Fairmont State GeoSavvy Guide: How to Host a GeoCafe

A GeoCafe is a time to together, in-person or virtual, to socialize and talk geography in a relaxed atmosphere. Engaging in "small talk" or social conversation is a great way to encourage geo-literacy through everyday conversations. 

We welcome you to participate in your own GeoCafe with friends and family or attend any of the AAG sponsored Twitter GeoCafe discussions. 

#GeographersRespond is a social media awareness hashtag to show the range, relevance, and diversity of work that geographers do. 

Background Music 

Are you looking for music for your GeoCafe time? 

• Geography of Music: Keeping Score 
• How Music Creates Feeling in Movies
• Music Collection, National Geographic 

• Music Map Project 

• Playing for Change 

• Radio Garden - World Map of Live Radio Stations 

• Radiooo.com (Music Time Machine Map)

• World Music Radio (Accu Radio) 

• Tree FM - Listen to Forests Around the World 

• World Cafe (NPR) 

• Old Time Radio Shows (OTR) 

• Show Music on Record (Library of Congress)
• Take a Trip Through the States (American Songwriter) 

How to have small talk

Are you interested in learning more about "small talk"  or informal talking with family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers.

Communicating in American Culture(s) (MIT)

How Do You Say Hello? The Geography of Small Talk (The Atlantic, 2004)

How Culture Impacts Small Talk (UMN)

The Art of American Small Talk (MIT)

Are you looking for possible topics to discuss for your GeoCafe time? 

• New Harvard Study says music is the language of the world. Music Everywhere (Gottlieb, 2019)
• Music and World Events: TeachRock Lessons
• Diffusion of favorite songs. Example of WVU Country Roads Storymap (MacLennan, Mathai, and LaFone, 2019) 
• Ted Talks on Geography
• The Conversation talks on Geography
• Citizen Science: The Music Lab