "Striped" color means the group has to complete a quick bonding challenge before answering!

Round Two: Write-Your-Own (Optional)

Read the Room: This round is completely optional! If the group is deeply engaged with the curated question cards from Round One, feel free to skip this and just keep pulling from the deck.

Option A: Pen & Paper

Pass out blank slips of paper and pens to everyone.
Collect them in a hat or bowl, read them aloud, and have the group vote (or draw them randomly).

Say something like: "That was a great first round. Now, let's switch gears. Based on what we just talked about, or whatever is on your mind today, write down an open-ended question for the group on the paper provided—just keep it anonymous and leave out any real names or private details.

Fold them up and pass them to the center. We will pool them together, read them out, and dive into the ones that catch our interest for the rest of the session."

Option B: Live Board

Tell the group to navigate to the Live Board on the web app.
Give them 3 minutes to submit questions anonymously and upvote their favorites.

Say something like: "That was a great first round. Now, let's switch gears. Based on what we just talked about, or whatever is on your mind today, I want you to write your own question for the group.

Open the Live Board on the app to submit your question anonymously—just remember not to include any real names or personal details. Once they are up, take a minute to read through everyone's submissions and tap 'Vote' on the ones you are most curious about. We'll discuss the top-voted questions next!"

The Wrap-Up: Moments of Truth (10 Mins)

10 minutes before the end of the event, interrupt gently to wind down.

Say something like: "We are coming up on the end of our time together. To wrap things up, let's do a quick 'Moment of Truth' around the table.

In one or two sentences, what is your biggest takeaway from tonight? It could be something you learned about yourself, a new perspective someone shared, or an intention you want to set for next week."

Don't Forget: If taking a group photo, let everyone know it will be shared in our local community chat group for members to keep (while faces are blurred on public channels), and remind them they are always welcome to step out of the frame—or be the photographer!

Time Management: Keep the session on track by enabling the Global Timer in your settings. It floats above your tools and can optionally trigger an "Ambient Wrap-Up" color shift during the final minute!

Troubleshooting: Managing the Vibe

Defusing Debates & Combative Energy

Step in early if someone is interrupting, making dismissive remarks, or shifting the tone from "sharing" to arguing.
Acknowledge their interest, but gently reset the tone for the room.

To reset a debate or interruption, say: "Let's pause for a second. Just a quick reminder of our ground rule: we are here to give each other space to finish, share our perspectives and lived experiences, and listen to understand—rather than debate who is right or wrong.

Let's pivot back and hear from someone who hasn't shared yet..."

If an intense phrase catches someone off guard, say: "When we step beyond small talk, discussions can sometimes touch on intense territory, and we all bring different life experiences and comfort levels to the table. Let's be mindful of giving a quick heads-up before using heavy terms, extend grace to one another, and remember that anyone is always welcome to pass or shift the focus."

Chatty Participants

Don't let one person monologue for more than a few minutes.
Use their pause for breath to jump in, thank them, and pass the spotlight.

Say something like: "That is a really interesting perspective, thank you for sharing that!

I want to make sure we leave space to hear from everyone tonight—does anyone else who hasn't spoken yet want to weigh in on this?"

Overwhelmed Groups & Language Barriers

Bilingual Subtitles: If attendees are freezing up due to language barriers, instruct them to use the Bilingual Dropdown to enable native-language subtitles right beneath the English prompts.
Concise Mode: Instruct everyone to toggle the app to "Concise" mode to hide long background text and provide a shorter, punchier prompt.
Depth Slider: Adjust the slider to "Lite 🌱" to warm the room up with easier, low-stakes questions to build their confidence.

Say something like: "Let's switch gears for a second. I am going to ask everyone to adjust our deck to pull some lighter, faster questions. Also, remember you can use the language dropdown at the top to turn on translated subtitles!

There are no right or wrong answers, just share the first personal story or thought that comes to your mind."

Feed Your Own Curiosity: Once the group is warmed up and talking comfortably, consider sliding the depth up to "Deep 🌀". As a host, it is important that you enjoy the intellectual depth of the meetup too!

Abstract Answers & Stalled Vibe

The Art of the Follow-Up: When a participant gives a brief or purely theoretical answer, gently keep the turn going by inviting them to connect that idea to a lived experience.
Ask bridging questions like: "Can you share a specific time in your life when you experienced that?" or "What shaped that perspective for you?"
Lead by Example: If the room stays on the surface, share your own personal story first. This gives participants a warm invitation to connect big ideas to real life.

Say something like: "That's a really interesting perspective—let's connect it to our own lives for a second.

Has anyone here experienced this firsthand, or had a moment that shaped how you see this?"

Flat Energy & Vibe Shifts

Recognize when a room is disengaged or answering too briefly due to low energy or language barriers.
Pivot to Action Prompts to shift the group from "thinking" to interactive "doing" and personal storytelling.
Use the "Striped Dice Challenge": rolling a stripe on the Virtual Dice automatically summons an Action Prompt on screen (or you can open the Action Prompts deck manually if using physical dice)!

Say something like: "Let's switch things up for a second to get some fresh energy flowing! Instead of a standard question, we are going to do a quick Action Prompt.

Let's read the challenge on screen out loud and see what we get!"

The "I Agree" Button

Never downplay the button. Do not say "it doesn't mean anything" or pressure them to tap it blindly.
Frame it positively. Focus on community safety, privacy, and setting clear expectations.
Encourage reading. Point cautious users to the actual link if they hesitate.

If asked "What is this button?", say: "It just confirms you've seen our house rules and policies. Since we are a volunteer-run community, it’s a standard check that protects the organizers. It confirms everyone knows this is just a fun space to connect, not a substitute for professional counseling or advice.

If you want to see exactly how we protect your data and what the house rules and policies are, just tap the link right above the button. It is written in plain English!"

Note: These digital tools and our in-person gatherings are provided solely for entertainment purposes, intended to foster community connection and reflection. They are not a substitute for professional counseling or advice.

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