

save the date
Sept. 14-17, 2022 | Madison, Wisconsin
Our signature festival returns this fall as a hybrid of in-person events and virtual sessions. More details about how the fest will be bigger (literally – sessions will encompass more issues and topics that relate to the entire state of Wisconsin) and better than ever will be released soon. In the meantime, catch up on last year’s sessions and subscribe to the Cap Times Idea Fest newsletter for updates.
catch up on last year’s fest
77 speakers. 26 sessions. 6 days. Our event in September 2021 was a hybrid of virtual sessions combined with in-person sessions at UW-Madison’s Memorial Union. All are available to view. You can also read the Cap Times’ complete coverage of the festival.
Featured
2021 Sessions
One-on-one with Sara Nelson
How Trump Broke It
Dark Money and Democracy
2021 Speakers

Howard Bryant
In addition to his work at ESPN, Bryant has been the sports correspondent for NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday since 2006. He is the author of nine books, including two (“The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron” and “Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston”) that...

Gloria Ladson-Billings
The former Kellner Family Distinguished Chair of Urban Education in the university's School of Education, Ladson-Billings is the current president of the National Academy of Education and former president of the American Educational Research Association. She is a...

David Maraniss
Maraniss is a New York Times best-selling author, fellow of the Society of American Historians, and visiting distinguished professor at Vanderbilt University. He has been affiliated with the Washington Post for more than 40 years as an editor and writer, and twice won...

Jane Mayer
Mayer covers politics, culture, and national security for The New Yorker, where she has worked since 1995. Among other books, she is the author of the 2016 best-seller “Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right” and also...

Philip Rucker
Rucker leads the coverage of President Biden and his administration for the Washington Post. Rucker and a team of Post reporters won the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for their coverage of Russian interference in the 2016 election. He is also a co-author of “I Alone Can Fix...

Rebecca Ryan
Ryan wakes up every day hell-bent on making the world better for future generations. She is a top-50 futurist, economist, best-selling author and keynote speaker. Ryan empowers bold and ambitious futures for her clients as she walks them through foresight experiences...
NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
Stay up to date with the latest news and announcements!

Thank You
Sponsors
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Interested in sponsorship? Email Mike Kornemann at mkornemann@captimes.com.
Become A member
Cap Times members get access to members-only sessions at Idea Fest, ticket discounts and other benefits too. Become a member today!
Have a question or a great idea?
Email Cap Times Idea Fest at: