The Aspen Institute

We were pleased to offer the Aspen Community Programs summer lecture series free to the public, with speaker receptions as an exclusive Society of Fellows membership benefit (contact [email protected] for more information).

To download our summer calendar, click here.

The 2024 schedule was as follows (video recordings provided below):

Wednesday, July 10 | 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Murdock Mind, Body, Spirit Series
Enhancing Brain Health and Mental Acuity: A Conversation with Dr. Mark D’Esposito
Featuring Dr. Mark D’Esposito, distinguished professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, in conversation with Pam Belluck, health and science writer for the New York Times.
This past event can be viewed here

Thursday, July 11 | 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Murdock Mind, Body, Spirit Series
Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don’t Have To
Featuring Dr. David Sinclair, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and author of “Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don’t Have To” in conversation with John Driscoll, Senior Advisor at Walgreens Boots Alliance. 
This past event can be viewed here

Friday, July 12 | 6:00 – 7:00 pm
McCloskey Speaker Series
The Hidden Brain: How Our Unconscious Minds Elect Presidents, Control Markets, Wage Wars, and Save Our Lives
Featuring Shankar Vedantam, host and creator of the “Hidden Brain” radio show and podcast on NPR, and New York Times bestselling author, in conversation with Betsy Fleming, Aspen Institute Trustee and early-stage investor.
Note: Video recording not available for this event

Sunday, July 14 | 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Hurst Lecture Series
UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government’s Search for Alien Life Here—and Out There
Featuring Garrett Graff, journalist, historian, and director of Cyber Initiatives at the Aspen Institute, in conversation with Vivian Schiller, executive director of Aspen Digital at the Aspen Institute.
This past event can be viewed here

Wednesday, July 17 | 6:00 – 7:30 pm
McCloskey Speaker Series
Jamala: Songs of Freedom
In collaboration with the Aspen Security Forum
Film screening of “Jamala: Songs of Freedom,” which follows Ukrainian singer-songwriter Jamala in the early hours of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, followed by a panel discussion featuring ​​Natalie Jaresko, Beth Mendelson, and Tom Wright; in conversation with Julia Ioffe.
This past event can be viewed here

Monday, July 29 | 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Murdock Mind, Body, Spirit Series
Young Forever: The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life
Featuring Dr. Mark Hyman, senior advisor for the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine and founder and director of The UltraWellness Center.
This past event can be viewed here

Tuesday, July 30 | 6:00 – 7:00 pm
McCloskey Speaker Series
From Sharecropper’s Daughter to Trailblazer: A Conversation with Ruth Simmons
Featuring Ruth Simmons, former president of Smith College, Brown University, and Prairie View A&M University, and Distinguished Presidential Fellow at Rice University, in conversation with Aspen Institute President and CEO Dan Porterfield.
This past event can be viewed here

Wednesday, July 31 | 1:30 – 2:30 pm
Hurst Lecture Series
Strengthening America’s Economic Dynamism
In collaboration with the Aspen Economic Strategy Group
Featuring Lawrence H. Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor and President Emeritus at Harvard University and former United States Secretary of the Treasury; and Robert B. Zoellick, Chair of Temasek Americas and former United States Trade Representative; in conversation with Melissa S. Kearney, director of the Aspen Economic Strategy Group.
This past event can be viewed here

Thursday, August 1 | 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Hurst Lecture Series
Leadership at the State Level: A Conversation with Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul
Featuring New York Gov. Kathy Hochul who speaks on the historic investments she has made in her state.
This past event can be viewed here

Tuesday, August 6 | 6:00 – 7:00 pm
McCloskey Speaker Series
Bauhaus Typography at 100: Exploring the Bauhaus Print Legacy and its Influence on Contemporary Typography
Featuring Rob Saunders, executive director and curator of Letterform Archive, in conversation with Lissa Ballinger, executive director of the Bayer Center.
This past event can be viewed here

Thursday, August 8 | 6:00 – 7:00 pm
McCloskey Speaker Series
Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present
Featuring Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, professor of history and Italian studies at New York University, and author of “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present” in conversation with Carolyne Heldman, producer and host of “Behind the Lens,” a weekly podcast for the non-profit news organization The Lens in New Orleans.
This past event can be viewed here

Friday, August 9 | 5:00 – 6:00 pm
Murdock Mind, Body, Spirit Series
Enlightened Leadership for Mindful Living
Featuring His Excellency the Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay, in conversation with Deepak Chopra, founder of the Chopra Foundation. The prime minister discussed Bhutan’s leadership and commitment to happiness and mindfulness and establishing a global benchmark for sustainable living.
Note: Video recording not available for this event at this time

Monday, August 12 | 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Hurst Lecture Series
Democracy at a Crossroads: A Conversation with the Honorable J. Michael Luttig
Featuring the Honorable J. Michael Luttig, former Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Aspen Institute trustee, in conversation with Barbara McQuade, author and professor from practice at the University of Michigan Law School.
This past event can be viewed here

Tuesday, August 13 | 4:30 – 5:30 pm
McCloskey Speaker Series
Leadership at the State Level: A Conversation with Republican Governors
Featuring Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, and New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu in conversation with Elliot Gerson, executive vice president of Policy Programs and International Partners at the Aspen Institute. The governors share how they are leading and making progress in their respective states.
This past event can be viewed here

Wednesday, August 14 | 6:00 – 7:00 pm
SOF members-only reception with speakers | 5:00 – 5:45 pm
Hurst Lecture Series
The Washington Book: How to Read Politics and Politicians
Featuring Carlos Lozada, opinion columnist at the New York Times, co-host of the “Matter of Opinion” podcast, and author of “The Washington Book: How to Read Politics and Politicians” in conversation with Wendell L. Willkie II, adjunct professor of law at New York University and adjunct fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
This past event can be viewed here