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Excel in life. Fight for liberty. If these are your goals, this conference is for you.

At LevelUp, you’ll engage with world-class speakers, discover powerful life-serving ideas, meet hundreds of awesome people, and level up in life like never before.

Join us in Atlanta for the most life-enhancing conference of the year!

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LevelUp is for people who want to thrive in life and defend freedom on solid ground.

You’ll engage with world-class speakers, discover powerful life-serving ideas, meet hundreds of thoughtful people, and level up in life like never before.

Join us in Atlanta for the most life-enhancing conference of the year!

What Attendees Say

“The price paid to attend this conference is the single best investment I have ever made in myself.” —Steven

“This conference changed how I think about the world. It will go down as one of my life-changing experiences.” —Lauren

“After this conference, I will not waste a single moment of my life.” —Raja

“The conference was incredible: the variety of content, the speakers, the night time activities. Bellisimo!” —Albulena

“This conference taught me how to love life.” —Juan

“This conference was a rejuvenating and intellectually stimulating experience unlike anything I’ve ever encountered.” —Leisa

“My only disappointment was that it ended.” —Ed

“This conference inspired me to reflect on how I live my life and how I want to live it.” —Kenna

“It was only a three-day event and I’ve made friends for life.” —John

“I flew for 23 hours to attend this conference. It was well worth it” —Rida

“Last year’s event was one of the best experiences of my life. This year was even better.” —Everaldo

“I have no words to describe how amazing the conference was! I’ve returned to Brazil bright-eyed to live the best life I can.” —Julia

“That was the most badass conference of the year.” —Sebastian

“Before this conference, I was depressed and lost. Now, I'm motivated to change my life.” —Olivia

“I just lived one of the best days of my life.” —Matheus

“This was the most amazing and unforgettable experience of my life.” —Sameer

Last Year’s Speakers

Eric Daniels

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and founder of the AHA Foundation. Prior to joining Hoover, she was a fellow at the Belfer Center’s Future of Diplomacy Project at Harvard University, and a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Ayaan is the author of several books, including Infidel (2007), Nomad: From Islam to America, a Personal Journey through the Clash of Civilizations (2010), Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now (2015), and Prey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women’s Rights (2021).

Craig Biddle

Craig Biddle

Craig Biddle is cofounder and executive director of Objective Standard Institute, cofounder and editor in chief of The Objective Standard, and executive director of Prometheus Foundation. His books include Loving Life: The Morality of Self-Interest and the Facts that Support It; Rational Egoism: The Morality for Human Flourishing; and the forthcoming Forbidden Facts: Moral Truths Your Parents, Preachers, and Teachers Don’t Want You to Know. His book-in-progress is on thinking in principles.

Kiyah Willis

Alex O’Connor

Alex O’Connor is a YouTuber and host of Within Reason, a philosophy podcast that has featured guests including Richard Dawkins, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Slavoj Žižek, and William Lane Craig, among many others. He is a public speaker and debater, having defended philosophical atheism, monarchy abolitionism, and free speech with opponents such as Ben Shapiro and Piers Morgan.

Hannah Frankman

Christopher F. Rufo

Christopher F. Rufo is a senior fellow and director of the initiative on critical race theory at the Manhattan Institute. He is also a contributing editor of City Journal, where his writing explores a range of issues, including critical race theory, gender ideology, homelessness, addiction, crime, and the decline of American cities. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, America’s Cultural Revolution, and he’s directed four documentaries for PBS, Netflix, and international television, including America Lost, which tells the story of three “forgotten American cities.” He holds a BSFS from Georgetown and ALM from Harvard.

Kiyah Willis

Max Lugavere

Max Lugavere is the author of the New York Times bestseller Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for LifeThe Genius Life: Heal Your Mind, Strengthen Your Body, and Become Extraordinary; and Genius Kitchen: Over 100 Easy and Delicious Recipes to Make Your Brain Sharp, Body Strong, and Taste Buds Happy. He is also the director of the film Bread Head, a documentary about dementia prevention through diet and lifestyle, and the host of the health and wellness podcast The Genius Life.

Eric Daniels

Kiyah Willis

Kiyah Willis is a fellow at Objective Standard Institute focusing on cultural trends and their causes and consequences. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Kiyah worked as a data analyst before transitioning to philosophy. Her hobbies include hiking, playing with her boxer, Apollo, and writing for her Substack. You can find her advocating reason, individualism, and liberty on Twitter and TikTok (@growingtotruth).

Eric Daniels

Hannah Frankman

Hannah Frankman is founder of rebelEducator and host of The Hannah Frankman Podcast. She grew up homeschooled and skipped college to work in the startup world. She spent three years as the Program Manager at Praxis (a startup apprenticeship program), is a former Hazlitt Fellow at Foundation for Economic Education, and is an instructor with Objective Standard Institute. You can find her advocating freedom, entrepreneurship, and student-centric education on Twitter (@hannahfrankman).

Angelica Walker-Werth

Wilfred Reilly

Wilfred Reilly is an associate professor of political science at Kentucky State University, and the author of Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me, Taboo: 10 Facts You Can’t Talk About, and Hate Crime Hoax. His articles have been published in various journals and magazines, including Academic Questions, Commentary, and Quillette. His research interests include international relations and the prevention of war, contemporary American race relations, and the use of modern quantitative methods to test “sacred cow” theories such as the existence of widespread white privilege.

Jon Hersey

Rabbi David Wolpe

Rabbi David Wolpe has been called the most influential rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the fifty most influential Jews in the world by The Jerusalem Post. He is currently a visiting scholar at Harvard Divinity School and a rabbinic fellow with the ADL. He also serves as the Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles and as a senior advisor to the Maimonides Fund. Rabbi Wolpe is the bestselling author of eight books and numerous articles in leading newspapers and journals, and has taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the American Jewish University, Hunter College, Pepperdine, and UCLA.

Eric Daniels

Eric Daniels

Eric Daniels holds a Ph.D. in American history from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He has taught history, political science, and economics at Duke University, Georgetown University, and is currently the Assistant Director of the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism at Clemson University. In addition to his contributions to The Objective Standard, he has published on the history of monopolies, American individualism, and economic freedom.

Timothy Sandefur

Timothy Sandefur

Timothy Sandefur holds the Duncan Chair in Constitutional Government at the Goldwater Institute, where he is the vice president for legal affairs. He is the author of several books including The Right to Earn a Living: Economic Freedom and the Law (2010), The Conscience of The Constitution (2014), The Permission Society (2016), Frederick Douglass: Self-Made Man (2018), The Ascent of Jacob Bronowski: The Life and Ideas of a Popular Science Icon (2019), and Freedom’s Furies: How Isabel Paterson, Rose Wilder Lane, and Ayn Rand Found Liberty in and Age of Darkness (2022).

Eric Daniels

Jon Hersey

Jon Hersey is a fellow at Objective Standard Institute, where he teaches courses including “How to Write Powerfully in Defense of Liberty” and hosts the podcast “Philosophy for Flourishing.” He is also managing editor of The Objective Standard. His work focuses on intellectual history, specifically, the ideas on which freedom and flourishing depend.

Angelica Walker-Werth

Carl Barney

Carl Barney is an entrepreneur, writer, and philanthropist. He is the founder and funder of Prometheus Foundation (previously called the Objectivist Venture Fund), a nonprofit dedicated to providing seed money for individuals and organizations who promote Ayn Rand and advance her philosophy, Objectivism. He has served on the boards of the Ayn Rand Institute, Cato Institute, and the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism. He’s currently writing a book titled “The Happiness Experiment,” and he blogs about “love of the good for being good” at CarlBarney.com.

Eric Daniels

Angelica Walker-Werth

Angelica Walker-Werth is a fellow at Objective Standard Institute, an assistant editor and writer for The Objective Standard, and an Ayn Rand Fellow with Foundation for Economic Education’s Hazlitt Project. Her roles at OSI include managing the internship and Active-Mind scholarship programs, course administration and development, and editing On Solid Ground. She holds bachelor’s degrees in horticulture and Spanish from Clemson University and enjoys reading, playing the piano, ballet, and traveling.

Jon Hersey

Ely Lassman

Ely Lassman is founder and chair of Prometheus on Campus, a UK-based educational nonprofit focused on promoting philosophy for freedom and happiness; and quality assurance manager for Prometheus Foundation, for which he audits programs, leads study groups, and teaches philosophy. He earned his degree in economics from University of Bristol, where he also founded the UoB Liberty Society.

Angelica Walker-Werth

David Hardy

David Hardy is a trial court judge in Reno, Nevada, where he presides over a variety of criminal and civil trials. He is the former chief judge of the Second Judicial District Court and president of the Nevada Judges Association. Judge Hardy received his PhD in judicial studies from the University of Nevada, and is a published author and frequent lecturer at the University of Nevada, National Judicial College, and continuing legal education seminars throughout Nevada. He currently serves as the chair of the Prometheus Foundation board of directors.

Arianna-Warsaw-Fan-Rauch

Thomas Walker-Werth

Thomas Walker-Werth is associate editor at The Objective Standard and a fellow at both Objective Standard Institute and Foundation for Economic Education. He is currently writing his first full-length book, Reason for Living: A Rational, Fact-Based Approach to Living Your Best Life.

Cynthia Roeth

Cynthia Roeth

Cynthia Roeth has successfully competed in dancing competitions at the highest levels. She has spent years social dancing in Latin clubs and ballrooms and brings us a deep understanding of the principles of partner dancing, including lead and follow. She has also created and directed dance choreography for theatre in local school productions of musicals, including The King and IThe Music Man, and Seussical.

Last Year’s Program

Intentionality: The Source and Power of Purpose

Craig Biddle

Your goals—the aims for which you think, plan, and act—set the direction of your life. They determine whether your life will be filled with meaning and joy, or something less. But you face countless options. How can you choose goals that truly are best for you in the long run? In this talk, Craig Biddle will discuss key principles, methods, and tools for answering this vital question, living intentionally, and loving life.

Loving Your Life: A Framework for Flourishing

Craig Biddle

You want to excel in a career you love, to build and enjoy rewarding friendships and romance, to engage in recreational activities that fuel your soul. In a word, you want to flourish. To succeed, you need a conceptual framework that clarifies and unifies two related issues: (1) why pursuing your own happiness is morally the correct purpose of your life; and (2) how to organize your values and goals with respect to their relative importance, and integrate them into a life of purpose, meaning, and joy. Craig Biddle will discuss this framework and how you can use it to think clearly and live fully.

Feminism: Zero Sum?

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

From women’s suffrage to the sexual revolution to shattered glass ceilings, Western women are freer and more prosperous than ever. Yet while Ukranian women are raped by Russian soldiers, and Iranian women are beaten, imprisoned, or killed for daring to remove the hijab, modern “feminists” shriek at the way men sit on public transport, condone men boxing with women, and “contextualize” jihadist rape of Israeli women. Ayaan Hirsi Ali will discuss how we got here and how to bring feminism back to its foundations in reason, personal autonomy, and individual rights.

Thriving Through Adversity and Trauma

David Hardy

You or someone you know will experience adversity or trauma that shakes you to the core. Perhaps you already have: the sudden death of a loved one, an accident that cripples or maims, the loss of a relationship or career, a betrayal by a long-time friend. Such events can cause deep emotional pain. In some cases, they can affect one’s desire to live. But they also can be catalysts for personal growth and transformation. Judge David Hardy will discuss his experiences with severe trauma, how he redirected it to transform his life and thrive, and how you can, too.

The Art of Breaking Rules

Hannah Frankman

You’ve been told all your life to follow rules. But is this good advice? All her life, Hannah Frankman has been breaking rules, and it has served her well. She thinks it’ll serve you well, too—if you master the art. Of course, this isn’t about violating rational moral principles. That’s always self-destructive. Rather, it’s about breaking socially constructed rules that make no sense, or that fail to account for relevant context, and thus hamper your life or hold you back. Come learn the art—and virtue—of breaking such rules. Your future self will be glad you did.

The Future of Liberalism: Religious or Secular?

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, David Wolpe, Craig Biddle, and Timothy Sandefur

Classical liberalism is the idea that the individual is sovereign, that his own mind should guide his life, and that individual rights, freedom of speech, and economic freedom are essential to civilized society. But what undergirds these values? What must we understand and communicate in order to support and defend them? Are the underpinnings religious or secular? How can we know? Join Ayaan Hirsi Ali, David Wolpe, Craig Biddle, and Timothy Sandefur for a discussion of these and related questions. And bring your questions for the lengthy Q&A.

How to Develop Your Happiness Plan

Carl Barney

Why do some people achieve happiness while others fail? And why do some succeed spectacularly yet others only moderately? What are the keys to achieving and sustaining a life you love? Carl Barney will discuss a tool he’s developed for this very purpose. Based on his book-in-progress, “The Happiness Experiment,” Carl will present a framework for developing your personal happiness plan: an integrated set of strategies and action steps for making your life the best, happiest life it can be.

How and Why DEI Must Die

Craig Biddle, Wilfred Reilly, Eric Daniels, and Christopher Rufo

The ideology known as “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) has influenced American universities, culture, and politics for decades, shaping curriculums, the arts, and laws that restrict our lives. Advocates of liberty generally agree that something is deeply wrong with these ideas, but they often disagree on the nature of the problem and how to solve it. What exactly is DEI? What ideas does it encompass and imply? If those ideas are wrong, why—and which ideas should replace them? Join Craig Biddle, Wilfred Reilly, Eric Daniels, and Christopher Rufo for a discussion of these and related questions. Bring your questions for the lengthy Q&A.

Love as Trade: What’s in It for You—and Me?

Angel and Thomas Walker-Werth

“Romance requires sacrifice and unconditional love.” So you’ve been told. But don’t healthy romances involve gaining from each other’s qualities of character, personality, and gestures—and from wonderful experiences together, including sex? And why would lovers love each other “unconditionally”? Aren’t their respective qualities and shared values precisely the conditions that give rise to their love for each other? Angel and Thomas Walker-Werth have built their romance on the principle of trade: the idea that both are in this to benefit from and enjoy each other deeply. They’ll discuss this principle and how they leverage it to light up their lives together.

The Roots of War and the Path to Peace

Kiyah Willis

The wars underway in the Middle East and Eastern Europe have caused misery, death, and destruction that is hard to fathom. Likewise for wars throughout history. Why all this hell? What are the causes of war? And what ideas must people and governments understand and embrace in order to live in peace? Kiyah Willis will address these questions, focusing on what she sees as the central cause of war—collectivism—and its deeper corollary: mysticism. The way to end and avoid war, she will argue, is for people and governments to embrace individualism and reason.

Is Morality Objective or Subjective?

Craig Biddle and Alex O’Connor

Are human actions right or wrong based on facts and logic? Or are claims about right and wrong merely expressions of emotions or feelings? Craig Biddle and Alex O’Connor, both atheists, will discuss these and related questions. Craig will argue that objective morality exists and is derived from the factual requirements of human life and happiness. Alex will argue that there’s no such thing as objective morality and that moral claims are merely expressions of emotion. There will be a lengthy Q&A—so bring your questions and join the conversation!

Adam Smith, Ayn Rand, and the Philosophic Foundation for Freedom

Jon Hersey

Adam Smith and Ayn Rand are widely regarded as similar, in that both advocated free markets, free people, free societies. Although Smith never used the word “capitalism,” he is widely regarded as “the father of capitalism”—and Rand referred to herself as a “radical for capitalism” and has been called “the goddess of the market.” But, Jon Hersey will argue, in our fight for political and economic freedom, the differences between these thinkers are greater and more important than the similarities. Come gain a clearer picture of Smith and Rand, their respective roles in shaping history, and the intellectual tools each provides for advancing freedom today.

The Song of the New World

Timothy Sandefur

It’s one of the most popular musical pieces in history: Antonin Dvorak’s New World Symphony. Written during a brief residency in the United States—just when capitalism was revolutionizing life in America and around the world—Dvorak’s symphony helped Americans fashion their own distinctive musical style. But it also expressed a remarkable new sense of life, rooted in freedom, prosperity, and peace. In this talk, Timothy Sandefur describes the fascinating history of Dvorak’s masterpiece, and explores why it became—for people worldwide—the song of a new world.

Optimizing Your Health for Happiness

Max Lugavere

Everything good in your life depends on your physical health: Clear thinking requires energy and focus; disease, physical problems, and suboptimal health sap these. Romance requires mental, emotional, and physical engagement—as do work, career, friendships, and recreation. Poor physical health saps these, too. And, of course, good health enables you to live longer so you can enjoy more of everything you love. Max Lugavere will discuss how to optimize your nutrition, exercise, and sleep so you can live the longest, healthiest, happiest life possible.

The History of Philosophy as a Tool for Flourishing

Ely Lassman

We all have a philosophy: a view of the world and human nature, and of how we know what’s true and what’s good. The philosophy we accept—whether consciously or by default—has a profound impact on our lives. And the history of this field sheds vital light on this fact. It’s a fascinating story brimming with characters, ideas, problems, and solutions—all of which can help you to think better and live better. Ely Lassman will survey some of this history and discuss how his life has improved by studying the history of philosophy, and how yours can too.

Filling The Self-Shaped Hole

Craig Biddle

You’ve heard of a “God-shaped hole”—the idea that if you don’t believe in God and accept him into your life you’ll be deprived of spiritual values such as meaning and purpose. Craig Biddle will discuss the self-shaped hole: the void resulting from denying the existence of the self (à la Sam Harris)—or failing to revere and develop yourself (as many people do)—or subordinating yourself to a group (via collectivism, tribalism, wokeism) or to an alleged God (as religion prescribes). Biddle will examine the secular nature of the self, focusing on its evidence-based elements and the corresponding values we must understand and embrace in order to be spiritually whole—and thus love our lives to the fullest.