The Communicators Retreat

A 2.5 day retreat for rising writers, speakers and advocates taking effective altruist ideas to new audiences

13–16 Oct 2026 · Stony Point, NY · Before EAG NYC · Fully funded

Signup here from Aug 1

The challenge

EA has world-class ideas and remarkably few public faces.

Many talented individuals care about the ideas and have taken a first step towards sharing them, but have not yet reached larger, more mainstream audiences.

The retreat

This retreat challenges EA communicators to be more ambitious.

It provides space, advice and expert contacts to help rising writers, speakers and EA advocates reach beyond existing EA channels.

You’ll come with a strategy/pitch and leave with a finished piece, contacts, and growth strategy.

Spend 3 days in a mansion in New York’s Hudson valley, just 1 hour from EAG NYC

Who’s in the room

  • 25 rising communicators

  • 5-10 editors, PR experts, journalists, distribution specialists and exemplars.

Marketing + PR professionals

Including Good Impressions, PR firms and more.

Andy Masley

Matthew Adelstein

Writer
Writer (Bentham's Bulldog)
Bios coming soon!

Three tracks

The content is built around how to grow three forms:

  • The Essay

    • Your own platform, a Substack or a blog.

  • The Op-Ed or Feature

    • Some else’s platform, in the mainstream press or TV.

  • The Podcast

    • As a guest or a host, and pitching and marketing tactics.

The format

The retreat is anchored around making progress, not watching talks.

  • A press workshop.

    • Arrive with a draft pitch, leave with a target venue, a named contact and edits.

  • A content hackathon.

    • Space to develop a new pitch, piece, framing or content plan on site, with a short progress report shared at the end.

  • Lightning talks + Expert tips

    • Each day will have about 3 tailored expert talks and several community lighting talks.

Logistics at a glance

6PM Tuesday 13 October to 9AM Friday 16 October 2026

(three nights, two full days. Attendees are expected to attend all day Wednesday + Thursday)

Dates

Venue

Two adjacent mansions in Stony Point, in New York's Hudson Valley, a 1–1½ hour drive north of the city.

Venue address to be listed on Attendee Info Page; uber recommended outside of rush hour; travel reimbursable per terms below.

Cost

Retreat costs are fully covered for invited guests.

Reimbursement of documented travel expenses is available up to $600 for US attendees and up to $1,000 for non-US attendees.

If more support is needed, please email JD Bauman at jd@communicatorsretreat.org with more information about your circumstances.

After the event, please email receipts to JD@communicatorsretreat.org by 26 October 2026.

Organized by

JD Bauman - Lead Organizer

JD is co-author of All the Lives You Can Change, leads the Christians for Impact podcast, and directs EA for Christians. JD has organized over 20 EA-adjacent retreats and conferences, ranging from 12-200 people.

Tiara Kam - Operations Lead

Tiara is the Founder of Mangrove Ops. She has led operations or volunteer teams at dozens of EA events including EAG, EAGx, and other CEA / CG retreats.