Panelists - Self-Care Social™

Wellness Conversation Panelist Application
Self-Care Social™ is Chicago’s premier immersive, multi-sensory experience, designed to create space for guests to rest, recharge and pour into themselves.

Our Wellness Conversations are not traditional panels. They are community-led, interactive experiences designed to feel real, not rehearsed. Think town hall energy...a few intentional questions to open the room, followed by honest, audience-driven dialogue.

We’re creating space for conversations that go beyond the surface. Conversations where people feel seen, heard, and safe enough to share what’s real.

We’re looking for voices who can:
- Speak from lived experience
- Listen deeply
- Hold space for others to do the same
Seats are limited and filled on a rolling basis. Submission does not guarantee selection. Selected panelists will be notified via email.

If you have a perspective, story, or expertise that can contribute to this kind of environment, we invite you to apply.

Interested in facilitating a Round Table instead? Click here to complete the Round Table Facilitator Application.
Before You Apply
This is not a traditional panel.

Our Wellness Conversations are designed to be interactive, audience-driven, and rooted in real-time connection. You will not be expected to deliver prepared remarks or speak at length. The goal is honest, community-centered dialogue.

Come as you are. Be open, present, and ready to engage.

Panelists should feel comfortable responding to audience questions, contributing in the moment, and supporting a balanced, inclusive conversation.

Confirmed panelists will receive pre-event logistics and arrival details via email. Panelists should plan to arrive at least 90 minutes prior to their scheduled session, and a virtual prep call will be scheduled in advance to align on format and flow.

Panelists are also expected to share their participation with their own networks to help amplify the experience.

If you are confirmed and later find yourself unable to attend, please notify us as soon as possible.
Event Details
Location: Artifact Events, 4325 N Ravenswood Ave Chicago, IL 60613

Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026

Time: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Contact Information
Full Name*

First NameLast Name
Email Address*
example@example.com
Cell Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number. For internal use only; not shared publicly.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Business or Organization Name*
Title *
How you would like to be identified professionally (e.g., Licensed Therapist, CEO, Author, Health Coach)
City*
State*
Emergency Contact Name*
Emergency Contact Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number. For internal use only; not shared publicly.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Materials & Online Presence
Website*
Please provide your full website URL (https://...). If you do not have a website, enter N/A.
Instagram Handle*
Please include the @ symbol. If you do not have Instagram, enter N/A.
Facebook Page URL*
Please provide your full Facebook business or personal page URL. If you do not have Instagram, enter N/A.
LinkedIn URL*
Please provide your full LinkedIn profile URL (https://linkedin.com/in/...). If you do not have LinkedIn, enter N/A.
Professional Headshot*

Upload a high-resolution head shot. Accepted formats: JPG, PNG (max 5MB)
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Reel, Speaking Sample, or Event Video

Share a video link or upload a clip (reel, speaking sample, panel recording, or similar). This helps us get a feel for how you show up in a room. Instagram reels, YouTube links, and Google Drive links are all welcome.
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Wellness Conversation Topics
Real, unfiltered conversations about rest, resilience, and redefining success.

Led by voices who live the work, not just talk about it.

Each session is a space to drop the mask, share honestly, and leave with tools to support how you live, lead, and care for yourself in real life.
1. Heavy on the Healing: Mind Full or Mindful? Unpacking the Mental Load — 1 seat remaining
  The world feels heavier than ever. From global unrest and political chaos to nonstop notifications and daily demands, our minds are holding more than they were ever meant to. This session explores what it means to be mentally maxed out, even when everything looks fine on the outside. We will unpack stress, overstimulation, emotional fatigue, and how to find peace when your brain won't turn off.
2. Rest. Burnout Isn't a Badge — FULL
  We live in a culture that glamorizes exhaustion and equates worth with productivity. This session challenges that narrative, reframing rest not as a luxury but as a necessity and a right. We will explore the warning signs of burnout, the myths that keep us pushing past our limits, and how to rebuild a life that honors your energy instead of exploiting it.
3. The Weight We Don't Talk About: Fatherhood, Finances & the Fight for Peace — 2 seats remaining
  From silent anxiety to provider pressure, from unhealed father wounds to grief and burnout, this conversation centers the emotional well-being of men navigating invisible weights. Together, we will unpack the generational silence around mental health, the fear of not being enough, and the path toward peace, therapy, and self-worth that is not tied to income.
4. WTF, Perimenopause!? — 3 seats remaining
  Mood swings. Brain fog. Night sweats. Rage. Fatigue. Confusion. This candid conversation unpacks the physical, emotional, and mental rollercoaster of perimenopause, the years leading up to menopause that no one warned us about. This panel welcomes both women living through perimenopause and healthcare professionals who support them, bringing lived experience and clinical perspective into the same room.
Heavy on the Healing: Mind Full or Mindful? Unpacking the Mental LoadThe Weight We Don't Talk About: Fatherhood, Finances & the Fight for PeaceWTF, Perimenopause!?
Heavy on the Healing: Mind Full or Mindful? Unpacking the Mental LoadThe Weight We Don't Talk About: Fatherhood, Finances & the Fight for PeaceWTF, Perimenopause!?I'm open to either / any
Your Voice & Expertise
Bio*

Please provide a concise bio written in the third person (200 words max). You may include relevant press, awards, or recognitions. If selected, this will be used in marketing, promotional materials, and the event program.0/200
What makes you the right voice for this conversation?*

Tell us about your lived experience, professional background, or unique perspective. Keep in mind: this is an interactive, audience-driven experience, not a traditional panel. We are looking for someone who can show up in real time, share honestly, and hold space for others. (150 words max)0/150
How do you show up when the conversation gets real?*

When a conversation becomes honest or emotionally charged, how do you show up? How do you balance sharing your perspective while also holding space for others? There's no perfect answer here.0/150
Tell us about your audience or community.*

Who do you typically speak to or serve? We want to understand who you are connected to and how your voice reaches people.0/100
What do you hope someone in the audience takes with them after this conversation?*

Just share what comes naturally. A feeling, a shift, a thought they could not stop thinking about on the drive home. One or two sentences is all we need.0/100
What does self-care look like for you in real life right now? *

Be honest. We are not looking for a polished answer. We want to know how you actually show up for yourself.0/100
Moderator Interest
About the Moderator Role

Each Wellness Conversation is guided by a moderator whose role goes far beyond asking questions. The moderator is the energy manager of the room. They set the tone, open the space, keep the conversation moving, and help create an environment where the audience feels safe enough to participate.

A strong moderator at Self-Care Social™ knows when to step in and when to step back. They create space for quieter voices, guide the flow without forcing it, and keep the conversation grounded and intentional from start to finish.

Moderator seats are currently available for two of the four Wellness Conversations: Heavy on the Healing and Rest. Burnout Isn’t a Badge.

If you are applying as a panelist and are also open to being considered as a moderator, please answer the questions below. Moderator interest is reviewed separately from your panelist application and does not affect your panelist candidacy.
Yes, I am interested in moderatingMaybe: I would like to learn more before committingNo: I am applying as a panelist only
Heavy on the Healing: Mind Full or Mindful? Unpacking the Mental LoadRest. Burnout Isn't a BadgeOpen to whichever conversation needs me most
Why do you feel you would be a strong moderator for this conversation?*

Tell us about your experience facilitating, hosting, or holding space in a group setting. What makes you someone who can read a room and keep a conversation grounded and moving?0/150
Agreement & Consent
I understand that submission does not guarantee selection and my participation will be confirmed after application review.All information and materials submitted are accurate and complete.This is an unpaid opportunity. I am participating because I am aligned with the mission of Self-Care Social™ and excited to contribute to this experience. Panelists will receive visibility, professional media assets, and access to the full event experience.I understand that Self-Care Social™ is an interactive, audience-centered experience, and I agree to engage in a conversational format that supports a balanced and inclusive discussion.I understand that this is a community-centered experience and agree to contribute in a way that supports the tone, flow, and integrity of the conversation.I understand that as a community panelist I am not expected to deliver prepared remarks. I agree to show up present and ready to engage in real-time conversation with both fellow panelists and the audience.I understand that Self-Care Social™ reserves the right to assign or adjust conversation topics or placement based on event needs.If selected, I commit to participating in the pre-event virtual prep call.If selected, I agree to arrive at least 90 minutes prior to my scheduled session, as confirmed in event communications.If selected, I agree to actively support event promotion by sharing with my network.If I am unable to attend after confirming participation, I will notify the Self-Care Social™ team as soon as possible.I understand that photos and videos may be taken during the event and grant permission for my image, likeness, and contributions to be used for Self-Care Social™ promotional purposes.
Is there anything else you would like us to know that would help us support you or prepare you for this role?*
Questions, accommodations, special context. Share anything that would help us best support you.
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Wellness Conversation Panelist Application

Before You Apply

Event Details

Contact Information

Materials & Online Presence

Wellness Conversation Topics

Your Voice & Expertise

Moderator Interest

Agreement & Consent