2026-09-10 - team

2026 09 10 Support Circle Project Meeting Report
YouTube Video Link https://youtu.be/pEeor2e9wQg

Support Circle Project Gemini Meeting Report

Date: September 10, 2026

Meeting Overview

The meeting focused on conceptualizing and building a sustainable framework for professional empathy circles (referred to as support or livelihood circles). The team explored how to define the offering, emphasizing that "going deeper" includes joy, lightness, and connection alongside emotional healing. They also aligned on testimonial strategies, naming conventions, and project scheduling.

Key Decisions Made

Flexible Facilitator Framing: Rather than forcing a single rigid brand like "paid circle," facilitators may tailor circle themes (e.g., support, personal growth, livelihood, healing) to match their specific communities.
Testimonial Strategy: The team will leverage beta circle checkouts (3–5 minutes) and short video clips to build social proof for public-facing pages.
Meeting Cadence: Established a weekly meeting time for Thursdays at 9:00 AM PT (1-hour duration).
Participant Addition: Approved inviting Grace Rosen, an experienced counselor, to join future planning sessions.

Open Questions & Next Steps

Long-term Naming Convention: Finding an internal replacement term for "paid circles" (ideas raised: livelihood circles, guided circles, support empathy circles) [08:55].
Balance of Circle Themes: How to articulate and market circles that emphasize lightness, joy, and celebration alongside deep/unburdening emotional work [03:34].
Marathon Preparation: Finalizing roles and format for the upcoming Empathy Marathon event on the 19th [48:00].

Step-by-Step Outline of the Discussion

Phase 1: Sustainability, Growth, and Redefining "Going Deeper"

Time code: [00:00] – [05:17]
Topic Title: Long-term Sustainability & Redefining Depth in Circles
Core Discussion Points: The discussion opened with the importance of building a model that plans for growth and sustainability over the course of a year rather than a "one-time shot" [00:25]. A participant shared feedback from a recent Wednesday circle where a member expressed deep gratitude for a positive, light topic that uplifted her amidst heavy life challenges [02:16]. The group explored how "going deeper" does not solely mean uncovering trauma or problems—it can also mean experiencing ease, safety, joy, and connection [03:45].
Areas of Strong Consensus: High agreement that positive, safe, and celebratory circles are just as valid and necessary as sessions focusing on heavy emotional processing [04:05].
Points of Debate / Pushback: Caution was raised that constantly unburdening or talking about hardship without proper grounding can sometimes reinforce trauma rather than resolve it [04:26].
Collaborative Ideas: Shifting the narrative so the offering explicitly welcomes the entire nervous system's spectrum—from deep problem-solving to lighthearted connection [05:08].
Outcome: Validated that marketing and framing should emphasize psychological safety and broad experiential depth [05:17].

Phase 2: Testimonial Strategy & Social Proof

Time code: [05:17] – [07:28]
Topic Title: Gathering Testimonials and Beta Feedback
Core Discussion Points: The team addressed social proof for new offerings. Edwin noted his extensive archives of Empathy Circle testimonials and emphasized curating them so prospective participants aren't overwhelmed [05:57]. The group weighed video versus written testimonials [06:14].
Areas of Strong Consensus: Video clips and authentic quotes provide the credibility needed when launching a paid offering [06:14].
Collaborative Ideas: Utilizing 3-to-5-minute checkouts at the end of beta circles to collect natural group testimonials [06:55].
Outcome: Agreed to integrate checkout feedback collection into beta offerings [07:02].

Phase 3: Nomenclature and Offering Framing

Time code: [07:28] – [11:30]
Topic Title: Nomenclature: Moving Beyond "Paid Circles"
Core Discussion Points: Frustration was expressed with the working title "paid circles" as too transactional and uninspired [08:23]. Participants brainstormed alternative descriptors: "livelihood circles," "guided circles," "support circles," and "growth circles" [08:55], [11:15].
Areas of Strong Consensus: Both Edwin and team members agreed that having a centralized framework where individual facilitators select their specific focus/energy (e.g., healing vs. personal growth) is the best strategy [10:17].
Points of Debate / Pushback: Hesitation around the word "guided," since empathy circle facilitators do not typically guide content, though they do "set the container" [09:22].
Outcome: Left the internal project framework open for flexible naming based on target audience while continuing to brainstorm [10:45].

Phase 4: Foundational Nature of Empathy Circles & Culture of Cooperation

Time code: [43:05] – [45:02]
Topic Title: The "Magic Carpet" and Cooperative Culture
Core Discussion Points: Reflection on the foundational quality of the practice, using the metaphor of a woven "magic carpet" created collectively [43:05]. The practice acts as both a vehicle for collaborative exploration and a safety net for resolving conflict [43:31]. The group contrasted this with conventional conversational habits driven by competition rather than mutual listening [44:24].
Areas of Strong Consensus: The empathy circle structure naturally fosters cooperation and changes how individuals show up in interpersonal interactions [43:53].
Outcome: Reinforced the shared mission and rationale behind bringing this offering to wider public and professional spheres [44:39].

Phase 5: Next Steps, Scheduling, and Wrap-Up

Time code: [45:02] – [48:22]
Topic Title: Action Items and Scheduling
Core Discussion Points: Edwin shared planning links and added participants to the roster [45:11]. The group sorted out their upcoming schedule between the Saturday Empathy Marathon (Sept 19) and the regular project planning call [46:18]. A member proposed inviting Grace Rosen to participate [46:41].
Areas of Strong Consensus: Unanimous agreement to welcome Grace Rosen to the planning group [47:13].
Outcome: Scheduled the next meeting for Thursday at 9:00 AM PT, with Edwin handling the transcript and report distribution [46:31], [47:51].

Powerful Quotes

"For me it's important that it's not a one-time shot that we're trying out something... but that we plan in a way that we plan for growth, we set it up properly." — Participant [00:25]
"There could also be strong connection and value through a connection in something positive, in celebration... and it's easy to forget that other side." — Participant [03:45]
"When I just experience a deeper level of ease and safety, and especially if the topic is uplifting, that is also a really huge input for my system that here is joy, here is connection, here is safety." — Terry [04:44]
"Magic carpet together on which we then take off and fly wherever we want to fly... it's a fall back in case conflict starts... and it can be a bit of a safety net too." — Edwin Rutsch / Participant [43:05]
"If I listen and I let what I understand of another touch those points in me, now I can speak from that awareness... it's just a much richer way of discovering ourselves in each other." — Terry [44:07]

Agenda

Meeting Schedule
Going Deeper Marathon
Setting up a pilot Empathy Circle

Edwin Notes

- Gathering Testimonials

What to Call these circles - facilitators name it for their specific circles

Livelihood Empathy Circle
Guidance Empathy Circles
Growth Empathy Circles
Support Empathy Circles
Marketable Empathy Circles
Professional Empathy Circles
A Culture Shift Empathy Circle

Create an Empathy Circle Engine

invest in themselves
facilitators have a mutual support and growth with fellow faciliators

Going deeper branch

Facilitator needs to prepare for the circle.

setting the intention and energy

Where is the most demand?

We can expereince coorperation - Ingrid

Benefits

talking about positive experiences
Feeling of ease, uplifting topics

Meeting assets for Edwin Rutsch's Personal Meeting Room are ready!

Review action items

Meeting summary

Quick recap

The meeting focused on discussing the development and naming of "paid empathy circles," with participants exploring different approaches to market and structure these circles for financial sustainability while maintaining their therapeutic value. The group discussed various naming options including "livelihood circles" and "marketable empathy circles," with Ingrid expressing a preference to move away from the term "paid circles" entirely. They explored different applications including going deeper circles, educational formats like couples programming, and potential partnerships with social service agencies. The conversation also covered the importance of proper facilitation preparation and the need for experienced facilitators to set the right tone and energy for circles. Teri shared her experience combining somatic practices with empathy circles and the challenges of growing such a program independently. The group agreed on the cooperative nature of empathy circles as a key trend in society, with Ingrid describing how circles create "magic carpet" experiences where everyone contributes to building something valuable together.

Next steps

Edwin

Ingrid

Teri

Look into participating in the Braver Angels Empathy Cafe planning and meetings.

Summary

No Substantive Discussion Meeting

The transcript appears to contain only brief acknowledgments and thank you responses from Edwin without any substantive discussion content. There were no decisions made, action items identified, or topics discussed that would warrant summarization.

Project Updates and Collaboration Planning

Edwin, Ingrid, and Teri discuss their current projects and challenges, including a recent ceiling repair issue at Edwin's place. They also talk about their upcoming schedule, including a meeting on Saturday and a summit, and find it challenging to coordinate their time. Ingrid and Teri express interest in collaborating on a project, with Ingrid aiming to have a developed version of it within a year, focusing on creating a sustainable and growth-oriented plan. The group touches on their assignments, including creating an invitation page for a circle, but they have not made progress on it yet.

Paid Circle Expansion Discussion

Edwin shares the agenda for the meeting, which includes exploring the idea of going deeper in the paid circle. Ingrid and Teri discuss the value of focusing on positive and uplifting topics, in addition to addressing challenging ones, as it can provide a sense of connection and joy. The group also discusses the idea of gathering testimonials from participants, with Edwin suggesting that direct quotes and short video clips could be useful for promoting the circle and establishing credibility.

Circle Naming and Facilitation Discussion

The team discussed naming options for their circles, with Teri suggesting "livelihood circles" and Edwin mentioning "Support Empathy Circle" and "growth circles." Ingrid expressed concern that the current working title "paint is so blunt" and lacks color, while Edwin suggested different flavors of circles could be named based on their specific purpose like personal growth or healing. The discussion highlighted that facilitating requires significant preparation and mindset adjustment, with Ingrid noting that facilitators need to prepare earlier and set the tone during the first 10-15 minutes, which explains why few volunteers step forward to facilitate.

Paid Empathy Circle Naming Discussion

The group discussed naming options for paid empathy circles, with Ingrid expressing preference for "livelihood circles" while Teri suggested "marketable empathy circles." They explored the concept of creating a sustainable model where facilitators could earn income while participating in a supportive community structure. The discussion also touched on potential variations of paid circles, including an educational version focused on couples, and the idea of building in breaks between sessions to allow for ongoing facilitator support and development.

Empathy Circles Promotion Strategies

The group discussed strategies for promoting empathy circles, with Ingrid suggesting targeting social services agencies where staff could benefit from the practice. Edwin shared experiences with healthcare settings and mentioned ongoing efforts with Braver Angels to establish regular empathy cafes to address social and political divides. The group agreed to meet again next Thursday at 9 AM Pacific time, with Ingrid planning to invite Grace Rosen to the next meeting.

Attendees: Edwin Rutsch (Organizer), Teri McGovern-Nintzel (External), Ingrid Hirtz (External)

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