The internationally renowned, award-winning author Salman Rushdie discusses his newest novel, The Eleventh Hour, a spellbinding exploration of life, death, and what comes into focus during our “final act.” The quintet of stories span the three countries in which he has made his work — India, England, and America — features an unforgettable cast of […]

Raised by ruggedly independent, scientifically minded parents – entomologist father, dietician mother – Atwood spent most of each year in the wild forest of northern Quebec. This childhood was unfettered and nomadic, sometimes isolated (on her eighth birthday: ‘It sounds forlorn. It was forlorn. It gets more forlorn.’), but also thrilling and beautiful. From this […]

At a time when many Americans believe the U.S. Constitution to be under threat — but disagree about the nature of that threat — bestselling author and Harvard professor Jill Lepore joins NPR host and civics enthusiast Peter Sagal to ask: Can this Constitution be saved? In We the People, her new history of the […]

Join us for an evening of conversation and tomfoolery with the one and only Nick Offerman. Offerman makes his return to Chicago to discuss his newest work, Little Woodchucks, an illustrated woodworking guide with projects for the whole family. Combining Nick’s signature wry humor with joyfully illustrated project instructions, Little Woodchucks introduces young woodworkers-to-be to […]

Helping to establish the field of pop economics, the bestselling book Freakonomics sparked both public interest and academic debate. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the original publication, author […]

Moon landings and space walks once captivated the public’s attention. But, in recent decades, the U.S. space enterprise has waned. Now, that’s finally about to change. The award-winning Washington Post writer Christian Davenport chronicles the mad scramble to shape humanity’s off-planet future. He takes us behind the scenes at NASA and the Pentagon as China’s […]

Nate Silver, founder of the popular data-driven news and analysis website FiveThirtyEight, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Richard H. Thaler come together for a wide-ranging conversation. In his most recent publication, On the Edge, Silver explores how we live in a new age of decision making — from poker players and hedge fund managers to crypto […]

Step into the world of Cheech Marin — legendary actor, comedian, and cultural icon — as he shares his deep passion for Chicano art and his mission to elevate a historically under-recognized movement. From his groundbreaking work with the cult comedy duo Cheech & Chong to becoming one of the most prominent collectors of Chicano […]

World-renowned photographer, director, and urban lifestyle entrepreneur Estevan Oriol has built a career capturing both the gritty and the glamorous sides of Los Angeles. From intimate portraits of the rich and famous to powerful images of Latino, urban, gang, and tattoo cultures, Oriol’s lens offers an unflinching and deeply human look at life in L.A. […]

David “Teen Angel” Holland (now deceased) was the creator and publisher of the groundbreaking Teen Angel’s Magazine, which began in 1980. While the iconic Lowrider Magazine, founded in 1977, predates Teen Angel's Magazine by about three years, Teen Angel's carved its own influential niche by focusing more deeply on Chicano art, tattoo culture, and grassroots […]

Born and raised in Chicago, chef Jesse Valenciana is a leading food journalist focused on Mexican cuisine, owner of the popular Nashville restaurant and food brand, The Secret Bodega, and author of the new cookbook Birrias: 65 Recipes from Traditional to Modern. Join us in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the National Museum of […]

What if we could redefine leadership? What if kindness came first? The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern was elected the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand at the age of thirty-seven, becoming the country’s youngest Prime Minister in more than 150 years. Ardern exemplifies a new kind of leadership — proving that leaders can be […]

Leslie Odom Jr. burst onto the scene in 2015, originating the role of Aaron Burr in the Broadway musical phenomenon Hamilton. Since then, he has performed for sold-out audiences, sang for the Obamas at the White House, and won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. But before Hamilton, Odom put in […]

Alison Bechdel is known for her pioneering comic strips Dykes to Watch Out For and the modern classics Fun Home (as well as the Tony-Award winning musical adaptation), Are You My Mother?, and The Secret to Superhuman Strength. But her acclaim doesn’t stop there — her last name is synonymous with the “Bechdel Test,” a […]

Acclaimed author Ron Chernow, of Hamilton fame, is one of the most renowned voices in history and politics. Recipient of the 2015 National Humanities Medal, Chernow has dedicated his life to telling the stories of some of the most notable figures in history. Join us as Chernow discusses his newest work, Mark Twain, a nuanced […]