Featured Speakers

10 Non-Obvious Megatrends Shaping 2022 and Beyond
A presentation with Non-Obvious Company founder Rohit Bhargava. This ALL NEW story-filled talk will build on ten years of “”non-obvious”” trend research and Rohit’s popular past SXSW sessions to spotlight how the world is changing in 2022 and how you can anticipate these changes to win the future.

In this session, you will hear the best and worst predictions from more than a decade of trend curation and learn the five essential habits for learning to be a non-obvious thinker. For the first time, participants will also get an EXCLUSIVE sneak peek at insights from Rohit’s upcoming book The Future Normal, co-authored with Henry Coutinho-Mason (TrendWatching) and coming in late 2022. Join this session to get a useful, global and wildly non-obvious look at the future unlike any other from one of SXSW’s most popular speakers!

Accidental Entrepreneurs: Embracing Imperfection to Unlock Scale
Originally an idea written on an Austin napkin in 2018, Bala has changed the ultra-serious, exclusionary nature of the fitness industry – a sea of lookalike brands running the same playbook; one defined by unreasonable expectations and the heartache of falling short – through beautiful, functional fitness equipment. In this session, lifelong entrepreneur and co-founder of Fireside Mark Cuban; co-founder of Bala Maximilian Kislevitz; co-founder of Bala Natalie Holloway; and digital creator and relationship and advice expert Tinx will discuss an unexpected, borderline absurd approach to launching and scaling a fitness brand.

Anthem: A Conversation with Noah Hawley
Award-winning showrunner, filmmaker, and bestselling novelist Noah Hawley (creator of FX’s Fargo and Legion) speaks with Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, about Hawley’s sixth and newest novel Anthem, a thoughtful and entertaining cultural commentary for the real world we live in that examines a plethora of ongoing issues ranging from political divisions to climate change – all in Hawley’s uniquely incisive voice.

A Conversation with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh on the State of the American Workforce
Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh sits down with Politico‘s Daniel Lippman to discuss worker empowerment, job growth, unionization, the “Great Resignation” and getting Americans back to work. Leading into the second year of President Biden’s term, Walsh will discuss how the administration is tackling the most pressing economic issues affecting America as the country emerges from the pandemic.

Art & Climate: A Conversation with Brian Eno & Beatie Wolfe In this session, English musician, record producer, visual artist and theorist Brian Eno (appearing virtually) and “musical weirdo and visionary” Beatie Wolfe will discuss how art can play a vital role in response to the climate emergency, with Brian sharing his music industry charity EarthPercent and Beatie sharing ‘From Green to Red,’ an environmental protest piece built using 800,000 years of NASA data to visualize rising CO2 levels.

Birds Aren’t Real: How a Satirical Community Takes Flight In this session, performance artist, filmmaker and founder of Birds Aren’t Real Peter McIndoe will answer questions such as how is decentralized community formed on the internet, what do people see in something like Birds Aren’t Real and what can be accomplished when these people come together?

The Bold Jump to Streaming News
With the rise of streaming, the opportunities to break news and share engaging stories are more plentiful than ever before. In this session moderated by The Hollywood Reporter writer J. Clara Chan, hear CNN+ host and podcast host Rex Chapman; CNN+ anchor, correspondent, and podcast host Audie Cornish; CNN anchor and Chief National Affairs Analyst Kasie Hunt; and cook, writer and author of the New York Times bestseller, NOTHING FANCY Alison Roman talk about why they decided to make the jump into streaming with CNN+, a new platform set to debut this spring.

“The Boys” are Back! Inside Prime Video’s Hit Series
Ahead of the highly-anticipated third season of the Emmy Award-nominated series, join actors Karl Urban, Laz Alonso, Karen Fukuhara, Jessie T. Usher, Chace Crawford, Jensen Ackles and executive producer Eric Kripke as they dive into the intersections of superhero and celebrity culture, the zeitgeist shattering epic moments that redefined the genre, and offer up insights on how The Boys has navigated key moments of cultural inflection while subverting expectations.

Breaking the Rules to Make Your Experience Matter
Accenture Interactive CEO, David Droga, will talk with industry disruptor Dara Treseder, SVP, head of global marketing and communications at Peloton, on how to break through the barriers holding brands back from creating the experiences people didn’t even know they needed.

Bridging into the Metaverse: 5 Top Considerations for Brands
By answering questions such as is the metaverse a fad, how should your brand approach the metaverse and how should brands protect – and represent – their IP in the metaverse, co-founder and COO of The Sandbox Sébastien Borget will share his insights into the emerging best practices and top considerations for brands as they bridge into the metaverse.

Bringing The Umbrella Academy to Life
In this session, join writer, showrunner and executive producer Steve Blackman; director and executive producer Jeff King; producer and senior VFX supervisor Everett Burrell; and COO of DigitalFilm Tree Nancy Jundi with senior VFX artist Carlo Vega; and game engine producer Andrea Aniceto-Chavez as they unpack one of Netflix’s biggest hits, taking you through time, epic battles, and the emotional journeys of family.

Changing the Future of Food
All around the world, the hunger-solution NGO World Central Kitchen has sped to crisis locations to help with the most urgent of human needs: Feeding communities who suddenly find themselves with no access to food. In this session, join Imagine Documentaries co-president Sara Bernstein with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard and World Central Kitchen CEO Nate Mook for a behind-the-scenes look at their upcoming film WE FEED PEOPLE (World Premiering at SXSW 2022), featuring the work of renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés.

Chasing Moonshots & Bringing the Future to Today
Join co-host of the Business Casual podcast Nora Ali as she interviews founder, chairman, and CEO of Wonder and the co-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Minnesota Lynx Marc Lore. This session will explore how vision, capital, and people come together to make even the wildest ideas come true, from flying cars and the future of sports to Lore’s biggest moonshot, a new city he’s building from scratch to test a new economic model for society.

Citizen by CNN Presents How America Works
A conversation with CNN anchor Poppy Harlow and U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. Resignations, unionization, hustle culture, essential workers, and the gig economy – buzz words that pack a punch. COVID-19 fundamentally changed the American workforce. But moving forward, who and what works?

A Conversation with Michael Abels
A conversation with accomplished composer Michael Abels about his collaborations with Jordan Peele, how they developed the unique “gospel horror” sound, and how he found inspiration in everything from The Nutcracker to I Got 5 On It. Abels will be interviewed by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bill Adair.

Creative Catalysts: Pioneering the Future
A conversation with VP of Immersive Content Innovation ILMxLAB at Lucasfilm Vicki Dobbs Beck, and LiveArea Director of Strategy Val Vacante about what it takes to innovate, the impact of the ever-evolving emerging technology landscape and how next generation connected experiences will be powered through choice and participation.

Design Leadership: Creativity Driving Business
In a post-covid world, General Manager of Design at IBM Katrina Alcorn, co-founder and CEO of Tech Talk | Studio Christie Dames, and Lab Director of D-Ford Sandy Fershee share evolutionary leadership insights from the front lines of organizational transformation and creativity to unleash action, unlock personal talent and potential, and solve wicked business challenges in a “brave new world” that moves beyond the pandemic.

Dreamers Never Die: The Enduring Power of Metal
50 years since its inception, Heavy Metal’s founders and fans rabidly continue to live the lifestyle even as they themselves turn gray. In this session, musician and singer Sebastian Bach; longtime bassist for the groundbreaking heavy metal outfit Black Sabbath Geezer Butler; President and Owner of Niji Management, Inc. Wendy Dio; and host of the rock talk show Trunk Nation on SiriusXM Volume Eddie Trunk answer questions such as why has this music connected so powerfully with people and what does it mean to live an entire life by the values found in the world’s most extreme genre of music?

Elevating Communities that Created Pop Music
A discussion with Save The Music Foundation CEO Henry Donahue, artist Noelle Scaggs, and Artist Gina Chavez on the necessity of ensuring that today’s youth have direct access in their classrooms to the rich musical and cultural legacies in their communities.

Exploring the Mysteries of Undone: A Look Inside Season 2
Join us for a conversation with the cast and creative team of Prime Video’s groundbreaking, critically acclaimed series Undone ahead of its long-awaited second season. Series stars Rosa Salazar, Angelique Cabral, and Constance Marie will be joined by co-creator/showrunner Kate Purdy and director/executive producer Hisko Hulsing to explore the nuances of marrying complex family dynamics and themes of mental health with genre defying spectacle brought to life through its unique style and process – giving fans their first insights into how the upcoming season will expand in surprising new directions.

Featured Session: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps, Sara Bareilles, and Meredith Scardino
The women of critically-acclaimed comedy, Girls5eva, will reunite for a panel discussion about the series and what to look forward to in season two. Confirmed panelists include Grammy Award-winning artist, songwriter, actress, author, and philanthropist Sara Bareilles; Tony Award-winning actress and Grammy Award-winning singer Renée Elise Goldsberry; New York Times bestselling author, actor, activist, writer and previous late-night talk show host of Busy Tonight Busy Philipps, Emmy and Writers Guild Award-winning actor and SNL writer Paula Pell; and Emmy Award-winning American screenwriter, showrunner and producer Meredith Scardino

Future Intersections of Food, Technology & Culture
A conversation at the intersections of food, technology, and culture, looking towards the future, and how can we learn from the past to create a food system that is more Just, equitable, sustainable and scalable with futurist, engineer, and designer at Google Emily Ma, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs, The Kroger Co. and President of The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation Denise Osterhues, and master chef Andrew Zimmern.

The Future of the Data Economy: Putting People First
With the world at a crucial turning point that will shape the next 50 years of the data economy, founder of Big Technology Alex Kantrowitz and co-founder of Block (formerly Square) Jim McKelvey discuss how an economy that is people-first by design will give more transparency and efficiency to both businesses and people.

The Future of News is NOW
As consumers of news have been changing their viewing habits in transformative ways, join NBC News President Noah Oppenheim; MSNBC President Rashida Jones; TODAY All Day’s Al Roker; NBC News NOW Anchor Tom Llamas; and Peacock’s The Choice from MSNBC Host Symone Sanders for a discussion on how the News Group’s three distinct streaming networks have found early success connecting with viewers in the rapidly growing digital space while continuing to provide compelling content for traditional television services.

Gamers: The New Icons of Pop Culture & Fashion Over the last few years there’s been explosive growth in the video game industry and its influence in youth culture. Games are overtaking music as the most important impact on youth culture, and gamers are experiencing similar name recognition as major athletes and musicians. In this session, co-founder and Chief Gaming Officer at the Kansas City Pioneers LJ Browne; Director of Brand & Creative Strategy of FaZe Clan Matt “BK” Augustin; gaming content creator and producer TravelDanielle; and co-founder and CEO of Gamers First Kenny Vaccaro discuss how innovative video content platforms like Twitch and TikTok allow gamers to grow their fan bases in a way that’s just as influential as celebrities.

GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM!
In this session, journalist, writer, lawyer, award-winning playwright, TV host, and consultant for the U.S. State Department Wajahat Ali teaches those of us who allegedly come from “shithole countries” how to survive and thrive in a country where you’re seen as both “us” and “them,” how to fight back, how to make sure there’s enough spices in the chicken and enough halal meat and how to defeat both Thanos and white supremacy with the ethnic Avengers and do it with a smile on your face.

Guerrilla Tactics & Asymmetric Political Activism
In this session, co-founder and CFO of the Gravel Institute Henry Magowan; journalist, activist, and documentary filmmaker Skye Wallin; bestselling author, political activist, and former Democratic candidate for president of the United States Marianne Williamson; and Co-Executive Director of The Gravel Institute Henry Williams will discuss lessons learned from the 2020 asymmetrical campaigns of Williamson, Senator Mike Gravel, and Andrew Yang. Speakers will explore which campaigns used social media, film, and provocative progressive language to shift the Overton Window of what is acceptable discussion in democratic politics, and their evolving guerrilla efforts needed to solve the climate crisis, fight the war machine, win elections, and save our democracy.

How to Win in the Future of Gaming
Technology and gaming companies are coming together like never before, innovating to level up the action in new ways and keep you on the leaderboard. In this session, join Co-CEO ESL Gaming Craig Levine; Qualcomm Incorporated CMO Don McGuire; and producer, writer, and host Kate Yeager as they discuss the metaverse, esports and the future of new and premium gaming experiences.

How Will Artificial Intelligence Change the Future of Film and Television?
Technological advancements such as CGI and digital cameras have played a major role in how we shape cinema, but what’s the next big revolution for this industry? In this session, Assistant Professor in the Department of EECS at the University of California at Berkeley Angjoo Kanazawa; actor, producer and co-founder and President of Wonder Dynamics Tye Sheridan; and award-winning filmmaker, visual effects supervisor, entrepreneur, and co-founder and CEO of Wonder Dynamics Nikola Todorovic will explore how years of scientific research in Computer Vision, Robotics and Autonomous Vehicle Perception can be applied to Film and Television production and discuss how AI will revolutionize the future of storytelling.

Impact of “Instagram Syndrome” on Entrepreneurs’ Mental Health
Young innovators are suffering from “Instagram Syndrome” – the idea that everyone has hustled their way to a fully funded company and a matching lifestyle by age 30. But this curated perfect reality couldn’t be further from the truth. In this session, get real advice from writer, artist and cartoonist Gemma Correll; founder of Sprout Pharmaceuticals and The Pink Ceiling Cindy Eckert; co-founder and CEO of LivePerson Rob LoCascio; and acclaimed author, speaker, and life coach Tim Storey as they discuss perhaps the most important aspect of the entrepreneurship journey: the massive mental toll inflicted on leaders and explore how we can better prepare them for the struggles and path ahead.

In Praise of Friction
A discussion about the difference between bad and good friction in AI and machine learning, and how to embrace good friction in deploying AI to minimize harm and become human-first with senior lecturer in the Management Science group at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the lead Research Scientist in the Human-AI Interaction group at MIT’s Initiative on The Digital Economy Renèe Richardson Gosline.

The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks
In this session, founding members of The Kids in the Hall Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson reflect on the group’s influential legacy and their experiences creating some of the most pivotal sketch comedy of all time. They will also discuss the new two-part Amazon Original documentary The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks (produced by Blue Ant Studios), which makes its world premiere at SXSW, and the upcoming Kids in the Hall reboot for Prime Video.

Less Talk, More Tools for an Inclusive Workforce
You have a limited budget, a short timeframe, and a high level of pressure to support the changing needs of your company. With the world changing daily, the need to ensure people aren’t left behind is even more critical. During this panel, founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital Arlan Hamilton and co-founder and CEO of Future for Us and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader at Amazon Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno will share tools that can help you scale inclusive solutions fast and without breaking the bank while focusing on how we can all move forward together within the societal impacts of the evolving workplace.

Machine or Human? The Ethics Behind Smarter AI
A conversation with Smart Eye deputy CEO Rana el Kaliouby and MIT Technology Review CEO and Publisher Elizabeth Bramson-Boudreau on what a human-centric AI world can look like, how we can build emotional intelligence into our machines, and the massive potential this has to improve our lives — as well as the possible risks.

Making Virtual Storytelling and Activism Personal
Neuroscience shows that storytelling can affect brain chemistry, moving us to be more empathetic, generous— and eager to take action. In this session, Executive Director at Avow Aimee Arrambide; award-winning stereographer, cameraman, and XR filmmaker Tom C. Hall; caregiver, intersectional feminist activist, storyteller, and subject of The Choice Kristen Herring; Texas House of Representatives member Donna Howard; and co-founder of Infinite Frame Media, XR director, and producer Joanne Popinska, Ph.D., discuss The Choice, a virtual reality experience that uses personal storytelling and volumetric VR filmmaking to offer a new perspective on reproductive rights, and how personal storytelling such as this can influence cultural and policy change.

A Movement So New It Hasn’t Been Named In this session, Last Prisoner Project founder Steve DeAngelo and entrepreneur, producer, director, and Badass Vegan author John Lewis will discuss things such as the interconnections between the rise of plant-based diets, plant-based medicine/consciousness, and plant-based industry, how cattle, petroleum and other extractive industries accelerate global warming and how the use of hemp based raw materials and consumption of plant based foods reduce it, how the rediscovery of plant based consciousness has opened minds and set the table for plant based diets and more. All while answering the question, do these interconnections point the way to a better future for humankind?

Move Over NFTs. Here Come the DAOs
The latest crypto concept to seize investors’ imagination are DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations). DAOs have suddenly rocketed to prominence as investor pools, charitable organizations and community projects embrace them to reduce administrative waste and curb middlemen’s control over resource allocation. In this session, Chief Content Officer of CoinDesk Michael Casey; founder of Big Green and the Big Green DAO charity Kimbal Musk; artist and activist Nadya Tolokonnikova; and Friends with Benefits Mayor Alex Zhang will be honing in on the application of DAOs to social activism, where they could enable groups of people who share similar values and ideals to collectively organize around the pursuit of their shared objectives without the risk of capture by special interests.

Music & The Movement with Nathaniel Rateliff
Music has been a crucial component of social movements throughout history. A thoughtful partnership of musicians, organizers and activists can build a coalition that persuades audiences to action. In this session, cultural organizer and the executive director of The Marigold Project Kari Nott; musician and founder of The Marigold Project Nathaniel Rateliff; and co-executive director of Highlander Research & Education Center Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson will discuss the careful considerations and thoughtful relationships that must be in place in order to build long-lasting, impactful justice movements.

Navigating a New Era of the Digital Media Business
As digital-first media consumption begins to plateau, media companies have had to reassess business models to remain profitable and competitive in an increasingly crowded landscape. In this session, join founder and Managing Partner of Precursor Ventures Charles Hudson; co-founder and CEO of URL Media S. Mitra Kalita; co-founder and CEO of Axios Jim VandeHei; and President of Vox Media Pam Wasserstein for a discussion on the evolving digital media business, from VC and paywalls to subscriptions and sponsorships, and what it all means for companies and consumers alike.

Next Gen Tech & The Live Entertainment Revolution
Unity SVP of Sports & Live Entertainment Peter Moore will provide a sneak peek into the new fusion of the physical and virtual worlds in live entertainment offering consumers an elevated, personalized, and gamified experience.

Podcast and the Art of Adaptation
In this session, international bestselling crime fiction writer and essayist James Ellroy (author of American Tabloid, LA Confidential, The Black Dahlia) and Chief Creative Officer of Audio Up Jimmy Jellinek will focus on their shared experiences adapting American Tabloid, with Ellroy discussing his experience taking his work and turning it into audio entertainment and Jellinek discussing his experience creating award-winning, scripted podcasts.

One Year Later: How NFTs Are Changing The World
In this session, CEO of Blockparty Vladislav Ginzburg; VP of Strategic Partnerships at Dapper Labs Ridhima Ahuja Kahn; co-founder and CEO of nft now Matt Medved; and founder and Partner of Raised In Space Shara Senderoff will reunite one year after their SXSW 2021 panel to talk about bridging the gap between digital and physical NFTs, the rise of ‘NFT-commerce’ and how the rise of NFTs has forever changed our world.

The Power of Finding Your Sound
How do brands stay top of mind without visual real estate? Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for Mastercard and President of the company’s healthcare business Raja Rajamannar has the answer: Engage consumers through the power of music. In this session, be one of the first to feel the beat of Mastercard’s new album and be ready to experience a priceless musical surprise with a special guest, as Raja reveals the brand’s next journey into sound.

Predicting the Future of Entertainment with Fireside
In this session, lifelong entrepreneur and co-founder of Fireside Mark Cuban; co-founder and CEO of Fireside Falon Fatemi; and founder and CEO of the Emmy Award-nominated digital media brand, What’s Trending Shira Lazar will discuss how Fireside’s first-of-its-kind participatory entertainment technology is being utilized to invent entirely new show formats, along with to the rapid rise of web3 entertainment and the possibilities it unlocks for the future of the entertainment business.

Psychedelics for Therapeutics and Well-being
A conversation in which early-stage technology investor/advisor and podcast host Tim Ferriss questions how psychedelics can be widely used to alleviate human suffering through clinician-guided treatment of illnesses, how investors can make psychedelic medicine accessible by financing academic research and for-profit companies and clinics, and what’s next for the future of psychedelic medicine as it becomes an established treatment and wellness aid with Director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Roland Griffiths, PhD; Robert L. McNeil, Jr., Professor of Translational Research and Chair of the Yale Department of Psychiatry John H. Krystal, MD; and clinical psychologist Rosalind Watts, PhD.

Public Health – Tech is Coming for You
The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated how a century of complacency had left us with antiquated indoor health security measures — ones that were expensive, inequitable, unsustainable, and ripe for disruption. During this panel, Associate Professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Joseph G. Allen; Chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Mayo Clinic Dr. Elie F. Berbari; founding President & CEO of the Center for Active Design Joanna Frank; and co-founder and CEO of R-Zero Grant Morgan will meet to discuss how COVID-19 accelerated the technology and innovation to deliver healthier buildings – which is driving the delivery of more equitable, effective and sustainable human and planetary health.

Reimagining Exploration with Jill Tiefenthaler
CEO of the National Geographic Society Dr. Jill Tiefenthaler shares how the organization is building on its legacy of dauntless exploration by creatively leveraging cutting-edge science and immersive storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.

Reinvigorating Science and Technology for the Future of U.S. Innovation
The state of the U.S. research and innovation ecosystem is at a critical inflection point. With an urgent need for rapid advances that address societal challenges such as human health, climate change, sustainable agriculture and food production, equitable access to education and more, the U.S. faces the risk of falling behind unprecedented global competition if we do not take action now. In this session, Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan will share his passion and excitement for the future of the research and innovation ecosystem, describe how the NSF has fueled major technological innovations and supported generations of scientists and engineers who have paid dividends for our economy and national defense, discuss how we will grow and evolve into the 21st century and drive scientific progress, improve technology transfer from lab to market and invest in research infrastructure as well as STEM opportunities for all Americans and speak to the personal inspiration behind his dedication to building pathways into STEM education and careers for everyone who has the drive and passion to learn.

Ride into the Metaverse: How Cars Expand Storytelling & Entertainment
Storytelling takes you on a journey, the same way cars do. Through the emergence of the Metaverse, its ramp up and the phenomenal pace of technological advancements in web3 (and blockchain), we’re experiencing new media and experience formats that will change the face of entertainment. In this session, Partner at Lewis Silkin LLP Cliff Fluet; director, producer, and screenwriter Joe Russo (appearing virtually); and CEO of holoride Nils Wollny will take you on a ride through the Metaverse as they discuss how storytelling will turn into storyliving through the power of motion and location aware content.

The Second Renaissance of Creativity
A presentation from Patreon co-founder Jack Conte on the ways in which the creator economy is thriving, moving past the “struggling artist” stereotype, and where the creator economy will go from here.

Sound of Change: Patria y Vida and Cuba’s Uprising
For over six decades, the slogan of the Cuban revolution, penned by Fidel Castro, was “Patria o Muerte” – Homeland or Death. But in the past year, the motto was turned on its head with protesters clamoring for “Patria y Vida,” the title of the subversive song performed by Black Cuban artists that reside in and out of the island. In this session, Billboard VP Latin Industry Lead Leila Cobo with world-renowned and influential artist Beatriz Luengo and Latin Grammy-winning singer and producer Yotuel Romero speak of “Patria y Vida’s” journey from indie release to agent of change that fueled the biggest anti government protests in Cuba’s history.

That Sounds Funny: A Conversation with Bob Odenkirk and Audible
As audiences worldwide seek out new and innovative content created ‘for your ears,’ Head of Audible Studios Zola Mashariki joins Emmy Award-winning comedy writer, producer, actor, and director Bob Odenkirk and comedy writer Nate Odenkirk for a discussion about making comedy for audio and how the format pushes the boundaries of storytelling.

It Starts on TikTok: Discovering Your Audience
This session will discuss how TikTok creates space in the creator economy for artists to own their narratives, with singer-songwriter Sadie Jean chatting with US Head of Music and Content at TikTok Corey Sheridan about their success on the community-driven video platform and its impact on her artistry.

Talent in Web3: Charting a Course to Mass Adoption
With deep, emotional connections between content creators and fans, community is the bedrock of entertainment. As the digital arena continues to evolve and further empower artists to build and grow their brands (and followings) locally and globally, President of Blockchain Creative Labs and Chief Information Security Officer of FOX Corporation Melody Hildebrandt; Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer of FOX Sports Eric Shanks; and Head of Digital Assets at UTA Lesley Silverman will come together to discuss how Web3 will bring artists even closer to fans in new and meaningful ways.

Ted Lasso Strikes Back
Season 2 of Ted Lasso hits a little different – it’s the Empire Strikes Back nod that, as Jason Sudeikis shared with Jimmy Fallon, “starts in the cold and ends in a little chillier place than where we started. Everybody’s gotta go in their cave and meet a little green man.” In this session, you’ll hear from Ted Lasso stars Brett Goldstein (appearing virtually) and Brendan Hunt (appearing virtually); COO of DigitalFilm Tree Nancy Jundi; Supervising Producer of Ted Lasso Kip Kroeger; and Editor of Ted Lasso Melissa Brown McCoy as they unwind some of the ethos, intention and deep connection with fans.

We Don’t Have Time — Act on Climate Now
Join United States President of We Don’t Have Time Dr. Sweta Chakraborty and the creatives behind #dontchooseextinction — the campaign that urges world leaders to end all fossil fuel subsidies — UNDP Goodwill Ambassador and actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau; United Nations Development Programme Global Chief Creative Officer Boaz Paldi; and Co-Founder & CEO of Mindpool Mik Thobo-Carlsen as they discuss how everyone has a role to play in confronting the climate crisis and how we can utilize the power of social media to hold leaders accountable for their actions.

Welcome to the NFT Renaissance: Why It Matters For Creators
NFT’s are the beginning of how blockchain will reshape and rebalance the creator economy; bringing about an unprecedented age of opportunity for creators to monetize their art and build passionate, global, fan bases. In this session, join Solana co-founder Raj Gokal as he delves into a discussion about this new age of ownership for creators and how Solana is powering the future of NFT’s.

Welcome to Your Digital Afterlife
A conversation with multi-hyphenate, creator, writer and Executive Producer of the Prime Video series Upload, Greg Daniels (The Office, Parks and Recreation) and futurist and an award-winning author Amy Webb in which they discuss the concept and genesis of Greg Daniels’ Prime Video sci-fi, comedy Upload, near-future technology featured in both Season One and the upcoming Season Two and their opinion on the metaverse’s impact on society.

Web3, NFT, Metaverse! 3 Easy Steps To Get Started
In the far corners of the internet, a new story is being written not by big tech, but by authors such as you and me. In this session, join Senior Vice President and Channel Chief at Unstoppable Domains Sandy Carter as she explains learnings centered around Web3, NFT, the Metaverse, and how you can play your part in reclaiming the internet so that it serves everyone.

What’s Your Life’s Soundtrack? How Music Creates the Score to Our Lives
Everyone knows the feeling. A song comes on, and it can transport you back to a moment in time, a special memory. Today, more than 6 million Americans are losing these moments to Alzheimer’s, and this number is projected to skyrocket to nearly 13 million by 2050. In this session, join frontman and founding member of WALK THE MOON Nicholas Petricca and the President of the Alzheimer’s Association Dr. Joanne Pike as they discuss The Alzheimer’s Association’s award-winning platform, Music Moments, a digital storytelling series featuring moments we never want to lose, signifying to people impacted by Alzheimer’s and all other dementia that they are not alone.

What’s in A Metaverse?
CEO of Epyllion Matthew Ball; Head of Brands & Advertisers Solutions for Epic Games’ Unreal Engine Raffaella Camera; tech columnist and author Charlie Fink; and co-founder and CEO of High Fidelity Philip Rosedale answer questions such as how shall we define a metaverse, who else is building – or has built – a metaverse, what technology does a metaverse require, and on which platforms will these virtual, social spaces manifest, when, and how?

Featured Sessions Schedule