Interintellect: Structured Conversations Foster Genuine Human Connection

EconTalk · January 05, 2026 · Listen to Original Episode →

Original Title: Conversation, Interintellect, and Arcadia (with Anna Gat)

TL;DR

Interintellect's success in hosting tens of thousands of non-toxic events demonstrates that structured formats and temporary authority, like that of a host, can foster freer, not more constrained, conversations.
The platform's model of using literature and ideas as vessels for discussion allows diverse groups to connect, fostering deep relationships and community growth by "smoothing out existing or imaginary divisions."
By paying for events and intentionally allocating time, Interintellect attendees exhibit high focus and good behavior, suggesting that intentionality and cost are key to moderating online discourse effectively.
The Interintellect approach counters the trend of digital isolation by creating spaces for genuine human connection, proving that technology can revive, rather than ruin, the art of conversation.
The play "Arcadia" highlights the inherent human drive to understand the world, showcasing the poignant beauty of our flawed attempts at knowledge acquisition across generations and disciplines.
The Interintellect model, by emphasizing shared intellectual vessels like books, enables participants to relax into discussions, facilitating breakthroughs and deeper self-understanding than typical social interactions.
The platform's ability to host diverse individuals, from academics to artists, and facilitate meaningful dialogue suggests a scalable method for bridging ideological divides and fostering interdisciplinary understanding.

Deep Dive

Interintellect, founded by Anna Gath, offers a platform for structured, facilitated conversations designed to foster intellectual connection across diverse viewpoints, countering the polarization and superficiality prevalent in modern discourse. The initiative draws inspiration from the historical salon model and principles of dramatic writing, emphasizing the importance of intentional format and moderation to enable deeper human engagement and collective thinking, even as technology evolves.

The core problem Interintellect addresses is the perceived decline in the quality of human conversation, particularly the ability to listen and engage with nuance. Gath argues that conversation, like dramatic dialogue, can be taught and structured to enhance its effectiveness. This involves creating intentional spaces, whether online or in person, where participants feel safe to explore complex ideas. A key element is the role of a host or moderator, who acts as a facilitator, ensuring all voices are heard and helping to synthesize different perspectives, preventing conversations from devolving into unproductive stalemates or interruptions common in less structured settings. This structured approach, Gath suggests, is crucial for bridging divides between different demographics and intellectual traditions, enabling a more generative form of exchange.

A significant implication of Gath's work is the application of theatrical principles to real-world interactions. She posits that humans naturally understand the concept of specialized spaces for heightened experience, akin to sacred sites or a surgical theater. Interintellect leverages this by creating a format where participants are encouraged to be their "best selves," facilitating breakthroughs in understanding. This extends to the physical arrangement of conversations, where non-confrontational seating arrangements and the presence of a host can reduce subconscious tension, allowing for freer expression. Furthermore, Interintellect’s model contrasts with performance-based formats like TED Talks by emphasizing the equal participation of all attendees, regardless of their prominence, fostering a more democratic and less status-bound exchange of ideas.

The platform’s success, measured by its ability to host tens of thousands of events without significant toxicity, suggests that intentional design can mitigate the polarization often seen online. By focusing on shared engagement with books, ideas, or cultural touchstones, Interintellect creates a "third thing" that relaxes participants and allows for deeper discussion. This approach has led to tangible outcomes, including friendships, collaborations, and even marriages, underscoring the platform's generative capacity. The model also highlights that even large-scale events can maintain conversational depth if managed with appropriate room sizes and clear expectations for participant roles.

The discussion around Tom Stoppard's play "Arcadia" further illuminates these themes, illustrating how art can explore complex intellectual concepts like chaos theory and the nature of knowledge. The play’s structure, interweaving past and present, mirrors Gath's concern with how we understand history and knowledge, showing how interpretations can be flawed and how new discoveries can overturn established understandings. The contrast between scientific inquiry, which is instrumental and subject to revision, and artistic creation, which is seen as substantive and timeless, highlights a core tension in human intellectual pursuits. Gath's work with Interintellect, therefore, can be seen as an effort to cultivate the "timeless" aspects of human connection and understanding in an era increasingly defined by rapid technological change and superficial interaction, suggesting that fundamental human needs for connection and deep thought persist despite evolving societal norms.

Action Items

Audit conversation formats: Identify 3-5 common conversation structures (e.g., debate, Q&A, discussion) and define host responsibilities for each to ensure structured dialogue.
Create a runbook for hosts: Outline 5 key facilitation techniques (e.g., active listening prompts, redirection strategies, conflict de-escalation) to standardize effective moderation.
Measure participant engagement: Track 3-5 key metrics (e.g., speaking time distribution, topic adherence, participant feedback scores) for 10-20 conversations to assess format effectiveness.
Develop a host training module: Focus on 3 core principles of effective hosting (e.g., neutrality, active listening, guiding discussion) to onboard new facilitators.
Design a feedback loop for hosts: Implement a system to collect and analyze feedback from 5-10 events monthly to identify areas for host improvement and format refinement.

Key Quotes

"It was always weird to me that, you know, screenwriters, playwrights since Aristotle have understood how to write dialogue like it's a science almost. If you walk into a Hollywood writers' room at a popular TV series, those people work in a delightfully formulaic way that actually allows that type of creativity to arise because, like in classical music, the foundations are very formalized. You can teach it to a three-year-old, right? Like, like solfege. And it never made sense to me why other than maybe Gottman's, you know, science of of of couples therapy and other fringe experiments, we never really tried to help real human beings have conversations with each other the way we are so adamant at helping completely fictional people to have great conversations with each other."

Anna Gat expresses a frustration with the lack of formalized methods for teaching effective human conversation, contrasting it with the structured approaches used in playwriting and music. Gat suggests that this disconnect inspired her to create Interintellect, a platform aimed at improving real-world dialogue.

"I really think that one strange thing that people misunderstand about conversation is that the one-on-one conversation would be a kind of natural unit of exchange. Right? We say dialogue, so this kind of there's monologue and then there's dialogue when there are two people. And in actual conversation science and psycholinguistics, there have been a lot of interesting findings about how, you know, when somebody, for instance, is being shared a difficult piece of news, like if your doctor is giving you a difficult diagnosis that will, you know, take a long time to to deal with, it's actually really bad to have this facing each other across the desk setup because your monkey brain feels that it's some kind of opposition."

Gat highlights a counterintuitive aspect of conversation: the physical arrangement of participants can significantly impact the quality of exchange. She explains that the direct, face-to-face setup, while common, can trigger primal defensive responses, suggesting that alternative arrangements might foster better communication.

"Interintellect is my experiment at having, at scale, conversations without the traditional cultural war polarization kind of toxicity appearing. And we have done tens of thousands of events in the past six and a half years without any toxic events, so I think the format does work. It's conversations as entertainment, so people come in, they find friends, they find ideas, they are recharged. It's a place to kind of bring together groups that don't necessarily don't hang out together anymore."

Gat describes Interintellect as a successful model for fostering large-scale, non-toxic conversations, emphasizing its role in bringing diverse groups together. She frames these interactions not just as intellectual exercises but as a form of entertainment that can recharge participants and build connections.

"I always tell my hosts that, at my trainings, that it's a little bit like 'aviate, navigate, communicate' for pilots. As the priorities: first, keep the plane up; second, try to go where you have to go; and only third is the communication. I think it's the same or similar for hosting conversations. You have, facilitate, moderate, mediate. Facilitate has in in the word it has it, the word 'easy,' right? It's chill. You're just there so the kids know you're there, you know, you're just like reading a newspaper in the corner."

Gat uses a pilot's mantra to explain the tiered responsibilities of a conversation host, prioritizing the well-being and flow of the interaction. She distinguishes between "facilitate," "moderate," and "mediate," likening facilitation to a relaxed, background presence.

"The missing plays of Sophocles will turn up piece by piece, or be rewritten again in another language. Ancient cures for diseases will reveal themselves once more. Mathematical discoveries glimpsed, lost to view, will have their time again. You do not suppose, my lady, that if all of our comedies had been hiding in the great library of Alexandria, we would be at a loss for a corkscrew?"

This quote from the character Septimus in Arcadia, as interpreted by Gat, offers a perspective on loss and the continuity of knowledge. Septimus suggests that even significant losses, like ancient plays or scientific discoveries, are not permanent, implying that human knowledge and creativity are resilient and will resurface or be reinvented over time.

"A great poet is always timely. A great philosopher is an urgent need. There's no rush for Isaac Newton; we were quite happy with Aristotle's cosmos, personally, I preferred it. He then says more, which I can't read because it's, uh, it's got some four-letter words in it. But Bernard later says, which I just love, he says, 'If knowledge isn't self-knowledge, it isn't doing much, mate.'"

Gat presents a quote from the character Bernard in Arcadia, highlighting a debate about the value and urgency of different forms of knowledge. Bernard argues that art and philosophy have a more immediate relevance than scientific advancements, suggesting that true knowledge should lead to self-understanding, a concept Gat finds particularly compelling.

Resources

External Resources

Books

"Wild Problems" by Anna Gath - Mentioned as a book the host greatly enjoyed and recommends.
"Three Uses of the Knife" by David Mamet - Mentioned as one of the best books on dramatic writing that any lay person can read.
"Chaos" by James Gleick - Mentioned as a significant science book that inspired dramatic writing.
"The Information" by James Gleick - Mentioned as a much newer book by the author of "Chaos."
"Shakespeare in Love" (screenplay) by Tom Stoppard - Mentioned as a witty and Stoppardian movie, though the author did not like it.
"A Primate's Memoir" by Robert Sapolsky - Mentioned as a book the host laughed hard while reading on the subway.
"A Play at the Castle" by Ferenc Molnár - Mentioned as a play the host laughed hard while reading, causing them to drop the book.

Articles & Papers

"American Innocence" (Substack) by Anna Gath - Mentioned as where Anna Gath writes about her new life in America and cultural impressions.

People

Tom Stoppard - Mentioned as an incredible playwright whose play "Arcadia" is a favorite and was the subject of a play reading.
Anna Gath - Mentioned as the founder and CEO of Interintellect, host of "The Hope Axis" podcast, and writer at "American Innocence" Substack.
Bronwyn Williams - Mentioned as an economist who hosted an episode of Econ Talk that Anna Gath participated in.
David Mamet - Mentioned for his idea from "Three Uses of the Knife" regarding humans' natural understanding of the stage.
Aristotle - Mentioned in relation to how screenwriters and playwrights have understood dialogue like a science since his time, and his cosmos.
Richard Dawkins - Mentioned as an author who writes beautifully about the scientific process.
James Gleick - Mentioned as the author of "Chaos" and "The Information," and his work inspired "Arcadia."
Mike Leigh - Mentioned as a filmmaker who read "Chaos" and it led to the movie "Naked."
David Thewlis - Mentioned as an actor in the movie "Naked."
Matthew Gust - Mentioned as the author of a new play about Ben Jonson.
Fukuyama - Mentioned as someone who has had salons on Interintellect.
Anne Applebaum - Mentioned as someone who will be appearing at Interintellect.
Robert De Niro - Mentioned in relation to a scene in the movie "Heat."
Al Pacino - Mentioned in relation to a scene in the movie "Heat."
Robert Altman - Mentioned in relation to his movies where people say their own thing.
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Ezra Pound - Mentioned as a character in "Arcadia" who becomes a botanist.
Lord Byron - Mentioned as a poet whose name is in the game book of "Arcadia" and whose lines are quoted.
Christopher Hampton - Mentioned as the adapter of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" into a play.
Glenn Close - Mentioned as an actress in "Dangerous Liaisons."
John Malkovich - Mentioned as an actor in "Dangerous Liaisons."
Miloš Forman - Mentioned as the director of the movie "Valmont."
Annette Bening - Mentioned as an actress in the movie "Valmont."
Madame de - Mentioned in relation to the ending of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses."
Bill Belichick - Mentioned as one of the four people the host would like to have a conversation with.
J.K. Rowling - Mentioned as one of the four people the host would like to have a conversation with.
Dave Eggers - Mentioned as the author of "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
John Logan - Mentioned as someone who worked on the screenplay for "Shakespeare in Love."
Steven Spielberg - Mentioned in relation to the movie "Shakespeare in Love."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
Bill Nighy - Mentioned as the actor who played a character in the original production of "Arcadia."
**Bill N