Speakers

HowTheLightGetsIn brings together voices from across philosophy, science, politics, and the arts to explore the questions that define our times. With thought-provoking conversations and fresh perspectives, the festival invites new ways of understanding the world around us.

The speaker lineup for HowTheLightGetsIn London 2025 is taking shape - explore our speakers below. 

Book Tickets

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John Gray

Liberalism's greatest critic
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Sabine Hossenfelder

World-leading science communicator
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Alain de Botton

Founder of The School of Life
Cathy Newman HowTheLightGetsIn Hay Festival 2025
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Cathy Newman

Renowned political journalist
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Max Tegmark

Consciousness Decoder (zoom)
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Alastair Campbell

Leading Political Commentator
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Roger Penrose

2020 Nobel Laureate in Physics
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Ash Sarkar

Firebrand political commentator
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Mary Trump

The Niece Defying Trump
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Martha Fiennes

Award-Winning Filmmaker
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Maurice Glasman

The political theorist behind Blue Labour
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Diane Abbott

Mother of the House of Commons
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Terry Eagleton

Legendary literary theorist
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John Mearsheimer

America's most influential realist (zoom)
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Yascha Mounk

Champion of Liberalism
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Joanna Moncrieff

Psychiatrist and Author of Chemically Imbalanced
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Curtis Yarvin

The Philosopher Behind J.D. Vance
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Alex O'Connor

Host of Within Reason Podcast
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Anna Lembke

Leading psychiatrist and author (zoom)
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Susan Schneider

AI Philosopher and Ex-NASA Chair
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Sabrina Pasterski

Trailblazing theoretical physicist
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Sohrab Ahmari

Post-Liberal Polemicist
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Neil Kinnock

Former Labour Party Leader
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Ann Widdecombe

Reform spokesperson and TV personality
Michael Burke HowTheLightGetsIn Hay Festival 2025
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Michael Buerk

Leading British broadcast journalist
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Tommy J. Curry

Critic of the Liberal Orthodoxy
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Hilary Lawson

Post-postmodern philosopher
Sheila Jasanoff HowTheLightGetsIn Hay Festival 2025
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Sheila Jasanoff

Harvard scholar redefining science
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Zoltan Istvan

Pioneer of Transhumanist Thought
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James Ladyman

Reality’s Rule Defier
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Kenneth Roth

Former Director of Human Rights Watch
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Annunziata Rees-Mogg

Journalist and former MEP
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Aaron Bastani

Fully automated luxury communist
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Karl Friston

Pioneer of the Predictive Brain
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Priya Natarajan

Pioneering Astrophysicist
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Denis Noble

Leading Critic of Genetic Determinism
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Farha Khalidi

TikTok Feminist Firebrand
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Seyla Benhabib

Theorist of Democracy and Migration
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Rachel MacLean

Opposition Leader’s Strategy Chief
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Babette Babich

Nietzsche Expert
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Hélène Landemore

Architect of Empowered Democracy
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Anders Sandberg

The Philosopher of the Post-Human Era
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Timothy Garton Ash

Acclaimed historian of Europe
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Johnny Mercer

Outspoken defender of veterans
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James Bacchus

Former United States Representative
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Catherine Hakim

Pioneer of "erotic capital" theory
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Nathalie Tocci

Architect of European Diplomacy
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Carl Benedikt Frey

Economist decoding the AI economy
Bhaskar Sunkara HowTheLightGetsIn london 2025
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Bhaskar Sunkara

Founder of Jacobin and President of The Nation
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Dan Sperber

Anthropologist Redefining Reason
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Sarah Wilson

Bestselling author and social philosopher
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Tim Maudlin

Guggenheim Philosopher of Physics
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Paul Dolan

World-Renowned Happiness Researcher
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Carissa Véliz

Defender of Digital Freedom
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Stuart Kauffman

Rebel Evolutionary Biologist
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Ivette Fuentes

Pioneering Quantum Physicist
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Mark Littlewood

Strategist for Popular Conservatism
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Christoph Schuringa

The philosopher bringing Hegel to life
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Nigel Warburton

Voice and co-founder of Philosophy Bites
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Anne McElvoy

Executive Editor and Head of Podcasting at POLITICO
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Sven Beckert

Leading historian of capitalism
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Julian Baggini

Champion of Reason and Humanism
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Avantika Chilkoti

Host of The Modi Raj Podcast
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Giles Fraser

Priest challenging philosophy's assumptions
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Timothy Williamson

Philosopher of Knowledge and Logic
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Güneş Taylor

Award-winning geneticist
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David Pearce

Philosopher Declaring War on Pain
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Carmody Grey

philosopher and theologian
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Àlex Gómez-Marín

Radical neuroscientist
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Genia Schönbaumsfeld

Wittgenstein Philosopher
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Nick Fletcher

Former Tory MP
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Andy Owen

Writer and former Intelligence Officer
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Elizabeth Oldfield

Broadcaster and former Director of Theos
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Philip Ball

Sceptic of Scientific Objectivity
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Ingrid Harvold Kvangraven

Economist challenging development orthodoxy
Naomi Goulder HowTheLightGetsIn Hay Festival 2025
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Naomi Goulder

Philosopher of Human Action
I don't know who they are.

Nick Enfield

Expert on How Language Shapes Reality
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Larissa Suzuki

Google & NASA AI Pioneer
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Miriam Schoenfield

leading epistemologist
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Phil Halper

Cosmologist and Big Bang critic
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Kai Heron

Theorist reclaiming abundance from capitalism
Minna Salami HowTheLightGetsIn london 2025
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Minna Salami

Open Society Foundation Fellow
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MV Ramana

The physicist exposing the politics of nuclear power
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Ben Chu

Senior BBC Newsnight Journalist
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Janne Teller

Writer of novels, essays, and short stories
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Molly Scott Cato

The strategist pioneering ecological economics
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Erik Swyngedouw

Professor of geography
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Tim Gregory

Staunch defender of nuclear power
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Barry Smith

British philosopher
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Kiran Sidhu

Philosopher of the Countryside
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Joanna Kavenna

Award-winning novelist
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Luis Bettencourt

Engineer of Urban Change
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Phillip Blond

Champion of post-liberalism
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Roger Hearing

Veteran Journalist and Presenter
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Isabel Hilton

Leading Expert on China
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Danielle Sands

Continental Philosophy Specialist
Adam Softmax HowTheLightGetsIn london 2025
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Adam Goldstein

CEO of Softmax
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Mary Ann Sieghart

Pioneer of the 'Authority Gap'
Josh Cohen HowTheLightGetsIn Hay Festival 2025
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Josh Cohen

The Psyche’s Storyteller
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Adrienne Buller

Leading critic of green capitalism
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Jack Symes

BBC New Generation Thinker
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Jay Shapiro

Award-winning filmmaker
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Claudia Canavan

Head of Features at New Scientist
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Isabel Woodford

Leading financial host and journalist

Book Tickets