About Billy

Billy Planer is a distinguished thought leader, widely recognized for his innovative teaching about how and why we need to speak with people we disagree. With a career spanning over 35 years, he has become a trusted voice on having civil discourse about tough topics helping us close the widening divide we are feeling in America.

By bridging the gap between theory and practical application, Billy’s teaching about talking to people we disagree, he guides us as we taking people we may consider “the other” and start viewing them as “just another” by making human connections through these conversations.

Billy Planer has taken over 35,000 people on journeys that focus on hearing people’s stories, thoughts, and opinions. Through the innovative 5 week summer journey across America for teens that he created in 2003 in which they met with opposing sides of political issues, the 3-day Civil Rights journeys he continues to run for adult and teen groups, and keynote speeches, panel discussions, and media appearances, he continues to inspire audiences to embrace the ability to become comfortable having uncomfortable conversations.

Passionate about shaping the future of discourse in America, Billy is taking his lessons by writing the book Conversations That Matter - How Americans Can Talk about the Tough Issues and Still Be United to an even larger audience.

A native Atlantan, Billy holds a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and earned a master's in education and counseling from Georgia State University.