Katie Kitamura (Audition), Megha Majumdar (A Guardian and a Thief), and Sigrid Nunez (The Vulnerables) come together to explore how storytelling helps us make sense of power, intimacy, solitude and moral complexity. Moderated by C. Morgan Babst, this session considers what it means to write fiction that feels urgently contemporary yet enduringly human, and how novels can illuminate the quiet forces shaping our lives.

This thought-provoking conversation brings together two of America’s most insightful public intellectuals — Akhil Reed Amar, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University, and Keisha N. Blain, award-winning historian and Professor of Africana Studies and History at Brown University — for an interdisciplinary exploration of how the ideals of freedom, equality, and rights have been both written into law and lived out through the struggles of ordinary people.

In Miracles & Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus, Elaine Pagels explores the life, teachings, and extraordinary claims surrounding one of history’s most influential figures. Drawing on scholarship, ancient texts, and historical context, she examines how narratives of miracles and wonder shaped early Christian communities and continue to inspire questions about faith, meaning, and human experience. Moderated by Tania Tetlow, President of Fordham University, their conversation considers how history and belief intersect with interpretation and inquiry. Together, they explore how a deeper understanding of the past can shed light on enduring questions of spirituality, morality, and what it means to seek meaning in a complex world.

Beyond creating dishes, these chefs build communities—through mentorship, local partnerships, industry advocacy, and culinary education. This session explores how restaurants shape neighborhoods, nurture talent, and create opportunity.

Civil rights movements have repeatedly forced the nation to reckon with its own ideals. In this timely discussion, Annette Gordon-Reed, Brandon Terry, and Juan Williams reflect on pivotal moments in the fight for equality—from the nation’s founding contradictions to modern struggles for justice and voting rights. Moderated by Eddie S. Glaude Jr., the panel considers how history can guide the path forward as America marks 250 years.

La June Montgomery Tabron joins moderator Judy Reese Morse to examine pathways toward truth, racial healing, and lasting community transformation. Drawing on her leadership experience and reflecting on her book How We Heal, Tabron explores how honest reckoning, empathy, and relationship-building can drive change from the inside out, both within institutions and across communities.

Life rarely unfolds according to plan. In this solo talk, cognitive scientist and A Slight Change of Plans creator Maya Shankar explores how unexpected change shapes who we become. Drawing from her new book The Other Side of Change, Shankar blends science and storytelling to examine why disruption can feel so destabilizing—and how it can also unlock new strengths, perspectives, and possibilities. With clarity and warmth, she invites us to rethink change not just as something to survive, but as an opportunity to reimagine ourselves on the other side.

From Paris to New Orleans, cathedrals stand as both sacred spaces and civic symbols. In this transatlantic conversation, Philippe Villeneuve—chief architect overseeing the reconstruction of Notre-Dame—joins leaders and preservation experts connected to the recent renovation of St. Louis Cathedral to explore how historic sacred buildings are restored after moments of crisis or transformation. The discussion will examine craftsmanship, historical authenticity, modern intervention, and the emotional stakes of rebuilding monuments that define their cities.

As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, what do America’s founding ideals demand of its government today? In this timely conversation, Marc J. Dunkelman and Gary Hoover join moderator Nicholas Lemann to examine the evolving role of government in American life from the framers’ vision to our present-day civic challenges. Together, they explore whether public institutions can still serve as engines of opportunity, innovation, and shared purpose, or whether skepticism has outpaced trust. Drawing on history, political analysis, and economic insight, this discussion considers what effective governance looks like in a divided era and whether government can still help meet the promises embedded in the American experiment.