June 5, 2025

Raised by Hollywood

The highs and lows of growing up are intensely felt by all of us — the pains of puberty, navigating family tensions, finding friends and hobbies. But what if this drama unfolded in the most dramatic of places: Hollywood? In this conversation, actor, producer and director Griffin Dunne sits down with longtime friend and fellow multi-hyphenate Fisher Stevens to reflect on a life shaped by fame, family and personal loss. The two delve into Dunne’s memoir, “The Friday Afternoon Club” which traces his coming-of-age in a world filled with literary icons and Hollywood legends — including his father Dominick Dunne and aunt Joan Didion. Through stories both heartfelt and humorous, Dunne explores the complexity of grief, identity and resilience, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the emotional cost of growing up in the spotlight.

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NPR Music x Aspen Ideas

Have you ever heard falsetto at 8,000 feet? We’re thrilled to collaborate once again with NPR Music to bring attendees Field Recordings at Aspen Ideas. We take artists off the beaten path and throughout our magnificent 40-acre campus for unique and unamplified outdoor performances. Think NPR’s Tiny Desk, but with the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Aspen Ideas Festival attendees are invited to attend these short afternoon acoustic sets, which will be recorded and distributed by NPR Music. Join us for stripped-down performances with:

• American icon John Oates

• Pop-rock legends the All American Rejects

• Genre-bending Afro-Cuban singer Daymé Arocena

• Singer and multi-instrumentalist MILCK

• Harmonizing indie pop group Lucius

Want to join this truly a one-of-a-kind listening experience? Less than ten passes are left for Festival 2, and a limited number of Patron passes are available.

The 2025 Festival Book Club: June Pick

We’re counting down to the Festival by reading thought-provoking books by some of the brilliant minds speaking at this year’s gathering.

Our June pick is “Atlas of AI” by researcher and writer Kate Crawford. Sharp, urgent, and deeply revealing, this book maps the hidden costs and power structures behind artificial intelligence. Crawford explores how AI is inextricably bound up with natural resources, human labor, and personal data — raising critical questions about who benefits and who bears the burden. With intellectual rigor and storytelling flair, “Atlas of AI” challenges us to rethink not just technology itself, but the world it is shaping.

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