Sip and Learn Salon Evening: Living Sustainably

Salon Evening: Living Sustainably

The Future of Our Oceans and Ourselves

Join us for another evening of ideas, conversation, and discovery as we explore what it means to build a more sustainable future—both for our planet and for ourselves.

This month's salon features two thought-provoking talks. The first examines one of the biggest questions facing our oceans: can aquaculture help feed a growing world while protecting marine ecosystems? The second turns inward, exploring why authenticity is so difficult to achieve and how we can build lives that are genuinely our own.

🍷 Free (Cheap) wine but BYOB anything else you may want
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Schedule:
🛠 6:30–7:00pm – Setup (volunteers welcome!)
👋 7:00–7:15pm – Mingling
🧠 7:15–8:15pm – Talk One
⏸ 8:315–8:30pm – Intermission
🎶 8:30–930pm – Talk Two
🥂 930pm – Socializing
10:30PM-? - Choose your own adventure!

Talk 1: Can We Save the Oceans by Farming Them?

with Alex Pantich

Global seafood consumption has never been higher. At the same time, many of the world's wild fisheries face unprecedented pressure from overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change.

Can aquaculture—the farming of fish, shellfish, and seaweed—help solve this problem?

In this talk, Alex traces humanity's relationship with the oceans, beginning with the rise of commercial fishing before exploring the rapid growth of aquaculture and its potential to transform how we produce seafood.

Topics include:

How fishing evolved from an abundant resource to a global sustainability challenge

The current state of the world's oceans

How modern aquaculture actually works

Different types of fish, shellfish, and seaweed farming

Which methods are environmentally sustainable—and which are not

The industry's biggest challenges and newest innovations

What the future of seafood may look like

Rather than presenting aquaculture as either a miracle solution or an environmental disaster, this talk examines the evidence behind one of the fastest-growing food industries on Earth.

Can we continue feeding a growing planet while allowing our oceans to recover?

About Alex

Alex Pantich is co-founder of Upshift, a venture-backed staffing platform, and King City Gardens, one of Ohio's largest cannabis cultivators, which operates a fully indoor, environmentally controlled growing facility. His interest in aquaculture began while serving as captain of the debate team at The Ohio State University, where the 2013 national debate topic focused on the future of ocean resources and aquaculture. More than a decade later, he remains an enthusiastic student of the field, following the industry's technological innovations, sustainability challenges, and global impact.

Talk 2: Authenticity Is Harder Than It Looks

with Dawson Woods

Take a half a step into the world of self-development and you’ll hear how being authentic brings you more joy and success in your life. Sounds great and makes us feel fuzzy inside, but if the advice “just be authentic” is so obvious, then why aren’t more people basking in the glory of being authentic?

In this presentation, Dawson Woods, a man who hires therapists for a living, talks about the complexities and nuances that keep the state of authenticity at arms length from most people. Instead of diving into theory and analyzing ideas that sound good, he dives into situations that may challenge your beliefs about what it means to be authentic.

To finish the experience, you’ll be given an exercise to explore your own relationship to authenticity with yourself and with others.

About Dawson

Dawson Woods has been the chief operations officer of the therapy clinic Divan bleu since 2021, but has had a winding career path involving work enjoyment coaching, web development, research in AI, rough carpentry, restaurant management, and even a brief stint in circus performance. Dawson has a drive for understanding societal norms and models in order to break them apart and build something that corresponds to his own vision of life success.

What to Expect

🌊 A fascinating exploration of the future of sustainable seafood and ocean conservation

💭 A thought-provoking discussion on authenticity and modern life

🧠 Audience questions and lively discussion

🍷 A relaxed salon atmosphere

🥂 Plenty of time to connect with curious, thoughtful people before and after the talks

🌍 An international community passionate about ideas, culture, and lifelong learning

Whether you're interested in sustainability, psychology, philosophy, technology, or simply discovering subjects you never expected to enjoy, we hope you'll join us for another evening of curiosity, conversation, and connection.

Come for the ideas. Stay for the conversation..