The SXSW 2020 Keynotes announced include award-winning immersive artist Gabo Arora; Grammy-winning musician, DJ, producer, and cultural figure Diplo; and Emerson Collective founder and president Laurene Powell Jobs.

Newly added Featured Speakers include Samantha Bee, Brené Brown, Bob Chapek, Stephen Colbert, Jack Dorsey, Nicholas Thompson, Jonathan Van Ness, Jen Wong, and more.

These visionaries join previously announced Keynotes Erin Lee Carr (Film), Reggie Fils-Aimé (Convergence), Kim Gordon (Music), Roger Waters (Music), and Whitney Wolfe Herd and Jon Korngold with Gayle King (Interactive).

SXSW 2020 KEYNOTES

Featured Speakers

• Full Frontal with Samantha Bee host, comedian, writer, producer, and actress Samantha Bee (Media & Journalism)
• Researcher and #1 New York Times bestselling author Dr. Brené Brown. It is part of the launch of her new weekly podcast, Unlocking Us, in conversation with activists and #metoo founder Tarana Burke, on the topic of empathy (Climate & Social Action)
• Veteran industry executive and River House Artists founder Lynn Oliver-Cline (Creating & Monetizing Music)
• Award-winning executive producer, writer, and host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Bestselling author, actor, producer, and comedian Stephen Colbert (Film & TV Industry)
• Patreon co-founder, musician, and filmmaker Jack Conte (Future of Music)
• Co-founder and CEO of Twitter and Square Jack Dorsey in conversation with Axios business editor Dan Primack (Tech Industry & Enterprise)
• Investor and bestselling author Tim Ferriss in conversation with neuroscientist, philosopher, and bestselling author Sam Harris in a live version of The Tim Ferriss Show podcast. They will discuss dangerous ideas, meditation, psychedelics, and more (Connection & Culture)
• Center for Humane Technology co-founder and design ethicist Tristan Harris (Design)

Other Featured Speakers

• Thirty-Five Ventures co-founder and partner and Kevin Durant’s manager Rich Kleiman in conversation with ESPN host, former basketball player, and entrepreneur Jay Williams in a discussion about The Boardroom: the innovative content platform that showcases the new way athletes & executives engage off the court and at the intersection of sports, business, tech, entertainment, and culture (Sports)
• Global adventurer, TV host, motivational speaker, and bestselling author Leon Logothetis (Connection & Culture)
• Founder of music management company Monotone, Inc. and co-founder of the media and production group LBI Entertainment Ian Montone (Creating & Monetizing Music)
• Researcher and #1 New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Brené Brown as part of the launch of her new weekly podcast, Unlocking Us, in conversation with Queer Eye‘s Jonathan Van Ness, on the topic of vulnerability (Connection & Culture)
• Professional speaker and storyteller Dan Nevins, Yoga instructor Gioconda Parker and Wanderlust Yoga Austin founder Ashley Spence in conversation about Rising Voices. A training platform that provides healing and authentic connection through storytelling (Climate & Social Action)
• NSA Director of Cybersecurity Anne Neuberger with WIRED editor-in-chief Nicholas Thompson (Tech Industry & Enterprise)
• Mycologist and author Paul Stamets (Health & MedTech)
• Writer, journalist, editor, and science fiction novelist Bruce Sterling (Fantastic Future)
• Amazon.com Chief Technology Officer Dr. Werner Vogels (Tech Industry & Enterprise)
• Reddit Chief Operating Officer Jen Wong (Advertising & Brand Experience)

Featured Sessions

Less Trust, More Truth: The Web 3.0 Thesis (Tech Industry & Enterprise).

A presentation on trust, truth, and the new internet with Ethereum co-founder and CTO Dr. Gavin Wood. Plus the Q&A by Austin Blockchain Collective Executive Director Pete Harris.

Sparking Female Stories: Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere (Making Film & Episodics).

Join the powerhouse production team behind Hulu’s upcoming adaptation of Celeste Ng’s 2017 bestseller, Little Fires Everywhere, for a conversation about the changing dynamics of the entertainment industry today. Showrunner and executive producer Liz Tigelaar, directors Lynn Shelton, Nzingha Stewart, and Michael Weaver, and executive producers Lauren Neustadter of Hello Sunshine and Pilar Savone of Simpson Street will attend the session. They will discuss the importance of using storytelling as a means of charting a new path forward for women. They will discuss how they are working with stars Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. Both are leading the charge in female-driven productions, to transform gender and ethnic representation in film and television.

Supernatural: 15 Years of Fandom (Making Film & Episodics).

From the series launch in 2005 on the former WB Network to the current 15th and final broadcast season on The CW, Supernatural is a case study of how a little “series could” beat the odds. It becomes the longest-running American sci-fi series in television history. Produced by Warner Bros. Television, series stars Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, and Misha Collins will join a panel of Supernatural experts. Including Samantha Highfill from Entertainment Weekly and Alice Jester from The Winchester Family Business. They discuss how a series with more than 300 episodes continues to trend on social media. Even sell out magazine covers and merchandise, pack fan conventions around the world, and be a force for social good. All while trying to make a positive and lasting impact.

Technology + Storytelling = Magic (Experiential Storytelling).

Today’s technological revolution is changing the game when it comes to experiential storytelling. Disney is staying ahead of the curve by leveraging emerging tech to revolutionize the Guest Experience. In this conversation, Bob Chapek, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, will be joined by Disney Imagineers. They give attendees a behind-the-scenes look at some of the incredible innovations Disney uses to bring stories to life. At destinations around the world!