February 11 – Christine Chitnis – Register Here

In this visually rich talk, bestselling author and photographer Christine Chitnis reflects on her journey as a storyteller inspired by craft, culture, and the natural world. From documenting textile traditions in Rajasthan and Portugal to capturing the seasonal rhythms of New England, Christine shares how she weaves together narrative and photography to honor a sense of place. With insights from her books Patterns of India, Patterns of Portugal, and East Coasting, as well as her work for The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, and more, Christine explores the power of observation, the value of slow travel, and the importance of uplifting local voices.
 

March 11 – Mikel Folcarelli and John Gwynne – Register Here

John Gwynne trained as a landscape architect and is a designer of exhibits that bring people closer to nature; Mikel Folcarelli is an independent global brand designer. Together, they created Sakonnet Garden, an exotic cottage garden embedded within a native coastal-fields landscape. Sakonnet is an ongoing experiment in design, scale, and plantings, an experiment spanning many decades. The acre-size main woodland garden is subdivided into a series of fourteen spaces separated by high windbreak hedges and stone walls. Each space has its own mood and horticultural objective. The whole has been described as an outdoor folly.

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Sakonnet is a secret garden embedded within a native coastal fields landscape. At the diminutive scale of a cottage garden, it is conceived as an intimate place to explore, with multiple paths leading one onward to unexpected experiences.

 

“When you pass through a hedge or open a door, an unexpected whole world is revealed on the other side. Gardens should be fun.”
 

April 9 – Chris Hill – Register Here

Chris Hill is a distinguished diplomat whose career has been devoted to navigating some of the world’s most complex international challenges. With decades of experience in global diplomacy, Ambassador Hill has served at the highest levels of international negotiation, representing the United States in critical moments of conflict resolution and foreign policy leadership.

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Known for his clarity, candor, and deep understanding of global affairs, Ambassador Hill brings rare insight into how diplomacy works behind the scenes—and why it matters now more than ever. His work has shaped conversations on peace, security, and international cooperation, and his perspective offers a compelling window into the realities of diplomacy in action.
 

May 20 – Jeremy Grantham – Register Here

Jeremy Grantham is one of the most respected and influential voices in global investing. As the co-founder and long-time chief investment strategist of GMO, he has built a legendary reputation for identifying market bubbles, championing long-term value investing, and challenging conventional market wisdom. With a career spanning decades, Grantham is renowned for his rigorous analysis, intellectual independence, and rare willingness to stand apart from the crowd—often with remarkable foresight. Beyond investing, he is a leading advocate for sustainability, resource conservation, and climate awareness, emphasizing the long-term risks facing global markets and society. Thought-provoking, principled, and deeply analytical, Jeremy Grantham brings a unique perspective that combines financial expertise with a profound concern for the future of our planet.
 

June 17 – Ben Shattuck – Register Here

Ben Shattuck’s most recent book, The History of Sound (Viking, 2024) was the winner of the Story Prize Spotlight Award and the 2025 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award — and was shortlisted for the 2024 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. His film adaptation of the title story premiered at the 2025 Cannes film festival. His first book, Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau (Tin House, 2022), was a New Yorker Best Book of 2022, a Wall Street Journal Best Book of Spring, a New York Times Best Book of Summer, a New England Bestseller, and was nominated for the Massachusetts Book Award. He is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and winner of the PEN Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers and a Pushcart Prize. He lives with his wife and daughter on the coast of Massachusetts, where he owns and runs Davol’s General Store, the oldest general store in America, built in 1793.
 

July 15 – Debra McGuire – Register Here

Debra McGuire is an award-winning fine artist, fashion designer, and costume designer whose work spans film, television, and theatre. She is best known for her ten seasons designing Friends.
 

Debra has designed for many of Judd Apatow and Jake Kasdan’s projects and currently designs for Jennifer Aniston on The Morning Show (Seasons 2–5). Recent work includes the international feature film Mayday, starring Kenneth Branagh and Ryan Reynolds and premiering in May 2026, and Super Troopers 3, due for release on August 7, 2026.
 

A fine artist at heart, Debra began as a painter in the Bay Area before expanding into jewelry, accessories, fashion, couture and ultimately costume design. She has spoken and presented at galleries, art institutions, and festivals around the world.
 

Her forthcoming book with producer Jim Stark is scheduled for release in early 2026.