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New around here? Welcome.Mondays, at noon central time, we gather on Zoom for a live, one-hour conversation with someone who helps us better understand our world. Subscribers receive the link in their inbox Monday morning, click in at noon, and you’re at the table.
Coming up:
Feb. 16: Geneva Overholser, former editor of the Des Moines Register and past ombudsman at The Washington Post
Feb. 23: Rita Hart, chair of the Iowa Democratic Party
March 2: Scott Anderson, discussing his new book King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion and Catastrophic Miscalculation (you can grab a copy at Beaverdale Books)
Smart people, good questions, zero dress code. Show up curious.
Who is Randy Antik, and what is the Imagine Solutions Conference held in Naples, Florida
Randy Antik is an entrepreneur, connector, and the founder/CEO of the Imagine Solutions Conference. He’s based in Naples, Florida and has spent decades bringing curious, influential thinkers together to tackle big-picture challenges. Before launching Imagine Solutions, he had a long career as a turnaround expert for prominent private families and investment groups, giving him a deep network across sectors. His philosophy centers on curiosity, connection, and using thoughtful dialogue to spark real-world impact — and that drive is what led him to start Imagine Solutions in 2008.
16th Annual National
Thought Leaders Conference
Held in Naples, Florida
March 2, 2026
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
People describe him as someone exceptionally skilled at asking great questions and creating spaces where smart, curious people can learn from each other — something that’s evident in how the Imagine Solutions Conference has grown and evolved.
What is Imagine Solutions?
Imagine Solutions is best known for its flagship event, the Imagine Solutions Conference — a one-day, thought-leader summit that brings together world-class experts to talk about pressing issues in science, technology, health, education, business, the arts, and more. It’s designed as a high-level learning experience in the vein of a TED or Aspen Ideas event but with a focus on ideas that lead to action.
The Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat and Okoboji Mastery Circle
The second session in the ten-month online Okoboji Mastery Circle will be led by Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Peter Hedges at 7 p.m., February 11. A graduate of Valley High School, his writing has been the foundation for major motion pictures, and he has directed stars including:
Screenplays
What\’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Adapted from his own novel. Small-town life, family gravity, and a breakout performance from a very young Leonardo DiCaprio.About a Boy (2002)
Co-written adaptation of Nick Hornby’s novel. Hugh Grant discovers adulthood via an awkward kid and a lot of emotional growing up.
Writer & Director
Pieces of April (2003)
Thanksgiving, a tiny apartment, big family fractures. Earned Patricia Clarkson an Oscar nomination. Proof that intimacy can be louder than spectacle.Dan in Real Life (2007)
Widowed advice columnist accidentally falls for his brother’s girlfriend. Oops, but tenderly.The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012)
A gentle modern fable about parenthood, wishes, and the ache of loving something you can’t keep.
Other notable involvement
Ben Is Back (2018)
Written and directed by his son, Lucas Hedges stars. Peter served as a producer. Keep tissues within arm’s reach.
This is a rare opportunity to learn from a writer who understands how deeply personal stories move from the page to the screen—and into the wider culture.
It’s not too late to enroll in this course series. For one enrollment fee, you can sign up for the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat and as a bonus be able to participate in the online classes (a $497 value). Learn more
Can’t come to the retreat September 27-30 but want to enroll in the online classes?
Iowa Writers’ Collaborative
I’m proud to be part of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative, a powerhouse lineup of voices focused on the stories shaping our state. Here’s the best of what they published this week. Dive in, find your favorites, and subscribe so new pieces hit your inbox the instant they’re out in the world.
