Things with Words Privacy Notice

Last Updated: July 6, 2026

This Privacy Notice describes how Things with Words Foundation (“we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”) collects, uses and discloses information about you when you use our website ergo.org, or otherwise interact with us, including when you interact with us on third-party websites or platforms (collectively, the “Services”). For the purposes of this Privacy Notice, “you” and “your” means you as the user of the Services.

Please read this Privacy Notice carefully. By using any of the Services, you agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Notice. If you do not understand or agree to this Privacy Notice, please do not use or access the Services.

Changes to This Privacy Notice

We may modify this Privacy Notice from time to time, in which case we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this Privacy Notice. If we make material changes to how we use or disclose information we collect, we will use reasonable efforts to notify you (such as by emailing you at the last email address you provided us or by posting notice of such changes on the Services) and will take additional steps as required by applicable law. If you do not agree to any updates to this Privacy Notice, please do not continue using or accessing the Services.

Collection and Use of Information

When you use or access the Services, we collect certain information about you. We do not create or maintain user profiles or associate your personally identifiable information, IP address, or device data with your use of the Services, such as video viewing history.

In addition to the specific uses discussed below, we may use this collected information to provide and improve the Services and to maintain our business relationship, including by enhancing the safety and security of our Services, complying with applicable legal obligations, enforcing any applicable terms of service, and protecting our rights and the rights of our employees, users or other individuals.

Information You Provide to Us

Some features of the Services may allow you to directly provide certain information, including information about yourself. Information that you may provide directly or through third-party services includes your email address to subscribe to our mailing list on Substack, and any other information you choose to include in communications with us, for example, when sending us an email about a proposed course. We use this information to communicate with you, including to tell you about content or courses that may be of interest to you.

Information Collected Automatically

We use first-party analytics to understand visits to and interactions with the Services, including page views, referring pages, campaign parameters, outbound link clicks, video playback events, and approximate watch time.

We also collect certain browser or device information and related technical information required for delivery of the Services and other legitimate interests. Raw technical data are overwritten or permanently purged within 30 days. We may retain de-identified or aggregated analytics that do not reasonably identify any individual indefinitely. We do not use this information for advertising, cross-site tracking, or creating profiles for targeted advertising.

Your browser settings may also allow you to transmit a “Do Not Track” signal when you visit various websites. Like many websites, our website is not designed to respond to “Do Not Track” signals received from browsers.

Local Browser Storage

We use your browser’s local storage to remember the playback position of lectures, so that you can continue where you left off. Playback positions saved in local storage are stored on your device, are used to provide this feature, and expire after approximately 90 days. We do not use local storage for advertising, cross-site tracking, or creating profiles for targeted advertising.

Information Collected From Other Sources

If you choose to subscribe to our mailing list, we collect your email address through Substack, which may also provide us with aggregated engagement statistics, such as email open rates and link clicks, to help us measure the performance and reach of our content. Please review Substack’s terms and conditions and privacy policy before subscribing to our mailing list.

Disclosure of Your Information

We may disclose your information in the ordinary course of business subject to this Privacy Notice, including to service providers who help us operate the Services, such as hosting, security, analytics, email communications, and video distribution providers; professional advisors, such as auditors, law firms, or accounting firms; and third parties in connection with or anticipation of an asset sale, merger, bankruptcy, or other business transaction.

We may also disclose your information as needed to comply with applicable law or any obligations thereunder or to cooperate with law enforcement, judicial orders, and regulatory inquiries, to enforce any applicable terms of service, and to ensure the safety and security of our business, employees, and users.

We may also disclose de-identified or aggregated information that does not reasonably identify any individual.

Third-Party Websites and Links

We may provide links to third-party websites or platforms that we do not control and are not affiliated with us. If you follow links to such websites or platforms, you should review the applicable privacy notice, policies and other terms. Accessing those websites or platforms may allow a third party to collect or use your information. We are not responsible for the privacy or security of, or information found on, these websites or platforms. Information you provide on public or semi-public venues, such as third-party social networking platforms, may also be viewable by other users of the Services and/or users of those third-party platforms without limitation as to its use. Our inclusion of such links does not imply any endorsement of the content on such websites or platforms or of their owners or operators.

Children’s Privacy

Our Services are not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will make commercially reasonable efforts to delete it. Parents or guardians may contact us at the address below with related requests.

Data Security

Despite our reasonable efforts to protect your information, no security measures are impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee “perfect security.” Any information you send to us electronically, while using the Services or otherwise interacting with us, may not be secure while in transit. We recommend that you do not use unsecure channels to send us sensitive or confidential information.

Transfer of Information

We store information processed by our Services or service providers in the United States. If you are providing information from another country, you understand that the information will be transferred, stored, processed, and used in the United States.

Special Notice to Users in Europe, Switzerland and the United Kingdom

Data Controller

You can contact our data compliance team at [email protected].

Legal Basis for Data Processing

We use information you provide to us, such as your email address provided to subscribe to our mailing list, to fulfill your request for services based on your consent.

We process automatically collected information, such as IP addresses or technical data, only if it is in our legitimate interest for the effective administration of the Website, to fulfill and/or address your requests, or to provide certain services.

We use information collected from other sources, such as Substack, for our legitimate interest of measuring the performance and reach of our content.

Legal Basis for Accessing Locally Stored Information

We process locally stored information only as necessary for specific functionality, such as tracking video playback.

Data Transfer

Your technical data and mailing list subscription details may be transferred to and processed on secure servers located in the United States. Technical data collected when accessing the Website are transferred as a service necessity. Data collected through our data processor Substack are transferred in accordance with Substack’s established international data transfer safeguards, such as Standard Contract Clauses. Data stored locally remains on your device.

Data Retention

Raw technical data are overwritten or permanently purged within 30 days. We may retain de-identified or aggregated analytics that do not reasonably identify any individual indefinitely. Email addresses are retained unless and until you withdraw your consent. Locally stored data is erased after no more than 90 days.

Your Data Rights

You have the right to request access to, rectification of, or erasure of any personal data we hold about you, as well as the right to object to processing or withdraw your mailing list consent at any time.

If you believe we have mishandled your data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local national Data Protection Authority, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, or the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

How to Contact Us

Should you have any questions about our privacy practices or this Privacy Notice, please email us at [email protected].