Overview
Join us for Flourishing House at SXSW—an invite-only, day-to-night gathering for people who build ideas, institutions, and culture—on March 16, 2026, at SXSW.
Visit Arena Hall for a daytime Renewal Retreat to renew your mind and body while making lasting connections with people cultivating the next wave of big ideas. This Renewal Retreat will include fresh coffee, shared meals, space for rejuvenation, and thoughtful sessions with scholars on a variety of topics including health, energy, and technology.
In the evening, Arena Hall will transform into a Tech Tavern, where drinks, dinner, and dessert accompany stimulating conversations about ideas. Forge connections and spark new ideas with others by sharing your perspective at this evening event.
Renewal Retreat & Tech Tavern
9:00 AM–10:00 PM
Arena Hall | 108 W Gibson St.
Schedule
Monday, March 16
9:00–9:30 AM | Optional Yoga
9:00–10:00 AM | Coffee & Breakfast
10:00–10:30 AM | Health Talk with Lauren & Alicia
10:30–11:00 AM | Health Breakout Groups
11:00–11:30 AM | Sound Bath / Calming Breathwork / Mindfulness
11:30–12:30 PM | Lunch
12:30–1:00 PM | Tech Talk with Troy & Karim
1:15–2:00 PM | The Liberalism.org Show Podcast Live Recording with Virginia Postrel
2:00–6:00 PM | Break
6:00–10:00 PM | Tech Tavern
House Scholars
Alicia Plemmons is the director of the Knee Regulatory Research Center and the Center for Free Enterprise, and an assistant professor of general business at West Virginia University. Her work explores how healthcare and labor regulations shape access, opportunity, and innovation—focusing on how better policy can expand wellness, economic growth, and the ability for people and businesses to thrive.
Karim Farhat is the assistant director of the Internet Governance Project and a research scientist at Georgia Tech. He studies how digital policy, internet governance, and emerging technologies shape the future of open economies and human expression. With more than a decade of work on cybersecurity, telecommunications, and US-China tech competition, Karim brings a practical, global lens to questions about innovation, power, and the rules that will define the next era of the internet.
Lauren Hall is a professor of political science and associate dean at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She analyzes moral and political implications of healthcare policy, biotech, and regulation through classical liberalism and bioethics.
Troy Cross is a professor of philosophy and humanities at Reed College and a fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute. A philosopher by training, Troy explores big questions about knowledge, value, and human understanding—and for more than a decade, he’s also been deeply engaged in the world of Bitcoin. His recent work examines the environmental and energy implications of decentralized technologies, challenging conventional narratives about innovation, sustainability, and how new systems reshape the world we share.
Virginia Postrel is an author, columnist, and speaker. Her work spans a broad range of topics, from social science to fashion, concentrating on the intersection of culture, commerce, and technology, with an eye toward understanding the personal and social meaning of life in a dynamic, commercial culture.