Speaking

Frank Rose speaks on “narrative thinking” — what it is, how it works, why it matters.

Narrative thinking means being aware of the sea we swim in.

It means understanding that stories comprise a distinct mode of thought, one that’s every bit as valid and important to understand as logic and reasoning — and that comes far more naturally to us. A mode of thought that now, after being ignored for decades by scientists trying to grasp the workings of the mind, is finally being recognized for what it is. That plays such a central role in human experience that anyone who wants to sell something, communicate ideas, motivate people, or change their way of thinking needs to know how it works.
Frank’s talks are based on his two most recent books, The Sea We Swim In and The Art of Immersion, and on the executive education seminar in Strategic Storytelling he teaches at Columbia University. In his books and in his seminar he explains the power of storytelling. He delves into the science behind it — work done by pioneering neuroscientists and cognitive psychologists over the past quarter-century — to explain why this is the most powerful form of communication we know. He unpacks story structure to show us why stories stick in memory, why they make us care. He shows us how we can deploy them effectively, and — just as importantly — how we can defend ourselves when they have been weaponized against us.

“Frank Rose was the perfect key­note. . . . His expertise, in­sight and thought­ful provo­cation really engaged the audi­ence and brought brilliant con­text to the dis­cus­sions of the day.”

—Anna Higgs, Film4 Innovation Forum (London)

“Frank Rose’s talk was spot on. It was fascinating, exciting and amusing. It sparked quite some debate during the following days of the festival and people still talk about it, so it was memorable, too.”

—Mark Atkin, Crossover Summit at Sheffield Doc/Fest

“Frank Rose’s closing keynote for CODAsummit provided insights into people working on the cutting edge of technology to create experiential artworks. It was a sneak peek into the future of immersive art.”

—Toni Sikes, CEO of CODAworx

“Frank Rose’s keynote presentation provided the context for what storytelling has been and will become. It was a great demonstration of the impact of digital media in our society and set the stage for a robust discussion on building the industry in Kansas City.”

—Maria Meyers, Kansas City Digital Storytelling Forum

Invite Frank to speak

Frank has addressed audiences at film fes­tivals, mar­keting conferences, academic seminars, and industry gath­er­ings world­wide, from Google New York to NordVision’s Festival of Digital Narratives in Copenhagen to The Guardian’s Changing Media Summit in London. He addresses key questions about storytelling in a digital world: How can a story be more effective than a sales pitch? What does it mean to say that every organization is a media company today? What can we learn from the latest research in cognitive science? How can I engage my audience?
Film­makers, advertising and mar­keting professionals and experts in digital media have all found Frank’s talks to be engaging, insightful and in­spiring. To invite him to speak, please contact us on the form at right. We look forward to hearing from you.

    Previous engagements:

    The 2023 Movie Industry Conference

    The 2023 Movie Industry Conference

    Oct. 28, 2023 | Bushwick, Brooklyn

    Applaus Seminar Days

    Applaus Seminar Days

    Jun. 08, 2023 | Keynote | Vartov, Copenhagen

    Turin International Book Fair

    Turin International Book Fair

    May. 20, 2022 | Lingotto Fiere, Turin

    MEET the Media Guru

    MEET the Media Guru

    May. 17, 2022 | MEET Digital Cultural Center, Milan

    Swiss Association of Communication & Media Research

    Swiss Association of Communication & Media Research

    Apr. 21, 2022 | Keynote | Zurich University of the Arts

    New York Society Library

    New York Society Library

    Feb. 08, 2022 | Members’ Room Event | New York

    NYU Storytelling Summit

    NYU Storytelling Summit

    Jan. 20, 2022 | Keynote | New York University

    ImmersiveX

    ImmersiveX

    Nov. 06, 2020 | Keynote | Berlin

    CODAsummit

    CODAsummit

    Sep. 21, 2018 | Keynote | Center For Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, N.M.

    Stereopsia World Immersion Forum

    Stereopsia World Immersion Forum

    Dec. 12, 2017 | Keynote | Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels

    CILECT Congress

    CILECT Congress

    Oct. 27, 2017 | Keynote | Zurich University of the Arts

    NordVision Festival of Digital Narratives

    NordVision Festival of Digital Narratives

    Mar. 23, 2017 | DR, Copenhagen

    Festival della Criminologia

    Festival della Criminologia

    Nov. 05, 2016 | Palazzo Ceriana Mayneri, Turin

    Film4 Innovation Forum

    Film4 Innovation Forum

    Nov. 18, 2014 | Keynote | Channel 4, London

    Congreso de Negocios en la Era Digital

    Congreso de Negocios en la Era Digital

    Nov. 05, 2014 | Keynote | Lima, Peru

    Nestlé Purina Digital Summit

    Nestlé Purina Digital Summit

    Jan. 31, 2014 | St. Louis, Mo.

    Festival della Scienza

    Festival della Scienza

    Oct. 29, 2013 | Keynote | Palazzo Ducale, Genoa

    POMP Forum

    POMP Forum

    Sep. 19, 2013 | Keynote | Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Post Danmark Market Inspiration

    Post Danmark Market Inspiration

    Sep. 09, 2013 | Keynote | Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen

    MoMA R&D Salon 5: Immersion and Participation

    MoMA R&D Salon 5: Immersion and Participation

    Jun. 11, 2013 | Museum of Modern Art, New York

    Embracing Analog

    Embracing Analog

    Mar. 11, 2013 | South by Southwest Interactive | Austin, Texas

    Lucasfilm Speaker Series: In Conversation

    Lucasfilm Speaker Series: In Conversation

    Aug. 20, 2012 | Lucasfilm, San Francisco

    Kansas City Digital Storytelling Forum

    Kansas City Digital Storytelling Forum

    Jun. 21, 2012 | Keynote | Kansas City, Mo.

    Unilever Creativity Day

    Unilever Creativity Day

    May. 22, 2012 | Millbank Tower, London

    Festival of Media Global

    Festival of Media Global

    Apr. 16, 2012 | Montreux, Switzerland

    ad:tech Sydney

    ad:tech Sydney

    Mar. 15, 2012 | Keynote | Sydney, Australia

    Timberland Global Social Summit

    Timberland Global Social Summit

    Oct. 18, 2011 | Stratford, N.H.

    TEDx Transmedia

    TEDx Transmedia

    Sep. 30, 2011 | MAXXI Museum, Rome

    Beeldenstorm Professionals Programma

    Beeldenstorm Professionals Programma

    Sep. 26, 2011 | Keynote | Utrecht, Netherlands

    Authors @Google

    Authors @Google

    Jul. 12, 2011 | Google, New York

    Crossover Summit at Sheffield Doc/Fest

    Crossover Summit at Sheffield Doc/Fest

    Jun. 08, 2011 | Keynote | The Chapel, Sheffield, England

    LBi Branded Content Salon

    LBi Branded Content Salon

    Apr. 14, 2011 | LBi UK, Truman Brewery, London

    Bristol Festival of Ideas

    Bristol Festival of Ideas

    Apr. 12, 2011 | Watershed, Bristol, England

    London Book Fair

    London Book Fair

    Apr. 11, 2011 | Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London

    Guardian Changing Media Summit

    Guardian Changing Media Summit

    Mar. 23, 2011 | Keynote | Kings Place, London

    Ars Electronica Futurelab

    Ars Electronica Futurelab

    Sep. 04, 2010 | Tabakfabrik, Linz, Austria