During the Literary Journalism residency, a series of outstanding guest writers and editors are asked to give a public talk and to make themselves available to the writers for informal discussions. The public lecture series, known as Literary Journalism Conversations, is one way the program broadens the issues addressed in any given year. Guest speakers in recent years have included Rosemary Sullivan, Deirdre Bair, Ronald Wright, John Valliant, Nelofer Pazira, and Susan Swan, Nicholson Baker, Paul Tough, Calvin Trillin, Susan Orlean, Chalotte Gray, Matthew Hart, and Chris Turner.