Keep thinking weird, keep it curious.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in Austin, USA — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: September 20, 2026
Elijah Delgado · University of Texas at Austin · September 21, 2026
Songs in the Skyspace is a monthly music series hosted inside James Turrell’s Skyspace, The Color Inside. The program represents a diverse mix of voices and instruments and offers …
Sarah Lewis · Blanton Museum of Art · September 22, 2026
Harvard art historian Sarah Lewis explores contemporary art's responses to climate change and the challenges of curating urgent ecological narratives. The talk highlights recent wo…
Cornel West · University of Texas at Austin · September 22, 2026
Philosophical reflections on democracy, justice, and the role of moral imagination in public life. The lecture will include a moderated Q&A with UT faculty.
Rebecca Solnit · Blanton Museum of Art · September 22, 2026
Author and essayist Rebecca Solnit discusses the intersections of environmental justice, grassroots organizing, and everyday practices of hope. She will take audience questions aft…
Roxane Gay · BookPeople · September 22, 2026
Roxane Gay reads from her forthcoming book and joins a moderated conversation about identity, literature, and cultural criticism. The event includes a short audience Q&A and an opp…
Ibram X. Kendi · UT Austin - Hogg Auditorium · September 22, 2026
Historian and scholar Ibram X. Kendi discusses the intersection of antiracism research and practical policy reforms for education and housing. The lecture is presented as part of a…
Atul Gawande · Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin · September 22, 2026
Surgeon and author Atul Gawande explores end-of-life care, public health systems, and how storytelling shapes medical ethics. The Ransom Center hosts the free lecture with a modera…
Theaster Gates · Blanton Museum of Art · September 22, 2026
Artist and urbanist Theaster Gates presents a curator talk about art, community practice, and the role of cultural institutions in city life. The presentation includes visuals from…
Sandra Cisneros · BookPeople · September 22, 2026
Beloved Texan author Sandra Cisneros reads from new essays and reflects on place, identity, and the craft of storytelling. The reading will be followed by a conversation with a loc…
Rebecca Solnit · BookPeople · September 22, 2026
Essayist Rebecca Solnit reads from her latest work and discusses activism, environmental care, and the power of storytelling. There will be a moderated Q&A and book signing followi…
Ta-Nehisi Coates · BookPeople · September 22, 2026
Ta-Nehisi Coates reads from his forthcoming book and discusses race, memory, and American history. The event includes a moderated Q&A and book signing afterward.
Atul Gawande · University of Texas at Austin (Hobby Center for Public Policy) · September 22, 2026
Surgeon and public health scholar Atul Gawande presents a talk on the intersection of medicine, policy, and narrative in improving health systems. The lecture is followed by a camp…
Bruce Schneier · Austin Central Library - Austin Public Library Program Room · September 22, 2026
Security technologist Bruce Schneier outlines the practical stakes of digital privacy for citizens, journalists, and local governments. The program includes policy recommendations …
Mary Roach · Austin Central Library · September 22, 2026
Science writer Mary Roach gives a lively talk about the research and curiosity that drive popular science books. She mixes rigorous explanation with anecdotes from reporting on str…
Atul Gawande · Long Center for the Performing Arts · September 22, 2026
Surgeon and author Atul Gawande explores end-of-life care, medical decision-making, and how communities can better support aging loved ones. The lecture pairs a short presentation …
Rebecca Solnit · Blanton Museum of Art · September 22, 2026
Essayist Rebecca Solnit speaks about the intersections of art, history, and activism in her new work and how museums can act as civic forums. The talk pairs with a guided tour of a…
Atul Gawande · UT Austin (Dell Medical School Auditorium) · September 22, 2026
Surgeon, public-health researcher, and author Atul Gawande discusses policy lessons from recent public-health crises and the future of healthcare delivery. A panel of UT faculty wi…
Ezra Klein · Moody College of Communication, UT Austin · September 22, 2026
Writer and podcaster Ezra Klein discusses solutions journalism and the role of long-form reporting in civic discourse. The event features questions from students and the public.
Colson Whitehead · BookPeople · September 22, 2026
Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead reads from his newest work and joins the audience for a moderated conversation about storytelling, race, and American history. The p…
Elizabeth Kolbert · Blanton Museum of Art · September 22, 2026
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Elizabeth Kolbert examines how journalism and literature shape public understanding of climate change. She will present recent reporting and parti…