We’re more connected than ever. More lonely than ever. Along the way, something broke.
Michelle Parsons left ed-tech to build Lora — a platform using astrology as a framework for genuine human connection.
The twist? The tech isn’t the point. The vulnerability is.
Andy Walsh sat down with Michelle Parsons, co-founder of Lora, to unpack one of the most uncomfortable truths in tech: we built tools for connection and ended up more isolated.
Michelle is a product leader (Kayak, Netflix, Spotify) who spent years watching personalization shape content discovery — and started asking why we weren’t applying that thinking to how people find each other. Lora is her answer.
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What We Cover:
- Why social media broke the promise of connection — and why it’s structural
- Astrology as an onboarding framework for vulnerability (yes, really)
- The difference between shallow engagement and meaningful relationship
- How Lora uses personalization to facilitate depth, not just retention
- What community impact looks like when you measure connection, not clicks
Michelle Parsons
A product leader who’s built and scaled at Kayak, Spotify, Netflix, and Hinge — where she served as CPO and tripled both the user base and revenue. Most recently, she co-founded Lex, a queer-first social platform named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies. Now she’s building Lora, a platform for deeper, more authentic human connection.
Andy Walsh
2× exited founder and host of Startups Decoded (500,000+ downloads + Top 2% globally).
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The Studio
Filmed on location at 28th&Park. A content & production studio for New York’s visionary Builders, Investors, Artists, Musicians, & Creators to amplify their voice & share bold stories. Use the code “Decoded” for 25% off your first booking.
Music Credit
“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)
