Contact us 1.800.698.2536
Search by Speaker Name or Topic
Ellen Goodman

Ellen Goodman

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist & Social Change Analyst; Social Entrepreneur & Co-Founder, The Conversation Project

Travels From Travels From:
Boston, MA, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
Live Event: $20,000 - $30,000
Virtual Event: Please Contact
More Fee Info
Categories Categories:
Categories Categories:
Authors, Broadcasting, Celebrity, Civil Rights, College, Entertainers, Faith & Religion, Government, Health, Healthcare, Influential Women, Jewish Heritage, Journalism, Liberal, Literary, News & Media, Political, Relationships, Reproductive Rights, Social Activism, Spirituality, Women, Women's Health, Women's Rights
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Ellen Goodman Biography

Ellen Goodman has been hailed as an American original. As a trailblazer and powerful voice for women, she has spent most of her life chronicling social change and its impact on American life. A Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, she was one of the first women to open up the op-ed pages to women’s voices and became, according to Media Watch, the most widely syndicated progressive columnist in the country.

Goodman began her career as a researcher for Newsweek magazine in the days when only men wrote for the newsweekly. After two years, she became a reporter for the Detroit Free Press and then The Boston Globe where she began writing her column. The column was syndicated by the Washington Post Writers Group. She wrote her twice-weekly column until 2010 appearing in over 400 newspapers.

In 1980 She won the Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Commentary. She has written seven books including the New York Times best seller with Patricia O’Brien, “You Know Just What I Mean: The Power of Friendship in Women’s Lives.” Goodman also won many other honors, including the American Society of Newspaper Editors Distinguished Writing Award and the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award from the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.

She was honored with the President’s Award by the National Women’s Political Caucus and was also presented the American Woman Award by the Women’s Research & Education Institute.

In 2008, she won the Ernie Pyle Award for Lifetime Achievement from the National Society of Newspaper columnists.

In 2010, Goodman co-founded The Conversation Project, a public engagement campaign and a movement, that works to change the way people talk about, and prepare for their end-of-life care. As a social entrepreneur she was also awarded as an Ashoka Fellow and a Prime Mover for her work solving social problems.

Goodman also serves on the board of Encore.org, a movement to transform the narrative around aging and encourage elders to use their passions, skills and decades of experience to make a difference in our communities and the world.

A cum laude graduate of Radcliffe College, Goodman returned to Harvard as a Nieman Fellow, where she studied the dynamics of social change, and again as a Shorenstein Fellow.

Goodman has a daughter, stepdaughter, two grandchildren and lives with her husband, Robert Levey in Boston.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Ellen Goodman and other top speakers and celebrities.

BOOK Ellen Goodman

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 03/07/2025.

Ellen Goodman Speaking Topics

  • 2020 – A New Vision for Women

    The year 2020 will mark two momentous landmarks in the experience of American women: the 100th anniversary of woman’s right to vote, and a presidential election that is likely to hang on the use of that vote.

    Goodman will celebrate and connect both of these events in an engaging and memorable talk dedicated to passing the torch to a young and diverse generation.

  • A Civil Tongue

    Longtime journalist, Ellen traces how civility was shattered, who is winning and who is losing in the media mud wrestling. She shows how incivility is tearing us apart and how to call a truce.

  • The Longevity Revolution: Our Third Act

    The generation of social change agents is now embarked on something new: the Longevity Revolution. The new elders are turning 65 at the rate of 10,000 a day. Ellen asks: How will these new seniors find meaning in their Third Act? How does this generation rewrite the script on senior citizenship for themselves and the country?

  • Feminism 2.0

    We have seen a generation of change in women’s lives. Ellen has been there, done that and talks about: How far have we come? Where are we stuck? What’s next?

  • Have You Had the Conversation?

    A full 90 percent of Americans believe that it’s important to talk about their wishes for end of life care, how they really want to live to the end of their lives. Yet only 30 percent have actually had this conversation. As founder of The Conversation Project and a daughter who lived this story, Ellen makes this a rich and comfortable subject.

Ellen Goodman Videos

  • The conversation project | Ellen Goodman | TEDxBoston
    The conversation project | Ellen Goodman | TEDxBoston
    This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. A good death — or a hard one? Let’s talk. The...
See All Videos »

Ellen Goodman Books

  • Paper Trail: Common Sense in Uncommon Times
    Paper Trail: Common Sense in Uncommon Times
  • I Know Just What You Mean
    I Know Just What You Mean
  • Value Judgments: Essays
    Value Judgments: Essays
  • Keeping in Touch
    Keeping in Touch
  • At Large
    At Large
  • Turning Points
    Turning Points

FAQs on booking Ellen Goodman

  • How do I book Ellen Goodman to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Ellen Goodman for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Ellen Goodman, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Ellen Goodman or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Ellen Goodman

    Speaking fees for Ellen Goodman, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Ellen Goodman are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Ellen Goodman, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Ellen Goodman speak about?

    Ellen Goodman is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Broadcasting, Celebrity, Civil Rights, College, Entertainers, Faith & Religion, Government, Health, Healthcare, Influential Women, Jewish Heritage, Journalism, Liberal, Literary, News & Media, Political, Relationships, Reproductive Rights, Social Activism, Spirituality, Women, Women's Health, Women's Rights.

  • Where does Ellen Goodman travel from?

    Ellen Goodman generally travels from Boston, MA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Ellen Goodman’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Ellen Goodman for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Ellen Goodman for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Ellen Goodman or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Ellen Goodman is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as 2020 – A New Vision for Women, A Civil Tongue, The Longevity Revolution: Our Third Act, Feminism 2.0 and Have You Had the Conversation?. The estimated speaking fee range to book Ellen Goodman for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Ellen Goodman generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Asra Nomani, Andrea Mitchell, Linda Ellerbee, Ben Stein and Lynn Sherr. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Ellen Goodman for an upcoming live or virtual event.

BOOK Ellen Goodman

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

Need Quick Answers?

We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.

Sarah Miller
phone   1.800.698.2536
Our celebrity booking agents can:

  • Gauge interest and check availability for speaking engagements, appearances or corporate events

  • Provide you with the speaking fee to book Ellen Goodman or other celebrity appearance fees

  • Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities

  • Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP