S6E1. Catching Up: 2025 Highlights + What's Coming In 2026

Hi stitchers, welcome to Taltriz Talk, where we share conversations about Palestinian embroidery. I'm Lina here with my co-host Amani, chatting with talented embroiderers and artists, sharing their stories, inspirations, and the cultural significance behind their work. And today, the talented Palestinian embroiderers and artists that we're going to be talking to is each other.

Yes, yes. Um, so we are are working on next season, but obviously, uh, we are now in 2026. New year, same me. Um, but we wanted to take a little time to reflect on our Thathri lives in 2025, um, and then maybe talk about what's gonna happen this year for us. So, Lena, how's it going?

What's, uh, exciting from 2025? What are your 2025 goals? 2025 highlights and reflections. 2025 highlights and reflections. Um, well, for me, I, you know, actually I'm glad because you and I both did a post on social, which is really helpful.

Oh my God, we should use that for reference. Yes, don't tell the listeners. Well, we'll put it in the show notes. I mean, it's fine, it's all good. But like, I— we did it, so it's like, it's fresh and top of mind.

Um, yeah, I mean, 2025, actually, like, we did a lot. We did a lot. We had 2 seasons. Um, we did a Talk Live event in the summer. That was so fun.

And actually, funny, so when I was doing— actually, I don't know if I was doing the, the, the social media post for like for this, but I was on my Google Photos. And you know, Google Photos, it does like, you know, like it did a, it did a 2025 highlights thing. Oh, cute. Okay. Okay.

And, um, you don't know what I'm about to say. No, wait, now I remember. Now I remember. Okay. Oh my God.

So anyways, I was like, I was whatever I was doing, and I was looking through it and showing me like all my highlights from 2025, whatever. And it does this thing where it like count, like here's the person that you, that shows up most in your photos. And you know, my first number one was my husband. Um, but number two was my wife.

I just think it's hilarious because you and I do not live in the same place at all. That's so funny. That's so funny. That, that must tell us something. Yes.

Mhm. So I was one of your highlights of 2025. Indeed. Indeed. It's so funny.

Oh my goodness. We took a lot of photos together. We had our photo shoot in the summer. We saw each other in Morocco. We did.

We did. And was that it? Did I not see you? No, I, I came to New York multiple— like, I just came to New York in November. So I came to New York like 2 or 3 times in 2025.

Yeah. Yeah. So you spoiled me. You came and saw. I did.

And you have not come to visit me in California. I know, I know. How rude. I know. 2026.

That's what's up. Mm-hmm. Inshallah. Oh my goodness. Anyways, so that was my 2026 in photos.

Uh, 2025. 2025. 2025 in photos. Um, but no, really, like, I feel like 2025 for me was the year of relationship building.

That was, that was the big thing that I'd gathered from like looking back at the year and seeing what I was up to. I felt like I got to know so many different people in the Tetris world very, and not just like superficially, but got to know them a little bit more deeply. Um, and it's anyways, it's, it's gotten me thinking a lot about what I want to do in 2026. Um, but before we get there, um, you also tell me what kind of, what pops up for you for 2025? So 2025 was the first full year that I did not have a corporate full-time job.

Yeah, it was the first year maybe doing consulting, um, which has been good, um, like doing consulting and contracting work because, you know, we need to pay bills unfortunately. Um, but it has allowed me to focus a lot more on Tatree. So I've been able to do a lot more classes. I've been able to teach a lot more classes, I should say. I've been able to travel to teach classes.

I'm going to Michigan on Monday to teach a class at the University of Michigan. Aye! I went to Mexico City to teach a class at the Palestinian embassy there. So that's been really, really cool. And I love that.

And I am hoping that I can maintain that in 2026. So lots of new experiences, meeting new people. And, you know, my little San Francisco Bay Area Tatris community keeps growing, which I love. Um, so that makes me happy. Like, there's just more and more people, um, in my local community that are joining us and showing interest, even if they're not stitching themselves, like showing interest in Tatris as, um, as a whole.

So it's just really nice to see. Um, and I think I got to see it so much, um, and in such a focused way last year because I was pretty much doing something full-time, you know, um, or trying to, um, you know. So that has been really, really cool, I think. And definitely our live event in New York was a highlight. It was really fun.

I— oh my God, okay, like, we— I think we said this when we talked about it on the season opener, but, you know, we were kind of like, oh, if like I literally said to Lena, I was like, Lena, if 15 people show up, that would be amazing. Yeah. And 50 of you, like more than 50 of you, because we had 50 seats out and there was people standing. So more than 50 of you came, um, which was like amazing. And then like, I don't know, it was, it was nice to, to hear from people that like this podcast and the the conversations that we're able to share with people are actually like meaningful.

Um, because, you know, we always joke around, well, I joke around about like, oh, we're just like two nerds talking about Dotriz with like another nerd. Um, but like to, to, uh, know or hear people say like, oh, it's meaningful to me, or like, it really moves me, or, you know, um, I'm really glad to like find a community through this. Um, that's kind of amazing. Uh, so I think, uh, I, yeah, I think that was really, really cool., to experience and see. And then, oh, I also— sorry, I'm talking too much, but I also— no, please do it.

I taught a class at Pixar for the second year in a row, and I actually am going to be teaching another class this year with them. Um, but I, I think I talked about this too, and after it happened, but I loved— like, I teach a lot of different classes and do corporate classes, but like Pixar, like everyone who works there is a creative in some capacity. Like, even if you're like— let's be honest, like even if you're on the accounting team, like you still— like there's creativity all around you. Um, so everyone got so into it. They started a Tatris club, a Tatris stitching club.

And, um, I was texting, I was emailing with, um, my contact there because we're going to be talking soon. And I was like, oh, I hope you guys are still stitching. And they were like, yes, we actually are. So that's also another highlight. Yes, yes, yes.

I love that. You're reminding me, I did this workshop in February and I remember Everyone was so excited and the best part about it was that the location was in Philly and you had some of your kits available. Oh yeah. And I remember like just watching all of them, like the Nüttelpriesers grabbing Mina Mani's kits. And it's so exciting to see like people, you know, get into it and feel the things that we feel.

Because sometimes it's really hard and like you really have to spend that time. Yeah. To get started. And I, we, I think we, I don't know. I forget.

I forget a lot what it's like to be new sometimes. Yeah. Yeah, totally. Totally. Until I have to do something that's new, and I'm like, yeah, man, this— there's a large curve.

Yeah, I'm gonna go back to my totteries. Yeah, exactly, exactly. Yeah, this is my comfort zone. Yeah, but it's so lovely to see that, you know, there's, there's a growing global community, glowing— growing local community in San Francisco. That's awesome.

Like, yeah, yeah, it's— you see, you got to come out here. You know what, I mean, we were in— oh, and we have to talk about The retreat. But okay, so we were in Morocco when this happened, but every year there's Palestine Day here in the Bay Area. Um, and like this year there was like 20,000 or 30,000 people. That's wild.

Yeah. Yeah. Because people come, like, you know, even people from like Sacramento, like people from Northern California, Central Valley, they come. Um, and it's like really fun and you gotta come out. Yeah.

'Cause you missed it this year. I did. I did. Yeah. I did.

Next year, inshallah. Inshallah. Um, but okay, something else that we did in 2025 is, uh, the Tathreez retreat. Uh, and we took it international. We went to Marrakech, uh, we went to Morocco, and it was amazing.

It was so good. It was like bonkers. We exceeded our own expectations. Like, no, seriously, I'm in the midst of planning my birthday right now, and I keep comparing everything I see to the Morocco villa and the Morocco experience, and I'm like, should I just go back to Morocco? Like, also shout out to all the Moroccans we met.

Yeah, they— when we said that we were Palestinian, the way they showed us love was so insane. Like, it was beautiful. It was so beautiful. Um, that was fun. That was fun.

Yeah, no, it was, it was such a beautiful experience. I feel like the— because what we've done in the past, like, obviously the previous few retreats were also beautiful in their own way. But I feel like this one, because we had done it a couple times, we knew what we want— what we knew what we were looking for. And one of the big things I think that we haven't been able to really find in the past was, um, like lodging that offered so much space for 3s, not just for like 3 people or 4 people at a time, but for the entire group. Yeah.

And that was the best part. I mean, we spent hours, hours, hours, and we had a pretty good, like, you know, full— like today we had days where we were busy, but the days we had some free time, all we wanted to do was stitch. And I love that we could do it together. We could see each other. Everyone's like lounging and like they're even like if they're still in their pajamas or they're in swimsuits or whatever, like it's super private and chill and it's just about being in community together.

And, um, and just, I took so many stupid TikToks that I made Nina record. Also true. Also true. And I think the other thing that we did really well this year was the embroidered, the Moroccan embroidery class. Like that was, oh my God, wait, can we talk about that?

Yeah, we've always had it in the top, like, in the, like, top priority for all 3 retreats, but this was the first time we actually were successful. Yes, the first year I think we just couldn't identify, like, we couldn't find someone available. The second year was a hot mess. Do you want to talk about it? No, it was just a mis— um, not accurately represented.

Boom. Let's just say that. And then this year was It was perfect. We literally were— it was actually one of the attendees who gave us the link and it was— shout out to Iman. Yeah, shout out to Iman.

It was a beautiful, beautiful space. And it's just where like it's a co-op where these women who have disabilities in Morocco are able to be like, come and do their embroidery work and then their work is sold. And just like the whole story behind the— wait, and can we like also like not only it's like, oh, this is a place for them to employ these women, with different disabilities and stuff and health issues. They literally pick them up because if you've ever been— oh God, Lena, remember when we were in Jordan and I was in a wheelchair? Oh my God, Jordan is so not— okay, anyways, it's not accessible.

Yeah, Morocco, beautiful, stunning, obsessed, not accessible. So they pick these women up and it's called Al Nour. We know we got to put like the link in the show notes, but It's called Al Noor, and they pick these women up from home. They bring them to work. They bring their kids to work.

They have a daycare there for their kids. They provide 2 meals a day for the women and their children, and then they take them home. So they eliminate so many obstacles that these women face on a day-to-day basis so that they have their independence. And they like— it's just done with so much dignity. I was obsessed.

I'm still obsessed. Even the space, even like the physical space. Oh, beautiful. Like, I think they— she talked about it, like the architect, they had found an architect who they had very specific things in mind. It was beautiful.

Like these— so much like space for like sun to come through and like open air and like it just absolutely— I would, I would work there all day, every day. It was absolutely beautiful. Like it's done with so much care, like you said. Yeah. Um, so we'll definitely put them in the show notes.

If you're ever in Morocco, in Marrakech specifically, please go check them out. Their work also is beautiful. Moroccan embroidery is hard. Yeah, it is worth every single cent because the amount of brain power— all of us had massive migraines. It was a struggle.

And like, we all— like, there are people who have stitched multiple dobs that were with us. It's just the technique is so brain— a little different, but it was beautiful and it was so fun. And you know, I know we didn't learn as much about Amazigh culture as we wanted to. But it was really cool to experience what we did experience and like see, you know, see the Amazigh villages and kind of see some of the pottery work, the weaving work that's just like so ingrained in the culture, which, oh, you know, you know, I love. Oh my God, wait, when we went, we met those— okay, so obviously if you've ever been to Morocco or if you know anything about Morocco, then you know not everyone speaks Arabic and the people people who do speak Arabic speak a different dialect.

But obviously Amazigh people speak their own language, and some of them only speak that language. And so we had a tour guide who was Amazigh, but he spoke English and Arabic and, you know, multiple languages actually. And so he was our translator. But at one point we were at, I guess, is it a co-op? It was like a little co-op with these women who, these Amazigh women who were weaving stunning rugs, basket weaving, doing like all this type of embroidery embroidery.

And so obviously we're nerding out, and I'm like nerding out with this one woman. We cannot communicate, but we're communicating, okay? I'm showing her pictures of my tatris, and she's like pointing at the picture and me, and I said, yeah, that's me. Um, I was like, that's all of us. We do all of this.

Uh, but it was like, it was so cute to have that little moment. It was, it was really cute. And we did not understand anything we were saying to each other, but No, I mean, even, yeah, like you said, even the people who know Arabic, like, they have a hard time even— they don't even— like, they can speak Fusha, but even that is painful for them. It's painful for— yeah, yeah, but it's painful for them. So they don't— they would rather not, and they're— yeah, they would rather speak French.

Yeah. And so if, if you know French, you'll be, you'll be golden. But if you don't know French and you don't know, like, the Moroccan dialect It might be a little bit tricky, but like, I want to say we had a, we had one of our members, one of our retreat attendees came in so clutch. Shireen, shout out to Shireen because she was the only person who knew French and she was so needed. I was like, I don't speak French.

I know, I know, not even a little bit. Not even a lick. Um, but I will say to bless every, all the Moroccans that we met who tried to entertain our Arabic. I know, you guys. Are amazing, even though you never listen to this.

They try. God bless. God bless. Oh man. Oh man.

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Girl, I struggle with English. Um, so let's, you know, one language at a time, one language at a time, one language at a time. Um, well, also back to, I'm gonna segue us back to like what you're talking about, how beautiful Morocco is and like just the visual experience of being there. Um, I do wanna shout out one of the things that's a big big, like, moment for me in 2025 was hiring my video editor. Oh yes, love her to bits.

Her name is Nour. I found her through Apricot. Highly, highly recommend Apricot for hiring Palestinians in Gaza and Cairo, in the West Bank, across the Middle East. They're fantastic. They're phenomenal.

And she's just been so— she's elevated this whole YouTube idea to a level I didn't even know was possible. And so she— I bring her up because She did, uh, edit one video about the retreat, and she's going to be working on a few more. So if you do want to have a little bit more visual experience of what we went through in Morocco, check out those videos on my YouTube channel. And obviously, if you want to be on the retreat, you need to join our listserv because we are working on next year's, um, and they sell out. So you're going to want to be on that email list if you want to be the first to know so you have chance to come with us in 2026.

But yeah, I just wanted to highlight Nour because I think she's been so phenomenal for me. I, ugh, I just— there's, there's like no words to express like the relationship that she and I have. But I just— God bless the people of Gaza. May this end soon and may Palestine be liberated because they are just the most wonderful humans that I've encountered. And not that you have to even be wonderful to be liberated, but I'll just say I love her.

So I'm going to pause there before I continue. I could probably talk for hours about it. No, I love it. Lena was like going around and making us film everything. I was like, Lena, what is this?

Like, leave me alone. Because Nour was like up my butt. She's like, Lena, you need to film everything so I can make you videos. I'm like, okay, halberd. I know.

I need, I need someone to do that for me. Oh, we need someone to do the video, video, video. I know. I know. I'm so bad at that stuff.

It's a lot of work. Oh, in 2025, I, um, started doing stupid TikToks, um, which are really fun for me to make, and like 4 people watch them, but I don't care. More than 4 people watch them. Come on, girl, my TikTok is dry. Oh my goodness.

Um, okay, so 2025, amazing, loved it, alhamdulillah. Um, not perfect, but alhamdulillah. Um, 2026, what is going— Lina, what's next on your tatreez journey for 2026?

What is next on my tatreez journey? Um, well, I've been, I've been working on this wardrobe capsule of mine, so I've been trying to add tatreez to my clothing because I really want to, I want to have more wearable. I have a bunch of thwab now and I feel like I want to be wearing this stuff every single day. So I've been tackling those pieces one at a time. I just finished my jeans.

I'm working on a t-shirt next. Um, I have a white button-down kind of slated for right after that. But I, I think personal puffities projects, I think it's time for the next bulb. Oh yeah. Number 3.

I think so. I'm like, some of my students are like in the rhythm now in the flow of stitching and I have so much FOMO. That's like the best part ever. Um, so I think it's time. And when we were at Morocco, when we were in Morocco, a bunch of us bought fabric, uh, myself included, which I'm usually like, I try to be careful with how much I buy because we have limited space over here in Brooklyn.

So not much, not much storage space. I just love buying things. It's, it's hard. It's hard not to when it comes to this kind of stuff. Stuff.

Um, capitalism's dream. I— man, okay, let's not talk about that. Anyways, yeah, so I did find, I did find some really beautiful blue fabric, and I really want to make a film out of it. You and I have to— you've given me some ideas, um, but I need to, I need to actually sit down and like think about the story I want to tell, the designs. Yeah, so I think that's, that's on my mind.

We'll see if I get to it, but that's on my mind for 2020. Basics. Yeah. What about you? What are you working on?

So many things. Yeah. Um, I— a big project that's taking up a lot of my time I can't talk about yet, um, but I'm really excited to share when I can.

Um, wow, what a tease! I know, I'm like, I don't know, 'Cause I don't want like— I know, I know. I feel you, girl. No hyenas here. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

That stuff is real. So yeah, I definitely want us to do another live The Threes Talk event in the Bay. So that is definitely, I think, a big thing, a big project I want us to do this year. And I have a lot of travel like already coming up in the beginning of the year. I, I'm going to University of Michigan next week, the first week of Ramadan.

Oh wait, I actually need to talk about this. Oh my God. Yes. Yes. Okay.

So the first week of Ramadan, inshallah, I'm going to be going to Lebanon with Sadaam Charity and I'm going to be working with Palestinian and Syrian refugees. And as a part of going there, each person who goes on this trip is, uh, needs to raise $6,500. Um, and the way you guys came out and supported me and donated, like, thank you guys so much. Like, I— oh, the feels, the feels. But it was really, really, um, beautiful and special to me and very humbling, um, that so many people were willing to contribute.

Um, and so I'm going to be going to Lebanon the first week, um, of Ramadan, and And then I'm hoping to be able to stay at least one more week after to like hang and visit people. There are some Tatreezers that I have met in Lebanon through Instagram, and you know, we gotta meet IRL. Maybe we gotta do a little Ramadan suhoor circle. Yeah, so we'll see. I've never been to Lebanon, so I'm really excited if you guys are— well, yeah, because we're gonna drop this before.

Give me your recommendations. Like, tell me everything. I'm so excited. But yeah, so that's like a big one. And then what else is going on?

My birthday. Oh, I was like, wait, where else are you going? My birthday. I'm planning a big one. That's not till May.

It's not till May. I know, but that's like, it's around the corner. Okay. I'm like, I'm like, I'm booking like my villa this weekend, inshallah. Inshallah.

But yeah, I'm going to, I'm going to do something big for my birthday. So that's exciting. And hopefully I will have something like really. Yeah, I'm hoping to have some fun stuff to share for my birthday with everyone. That's what I'll say.

So many question marks. You're doing that thing that I absolutely despise when someone's like, I have something that I want to tell you, but I can't tell you. And you just like, it drives me nuts. But I know, so it's fine. That's like, I love being annoying.

I'm sorry to our listeners. You will find out soon. It'll come soon for sure. I love it. Oh my God.

No, just being ridiculous and silly. Uh, oh, I also, okay, so 2026, I do need to do more stitching because I feel like when you start, you know, teaching tatris, designing tatris-related stuff, doing all these— the podcast. Yeah, like all these tatris-related projects that aren't actual tatris, like it just, you have less time to do it. It's like less of a focus because everything else that you're doing is related to tatris. These, but then you're like, wait, I actually haven't stitched in a minute.

And I, um, I use this app called Markup RxP, I think, um, that you can upload your digital patterns and then just track them as you stitch. Um, it, it tracks your time, your hours, but like, I don't track it accurately in the sense of like every stitch I mark it off. Like, I do like a clump at a time, but but I like seeing the stats, different stats, and one of the stats I like to see is active stitching days. I realized I started this project in May 2025, and I've only had 6— I only did like 64 stitching days at that point, and it's January 2026. So I need to do a lot more stitching in 2025.

26. That's a big thing for me. Yeah, totally. Yeah, 100%. That's unacceptable, Emani.

You cannot be the host of Talk to Reese Talk. Wow. I only have put in 60 days. No, no, I was only on that project because I've worked on other— but like, I've worked on— because I've been doing a lot of photo stuff. Yeah, but you usually do one project at a time.

Not when I'm doing photo stuff though, like one big project. But the photo stuff, it's like, you know, that usually— but you have been doing a lot of photos. That's Yeah, and that usually takes just like a couple weeks, but like, that's that. So I have— I've been stitching a lot, but not for myself. Yes, like a lot of those projects I like, you know, will donate and all that stuff.

And I do have, um, I'm actually working on— I haven't started yet. Okay, this is something I can share. I, um, I am— I have two 2 photos that I'm working on right now, 2 tatrees, or photo tatrees, projects that I'm gonna— I should say I'm gonna start working on soon. And they are photos from Bilal Khalid, who gave me permission to use these photos. One is from Gaza, one is a photo he took when he was in Sudan a few years ago.

So I'm hoping to create like little stitching projects with those and auction them each off to raise funds. Obviously the one from Gaza to raise funds for Gaza and then the one from Sudan to raise funds for Sudan. So that's one that I'm really excited about. Yeah. So hold me accountable to that one, guys.

Yeah. Keep bugging me about where, where those projects are. Yeah, you need to post about them. I know. I haven't started them yet.

I'm, I'm finishing. I have this— the project I started in May, I'm close to being done with it. Like, I feel like if I just stay steady, I'll be done with it by the end of January. So I'm just like focusing on that one right now, and I'm not doing any other projects until I finish that one. Um, yeah, she's trying, she's trying.

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I love it. Actually, it's— but it's very real. The whole, like, creating a business with tatris, teaching tatris, podcasting with tatris, it does impact the amount of tatris that you do for yourself. And that's actually why I've— I'm kind of using my YouTube channel as a forcing mechanism for me to do my own tatris too. Like, these are things that I want to do anyways, but I can no longer just think about them because I tell my video editor and she'll ask me, okay, how's the video going?

How's, like, the content coming along for for it and I'm like, oh, I haven't stitched this week. I need to stitch some more so that she has, um, so she has what she needs to make the YouTube video. Um, so that's been my, a little bit of my forcing mechanism, just a tad. Um, and I think I also like, I want to do more experiences in 2026 that will also kind of force me to do more tatris. So for example, Ramadan, I'm going to do Ramadan Stitch Along round 2.

I'm very excited actually. I was talking to my friend about Reddit, who— she won't listen to this, but if she is listening to this, hi, Rowan. But she is always telling me how much she wants to learn poterie, and I'm always giving her supplies and designs and all the things, and she has yet to pick it up. She did— haram— she did do one piece, and she made a mistake, but she didn't notice it. And so she sent me a photo.

She's like, Lina, look at all this progress that I made. And I'm like, ooh, there's a pretty, pretty obvious mistake. Mistake, but I'm not gonna tell her. So I was like, oh, it looks— no, I was like, it looks amazing, good job, that's amazing, whatever. And then like a few hours later, I guess she noticed, and she— yeah, and she called me, and she's like, did you know that I had this big mistake?

I was like, yeah, I just didn't want to turn you off from it. And she's like, how could you not tell me? She was so mad. Um, but I'm trying to be supportive because, you know, that's— no, you got— you can say it nicely. Like, when people mess up in my classes, I'm like, So, you know, um, this is a common mistake, but it's okay, we can redo this, or you could just keep doing it this way, whatever you're comfortable with.

Well, she got turned off by it because she made that mistake. She didn't want to go undo it, but then she didn't also want to keep it, so she hasn't stitched since then. Um, so we're— I'm gonna, I'm gonna go work on her a little bit, but I might need to work on her. I feel like you're— okay, I'll send her your way and you can, you can help her out. Um, but I— but she is my one of my ideation girlies, like I'll go to her when I have an idea and I'm struggling to like flush it out or something in general, but even also with Popti's designs.

So I was telling her, I was like, you know, I really want to do it all on stitchalong. I did it last year and it was really fun, but there were like XYZ things that I wish I could have done differently. And so we came up with a design and I'm, I haven't made it, but like theoretically we came up with a design. Um, so I'm very excited about it. And I think it'll be really fun.

And I, and I think this year I got a ton of really great feedback last year. So last year was very like, you either signed up or you didn't. And a lot of the kind of getting to know or community building component of it was all on Instagram. And this year I will definitely, there will definitely be elements of that too, but I also want it to be more intentional. So I want people to also get to know each other who are doing the Ramadan Sitchalon.

So there will also be some additional, you know, experiential components, uh, to the, to the month. And I'm really, really excited about it, and my video editor is really excited about it, so she has a whole plan for YouTube. Um, so yeah, very, very excited about that. But I, but I have to say, like, that's one thing that I'm looking forward to this year, and I haven't really thought past Ramadan, to be honest. You know, obviously the thobe stuff will come again, but like, for now, this is what I'm thinking about.

But the other thing that I'm really excited about is I finally had an aha— I haven't talked to you about this, actually. Oh, I finally had an aha moment about my community. So I've had this virtual community called the Tatris Grove for like a year and a half, and I've always known that there's something special there, but it's the, the, the, the container in which it's in is just not conducive to anyone's normal day-to-day. Like, people have so much stuff going on, people have life, people want to meet in person, like there's so much about Tatris that also is very tactile and physical and it's hard to really connect virtually. And the way that I was running it was very like Tatris circle focused, which meant that it was always like mostly like a group setting.

And so I've just been like racking my brain. I'm like, I know there's something here because there is something very special about connecting with each other because not all of us live in the same place. But how do we help people actually feel like they're part of an in-person Tatris circle? So I, I like talked to a bunch of people in my membership who are like already in it. And, um, they were so, they're always, I'm, I'm so grateful to them because I'm constantly asking for feedback and they're constantly coming back to me and giving me the time.

And one of the things that really stood out to me, it came, it came from a few people. It was really interesting. Like I didn't prompt it or anything, but several people said it to me on separate occasions. And they were like, yeah, we love the virtual space. Space.

But what's really nice about an in-person space is you're part of a bigger group, but then you can go and do like a one-on-one. You can have side conversations, and that's really— you can't really do that on a big Zoom call. Like, that's just not— that's not how it works. And so I was like, okay, how do I help figure that out? And I finally— well, anyways, we're gonna pilot it in January, um, but my idea now is that the membership isn't necessarily like— there will still be the virtual talk circles every week and whatever.

If you can pop in, great. If not, no worries. But the, the heart, I think, of the community is helping. And I'm also inspired by Tahltri's talk, by the way, is I'm going to be doing like almost like a matching program. So every month you can opt in to be matched and you will be matched with 1 or 2 people in the community and you organize a time that works for all of you, which is much easier to coordinate than me trying to coordinate everybody's time and schedule, and you have to go deep on in conversation.

So there will be like prompts and like ideas on how to have a conversation and all that stuff. But like literally it's 30 minutes a month, you get connected with one or two other people, and the whole purpose is that you get to know people like not just like on from their Instagram profile. It's not just, you know, like what they're posting that day or even what just what they're working on. It's actually like, okay, what are they up to? Where do they live?

You know, how do they, how they stitch? What's their Tawtriz journey? And I was reflecting about it this week because I was writing a bunch of emails, and I was like, oh my God, this is literally Tawtriz Talk. This is why I love Tawtriz Talk so much, is because we get to go deep with someone. Like, even we— like, we haven't released the episode yet, but we had an episode with someone who I've known in the past, and having that conversation with her, I'm like, I had no idea that this was part of your Tawtriz journey, or this is part of your practice.

And I wouldn't have known otherwise if we didn't have this conversation for Tawtriz Talk. And so I'm realizing now, like, the— I'm actually doing basically what we're doing for Talk, but it's not a podcast. It's actually for people to get to know each other and actually build community and connections that are not surface level. Um, so I'm like really— I'm actually very excited about this. We'll see if it flops.

Hopefully it doesn't. But January is the month of piloting, so if you listen to this episode before January 15th and you want to be part of like co-creating this entire experience. Join us inside. I'll put the link in the show notes. Um, and then after that we'll see what happens.

And I'm curious to see where it leads, cuz I think like this was the missing element in the past year and a half. And I'm, I'm very excited to see if this kind of helps solve for that, you know, person-to-person connection. Love, love, love, love. Okay. Amazing.

Can't wait to see how that comes to life. Uh, I'm sure we'll have lots of talks about it. Yeah. Um, okay, I know you can continue to like talk forever, so maybe what is your 2026, uh, Tatreez resolution? Ooh, wow.

I wonder if this— I wonder if this is how people feel when we like tell them we're going to ask you this question and then they'd have to actually think about it live.

Do you have one? Do you want to start? Okay, so I already said I'm gonna do more stitching for myself, but yeah, okay, I'm gonna definitely do more stitching for myself. Um, I want to get out of my tatari's comfort zone a little bit. Um, I don't know fully what that looks like yet, but you know, that's, that's something I want to— are you gonna leave mistakes Absolutely not!

So that's— That is your comfort zone? Is undoing? No, I have no— No, no, no, no, no, don't push it, huh? I didn't say I was gonna be sloppy. Um, hey, that's nothing sloppy, okay?

That is appreciating art anyways. Um, that'll be another episode. Uh-oh. Okay, wait. Okay, this is one of my resolutions: In 2026, I need to stop pretending like I remember people because— no, okay, so I am so bad at remembering people.

You know this about me, Leena. And so like, I teach classes, like I teach a monthly class in San Francisco in addition to doing like, we have two Tatree circles every month. Like, you know, there's, there's a lot of Tatree stuff that's going on and I'm just notorious embarrassed for not remembering people. Like, I don't remember people's names. Like, sometimes, like, I might remember your face, but I'm like, oh, where do I know that person from?

Um, sometimes I might not remember your face or your name, and it's not personal. I swear to you, it's not personal. You are amazing. I am just a hot mess. Um, and it's funny because my, uh, one of my really good friends, he has the same problem, and we always joke because we feel so embarrassed to, like, be like, oh, I have— I don't remember your name.

It's hard. It's so— like, when something— like, we will literally be like, oh my God, hey, 'How are you?' Like just have a whole conversation and the person will walk away or we'll look at each other— no idea who that person was!

So if you see me out and about, um, call you out? Ask you my test? You know, 'No, no, no, no, don't!' That's not the way to approach me. Is definitely another way to punch me. Um, Uh, you know, just remind me like, hey girl, I took your class, remember so-and-so?

Like, yes, thank you so much for giving— you know, you got to do that. Don't listen to Lena's advice, that is horrible advice. Remember, I'm the crazy one. Do not listen to Lena's advice. I don't ask for feedback.

Oh, that's so— that's so funny. You don't ask for feedback ever, even from yourself? No, I'm joking, I'm joking. Oh. Obviously, because that would be so funny.

Oh my goodness. Yeah, well, I don't know, mine I think comes from a little bit like confidence stuff. I need to like work on that too, but feedback is good too. A little balance, gotta balance it out. Whatever.

Okay, okay, so you want to remember people more? Is that— that was what you said? I wanna— I wanna be honest. I wanna stop pretending like I'm pretending. I wanna figure out a polite way to be like, hey, I'm so sorry I don't remember your name.

Yeah, like, I don't— where did we meet each other? Um, I just get so, like, in the moment I get so embarrassed. And like, I also— I don't want people to feel like I don't remember you because of you. It's— I'm a hot mess. Okay, actually, I went to a party really recently, uh, a friend's birthday party, and there was this girl there.

She's so sweet, and I've met her before socially because, you know, I'm out in these streets. Um, but I've like met her before socially, and and I forgot her name. And so she reintroduced herself to me. And then when we were leaving, we were saying bye to everyone. She's like, do you remember my name?

And she kind of tested me, but like in a really cute— like she was not like, you know, she was like really sweet. And I was like, girl. And she started laughing and she told me her name and I was like, I will never forget you now. And I will never forget her. We follow each other.

I follow her on Instagram now. Like, follow each other on Instagram now. So yeah, a little reminder. Strong relationships that come out of this when you know each other's name. Okay.

This conversation has gone off the rails.

Oh my goodness. Well, wrap us up. I honestly don't have a crazy resolution. I can't think of anything that's like top of mind. Okay, my resolution for you— oh, you're going to make one for me?

Okay. My resolution for you is to stop overthinking, stop MBAing everything, and just do it. That is a very good one. That is a very good one. And I'm already overthinking how to overthink it.

I know, I know. Okay, we will— let me let that sink in.

The other day— sorry, one more, one more like thing. This is the problem, we don't shut up. This is why we don't do solo episodes as much. The other day I was sharing my screen. I forget, I forget who I was talking— I don't know like what the thing was, but I was sharing my screen and I, I have like a master doc of all my to-dos.

And it's like, you know, every day of the week and on Sundays I like sit down and and I, you know, remove all the things from last week that I checked off and I add all the things that are this week. And I just, it reminded me of you cuz I'm so tied. Like I, I, I know I'm Type A, I know that, but you know, it's, it's just, it's the only way I function. It's, it's just, I don't know how to explain it. Yeah.

So anyways, we're gonna keep the checkboxes, but I'll try not to overthink. I'll try not to, you know, cuz I, I'll do like, I do like nesting, you know, like I have like a checkbox and a checkbox Yeah, I know. Maybe I should stop that part. Yeah, yeah, just scale it back, scale it back. Uh, it's not scaling back doing things, it's scaling back the planning and thinking about doing things.

I love planning. I do too, I do too. Satisfying. I do too. But yeah, I mean, we remember, we— okay, you got to be like a Type C person.

You're too Type A, we got to get you Type C. B. That's like a new type. I'm a Type C. Like, I can be Type A for things that I need to be, but like, I can also be Type B when I need to be. Yeah. Okay, well, we'll discuss this offline.

Okay. Yeah, yeah, sorry guys. Okay, wrap us up, Amanda. You're good at the wrap. Okay, uh, thank you guys so much for listening to another episode of Dafne's Talk.

Please leave a 5-star review. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Well, and also, we are, we are in in the midst of scheduling and recording episodes for season 6. So if there are any guests you want us to feature, if you want to be featured, now is the time to let us know. And if you want any topics, specific areas of conversation, we are here.

Let us know. Yeah. Um, and you could follow me @minutemanny, and you can follow Lena @lenastove, and you can follow Tatryce at— you can follow Tatryce Talk. I was so confident, Lena. You made me laugh.

You could follow Tatryce Talk @tatrycestalk. We'll talk to you