High altitude, higher thinking.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in Denver, USA — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: September 16, 2026
Elizabeth Kolbert · Denver Public Library - Central Library · September 17, 2026
Elizabeth Kolbert discusses the current state of climate science and public policy. She will read from recent reporting and join a community Q&A on local and global responses to wa…
Malcolm Gladwell · Tattered Cover Bookstore - Colfax Avenue · September 17, 2026
Renowned essayist and New Yorker staff writer Malcolm Gladwell discusses patterns of decision-making and how small changes create outsized effects. The evening includes a reading, …
Roxane Gay · Tattered Cover Book Store - Colfax Ave · September 17, 2026
Author and cultural critic Roxane Gay reads from her recent essays and discusses themes of identity, power, and cultural criticism. The evening will include a moderated conversatio…
Elizabeth Kolbert · Denver Art Museum · September 18, 2026
Pulitzer Prize–winning author Elizabeth Kolbert discusses recent findings on biodiversity loss and the political challenges of large-scale environmental action. She will frame scie…
Michael Pollan · Denver Botanic Gardens (York Street) · September 18, 2026
Michael Pollan discusses his investigations into consciousness, psychedelics, and the cultural history of plant medicines. He will tie botanical perspectives to broader questions a…
Jared Diamond · Denver Museum of Nature & Science - Gates Auditorium · September 18, 2026
Geographer and author Jared Diamond discusses environmental history and the lessons civilizations hold for contemporary climate challenges. A multimedia presentation precedes audie…
Siddhartha Mukherjee · Denver Museum of Nature & Science · September 18, 2026
Physician and author Siddhartha Mukherjee examines the history of genetics, modern therapeutics, and the moral questions that accompany scientific progress. The lecture will includ…
Atul Gawande · Denver Museum of Nature & Science · September 18, 2026
Surgeon and writer Atul Gawande explores the intersection of medicine, aging, and end-of-life care in a public lecture drawing on his bestselling work. He will discuss practical ch…
Margaret Atwood · Denver Art Museum - Hamilton Building · September 18, 2026
Renowned novelist Margaret Atwood discusses the role of speculative fiction in diagnosing social and environmental anxieties. She will read excerpts from her recent work and discus…
Naomi Klein · History Colorado Center · September 18, 2026
Author and activist Naomi Klein addresses the intersections of climate crisis, corporate power, and social movements, offering a critique of current policy approaches. The event wi…
Neil deGrasse Tyson · Ellie Caulkins Opera House · September 18, 2026
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson brings his trademark wit and clarity to big questions about the cosmos and humanity's place in it. The evening includes multimedia illustrations …
Roxane Gay · Tattered Cover Book Store (Colfax Ave) · September 18, 2026
Roxane Gay reads from her forthcoming book and discusses the craft of essays and memoir in contemporary culture. A moderated Q&A and signing will follow.
Rebecca Solnit · Denver Art Museum - Frederic C. Hamilton Building · September 18, 2026
Author and essayist Rebecca Solnit shares new writing on resilience, social movements, and the cultural narratives that shape public action. The lecture will weave personal memoir …
Bill McKibben · History Colorado Center · September 18, 2026
Environmentalist Bill McKibben will survey the state of the climate movement and strategies for building durable political change. The talk will include examples of local and natio…
Ta-Nehisi Coates · Tattered Cover Book Store (Colfax) · September 18, 2026
Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses his latest work on history, memory, and race in America, reading excerpts and reflecting on the craft of narrative nonfiction. The event will conclude wi…
David Wallace-Wells · History Colorado Center · September 18, 2026
Journalist David Wallace-Wells discusses the challenges and responsibilities of climate reporting in an era of accelerating change. He will consider solutions-minded journalism and…
Walter Isaacson · Denver Center for the Performing Arts — Buell Theatre · September 18, 2026
Historian and biographer Walter Isaacson discusses storytelling's role in documenting scientific and technological innovation. He will read excerpts from his latest biography and a…
Jane Goodall · Denver Museum of Nature & Science · September 18, 2026
Dr. Jane Goodall reflects on decades of primate research and the growing movement for wildlife conservation worldwide. Her presentation pairs personal stories with practical steps …
Ta-Nehisi Coates · Denver Botanic Gardens - Packard Hall · September 18, 2026
Ta-Nehisi Coates offers reflections on history, reparations, and the role of memory in public life. The outdoor lecture will include a conversation and audience Q&A.
Michael Pollan · Tattered Cover Book Store — Colfax · September 18, 2026
Author Michael Pollan will talk about the cultural, ecological, and health implications of modern food systems and sustainable eating. The event features a book signing after the t…