Our mission is simple: Present great on-stage conversations in the Los Angeles area with writers, filmmakers, chefs, artists, leaders, humorists and comedians, musicians and thought leaders in business and science,  and present them in some of the city’s wonderful venues.  We video all our events and make them available to a wider global audience after our events. Since 2010, we have presented over 350 events, and our videos have been seen in 156 countries with over 15 million views. You can watch our videos on YouTube, Vimeo and also on Facebook. We also have a podcast.

We have a dedicated series featuring chefs, our Live Talks Food & Wine series, and a dedicated series featuring CEOs and business thought leaders, our Live Talks Business Forum.

Our newest offering is our Live Talks Newer Voices Series that features debut authors and these events are free to attend.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

If you have a suggestion of someone to feature on our stage, or a question about our events, please email us: info at livetalksla dot org

Over the years we are pleased to have welcomed attendees at our events from Sweden, Mexico, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the UK, Sweden, New Zealand, and all over the US.  If you are attending one of our events and coming from afar, please email the Live Talks Concierge for hotel suggestions and tips for getting around Los Angeles: 
concierge at livetalksla dot org

Ted Habte-Gabr, the founder and producer of Live Talks Los Angeles, was born and raised in Ethiopia, the son of an Eritrean doctor and a Jordaniannurse. After emigrating to the US in 1985, he graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in engineering.

After a career in business development in the vertical transportation industry which morphed into work in the online learning space, Ted worked as a consultant advising colleges and non-profits on creating live event experiences to advance institutional advancement.

Launching Live Talks Los Angeles in 2010 was the culmination of a lifetime love of conversation and community that dates back to when, as a student at Iowa, he chaired the university’s lecture series.

In Ted’s spare time, he serves as the volunteer manager for the Rock Bottom Remainders, a musical group comprised of some of the most best-selling authors of all time who play music for charity—badly.

Join the conversation. 
and go on gently,