Penn Badgley and Nura Mowzoom attend UI on “Can We Talk?” tour

The pair conducted a conversation with the audience about the influence of media on relationships.

Genevieve DiChiara, Politics Editor

March 6, 2026

Penn Badgley speaks during “Can We Talk?” with Badgley and Dr. Nura Mowzoon in the Iowa Memorial Union on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The actor and psychotherapist posed and answered questions about love and relationships for nearly 900 attendees. This was the first of The University of Iowa Lecture Committee & Late Night events. (Ava Neumaier / The Daily Iowan)

Known for his roles as Dan Humphrey in Gossip Girl, and Joe Goldberg in YOU, Penn Badgley landed a role sitting in front of 900 attendees at the University of Iowa on Thursday.

Badgley was joined by psychotherapist and lecturer at Arizona State University Nura Mowzoom, who has a Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy, on their “Can We Talk?” tour to talk about relationships and the way people of younger generations interact with each other.

Since 2020, the pair has visited multiple universities, including Harvard Graduate School, Columbia University, and San Diego State University.

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Iowan, the two speakers said their personal experiences helped originate this tour. The merging of Badgley portraying relationships in pop culture for over 25 years, and Mowzoom’s background in conflict resolution and human dynamics, was how the event came to fruition.

“I actually find that every time we do this, we’re always getting a little bit deeper into it, understanding it better, because we’re also living it,” Badgley said.

Mowzoom hopes, after being involved in this event, UI students can start thinking a little bit differently about the people in their life.

Students wrapped around multiple corners of the Iowa Memorial Union, with people at the front of the line having stood waiting for the event for almost six hours.

Megan Simon, a fourth-year UI student, was first in line and said she wanted to attend the event because of her romantic relationship. She was interested to see the advice both of the speakers have to offer.

Attendees take their seats during “Can We Talk?” with Penn Badgley and Dr. Nura Mowzoon in the Iowa Memorial Union on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The actor and psychotherapist posed and answered questions about love and relationships for nearly 900 attendees. This was the first of The University of Iowa Lecture Committee & Late Night events. (Ava Neumaier / The Daily Iowan) (Ava Neumaier)

Matteo Lokmic, one of 11 lecture committee members, assisted in planning and hosting the two speakers at the March 5 event. The lecture committee is fully student run. The team pitches ideas, negotiates, and coordinates with the speakers.

Lokmic said there are a lot of people and brains that go into organizing such an event. He said Badgley was a “no-brainer” to have come to speak.

“We really believed in it, and really believed in bringing it to Iowa,” Lokmic said.

Badgley and Mowzoom were given the “distinguished lecturer award” by the committee. Lokmic said they’re able to host such a big name once every few years, who will attract a large crowd and make a big impact.

The event started by each of the speakers giving a concise explanation of their qualifications, then moving to asking the audience questions, and wrapping up the event with a thought-provoking conversation about relationships between Badgley, Mowzoom, and crowd members.

The event focused on main points surrounding the influence of media on relationship perceptions, criticizing the prevalence of toxic love stories, and barriers to meaningful conversations, such as fear of perception and echo chambers.

“We believe that meaningful social change happens when we learn to have meaningful conversations,” Badgley said.