SXSW Sessions

What if you could see the world like a futurist and be a non-obvious thinker? After exploring the front lines of world changing trends and writing about them for more than a decade, this session will be the exclusive premiere of the new book, Non-Obvious Thinking (coming September 2024) from #1 Wall Street Journal best-selling author and founder and Chief Trend Curator at The Non-Obvious Company Rohit Bhargava. Going beyond offering the usual secretive futurist's tour of emerging trends and scenarios, this session will reveal what it takes to identify trends for yourself and isolate patterns the way futurists do. Based on his own successful work teaching tens of thousands of professionals how to be non-obvious thinkers who anticipate the future, this talk will open the Non-Obvious playbook and reveal exactly how to curate and leverage trends for yourself to help you win in 2025 and beyond.

How can brands and leaders tell stories that inspire human connection and positive action, especially in these anxious and uncertain times? Cheryl Miller Houser offers tactics grounded in the science and craft of storytelling to make people feel part of something bigger than themselves and move them to laugh, to cry, to propel change. Participants from all sectors can apply these tactics to drive success in building brand loyalty, marketing, galvanizing employees, creating community, fundraising and more.   

Join award-winning writers and directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert as they talk about the process of developing, creating, and releasing their surprise hit movie that took the world by st— okay, look, if you’re still reading this, we should tell you that we've run out of new things to say about Everything Everywhere All At Once, so although we’ll try our best to stay on topic, we'll most likely go on a bunch of tangents about the state of the world, the impending climate crisis, the collapse of consensus truth, the rise of AI, the importance and impossibility of self care, and our collective responsibility as storytellers to confront the issues of our time, because that's probably going to be what's on our mind, but we can't make any promises, but at times we don’t feel qualified to talk about any of that stuff, anyway we hope you enjoy our SXSW keynote!  

Women’s representation in media and entertainment has come a long way, but there's still much to be done, especially for women of color and mothers. Social media's omnipresence has raised the stakes, creating an often dangerous environment which has led to serious mental health issues for teenage girls in particular. On International Women’s Day, we’ll hear from visionary female leaders at the forefront of news, media, entertainment and philanthropy who are breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and working toward a healthier society on and off our screens.  

Join Amy Webb for the launch of the Future Today Institute's 17th edition of its Tech Trends Report and a deep dive into all the tech trends you'll need to follow in 2024. In this mind-bending session, futurist Amy Webb, CEO of the Future Today Institute and professor at NYU Stern School of Business, will provide a data-driven analysis for the emerging tech trends that need to be on your radar this year––and she’ll show you scenarios that will change your perspective on the futures. For those who have attended this session at previous SXSW festivals and already know what to expect from this session, you'll be in for an extra-special treat this year. 

Each year, MIT Technology Review reporters and editors assemble a list of the top breakthrough technologies that will change the world. In this SXSW Session, Elizabeth Bramson-Boudreau, the Publisher and CEO of MIT Technolgy Review will share the publication’s list of ten breakthrough technologies with the SXSW audience, explaining each one and how it will impact the way we live and work.

These last few years have been characterized by prolonged uncertainty when it comes to our health, politics, economy, and beyond. Can you blame us for falling deeper into the siren song of our increasingly predictive technologies? Endless suggestions of what to buy, who to date, what to write, where to turn, and what to listen to next flow right into our palms—fooling us into thinking we have control over this unknowable, messy world. The deluge of perfectly curated feeds doesn't help. Renowned psychotherapist, podcast host, and author Esther Perel wants to know: what is this doing to our relationships? How are our expectations of one another changing? It is possible that “knowing” everything is making us less prepared for the uncertainties and imperfections intrinsic to life and love. Chasing certainty has left us inflexible and socially atrophied. How is this impacting our partnerships, friendships, and communities? Much as we try, we can’t optimize intimacy—or can we?

Our country continues to take steps backward when it comes to civil liberties and voting rights when we should be expanding those rights and making it easier for everyone to participate in the democratic process. In this panel, leaders in the fight for civil rights and voting access will be sharing their insight into how we can expand access to voting for marginalized groups.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, a partnership with ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), released its first full-color images and spectroscopic data on July 12, 2022. As the largest and most complex observatory ever launched into space, Webb went through a six-month period of preparation before it began science operations with 50 major deployments, careful alignment of the mirrors, and calibrating the instruments. These experts will talk about Webb’s latest scientific discoveries, and how this observatory will continue to explore the uncharted territories of our cosmos, and share a never before seen image from the James Webb Space Telescope.

Moderated by self-proclaimed Dateline fan and Grace & Frankie star June Diane Raphael, join Dateline correspondents Josh Mankiewicz & Keith Morrison and Executive Producers David Corvo & Liz Cole for a conversation about how NBC’s longest running primetime program evolved into a true crime powerhouse with a mega podcast hub. With numerous #1 podcasts, including The Thing About Pam, Motive for Murder, Dateline: Missing in America & Mommy Doomsday, along with a Dateline 24/7 streaming channel on Peacock, the team will discuss how the true crime juggernaut is reaching a new generation of fans with its signature storytelling.

2022 saw a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced across the country, and we’ve already seen one Texas lawmaker announce that he will introduce a bill to ban youth from attending drag shows next year. The heated political discourse has led to threats against Pride celebrations and drag shows around the world.   We know these debates are negatively impacting LGBTQ youth — and that access to affirming spaces and representation is crucial to mental health. Amid these relentless attacks on the LGBTQ community, top drag queens from RuPaul's Drag Race will join The Trevor Project to discuss drag’s historical roots and cultural significance today, why promoting self-expression is so important, and how we can all help create a more accepting world.

The ‘me too.’ Movement is one of the best examples of the power of a platform to drive equity and disruptive change. For innovators, creators, and business leaders alike, there are powerful learnings in why #MeToo went viral, how the me too. Movement has defined modern culture, and how brands can more deeply connect with communities through personal storytelling. Brands & companies, leaders, and influencers today all are expected to stand for and demonstrate intentional effort in leading change. This is easier said than done amid discomfort and even fear of moving forward imperfectly, making mistakes, and publicly being called to task. This discussion will inspire business leaders, storytellers and change makers to overcome “perfection paralysis” and move forward courageously in the direction of disruptive change for good.

Join Mike Jackson, Emmy® and Tony Award-winning producer and co-founder and managing partner of Get Lifted Film Co. for his ongoing conversation series Why Not Me? hosted at the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas. The series explores diversity in the media industry. Why Not Me? creates a platform for people of color and underrepresented communities across film, TV, theatre, books, and sports to share stories of breaking into the industry and making a lasting impact for generations to follow. Jackson grants opportunity to diverse filmmakers and casts through his acclaimed productions and has developed projects with major networks and studios featuring people of color in front of and behind the camera amid fascinating storylines, bringing elevated multicultural content to global audiences alongside Ty Stiklorius and EGOT-winner John Legend. Additional talent to be confirmed.

William Shatner has cultivated a career spanning over 60 years as an award-winning actor, director, producer, writer, recording artist, and horseman. He is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures and a major philanthropist. He has won Emmys and also won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of eccentric lawyer “Denny Crane” on both The Practice and Boston Legal. He has received four additional Emmy nominations as well as other Golden Globe and SAG Award nods.   Mr. Shatner currently is the host and executive producer of The UnXplained on The History Channel. From the producers of Ancient Aliens and The Curse of Oak Island, the one-hour, non-fiction series explores the world’s most fascinating, strange and inexplicable mysteries. Shatner continues to act, write, produce and direct while still making time to work with charities and further his passion in equestrian sports. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Sexual pleasure has been lurking in the shadows, hidden discretely in store aisles, lit up in neon on the side of highways, in glimpses on late-night TV, or relegated to the dark and dirty corners of the internet. The sex industry deserves innovation. Global sextech leader Bryony Cole set up Sextech School to do exactly that - bring founders, entrepreneurs, investors, job seekers and learners together in a six week online school to share the best new sextech ideas to transform them into viable businesses and create a vibrant, collaborative and sex positive community that is growing the sextech industry together.  

With music consumption at an all-time high, a new songwriter economy has emerged, where music creators of all levels thrive and local repertoire reaches new fans across borders and genres. It's not just about writing hits but tapping into global opportunities that span various regions, art forms, and entertainment mediums, from TV/film, gaming, and Web3 to theater and production music. Music publishers will need to adapt their way of working to remain relevant, taking advantage of these new opportunities for their entire roster vs. focusing only on megastars and market share. Join Warner Chappell Music Co-Chair and CEO Guy Moot along with Grammy Award-winning songwriting/production duo Nova Wav, Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum producer and artist Murda Beatz, and Billboard Editorial Director Hannah Karp for a lively discussion about the future of music publishing and the new songwriter economy.

Music ownership has historically been concentrated in the hands of institutions and people with access. Despite streaming generating tens of billions of dollars for the music industry each year, music artists see very little of this money, largely due to signing away ownership early in their careers.   Join renowned DJ and CEO/co-founder of Royal Justin Blau to discuss how new technology is shifting power and control into the hands of artists and their fans. Unlike merch, vinyl, and other collectibles, a system of shared music ownership empowers artists toward greater creative freedom and gives fans a deeper connection to the music they love.

In her final year of competitive racing, Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete of all time, shared with the world that she was no longer competing for medals, but for a mission greater than any medal or podium: empowering women with better childcare access childcare. Her corporate sponsor Athleta, not only stood by her in this mission, but helped amplify it—co-creating a childcare grant to support other athlete mothers with childcare costs, matching the maternity benefit offered through Allyson’s community-centered footwear brand for and by women, Saysh. Working together to help build a program for on-site childcare at athletic events in partnership with the non-profit organization &Mother. Join Allyson for a conversation with ABC News Correspondent Gloria Riviera to explore the possibilities of modern brand partnerships that support athletes’ ambitions both on and off the track (or court or field), how Athleta is expanding its holistic approach to partnerships in 2023 and what’s next for the fierce advocate and entrepreneur Allyson Felix.

For nearly 70 years, Disney Parks has created happiness for millions through experiences that bring Disney’s beloved stories to life. Across its theme parks, hotels, cruises and adventures, Disney Parks has curated magical places around the world where a simple moment can become a treasured lifelong memory.     The ‘Art & Science’ of storytelling is the secret to how Disney amazes its Guests and delivers memorable experiences.  Disney Parks, Experiences & Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro will share how Disney’s storytelling techniques will build on its legacy of creativity and innovation for a world that can always use just a little more happiness.  

In the early to mid 2000s, many of the pioneers of social media gathered at SXSW to brainstorm about the potentials and possibilities of these new platforms for communication. 15 years later, so much of the optimism of those early discussions has fallen by the wayside. So where do we go from here? Is it possible to build a new kind of social media that emphasizes our shared humanity as opposed to our divisions? In this In this very interactive session, attendees are invited to come to the microphone and offer their one minute solution on what a more functional system of scalable networked communication looks like.