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The people in our lives shape who we are. But great relationships don’t just happen — they take care, intention, and ongoing effort. How do you know when to let go, adjust expectations, or improve communication? Whether you’re questioning a friendship, navigating romance, building community, or striving for healthier family dynamics, Aspen Ideas speakers are here with advi...


Advances in medicine and healthy living mean that more and more people will live to be 100. But just because their bodies can last doesn’t mean their bank accounts will keep up. Retirement, and especially a long retirement, takes careful planning and sophisticated financial literacy. It’s impossible to know what the future economic world will look like, but accounting for...


In the early days of cable television, there wasn’t a single network aimed at Black audiences. Sheila Johnson and her husband at the time saw an opening, and put all their hopes, efforts and money into co-founding Black Entertainment Television. The gamble paid off and the channel grew to become an influential and successful part of culture and television history. But behi...

Our attitudes, habits, pleasures, and responsibilities shift across the generations, influencing the health challenges we face and how we respond to them. Expectations about how we receive primary care, the way we understand gender, the technology available to monitor fitness and wellbeing, our response to ageist biases, and our thoughts about the inevitability of death ev...

Of course, Black history shouldn’t just be a month-long nod on our yearly calendar — it is inextricable from American history and fundamental to the very soul of our nation and our past, present, and future. We’ve put together a collection of talks, podcasts, and interviews from Aspen Ideas speakers that celebrate Black joy, community, and genius while grappling with the r...

Take a sneak peek at some of the big thinkers and innovative doers who will take the stage at Aspen Ideas Festival from June 25 - July 1!


Owning a professional sports team is not for the faint of heart. Results are volatile and wins and losses come with the strong emotions of a city’s fan base. But it’s a sound investment for the right type of business leader, and the value of professional teams has been steadily rising over the past several years. Two legendary owners with very different backgrounds meet fo...

Setting audacious goals helps to redefine what is achievable in health, medicine, and science. As we deepen understanding of the human genome, unravel the mysteries of the brain, harness the power of AI, and target new vaccines and therapeutics, we push the boundaries of knowledge. Moonshots underway in cancer, nutrition, and health equity could be game changers, taking us...


Looking around and experiencing the suffering and injustice in the world can make it difficult to believe that happiness exists. But the Judeo-Christian tradition teaches that it’s sinful to succumb to despair, and we have a responsibility to ourselves and others to try and find our way through dark times. On the other hand, when you avoid suffering, you avoid meaning, and...

Get to know some extraordinary individuals as they share their life stories, offering a rare glimpse into the experiences that shape them and the ideas that drive them. These are stories of survival, creativity, discovery, heroism, humor, and more — told by their protagonists. Featuring groundbreaking innovators and cultural icons to comics and superhuman athletes, these s...


Millions of children across America don’t have art classes in school and don’t grow up going to art museums and galleries. They might be hours away from the closest museum, or their families might not have the means to bring art into their lives. Philanthropist Alice Walton had that kind of childhood, and wants to prevent as many people as possible from repeating it.

Start your year with some food for thought. We’re kicking off 2025 with powerful moments from the Aspen Ideas Festival that offer fresh perspectives to take into the new year. From a new mindset for thinking about hope and positivity, to what’s missing from conversations about AI and tips for becoming a supercommunicator, this collection highlights ideas worth thinking abo...


The extremely wealthy and powerful drug cartels in Mexico operate with near-impunity, perpetuating violent crime and terrorizing Mexican citizens. But they also bring pain and suffering to the United States by importing massive amounts of fentanyl, fueling the deadly opioid epidemic.

The Broadway musical “How to Dance in Ohio” brought its celebration of neurodiversity and the universal need for connection to Aspen Ideas: Health 2024! Based on a true story, the heart-filled show follows a group of young adults with autism as they prepare for a spring dance. Learn how the trailblazing production has championed accessibility in the arts from the inspiring...


This episode is from the 2022 Aspen Ideas Festival, but we’re bringing it back because it’s still as relevant as ever. Though it can sometimes feel like conflict and discord is human nature, our brains are actually predisposed to forming groups and working together.

Ever wonder what gets the staff of the Aspen Ideas Festival talking (and thinking)? Looking for your next great read or binge-worthy watch during the holidays? The 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival Staff Picks are here! Think of it as a backstage pass to the pop culture we loved this year — shows and movies we devoured, books we got lost in, music that moved us, podcasts that kept...


Sir Ken Robinson believed that as a society, we tragically underestimate and underutilize human ability. We create linear systems for our minds modeled on industry and manufacturing, and we fail to honor the nonlinear imagination and creativity inside all of us.

As the Aspen Ideas Festival wraps up its 20th year, we’re excited to share the 20 most-watched sessions from our June gathering. Our speakers addressed today’s biggest issues, from building responsible A.I. and addressing humanitarian crises around the world to healing social divides and reforming the criminal justice system. We also covered topics that are simply fascinat...


Scholars are still uncovering information about Britain’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and its era of slavery, piecing together how the wealth generated from these atrocities shaped the nation’s history. For some descendants, this means just now learning about their families’ roles in and benefits from these horrors. Where do we go from here, and what would...

As we wrap-up another year of elevating big ideas at Aspen Ideas: Health, we're excited to share the 15 most-watched sessions from the event. These conversations with inspiring leaders, innovators, and advocates sparked our community's curiosity on topics ranging from longevity and mental health to AI and gene editing. Explore and share to continue the celebration of bold...