NYT Well Festival: A Celebration of Joy, Movement, and Community

On a bright spring Wednesday in New York City, The New York Times hosted its inaugural Well Festival — a day-long celebration of wellness through conversation, movement, food, and reflection.

The morning began with soul-stirring discussions that tackled wellness from all angles. From Tracee Ellis Ross sharing insights on aging joyfully, to Suleika Jaouad, author of The Book of Alchemy, speaking with profound vulnerability about bravery and illness, it was clear from the start: this festival wasn’t about surface-level wellness — it was about real life.

One standout moment was a powerful conversation about social media and mental health with psychologist and author Lisa Damour and Gabriela Nguyen, founder of Appstinence. Their advice was refreshingly honest.

Top Tips for Healthy Social Media Use:

1. Set a clear routine.

2. Tell someone about it — accountability helps.

3. Be realistic: 7 out of 10 days is already great.

4. Take one step at a time — pursue continuity.

5. Embrace silence — don’t rush to fill it.

6. Question the trends: from surgeries to “crème clothes” — is this helping your life?

7. Track your screen time if you’re chronically online.

8. And remember: social media is optional.

Another standout moment came from radio host, author, and mental health advocate Charlamagne Tha God, who sat down with journalist Astead Herndon for an unflinching conversation about mental health, vulnerability, and healing. Charlamagne spoke openly about his struggles with anxiety, addiction, and depression, and his journey to understanding his inner child's desires, sharing how facing those challenges head-on helped him reclaim his peace and purpose. His raw honesty struck a chord with the audience, reinforcing a powerful message: that healing begins when we give ourselves permission to speak the truth — without shame.

Another highlight was a heartfelt panel on the joy of food and community featuring Dacher Keltner (UC Berkeley), Samin Nosrat (cookbook author and Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat host), and Kim Severson of the Times. The conversation blended personal anecdotes with cultural wisdom — from recalling José Andrés’ rallying cry to “build longer tables,” to Samin’s playful confession that even she survives on frozen pizza and Trader Joe’s goodies now and then. The takeaway: food is a source of joy, tradition, and peace — not perfection. Pro tip? Add more walnuts, dark chocolate, and sardines for increased happiness to your diet (not all at once!).

Next came a deeply moving talk on happiness and longevity led by Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Robert Waldinger, whose 86-year study found that the quality of our home relationships affects our health more than cholesterol levels. I was stunned — and oddly comforted. Once again, it came back to community.

Then came my personal favorite: the joy of movement. As a former champion athlete, I loved hearing from Robin Arzón, VP of Peloton Programming, on rediscovering her strength after motherhood and building a tribe of support. This wasn’t about “loving cardio.” It was about finding joy after the effort.

Fellow panelist and author Kelly McGonigal reminded us that joy isn’t always instant — sometimes it’s a single song’s worth of dancing. And sometimes that’s enough.

(Spoiler: we moved with her. And yes, there’s video.)

The afternoon brought a beautiful shift to more personal themes. Sara Bareilles, joined by Keltner and moderator Dan Harris, spoke candidly about living with anxiety and panic attacks. As someone who’s experienced these myself, their honesty felt like a hug. Knowing you’re not alone is, sometimes, the most healing gift.

We then shifted to the theme of aging well, with a moving conversation featuring NBA legend Dwyane Wade. As someone who used to run a halftime show production company during his peak playing years, I’ve long admired Wade — but this was next level. He spoke of grief, fatherhood, and the quiet dignity of showing up for loved ones. His reflections on parenting his trans daughter Zaya were deeply inspiring. This wasn’t a sports story — it was a human one.

Of course, this was a New York Times event, so wellness didn’t end with talk. From beautifully served breakfast and healthy snacks, to a delicious lunch curated by the Well team and Too Good & Co. yogurt bar, every detail was thoughtful. A luxury 3-minute nap pod experience and an Estée Lauder gift added a touch of pampered magic.

Final Thoughts:

I left feeling grounded, moved, and more connected — not just to the speakers, but to everyone who showed up. The NYT Well Festival wasn’t just a “wellness event.” It was a rare reminder that health — real health — is found in laughter, movement, connection, and compassion. This may have been their first, but I have no doubt it won’t be the last.

And to that I say: bravo, Times. You took care of us… well.