2024 Sessions

Since the Hamas attacks of October 7 and the outbreak of the war in Gaza, CNN’s Tug of War has taken listeners to the heart of the conflict, as reporters bring us the latest and talk to the people living through it. Host David Rind will talk to international correspondent Nada Bashir about the challenges of reporting on the humanitarian crisis, and how this conflict has changed the Middle East.

It’s time for a break! Grab a bite from one of our food trucks out front, play games, meet our partners, and meet your fellow festivalgoers at one of the meetups! 

Mix and mingle with other attendees interested in issues and ideas centered on public health and wellness. Join our host organizations to learn more about their work, ask questions, propose ideas and meet fellow attendees who share you passions and curiosity!

Hosted by NAMI Washington

Mix and mingle with other attendees interested in issues and ideas centered on transformational technology, artificial intelligence and more! Join our host organizations to learn more about their work, ask questions, propose ideas and meet fellow attendees who share your passion and curiosity!

Hosted by Seattle AI Society and Pacific Science Center

A celebration of the 25-year best friendship between New York Times bestselling author Lindy West and recovering lawyer and democracy expert Meagan Hatcher-Mays. The pair dissects pop culture, politics, snakes, the paranormal and anything else that crosses their minds. They’ll be joined for a raucous roast of the Supreme Court by Los Angeles-based comedian, movie star and icon Guy Branum. 

There’s a striking disconnect between how Americans feel about the economy and the direction the economy is going. How will those feelings shape the 2024 election and how much does the economy really matter in the Biden vs. Trump rematch? Join Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson, co-hosts of podcast The Journal, as they sit down with The Wall Street Journal’s senior political correspondent Molly Ball for a live taping of the show.

The Journal is a daily podcast about money, business and power from The Wall Street Journal and Spotify.

Our emergency rooms have transformed into epicenters of care for the overlapping crises of homelessness, substance-use disorder and mental health conditions. Washington State Hospitals Association’s Darcy Jaffe and Challenge Seattle’s Stephanie Formas will discuss potential solutions to the issue to better support patients and hospitals.

Sponsored session from Washington State Hospitals Association

Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell’s journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past — an event, a person, an idea, even a song — and asks whether we got it right the first time. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance. This live edition is the culmination of a six-part series from Revisionist History about everything Americans get wrong about guns with a conversation between host Gladwell with gun control activist David Hogg and trauma surgeon Babak Sarani.

True crime is more popular than ever — but audiences are also reckoning with the ethics of the genre. Patrick Radden Keefe, author of books like Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Family and Say Nothing: A True Story of Memory and Murder in Northern Ireland, has made a career of telling nuanced stories about unconscionable acts and the people who commit them. In this live taping of The New Yorker’s podcast Critics at Large, hosts Alexandra Schwartz, Naomi Fry and Vinson Cunningham talk to Keefe about his work, the state of the genre and writing about terrible things.

Left, Right & Center is KCRW’s weekly politics show that takes on the tough, divisive issues you’re afraid to talk about with your own family. In this episode, Mo Elleithee, Sarah Isgur and David Greene will debate the impact of political satire from either side of the aisle.

Trust in American institutions has reached record lows, leaving Americans in search of shared values, community and ways to understand where they fit in. At the same time, identity markers have gained more prominence. Where do these changes leave us? Are we creating more opportunities to understand each other, or becoming more fractured?

Post Reports is the daily podcast from The Washington Post.

Hear Me Out is Slate’s destination for tough, topical discussions with integrity and without clichés. Host Celeste Headlee is joined by Heather Cox Richardson for a conversation about the state of our democracy and the upcoming presidential election.

The Atlantic has long been known as an ideas-driven magazine. Radio Atlantic brings that same ethos to audio. This year two events will collide: AI voice replicas accurate enough to fool your best friend will be easier than ever to use; and half the world’s population will undergo an election. Hanna Rosin, host of Radio Atlantic, and Charlie Warzel, an Atlantic staff writer covering technology, discuss AI's potential to harass, commit fraud and sow political discord. And the fun part: We’ll have some special AI guests to discuss it too. 

It’s time for a break! While a live DJ spins some tunes, you can enjoy a cocktail, wine or beer at the bar, grab a bite from one of our food trucks out front, play games, meet our partners, and meet your fellow festivalgoers at one of the meetups! 

Special thanks to Fremont Brewing, Blackrock Spirits, and Avennia for their support.

Mix and mingle with other attendees interested in issues and ideas centered on the environment, climate, conservation and more! Join our host organizations to learn more about their work, ask questions, propose ideas and meet fellow attendees who share your passion and curiosity!

Hosted by Sierra Club & Conservation NW

Mix and mingle with other attendees interested in issues and ideas centered on equity and social justice. Join our host organizations to learn more about their work, ask questions, propose ideas and meet fellow attendees who share your passions and curiosity!

Hosted by ACLU and United Way King County

Mix and mingle with other attendees interested in issues and ideas centered on politics, policy and more! Join our host organizations to learn more about their work, ask questions, propose ideas and meet fellow attendees who share your passion and curiosity!

Hosted by: Cascade PBS News Team and CityClub

Conversations about race — ones sparked by a crisis that move from shock to empty promises to forgetting — are unproductive. Conversations about race that shine a light on the facts can impact how race plays out in our politics and society. On A Word with Jason Johnson, the veteran political commentator brings incisive wit to thoughtful discussions with leaders, journalists and other change-makers about America’s challenges around race, and offers ideas on the way forward. He sits down with Ta-Nehisi Coates to have just this kind of conversation.