MEET ED MANZI
Ed started Unmuted after too many conversations that ended before they began. You know the type — people lowering their voices, afraid to say what they actually think, or worse, repeating someone else’s script. A Harvard Law graduate and former chief of staff at WebMD, Ed spent years in rooms where decisions were made — and almost never debated.
He launched Unmuted to change that.
Unmuted isn’t a think tank, a social club, or a lobbying firm. It’s an experiment in what happens when smart, open-minded people have space to be real — about politics, society, and everything in between.
Ed’s superpower? Curating rooms full of people who surprise you. He brings together founders, policy nerds, artists, and everyday sharp minds who want to wrestle with the questions that actually matter.
If you’ve ever said “I wish we could just talk about this,” Unmuted is your spot.
Saving America One Conversation At A Time
Tired of shouting into the void? Us too.
Unmuted is where intellectually curious, politically interested New Yorkers come to talk across differences.
We host pop-ups, dinners, and debates that bring sharp minds together for honest conversation on big issues. No echo chambers or personal attacks. Just ideas that matter — and people who give a sh*t.
What We Do
🔥 Live Debate Events
Expert speakers, real stakes, and a crowd that isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. Think of it as democratizing lobbying, one event at a time.
🥂 Small Group Dinners & Pop-Ups
Curated gatherings of people you’ll actually want to talk to. Mix of perspectives, same goal: understanding.
🎯 Community-Built Influence
We’re experimenting with a new way to shape policy — one conversation, one startup, one roomful of open minds at a time.
This Isn’t a Club. It’s a Movement.
We’re not fancy. We’re not cheap either.
We’re the only social org in NYC explicitly focused on civic dialogue without the performative BS.
This is for people who want more than drinks and small talk.
Who Shows Up
Ambitious, opinionated, open-minded professionals.