Beyond the Facts: How to Argue When Reality is Contested

Tools for Meaningful Debate in Polarised Times

Our societies are more polarized than they have been in decades. Many of us have started wondering: can we actually still have meaningful conversations with people who think very differently from us? Can we talk to someone who doesn't just disagree with our conclusions, but seems to occupy an entirely different reality, and still get somewhere?

The answer is yes. But it takes more than good intentions, more research, or hoping that the right argument will eventually land. It takes a fundamentally wiser approach to how we conduct these conversations: practical frameworks that help us think clearly about what a disagreement is really about, which parts of it we can actually win, and how to reach the people we're talking to.

Monica Forman is a communications strategist, debate coach, and former world top-ranked competitive debater who has coached world champions and works with executives, professionals, founders, and academics on real-world persuasion. Following previous Think & Drink talks on populism and disinformation, which explored how public discourse breaks down, this masterclass takes the next step: it puts participants in the room with real disagreements and gives them the tools to handle the kind of conversations that keep coming back.

In the span of four hours, participants work through three shifts:

1. Rethink what the argument is really about - Gain a new perspective on the conversations and disagreements we find ourselves in every day. This shift alone makes them more productive and far less frustrating.
2. Argue strategically - Learn to map a complex disagreement, focus on the battles that actually matter, and ask the kind of questions that open minds rather than shut them down.
3. Meet them where they stand - Develop the ability to understand someone else's perspective deeply enough to be persuasive on their terms, not just on yours. An approach that is both empathetic and strategically wise, and far more convincing than making arguments that only sound compelling to ourselves.

This is not just theory and academic knowledge. Participants practise every concept through group exercises, live simulations, role-play scenarios, and a "hot seat" debate where the audience becomes the jury. All facilitated by Monica with real-time coaching and feedback.

The conversations this masterclass prepares you for are the ones we all have: about politics, values, or what's happening in the world, at work, in our communities, or at the dinner table. You'll leave with tools you can use the very next time one of those conversations gets difficult.

Practical Info:

• Format: 4 hours (1:30 PM to 5:30 PM).
• Location: The Book Nook, center of Amsterdam
• Perks: Light drinks and snacks on the house.
• Structure: 3 segments divided by 2 breaks, with 4 hands-on drills throughout.
• Masterclasses require a minimum of 6 participants to ignite. Without critical mass, the session will be rescheduled or fully refunded.

You are learning the most aggressive tools of world-class debate in the most relaxed canal-view environment in Amsterdam.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Book Nook, 82 Singel, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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