Marin Philosophical Society Session
Dec
15
12:00 PM12:00

Marin Philosophical Society Session

USF Professor Michael Torre, presents “Philosophy - A Lifelong Journey.

Perhaps the ideal purpose of a story is to generate a form of empathy — the sharing of a perspective, a life journey, that opens a window of understanding simply through the telling. 

This month, Michael Torre, professor of philosophy at the University of San Francisco, will share his forty-year journey of philosophical reflection. 

While philosophers differ in many ways — religious or secular, analytic or continental — a unifying conviction of all serious philosophers is a commitment to think deeply about things that matter. 

 Michael Torre’s story offers us a rare opportunity to see how a philosopher wrestles with questions of reason, value, good and evil, faith and doubt, over decades of reflection — and, in turn, to consider what that lifelong wrestling might reveal about our own philosophical journey. 

Details and to register:

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Marintrepreneurs Meetup
Dec
22
6:30 PM18:30

Marintrepreneurs Meetup

Our monthly support-networking event for founders, entrepreneurs, investors, advisors, join us at VenturePad for networking and peer support through Ask and Offer, introductions, presentations by expert speakers, founders who present their value prop, business model, investor pitch decks. Get ideas, inspiration, connections. You are NOT alone!

We will have several founders discussing raising funds at this meetup. There are several exciting ideas coming to fruiting, we’d love to see you there and hear your input and words.

To register for this free event and for us to plan for food, seating, etc:

RSVP
 

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VenturePad Holiday Reception
Dec
11
6:00 PM18:00

VenturePad Holiday Reception

Join us for a casual networking of former/current members and community friends.

Make new friends and catchup with the old. Reflect on what impacted us in 2025 and what is in store in 26.

We will have guest speakers from local government, impact non profits making a difference in the area, and innovative entrepreneurs rolling out new products from our accelerator.

We will have a showcase of selective start-ups in robotics, mental health, AI enabled travel and network apps, plant based food and drinks, climate change solutions.

RSVP

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PR Insider’s View & Workshop
Nov
18
2:30 PM14:30

PR Insider’s View & Workshop

Tuesday, 11/28, 2:30-6:30pm.

Location: @VenturePad: 1020 B St, between 4th & 5th street, across from the Marriott Hotel

Speaker: PR expert Jill Lublan

With 200+ speaking engagements each year, master publicity strategist and consultant, and bestselling author, Jill Lublin, consistently wows audiences worldwide with her entertaining and interactive keynotes, seminars, and training programs on publicity, networking, kindness and influence marketing.

Thousands of people have attended her popular Publicity Crash Course. Over the past 25 years, Jill has worked with ABC, NBC, CBS, and other national and international media as a highly regarded publicity expert.

She has been featured in The New York Times, Women’s Day, Fortune Small Business, Entrepreneur, Forbes and Inc. magazines.

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Kierkegard to Camus: Evolution of Existentialism
Nov
17
12:00 PM12:00

Kierkegard to Camus: Evolution of Existentialism

Member-Led Discussion Group

John Trauth

In our member-led discussion group, John Trauth will discuss the concept of existentialism and how it has evolved, starting in the 19th century through the mid-20th century, spanning philosophy, literature and culture.

John is the former President of the Alliance Francaise of San Francisco and he was initially exposed to French existentialism while studying French civilization, language and philosophy at the Sorbonne in the mid-1990’s.   

Existentialism is often considered a complex theory, but at its core, it is rather straightforward. John will present the basics of the philosophy and explain how it evolved from religious roots (Kierkegaard) to ontological philosophy (the concept of “being” as expressed by Heidegger and Nietzsche) to human freedom and politics (Sartre and de Beauvoir) and finally to literature and the absurd (Hesse and Camus). This evolutionary diversity demonstrates existentialism’s broad and continuing effort to understand and make sense of the human condition.

The session will conclude with an open discussion as to how existentialism might be relevant in today’s world.

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