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MICHELLE OBAMA. COLSON WHITEHEAD. PETE SOUZA. NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON. TEMPLE GRANDIN. DAVID CHANG. JACQUELINE WOODSON. MALCOLM GLADWELL. BILL RUSSELL. TONI MORRISON. SAMANTHA POWER. ELIE WIESEL. KURT VONNEGUT. GEN . JOHN KELLY. FAREED ZAKARIA. DAVID MCCULLOUGH. GLORIA STEINEM. PATTI SMITH. ROXANE GAY. CHERYL STRAYED. NEIL GAIMAN. JULIA GILLARD. WES MOORE. JUSTICE STEPHEN BREYER. MARC MARON. ANTHONY BOURDAIN. AND OVER 400 MORE. What do all of these diverse personalities have in common?
They are among the more than 400 brilliant, funny, and provocative experts and celebrities giving their take on a range of topics, from politics to food, technology to social justice, global affairs to music, and more. Connecticut Forum events entertain audiences of 2,800 at The Bushnell Theater in downtown Hartford four times a year. All the events are live, unscripted, and completely unpredictable!
Celebrating
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EXHILARATING ASTONISHING INFORMATIVE CREATIVE HILARIOUS INTERESTING MEMORABLE INSPIRATIONAL UNFORGETTABLE SEASONS
2018–2019 Women Rising Roxane Gay, Sallie Krawcheck, Cecile Richards
MODERATOR: ALISON STEWART
Big Tech Jaron Lanier, Sherry Turkle, Nicholas Thompson MODERATOR: JOHN DANKOSKY
America and the World Julia Gillard, Samantha Power MODERATOR: EVAN OSNOS
2020–2021 A Conversation with Historians Jelani Cobb, Jill Lepore MODERATOR: JOHN DANKOSKY
Favorite Authors Lauren Groff, Colson Whitehead, Jacqueline Woodson
MODERATOR: ALISON STEWART
Happiness, Meaning & Fulfillment Suleika Jaouad, Esther Perel, Laurie Santos MODERATOR: SAM SANDERS
An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma
2019–2020 A Conversation with Seth Meyers
MODERATOR: SAM SANDERS
Climate Crisis Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Anthony Leiserowitz, Gina McCarthy MODERATOR: JOHN DANKOSKY
Debating Immigration Jose Antonio Vargas, Gen. John Kelly, Loretta Lynch MODERATOR: EVAN OSNOS
SPECIAL EVENT: An Evening with Spike Lee MODERATOR: ALISON STEWART
Photo Wonders Lynsey Addario, Brian Skerry, Pete Souza MODERATOR: LUCY NALPATHANCHIL
SPECIAL EVENT: An Evening with Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson
2017–2018 An Evening with Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer MODERATOR: NORAH O’DONNELL
Laughter, Anyone? Fred Armisen, Marc Maron, Tig Notaro
MODERATOR: COLIN MCENROE
The State of Journalism & The News David Fahrenthold, Hugh Hewitt, Joy Reid MODERATOR: JOHN DANKOSKY
Chefs & the Art of Food David Chang, Tom Colicchio, Gabrielle Hamilton MODERATOR: SAM SIFTON
SPECIAL EVENT: An Evening with Neil Gaiman MODERATOR: PAUL HOLDENGRÄBER
SPECIAL EVENT: A Conversation with Former First Lady Michelle Obama MODERATOR: THELMA GOLDEN
2016–2017 Religion in America 2016 Michael Gerson, Irshad Manji, Jon Meacham, Jennifer Michael Hecht MODERATOR: RAY SUAREZ
The Future of Higher Education Arne Duncan, Daphne Koller, Freeman Hrabowski MODERATOR: JOHN DANKOSKY
Disruption! Ezra Klein, Anjali Kumar, Danny Meyer
Explorers & Adventurers Diana Nyad, Cheryl Strayed, Paul Nicklen
MODERATOR: ALISON STEWART
A Conversation with David McCullough & Stacy Schiff
MODERATOR: JONATHAN CAPEHART
SPECIAL EVENT: Binge-Worthy Journalism: Backstage with the Creators of SERIAL Sarah Koenig, Julie Snyder
MODERATOR: JONATHAN CAPEHART
A Conversation with Alan Alda & Jason Reitman
MODERATOR: WESLEY MORRIS
SPECIAL EVENT: An Evening with Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson
2015–2016 The Next Big Thing Fareed Zakaria, Joi Ito
MODERATOR: VIRGINIA HEFFERNAN
Racism Wes Moore, Morris Dees, Jessica Williams, Antonio Villaraigosa MODERATOR: MICHELE NORRIS
The Science of Our Minds Susan Cain, Lisa Genova, Dacher Keltner
MODERATOR: JOHN DANKOSKY
Creative Artists Nile Rodgers, Elizabeth Gilbert, Bill T. Jones
MODERATOR: ALISON STEWART
2014–2015 Debating Our Broken Political System Charles Blow, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Karl Rove
MODERATOR: JOHN DANKOSKY
Today’s Great TV Vince Gilligan, Tim Gunn, Mitch Hurwitz
MODERATOR: COLIN MCENROE
2013–2014 Being Gay Martina Navratilova, Dan Savage, Bishop Gene Robinson
MODERATOR: JONATHAN CAPEHART
Big Thinkers Malcolm Gladwell, Douglas Brinkley MODERATOR: MICHEL MARTIN
An Honest Look at Mental Illness Andrew Solomon, Dr. Hank Schwartz, Kay Redfield Jamison MODERATOR: JOHN DANKOSKY
Nerd Fest Adam Savage, Aisha Tyler, Chuck Klosterman MODERATOR: JOHN MOE
2012–2013 The State of Women 2012 Gloria Steinem, Ashley Judd, Connie Schultz, Michelle Bernard MODERATOR: MICHEL MARTIN
Vision & Brilliance Neil deGrasse Tyson, Neil Gaiman, Neri Oxman MODERATOR: JOHN DANKOSKY
A Meaningful Life Anna Quindlen, Tim Shriver, Larry Brilliant
MODERATOR: SUSAN CAMPBELL
Funny Smart People Carrie Brownstein, John Hodgman, Baratunde Thurston MODERATOR: COLIN MCENROE
2011–2012 Global Affairs Tom Ridge, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Robin Wright MODERATOR: MICHEL MARTIN
Creative Minds Lyle Lovett, Dave Eggers, Miranda July, Jonah Lehrer
MODERATOR: RANDY COHEN
The World of Sports Rebecca Lobo, Tedy Bruschi, Colin Cowherd, William Rhoden
It’s Satire! Jason Alexander, Samantha Bee, David Javerbaum MODERATOR: RANDY COHEN
A World of Change Tina Brown, Bob Woodward
MODERATOR: CONNIE SCHULTZ
Forum Music Fest John Forté, John Legend, Patti Smith
MODERATOR: BILL FLANAGAN
MODERATOR: LINDA COHN
Our Fragile Earth Michael Pollan, Dan Esty, Majora Carter
2008–2009
SPECIAL EVENT: An Evening with President Bill Clinton
MODERATOR: MICHEL MARTIN
MODERATOR: JOHN DANKOSKY
The Presidency Elizabeth Edwards, Joseph Ellis, Matthew Dowd Storytellers & the Stories They Tell Tony Kushner, David Simon, Suzan-Lori Parks MODERATOR: BOB EDWARDS
2010–2011 The End of Civility? David Gergen, Christopher Buckley, Stephen Carter, Gina Barreca MODERATOR: CONNIE SCHULTZ
Our Great Education Challenge Davis Guggenheim, Joel Klein, Jon Schnur, Lily Eskelsen, Deborah Gist
God: Big Questions... Bigger Questions Harold Kushner, Christopher Hitchens, Peter Gomes
MODERATOR: CONNIE SCHULTZ
Food for Thought Anthony Bourdain, Duff Goldman, Alice Waters MODERATOR: COLIN MCENROE
MODERATOR: NORAH O’DONNELL
2007–2008
The Glorious, Mysterious Brain Temple Grandin, Steven Pinker, Paul Bloom
The Tech Revolution Craig Newmark, Jimmy Wales, danah boyd
MODERATOR: MARY HYNES
Forum Book Club John Irving, Jonathan Franzen, Azar Nafisi MODERATOR: COLIN MCENROE
2009–2010 Revolutionary Thinkers Will Allen, Juan Enriquez, Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Jessica Jackley
MODERATOR: ALISON STEWART
MODERATOR: JONATHAN ZITTRAIN
The Great Global Debate Richard Holbrooke, Richard Armitage, Reza Aslan, Sheryl WuDunn MODERATOR: NORAH O’DONNELL
The American Dream… Barbara Ehrenreich, Roland Fryer, Laura Ingraham MODERATOR: RAY SUAREZ
Talking Authors Amy Tan, Alexander McCall Smith, Daniel Handler aka Lemony Snicket MODERATOR: COLIN MCENROE
2006–2007 A Conversation Between Bill Moyers & Andrew Sullivan
MODERATOR: NORAH O’DONNELL
Leaders and Winners Randal Pinkett, Wendy Kopp, John Read, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld MODERATOR: ED GORDON
Yankees vs. Red Sox... Red Sox vs. Yankees Bucky Dent, Carlton Fisk, Mike Francesa, Bob Ryan
MODERATOR: LINDA COHN
The Culture War David Brooks, Ralph Reed, Frank Rich, Margaret Carlson
MODERATOR: JONATHAN ZITTRAIN
Saving the World Tim Robbins, Rory Kennedy, Nicholas Kristof, Clark Kent Ervin
2003–2004
A Funny Thing Happened... Bob Saget, Mo Rocca, Nancy Giles
ersonal Security vs. P Personal Liberties Fareed Zakaria, Richard Perle, Heather Mac Donald, Steve Shapiro
MODERATOR: CALVIN SIMS
MODERATOR: PETER SAGAL
2005–2006
MODERATOR: JONATHAN ZITTRAIN
Looking at Life Salman Rushdie, Julie Taymor, Louise Leakey, Story Musgrave MODERATOR: LEONARD LOPATE
MODERATOR: FRANK DEFORD
Behind the Scenes with The Simpsons Al Jean, Tim Long, Yeardley Smith, Harry Shearer
Talkin’ ‘bout My Generation Ben Bradlee, Sue Bird, Omar Wasow, Tina Brown
A Conversation Between Al Franken & Ann Coulter
Hope & Human Spirit Bo Jackson, Mia Farrow, Kyle Maynard, James Forbes, Jr.
MODERATOR: COLIN MCENROE
MODERATOR: ALISON STEWART
MODERATOR: STEVE ROBERTS
An Evening with Our Favorite Writers Joyce Carol Oates, Kurt Vonnegut, Jennifer Weiner
2002–2003
MODERATOR: COLIN MCENROE
A Conversation Between Thomas Friedman & Malcolm Gladwell
MODERATOR: RITA BRAVER
2004–2005
Anatomy of Power Erin Brockovich, Gary Wendt, Julian Bond, Kevin Phillips
MODERATOR: MICHEL MARTIN
Scientific Journey Oliver Sacks, E.O. Wilson, Sylvia Earle, Timothy Ferris
MODERATOR: ROBERT KRULWICH
Extreme Politics Howard Dean, Tony Blankley, Katty Kay, Walter Isaacson
A Nobel Evening Elie Wiesel, Jody Williams, Oscar Arias
The Future of Human Life... and Medical Science Lisa Sowle Cahill, Arthur Caplan, Francis Fukuyama, Atul Gawande, Gina Kolata
The Forum Food Fest Jacques Pépin, Ruth Reichl, Mario Batali, Jane & Michael Stern
MODERATOR: JUAN WILLIAMS
MODERATOR: MICHEL MARTIN
MODERATOR: JUAN WILLIAMS
MODERATOR: CALVIN TRILLIN
2001–2002 Being Black Spike Lee, Bill Russell, Anita Hill, Stanley Crouch
MODERATOR: CHARLES OGLETREE
The Power of Music Bob Weir, Beverly Sills, Trey Anastasio, Nicholas Payton
Explorers and Adventurers Robert Ballard, Susan Butcher, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Tom Whittaker MODERATOR: DIANA NYAD
A Conversation Between William Bennett & Robert Reich
MODERATOR: MARGARET WARNER
MODERATOR: BILL FLANAGAN
Our Nation Newt Gingrich, Andrew Cuomo, Jonathan Kozol, Peggy Noonan MODERATOR: GWEN IFILL
A Conversation with P.J. O’Rourke, Mort Sahl & Joe Queenan
MODERATOR: COLIN MCENROE
2000–2001 What’s So Funny? Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, D.L. Hughley
MODERATOR: WILL MILLER
A Historical Evening Doris Kearns Goodwin, David Halberstam, Manning Marable MODERATOR: BEN WATTENBERG
What is the American Family? John Rosemond, Geoffrey Canada, Sylvia Ann Hewlett, Eli Newberger MODERATOR: FORREST SAWYER
A Conversation Between Toni Morrison & Frank McCourt MODERATOR: JUAN WILLIAMS
1998–1999 Brave New World or Return of Frankenstein? David Kessler, Willard Gaylin, Marc Gellman, Bonnie Steinbock MODERATOR: PETER SALGO
The Wonders of Creativity Jane Alexander, Danny Glover, Howard Gardner, Gene Wilder
MODERATOR: KIM TAYLOR-THOMPSON
A World of Business Laura D’Andrea Tyson, Michael Moore, Rosabeth Moss Kanter MODERATOR: STUART VARNEY
I ntegrity and the Media Walter Cronkite, Mike McCurry, Ben Bradlee MODERATOR: RITA BRAVER
1997–1998 Mood and Mental Health in America Art Buchwald, Kay Redfield Jamison, George McGovern MODERATOR: DICK CAVETT
Growing Up with TV Edward Asner, Florence Henderson, Flip Wilson, Henry Winkler 1 9 9 9 – 2 0 0 0 Cruelty, Violence and Morality Alec Baldwin, Gerry Spence, William Pollack, Alan Keyes, Glenda Hatchett
MODERATOR: CHARLES OGLETREE
lobal Issues... Global Views G Senator George Mitchell, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Benazir Bhutto MODERATOR: RAY SUAREZ
MODERATOR: WILL MILLER
The Spirit in Our Lives – Search for Personal Meaning Joan Borysenko, Thomas Moore, Cornel West MODERATOR: BILL MOYERS
The Wisdom of Sages William F. Buckley, Jr., Gordon Parks, Gloria Steinem, Studs Terkel MODERATOR: PETE HAMILL
1 9 9 6 – 1 9 9 7 A Spoof on Presidential Politics Rob Bartlett, Bob Englehart, Al Franken, Jeff Greenfield
MODERATOR: RICHARD SUGARMAN
Cyberlife: Technology’s Impact on All We Do Mary Catherine Bateson, Jaron Lanier, Nicholas Negroponte MODERATOR: MICHAEL KINSLEY
Heroes Among Us Morris Dees, Henry Fernandez, William Magee, Cathrine Sneed, Rachel Wheeler-Rossow MODERATOR: CHARLIE ROSE
A Conversation about Leadership Katharine Graham, Norman Schwarzkopf MODERATOR: CHRIS WALLACE
1 9 9 5 – 1 9 9 6
About Death and Dying Derek Humphry, Dr. Sherwin Nuland, Margaret Farley
MODERATOR: STEPHEN CARTER
Sports Personalities: Heroes? Role Models? Ordinary People? Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Rick Pitino, Robin Roberts, Sterling Sharpe, Chris Webber MODERATOR: FRANK DEFORD
1993–1994 Is it News or Entertainment? Sam Donaldson, Mary Matalin, Bernard Kalb MODERATOR: PHIL DONAHUE
hildren and Education, C A Look into the Future Christopher Dodd, Joseph Califano, Wendy Kopp, Albert Shanker MODERATOR: LINDA ELLERBEE
90 Minutes with 60 Minutes Lesley Stahl, Morley Safer, Andy Rooney
Business Leaders – Looking into the 21st Century Ron Compton, Michael Bloomberg, John Naisbitt, Jimmy Rogers
Values and Ethics in Today’s America Joycelyn Elders, Arianna Huffington, Tony Snow, Nadine Strossen
American Women in Focus – Breaking New Ground Billie Jean King, Faye Wattleton, Sarah Brady, Ellen Goodman
A Conversation Between Jack Kemp & Mario Cuomo
1992–1993
MODERATOR: COLIN MCENROE
MODERATOR: FATHER TOM HARTMAN
MODERATOR: JUDY JARVIS
Changing Political Landscape… the Sequel James Carville, Molly Ivins, Oliver North, Ralph Reed MODERATOR: GWEN IFILL
1994–1995
MODERATOR: CHARLIE ROSE
MODERATOR: DEBORAH NORVILLE
The Changing Political Landscape Bob Beckel, Ron Brown, Pat Buchanan, Ann Lewis, William Proxmire, John Sununu MODERATOR: LESLEY STAHL
Straight Talk and Honest Answers about AIDS Arthur Ashe, Mary Fisher, Larry Kramer, Robert Gallo, Jeanne White MODERATOR: BOB ARNOT
Global Affairs – A Changing U.S. Role Zbigniew Brzezinski, Henry Kissinger MODERATOR: HODDING CARTER
Dr. Huxtable Comes to Hartford – A Night of Entertainment with Bill Cosby
The Legal System on Trial Bob Bennett, Ralph Nader, Dan Quayle, Edwin Meese, III, Lani Guinier
Focus on Race Relations Chuck D., William F. Buckley, Jr., Betty Shabazz, Edward James Olmos, Chief Daryl Gates
MODERATOR: ARTHUR MILLER
MODERATOR: CHARLES OGLETREE
W H AT I S T HE
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Founded in 1992, The Connecticut Forum is a one-of-a-kind 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving Connecticut and beyond with live, unscripted panel discussions among renowned experts and celebrities, and community outreach programs including The Connecticut YOUTH Forum. The YOUTH Forum provides unique opportunities for high school students to connect and engage with each other across geographic, economic, social, and racial divides. Our mission is to encourage the free and active exchange of ideas in forums that inform, challenge, entertain, inspire, and build bridges among all people and organizations in our community.
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