from harvard, with love

come for the conversation, stay for the community

disclaimer: the views expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not reflect the views of any employer, past or current.

outside of the conviction that you can achieve anything, harvard instills in you the ability to think critically and research deeply. that’s the true value of an education for which parents are willing to pay $120,000 to consultants, hoping their child will walk through johnston gate as a member of the crimson class. with a 4.92% acceptance rate, we all know there are no guarantees in life. but nothing beats a parent’s love.

that said, what this community has offered me is something reminiscent of my ivy league days: the good fortunate to think and research in the service of discovering unconventional, but practical, conclusions. your responses to my reader survey on a possible podcast, along with your tumblr dms, have helped me realize that what’s missing is not simply more content, but a dynamic space for discussion. a place where we don’t just consume ideas but bring them to life.

so, in honor of you, and all the fiercely intellectual women who came before us, i am launching the diouana woman salon.

this salon, like those frequented by the grand horizontales of the 19th century parisian demi-monde, is for the most dedicated diouana women among us. those ready to go beyond the surface. you’re the ones who understand the thrill of a deep dive. who’d comb through the entire harvard library system to find the perfect, obscure academic paper that perfectly encapsulates your argument. you reflect on why jezebel’s real offense wasn’t promiscuity but being a pagan queen. you see the significance in every story, especially the ones misinterpreted by history.

my essays are dense because they reflect the level of depth i know you’ve come to appreciate. and rather than a podcast—a one-way conversation where you listen passively—this salon will be our space to interact. it will be an intellectual gathering, much like a slumber party, designed for us to explore, discuss, and dissect the ideas that matter to us.

instead of listeners, i want co-conspirators.

each two to four hour salon will feel like a miu miu ad come to life. the intellectual hot-girl edition. we’ll discuss the themes from my essays in depth, from exploring the ways young women can actually wield power outside of our beauty to examining why hypergamy only scratches the surface of modern love. this won’t be a one-sided broadcast. it will be a place where we debate, question, and dig into the nuances together.

and now, let’s talk about price.

for my current paying substack members, i want to emphasize that you are forever my vips. your early support affirmed my belief in my voice as a writer. as my thank you, you’ll never, ever pay to attend these salons. you are the foundation of this journey, and this lifetime access is a token of my gratitude.

the first live salon will be held virtually on the 23rd of november 2024 at 12p eastern standard time. $999 is the cost of attendance for the quarter’s set of salons with the next two in the series set to occur in december 2024 and then janaury 2025.

after the first three salons, ending in january 2025, the price will rise for the next three salons and will do so for each subsequent quarter.

this increase isn’t arbitrary. it reflects the growing value of what we’ll create together. the depth of our conversations and the unique perspectives we bring. most importantly, the insights we share will increase in value as we continue to build this intellectual milieu.

it should be mentioned that once you’re in, you’re in baby. your price is locked for the entirety of the year. so, should you choose to attend this quarter’s salons and then return for the ones beginning in november 2025, you’ll pay $999 not that quarter’s price. this is my thank you for your early commitment and show of faith.

should you not be able to attend the live salon, a recording will be made available to you should you want to listen in after the fact.

it’s been said that the man who succeeded alexander the great built the greatest library in the ancient world: the library of alexander. our salon will be much better. much more perceptive in thought. and brimming with enough ideas to spark a revolution. if one isn’t coming already.

to the most dedicated diouana women among us, let’s build a world unto ourselves.

your co-conspirator,
a diouana woman