Three ways to experience authentic connection through guided conversation in device-free environments
Portsmouth, NH and the Seacoast
Connect with New People
Public Gatherings
Join 12-16 people for 90 minutes of genuine conversation in a completely device-free environment. Through three carefully designed rounds of small group discussions, participants move beyond surface-level interactions to meaningful connection.
How It Works: Phones are secured in pouches upon arrival, creating space for full presence. You'll participate in three rounds of small group conversations (3-4 people each), with groups rotating so you connect with most or all participants throughout the gathering. Each round uses professionally crafted conversation prompts that progressively deepen engagement:
Round 1: Getting Energized - Accessible questions that create comfort while revealing interesting perspectives. ("What's a small decision that unexpectedly changed your life?" or "What's something you're curious about lately?")
Round 2: Exploring Connection - Prompts that explore how we relate to others and experience presence. ("What creates a sense of belonging for you?" or "When do you feel most connected to other people?")
Round 3: Essential Self - Questions that invite sharing about who we are beyond our daily roles. ("What's a core value that has guided your life choices?" or "When do you feel most authentically yourself?")
What You'll Experience: Real conversations with multiple new people, conversation tools you can use anywhere, and the rare satisfaction of being truly seen and heard. Most participants leave surprised by how much they shared and learned in such a short time.
Discover what happens when strangers show up as their genuine selves in a space designed for authentic human connection.
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Not really. We focus on who you are as a person, not what you do for work. It's about authentic connection rather than professional transactions.
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Things like 'What's something you believed as a child that still influences you?' or 'When do you feel most yourself?' Questions that help people share what actually matters to them.
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It's amazing what happens when you remove phones and create the right container. People are hungry for real conversation, they just need permission and a framework for it to happen safely.
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Each round builds on the previous one. We start with energizing questions that create comfort, move to exploring how we connect with others, and conclude with reflections about who we are beyond our daily roles. The progression feels natural and creates a sense of safety before exploring more meaningful territory.
Deepen Existing Relationships
Partner Connection Experiences
Join other pairs (couples, friends, family members) for a 90-minute guided connection experience designed to help you see and hear each other in new ways. In our busy, often distracted lives, we rarely create intentional space to really connect with the important people in our lives. This experience provides that opportunity in a supportive, thoughtfully designed environment.
How It Works: You and your partner will join 5-11 other pairs (12-24 people total). You'll be personally welcomed and secure your phones in pouches, and provide your first connection prompts. Three distinct rounds unfold, each with progressively deeper questions that invite meaningful exchange:
Round 1: Reconnecting - Questions that help you step out of daily routines and truly see each other in the present moment. ("What's something you've been thinking about lately that we haven't discussed?" or "What qualities first drew you to me that you still appreciate today?")
Round 2: Understanding Perspectives - Prompts that explore how you each experience your relationship and the world. ("How do you think our different approaches to challenges have shaped our relationship?" or "What's something you wish I understood better about you?")
Round 3: Shared Meaning - Questions that explore values, aspirations, and possibilities together. ("What legacy or impact would you like us to create together?" or "What adventure or growth experience would you like us to share in the future?")
Between rounds, a facilitator will personally check in with each pair, providing new conversation prompts tailored to build on previous discussions. While all conversations remain private between you and your partner, the collective energy of the group creates a unique atmosphere for authenticity.
What You'll Experience: Three rounds of meaningful conversations that go beyond daily logistics and routines, new insights about someone you thought you knew well, and conversation tools you can continue using long after the event. The personalized transitions and intimate setting create a space where you can truly focus on each other without distractions. Many participants report that this single experience changes how they communicate in their relationship moving forward.
Discover what happens when you create intentional space to connect with someone important in your life, guided by thoughtful questions that invite authentic presence and deeper understanding.
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Not at all. It's not therapy or problem-solving focused. It's about creating space for connection and deeper understanding, regardless of where your relationship is currently. The atmosphere is warm and often quite fun.
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That's exactly what the structured conversation prevents. I provide carefully designed questions for each of the three rounds that naturally lead to meaningful exchanges. Most pairs actually find they have to consciously end conversations to move to the next activity.
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No. Your conversations remain private between you and your partner. The group setting simply creates a supportive energy and shared experience, but you never have to disclose what you discuss.
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Each round builds on the previous one. We start with questions that create comfort and connection, move to exploring your relationship dynamics and patterns, and conclude with deeper reflections about your individual and shared values or aspirations. The progression feels natural and creates a sense of safety before exploring more meaningful territory.
Transform Your Group
Private Facilitation
Private facilitation creates customized connection experiences for any group seeking deeper relationships through meaningful conversation. Whether friends who want to go beyond surface-level interaction, family members looking to strengthen bonds, or organizations wanting to improve collaboration, these experiences create lasting change in how people relate to each other.
Customizable For:
Friend Groups wanting to deepen long-standing relationships
Family Gatherings seeking meaningful connection beyond small talk
Book Clubs or Social Groups looking to enhance their regular gatherings
Leadership Teams navigating strategic decisions or organizational change
Nonprofit Boards seeking more effective governance and collaboration
Project Teams beginning initiatives requiring high trust and cooperation
Professional Networks moving beyond transactional relationships
Organizational Retreats as a powerful component of larger gatherings
How It Works: Each private facilitation experience is custom-designed for your group's specific context and goals. The core elements include:
Pre-Session Consultation - We'll discuss your group's dynamics, goals, and any specific areas to address or avoid.
Custom-Designed Experience - Based on our consultation, a tailored session will be created that may include:
Foundation Building - Conversation prompts that reveal individual values, perspectives, and motivations beyond professional roles.
Perspective Sharing - Structured opportunities to understand different viewpoints on shared challenges or opportunities.
Connection to Purpose - Exploration of how personal values connect to collective mission.
Forward-Focused Integration - Concrete ways to carry new understanding into everyday interactions.
Professional Facilitation - Professional facilitation will create and maintain a safe container for authentic connection, ensuring everyone can participate comfortably while guiding the overall experience.
What Your Group Will Experience: A transformed understanding of each other that enhances your connections in meaningful ways. For social groups, this might mean discovering new dimensions of people you thought you knew well. For organizations, it means seeing colleagues as complete humans rather than just their roles, making every aspect of working together more effective. People consistently report feeling a renewed sense of connection and discovering shared values or experiences they never knew existed.
Discover what happens when your group moves beyond surface-level interaction to authentic connection. The conversations that begin in these sessions continue to transform relationships long after the formal experience ends.
Custom pricing available.
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How is this different from traditional team building?
Traditional team building often focuses on activities or challenges designed to build skills. The approach centers on who people are rather than what they do. Instead of completing tasks together, participants discover who their colleagues, board members, or teammates truly are beyond their functional roles. This creates a deeper foundation for everything else you do together.What if people on our team are resistant to 'personal' conversations?
The conversation prompts are designed with varying comfort levels in mind. Nobody is forced to share beyond their boundaries, and the progressive structure builds trust naturally. Most organizations are surprised by how willingly people engage when given the right container and permission. The device-free environment and carefully crafted questions make it feel natural rather than forced.Can you customize this for our specific challenges or goals?
Absolutely. While the core approach remains focused on authentic connection, I'll tailor the experience to address your group's specific dynamics, goals, and challenges. This might include a curated conversation framework around specific themes relevant to your organization, structured reflection on shared values or mission, or exploring specific aspects of collaboration that matter most to your team.What outcomes can we expect?
The immediate outcomes include stronger interpersonal connections, greater empathy and understanding between team members, and a shared experience of authentic conversation. Longer-term, groups report more effective communication, easier conflict resolution, more creative collaboration, and a greater sense of belonging and psychological safety. The conversations that begin in these sessions often continue organically, creating lasting positive changes in organizational culture. -
How is this different from just hanging out together?
The conversation frameworks and professional facilitation create an environment where deeper connection happens naturally. Instead of defaulting to familiar topics or having the same person dominate conversation, everyone has space to share and be heard. The device-free environment and thoughtfully designed progression allow for discoveries and connections that rarely happen in typical social settings.Our book club/friend group has been together for years. Will we really learn anything new?
It's fascinating how even longtime friends discover new dimensions of each other in these experiences. The structured conversations help you explore aspects of yourselves and your relationships that don't typically come up in regular social settings. Groups often tell me they learned more about someone in 90 minutes than they had in years of knowing them.Can you customize the experience specifically for our group's interests?
Absolutely. For book clubs, we might explore questions about formative stories, characters that resonated deeply, or how reading has shaped your perspectives. For friend groups celebrating milestones, we could focus on shared memories and future aspirations. For family gatherings, we might explore family stories and legacies. The custom connection framework can be tailored to themes that matter specifically to your group while maintaining the structure that creates meaningful connection.We're not a 'touchy-feely' group. Will this feel awkward?
The conversation prompts are designed to feel natural rather than forced. We start with accessible topics and build gradually, allowing everyone to engage at their own comfort level. The focus is on meaningful conversation, not manufactured emotional moments. Most groups are surprised by how comfortable and energizing the experience feels.
Why We Go Device-Free
In our hyperconnected world, phones have become both bridge and barrier to authentic connection. While they keep us linked to distant networks, they often pull us away from the people right in front of us. By temporarily securing our devices, we create space for the kind of presence that makes genuine connection possible.
When phones are put away, something shifts. Eye contact increases. Conversations deepen. People listen differently when they're not mentally composing their next social media post or anticipating the next notification. The result is the rare experience of being truly seen and heard.
Yondr FAQ
Will my phone be taken away from me?
No, you keep your phone with you at all times. You simply place it in a Yondr pouch that locks when closed, and you hold onto the pouch throughout the event.
What if I need my phone during the event?
Emergency access is always available. If you need your phone during the event, simply step to the unlock area and a facilitator can help you access it temporarily.
Is this technology reliable and safe?
Yondr pouches are trusted by major artists, schools, and organizations worldwide. The technology is proven and your device remains completely safe while secured.
Can I still receive emergency calls?
While your phone is secured, you can always access it quickly if needed by stepping to the unlock area. For true emergencies, facilitators also have access to communication if necessary.
What if I feel anxious without access to my phone?
That initial moment of anxiety is completely normal - many people experience it. Most participants report feeling surprisingly liberated within the first few minutes and discover they can be fully present in ways they hadn't experienced in years.
The Process
Arrive ready to connect - Bring your phone as usual
Secure your device - Slip your phone into the Yondr pouch yourself
Hear the click - The pouch locks automatically when closed
Stay connected to your pouch - Keep it with you throughout the experience
Unlock and reconnect - Tap the magnetic base when you're ready to leave
We’ll help you every step of the way before, during and after the event with securing and unlocking your device.
What to Expect
You might feel a moment of anxiety when your phone locks - that's completely normal. Most people report feeling surprisingly liberated within the first few minutes. Emergency access is always available if needed, and you'll likely notice details about conversations and connections you would have missed otherwise.
The temporary inconvenience creates permanent memories. Participants consistently report that removing digital distractions leads to conversations they actually remember and connections that continue long after the event ends.