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The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau

A speakers bureau that represents the best original thinkers,
writers, and doers for speaking engagements.

Exclusive Resources from Jonah Berger

The Top 12 Women’s History Month Speakers for 2024: An Exclusive Video on Solidarity, Gender Equality, and More

March is Women’s History Month, a celebration of women’s progress and contributions to this country since its founding. Lavin is proud to exclusively represent the world’s top Women’s History Month speakers: from Margaret Atwood, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Handmaid’s Tale, to Ellen Ochoa, first Latina in space.

Inside Trump’s Head: An Exclusive Interview With the President, And the Single Theory That Explains Everything

Exclusive: In call with Putin, Trump denounced Obama-era nuclear arms treaty – sources

America for Sale: An Exclusive Excerpt from Matt Taibbi’s New Book on the Economic Meltdown

Exclusive: At home with Joe Mimran and Kimberley Newport-Mimran

Liberty & Justice for All: A Lavin Exclusive

The United States has historically been a nation in deep denial of its own past. But today, the country—indeed, the entire world—is facing a racial reckoning of epic proportions. Between a global pandemic that disproportionately affects Black communities, the tragic deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and a growing White Power movement, the staggering […]

Plan the Conference of the Future with Lavin + WIRED: A New, Exclusive Partnership

From ethics to innovation, culture to business, WIRED offers grounded, deeply-reported coverage of how technology will impact our jobs, our economy, our politics, and our lives. They provide the most essential information to help people set the smartest course for their future—mirroring our own mandate to make the world a smarter place. That's why we're […]

The Top Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Speakers for 2024

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, when we celebrate the AAPI communities who have made this country what it is. Lavin is proud to represent the world’s top AAPI Heritage Month speakers on solidarity and social justice, who embody and explore the 2024 theme of “Advancing Leaders Through Innovation.”

The Top 12 International Women’s Day Speakers for 2024: True Gender Equality, Learning From the Past, and More

Every March, International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month give us the chance to be inspired by the women of the past, and to let their stories light the way towards our shared future. Lavin is proud to represent the world’s top IWD speakers: from literary icon Margaret Atwood to civil rights legend Minnijean Brown-Trickey, and many more.

3 Major Releases of 2024: Growth Mindset, a MoMA Show, AI and the Future of Education

2024 promises to be a blockbuster year for our exclusive speakers: from groundbreaking new books to Museum of Modern Art exhibitions, their ideas are poised to catch fire nationwide. Here’s a sneak peek at just three of the releases you’ll see from our speakers this year.

The Top 5 AI Keynote Videos of 2023: On Education, Employee Engagement, and More

This year has made history for its dramatic boom in Artificial Intelligence. In a time of great excitement, our exclusive AI speakers have garnered attention from all over the media for their ability to cut through the hype and deliver practical insights on AI and ChatGPT. Check out our top AI keynote videos now!

Prominent Black Trans Activist Raquel Willis Says We’re Not Free Until We’re All Free, in Her “Powerful New Memoir” (TIME)

Congrats to Raquel Willis, co-founder of the Trans Week of Visibility and Action, on the release of her highly anticipated memoir The Risk It Takes to Bloom: a “bold, brave, poignant story” (Alicia Garza, Black Lives Matter co-founder) of collective liberation.

You Can Build a Growth Mindset For Your Entire Organization. Psychologist Mary C. Murphy Shows You How

We often think that you can either have a growth mindset (the idea that you can improve your skill) or a fixed mindset (the idea that you can’t). But we actually have both mindsets within us. Lavin’s proud to welcome our new exclusive speaker Dr. Mary Murphy, author of Cultures of Growth.

Top 10 AI Speaker Kate Crawford: Artificial Intelligence Is “Neither Artificial nor Intelligent”

“We are at a crucial inflection point where the power of AI is beginning to outpace our ability to understand its far-ranging impacts,” says Kate Crawford, author of Atlas of AI and one of the TIME100 AI. She demystifies the inner workings of AI, and helps us use these tools to build a more just and democratic world.

Top 10 AI Speaker Nicholas Thompson: Behind the Scenes of the Silicon Valley Giants’ AI Strategy

Generative AI has already revolutionized how we work, how we live, and even what it means to be human. And we’re just at the beginning. Nicholas Thompson is the expert that top business leaders turn to when they need to know what this breakneck advancement means for them and how to leverage it for competitive gain.

Unlock the Power of “Deep Curiosity” for Greater Connections: Lavin Welcomes Scott Shigeoka, Author of Seek

Curiosity is a “muscle” that you can exercise to tap into greater fulfillment and wellbeing, healthier workplaces, and better teamwork. Lavin’s proud to welcome our new exclusive speaker Scott Shigeoka, author of the highly anticipated Seek, who offers tried-and-true strategies (like his pioneering DIVE model) for using the whole spectrum of curiosity—from shallow to deep—today.

Understanding Our History Is the Catalyst for Real Change: Lavin Welcomes #1 NYT Bestselling Author Clint Smith

Lavin is proud to welcome new exclusive speaker Clint Smith, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller How the Word Is Passed. In talks, he offers a compelling exploration of how the legacy of slavery continues to shape our cities, our policies, and the stories we tell—and how we can work towards a more equitable story for everyone.

Mental Fitness Is Your Superpower: Five Perspectives on Unlocking the Best Version of Yourself and Your Team

In boardrooms across the country, conversations around mental health have shifted to include mental fitness: the quality that allows everyone at your organization to develop resilience and avoid burnout. Our speakers provide cutting-edge tools from their own research—strategies like listening to your anxieties or giving yourself a pep talk with your own name—that you and your team can use to overcome challenges and thrive.

Finding Purpose in a World on Fire: Lavin’s Climate Speakers on Winning the Fight for the Future of Our Planet

With the effects of the climate crisis starker than they’ve ever been, how do we wrestle through the anxiety and take action to save our planet? David Wallace-Wells and Britt Wray offer clear-eyed and hopeful perspectives on how we can push through the fear to find action, solidarity, and hope.

Lavin Welcomes Prominent Black Trans Activist Raquel Willis: Race, Gender, and the “Painter’s Palette” of Intersectionality

Co-founder of the Trans Week of Visibility and Action and former executive editor of Out magazine, Raquel shows how we can use our diverse talents and experiences to build solidarity in our fight for social justice.

7 Steps to Implementing AI in Your Company: Lavin Welcomes Former Amazon Exec Michelle Lee

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a legacy company or a startup of five, says Michelle, the founder and CEO of Obsidian Strategies—any organization can follow a 7-step process to unleash the power of Artificial Intelligence and unlock your competitive advantage.

How to Get Unstuck: Adam Alter’s New Book Is a Roadmap to Creativity and Success

Everyone feels stuck, whether you’re wrestling through a difficult project or trying to mend a friendship. “People believe that stuckness is inevitable,” says Adam Alter, whose new book Anatomy of a Breakthrough is out today. “And it is—but it turns out to be surmountable.”

What Does ChatGPT Mean for Democracy and the Future of Creativity? Kate Crawford and Stephen Marche Explain

Artificial Intelligence is changing everything: from our work to our politics to even our novels, and far beyond. Lavin’s Kate Crawford and Stephen Marche are making headlines everywhere from The New York Times to MSNBC for their sharp and prescient discussion of the biggest questions of our day.

How Can Retailers Win the AI Revolution? With “Beautifully Human” Creativity. Lavin’s Doug Stephens, Retail Futurist

A bestselling author and one of Lavin’s most-requested speakers, Doug has a uniquely prescient view of how whip-fast advancements in Artificial Intelligence will revolutionize everything about your brand and how you can maintain a competitive edge in the age of ChatGPT.

The Secret to Breaking Rules and Finding Creativity? It’s All About Discipline. Lavin Welcomes Eddie Huang

Eddie is a director and producer, celebrity chef, and the New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Fresh Off the Boat, which was adapted into the longest-running Asian American sitcom ever. He shows us how to achieve success by cultivating discipline and staying true to ourselves.

What Leaders and Parents Need to Know About Young People Today: Lavin Welcomes Dr. Laurence Steinberg

In just one generation, the world of young adulthood has changed drastically. As a world-renowned developmental psychologist and the author of the first (and only) comprehensive guide for parents of adult children, Laurence shows leaders, parents, and children how to communicate across generations.

AI That Can Read Your Thoughts? It’s Already Here. Nita Farahany on This Technology’s Enormous Potential—and Its Dangers

Devices that use Artificial Intelligence to track our brains are already being used worldwide, and this is just the beginning. In The Battle for Your Brain (out next week!), Nita Farahany says neurotechnology can vastly increase human potential, but first we need to ensure that our brains still belong to us alone.

Sales Agent

Are you the right person in the wrong job? Have you stayed up all night debating politics, music, civil rights and social justice, old philosophies, new technologies, the media, the economy—or, better yet, the intersection of them all? A real debate where minds get changed, including your own? Yes? Then maybe we’re the home you […]

Roe v. Wade Helps Us Understand Our Current Moment: Mary Ziegler’s Roe Is a “Must-Read” (Publishers Weekly)

As one of our foremost authorities on the Constitution and our reproductive rights, Mary argues that the effects of Roe v. Wade don’t just end at the abortion debate. Instead, Roe has taken on meanings far beyond its original purpose. Its repercussions have affected us all, in many different areas of our lives—from women’s rights […]

Out Today! The 1619 Project Hulu Docuseries, Based on Nikole Hannah-Jones’ #1 New York Times Bestseller

Congrats to Lavin exclusive speaker NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES, whose highly anticipated 1619 Project Hulu docuseries is out today! Based on Nikole’s #1 New York Times bestselling book—which includes her Pulitzer Prize-winning essay—The 1619 Project docuseries gives us a fuller understanding of our country’s past and present, and inspires us to join the fight for racial justice and a better future. “The release of Hulu’s The […]

Approaching Diversity with Humor and Storytelling: Wajahat Ali’s Memoir Out in Paperback Next Week

It’s easy to give up on the fight for true diversity, but TED speaker WAJAHAT ALI says we can’t give in to cynicism — if we remain resilient and invest in hope, we can still create the future we want. His memoir Go Back to Where You Came From, a funny and deeply personal look into his experiences […]

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I want to book a speaker … What is The Lavin Agency? For over 30 years, The Lavin Agency speakers bureau has helped a diverse range of clients find the perfect speakers for conferences, keynotes, workshops, and more. We represent authors, scientists, business leaders, humanitarians, politicians, economists, and other remarkable people making the world a […]

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Rebellion Done Right is Vital to Success: Lavin Welcomes Award-Winning Psychology Professor Todd Kashdan

If we want to innovate and develop fresh ideas, we need to break out of the same conventional mold—but not just any rebellion will do. Psychologist and author Todd Kashdan has a scientific manual for how to rebel the right way: with principle and conviction. His new book The Art of Insubordination is a guide […]

Finding Purpose Amidst Our Climate Anxiety (and Our Other Anxieties!): Stanford Fellow Britt Wray’s New Book

How do we stay sane and find purpose in the climate crisis? Dynamic TED Speaker and New Yorker-acclaimed science writer Britt Wray has the answer. Her revolutionary scientific research, outlined in her brilliant new book Generation Dread, reveals that wrestling through our climate emotions helps us find purpose and fight for the future of our planet.  Britt shows us […]

Nikole Hannah-Jones Releases the Book Version of Her Landmark ‘1619 Project’

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story is an expanded version of The New York Times’ project, with longer essays, new fiction and poetry, and writing on topics like the Haitian Revolution.  An eye-opening account of the relationship between slavery and modern capitalism, the original ‘1619 Project’ was met with praise, critical acclaim, and sold-out […]

Lori Gottlieb Adapts Her New York Times Bestselling Memoir Into a Practical Guide

Psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb captured the hearts and minds of millions with her smash hit Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: a memoir revealing powerful stories from inside her therapy room. Today, she releases its groundbreaking companion guide—a step-by-step process for discovering our most authentic life stories. “Part of getting to know yourself is to unknow […]

A Reckoning of Racist Ideologies: The Lavin Agency Welcomes Psychiatrist Jonathan Metzl

We are only just beginning to understand the deep impacts of racial resentment—including its fatal consequences on public health. In the era of Donald Trump, many lower- and middle-class white Americans were drawn to politicians who pledged to make their lives great again. But as Lavin’s newest speaker physician JONATHAN METZL shows in his explosive […]

Celebrated Essayist Teju Cole Offers Hope and Meaning During Dark Times

In his new book Black Paper, Teju Cole explores what it was like to be a Black man in America between 2016 and 2019, through the lenses of art, literature, politics, and activism.   How do we sustain our humanity during times of darkness? And what does it mean to bear witness to the humanity […]

Acclaimed Chef Bryant Terry Celebrates Black Food and Culture in His Latest Book

For his sixth book, renowned chef, author, and food justice advocate Bryant Terry turned to his friends and colleagues. Black Food: Stories, Art & Recipes From Across the African Diaspora is a heartfelt celebration of Black culinary ingenuity, featuring the work of countless influential contributors. Described by Bryant Terry as a “communal shrine,” Black Food […]

The Lavin Agency Welcomes John List, Chief Economist at Lyft

The ideas that change the world are those that reach the largest number of people, says John List: a leading economist at The University of Chicago, and the Chief Economist at ride-share giant Lyft. But how can we make sure our best ideas reach our desired audiences? Thankfully, there are vital attributes that all “scalable” […]

Overcoming Barriers to Change: The Lavin Agency Welcomes Loran Nordgren

At the heart of creating change lies a deep and often destructive assumption that can thwart our best efforts at innovation: it’s the conventional belief that the best way to get people to embrace our idea, is to increase the appeal of the idea itself. However, this approach neglects the psychological “frictions” that hold us […]

The End of Bias: Lavin Welcomes Science Journalist Jessica Nordell

We see the detrimental effects of unconscious bias and discrimination everywhere: in our schools, our workplaces, our hospitals, and beyond. Yet change is possible, says acclaimed science journalist Jessica Nordell. In her debut book The End of Bias, Lavin’s newest speaker shows us the science-based approach for uprooting our deepest prejudices. Unconscious bias is the […]

Lavin Welcomes Google’s Chief Measurement Strategist Neil Hoyne

Data in the twenty-first century is ubiquitous and essential, helping marketers learn about their customers with target precision. But what if we’re thinking about data all wrong? Having led over 2,500 engagements with the world’s biggest advertisers, Neil Hoyne shows us how to get the most out of our analytics by focusing on a long-term […]

Futurist Jonathan Brill Reveals How to Turn Chaos Into Profit in Rogue Waves

Radical changes are hitting businesses harder, faster, and more often than ever before. And though everyone will face them at some point or another, some companies will fare better than others. In Rogue Waves, Jonathan Brill, an expert in resilient growth and decision-making in times of uncertainty, reveals an actionable plan for “driving change, instead […]

Eyal Press Explores Essential Jobs and the Hidden Toll of Inequality in America

Before the COVID-19 pandemic drew attention to essential workers and our utter dependence on them, there were countless ethically troubling jobs being performed out of sight. Imprisoning criminals. Slaughtering animals. Fighting wars. In his masterful new book Dirty Work, Eyal Press explores jobs that are both essential and, at the same time, morally compromised.   […]

The New Yorker’s Jelani Cobb Contextualizes a Historic Study on American Racism

A new look at a shocking 1960s government report on systemic racism, edited by Lavin Speaker Jelani Cobb, reveals how we’re tragically repeating history.  In The Essential Kerner Commission Report, Columbia professor and New Yorker correspondent Jelani Cobb, and his co-editor UC Berkeley historian Matthew Guariglia, offer a condensed version of the 1968 historic study, […]

Embracing Change to Kickstart Innovation: The Lavin Agency Welcomes Jason Feifer

This past year has taught us that sudden, unexpected change may always be just around the corner. And although this might sound scary, success is waiting for those who can let go of protecting yesterday’s status quo. Helping us find the courage to do just that is Jason Feifer—the editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur Magazine and Lavin’s […]

Acclaimed Author James Ellroy Returns With Tiltiltating Tabloid Thriller

James Ellroy is the author behind L.A. Confidential, The Black Dahlia, and some of the most epic crime novels of our time. In Widespread Panic, his latest novel, he weaves a dark story of 1950’s Hollywood, punctuated by secrets, blackmail, extortion, and prowlers—making it what NPR calls “the most Ellroy novel he’s ever written.”  In […]

A Force for Social Change: The Lavin Agency Welcomes New York Times Bestselling Author Nic Stone

To build an anti-racist society, we must first recognize our shared humanity, says #1 New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone. In her vivid and timely novels, Stone lays bare the systemic racism in our nation, teaches us to recognize our shared experiences, and creates the foundations necessary for dismantling oppression. The Lavin Agency is […]

The Power of Creative Leadership: The Lavin Agency Welcomes Former Nike CMO Greg Hoffman

There is perhaps no one more qualified to advise you on the ins-and-outs of creative leadership than new Lavin speaker Greg Hoffman. Throughout his 20+ years at Nike, Hoffman helped lead the sporting giant’s most innovative branding, marketing, and design efforts—from the Emmy Award-winning Colin Kaepernick campaign to the most remembered ad of the 2016 […]

Retail Futurist Doug Stephens Weighs In on the Crash of an Industry — and Prepares For Its Rebirth

In Resurrecting Retail (OUT TODAY!), internationally renowned futurist and bestselling author Doug Stephens not only explores the massive upheaval happening in retail today; he also outlines an inspiring and actionable plan for its future in the post-pandemic world.   A gripping exploration, researched in real-time from inside the crisis, Resurrecting Retail offers a comprehensive view […]

How to Change by Katy Milkman Is Set to Be One of the Most Revolutionary Reads of 2021

The Lavin Agency is giving you the opportunity to incite actionable change with behavioral scientist and Wharton professor Katy Milkman. You’ll receive FREE copies of her eagerly anticipated book How to Change, as well as special speaker pricing, when you book her for your next event.  If you’ve ever tried to change something in your […]

New York Times Bestselling Author Paul Tough Explores the Glaring Injustices of Higher Education

How did American colleges and universities go from being a powerful engine for social mobility, to a mighty force against it? In his explosive book The Inequality Machine, Paul Tough combines deep, authoritative reporting with the vivid stories of students themselves, to reveal where higher education went wrong.   For a long time, the relationship […]

Adam Bryant Shows You How to Master Critical Leadership Challenges in The CEO Test

The demands of the corner office are notoriously difficult: impossible decisions, sleepless nights, the expectation to perform consistently at a high-level. It’s no wonder that the average CEO today rarely lasts longer than five years. In his new book The CEO Test, leadership expert and New York Times bestselling author Adam Bryant covers the seven […]

The Life-Changing Power of Breath: Introducing New Speaker James Nestor

The way we breathe has changed dramatically over the course of human evolution—and not for the better. Fortunately, acclaimed science journalist James Nestor has undertaken the task of restoring our most vital function, starting with his instant New York Times bestseller Breath.  It’s rare that we can say that a book is for everyone, but […]

Thrive While Working Remotely: Introducing Lavin Speaker Alexandra Samuel

Love it or hate it, remote work isn’t going anywhere—at least not anytime soon. So why not learn how to thrive while doing it? Lavin’s newest speaker, Alexandra Samuel, is a technology strategist, data journalist, and author who has spent the past two decades working from home. In her talks, as well as her new […]

Centering the Black Experience: Introducing Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman

If we want to achieve an inclusive economy that works for all, we must begin by giving Black women a seat at the table, says Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman. An activist and emerging researcher, she specializes in data-driven solutions that address the future of work and its implications for Black people in both corporate and academic […]

Never Stop Learning: Introducing the Lavin Book Club

If you’ve landed on this page, it’s probably because you’re a thinker, a reader, and a do-er who cares about making the world a better place. We do too. That’s why we’re proud to introduce the Lavin Book Club: an online community for people who never want to stop learning, powered by ideas that change […]

No Rules Rules: Erin Meyer Shares the Behind-The-Scenes of Netflix’s Culture

In her latest book No Rules Rules, Erin Meyer teams up with Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings to reveal, for the first time ever, the unorthodox culture that made the streaming giant what it is today. We’re all familiar with the story. In the year 2000, Blockbuster turned down the chance to purchase a fledgling DVD […]

Your Brain is Plastic: A Live Q&A With Neuroscientist David Eagleman

On August 26th, world-renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman will join The Lavin Agency for a stimulating Q&A session discussing his latest book Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain.   How can a child function with only one half of his brain? What does drug withdrawal have to do with a broken heart? And can […]

How To Have Better Conversations About Race At Work

We, as a society, haven’t been the same since the horrifying video of George Floyd’s death circulated the Internet earlier this year. Beyond the international protests against police brutality, this tragic incident has sparked a wider conversation about racial bias in all areas of our lives—including at work. A new report by The Society for […]

Silicon Valley, Reinvention, and the Future of Tech: Introducing Lavin Speaker Alex Kantrowitz

In Always Day One, tech reporter Alex Kantrowitz explores the industry’s unique culture of innovation. More than just a catchy slogan, the book’s title refers to the bedrock principle employed by one of the largest, most successful companies in the world: Amazon. The logic being that failure to invent like a start-up will eventually lead […]

Lavin Speaker Tarah Wheeler Selected for the Prestigious Fulbright Cyber Security Scholar Award

In her mission to create a safe and secure Internet for everyone, cybersecurity expert Tarah Wheeler has won the US/UK Fulbright Cyber Security Scholar Award. The Internet has undoubtedly improved the lives of people all over the world; however, as it’s grown, its vulnerabilities have also become more obvious. Today, corporations, government agencies, and individuals […]

How Can Entrepreneurs Get Through COVID-19? Business Journalist David Sax Reveals Two Essential Truths

If business owners can learn to embrace two certainties, they’ll be able to get through anything, says David Sax. In his new piece for Entrepreneur, he considers how the challenges presented by COVID-19 are showing us what we’re capable of. “The only way entrepreneurs will get through this is by embracing our two core truths […]

Economist Raj Chetty Helps Launch the First Real-Time Economic Tracker for COVID-19

Raj Chetty is the Director of Opportunity Insights, a small organization of Harvard-based researchers and policy analysts. In the wake of the current crisis, he and his team have partnered with Womply to launch the first and only tool able to track the economic impacts of COVID-19 on people, businesses, and communities in real time. […]

Nikole-Hannah Jones’ Essay for ‘The 1619 Project’ Wins a Pulitzer Prize

Creator Nikole Hannah-Jones reexamined the legacy of slavery in America in the ambitious project, which recognized the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans arriving in Virginia. For her introductory essay, Hannah-Jones has been awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for commentary.  New York Times Magazine’s ‘The 1619 Project’ was perhaps the most talked about piece […]

Public Policy Expert Heather McGhee Explores the Hidden Cost of Racism in Her New TED Talk

In an eye-opening talk for TED, Heather McGhee reveals how a surprising on-air confrontation around racial prejudice helped her make a stunning realization about our current economic landscape. It turns out, racism isn’t just bad for people of color. It’s bad for everyone. As Heather McGhee declares in her TEDWomen talk: “Racism leads to bad […]

Dragons’ Den Star Manjit Minhas Transforms Her Brewery into a Sanitizer Facility Amid the Coronavirus

Manjit Minhas is well-known for her role as a judge on the critically acclaimed program Dragons’ Den. She also runs one the world’s largest breweries—worth a whopping $187 million dollars. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Minhas shows us how it’s possible to repurpose your business and respond to the crucial needs of our […]

The Case for ‘Tragic Optimism’: Emily Esfahani Smith for The New York Times

How can we protect our mental health during a global pandemic? Emily Esfahani Smith, author of the critically acclaimed The Power of Meaning, argues that the answer lies not in a quest for happiness, but a search for meaning.   “When researchers and clinicians look at who copes well in crisis and even grows through […]

“Act As If You’re Really There”: Futurist Douglas Rushkoff Reveals How to Develop Presence Working Remotely

There is no real substitute for in-person contact. That’s true. But it doesn’t mean that our video conferencing and telework has to be completely alienating, either. In his latest article, futurist and author Douglas Rushkoff offers practical tips for making our work-from-home feel engaging.   Over the last few years, Douglas Rushkoff has been steadily […]

Jamil Zaki Reveals How Disasters Shock Us Into Remembering Our Shared Humanity for The Wall Street Journal

Though some shoppers have been panic-buying toilet paper and sanitizer against expert advice, there’s a much bigger trend happening during this pandemic—empathy. In his latest op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki explores how COVID-19 has sparked a “global epidemic of kindness.”   For every news story there is about toilet paper […]

Age Activist Ashton Applewhite Says Beating Coronavirus Means Confronting Ageism and Ableism

As new coronavirus cases surge and more and more people self-isolate to flatten the curve, the nation’s economy continues to plummet. On Twitter, the suggestion that older people should sacrifice themselves for the sake of the economy is only one indication of how ageism and ableism are being laid bare during this pandemic. Ashton Applewhite […]

Political Polarization During a Pandemic Will Be Deadly: Jay Van Bavel for The Washington Post

Jay Van Bavel is a professor of Psychology and Neural Science at New York University. He speaks frequently about political polarization and ‘the partisan brain,’ exploring why so many people are willing to put party over policy, and oftentimes, even over truth. In his latest for The Washington Post, Van Bavel explains why polarization becomes […]

Futurist Jonathan Brill Envisions Life After the Coronavirus

Citizens around the globe are glued to the news as the coronavirus continues to silently spread. But Jonathan Brill, a gifted futurist who has helped some of the world's leading companies navigate uncertainty, suggests that what we really need to focus on is life after the pandemic. While globalization has improved quality of life for […]

Create the Future: Jeremy Gutsche’s Latest Innovation Guidebook Profiled by Inc

In Create the Future, Trend Hunter CEO and New York Times bestselling author Jeremy Gutsche reveals the frameworks that have helped 700 of the world’s most powerful brands, billionaires, and CEOs, accelerate real change.   Through his consulting work with Trend Hunter—not to mention his experience hosting the world’s #1 innovation conference, Future Festival—Jeremy Gutsche […]

Acclaimed Artist and Activist Molly Crabapple Provides Powerful Visuals for Project on Prison Life

The Zo is a groundbreaking new video project exploring the twisted realities of prison life, illustrated by superstar artist Molly Crabapple and narrated by The Wire’s Emmy-Award winning actor Michael K. Williams. Based on the essay by Yale student Patrick Doolittle and the archive of prison writings compiled in an open-source database invented by Professor […]

Why ‘Cartooning’ Political Opponents is Bad for Us: Jay Van Bavel for the BBC

We tend to reduce our political opponents to caricatures and stereotypes, a practice that is further reinforced by social media. And though it may feel satisfying to call one another out publicly, the effects could be dangerous. Psychology professors Jay Van Bavel and Dominic Packer investigate for the BBC.  Political polarization may increase voter turnout, […]

Why the ‘Business Case’ for Diversity Doesn’t Work: Rotman Professor Sarah Kaplan for Fast Company

Diversity is good for the workplace. The so-called “business case for diversity,” isn’t. Popular as it may be—trumpeted everywhere from the Wall Street Journal to the Financial Times—the “business case” is ultimately a failed strategy. Here to explain why is Rotman professor Sarah Kaplan in Fast Company. Despite its popularity, the “business case” for diversity […]

Pop Culture Guru Chuck Klosterman Announces New Music Podcast for Spotify

Beloved pop culture philosopher and author Chuck Klosterman is taking his sharp wit and wry observational humor off the page and onto the airwaves, with his new 12-week music podcast on Spotify. With co-host Chris Ryan of The Ringer, Klosterman will delve deep into his love of music, and the power music has to elicit […]

Acclaimed Artist and Activist Molly Crabapple Interviewed on NPR’s Democracy Now

On the latest Democracy Now, Molly Crabapple sat down with Amy Goodman and Juan González to discuss her time on the campaign trail with Bernie Sanders, the Electoral College system and the Democratic primaries—and how she is using her art and activism to fight for change.  “I was doing these illustrations from life, packed into these […]

The 1619 Project’s Nikole Hannah-Jones Interviewed on The Daily Show

The viral, groundbreaking sensation of the New York Times Magazine’s “The 1619 Project” is still going strong, with its lead writer, Nikole Hannah-Jones appearing on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah to discuss the message and history behind the landmark project observing the 400th anniversary of slavery in America. “History seems like it has been […]

Do Politics Make Us Irrational? NYU’s Jay Van Bavel Illustrates the Effects of Partisanship for TED-Ed

Can someone’s political identity influence their ability to process information? It appears so. In the cognitive phenomenon known as partisanship, identification with a social group becomes so important, it can override reality.  Psychology professor Jay Van Bavel shares strategies to combat this problem in a new TED-Ed video. Imagine you’re watching your favorite sports team […]

To be, or Not to Be Authentic?: Harvard’s Laura Huang and Francesca Gino Explore Authenticity and Performance

When it comes to making a first impression, whether it be a job interview, a networking event, or a pitch, many people tend to cater to the other person’s interests, rather than behave according to their own. But does this approach help or harm our chances of getting what we want? Harvard professors and fellow […]

Acclaimed Rafiki Director Wanuri Kahiu to Direct The Black Kids, Based on Hotly Anticipated YA Novel

The Gotham Group recently announced their latest film project, The Black Kids, and it’s set to be directed by Rafiki filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu.  Kahiu—who gained international attention for her critically acclaimed film Rafiki—will helm the production, based on the upcoming YA novel of the same name. The Black Kids follows the story of a wealthy […]

MIT’s Susan Hockfield Joins Effort to Reduce Bias in Biotech Funding Reports The Washington Post

Though there has been a significant improvement for women in the sciences over the past few decades, men continue to dominate leadership positions, especially in the biotech sphere. Lavin Speaker and former President of MIT Susan Hockfield teamed up with entrepreneur Sangeeta Bhatia and biologist Nancy Hopkins to push for change.  Susan Hockfield, Sangeeta Bhatia, […]

Joe Jackman Repositions Change as a Force to Be Embraced in The Reinventionist Mindset—Out Tomorrow!

What if, instead of fearing, resisting, and hiding from change, we ran towards it with open arms? How might our lives and our businesses transform? How might we become better positioned to thrive in an era of disruption? In The Reinventionist Mindset, CEO and world-renowned Reinventonist Joe Jackman shows us how to overcome our instinct […]

Futurist Douglas Rushkoff Announces New Four-Part Docuseries, Exponential

The author, philosopher and futurist Douglas Rushkoff just announced his latest project: a four-part docuseries called Exponential, where he will lead viewers on a journey from the beginning of the digital age through to its manifestation today—and what it could look like tomorrow. The series, ordered by European culture broadcaster Arte, will focus on the […]

Margaret Atwood Announces Release of Dearly, Her First Poetry Collection in Over a Decade

Margaret Atwood’s already incredible career was absolutely on fire ilast year, with The Testaments—the hotly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale— breaking sales records and taking home the Booker Prize. And her 2020 shows no signs of slowing down, with today’s announcement of her upcoming poetry collection, Dearly. Her first collection of poems since 2007’s […]

Lavin’s Top 10 Corporate Culture Speakers Changing the Workplace of Tomorrow

More than just a modern-day business buzzword, corporate culture plays an integral role in a company’s success. Whether it’s innovation, collaboration, diversity, or a commitment to taking risks, Lavin’s Top Corporate Culture Speakers will help you elevate your organization by championing strong values and putting people first. Stephanie Mehta: Few people know what makes an […]

Forbes CCO Randall Lane Organizes the Magazine’s First Under 30 Voter Survey

The Forbes Under 30 Voter Survey, powered by Zogby, polled 1,014 young American voters on the upcoming election—revealing somewhat unexpected results. Chief Content Officer Randall Lane weighs in on the younger generation’s attitude towards the presidential race.  Though Bernie Sanders remains the obvious favorite for voters aged 18-to-29, he was surprisingly followed by former Vice […]

Davos Needs to Wake Up to the Ills of Centralization: Cryptocurrency Expert Michael Casey for CoinDesk

World leaders and dignitaries from every sphere of influence will gather in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. Topics to be discussed range from climate change to political polarization—but are the elite guests missing the point? In Michael Casey’s latest article for CoinDesk, he makes a compelling argument that today’s most important issues are […]

The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells Inspires Upcoming HBO Series

David Wallace-Wells’ instant #1 New York Times bestseller The Uninhabitable Earth has been making waves and waking up the world to the realities of climate change since it was published. And now, HBO Max has just greenlit an anthology series of the same name, using his book as inspiration and source material.  Comprised of fictional, […]

Stanford Psychologist Jamil Zaki Explores the Intersection of Empathy and Tech, on NPR

There are millions of people who want to interact with others in a more productive way online—but how can we empower them to do so? Jamil Zaki, author of The War for Kindness talks to NPR’s Here  & Now about technology and empathy, and how to intertwine them, to make a better, and more human, […]

Business Professor Sarah Kaplan Discusses the Profit Potential in Climate Change Action for CBC News

This week, BlackRock—the world’s largest money manager—announced that it will begin adjusting its investment strategies with climate change in mind. Rotman professor Sarah Kaplan joined CBC’s Front Burner to discuss how this move will impact the company’s bottom line.   In his letter to CEOs, BlackRock’s Larry Fink wrote that “we are on the edge […]

Fast Company’s Stephanie Mehta Explores the Evolution of Venture Capital

Fledgling venture firm Felix Capital has announced it’s raised an additional $300 million in funding to continue to invest in digital lifestyle brands—such as Goop, Highsnobiety, and Peleton, reports Fast Company’s Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Mehta. Her latest piece investigates the company’s digital strategy and what makes their portfolio unique.   “The growth of Felix underscores just […]

Why Are Older Women Choosing to Live Alone? Psychologist Susan Pinker Explores for CBC

In her book The Village Effect, award-winning author and psychologist Susan Pinker wrote about the undeniable, life-affirming benefits of social bonds and face-to-face connection. More recently, she spoke to CBC about why an increasing number of seniors—particularly women— are enjoying living alone.  Whether it be in a retirement home or on their own property, more […]

The Culture Map: INSEAD Professor Erin Meyer Joins Microsoft’s VP for a Fireside Chat

INSEAD professor Erin Meyer’s groundbreaking book The Culture Map may have been published in 2014, but it remains an enduring staple for anyone doing business around the world. What makes the book so timely and relevant? Meyer sits down with Microsoft’s Executive Vice President and President of Global Sales to discuss her insights—and why they’ve […]

Inside the Therapist’s Mind: Lori Gottlieb Sits Down with Wal-Mart to Discuss Her Book, Podcast, and Soon-to-Be TV Series

Lori Gottlieb’s critically acclaimed memoir Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is Wal-Mart’s favorite read this month. The psychotherapist and bestselling author sat down with the company to discuss why the book has struck a chord with so many, and what else we can expect from her in 2020.   In Maybe You Should Talk […]

Fast Company Names Antisocial and The Age of Surveillance Capitalism to Their Must-Read Books on Tech for 2020

Looking back on the decade, it’s easy to pinpoint key tech developments that sparked a massive shift in society and the economy—not the least of which is social media. And leading business publication Fast Company knows better than most what those changes mean—so naturally, they chose Andrew Marantz’s Antisocial and Shoshana Zuboff’s The Age of […]

Entrepreneur Radhika Dirks Named One of the Top 30 Women Advancing AI in 2019

As the co-founder and CEO of XLabs, Radhika Dirks runs the one and only “moonshot factory” for AI. She truly believes in the technology’s power to elevate our human capabilities, and works hard to make that vision a reality. For her radical and tireless efforts, she has been named one of the Top 30 inspirational […]

Barack Obama Names Shoshana Zuboff’s Age of Surveillance Capitalism to His Favorite Books of 2019

In his year-end celebration of his favorite books of 2019,  Barack Obama names Shoshana Zuboff’s The Age of Surveillance Capitalism—a groundbreaking analysis of the intersection of the monetization of private data, big tech, the economy, and society—one of his top books. Not only has Zuboff’s in-depth exploration of a growing phenomenon—the titular surveillance capitalism—captured the […]

Margaret Atwood, Lori Gottlieb, and Angie Thomas Named to Variety’s Best Books of 2019

The most recent novels from bestselling authors Margaret Atwood (The Testaments), Lori Gottlieb (Maybe You Should Talk to Someone) and Angie Thomas (On the Come Up) all were named to Variety’s list of the Best Books of 2019. Margaret Atwood’s hotly anticipated sequel to 1985’s The Handmaid’s Tale, was able to intertwine her original story […]

CNN Names Angie Thomas’s The Hate You Give to Their Top 10 Most Influential Books of the Decade

Angie Thomas’s breakthrough debut novel, The Hate U Give, was not only an incredible success, but a compelling, timely social commentary on race and police violence. Now, CNN has named it one of the ten most influential books of the decade.    The Hate U Give remained on the New York Times bestseller list for […]

Authors Shoshana Zuboff and David Wallace-Wells Top The New Yorker’s Favorite Books of 2019

The hotly anticipated annual list of The New Yorker’s dropped, and Lavin speakers Shoshana Zuboff and David Wallace-Wells are top of the list. Featured first on The New Yorker’s list, Jia Tolentino writes, “Shoshana Zuboff’s disturbing, galvanizing The Age of Surveillance Capitalism deserves every comparison that it’s received to Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring—another masterwork that […]

Four Lavin Speakers Featured on Prospect Magazine’s Best Books of 2019 Lists

Shoshana Zuboff, Jared Diamond, David Wallace-Wells, and Naomi Klein are undoubtedly some of the most interesting thinkers of our time—and Prospect recently named their newest books to their prestigious Best of 2019 series. Shoshana Zuboff’s groundbreaking The Age of Surveillance Capitalism—called “an epoch-defining international bestseller” by Guardian—is also one of Prospect’s picks for the Best […]

‘This Is Us’ Producer to Adapt Angie Thomas’ YA Novel On the Come Up For Paramount

Angie Thomas became a household name with the release of her debut novel The Hate U Give, an instant YA classic that soon became a major motion picture. Her follow-up novel On the Come Up is once again getting the Hollywood treatment, in a project with some of the industry’s top talent attached.   Kay […]

Unfollow Author and Former Westboro Baptist Church Member Megan Phelps-Roper Profiled in The Cut

“I think for some people who leave Westboro, losing that sense of specialness feels like you’ve lost something really valuable and important. I had the opposite experience,” former Westboro Baptist Church member and author of Unfollow Megan Phelps-Roper tells The Cut. “I was so grateful to know that I wasn’t uniquely evil. I was just […]

Protecting Civil Discourse: Former White House Advisor Yaël Eisenstat Joins The Lavin Agency

How did a former Intelligence Officer for the United States of America become an insider at Facebook? As crazy as it sounds, this is the story of new Lavin speaker Yaël Eisenstat. In talks, she reveals why she joined the tech giant, the reason it’s so difficult for them to get elections right, and why […]

The Anthropocene Project, Featuring the Acclaimed Photography of Edward Burtynsky, Launches New VR App

The Anthropocene Project—the cumulative work of a years-long exploration of humanity’s impact on the world—is embracing the future with a new VR app. A multidisciplinary endeavor combining a feature documentary (directed by Edward Burtynsky, Jennifer Baichwal, and Nicholas de Pencier), art photography, scientific research, and now VR, The Anthropocene Project engages viewers with its in-depth […]

Media Mogul and Religious Scholar Reza Aslan Featured in L.A. Weekly’s ‘People 2019’ Issue

Is there anything Reza Aslan can’t do? The Harvard-educated religious scholar has published numerous books and screenplays, is adapting his New York Times bestseller Zealot into a feature film, and executive produces the new Chuck Lorre comedy on CBS. Combine that with his hilarious podcast with Rainn Wilson, and you have a bona-fide “multi-hyphenate.” “I […]

Saving Local News: The New York Times profiles Elizabeth Green and The American Journalism Project

1,400 communities across the U.S. have lost a local newspaper in the last 15 years—a statistic that reveals the severity of the crisis independent press now faces. Inspired, Lavin speaker and journalist Elizabeth Green co-founded The American Journalism Project to support the nonprofit, local publications our democracy deserves.  The American Journalism Project announced its first […]

Should Progressives Invoke Conservative Values? Sociologist Robb Willer Weighs In for The New York Times

In a recent op-ed for The New York Times, Standford’s Robb Willer and Jan Voelkel explore their thought-provoking research on how reaching across party lines can lead to considerable conservative support for progressive parties—without losing ground among their base. Where should a Democratic nominee focus their energy to beat Trump in 2020? Should they mobilize […]

Flikshop Founder and CEO Marcus Bullock Collaborates with Apple

Marcus Bullock is the creator of Flikshop, an ingeniously simple app that allows family members to connect with prisoners via short messages and photos. His entrepreneurial enterprise has proven so successful that he’s collaborating with Apple, as part of their Code with Apple series. At the age of 15, Marcus Bullock was sentenced to eight […]

Empathy Expert Jamil Zaki Shares Techniques for Nurturing Kindness in Washington Post Profile

In these divided times, it can often seem like empathy is difficult, if not downright impossible to find. But for Jamil Zaki, the Director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, we have a unique opportunity these days to strengthen our ability to relate to and care for one another—maybe even more than at any other […]

Author Gabby Rivera Explores Art, Diversity, and Joy in NPR Interview

In this portrait for NPR’s Latino USA, acclaimed author, activist, and artist Gabby Rivera explores the importance of representation in the arts, dealing with hate, and her remarkable work and career. “I must remember, it's not mainstream culture that I'm a part of. I'm part of these little pockets of good people everywhere, doing their […]

Futurist Douglas Rushkoff and Sociologist Shoshana Zuboff Both Receive Nominations for Prestigious Business Book Award

Lavin speakers  Douglas Rushkoff and Shoshana Zuboff have both been nominated for the 13th annual Porchlight Business Book Awards. The awards recognize the best business books published this year, and look beyond traditional business titles to important works that businesses should be considering.  Douglas Rushkoff’s title, Team Human, explores how the internet has divided us […]

Lead From the Future: Award-winning Innovation Expert Mark Johnson Joins The Lavin Agency

As the co-founder of innovation consultancy Innosight, Mark Johnson helps leaders envision their future, create new growth, and manage transformation. His upcoming book Lead from the Future breaks down what truly sets a visionary leader apart—and how to instill their unique approach into your own organization.   There’s no special mix of attributes that create […]

New Margaret Atwood Documentary an Intimate Portrait of the Legendary Author

With winning 2019’s Booker Prize for The Testaments, a successful television series, and a world even more enraptured by her already popular prose, it’s natural to want to know what goes on in the mind and life of one of the most beloved authors, Margaret Atwood. The new documentary, Margaret Atwood: A Word after a Word after […]

Six Lavin Speakers Featured on TIME Magazine’s “100 Must-Read Books of 2019”

Congratulations to Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, Jayson Greene, Lori Gottlieb, David Wallace-Wells and Shoshana Zuboff for penning stirring, thought-provoking works that have captured the world’s attention.   Salman Rushdie—Quichotte The prolific author’s 14th novel reimagines the famous Don Quixote character in a satirical metafiction. Quichotte is set in Donald Trump’s America and follows “pharmaceutical-product salesman […]

Activist Vijay Gupta and Filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu Make the TIME “100 Next” List

The inaugural TIME “100 Next” list was announced today. Honoring rising stars who are “eager to defy the odds and fight for a better future,” the list includes two Lavin speakers: Wanuri Kahiu, a Cannes-winning filmmaker from Kenya, and Vijay Gupta, the MacArthur Genius violinist putting art into social justice. Wanuri Kahiu is an artist […]

Coaching Athletes to Be Their Best: Jonathan Fader’s New Book Hits Shelves Tomorrow

What do you do when conventional coaching methods aren’t getting you the optimal results? You turn to Coaching Athletes to Be Their Best, the first-ever guide to Motivational Interviewing—a proven technique for building relationships—co-authored by leading performance psychologist Jonathan Fader.  “Relationships matter in sports, and we tend to navigate them through conversation,” write Jonathan Fader, […]

Three Lavin Speakers Make Amazon’s List of the Best Biographies and Memoirs of 2019

Authors Jayson Greene, Lori Gottlieb, and Megan Phelps-Roper are among Amazon’s annual list of the best memoirs and biographies of 2019. They each share incredibly personal, and profound, stories.  Megan Phelps-Roper’s memoir, Unfollow, explores her life as a member of the notoriously hateful Westboro Baptist Church—and how she came to the decision to leave her […]

Create the Future: Jeremy Gutsche Offers New Tactics for Disruptive Thinking in His Upcoming Book

More than just a business buzzword, innovation has become a coveted ideal for nearly every organization on earth. The problem is, though everyone wants innovation, few know how to actually attain it. In his upcoming book Create the Future, Trend Hunter CEO and New York Times bestselling author Jeremy Gutsche offers a guide for mastering […]

Lori Gottlieb’s New TED Talk Reveals How Changing Our Stories Can Change Our Lives

Stories are the way we make sense of our lives. But that doesn’t mean that the ones we tell ourselves are good, or even true. Instead of providing clarity, they often just keep us stuck in the same painful patterns. In her new TED Talk, which has been viewed over 600,000 times in four days, Lori […]

Ashton Applewhite Talks Ageism with Katie Couric on Next Question

What if discrimination on the basis of age were just as unacceptable as other kinds of prejudice? Why is society’s view of aging so grim when the lived reality is so different? Author and anti-ageism activist Ashton Applewhite connected with Katie Couric on her podcast, Next Question, to discuss. Together, they tackle tough questions about ageism, […]

Margaret Atwood Receives Order of the Companions of Honor from Queen Elizabeth

Fresh off her Booker Prize win, prolific Canadian author Margaret Atwood received another honor recently—and an incredible career first: it was presented to her by none other than Queen Elizabeth. As of late October 2019, Atwood is now one of the select few people granted the Companion of Honor award—given for achievements in the arts, […]

The Secret Economy of Desire: Introducing New Lavin Speaker Luke Burgis

Why do we want what we want? And why does it matter? It might seem like an innocent question, but the answer is far from simple. In his upcoming book Wanting, new Lavin speaker Luke Burgis explains how mimetic, or imitative, desire is at the heart of business, relationships, and consumer behavior.  A three-time Silicon […]

The Power of Changing Our Stories: Therapist and Critically Acclaimed Author Lori Gottlieb Joins The Lavin Agency

Lori Gottlieb started her career as a film and TV executive, followed by a period as a nationally recognized journalist. Today, she’s a psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author. Though her career trajectory has been anything but linear, the common thread through it all is her genuine curiosity on the human condition, and a […]

Athlete and Activist Waneek Horn-Miller Inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Having been an inspiring athlete and Indigenous activist for decades, Waneek Horn-Miller has been breaking barriers and records her entire life. Her latest achievement is being inducted into the elite Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame—making her the first water polo player to be honoured.  The induction ceremony takes place in Toronto today, and Horn-Miller is […]

Marcus Bullock’s New TED Talk Already Over 500k Views in Under a Week

The new TED Talk from Marcus Bullock—founder and CEO of Flikshop, a tech startup with heart and a personal history—has already surpassed the 500k mark, in less than a week of being live. Bullock’s dramatic, inspiring story takes audiences on his incredible journey from behind bars to venture-backed; a man who made good and is […]

Could the Future Have 3 Internets? Cybersecurity Expert Tarah Wheeler Weighs in on Bloomberg

Tarah Wheeler, a cybersecurity policy fellow at New America, joined Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia to discuss how regulatory policies, as well as the U.S.-China mini trade deal, could impact the tech sector.  Andy Purdy, Chief Security Officer of Huawei, recently said the company plans to spend 2 billion dollars over the next five years on security. […]

Margaret Atwood Wins the Prestigious Booker Prize for the Second Time

With her newest release, The Testaments, breaking sales records around the globe—and at a record speed—literary legend Margaret Atwood is also taking home the Booker Prize for the sequel to 1985’s The Handmaid’s Tale, today. Nineteen years ago, Atwood accepted the same award for her book The Blind Assassin; and today’s win makes her only […]

Megan Phelps-Roper Interviewed by NPR on Her New Memoir, Unfollow

Marking the launch of her new memoir, Unfollow: Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church, Megan Phelps-Roper was interviewed on NPR’s popular Fresh Air program.  “It wasn't that we read selective parts of the Bible. It was that we interpreted it in this very selective way. Gramps would say, “The love of God is reserved […]

“The Promise and Peril of AI”: Ajay Agrawal Speaks to The Economist

Artificial Intelligence already recommends our movies, routes our taxis, and even predicts who we might fall in love with. While it’s on track to become a mainstream technology as fundamental as computing or electricity, it still has a few challenges ahead of it. Machine-Learning Expert Ajay Agrawal stopped by The Economist’s weekly technology podcast to […]

Building a 360° Corporation: New Lavin Speaker Sarah Kaplan Navigates Stakeholder Trade-Offs

In today’s political climate, corporate social responsibility has transformed from a “nice-to-have” to a “must-have.” Sarah Kaplan, author of The 360° Corporation, shows us how the next generation of business will survive—and thrive—amidst conflicting stakeholder demands.  “Today, increasingly, corporations are being asked, pressured, forced, encouraged, regulated, and coaxed to consider a broader set of stakeholders […]

Author Andrew Marantz Interviewed in Fast Company on His New Book, Antisocial

Journalist and author Andrew Marantz spent four years with the internet’s most “dodgy characters”—trolls, conspiracy theorists, alt-right bloggers and the like—and his new book Antisocial exposes the underbelly of social media. In an interview with Fast Company, Marantz explores the dangers of both disinformation and deplatforming, and the relationship between the gatekeepers and gatecrashers of […]

Is Outrage Hijacking Our Culture? NYU’s Jay Van Bavel Explains Why Some Content Goes Viral for NPR

In his latest paper, Professor of Psychology Jay Van Bavel explores why moral, emotional content tends to capture our attention more than other kinds of content. He expands on this study for the latest episode of NPR’s Hidden Brain.   In his study of thousands upon thousands of tweets, Jay Van Bavel found that there’s […]

Megan Phelps-Roper Talks to Good Morning America on Her New Memoir, Unfollow, Out Today

Could you leave your family and lifelong friends behind and start over? The hotly anticipated memoir of former Westboro Baptist Church member Megan Phelps-Roper is out October 8th—and Good Morning America featured her and her incredible story, Unfollow, today. Changing her life from one of spreading shocking bigotry to one of compassion and acceptance wasn’t […]

The Origins of “An Epoch-Defining Bestseller”: The Guardian Profiles Shoshana Zuboff

We’re being watched, listened to—spied on—by the technology we interact with daily. In 2019, that’s not hyperbole, it’s fact; and one that even the companies harvesting our data openly admit. What does this mean for the future of human society? Few have tackled this topic with as much impact, vigor, and urgency as Shoshana Zuboff, […]

I, Robot: Seth Stephens-Davidowitz Explores Our Changing Relationship With Technology for NPR.

When we want to figure out where to eat, what to see, or the answers to our embarrassing questions, we turn to Google. Seth Stephen Davidowitz, a former data scientist for the search engine, explains how our search history reveals more about us than we know.   Seth Stephens-Davidowitz is the author of Everybody Lies: […]

Angela Duckworth Honored as One of Eight Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania

Governor Tom Wolf and First Lady Frances Wolf honored eight women as this year’s Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania, each recognized for their “extraordinary service and contributions to the Commonwealth.” Among them was the New York Times bestselling author of Grit Angela Duckworth.  Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania began in 1948 as a way to honor the […]

Journalist Matt Taibbi Talks to The Hill About His Upcoming Book, Hate Inc.

Author of four New York Times bestsellers, and an award-winning columnist for Rolling Stone, journalist Matt Taibbi tackles the current state of the media, with The Hill’s Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti. How did we get here, and how we can get out of this toxic spiral of fearmongering, clickbait and corruption? Taibbi has the answers in his […]

Megan Phelps-Roper’s New Book Unfollow Named Best Debut of October by Amazon

Amazon announced their Editor’s picks for October, and Megan Phelps-Roper’s much-anticipated memoir, Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church, tops the list as their featured debut. Unfollow follows Phelps-Roper’s journey from being deeply engrained in the antagonistic world of the Westboro Baptist Church—frequently called the “most hated family in America”—to her […]

Big Problems, Tiny Solutions: MIT’s Susan Hockfield Joins Bill Nye on the Science Rules! Podcast

How will we address the needs of everyone on earth as the population continues to grow? Susan Hockfield—Neuroscientist, author, and former president of MIT—suggests we turn to biology for answers.  By the year 2050, there will be almost ten billion people on earth. Unsurprisingly, the population increase will put a significant stress on our resources: […]

The Top Climate Change Speakers Taking Action in the Fight for Our Future

A year ago, Greta Thunberg was an unknown Swedish teenager striking from school once a week to protest climate inaction. Today, she’s a global icon and climate activist that’s inspired a nation. Alongside Greta, these top Climate Change speakers are united in the fight to save our planet, and they show us—beyond activism—what we must […]

James Robinson, the Co-Author of Why Nations Fail, Returns with a New Book on the Pursuit of Liberty

Economist James Robinson published the acclaimed Why Nations Fail—an investigation of power, prosperity, and poverty—in collaboration with Daron Acemoglu. Now, the two come together once again for The Narrow Corridor, a book examining the “state, society and the fate of liberty.”  “Everywhere people are interested in liberty,” James Robinson says, discussing his just-released book The […]

Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments is the #1 Hardcover Fiction Book on the New York Times Bestseller List

Margaret Atwood’s latest book, The Testaments, breaks new ground yet again—this week it’s the #1 hardcover fiction book. According to the New York Times list, The Testaments—in its’ second week since publication—beat out Stephen King’s latest in its’ debut week. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize and praised by the likes of NPR, New York Times, […]

Edward Burtynsky Premieres New Documentary ANTHROPOCENE: The Human Epoch

Four years in the making, ANTHROPOCENE: The Human Epoch is a feature documentary from the award-winning team of Edward Burtynsky, Jennifer Baichwal, and Nicholas de Pencier. It’s a masterful meditation on humanity’s massive reshaping of the planet, and debuts in over 100 theaters in the US alone, to coincide with the UN Climate Action Summit. […]

“Dreamy Recollection of a Terrible Year”: Vox Reviews Patti Smith’s Year of the Monkey

The legendary musician’s third memoir walks readers through the tumultuous year of 2016, in which the nation’s collective despair collided with her own personal grief. In the opening of Year of the Monkey, Patti Smith says goodbye to her longtime friend and music producer, Sandy Pearlman. This is the first, but not the last, of […]

A Free Market Requires Free Will: Michael Casey Discusses Shoshana Zuboff’s The Age of Surveillance Capitalism

Celebrated author, journalist, and entrepreneur Michael Casey joins Demetri Kofinas on Hidden Forces to discuss how a loss of faith in our financial institutions—and the rise Surveillance Capitalism—act as a driving force in the remaking of the modern world.  Michael Casey first reviewed Shoshana Zuboff’s The Age of Surveillance Capitalism for Coindesk, writing  that the […]

Building an Innovative Culture: Fast Company’s Stephanie Mehta joins The Lavin Agency

Fast Company is the magazine that innovative businesses trust when they want to understand up-and-coming technologies, changing leadership and workplace trends, and ideas with the power to change the world. At the helm is Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Mehta, helping to shape the future for the next generation of business. If you want to understand the most […]

Winning Now, Winning Later: Former Honeywell CEO David Cote Joins The Lavin Agency

As the former chairman and CEO of Honeywell, David Cote led one of the most historic turn-around’s the manufacturing industry had ever seen. In his upcoming book Winning Now, Winning Later, he distills those strategic leadership lessons for the next generation of business chieftains and managers.  Should an organization focus on its current numbers, or […]

The Most Anticipated Book of the Season—Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments—Hits Record Sales

The iconic author’s latest release has only been on shelves for one short week, but already it’s established itself as another bona fide hit.  According to Penguin Random House, The Testaments has sold more than 125,000 copies since its release on Tuesday. Margaret Atwood’s sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale has performed so well, it has […]

Paul Tough Talks to PBS’ Amanpour & Co., on Education Inequality and His New Book, The Years That Matter Most

Bestselling author Paul Tough sat down with Michel Martin on PBS to discuss how inequality and its widespread effects have come to define higher education. His most recent book, The Years That Matter Most explores this phenomenon in heartbreaking detail. Today's American students a jaw-dropping $1.5 trillion in student loans—making the average per student nearly […]

Chasing Excellence: Great Big Sea Frontman Alan Doyle Joins The Lavin Agency

What does it take to be a peak performer at the top of your game? That’s something that legendary musician, actor, and author Alan Doyle knows all too well. In talks, he reflects upon his illustrious career in the entertainment industry to show us the secret to excellence. Alan Doyle has sold millions of albums, […]

The Years That Matter Most—A New Book By New York Times Bestseller Paul Tough—Is Out Today

Who gets into college, who doesn’t, and why does it matter? Based on six years of reporting, education speaker Paul Tough’s hotly-anticipated new book explores how social mobility affects higher education—and what this means for America’s future generations.   In The Years That Matter Most, Tough shares true stories of students trying to find their […]

Shoshana Zuboff Dubs the City of Toronto the “New Frontier” of Surveillance Capitalism

Information is capital in the twenty-first century, a fact which has led companies like Google and Facebook to hunt, capture, and hoard the personal data of its consumers. The value lies not in the capacity for service improvement, but in the rich predictive signals such data provides. In an essay for Toronto Life, Shoshana Zuboff […]

The Reluctant Prophet: Margaret Atwood Featured in TIME, Long-Listed for the Giller Prize

Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s sequel The Testaments is almost here. The prolific author opens up about the decision to revisit the fictional world of Gilead, her knack for capturing the dark side of history, and her status as a national treasure in TIME magazine.   “Only dead people are allowed to have statues, but I have […]

Anecdotes Aren’t Data: Psychologist Steven Pinker Calls for a Stronger Delineation Between Facts and Feelings

What is the one thing wrong with the world that you would change, and why? It’s a question posed by Harvard University to its faculty, in a new ongoing series. In it, professor Steven Pinker shares his desire to temper our cognitive biases with hard facts.   A president riling up citizens over the supposed […]

What We Gain From Working Together: Introducing New Lavin Speaker Jay Van Bavel

Jay Van Bavel is interested in the science of cooperation. A Professor of Psychology and Neural Science at New York University, Van Bavel has dedicated his career to understanding the factors that bind us together. In talks, he reveals how we can harness cooperation and build organizations that are more efficient, successful, and happier. Humans […]

David Wallace-Wells on Climate Crisis, Practical Policies, and Holding onto Hope, with The Guardian

In an in-depth interview with The Guardian’s Ian Tucker, author and journalist David Wallace-Wells follows up on his recent hit book, The Uninhabitable Earth: A Story of the Future. Where does he stand now on his predictions and analysis of our impending climate crises, and what do we really have to do now to save […]

Nikole Hannah-Jones’ ‘1619’ Podcast Launches Its First Episode for The New York Times

Four hundred years ago, in August of 1619, a ship carrying enslaved Africans arrived in the American state of Virginia, then a British colony. That fateful trip altered the country, it’s identity, and its history in unimaginable ways. Nikole Hannah-Jones explores the shadow cast by that crucial moment in her new audio series ‘1619.’ Titled […]

Rebel With a Cause: Social Scientist Francesca Gino Explores Non-Conformity for NPR

Francesca Gino stumbled across Massimo Bottura’s unusual Italian cookbook by chance. Flipping through its pages, she discovered that the traditional Italian recipes she knew and loved had been replaced with creative, remixed dishes. On this week’s episode of Hidden Brain by NPR, Gino explains what she learned from the rule-breaking Michelin chef in her quest […]

Angela Davis Featured in Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp Youth Empowerment Initiative

Dr. Angela Davis is a brilliant educator, political activist and author. She’s used her immense intellectual acumen to champion the idea that a world where all of humanity can flourish is not only worth pursuing, but possible. Her timeless contributions to human rights pursuits and uplifting Black voices are just part of why she is […]

Gabby Rivera Announces New Comic Series, b.b. free, a Teen Road Trip Adventure with a Post-Climate Change Twist

Comic fans already know Gabby Rivera for her trailblazing America, Marvel’s first solo series about America Chavez, the queer Latina superhero. And now she’s bringing her signature voice to a new world, that of b.b. free: an original story following the coming-of-age adventure of b.b., in a post-apocalyptic world not quite like anything you’ve seen […]

PBS Newshour Highlights Nikole Hannah-Jones’ Groundbreaking 1619 Project

Nikole Hannah-Jones talks to PBS Newshour about her exciting project with The New York Times Magazine. The 1619 Project is a landmark issue of the magazine entirely devoted to commemorating the anniversary of American slavery, and reframing the nation’s past—and present—through the lens of this incredible injustice.  How did slavery shape the American economy, influence […]

The Pain of Losing Local Business: David Sax Investigates Why Saying Goodbye Hurts for the New York Times

In his New York Times opinion piece, bestselling author David Sax explores the indelible mark that brick-and-mortar businesses continue to leave on consumers—even in the digital age—and why it hurts so much when they close their doors.  “Why do we shed tears over businesses that shut their doors, when we know that the nature of […]

The Final Frontier of Privacy: Nita Farahany Considers Mind-Reading Technology

Companies and governments are closer than ever to introducing mind-reading technology. The problem? Our legal system is ill-equipped to handle the privacy concerns that will no doubt accompany it. Neuro-ethicist Nita Farahany joins the conversation in Fast Company. There are a variety of reasons why mind-reading technology has captured our attention; some altruistic, some not. […]

Learn from the Best: Daniel Lerner Joins Outlier, an Online Education Platform from the MasterClass Creators

MasterClass brought us online classes taught by some of the world’s greatest minds. Now, Outlier brings us University-level courses from some of the world’s best educators. Daniel Lerner, a mastermind of positive psychology, joins the platform that’s changing the future of higher education.  The Intro to Psychology course offered by Outlier, the offshoot of MasterClass, […]

Nikole Hannah-Jones and The New York Times Launch 1619 Project: Marking 400 Years Since American Slavery Began

Without the monumental efforts of Black Americans in the face of incredible opposition, democracy as we know it would not exist. Nikole Hannah-Jones is lifting up the remarkable contributions of Black Americans to the nation, and acknowledging the true, fraught beginnings of American history, with her groundbreaking 1619 Project.  A major multimedia initiative, The 1619 Project […]

Shoshana Zuboff and Safi Bahcall Longlisted for the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award

Sixteen titles are competing for this year’s Financial Times and McKinsey Book of the Year Award. Among them are Lavin speakers Shohana Zuboff and Safi Bahcall, for their groundbreaking books The Age of Surveillance Capitalism and Loonshots, respectively.  In 2015, Lavin speaker Martin Ford’s book The Rise of the Robots became the first tech title […]

What Can Social Media Learn from LinkedIn? Nicholas Thompson Speaks to the New York Times

Beginning as an alternative to job listing databases, LinkedIn has grown into a professional platform boasting 645 million users and earning 5.3 billion in revenue. Despite its size and success, LinkedIn has not been marred by scandal and divisiveness. Nicholas Thompson—WIRED editor and LinkedIn Influencer—talks about the Internet’s last neutral social platform.  “It’s much harder […]

Abandoning the Status Quo: Innovation Guru Jeremy Gutsche Shares How CIOs Can Help Companies Disrupt

As the CEO of Trend Hunter, the largest trend-spotting platform in the world, Jeremy Gutsche is well-versed in the art of bringing big ideas to life. Now, he explains how CIOs will become crucial to disruptive innovation in the coming years.   The average lifespan of a fortune 500 company has fallen from a healthy […]

How Performance Metrics Influence Culture: Adam Bryant Unveils a New Approach to Leadership

Corporate culture has become a hot-button topic frequently discussed by CEOs and leadership teams. But, according to a new paper by Adam Bryant and David Reimer, a company’s most powerful cultural signals are communicated less by talking, and more by who gets promoted and financially rewarded.  Compensation and bonus frameworks typically rely on financial results […]

Rediscovering Hope After Loss: Introducing New Lavin Speaker Jayson Greene

After a sudden, unthinkable accident, Jayson Greene and his wife Stacy found themselves mourning the death of their two-year-old daughter Greta. Overcome with grief, Greene—a music editor by trade—instinctively turned to writing to help him process the tragedy. In Once More We Saw Stars, the soul-affirming memoir that resulted, Greene opens up about surviving grief, […]

Nikole-Hannah Jones Explores the Legacy of Slavery in a New Project with the New York Times

August 20th, 1619 is an important date, but few know its historical significance: on this day, a ship carrying more than 20 enslaved Africans arrived in Jamestown. Though America did not yet exist, this day marked “the beginning of the system of slavery on which the country was built.” Lavin speaker Nikole-Hannah Jones is spearheading […]

A “Poem of Contemporary America”: Teju Cole’s New Exhibition at Museum of Contemporary Photography

Go Down Moses, a new art exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago, features 150 archival images depicting a longing for freedom. Selected to guest curate the exhibition is acclaimed author, photographer, and Harvard professor Teju Cole.  Go Down Moses, an exhibition which uses photography to reflect on themes of freedom and suffering, […]

Charles Fishman Explains How an Unlikely Pairing—Between NASA and Playtex—Led to the Apollo Spacesuits in Fast Company

In One Giant Leap, Charles Fishman writes the untold story of the moon landing—charting how the ambitious project was scaled through innovation, teamwork, and technological advancement. As part of Fast Company’s 50 Days to the Moon series—which features a story each day leading up to the 50th anniversary—Fishman explains how a bra company beat out […]

Lavin Speaker Daron Acemoglu Awarded MIT’s Highest Faculty Honor

Economist Daron Acemoglu has produced influential research in government, innovation, labor, and globalization. Thanks to his groundbreaking contributions to the field, this year Acemoglu has been named Institute Professor, the highest faculty honor awarded by MIT.   Daron Acemoglu has spent over 25 years at MIT grappling with large and complex economic questions. Over the […]

Jamil Zaki Awarded PECASE: the Highest Honor Bestowed by the US Government to Scientists

Established in 1996, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) acknowledges outstanding contributions in STEM education and community service. This year, Associate Professor of Psychology at Stanford University Jamil Zaki received the prestigious award. Much of Jamil Zaki’s research focuses on how we can build and strengthen our connections to one another […]

Is the European Left in Trouble? Lavin Speaker Yascha Mounk Explores for The Atlantic

A few short years ago, the radical left was poised for a European take-over; today, the once-shining leftist leaders have barely made a mark on the government. Yascha Mounk considers why the resurgent movement never took off for The Atlantic.  The European Left has been traditionally controlled by moderate social democrats. Though the far left […]

Reza Aslan—the Bestselling Author of God: A Human History—Discusses New Book with Entertainment Weekly

Religious scholar and New York Times bestselling author Reza Aslan shares the details of his new book in an Entertainment Weekly Exclusive. The upcoming Baskerville will tell the story of the American citizen who gave his life fighting for Iranian freedom. Reza Aslan’s latest book centers around Howard Conklin Baskerville, the only American citizen to […]

“Economist in a League of His Own”: Lavin Speaker Daron Acemoglu Wins the 2019 Global Economy Prize

The Global Economy Prize has been awarded by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and its partners since 2005, honoring those who have pioneered “creative and path-breaking” globalization initiatives in politics, business, and science. This year, it recognizes the outstanding contribution of economist Daron Acemoglu.  “Daron Acemoglu is an economist in a league of […]

Lavin Speaker John Maeda Appointed Chief Experience Officer at Leading Digital Transformation Company

A leader in the world of design, technology, education, and computer science, John Maeda is one of Silicon Valley’s most revered names. Now, he’s spearheading design at Publicis Sapient—a digital consultancy firm—to guide legacy companies through the peaks and valleys of the digital revolution. As the Global Head of Computational Design at Automattic—the parent company […]

Margaret Atwood’s Acclaimed Debut Novel—The Edible Woman—Is Being Adapted for Television

Hot on the heels of Emmy award-winning series The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood’s first published novel The Edible Woman is being optioned for the small screen. Published on the cusp of the feminist movement, the 1969 novel explores the maddeningly restrictive nature of society’s perscribed gender roles. The Edible Woman centers around Marian McAlpin, an […]

Raised in Captivity by Chuck Klosterman is a WIRED Must-Read of the Summer

Touted for being funny, smart, and delightfully weird, Chuck Klosterman’s latest book (out July 16th) is a must-read of the season according toWIRED.  Cultural critic and renowned author Chuck Klosterman has a knack for condensing the current cultural moment to its most essential elements. This Summer the Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs author is back with […]

Bestselling Author and New Speaker David Wallace-Wells: Climate Change is the Biggest Story of Our Lives—How It Gets Told Matters.

“I don’t think of myself as a climate person, I think of myself as a journalist,” says David Wallace-Wells, on the unique perspective he brings to the subject of climate change. His critically-acclaimed, instant New York Times bestseller The Uninhabitable Earth vividly illustrates the speed, scope, and severity of climate change like never before.   In talks Wells transforms […]

Meetings Matter. The Revenge of Analog Author David Sax Explains Why In His New Talk.

As companies globalize and everyone shifts to digital conferences, Skype meetings, and online productivity trackers, David Sax triumphantly proves the incredible value of meeting face-to-face. Author of the #1 Washington Post bestseller The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter, Sax is a funny, sophisticated observer of human behavior in the digital age.  […]

Nicholas Thompson’s WIRED Cover Story on What Happened When Zuckerburg Set Out to “Fix” Facebook

WIRED Editor-in-Chief Nicholas Thompson is the go-to authority on the world’s most important story—how science and tech are changing our lives. His most recent cover story details the scandals, backstabbing, resignations, reboots, record profits and time bombs that characterized Facebook’s 2018—“it’s ultimately a story about the biggest shifts ever to take place inside the world’s biggest […]

A Q&A With Emily Esfahani Smith, Lavin Speaker and Author of The Power of Meaning

Meaning, not happiness, is the key to a good life. That’s the vital message at the core of Emily Esfahani Smith’s book, The Power of Meaning, an essential guide to living a life that matters, as well as her popular TED talk—viewed over 7 million times—and her viral Atlantic article. In our recent chat with her, she explains how you can develop genuine cultures of […]

Emily Bazelon’s Charged (Out Today!) Outlines a Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration

In her new book Charged, renowned journalist, podcaster, and legal commentator Emily Bazelon exposes the unchecked power of prosecutors as a driving force in America’s mass incarceration crisis—and charts an actionable path to fix it.     “This combination of powerful reporting with painstaking research yields a comprehensive examination of the modern American criminal justice system […]

New Speaker Wanuri Kahiu is the Acclaimed Filmmaker Shattering Conventional Representations of African Culture Onscreen

“When I present my work somewhere, someone will always ask, ‘How does it deal with real African issues like war, poverty, devastation, AIDS?’ Well, it doesn’t,” says Wanuri Kahiu, whose work, dubbed “AfroBubbleGum” presents a fierce, frivolous, fun Africa. And this is a political act. “Agenda art is important, but it cannot be the only art […]

Twelve Lavin Speakers are Appearing at SXSW—Where the Boldest Minds With the Biggest Ideas Meet and Reach for the Future

South by Southwest (SXSW) is a conference that has dedicated itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Since 1987, the festival has attracted the brightest stars on the forefront of their fields to give talks and have candid conversations about the future and their industry. This year twelve Lavin speakers were invited to speak.   […]

Forbes editor Randall Lane Reimagines Capitalism in His “Billionaires” Cover Story

“For the past year I’ve had one-on-one discussions with no fewer than two dozen billionaires, including face-to-face meetings with the three richest people in the world—Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet—touching on various aspects of capitalism’s future,” says Forbes editor Randall Lane in his latest feature. “Among Millennials and Gen Z, free market skepticism […]

Admission Isn’t Acceptance: Anthony Jack Reveals the Plight of Low-Income Kids at Ivy League Schools in The Privileged Poor

Even though the Ivy League has opened their doors to a more diverse student body, less privileged students still struggle. Drawing from his own experiences, as well as dozens of interviews with undergraduates at one of America’s most prestigious colleges, Anthony Jack’s The Privileged Poor (out now) reveals what happens to students who don’t have […]

New Lavin Speaker Charles Fishman Explains What We Can Learn from Some of the Biggest, Most Innovative Projects in History

Charles Fishman is a world-class storyteller. He’s spent his career getting inside organizations—big and small, familiar and unknown—and explaining how they work. In his New York Times bestselling The Wal-Mart Effect, Fishman transformed the public’s understanding of the mega-corporation. In The Big Thirst, he cracked open our complex relationship with water. His latest, the forthcoming One […]

In Jared Diamond’s New Book Upheaval, the Pulitzer Prize Winner Explores What Makes Some Nations More Resilient Than Others

Jared Diamond is a Pulitzer Prize winner, a #1 New York Times bestselling author, and one of Foreign Policy’s Top 10 Public Intellectuals. His forthcoming book, Upheaval, is the final installment a trilogy that the Times calls “one of the most significant projects embarked upon by any intellectual of our generation.” In Upheaval he brilliantly […]

Read the First Excerpt from On the Come Up, Angie Thomas’ Highly Anticipated Follow-Up to The Hate U Give

Angie Thomas is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give, which garnered widespread critical acclaim and was turned into a major motion picture. Thomas’ highly anticipated sequel On the Come Up, is out Feb. 5. Read an exclusive excerpt in Entertainment Weekly.  In the video below, Thomas talks about her […]

NBC is Developing a Family Workplace Comedy Based on David Sax’s Save the Deli

David Sax is a consumer behavior expert and the critically acclaimed author of The Revenge of Analog, The Tastemakers and Save the Deli—a delightful travelogue about the cultural history of delicatessens, which is now being developed into a family workplace comedy by NBC.  Showcasing his trademark sense of humor and engaging style of analysis, the […]

Gabby Rivera’s TED Salon Has Reached Over 500,000 Views

Featured on the TED homepage, Gabby Rivera’s TED Salon on writing America Chavez—the first queer, Latinx super hero—has reached over 500,000 views (and climbing.) She explains how growing up as a queer Puerto Rican in the Bronx informed America’s narrative: “that myth of having to go it alone and having to be tough doesn’t serve […]

Martin Ford’s New Book Reveals the Truth About AI, From the People Building It

Are we close to human-level machine intelligence? How will it impact on the job market, the economy, and society? What should we be concerned about, capitalizing on, and planning for? Martin Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Robots and one of the world’s leading AI speakers conducted in-depth, wide-ranging interviews with […]

Steven Pinker’s Enlightenment Now is One of the New York Times’ Most Notable Books of 2018

In a follow-up interview with bestselling author and Harvard professor Steven Pinker, he explains (among other things) what gave him the idea for Enlightenment Now—a book about why and how the world is getting better. “It was an epiphany from seeing graphs of human improvement that changed my view of the overall course of history: that […]

Rick Mercer Final Report is a Toronto Star and Globe and Mail #1 Bestseller

Rick Mercer’s new collection of essays, never-before-published rants, and greatest hits—titled Rick Mercer Final Report—is an instant #1 bestseller in the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail. “I think any political junkie out there will want the book—it’s a record of Canadian history and a great way to remember certain moments in time,” says the icon.    […]

Revenge of Analog Author David Sax on Real Things and Why They Matter in Marketing

“Analog may be more cumbersome and costlier than its digital equivalents,” says consumer behavior expert David Sax, “but it provides us with a richness of experience that is unparalleled with anything delivered through a screen.” In an interview with Content Magazine, Sax explains the ways that analog experiences can actually enhance digital strategy.   “What I’ve […]

“Fierce.” “Impassioned.” “Oscar-Worthy.” The Hate U Give Movie—Based on Angie Thomas’s #1 Bestseller—Opens Today.

Not content to spend 85 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list (where it’s currently enjoying a return to the #1 spot), Lavin speaker Angie Thomas’ phenomenon of a first novel is currently sweeping the nation as a feature film, collecting popular and critical praise—and even being touted as an “Oscar-worthy masterpiece” (Forbes). We’ve collected […]

Our Towns: Deborah & James Fallows Take Us On a Tour of Small-Town America’s Surprising Economic Renewal and Growth

“We began this project with one purpose in mind: we wanted to take a fresh look at the country, its disappointments and its possibilities.” In James and Deborah Fallows’ bestselling new book Our Towns, two seasoned journalists go on a remarkable exploration of America’s “flyover country,” creating a surprising, necessary, portrait of the civic and economic reinvention […]

Empathy is a Skill. New Speaker Jamil Zaki Can Teach You How to Practice It.

Jamil Zaki is Director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, which aims to unpack, understand, and ultimately teach empathy: “empathetic practice becomes empathetic habits becomes empathetic people,” says Zaki in his acclaimed TED Talk. It’s a skill, he explains. We just have to start seeing it that way. Empathy isn’t a static figure. It moves […]

After 15 Years of Rants (and Raves), Rick Mercer Prepares His Final Report

On the morning of the eve of his final show, beloved reporter and satirist Rick Mercer joined host Matt Galloway on CBC’s Metro Morning to explain that he had “decided it was time to do other things.” Age, he said with a chuckle, is getting in the way of his desire to scale buildings and jump out of planes. But he’s […]

How Can We Create an Open, Practical Dialogue Around Consent on Campus? Vanessa Grigoriadis Draws Clear Lines

Questions about power, consent, and assault on college campus have sparked difficult—but necessary—conversations. In this #MeToo moment, how do we engage in practical dialogue? New speaker Vanessa Grigoriadis embedded herself in colleges across America, conducting interviews with the survivors, the accused, the parents, the professors, and the administrators. The results, reported on in her bestselling book Blurred […]

Ignore the Headlines, Says Harvard Professor Steven Pinker. Out Today, His New Book Explains Why The World is Doing Better Than You Think.

Newspaper headlines are an endless stream of violence, destruction, and looming threats. But Harvard professor and leading cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker says that we’re actually living longer, healthier, and happier lives than ever before. In his much-anticipated book Enlightenment Now (already named one of The Guardian’s best of 2018 and declared by Bill Gates to be […]

3 Speakers Offer Practical, Meaningful Strategies in the Pursuit of Mental Wellness

Sometimes we don’t know how to face a challenge until we’re already struggling with it. Michael Landsberg, Candy Chang, and Dr. Jonathan Fader are three speakers who approach the issue of mental health from all angles: acknowledging the realities of illness while also promoting mental wellness for all—no matter how you feel.  Michael Landsberg: Sports, Stigma, […]

“A Meeting of the Minds”: Steven Pinker and Bill Gates Discuss Human Progress and How the World is Getting Better

In advance of speaker Steven Pinker’s new book, Enlightenment Now, the Harvard professor sat down with Microsoft visionary and philanthropist Bill Gates to discuss the Enlightenment values of reason and science —which Pinker believes are still key to human progress —and why “we have no right to expect perfection.” Last year, Bill Gates called speaker Steven Pinker’s The Better Angels of Our […]

4 Speakers Who Will Empower You to Change Your Patterns of Action (And Stick To It)

Motivate your employees. Reduce your carbon footprint. Run a marathon. January is the month we want to figure out how to do better—with our time, our colleagues, and our creative endeavours. These four keynote speakers will inspire you to set goals, work through slumps, and make positive change that really sticks. Vijay Gupta On Healing Communities Through Music    […]

A.I. Expert Martin Ford Explains What Investors, Managers, (and Everyone Else) Need to Know About the Robotics Revolution

Martin Ford is one of the world’s leading A.I. speakers. He’s the bestselling author of Rise of the Robots and his TED talk has been viewed over a million times. Ford’s latest keynote breaks down some of the key tech underlying this revolution for non-tech audiences, and explains exactly what it means for everyone’s future.   Historically AI […]