Open Secrets Live: Stars Champion the Art of Vulnerable Storytelling

NEW YORK, NY – February 10, 2026 – In a cultural landscape increasingly hungry for authenticity, Open Secrets Magazine is set to host its second annual personal storytelling summit, Open Secrets Live. The all-day event will take place on May 2 at Symphony Space's Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre, bringing together a powerful lineup of authors, editors, and performers to explore the art of baring one's soul on the page.

Headlining the summit are Emmy Award-winner Jeff Hiller and drag king Murray Hill, co-stars of the acclaimed HBO drama Somebody Somewhere, alongside comedian and author Youngmi Mayer. Their keynote addresses will cap a day dedicated to the craft, ethics, and impact of sharing the kinds of stories we are often taught to keep secret.

The event marks a significant moment for both aspiring writers and the literary community, signaling a robust and growing interest in memoir and the personal essay as vital forms of expression and connection.

The Growing Appetite for Authenticity

The summit is organized by Open Secrets, a literary magazine founded in April 2023 by editor Rachel Kramer Bussel. In less than three years, the publication has published over 200 original essays and cultivated a readership of more than 7,000, tapping into a deep societal desire for candid narratives. The magazine’s mission is to provide a home for revealing personal essays on subjects often considered taboo.

The success of the inaugural 2025 summit serves as a powerful testament to this demand. "I was blown away by the response to last year's summit," said Bussel in a statement. "Audiences are eager to learn about the highs and lows of baring your soul on the page."

This sentiment is echoed in feedback from the previous event. One past speaker described their participation as a "transformative experience" filled with "powerful, inspiring, timely, and deeply practical" conversations. Attendees lauded the "intimacy that made it easy to connect," with many reporting that the panels inspired them to pursue their own writing. One freelance writer called the 2025 summit their "favorite day of the year," noting it was the catalyst that moved them to start writing again. The event has clearly established itself as a key gathering for what one attendee, who traveled from Boston, called the community of "confessional essayists."

A Masterclass in Crafting Personal Narratives

Beyond its cultural significance, Open Secrets Live is designed as a practical masterclass for writers at all stages. The 2026 schedule is packed with over 35 memoirists and editors who will lead discussions on a wide array of challenging topics.

The day's agenda features a series of focused panels covering Family, LGBTQIA Life, Mental Health, Physical Health, Relationships, and Identity. "Each panel will cover the craft of sharing your story while protecting personal boundaries," Bussel noted, highlighting a crucial concern for writers navigating the complexities of personal nonfiction.

Notable speakers include Stefan Merrill Block, whose novel Homeschooled was a Read with Jenna pick; Sari Botton, editor of the popular Oldster and Memoir Land magazines; former America's Next Top Model contestant Sarah Hartshorne, author of You Wanna Be on Top?; and TikTok star Jesse James Rose, author of sorry i keep crying during sex.

Perhaps one of the biggest draws for aspiring authors is the concluding Editors Panel. This session will feature a formidable lineup of industry gatekeepers, including Miya Lee from The New York Times' Modern Love column, Shannon Palus from Slate, and acquiring editors from major publishing houses like Abrams Books (Sarah Robbins), Catapult (Kendall Storey), One Signal/Atria (Alessandra Bastagli), and Tiny Reparations Books (Emi Ikkanda). The panel, moderated by Bussel, will offer invaluable insights into the publishing world and include a Q&A session for writers hoping to break through.

From Digital Page to Live Stage

The summit represents a key pillar in Open Secrets Magazine's strategy of building a vibrant community around its core mission. By extending its digital presence into a live, interactive forum, the organization solidifies its role as a central hub for personal narrative. This model of engagement goes beyond simply publishing stories; it actively cultivates the ecosystem that creates them.

This community-centric approach is also evident in the magazine's other initiatives, such as its online Open Secrets Book Club. Furthermore, organizers plan to record the summit's panels, with speaker approval, for future release as a podcast, allowing the insights and conversations to reach an even wider audience. This multi-platform strategy demonstrates a deep understanding of how to foster and sustain a literary movement in the modern media landscape, transforming a digital magazine into a dynamic, multi-faceted brand.

Star Power and Storytelling Synergy

The choice of keynote speakers for the 2026 summit is particularly resonant. Jeff Hiller, an Emmy-winner and author of the bestselling memoir Actress of a Certain Age, and Murray Hill, a celebrated drag king with a forthcoming memoir titled Showbiz, have both built careers that artfully blend performance with deeply personal truths. Their work on Somebody Somewhere is lauded for its authentic portrayal of friendship, identity, and finding one's place in the world.

They are joined by comedian Youngmi Mayer, author of I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying, whose work is defined by its raw honesty and fearless exploration of mental health, relationships, and cultural identity. Each of these speakers embodies the ethos of Open Secrets—transforming personal, often 'secret,' experiences into powerful, public art. Their collective presence underscores the summit's central theme: that our most vulnerable stories are often our most universal and vital.

The summit runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a ticketed after-party for networking. Early bird tickets are available for $40 via the Symphony Space website. Attendees will receive a free swag bag, and Kew & Willow Books will serve as the event's official onsite bookseller, ensuring the celebrated stories can be taken home.