The Arnold Academy For Creatives Presents
The Connection Conference
A Live Virtual Event – Oct 19-23
Join the world’s leading experts in psychology, communication, creativity, and AI to learn a more thoughtful and authentic approach to expand your network of fellow artists, creatives, entrepreneurs, and humans (without becoming like the robots).
Speakers Featured In:
17+ Million
Books Sold
115+ million
TED Talk Views
“This is not just a conference—it’s a master class and a gateway to a community. Zack Arnold has a remarkable ability to build connections from scratch, and he’s choreographed a world-class lineup of experts to help you broaden and deepen your network.”
Adam Grant • #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
What Is
The Connection Conference?
The Connection Conference is a 5-day virtual event that brings together artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs to learn from the world’s experts how to build meaningful relationships.
You’ll learn more effective outreach and communication strategies so you can expand your network of peers, experts, mentors, advocates, and future collaborators in a way that feels more genuine and authentic to YOU.
If you’re a giver excited to connect with others and help them succeed (so you can also succeed), you’re in the right place!
Here’s Just A Taste of What You’ll Learn From the World’s Top Thought Leaders:
How to succeed by helping others succeed
Learn how providing value to others can help you build more genuine connections
The science of how we “vibe”
And how to connect with your people based on shared interests and values
How to approach relationships if you’re introverted or neurodivergent
And how to manage the fear of rejection if you’re highly sensitive (like me!)
How to find (and host) gatherings to connect on a deeper level
Learn the art of gathering so you can become a part of meaningful communities again
How to conduct amazing conversations
So you can deepen your connections with others (and without small talk!)
How to ask for guidance and support
Without bothering people or sounding needy so people are excited to help you succeed!
Where the robots DO and DO NOT belong in your inboxes!
So you can connect with people on a more human level
Rethink What It Means to “Connect”
Five days connecting ideas
Five days connecting with each other
The Connection Conference Is For You If…
You’re tired of only “connecting” on social media and often feel alone
Learn a more authentic way to reach out and connect with your people in the digital world without the algorithms (and without the robots!)
You’re afraid to reach out to people (and you don’t know what to say when you do)
Learn how to turn outreach and networking into an act of service where you provide genuine value to others and connect based on shared goals and shared values.
You don’t know where to find “your people” (or how to genuinely connect with them)
Learn how to build a more diverse relationship portfolio far beyond your LinkedIn connections and social media “followers” so you can join communities where you feel seen, heard, and welcomed.
Whether you’re shy, introverted, neurodivergent, or if for whatever reason you just don’t like traditional “networking” online, at The Connection Conference you’ll learn a more authentic approach to outreach that allows you to truly connect with your people and feel like you belong to something meaningful again.
5 Days. 3 Different Ways to Connect.
Pre-Recorded Expert Conversations
5 days of in-depth education from the world’s experts on psychology, communication, creativity, and AI
Attend Live Masterclasses and Expert Q&A’s
Daily masterclasses and Live Q&A’s so you can apply what you’re learning to your specific goals
Connect With Others In Our Creative Community
Connect with like-minded artists and creatives who share the same goals (and challenges) as you
Throughout the week we will provide you with a variety of pre-recorded conversations with the world’s top thought leaders so you can learn a more thoughtful way to build your network.
There will also be daily masterclasses and Live Q&A’s with additional experts to help you go deeper into the concepts and take action on what you learn.
Most importantly, we have created a safe space in our Circle community to make more meaningful connections, seek guidance and support, and give support in return.
Come ready to learn.
Come ready to take action.
Come ready to connect.
Expand Your Support Network of Helpful Humans
Five days connecting ideas
Five days connecting with each other
Monday, Oct 19th, 2026
Keynote Conversation: Adam Grant
#1 NYT Bestselling Author
Re:Thinking What It Means to “Connect”
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of multiple books, Adam Grant discusses with Connection Conference host Zack Arnold his seminal ideas from Give and Take about how to succeed by helping others succeed and then shares new ideas from his latest bestsellerVibe about how we can forge faster, stronger, and longer bonds in an increasingly lonely world.
Adam’s pre-recorded conversation will be available free for the entire 5-day conference.
Advanced praise about Vibe
“Vibe is a brilliant book about how to create great connections. Reading it is pure joy, and it will bring more joy into your life. If everyone reads it, the world will be a more magical place.”
– Bob Iger
Former CEO of The Walt Disney Company
Vibe is “A deep dive into the science of friendship, companionship, and love. Every page is an illumination! The world needs this book now more than ever.”
– Reese Witherspoon
Oscar-winning actress, producer, entrepreneur
“Adam has focused his enormous brain and loads of research on how we connect to our fellow humans and the result is informative and compulsively readable. Simply put, the Vibe is immaculate.”
– Lin-Manuel Miranda
Award-winning songwriter, actor, producer, filmmaker
Day 1
Monday, Oct 19th, 2026
How to Situate Yourself for Success in an Uncertain Future
(And Surround Yourself With Peers and Mentors Excited to Support You)
We’re all navigating an uncertain world where career paths (especially those for artists and creatives) are no longer predictable. Learn how to leverage your unique skills and situate yourself for success by surrounding yourself with the right people so you can build a diverse network of peers, experts, and mentors who want to help you succeed!
Angela Duckworth the #1 NYT Bestselling author of Grit will share her latest discoveries in her newest book Situated about how we can position ourselves for success by helping others succeed and surrounding ourselves with the right peers and mentors.
David Epstein, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Range and Inside the Box will discuss the importance of building a broad and diverse network in an uncertain world transitioning from specialization to generalization. He will also share with us the most constraints that will help us build the right support networks to achieve our goals.
The Day 1 pre-recorded interviews release Monday, Oct 19th at 7:30am PT and will be available FREE to all attendees for 24 hours. You may upgrade for lifetime access to the recordings, transcripts, study guides, and the Knowledge Base Vault.
LIVE Monday Masterclass:
Diversifying Your Relationship Portfolio
Monday, Oct 19th @ 12:30pm – 2pm PT
Zack Arnold, the host and creator of The Connection Conference, is a former award-winning Hollywood filmmaker turned creative career coach who specializes in helping artists and creatives navigating difficult career transitions and build their networks through more authentic outreach strategies. You’ll learn who needs to be in your network based on your goals and how to reach out and connect with your fellow conference attendees.
The quality of your life is dictated by the quality of your relationships
Five days connecting ideas
Five days connecting with each other
Day 2
Tuesday, Oct 20th, 2026
How to “Put Yourself Out There” Without Pretending to Be Someone Else
(And Overcome the Fear of Rejection!)
Traditional “networking” can be a challenge for anyone, but it’s especially difficult (and overwhelming) when you’re introverted, neurodivergent, or highly sensitive. Rather than having to “fake it” as an extrovert, learn how to leverage the unique strengths you possess as an introvert and/or neurodivergent to connect in a more genuine way that you’ll actually enjoy!
Susan Cain, author of the #1 NYT bestsellers Quiet and Bittersweet will help us understand how introverts and highly sensitive people experience the world differently and how your unique temperament can be an advantage if you truly want to connect with your ‘kindred spirits’ in a more meaningful way.
Kristen Carder, host of the wildly popular I Have ADHD! podcast and author of the brand new book You’re Not In Trouble will help those who are highly sensitive (or have ADHD) handle the stress and anxiety that comes when connecting with others (and the rejection!).
Tara Schuster is a former Hollywood creative executive turned bestselling author of Buy the F*cking Lillies and This Journal F*cking Works who will help us all better manage the fears, imposter syndrome, anxiety, and overwhelm that come with being an artist or creative trying to put themselves and their work out into the world.
The Day 2 pre-recorded interviews will release Tuesday, Oct 20th at 7:30am PT and be available FREE to all attendees for 24 hours. You may upgrade for lifetime access to the recordings, transcripts, study guides, and the Knowledge Base Vault.
Tuesday Live Q&A:
Connecting Analog Ideas In the Digital World
Tuesday, Oct 20th @ 12:30pm – 2pm PT
Alex Wieckowski, creator of Alex & Books will share how he built his extensive author network and also be available for audience Q&A to help us re-engage with analog books, learn how to take better notes, and most importantly learn how to not only build a more consistent reading habit but also take action on what we learn.
Nick Milo, Obsidian guru and creator of the wildly successful YouTube channel ‘Linking Your Thinking’ will also share how he has built his network and be available for audience Q&A to help us build our personal knowledge management systems and connect our ideas from the conference so we can implement what we learn in the real world.
Find Your People and Connect In a Way That Works For You
Five days connecting ideas
Five days connecting with each other
Day 3
Wednesday, Oct 21st, 2026
How to Connect With “Your People” and Make Them Feel Seen, Heard, and Valued
(One Purposeful Gathering at a Time)
In our hyperconnected digital world, we’ve lost our ability to genuinely connect with each other and help one another. And we no longer feel like we belong…well…anywhere. Learn why it’s essential in an uncertain and disconnected world to prioritize meaningful relationships, join gatherings, host your own gatherings, and be of genuine service to others again.
Will Guidara is the NYT bestselling author of the wildly successful Unreasonable Hospitality (that also inspired the Emmy-winning FX series The Bear, for which he became co-producer) who will share with us a completely different approach to providing value to others through genuine acts of service that allow us to connect on a deeper, more human level.
Priya Parker is the bestselling author of The Art of Gathering and The Art of Fighting. She will help us find like-minded gatherings and communities, create our own gatherings (yes, even us introverts!), and share how healthy conflict can actually deepen our relationships.
Jayson Gaignard is the author of Community Made. He’ll help us bring the right people together, turn small gatherings into lasting relationships, and build a community of people we can count on (including learning how to ask them for help!).
The Day 3 pre-recorded interviews will release Wednesday, Oct 21st at 7:30am PT and be available FREE to all attendees for 24 hours. You may upgrade for lifetime access to the recordings, transcripts, study guides, and the Knowledge Base Vault.
Wednesday LIVE Q&A:
How to Build a Thriving Community and Provide Value to “Your People”
Wednesday, Oct 21st @ 12:30pm – 2pm PT
Steve Kamb, the founder of the wildly successful Nerd Fitness and the bestselling author of How to Try Again, will share how he built his extensive author network. Then he’ll help us overcome the many fears and limiting beliefs that hold us back from connecting with others, and overcoming the “failures” along the way so we can keep forging ahead.
Learn How to Build Your Network
In Service of Others
Five days connecting ideas
Five days connecting with each other
Day 4
Thursday, Oct 22nd, 2026
How to Become a Supercommunicator and Ask for What You Need
(Without Bothering People…or Making It Weird)
Connecting with others is about far more than small talk, pitching yourself, or passing around your résumé. If you want to build genuine relationships on a deeper level you have to become a better storyteller, be more open and vulnerable, and ask better (and deeper questions). And most importantly, you have to know how to manage communications in the digital world.
Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and the #1 NYT bestselling author of The Power of Habit and Supercommunicators, will share with us the science (and art) of how we connect as humans on a deeper level through our conversations and how to ask deeper, more meaningful questions that allow us to truly feel seen and heard.
Erica Dhawan, considered “The Oprah of Management Ideas” by Thinkers 50 and the instant WSJ bestselling author of Digital Body Language (and the forthcoming Use Your Brain), will help us navigate the complicated world of digital communication, which mediums to use and when, and how to make sure we convey the right tone and vibe in our messages.
Vanessa Bohns, professor of organizational behavior and social psychology at Cornell University and author of the books You Have More Influence Than You Think and Should I Say Something? will share with us how we underestimate our power of persuasion and how to know what we should share (and not share) with others when we want to connect.
The Day 4 pre-recorded interviews will release Thursday, Oct 22nd at 7:30am PT and be available FREE to all attendees for 24 hours. You may upgrade for lifetime access to the recordings, transcripts, study guides, and the Knowledge Base Vault.
Thursday LIVE Q&A:
The Art and Science of Building Trust
Thursday Oct 22nd @ 12:30pm – 2pm PT
Jay Clouse, named “Content Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2023, is the founder of Creator Science where he has helped thousands of creators turn their passion into sturdy businesses. He’ll share with us how to connect with our audiences on a more authentic level and build trust with them by playing the quality game rather than the quantity game.
Learn the Art (and Science) of Great Conversations
Five days connecting ideas
Five days connecting with each other
Day 5
Friday, Oct 23rd, 2026
How to Co-Exist With the Robots
(Without Losing What Makes Us Human)
We’re overwhelmed by AI slop in our inboxes and social feeds. The robots are replying to AI-generated emails. We’re all starting to sound the same. And humans (including our kids!) are increasingly out of the communication loop. Learn how detrimental it is to outsource the real friction of human connection to the robots and how we can maintain our human voices in The Age of AI.
Ethan Mollick is the NYT bestselling author of Co-Intelligence and Co-Existence as well as one of TIME’s most influential people in AI and author of the Substack One Useful Thing. He’ll help us understand how we can maintain our human advantage in The Age of AI and where the robots can co-exist with us in the process of human connection.
Dana Suskind is the NYT and WSJ bestselling author of Parent Nation and Human Raised, as well as being one of the world’s leading authorities on how technology and generative AI impact early childhood development and family dynamics. She’ll help us understand the value of friction in the process of true human connection.
Brad Stulberg, the NYT bestselling author of The Way of Excellence and coach to world-class performers will help us understand how vital friction and effort are to bring meaning to our lives, how to build the sustainable practice of doing hard things, and where AI should NEVER be allowed in the processes of writing and thinking.
The Day 5 pre-recorded interviews will release Friday, Oct 23rd at 7:30am PT and be available FREE to all attendees for 24 hours. You may upgrade for lifetime access to the recordings, transcripts, study guides, and the Knowledge Base Vault.
Friday Masterclass:
Using The VSA Outreach Formula™
to Make Meaningful Connections
Friday, Oct 23rd @ 12:30pm – 2pm PT
Zack Arnold the host and creator of The Connection Conference, will close out this 5-day event with an in-depth live masterclass about how to craft thoughtful outreach to expand your network of peers, experts, mentors, advocates, and collaborators so you can better navigate the next phase of work and life on your terms (without sounding like the robots).
In the Age of AI, Human Connection Is Your Greatest Advantage
Five days connecting ideas
Five days connecting with each other
BONUS #1
Upgrade to The Community Pass to Make Real Connections!
Build your support network of peers and mentors in our Circle community
In addition to learning from our amazing panel of experts, hop into our Circle community to connect with, learn from, and support each other!
Connect with your fellow artists, creatives and entrepreneurs in our Circle community and expand your support network of peers, experts, mentors, advocates, and even future collaborators! And don’t worry if you’re shy, introverted, or just don’t know how to connect yet. That’s what I’m for. 😉
Introduce Yourself and Make Friends In The Lobby
We all know the best connections don’t happen in the conference room, they happen in The Lobby!
Seek (and Provide) Support In “The Reciprocity Ring“
Ask questions, ask for advice, and ask for referrals from your fellow attendees, ‘Pay It Forward’ style to create a culture of giving!
Workshop Your Outreach In ‘The Connection Lab’
Get feedback, provide feedback to others, and learn how to connect in a more meaningful way
Find Your Ideal Connections in The Member Directory
Search by highly customized criteria to find exactly who you want to connect with based on your industry and your goals.
By the end of the conference you’ll walk away with real connections with real humans who genuinely want to help you achieve your goals!
BONUS #2
Upgrade to The Knowledge Pass to Connect Ideas and Customize Your Conference Experience!
With our custom-built Obsidian Knowledge Base Vault (that is also AI-friendly! 🤖)
For the thinkers and doers who want to squeeze every ounce of information from these conversations, we’ve created a Knowledge Base Vault that will BLOW. YOUR. MIND.
This ain’t your Granddaddy’s conference where the best you can hope for is furiously taking handwritten notes and capturing what you can before it’s over.
We’ve created a custom LLM Knowledge Base Vault built upon every single word spoken at this event so you can not only search for exactly what you need based on key topics and themes, but you can also customize your entire conference experience using your AI chatbot of choice!
(P.S. If you HATE artificial intelligence, this knowledge base was designed by humans for humans. No robots needed!)
An AI-friendly Knowledge Base Vault
Navigate all of the content in an LLM Wiki designed for humans ( and for Obsidian…which is FREE), but also made to work with the robots 🤖
Customize your conference experience
Create customized playlists, find exactly what you need by topic, and build a customized action plan to implement what you learn far beyond the event
Study guides and cheat sheets
To follow along with each conversation (or skip what isn’t relevant to you)
Word-for-word transcripts
Of every single pre-recorded expert conversation
AI summaries, Key Takeaways, and detailed FAQ’s
Walk away with every question ANSWERED!
This LLM Knowledge Base Vault is a master class in understanding human connection that you can learn from, query, and act upon for years to come!
Join Us At The Connection Conference!
A Live Virtual Event – Oct 19th-23rd, 2026
There are three different ways to connect with your fellow artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs:
The FREE Pass
EXPERT CONVERSATIONS
24-hrs access to each day’s pre-recorded conversations
The Connection Conference private podcast feed to listen on the go
LIVE CALLS
Attend Mon & Fri Live Masterclasses + Q&A
LIFETIME access to ALL call recordings
Attend ALL Daily Expert Q&A’s
COMMUNITY
The Main Stage to chat in the comments for each expert conversation
The Lobby to introduce yourself and connect with fellow attendees
The Connection Lab to workshop your outreach and get feedback from peers
The Reciprocity Ring to seek (and give) support and connections
The Member Directory to search for your ideal connections
The Community Pass
EXPERT CONVERSATIONS
LIFETIME access to all pre-recorded conversations (video & audio)
The Connection Conference private podcast feed to listen on the go
LIVE CALLS
Attend Mon & Fri Live Masterclasses + Q&A
Attend ALL Daily Expert Q&A’s
LIFETIME access to ALL call recordings
COMMUNITY
The Main Stage to chat in the comments for each expert conversation
The Lobby to introduce yourself and connect with fellow attendees
The Connection Lab to workshop your outreach and get feedback from peers
The Reciprocity Ring to seek (and give) support and connections
The Member Directory to search for your ideal connections
The Knowledge Pass
Everything included with The Community Pass, PLUS…
LIFETIME access to the Knowledge Base Vault which includes:
Interview transcripts
Interview summaries
An AI-friendly LLM of all conference content to customize your conference experience
Key Topic Maps to find the exact content you need based on your goals (and challenges)
Topic FAQ’s to get all of your relevant questions answered
Conversation study guides to help you follow along and synthesize what you learn
Practical action steps so you can apply what you learn in the real world
Built for Obsidian (which is FREE) but can be used with any program or OS
AI-friendly with your chatbot of choice (but NO robots needed!)
$299 $199
$100 OFF Early Bird Discount Expires 10/16
💰 Payment plans available using Klarna
About Your Instructor…
Hi, I’m Zack!
If you want to create things that matter, I want to help you.
I’m the founder of The Arnold Academy For Creatives and a former award-winning Hollywood film editor and producer (notable credits include Cobra Kai, Glee, Empire, and Burn Notice) turned writer, podcaster, and creative career coach. I also happen to be a closet introvert. 😳
I specialize in helping artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs like you navigate difficult career transitions and build strong support networks in a more authentic and thoughtful way.
I’ve spent over a decade on The Zack Arnold Podcast having deep, meaningful conversations with highly creative humans to better understand how we can build a life that matters, support each other along the way, and even (maybe?) co-exist with the robots in this crazy, chaotic world we call reality. I’m excited to share with you some of the most mind-blowing conversations I’ve had with my literal heroes so you have the latest strategies to build your own support network of like-minded peers, seek guidance from experts, find mentors, ask for referrals, and even pitch yourself to your dream collaborators!
As featured in:
“Zack Arnold is The Godfather of cold outreach.”
Matthew Gentile • Feature Film Director, Writer, Producer
Frequently Asked Questions
When is The Connection Conference? And where is it?
The Connection Conference is a live virtual event being hosted by The Arnold Academy For Creatives in the learning platform Circle from Monday Oct 19th through Friday, Oct 23rd 2026. No matter the part of the world you come from, you’re invited!
What time are the events each day?
- Each day’s pre-recorded conversations release at 7:30am PT and will be available for 24 hrs.
- The free Mon & Fri masterclasses will be from 12:30pm – 2pm PT Monday through Friday.
There will also be various asynchronous community events happening in Circle, and those with either The Community Pass or The Knowledge Pass will have full access to all content and all community spaces, as well as the LIVE Q&A’s on Tue, Wed, and Thu.
What if I can’t attend live? Will there be replays?
If you’re unable to attend any of the pre-recorded conversations, everyone with The Free Pass can access the pre-recorded conversations for 24 hours. Adam Grant’s pre-recorded conversation will be free for the entire 5-day event.
Upgrading to either The Community Pass or The Knowledge Pass will grant you lifetime access to all the conversation recordings as well as multiple other educational resources and bonuses to help you build an action plan from everything you learned.
Who are all the speakers again?
The speaker list for this event is BANANAS and includes bestselling authors and experts in the fields of psychology, communication, creativity, and AI:
- Adam Grant – Give and Take, The Originals, Think Again, Hidden Potential, Vibe
- David Epstein – Range, Inside the Box
- Angela Duckworth – Grit, Situated
- Susan Cain – Quiet, Bittersweet
- Kristen Carder – You’re Not In Trouble
- Tara Schuster – Buy the F*cking Lillies, This Journal F*cking Works
- Priya Parker – The Art of Gathering, The Art of Fighting
- Will Guidara – Unreasonable Hospitality
- Jayson Gaignard – Community Made
- Vanessa Bohns – You Have More Influence Than You Think, Should I Say Something?
- Charles Duhigg – The Power of Habit, Supercommunicators
- Erica Dhawan – Get Big Things Done, Digital Body Language, Use Your Brain
- Dana Suskind – Parent Nation, Human Raised
- Ethan Mollick – Co-Intelligence, Co-Existence
- Brad Stulberg – The Way of Excellence
- Alex Wieckowski – Alex & Books
- Nick Milo – Linking Your Thinking
- Steve Kamb – How to Try Again (and founder of Nerd Fitness)
- Jay Clouse – Creator Science
How is this event different from traditional online “summits”?
Unlike most virtual summits, this event is not just about spraying you with a firehose of information and then asking you to buy the recordings for $49. Our intention is to provide you with the knowledge, strategies, and tools so you can implement what you learn and more authentically build your network not just during the conference but for years to come afterwards.
Registering with either The Community Pass or The Knowledge Pass will grant you lifetime access to all the conversations as well as multiple other upgrades and educational resources, not to mention all of the community spaces and our Knowledge Base Vault!
What does The Community Pass upgrade include?
The Community Pass upgrade includes the following:
EXPERT CONVERSATIONS
- LIFETIME access to all pre-recorded conversations (video & audio)
- The Connection Conference private podcast feed to listen on the go
- Attend Mon & Fri Live Masterclasses + Q&A
- Attend ALL Daily Expert Q&A’s
- LIFETIME access to ALL call recordings
COMMUNITY
- The Main Stage to chat in the comments for each expert conversation
- The Lobby to introduce yourself and connect with fellow attendees
- The Connection Lab to workshop your outreach and get feedback from peers
- The Reciprocity Ring to seek (and give) support and connections
- The Member Directory to search for your ideal connections
What does The Knowledge Pass upgrade include?
The Knowledge Pass upgrade includes everything in The Community Pass plus LIFETIME access to the Knowledge Base Vault which includes:
- Interview transcripts
- Interview summaries
- An AI-friendly LLM of all conference content to customize your conference experience
- Key Topic Maps to find the exact content you need based on your goals (and challenges)
- Topic FAQ’s to get all of your relevant questions answered
- Conversation study guides to help you follow along and synthesize what you learn
- Practical action steps so you can apply what you learn in the real world
- Built for Obsidian (which is FREE) but can be used with any program or OS
- AI-friendly with your chatbot of choice (but NO robots needed!)
When I register, who will get my email address?
Upon registration your name and email address will be added to The Arnold Academy newsletter so we can send you email notifications when content releases, as well as grant you access to The Arnold Academy in Circle. After the conference is complete you may choose to stay on the newsletter and receive free weekly content to help you navigate your creative career. You may also choose to unsubscribe at any time.
Your email address will not be provided to any of the speakers, nor will it ever be sold to any third parties.
Will you be providing transcripts and AI summaries of the interviews?
Transcripts, AI summaries, and a host of additional educational resources (including our AI-friendly Obsidian knowledge base) will be provided for anyone who upgrades to either The Community Pass or The Knowledge Pass.
Do I need to create a Circle account or purchase additional software to participate?
To access The Connection Conference you will be invited to The Arnold Academy community in Circle, but no software purchase is necessary, nor do you have to provide your CC info.
You can access this conference from any browser or mobile device (although I recommend attending on desktop), and Circle also provides free desktop and mobile apps.
If you upgrade to The Knowledge Pass you will also be granted access to our full AI-friendly Knowledge Base Vault. We highly recommend using Obsidian (which is free), but you may use this file directory in other programs if you wish.
What does “limited” access to Circle include? What if I upgrade?
If you join us with The Free Pass you will have access to The Welcome Desk, The Conference Calendar, and The Main Stage to watch the pre-recorded conversations and connect in the comments.
If you upgrade to either The Community Pass or The Knowledge Pass you will have full access to all community channels and events throughout the conference, including:
- The Lobby to introduce yourself and connect with fellow attendees
- The Connection Lab to workshop your outreach and get feedback from peers
- The Reciprocity Ring to seek (and give) support and connections
- The Member Directory to search for your ideal connections
How long will I have access to the Circle community?
All attendees will have access to our Circle community until December 23rd, 2026.
Those with The Free Pass will lose their limited access to the Circle community and all recordings and additional resources after the event is complete (by Monday, Oct 26th)
Those with either The Community Pass or The Knowledge Pass will maintain lifetime access to the recordings in The Recordings Vault.
If I join for free with The Free Pass, am I able to upgrade if I change my mind before (or during) the event?
Yes, you may upgrade to either The Community Pass or The Knowledge Pass at any time. Note that any ‘Early Bird’ upgrade discounts will no longer be valid as of Monday, Oct 19th when the event begins.
Will I need to appear on camera during the Live Q&A sessions?
Introverts, don’t sweat it! You will never be asked to speak or appear on camera unless you choose to participate. This is a lurker-friendly event. 😉
Are closed captions available for the hearing impaired?
Yes, all interviews will have captioning available to all attendees, regardless of the pass you register with.
Do you have a refund policy?
Because this event is live, there is unfortunately no refund policy unless for technical reasons (that are our fault, not yours) you are unable to access the content you were promised.
What if I still have questions or require support?
If you are still unsure about this conference and whether or not it’s the right fit for your needs (or if you’re having technical issues), please reach out to support [at] thearnoldacademy [dot] com.
HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO CONNECT WITH ALL THESE AMAZING SPEAKERS?!?!?!
Simple! Hand-crafted, well-written, and thoughtful cold outreach emails. 😁
I’ve been called “The Godfather of cold outreach.” And I built not only this entire conference but also my entire creative career from my inbox. And throughout this conference I’ll show you how to do the same, without having to bother people or sell yourself. Trust me, you might actually enjoy this!
The quality of your life is dictated by the quality of your relationships
If you’re overwhelmed by AI slop, tired of social media, or you feel more lonely and disconnected than ever, come join us at The Connection Conference to find your people, rebuild a sense of community, and learn a more thoughtful and authentic approach to reaching out to those you admire and want to connect with.
Make Connections That Matter
Five days connecting ideas
Five days connecting with each other
The Connection Conference
Presented by
© 2026 Arnoland, Inc. All rights reserved.
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