Jessica Yu is a prolific filmmaker known for both her scripted and nonfiction work, which includes the Academy Award-winning short Breathing Lessons. Jessica also directs episodic TV including Grey’s Anatomy, Parenthood, and most recently 13 Reasons Why. Her documentaries have focused on art, social justice, and the environment.  In Garden of the Lost and Abandoned, Jessica Yu turns her keen filmmaker’s eye on the story of Gladys Kalibbala, a Ugandan “orphan sleuth,” who writes the Lost and Abandoned column for Uganda’s largest newspaper in an effort to reunite castaway children with their estranged families. 

Michael Shermer is the publisher of Skeptic magazine, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University. He is the author of The Moral Arc, The Believing Brain, and many other bestselling titles.  In his most ambitious work yet, Michael Shermer sets out to discover what drives humans’ belief in life after death. Heavens on Earth: The Scientific Search for the Afterlife, Immortality, and Utopia delves into humanity’s obsession with the afterlife and the quest for immortality. 

Pete Souza was the Chief Official White House Photographer for President Obama and the Director of the White House Photo Office.  

Obama: An Intimate Portrait includes a foreword by President Obama, in which he writes, “Over those eight years, Pete became more than my photographer—he became a friend, a confidant, and a brother.” This is the definitive visual biography of the Obama presidency, including never-before-seen photos of the administration, the president, and his family. Souza’s photographs and poignant behind-the-scenes captions and stories that accompany them, communicate the pace and power of our nation’s highest office.

Dr. John Gray is the author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, which was first published in 1992 and has sold sold over 50 million copies worldwide. We host him marking the 25th anniversary of it’s release and featuring a conversation on his latest book, Beyond Mars and Venus: Relationship Skills for Today’s Complex World.  In Beyond Mars and Venus, Gray teaches you how to strengthen your bond and grow in love together, so you and your loved one can meet each other’s needs in the best way possible, bringing you lasting happiness and a fulfilling partnership.

Join us for a timely event featuring the legendary whistle-blower who revealed the Pentagon Papers, an eyewitness exposé of the dangers of America’s Top Secret, seventy-year-long nuclear policy that–chillingly–continues to this day. In 1961, Daniel Ellsberg, a consultant to the Department of Defense and the White House, drafted Secretary Robert McNamara’s plans for nuclear war. Later he leaked the Pentagon Papers. He lectures and writes on the dangers of the nuclear era and the need for whistle-blowing. Ellsberg is the author of Secrets and the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary The Most Dangerous Man in America. He is also a key figure in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film about the Pentagon Papers, The Post, scheduled to be released in December 2017. 

Jenifer Lewis has appeared in more than three hundred television and film roles. She currently stars as the spirited grandmother, Ruby Johnson, on the Emmy-nominated ABC hit black-ish, now in its fourth season. The “Mega Diva” and star of Black-ish looks back on her memorable journey to fame and the unforgettable life lessons she learned along the way. 

From the author of the bestselling Why We Suck, comes a searing comic look at these divisive times, skewering liberals and conservatives alike with a signature dose of sarcasm and common sense.  He is an actor, writer, producer, singer and comedian. He was the star and co-creator of Rescue Me, which ran for seven seasons. His film credits include playing Captain George Stacy in Marc Webb’s film, The Amazing Spider-Man, Cleveland Browns Head Coach Vince Penn in Ivan Reitman’s film, Draft Day, and as the voice of Francis in A Bug’s Life and Diego in the Ice Age franchise. From 2015 to 2016, Leary wrote and starred in the comedy series, Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll on FX.

Dan Rather is one of the world’s best-known journalists. He’s interviewed every president since Eisenhower over his six-decade career, and covered almost every important dateline in the United States and around the world. His work has earned him Emmy and Peabody Awards. At a moment of crisis over our national identity, Dan Rather has been reflecting—and writing passionately almost every day on social media—about the world we live in, what our core ideals have been and should be, and what it means to be an American. Now, in a collection of original essays, the venerated television journalist celebrates our shared values and reminds us about what matters most in our great country. What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism is a must-read for everyone engaged in the urgent national conversation right now.

Dan Rather is one of the world’s best-known journalists. He’s interviewed every president since Eisenhower over his six-decade career, and covered almost every important dateline in the United States and around the world. His work has earned him Emmy and Peabody Awards. At a moment of crisis over our national identity, Dan Rather has been reflecting—and writing passionately almost every day on social media—about the world we live in, what our core ideals have been and should be, and what it means to be an American. Now, in a collection of original essays, the venerated television journalist celebrates our shared values and reminds us about what matters most in our great country.

Tim Ferris is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of four #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, and Tools of Titans. His influential podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, has exceeded 200 million downloads and been selected for “Best of iTunes” three years running. His latest book is Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World.