Conference Schedule
One day, together.
Built for This Moment: The State of the AHA
Throughout history, humanists have met crises with the compassion and creativity that naturally arises from a freethinking belief system. American Humanist Association Executive Director Fish Stark reports on how the AHA is responding to the Constitutional crises in America, as well as the crises of meaning and social connection - and making gains on every front. Fish will share new data from our national study of religious “nones,” lay out the mandate our members gave us in our strategic planning survey, and make some exciting new announcements.
Award ceremony & Q&A.
Following Logic Instead of Faith
Exmormon author and Youtuber Alyssa Grenfell discusses her journey from blind belief to reason. She’ll cover her own experiences leaving high-demand religion, and the personal empowerment that comes from relying on logic instead of faith.
The HEART of Advocacy
Dr. Johnson has spent nearly 20 years working alongside historically marginalized communities, learning what it takes to turn conviction into meaningful change. In this brief talk, she shares the core principles that make an effective advocate, from building trust and listening deeply to finding the courage to speak up and take action. Drawing on lessons from her career, Dr. Johnson offers practical insight into how we can advocate with greater purpose, compassion, and impact.
Finding Magical Moments in the Mundane
How often do you use the word “magical”? How often are you experiencing “magic”? In this talk, Faith Litchfield shares her thoughts on finding magical moments in the mundane. Whether you’re throwing yourself a party, asking a stranger for their opinion, or remembering how to play make-believe, magical moments are infinitely closer than you might think. In a world where pessimism flourishes, we often forget just how special it is to be human. We often forget how cool it is to be alive. Embracing embarrassment and living imagination-first is one of the most effective weapons we have against hopelessness and disconnection. It’s time to find the magic that we’ve been overlooking.
Kill the Bill: How You Can Actually Stop State-Level Christian Nationalism
Some of the most critical fights over church-state separation are happening in statehouses across the country. In this session, the American Humanist Association’s Director of Policy breaks down how coordinated efforts are successfully slowing the spread of Christian Nationalism at the local level—specifically on the frontlines of public education defense.
Beyond blocking harmful legislation, this talk highlights how proactive state policy work gains momentum when built on strong networks of advocates and lawmakers. Discover how AHA partnered directly with grassroots advocates over the past year to craft impactful legislative testimony and influence state policy. You will leave with concrete entry points to plug into ongoing state efforts, expand local advocacy networks, and protect secular values in your own community.
Deep-Dive Salons
Step away from traditional presentations and join fellow attendees for our Deep-Dive Salons—intimate, peer-led discussion spaces designed for structured reflection, honest dialogue, and meaningful connection. Each salon centers on a core question shaping our community, ethics, and long-term vision.
What Does a "Good Death" Look Like?
How Should We Work with Religious Allies?
Leaving Our Legacies: What Do You Want to Be Remembered For?
Why We Believe What We Believe
Our beliefs often feel like the product of careful thought and personal choice, but many of them begin taking shape long before we are capable of making those choices for ourselves. This talk traces the development of belief from the influence of parents and caregivers to the powerful roles played by family, education, peers, culture, religion, media, and even the geography into which we are born. Drawing on psychology, neuroscience, and sociology, we’ll explore how our environments shape what feels true, familiar, and unquestionable—and why people can arrive at radically different convictions while believing they reached them independently. Most importantly, the talk invites us to turn that same curiosity inward and ask a deceptively simple question: Why do I believe what I believe?
Life After Christian Nationalism
For Those Who Carry Us
Cam James has spent years investigating the ways power, politics, and belief shape people’s lives, and his skepticism began long before he became an investigative filmmaker. In this 10-minute talk, he traces that skepticism back to a childhood encounter with religion and examines what his work has taught him about the real-world consequences of religious ideology in government. From abortion bans and maternal mortality to the erosion of medical privacy, Cam explores how Christian nationalism turns religious beliefs into policies that govern people’s bodies and autonomy. At the heart of his argument is a simple principle: in a country built on the separation of church and state, no one’s rights should depend on someone else’s religion.
Navigating the Practiced Life: Drawing a Constellation of Practices for Non-theists
Join AHA's Education Director, Kevin Jagoe, for a discussion about what Practices of Connection (spiritual practices in other contexts) might look like for non-theists, humanists, and atheists. We will explore together possible practices across five themes (story, awe, purpose, place, journey) and which appeal to those present.
Choosing Change Over Spectacle
How a professional propagandist discovered that long term change can't arise from media spectacle, and must be built through (mostly unseen) daily actions.
Fighting Christian Nationalism with Levity
In this presentation, Kevin Crowe (also known as Jesus Unfollower) seeks to arm fellow humanists with an unexpected weapon to combat religious fanatics: humor.
By pointing out the absurdity of claims, holding up a mirror to the hate-spewers, and using satire, we can push back on Christian nationalism without being sucked into time-intensive arguments with disingenuous interlocutors.
Is There a Universal Human Experience?
After four years traveling the world, Barrett Pall found himself asking a simple question: what do humans have in common? From meeting people in their neighborhoods to experiencing local cultures and traditions firsthand, Barrett encountered an extraordinary range of religions and spiritual practices. In this talk, he explores the human questions, needs, and values that connect us across cultures and what we can learn when we look beyond our differences.
“That’s How You Change the World”
On May 2, 2026, humanists across the country put compassion into direct action for a nationwide day of community care. Backed by $100,000 in micro-grants distributed across 101 local projects, over 1,800 volunteers in 37 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico mobilized to support their neighbors, positively impacting more than 20,000 lives through hands-on mutual aid.
This special session features the premiere of The American Empathy Project mini-documentary, which follows four grassroots organizers on the ground as they lead local service efforts and prove what happens when humanists turn our values into action. Following the screening, join Organizing Director Jake Via for an inside look at how this massive movement came together. Jake will share behind-the-scenes insights from coordinating over 100 nationwide projects, discuss the tangible impact on local communities, and outline what’s next for the future of AEP.
Annual Award Ceremony
Honoring this year's humanists.
All session times are listed in Eastern Time (ET). Schedule subject to change.