Authors, Ideas, and Encounters in Bielsko-Biała

Holistic Talk: the main-stage program

The evening will be opened by host Jaśmina Nowak, a journalist with Radio Wnet and president of the Freedom of Speech Foundation. Before the talks begin, however, the space of Cavatina Hall will fill with music. A string quartet from the Cavatina Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a special concert of film music.

The speakers will then take the stage. Joanna Sadzik, president of the board of the Wiosna Association and co-creator of Szlachetna Paczka and Akademia Przyszłości, will explore the sources of human goodness in her talk, Why Do People Want to Be Good, and How Can This Mechanism Be Unlocked in Them? As an expert in wise helping, she will speak about how to engage in social action responsibly and effectively. Thus, support can bring long-term results.

Radosław Ambroży, meanwhile, is an astronomer and popularizer of science, as well as a member of the Polish Society of Amateur Astronomers. In his talk, Time Stops in Space, he will take the audience on a journey through the universe. It is worth adding that his appearance will also invite listeners to pause, look upward, and ask themselves the most important questions.

A third perspective will come from Przemysław Wójtowicz, a former sniper who was wounded during military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the author of the books Snajper wchodzi pierwszy and Zanim naciśniesz spust. In his talk, The War Inside a Person Never Ends, he will speak about wounds that remain in the psyche, in reflexes, and in sleepless nights — and also in the silence that surrounds those who have returned.

A fourth lecture is also planned. Its subject and the speaker’s name will be announced soon.

Meet the authors in the foyer

An integral part of Holistic Talk is the Authors’ Zone, which will come to life between 3:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. in the foyer of Cavatina Hall. This is where participants will be able to meet creators in person, talk about their work, ask questions, get autographs, and purchase their books.

The books by authors attending the conference offer an invitation to look at the world from different, often surprising perspectives. In their works, they move across genres and fields of interest. Fantasy and reportage, astronomy and geopolitics, music and social psychology will stand side by side. Moreover, each of these creators opens a different gate through which readers can understand reality. Their work encourages questions that reach beyond everyday life. It also inspires holistic thinking about the human condition, about the boundaries we cross, and about the values that guide us. These are exactly the kinds of conversations — linking worlds that may seem far apart — that will be able to unfold in the foyer of Cavatina Hall.

A distinguished group of authors

The invited guests include:

• Dariusz Jaroń — a journalist and reporter who, in books such as Polscy himalaiści and Skoczkowie. Przerwany lot, brings readers closer to the stories of people exposed to extreme tests. He combines a passion for the mountains with a keen observation of human character.
• Szymon Pękala — creator of the project “Wojna Idei” and author of the books Wojna Idei. Myśl po swojemu and Wojna Idei 2.0. Jak przekonać przekonanych? In these works, he analyzes social mechanisms and teaches rationality in a world of informational chaos.
• Jacek Piekara — one of Poland’s most popular fantasy writers. He is the author of the widely discussed Inquisitor cycle, in which he retold the story of power, heresy, and human nature. Beyond fantasy literature, he also writes commentary. Furthermore, his latest work of reportage looks at communist-era Poland, giving voice to those who remember it.
• Andrzej Kucybała — a conductor and educator, and co-author of the monograph Jan Smeterlin. Zapomniany wirtuoz fortepianu. Through his work, he restores the memory of outstanding figures of culture and shapes the musical sensitivity of new generations.
• Bartłomiej Wypartowicz — an editor at Defence24 and a security analyst, as well as an expert on Eastern policy and military affairs. He is the author of Między Bugiem a prawdą, in which he analyzes the situation in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.
• Wojciech Kozioł — an editor at Defence24 and a political scientist specializing in the geopolitics of Central and Eastern Europe. He is the co-author of Wojna, której nie chcemy, a book that examines the defence condition of the state and society.

The list of invited guests is still not closed. More names will be announced soon.

Conversations on the small stage

The Authors’ Zone will also feature a series of short conversations led by Holistic News editors on the small stage. This will be an ideal opportunity to listen to deeper discussions with authors and discover the stories behind the creation of their books. It will also be a unique chance to ask questions in an intimate atmosphere.

Holistic Talk brings many perspectives together

Holistic Talk is an event for those looking for a space for shared thinking and authentic conversation. The program includes talks touching on different fields and embracing different perspectives — social, cosmic, and wartime. What connects them is a question about the human condition in different situations, including those that are extreme and liminal.

The Authors’ Zone completes this experience by offering direct contact with creators and the chance to continue the discussion beyond the main stage. It is enough to come to Bielsko-Biała, sit down in Cavatina Hall, meet the authors, and open oneself to an exchange of thoughts, ideas, and conversations that broaden one’s perspective.

The event’s sponsors are Resi Capital, Cavatina, and AON.

Read this article in Polish: Holistic Talk 2026. Idee, autorzy i rozmowy, które zostają