In this heartfelt and often humorous keynote, bestselling author Molly Jong-Fast reflects on the emotional balancing act so many people face today—juggling career demands, caring for aging parents, raising children, and still trying to hold onto a sense of self. Inspired by her newest book How to Lose Your Mother, Molly brings to light the quiet strength it takes to carry these responsibilities while managing the invisible labor that often goes unseen. While her story resonates deeply with women—especially those in the sandwich generation—it also speaks to men, young adults, and anyone navigating multigenerational responsibilities in a rapidly changing world. With authenticity and empathy, Molly offers a message of resilience, reminding audiences that while the weight may be heavy, they are far from alone in carrying it.

For Political Analyst Molly Jong-Fast, it’s never easy to say but here it is: “One of the greatest things, the smartest thing Republicans ever did was convince the mainstream media that they were too liberal.” The result, she says, is that the mainstream media is trying to overcorrect for the anxiety that they might be liberal—and that skews our news. In this talk, Jong-Fast shares how we can get back to journalism that reports all of the facts, good and bad. And return our press to being the fourth estate. It might just save our democracy.

Molly Jong-Fast’s family has a history of female alcoholism. Her mother, author Erica Jong, wrote about her addiction in several books. Her grandmother was well-known for being drunk and vomiting in many New York eateries. It is a legacy Jong-fast didn’t want to continue. So at just 19 and already addicted to cocaine, diet pills and alcohol, she went to rehab and joined AA, which saved her life, she says. Jong-Fast has been sober ever since. In this talk, Jong-Fast shares her journey and how you can get sober, stay sober and how the legacy of alcoholism can stop with you.

In this poignant and deeply personal keynote, Molly Jong-Fast draws from her latest book, How to Lose Your Mother, to explore the emotional complexities of witnessing a loved one lose themselves to dementia and Alzheimer’s. With her trademark wit, vulnerability, and literary insight, Molly takes audiences on a journey through grief, identity, caregiving, and ultimately acceptance. She unpacks the silent, often invisible toll dementia takes on families and speaks candidly about what it means to say goodbye long before the final goodbye. This talk is a powerful reflection on resilience, the shifting roles within families, and how storytelling can offer solace in the face of one of life’s most heartbreaking realities.