My experience is that the big names will pitch to the lowest common denominator. If you are very familiar with a speakers work you are not likely to learn anything new. For new material or concepts look for university lecturers who usually have a passion for their work. They want to share their love and knowledge of their subject and not rake in a few bucks.

Thank you for the review.

I haven't been to one in a couple of years, but I used to attend American Atheist and Texas Freethought get-togethers regularly. I have had lunch with Richard Carrier, chit-chatted with Anthony Grayling , and met Ayaan Hersi Ali, as well as Dawkins, Hitchens, Penn Gilllette, and others. I do not regret taking advantage of those opportunities.

I've never gone to one. Nothing like that would probably come within a 4 hour drive from me, but if I ever did there is no way I'd spend $160 to attend. Like you say, I can't imagine they'd cover much more than what I've already known for decades.

I attended one - drove (car pool) several hundred miles - two day event: Matt, Aron Ra, and a few others key speakers. Yes, I've seen all the arguments on Youtube but I found the experience worth the time and money as I got to meet the speakers and a few other rational thinkers. On day one there was a not happy person in the audience. At noon in the hotel cafeteria, he sat across from my table, kitty corner from Mat and Aron's table - - - He ate alone and slunk under his table and pulled out a large pocket blade knife that played with for a long time. . . He did not come to the second day's event.

What's a 'secular thought leader'?

That sounds a bit worrying.