Speakers

HowTheLightGetsIn gathers together global thought leaders to find new ways of understanding the world. From pioneering philosophers to comedic legends explore the London 2023 speaker line up below.

Join us in Hay-on-Wye next spring for another world-class lineup.

 Explore Hay 2024

 

Interrogating modern physics' theory of time in The Trouble With Time Debate.

Defending his objective theory of ethics in the Debate A Rule To Live By.

Exploring humour and mental health in her Solo Talk Searching For Sanity In A Chaotic World.

Alastair Campbell

Alastair Campbell

Leading Political Commentator
Carol Gilligan London 23.dc

Carol Gilligan

World-leading feminist philosopher
david baddiel169

David Baddiel

Legendary comedic voice
Sabine Hossenfelder London 23.dc

Sabine Hossenfelder

YouTube science superstar
Martin Wolf
New

Martin Wolf

Chief Financial Times Economist
Rory Stewart London 23.dc

Rory Stewart

Award winning broadcaster
jonathan sumption169

Jonathan Sumption

Fearless lockdown critic
Liv Boeree London 23.dc

Liv Boeree

Legendary poker champion
Angela Eagle
New

Angela Eagle

Labour party veteran
Thangam Debbonaire Hay 23 v2
New

Thangham Debbonaire

Shadow leader of the commons
23 06 08.kathleen stokc.ata

Kathleen Stock

Bold and daring philosopher
Bill browder
New

Bill Browder

Key adversary to Putin
doon mackichan
New

Doon Mackichan

Award-winning actress
Richard Wolff London 23.dc

Richard Wolff

Radical voice of the left
Alan Rusbridger
New

Alan Rusbridger

TimMaudlin169

Tim Maudlin

World-leading philosopher of physics
susan neiman new

Susan Neiman

Celebrated theorist and commentator
Myriam Francos Hay 23

Myriam Francois

Journalist and Filmmaker
Nadim Zahawi London 23.dc

Nadhim Zahawi

Former Head Of The Conservative Party
Sunetra Gupta Final
New

Sunetra Gupta

Key lockdown sceptic
inna scaled 1
New

Inna Sovsun

Member of Ukraine's National Parliament
Philip Collins
New

Phil Collins

Blair's speech writer
bastani 169

Aaron Bastani

Fully automated luxury communist
philip goff169

Philip Goff

Radical consciousness expert
michael shermer 3 3
New

Michael Shermer

Leading Sceptic
Jon Vervake Final
New

John Vervaeke

Psychologist for the meaning crisis
23 06 08.sophie grace chappell.ata

Sophie-Grace Chappell

Pioneering philosopher
Matt Kelly
New

Matt Kelly

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The New European
Matthew Goodwin London 23

Matthew Goodwin

Fearless author and academic
Mary Ann Sieghart
New

Mary Ann Seighart

Distinguished journalist
Hilary Lawson Hay 23

Hilary Lawson

Radical post-postmodern philosopher
Priya Natarajan London 23.dc

Priya Natarajan

Award-winning physicist
furedi169

Frank Furedi

Perceptive and prophetic sociologist
ghodsee head shot169

Kristen Ghodsee

Utopian feminist thinker
jo maugham hq final e1634569024892
New

Jolyon Maugham

Founder of the Good Law Project
Peter Tatchell Hay 23
New

Peter Tatchell

Human Rights campaigner
daniel169
New

Daniel Markovits

Radical legal scholar
Sophie Scott Brown Hay 23
New

Sophie Scott-Brown

Inspiring intellectual historian
Shini Somara
New

Shini Somara

Distinguished science broadcaster
Barry Smith Hay 23
New

Barry C. Smith

Philosopher of the senses
Professor Sir Simon Wessely
New

Simon Wessely

Leading British Psychiatrist
Simon Blackburn London 23

Simon Blackburn

Meta-ethics expert
dolan 169

Paul Dolan

Revolutionary Behavioural Scientist
KM
New

Kimberly Mcintosh

Groundbreaking postcolonial thinker
gavin salam169
New

Gavin Salam

Celebrated physicist
higgins169
New

Kathleen Higgins

Celebrated continental philosopher
eleanor knox169
New

Eleanor Knox

Philosopher of science
headshot anders sandberg169

Anders Sandberg

Oxford Futurist
web Joanna Kavenna
New

Joanna Kavenna

Acclaimed novelist
Gunes Taylor Hay 23 v2
New

Güneş Taylor

Award winning geneticist
Zoe Strimple Final
New

Zoe Strimpel

Gender and relationships expert
maya openheim
New

Maya Oppenheim

Feminist journalist and activist
tomcopley2
New

Tom Copely

Sadiq Kahn's right hand man
richard swinburne
New

Richard Swinburne

Distinguished philosopher of religion
liam haligan
New

Liam Halligan

Firebrand economist and broadcaster
david gems
New

David Gems

Professor of ageing
kate adamala
New

Kate Adamala

Pioneering Biologist
Della
New

Michael Della Rocca

Radical early modern thinker
Eoers Szathmary
New

Eörs Szathmáry

Pioneer of theoretical biology
Chine
New

Chine Mcdonald

Celebrated theologian
anshalom elitzur
New

Avshalom Elitzur

Revolutionary Philosopher and Physicist
Timothy Nyugen
New

Timothy Nguyen

Google Deepmind researcher
Madeleine Pennington
New

Madeleine Pennington

Leading researcher of religion
Nolen Gertz
New

Nolen Gertz

Distinguished philosopher of nihilism
Jimena canales
New

Jimena Canales

Groundbreaking historian of science
Isabel Millar
New

Isabel Millar

Leading philosopher and psychoanalyst
oliver ready
New

Oliver Ready

Celebrated Translator of Dostoevsky
camilla nored
New

Camilla Nord

Pioneering neuroscientist
hilary greaves.jpg
New

Hilary Greaves

Trailblazing moral philosopher
Praveetha Patalay.jpg
New

Praveetha Patalay

Trailblazing mental health researcher
Alok SHarma
New

Alok Sharma

Leading conservative climate commentator
MBL 1a
New

Mike Berners-Lee

Leading Polycrisis Thinker
florence read
New

Florence Read

Up-and-coming philosophy presenter
Rosalyn Moran
New

Rosalyn Moran

Hetrodox AI researcher
Sophie Howe
New

Sophie Howe

Future Generations Commissioner
Michael Wooldridge
New

Michael Wooldridge

Professor of computer science at Oxford
Gerry b
New

Gerry Mitchell

Distinguished social researcher
Mike Herd
New

Mike Herd

Distinguished journalist
louise ashley

Louise Ashley

Leading diversity and inclusion consultant
Yuan yuang

Yuan Yuang

Trailblazing commentator on China
Natalie Bennett 3145698b

Natalie Bennett

Former leader of the Green Party
Suchitra Sebastian

Suchitra Sebastian

World-class physicist
Addy Pross
New

Addy Pross

World-renowned chemist
Kerry McCarthy

Kerry McCarthy

Trailblazing British MP
AM 2
New

Anna Minton

Leading investigative journalist
mary hrrignton

Mary Harrington

Outspoken feminist journalist
Lucy Cooke
New

Lucy Cooke

Renowned zoologist and broadcaster
Julia Davies
New

Julia Davies

Trailblazing angel investor
Kenneth Cukier
New

Kenneth Cukier

Leading podcaster and journalist
Polalow Suransky Sasha foreign policy staff portraits 202228
New

Sasha Polakow-Suransky

Journalist and Author
Niki Seth smith
New

Niki Seth-Smith

Writer and journalist
chrisantha fernando
New

Chrisantha Fernando