What we’re about
- Who: Geared toward adults in their 20s, 30s, 40s.. though any intellectually curious folks are welcome! **
- Where: Location changes (see event details)
- When: Every 4-8 weeks on Mondays
Deep Dives & Drafts is a Meetup for intellectually curious individuals who enjoy engaging in thought-provoking conversations and exploring complex topics and ideas.
How it works: Each month or so, we’ll select a central theme to explore. In advance of the meetup, a list of resources (books, documentaries, podcasts, etc.) will be listed in the event description that will be used to frame the conversation. While you're encouraged to engage with the materials beforehand, it is not a requirement for participation.
Each gathering offers an opportunity to delve into unfamiliar topics, challenge assumptions, and gain new perspectives (while enjoying a cold beer, if that is your thing.) The group is new, and thus flexible as we establish membership and group structure/flow.
A quick note on group norms:
This is a space for curiosity, not confrontation. While we may explore complex or even controversial topics, all discussion should remain respectful, grounded in the materials we’ve engaged with, and centered on a spirit of shared learning. No personal attacks, no hidden agendas, no tolerance for hate speech, bullying, or any other behavior that disrupts a constructive atmosphere.
This group is explicitly inclusive of all races, genders, orientations, abilities, and neurotypes. Diverse perspectives enrich our conversations, and we’re committed to fostering a space where everyone feels safe, heard, and respected.
**Social science informs us that a shared life stage can help with group chemistry, but curiosity definitely transcends age—if the format speaks to you, come join us!
Upcoming events
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Cartographic Dramas & the Politics of Place
The Fox Restaurant & Brewery, 124 Wonder St., Reno, NV, USWelcome to Deep Dives and Drafts! If you're new, please check out our group page to learn more about us here.
This month, we’re charting new territory (literally) with a deep dive into cartography and all the drama it’s created.
From colonial explorers naming lands that weren’t theirs, to Google quietly adjusting borders depending on who’s searching, maps have always been tools of both knowledge and control.
Themes we might explore:
- History & Empire: How cartography shaped colonial expansion, from “discoveries” to renaming and redrawing the world.
- Maps as Power: Borders that fueled conflict, U.S. boundary oddities, gerrymandering, redlining, and propaganda maps.
- Science & Discovery: From John Snow’s cholera map to ocean-floor surveys, satellites, and LiDAR. History of cartography and its future.
- Critical/Counter-Mapping: Restoring Indigenous geographies and mapping from community perspectives.
Expect some juicy map drama alongside deeper conversations about who draws the world — and what that means for the rest of us.
Suggested resources to spark conversation:
Online Article/Reference:
Documentaries:
- This is Not an Atlas (2020, mini-doc from a group of “Counter-Cartographists”) link
- How the States Got Their Shapes (Prime Link) *Thanks Kevin F!
- Maps: Power, Plunder & Possession (2011, televised mini-series) Episode 1
Podcasts:
- Stuff You Should Know: How Maps Work Link
- What is Critical Cartography? A Conversation with Dr. Annette Kim Link
- Miguel Álvarez: A Cartographer’s Tale Geomob Link
- Exploring The Library of Lost Maps: Geographical Thinking from Esri Canada Link
Books:
- Atlas of The Invisible by James Cheshire and Oliver Uberti
- All Mapped Out: How Maps Shape Us by Mike Duggan
- How to Lie with Maps, Third Edition by Mark Monmonier
- Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World (Politics of Place) by Tim Marshall
Please let me know of any podcasts, docs, books, etc that you'd like me to list here!
How does this group work?
Each month we will select a topic to explore. The meetup will be anchored by a set of recommended readings, podcasts, or other media intended to provide theoretical context and a foundation for discourse. Our aim is to foster intellectual engagement, thoughtful dialogue, and collective learning.
Meetups will be in public spaces (bars) where folks can order beverages if they wish.2 attendees
Past events
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