Benjamin Wallace is a journalist and author of The Billionaire's Vinegar, the true story of the world's most expensive bottle of (possibly phony?) wine. He's been a contributor to GQ, Details, Salon and The Washington Post.

David Whyte writes at the intersection of interior and exterior worlds, what he calls the conversational nature of reality, bringing new territory into view with his distinctly personal style.

Performance artist and storyteller Rives has been called "the first 2.0 poet," using images, video and technology to bring his words to life.

By day, Dan Clay is a partner at a brand and innovation consultancy. His more well-known persona is Carrie Dragshaw.

Dentist-turned-photographer Phil Borges documents the world's disappearing cultures, capturing portraits of exiled Tibetan monks and many of the world’s embattled tribal and indigenous cultures.

Dr. Jessica Garza is an accomplished global business, sport and transformational coach, speaker and author.

Will Guidara believes in the remarkable power of hospitality.

Nathaniel Kahn is an Oscar- and Emmy-nominated maker of documentary films. His journey to understand his distant father -- the legendary modern architect Louis Kahn -- became the film "My Architect."

Leslie Morgan Steiner is a writer and outspoken advocate for survivors of domestic violence -- which includes herself.

Four-time Grammy Award-winning folk musician David Holt is a born troubadour. Behind his energizing musicianship (often featuring unusual instruments like "the paper bag") is a deep love of hidden Appalachian wisdom and storytelling that shines on every stage he takes.

The Soul Rebels blend their New Orleans brass tradition with a modernized and contemporary approach, mixing funk, soul, hip-hop and jazz.

As a writer on animal cognition and emotion, Barbara J. King seeks to motivate us all to be kinder to the animals we share the planet with.

Denis Dutton was a philosophy professor and the editor of Arts & Letters Daily. In his book The Art Instinct, he suggested that humans are hard-wired to seek beauty.

The beloved Mr. Sulu from the original Star Trek, George Takei is an activist for human rights (and a master of Facebook memes).

Shohini Ghose explores the strange quantum world of atoms and photons to understand the fundamental laws of the universe and harness them for quantum computing and communication -- and works to make science accessible and inclusive for people of all genders and backgrounds.

John Linnell and John Flansburgh are They Might Be Giants: multi-instrumental, tech-savvy and implacably prolific, they are the musicians of choice of geeks, tinkerers and curious kids of all ages.

Kate Bowler is reexamining her perspective on the "prosperity gospel": the belief that good things happen to good people.

Gary Flake is a Technical Fellow at Microsoft, and the founder and director of Live Labs.

Emily Nagoski teaches women to live with confidence and joy inside their bodies.

Tom Chatfield thinks about games -- what we want from them, what we get from them, and how we might use our hard-wired desire for a gamer's reward to change the way we learn.

Does humanity have a future as uploaded minds? In his work, Robin Hanson asks this and other extra-large questions.

Mark Shaw develops technologies to contain hazardous waste, storm water and radioactives.

Kathryn Kolbert is a pioneer for reproductive freedom.

Aziz Abu Sarah helps people break down cultural and historical barriers through tourism.

Recognized as one of the greatest scientific innovators of our time, Joanne Chory studies the genetic codes of plants. Her goal: to use plants to help fight climate change.

Agnes Larsson brings happiness and inspiration to millions of Minecraft players as they explore the open-ended creation game, block by block.

Charles C. Daniels, Jr., is on a mission to provide mental health counseling, coaching and advocacy to fathers to help them overcome barriers to remaining engaged in their children's lives.

The rational-minded Robin Ince conducts live experiments in comedy.

Caroline Catlin's research in behavioral health and developmental trauma has inspired her to incorporate art into the process of caregiving and therapy, as well as to work on reforming the way health, illness and disability are portrayed in the media. She is fueled most by gratitude, community and sour candy.

With her viral talk from TED2012 and her mega-bestseller "Quiet," Susan Cain urged society to cultivate space for the undervalued, indispensable introverts among us. Now, with her new bestseller "Bittersweet," she's back to explore the surprising lessons sorrow and longing teach us about creativity, connection and love.