2024 Schedule
Monday, June 24th
What’s Missing in the Lives of America’s Young People?
Three leaders discuss the aspects of well-being, agency and purpose that are vital to the holistic development of youth in today’s world. How can society help them develop into confident, purposeful, productive and resilient adults?
The Dilemma of Modern Parenting
How do we raise empathetic children? How do we tackle tough conversations? And how do we build resilient humans while we balance family and work life? Meet three changemakers who are drilling down on what matters the most for our kids.
Why Youth Sports are Game-Changing
What if there were a pill that could help people move, think and sleep better, and that reduced anxiety, depression and 13 types of cancer — with the side effect of making more friends and more money? That’s what youth sports does. Learn about a national effort to get 63% of kids playing by 2030 — unlocking a projected $80 billion in societal benefits.
The Dignity Index
What is dignity? How is it expressed, and how can we reclaim it? By using new tools for empathy, we can change the way we relate to each other. Participants in this interactive session leave with new ways of recognizing and avoiding discord.
Tuesday, June 25th
The Question of Happiness
From the ancients to our forefathers to our modern-day achievement-obsessed culture, the question of what makes us happy continues to perplex. Why are we eternally fascinated by the pursuit of happiness, and will we ever agree about what makes us truly happy?
Creating a World With People on the Spectrum
Neurodivergent people make up 15% to 20% of the global population, and visionaries are busy trying to foster welcoming environments in areas like adaptive sports, fashion design and the arts. How do we create a world for — and with — people on the spectrum?
Wednesday, June 26th
The Tipping Point: How Women's NCAA Basketball Captured the Nation's Attention
NCAA women’s basketball shattered viewership records in 2024. Two of the game’s most influential coaches talk about the years of struggle it took to get that win. With new financial obligations for programs and players, can teams stay on offense?
Are We Failing Our Boys and Men?
Too many men are falling behind women academically and economically, and feeling unmoored. Millions are turning to online influencers rather than finding fulfillment in a purposeful life. How do we curb the rise in male loneliness and create gender norms that allow them to thrive?
Thursday, June 27th
The Crisis in Trust
In a time of widespread suspicion and cynicism, everyone has a role to play in strengthening social trust and building bridges. How can individuals and organizations work together to repair the fundamental bonds of a healthy society, and create optimism about the present and the future?
The Gender Question
The U.S. is queerer than ever — and surveys confirm that 20th-century heterosexual “normalcy” is on the wane. Why is gender the diversity dimension that has changed the most over time, and what can we learn from it?
Hope in Troubling Times
Spiritual leaders and lifelong seekers reflect on how to cope and find optimism in dark times.
Aspen Challenge 2024 Grand Prize Winners Showcase
From climate change and mental health to hate crimes and chronic school absenteeism, no challenge is too big for young people’s community-changing solutions. Hear from teams of high school students from Brooklyn and San Diego, and leave knowing that the future is in good hands.
Friday, June 28th
The Case for College
In “Mindset Matters,” Daniel R. Porterfield advances the argument for the value of undergraduate education and suggests ways to improve education for new generations. Three college graduates join to talk about how the experience helped them launch the lives they’re living.
Teens and Screens: The Unabating Scourge of Social Media
America’s teenagers are facing a mental health crisis; 1 in 3 teen girls say they’ve considered suicide in the past year. Many young people, parents and mental health professionals point to social media as a main culprit. What does science say, and what action is being taken on the legal and regulatory front? And how can you protect your kid’s emotional well-being?
Choosing Our Families
Marriage rates have been decreasing for decades, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t finding new ways to create family ties that bind. Family bonds in the LGBTQ community and among platonic friends offer social and economic benefits — and drawbacks — and just might change our collective future.
Forgiveness in Times of Turmoil
As the stakes of political confrontation have escalated, the issue of forgiveness is complicated. Should one ever hold the line rather than look for avenues of reconciliation, or is forgiveness essential to society? Samuel Kimbriel chats with Tamar Gendler and Erin McFee for a live recording of the podcast, “Wisdom of Crowds.”
Saturday, June 29th
Supercommunicators: The Science of Conversation and Connection
Why do some conversations succeed while others stumble? The neurology and psychology of communication offer surprising explanations for why human connection goes right or wrong. Join in a live experiment — and explore how the right conversation, at the right moment, can change everything.
In Defense of Misfits: The Transcendence of an Unconventional Life
A nonbinary comedian challenges us to question our notions of self, gender and society, and opens our eyes to what we may gain in the process.