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Become a Founding Friend - Application

We're building Bend an Ear — a platform where everyday people who have genuinely been through something can offer real perspective to people going through the same thing. Not therapy. Not coaching. Just real human conversation.

We're looking for our first 150 Founding Friends. There are no right or wrong answers here — we're looking for real people with real experience. Take as much space as you need.

Louis reviews every application personally and responds within 48 hours.

Name

Email

Where are you located?

What areas of life do you feel most equipped to talk with someone about — based on what you've personally been through?Select all that apply. These should reflect your lived experience, not your professional background. minimum 1 selection

For each topic you selected above, tell us briefly why it feels right for you. A sentence or two per topic is fine. We want to understand the personal experience behind each one.

Tell us about something significant you've been through. A challenge, a turning point, or a period of your life that changed how you see things. You don't need to share anything you're not comfortable with — we just want to understand what you've lived.

Think of a time someone came to you when they were struggling — not to solve a problem, but just because they needed to talk. What did you do? What did that conversation look like?

Bend an Ear is not therapy, coaching, or professional advice. In your own words, how would you describe what you're offering a Neighbor — and what you're not? There's no script here. We want to hear how you think about this distinction.

Describe a conversation you've had where the topic was genuinely difficult. With a friend, family member, colleague — anyone. How did you handle it? What did you do when you didn't know what to say? This can be a different moment than the one you described above — we're just as interested in range as depth.

How many sessions per week do you realistically expect to offer during the pre-launch period?

A
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What times of day work best for you? (Morning, evenings, weekends, etc.)

Why do you want to be a Founding Friend on Bend an Ear?What drew you to this specifically?

By submitting this application, you understand that Bend an Ear connects people for peer support conversations — not therapy, legal advice, financial guidance, or any licensed professional service. If accepted, next steps include a brief background check (standard for anyone speaking with people in vulnerable moments) and signing our Friend Agreement. Louis will review your application personally and reach out within 48 hours.