Speakers

HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024 welcomes philosophical revolutionaries, scientific trailblazers, political rebels and creative icons to navigate our era of uncertainty this September. From party leaders and Putin adversaries to Nobel Laureates and Turing Award winners explore the leading minds set to join us so far!

Check out the full lineup of speakers or keep exploring the Big Ideas coming to Hampstead Heath with our full programme...

Explore the programme

Sam Harris HoThelightGetsIn
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Sam Harris (via Zoom)

Neuroscientist and philosopher
Philippa Gregory HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024 Festival FINAL

Philippa Gregory

"Queen of British historical fiction"
Slavoj Zizek HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024

Slavoj Žižek

Maverick Philosopher
Carla Denyer HowTheLightgetsIn London 2024

Carla Denyer

Co-leader of the Green Party
Roger Penrose HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2024

Roger Penrose

Nobel prize-winning physicist
Sadiq Khan HowtheLightGetsin London 2024
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Sadiq Khan

Mayor of London
Yoshua Benjio HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024

Yoshua Bengio

Deep Learning Pioneer
Kathrine Birbalsingh HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024

Katharine Birbalsingh

Britain's Strictest Headmistress
Will hutton howTheLightGetsIn London 2024
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Will Hutton

Labour thought-leader
Myriam Francious HowTheLightGetsIn
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Myriam François

Activist and Documentary maker
Besselrec scaled
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Bessel van der Kolk

Boundary-pushing psychologist
John Loannidis.gfw
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John Ioannidis

Stanford medic
Nadhim Zahawi HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024

Nadhim Zahawi

Former chair of the Conservative Party
JOhn Bercow HowTheLightGetsIN Hay 2024 Festival

John Bercow

Former speaker of the house of commons
Ruby Wax Speaker

Ruby Wax

TV personality and campaigner
Rupert shelfrake HowTheLightGetsIn London
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Rupert Sheldrake

Radical scientist
Konstantin Kisin HowThelIghtGetsIn London 2024

Konstantin Kisin

Cultural Commentator
Bill Browder HowTheLightGesIn London 2024

Bill Browder

Putin adversary
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Sabine Hossenfelder

Youtube Science Star
Speaker Megha Rajagopalan V1
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Megha Rajagopalan

Pulitzer prize-winning journalist
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Lindsey Hilsum

International Editor, Channel 4 News
Guy Standing HowTheLightGetsIn Hay Festival 2024
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Guy Standing

Pioneering economist
Shini Somara 169
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Shini Somara

Award-winning broadcaster
Gary stEVENSON HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024 Festival 2

Gary Stevenson

Top trader turned activist
David Aaronovitch HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024

David Aaronovitch

Award-winning journalist
Tariq Ali HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2024

Tariq Ali

Leading political activist
Faiza Shaheen HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024
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Faiza Shaheen

Economist and activist
Hilary Lawson HowTheLightGetsIn Festival Hay 2024

Hilary Lawson

Post-postmodern philosopher
Malcom Rifkind HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024

Malcolm Rifkind

Former Foreign Secretary
Lisa Cameron

Lisa Cameron

Former MP
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Trevor Phillips

Outspoken political commentator
SImon Jenkins HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024
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Simon Jenkins

Former editor of the Times
SUnetra Gupta min
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Sunetra Gupta

Oxford epidemiologist
Sandra Laugier HowThelIghtGetsin Hay 2024
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Sandra Laugier

Anayltic philosophy critic
sam mcalister Howthelightgetsin hay 2024

Sam McAlister

BBC producer and 'Scoop' author
Mathew Goodwin
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Matthew Goodwin

Author of Values, Voice and Virtue
Susie Orbach HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024

Susie Orbach

Eminent psychotherapist
Aaron Bastani
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Aaron Bastani

Journalist and founder of Novara Media
Marcus du satory
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Marcus Du Sautoy

Mathematician and best-selling author
Dinesh Bhugra president e 008
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Dinesh Bughra

Former president of Royal College of Psychiatrists
Markus Gabriele
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Markus Gabriel

Founder of 'New Realism'
Peter Godfrey Smith
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Peter Godfrey-Smith

Philosopher and author of 'Other Minds'
Freya India HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2024

Freya India

Up and coming journalist
Matt Kennard howthelightgetsin london 2024

Matt Kennard

Celebrated investigative journalist
Clare Chambers OPTION 2.gfw
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Clare Chambers

Best-selling feminist philosopher
Jack Symes HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024
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Jack Symes

BBC New Generation Thinker
avi loeb HTLGI L24

Avi Loeb

Prominent astrophysicist
Jessica Fraizer HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024

Jessica Fraizer

Intellectual historian
Rose Cartwright HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024

Rose Cartwright

Mental health advocate
matt odowd2 copy
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Matt O'Dowd

Youtuber and astrophysicist
Marie elsa bragg2 copy
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Marie-Elsa Roche Bragg

Writer and therapist
Sarah Hill HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024

Sarah Hill

Renowned psychologist
Roger hearing HowTheLightGetsIn Hay Festival 2024
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Roger Hearing

BBC Bussiness Presenter
Julia Hobsbawm HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024

Julia Hobsbawm

Award-winning writer
abby innes
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Abby Innes

Boundary-pushing economist
Graham PRiest HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024
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Graham Priest

Leading logician
Ankhi Mukherjee.gfw
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Ankhi Mukherjee

Postcolonial theorist
Babette Babich HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024
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Babette Babich

Nietzsche expert
Timothy Morton HowTheLightGetsIn London 2024
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Timothy Morton

Prophet of the Anthropocene
Guy Shrubsole
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Guy Shrubsole

Sunday Times best-selling author
Finn Mackay copy
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Finn Mackay

Feminist campaigner
NikiProfilePic
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Niki Seth-Smith

Editor of the New Humanist
Sarah Wilson HowTheLightGetsIN
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Sarah Wilson

Presenter and social philosopher
Isabel Hilton HowTheLightGetsIn Hay Festival 2024
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Isabel Hilton

China expert