The Conversations the Matter project creates opportunities for people in Macao to have structured and facilitated conversations about the lives of impressive individuals who have embodied cultural and ethical ideals of the good life. The exemplary people are selected by volunteers from within the community, and therefore reflect their ideals rather than those of the researchers. The resulting conversations provide the raw material for investigation of the cultural and ethical ideals that shape people’s lives and aspirations in Macao today. The Conversations that Matter project seeks to contribute to the cohesiveness of Macao’s historically diverse community, while highlighting the human dimension of the intangible cultural resources the community has to offer within the context of the Greater Bay Area.