Daryl Davis is a musician, author, and renowned advocate for dialogue across divides. A blues and boogie-woogie performer who has played with legends like Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis, he is also known for his extraordinary work engaging members of hate groups to confront their beliefs. His story is told in the documentary Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis, Race & America, and his book Klan-Destine Relationships chronicles his remarkable journey of conversation and reconciliation. With courage and compassion, Davis demonstrates the transformative power of free expression and human connection.

David Lat is a legal commentator, author, and founder of Original Jurisdiction, a widely read newsletter covering law, courts, and culture. A former federal prosecutor and the creator of the influential blog Above the Law, he has been a leading voice in making the legal world more accessible to the public. Lat’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other major outlets, where he brings insight, humor, and balance to complex legal and social debates. With his commitment to open dialogue and principled discourse, Lat exemplifies the spirit of free expression in law and media.

Matt Taibbi is an award-winning journalist and author known for his sharp, fearless reporting on media, politics, and power. A former longtime contributing editor for Rolling Stone, he now writes on Racket News, an independent journalism platform featuring original reporting, commentary, and podcasts, and has been a leading voice in the debate over free speech and press freedom in the digital age. His bestselling books include The Divide, Griftopia, and Hate Inc., which explore corruption, inequality, and the changing landscape of public discourse. With his incisive wit and uncompromising perspective, Taibbi challenges audiences to think critically about truth and expression in modern society.

Nick Gillespie is an editor at large at Reason, the libertarian magazine of "free minds and free markets," and host of The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie. A two-time finalist for National Magazine Awards, he holds a Ph.D. in American literature, and, according to The New York Times, "is to libertarianism what Lou Reed is to rock ‘n’ roll, the quintessence of its outlaw spirit." He is currently working on Better Living Through Chemistry, a feature-length documentary about changing attitudes towards drugs.

Greg Lukianoff is the president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), the nation’s leading free speech organization. He is the co-author of the bestselling book The Coddling of the American Mind as well as The Canceling of the American Mind, which explore the challenges facing open debate today. With his passionate and engaging voice, Lukianoff has become one of the country’s most prominent advocates for free thought and expression.

Jacob Mchangama is a lawyer, author, and global advocate for free expression. He is the founder of Justitia, Denmark’s first judicial think tank, and The Future of Free Speech. His acclaimed book Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media, traces the global struggle for liberty of thought and expression. With his international perspective and scholarship, Mchangama brings a powerful voice to today’s debates over freedom and democracy. He has a new book releasing April 2026, titled The Future of Free Speech: Reversing the Global Decline of Democracy's Most Essential Freedom.

John McWhorter is a linguist, author, and cultural commentator known for bringing clarity and wit to tough conversations about language and society. A professor at Columbia University and a contributing writer for The New York Times, he has written bestselling books including Woke Racism and Nine Nasty Words. With his fearless and engaging style, McWhorter champions open dialogue and free expression on today’s most pressing issues.

Aryeh Neier is a human rights leader and lifelong defender of free expression. He served as executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union and later co-founded Human Rights Watch, shaping the modern human rights movement. As president of the Open Society Foundations, he advanced global efforts to protect liberty and justice. With his enduring vision and advocacy, Neier remains one of the world’s most respected voices for freedom.

Lee Rowland is the Executive Director of the National Coalition Against Censorship, where she leads program work, advocacy, and public education. She also runs the Free Expression Network. A seasoned First Amendment litigator, she spent two decades with organizations like the ACLU, Brennan Center, and NYCLU, and taught courses on free expression at NYU Law and CUNY. She has served as lead counsel in landmark federal cases, and helped pass New York’s Equal Rights Amendment.

Nadine Strossen is a leading voice for civil liberties and free speech. She served as the first female president of the American Civil Liberties Union, and is professor emerita at New York Law School. The National Law Journal named Strossen one of America's "100 Most Influential Lawyers." The author of influential books including HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship, she has testified before Congress on multiple occasions. With her lifelong commitment to liberty, Strossen continues to inspire and defend the principles of open expression.

Eugene Volokh is a constitutional law scholar and one of the nation’s foremost experts on the First Amendment. He is the Gary T. Schwartz Distinguished Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law and the founder of The Volokh Conspiracy. Author of numerous books and articles, he frequently advises courts, legislatures, and the public on issues of free expression and constitutional rights. He hosts Free Speech Unmuted, a video podcast series sponsored by the Hoover Institution. With his deep scholarship and clear voice, Volokh has shaped national conversations on the scope and meaning of free speech.

Keith Whittington is a constitutional scholar and leading authority on free speech in America. He is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Politics at Princeton University and a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. His books include Speak Freely: Why Universities Must Defend Free Speech and Repugnant Laws: Judicial Review of Acts of Congress from the Founding to the Present. Whittington is widely recognized for his principled defense of open expression.