Reflekta to Debut On-Stage, Live “Elder” of US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke at Original Thinkers (Oct 4)

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TELLURIDE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 29, 2025--

On Saturday, October 4, at the Original Thinkers festival in Telluride, Reflekta will unveil its most ambitious project to date: a live, interactive “Elder” of Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, appearing on stage alongside his son, David Holbrooke, in a conversation drawn from the Ambassador’s real-life archive. Ambassador Holbrooke passed away in 2010.

Reflekta is a Soul Tech platform transforming memories into interactive digital legacies, and this marks the first time Reflekta is introducing a public figure with a vast, well-documented body of work. This will enable the audience to sample Holbrooke’s thinking on diplomacy, conflict resolution, global health, the United Nations, and more. Participants will not only listen; they’ll engage. Questions from the moderator and the audience will prompt spontaneous replies grounded in Holbrooke’s authenticated archive.

Why Holbrooke — and why now?
Richard Holbrooke was one of America’s most consequential diplomats. He brokered the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995, which ended the Bosnian war. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1999–2001) and later as President Obama’s Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also held the unique distinction of being Assistant Secretary of State for Asia and Europe, something no one else has done. Holbrooke blended urgency, moral clarity, and deep pragmatism. He believed that dialogue and human connection could stop wars.

Today, when diplomacy often seems sidelined, we risk losing the memory of how it works, what it costs, and who led it. The Holbrooke Elder lets a new generation hear him — not through a book or documentary, but as if he’s speaking now. It’s a bridge between history and our present moment.

What You’ll See on Stage

• A moderated conversation between David Holbrooke and the Holbrooke Elder
• Topics drawn from Ambassador Holbrooke’s archives: Bosnia, U.S. foreign policy, global health, UN reform
• Audience Q&A: attendees will pose questions, and the Elder will respond in real time
• A chance to test the limits of this technology where memory, stories, archive, AI, and humanity intersect

“ The Reflekta team has built something not just technological, but human,” said Scott Carlin, Reflekta President. “On October 4, David and I ask, and Holbrooke answers with the depth only he could have. This is a living memory, not a museum.”

“Fifteen years ago, my father died at age 69 - all too young - still trying to bring peace to war-torn countries,” said David Holbrooke. “Ten years ago, I made a documentary about his extraordinary life, trying to understand him better in death than I did in life. Now, I am fascinated – and a little nervous – to see what happens when we reconnect through Reflekta.”

About Original Thinkers
Original Thinkers is a Telluride-based festival that blends film, art, talks, and performance into a four-day experience rooted in authentic ideas and meaningful conversation. It draws thinkers, creators, and audiences who believe in ideas that matter.

About Reflekta
Reflekta creates interactive “Elders,” digital presences built from a person’s voice, writings, video, interviews, and public records. The aim is to keep conversations alive. In text, voice, and soon video, a legacy can be experienced directly — something to engage with, not just file away.

Event Details
Original Thinkers — Richard Holbrooke: A Conversation on Diplomacy

When: Saturday, October 4, 2025 (festival runs Oct 2–5)
Where: Telluride, Colorado
Tickets & Info: available via Original Thinkers website Original Thinkers

Press materials (bios, images, video clips) available upon request.

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CONTACT: Media Contacts

Reflekta —[email protected]

Original Thinkers —[email protected]

KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA COLORADO

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: DATA MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY OTHER TECHNOLOGY AUDIO/VIDEO SOFTWARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

SOURCE: Reflekta

Copyright Business Wire 2025.

PUB: 09/29/2025 12:19 PM/DISC: 09/29/2025 12:18 PM

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