Hearth - Ignite Deep Talks

Inspiration

It began with a single question at a sailing party in 2023: “When was the last time you felt truly free?” That moment showed me how one good question can cut through small talk and spark a deep, unforgettable connection. From there, I started collecting hundreds of questions, from books, podcasts and friends, that went far beyond “How’s the weather?”

What it does

Hearth is an app that turns those questions into a spark for real conversations. Open it with friends, family, or even strangers and within minutes you’ll move past surface-level chatter into meaningful talks that can reshape relationships.

How I built it

The first version was hacked together on a train ride before a snowboard trip in early 2025. Every night, my friends and I picked one question before heading into the cabin sauna. What followed were hours of open, intimate talks. That prototype became the foundation of Hearth: simple, minimal, designed to get out of the way so people can focus on each other.

Challenges I ran into

The biggest challenge was balancing simplicity with depth. I wanted Hearth to be minimal, frictionless and instantly usable, but still rich enough to spark conversations that feel memorable. Designing something that doesn’t keep people glued to the screen, but instead sends them back into the moment, wasn’t always easy.

Accomplishments that I’m proud of

What started as a personal spark at a sailing party turned into hundreds of collected questions, then into a hacked-together prototype on a train and finally into an actual app that people could download and use. The most rewarding part has been seeing friends light up, ask for it and share it with others. Watching something that began as a gift for my own circle grow into a tool that resonates with people far beyond it is the accomplishment I’m most proud of.

What I learned

I learned that people are hungry for deeper connections and that even small design choices, like a single well-phrased question, can completely shift the quality of a conversation. Hearth reminded me that technology doesn’t have to be a distraction. It can be a bridge to more human, more authentic moments. I also learned that working on a small heart(h) project like this can lift my overall motivation and energy, showing me how meaningful side projects can ripple into other parts of work and life.

What’s next for Hearth

The journey has only just begun. I want to add more social features, like letting people rate questions, save favorites and even answer questions in public to spark discussions with others. The vision remains simple: Hearth isn’t about the screen, it’s about what happens once you put the phone down. Be curious. Be open. Share. Listen. Learn.

Built With

• angular.js
• capacitor
• github
• posthog
• revenuecat
• tailwindcss