As we celebrate our 75th year, we are taking a moment to look back at the ideas and moments that resonated most with you. Interviews that expanded understanding, visuals that captured our community, and stories that traveled across the Aspen Institute network all find their place here.
Welcome to your Aspen Institute 2025 Wrapped.
📰 Most-Read Article 📰
As mentions of Trump Accounts filled newsfeeds, many of you turned to this a explainer from the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program: Trump Accounts Are Here–Now Let’s Make Them Work for the Kids Who Need Them Most. The team outlined what to know, the questions that matter most, and the broader context behind the proposal, including where similar approaches have been attempted. As a result, this post quickly became our most-read article of the year.
📸 Favorite Photo 📸
Among thousands of images from events held across the country and around the world, you helped lift one set above the rest.
This was the year of In Session, our series that features practical wisdom from leaders across the Aspen Institute network. We shared close to thirty episodes, and two rose to the top.
On our YouTube channel, the most-watched video featured Danny Harris, Executive Director of the Socrates Program, reflecting on the importance of placing yourself in dialogue and building trust as a leader. His message carried broad appeal and spoke to a shared desire for stronger connection in public life.
On our Instagram, the most-viewed In Session video featured Sonia Kapadia, Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Equal Justice Initiative and Aspen Institute Trustee, as she unpacked the well known phrase “fake it till you make it.”
🎤 Most-Watched Leading Voices Episode 🎤
At the inaugural Aspen Ideas: Economy, we sat down with
Shira Lazar for Leading Voices, our Instagram based interview series. Her candid reflections on learning to lead resonated widely, making this our most-watched episode.
Pop culture has the power to shape our perceptions of health, from podcasts and influencers to shows, games, and advertisements. At Aspen Ideas: Health, leaders explored how this force can be used not only to spread fads but also to spark evidence-based habits, meaningful connections, and healthier lives.
So what allows pop culture to inspire meaningful change? That question captured your attention.
Our most-viewed reel of the year, filmed at Aspen Ideas: Health, featured Kate Bowler, host of Everything Happens, and Brittany Brass, founder of Urban Run Club, exploring that very theme.
Upcoming Events
Leadership Aspen Security Forum: DC
Decemeber 10, 2026
Virtual
The Aspen Security Forum (ASF) is the premier national security and foreign policy conference in the United States. Presented by the Aspen Strategy Group, ASF has provided a nonpartisan public venue for domestic and global leaders to discuss the key national security and foreign policy issues of the day since 2010. This year’s Forum will feature an array of decision-makers and thought leaders from Washington, DC and around the world. Livestream starts at 12:25 pm EDT.
Economic Opportunity Aspen Forum on Children and Families
January 28, 2026
Virtual
Families are the foundation of our nation and the key to its future. And that future will be so much brighter when we ensure all families are flourishing. At Ascend, we are not looking back. We are activating our network of 1000+ strong in a national call to move Forward With Families.
Join Ascend at the Aspen Institute for the 2026 Aspen Forum on Children and Families, streaming live on Wednesday, January 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
Aspen Ideas: Health is where health’s biggest challenges meet today’s biggest thinkers. From June 22-25, 2026, visionary leaders, innovators, and advocates will unite in the Rocky Mountains to elevate the bold ideas shaping the future of health, medicine, and science. Join the conversation: Register for your early bird pass by December 31 to save $500!
Next summer, the Aspen Ideas Festival will mark a defining moment in American history—250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Our 2026 program tracks will use this milestone as a lens to explore the forces shaping our world today. Acclaimed journalist Fareed Zakaria will return as Guest Curator and help guide conversations that examine how our founding principles endure—and evolve—in a rapidly changing world. Be part of the conversation. Save $700 on your Festival pass when you register before the end of the year.
Frederick J. Riley serves as Executive Director of Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute. Weave supports and invests in local leaders who are strengthening connection in their communities and helping rebuild social trust at a time when many feel isolated or divided. Drawing on deep experience and a national network of Weavers, Frederick
offers guidance for leading with presence, integrity, and care.
Around the Institute
Trust Apply Now:Trust In Practice Awards
The Alliance for Social Trust, an Aspen Institute initiative in partnership with Allstate, is now accepting applications for the Trust in Practice Awards
. These awards support nonprofit collaborations advancing community-driven approaches to building trust across the U.S. Up to $5 million in funding is available. Applications are open through January 30, 2026. Learn more on the Alliance’s website.
Trust The Award Winning Trust Map
The international Webby Awards announced their picks for the best online, mission-driven work of the year. Weave’s Trust Map won three of their Anthem Awards – gold for best use of data, bronze for local community engagement, and the Community Voice award (chosen by popular vote) for offering opportunities to engage the local community in an important cause. If you haven’t seen the Trust Map yet, explore it at
WeavingTrust.org.
Climate Navigating the Future of Sustainability Strategy
Felicia Davis and the Business & Society Summit team share
six emerging insights
on how sustainability leaders can steer companies through rising volatility. They highlight the mindsets and practices that can help sustainability leaders stay strategically relevant within their organizations while strengthening long-term value, resilience, and competitive advantage.
Rising Generation Art as Leadership: Creativity at the Heart of Community Impact
Kaya Henderson, Executive Vice President and Executive Director, Center for Rising Generations, on why art isn’t the side dish to youth leadership. Art is leadership.
In the News
Economic Opportunity Marketplace featured Luke Pardue, Aspen Economic Strategy Group Policy Director, in a segment exploring the September jobs report and our economy.
Leadership Modern Luxury looked inside the Aspen Institute’s 75th Anniversary and President and CEO Dan Porterfield’s Leadership
Tech NPR spoke with Betsy Cooper, Director of the Aspen Policy Academy, about the Cloudflare outage outage.
Rising Generation Fox News featured Tom Farrey, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program, in a video exploring the rising costs of youth sports.
