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Randy Cohen

Ethicist, Emmy Award-winning Writer, Public Radio Host

Randy Cohen
Travels From Travels From:
New York, NY, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000
Virtual Event: Please Contact
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Categories Categories:
Categories Categories:
Authors, Business, Celebrity, Comedy, Entertainers, Ethics & Integrity, Faith & Religion, Government, Health, Human Resources, Jewish Heritage, Journalism, Law, Leadership, Literary, News & Media, Personal Growth, Philosophy, Relationships, Spirituality, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Work-Life Balance
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Randy Cohen Biography

Randy Cohen is an American writer and humorist known for his diverse contributions to both print and television media. He authored "The Ethicist" column in The New York Times Magazine from 1999 to 2011, a role that significantly shaped public discourse on ethics. This column was widely syndicated throughout the U.S. and Canada. Cohen has also penned several books that delve into ethical quandaries and their broader societal implications, including "The Good, the Bad and the Difference" and "Be Good: How to Navigate the Ethics of Everything."

Cohen's initial foray into professional writing included crafting humor pieces, essays, and stories for prominent publications such as The New Yorker, Harper's, The Atlantic, and Young Love Comics. His television career is equally notable, beginning with his work on "Late Night with David Letterman," where he earned three Emmy Awards. He achieved a fourth Emmy for his contributions to Michael Moore's "TV Nation" and humorously received a fifth Emmy due to a clerical error, which he decided to keep. Cohen also served as the original head writer for "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," where he co-wrote the theme music. In 2010, he ventured into theater with his first play, "The Punishing Blow," which was staged at New York’s Clurman Theater.

Currently, Cohen continues to influence public perspectives on ethics through his work in broadcasting. He is the creator and host of "Person Place Thing," a public radio program that explores the intricate relationships people have with the places and things in their lives. Additionally, he is developing "A Question of Ethics," a new show poised to engage audiences on public radio.

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, Cohen attended the State University of New York at Albany, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2011. He holds an MFA in music composition from the California Institute of the Arts. In his highly engaging and entertaining keynotes, Cohen tackles a wide array of ethical dilemmas, from personal conduct in everyday situations to the ethical challenges in modern leadership and organizational practices, providing audiences with insightful perspectives on navigating ethical decisions in a complex world.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/20/2024.

Randy Cohen Speaking Topics

  • Plagiarism, a Kind of Defense

    We all deplore plagiarism, but should we? Randy Cohen argues that much of what we label as plagiarism in fiction, in music, and in art, is not only acceptable, it is admirable. Indeed it is the only way such work can be done. Other kinds of plagiarism • in academic work, for example • deserve our scorn. How do we distinguish between them and how ought we respond to each?

  • Drive an SUV in Manhattan & You're Driving Straight to Hell: The Ethics of Transportation

    In this talk, Randy Cohen takes a close look at the ethics of transportation. Ethics concerns the effects of our actions on others. If you drive a private car when you have alternatives • say for a half-mile hop in a big city • then those effects are horrible: you pollute the air, squander public space, and kill about 30,000 of your neighbors every year.

  • Being "The Ethicist": An Evening with Randy Cohen

    After 12 years writing the popular New York Times Magazine column "The Ethicist," Randy Cohen shares details and answers popular questions of his unusual job: Were those letters real? Did he ever get one wrong (or, depending on your perspective, right)? Audiences are given a chance to pose their own ethical dilemmas or set Cohen straight about a past column.

  • How to Be Good

    If we can reach a rough consensus on right and wrong • don't lie, don't cheat, don't steal • why don't we all behave virtuously? Cohen explores the idea that the answer lies not in our characters but our circumstances, and discusses how to create the kind of communities (in our neighborhoods, our schools, and our businesses) in which we are likely to behave admirably. During the Q&A, he then applies these ideas to the actual ethical problems facing the audience.

  • Humor

  • Business and Personal Ethics

Randy Cohen Videos

  • Randy Cohen: How Do Cars Kill? Let Me Count the Ways
    Randy Cohen: How Do Cars Kill? Let Me Count the Ways
    Randy Cohen, who wrote "The Ethicist" column in the New York Times magazine for over 10 years, defines ethics as "the effect of our actions on other...
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Randy Cohen Books

  • Be Good: How to Navigate the Ethics of Everything
    Be Good: How to Navigate the Ethics of Everything
  • The Good, the Bad & the Difference: How to Tell the Right From Wrong in Everyday Situations
    The Good, the Bad & the Difference: How to Tell the Right From Wrong in Everyday Situations

FAQs on booking Randy Cohen

  • How do I book Randy Cohen to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Randy Cohen for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Randy Cohen, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Randy Cohen or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Randy Cohen

    Speaking fees for Randy Cohen, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Randy Cohen are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Randy Cohen, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Randy Cohen speak about?

    Randy Cohen is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Business, Celebrity, Comedy, Entertainers, Ethics & Integrity, Faith & Religion, Government, Health, Human Resources, Jewish Heritage, Journalism, Law, Leadership, Literary, News & Media, Personal Growth, Philosophy, Relationships, Spirituality, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Work-Life Balance.

  • Where does Randy Cohen travel from?

    Randy Cohen generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Randy Cohen’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Randy Cohen for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Randy Cohen for your next private or corporate function.

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Randy Cohen is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Plagiarism, a Kind of Defense, Drive an SUV in Manhattan & You're Driving Straight to Hell: The Ethics of Transportation, Being "The Ethicist": An Evening with Randy Cohen, How to Be Good, Humor and Business and Personal Ethics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Randy Cohen for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Randy Cohen generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Calvin Trillin, Ben Stein, A.J. Jacobs, Mike Greenberg and Asra Nomani. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Randy Cohen for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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