Popcultr Marketing Summit
Oct. 09, 2026 | New York Comic Con, Javits Center, New York
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 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.
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:
CM Málaga: Culture & Museums International Tech Forum
Jun. 23, 2026 | Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga, Spain
Art+Tech: A Conversation in Two Parts
Oct. 17, 2024 | Artechouse NYC, New York
Norton College Editorial Retreat
Oct. 08, 2024 | The Royalton Park Avenue, New York
The 2023 Movie Industry Conference
Oct. 28, 2023 | Bushwick Film Festival, Brooklyn
Applaus Seminar Days
Jun. 08, 2023 | Keynote: “Story and Experience in the Attention Economy” | Vartov, Copenhagen
Turin International Book Fair
May. 20, 2022 | Lingotto Fiere, Turin
MEET the Media Guru
May. 17, 2022 | MEET Digital Cultural Center, Milan
Swiss Association of Communication & Media Research
Apr. 21, 2022 | Keynote: “The Narrative Turn” | Zurich University of the Arts
New York Society Library
Feb. 08, 2022 | Members’ Room Event | New York
NYU Storytelling Summit
Jan. 20, 2022 | Keynote: “Strategic Storytelling” | New York University
ImmersiveX
Nov. 06, 2020 | Keynote: “The Science of Story” | Berlin
CODAsummit
Sep. 21, 2018 | Keynote | Center For Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, N.M.
Stereopsia World Immersion Forum
Dec. 12, 2017 | Keynote | Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels
CILECT Congress
Oct. 27, 2017 | Keynote | International Association of Film and Television Schools, Zurich University of the Arts
NordVision Festival of Digital Narratives
Mar. 23, 2017 | DR, Copenhagen
Festival della Criminologia
Nov. 05, 2016 | Palazzo Ceriana Mayneri, Turin
Film4 Innovation Forum
Nov. 18, 2014 | Keynote: “When Is a Movie Not a Movie?” | Channel 4, London
NED 14: Congreso de Negocios en la Era Digital
Nov. 05, 2014 | Keynote: “The Art of Immersion: Brands and Stories in the Digital Age” | Lima, Peru
Nestlé Purina Digital Summit
Jan. 31, 2014 | St. Louis, Mo.
Festival della Scienza
Oct. 29, 2013 | Keynote: “Immersi nelle storie” | Palazzo Ducale, Genoa
POMP Forum
Sep. 19, 2013 | Keynote: “Storytelling in Space and Time” | Ljubljana, Slovenia
Post Danmark Market Inspiration
Sep. 09, 2013 | Keynote: “Embracing Analogue” | Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen
MoMA R&D Salon 5: Immersion and Participation
Jun. 11, 2013 | Museum of Modern Art, New York
Embracing Analog
Mar. 11, 2013 | South by Southwest Interactive | Austin, Texas
Lucasfilm Speaker Series: In Conversation
Aug. 20, 2012 | Lucasfilm, San Francisco
Kansas City Digital Storytelling Forum
Jun. 21, 2012 | Keynote: “The Future of Digital Storytelling” | Kansas City, Mo.
Unilever Creativity Day
May. 22, 2012 | Millbank Tower, London
Festival of Media Global
Apr. 16, 2012 | Montreux, Switzerland
ad:tech Sydney
Mar. 15, 2012 | Keynote: “Why We Tell Stories” | Sydney, Australia
Timberland Global Social Summit
Oct. 18, 2011 | Stratford, N.H.
New York Comic Con
Oct. 13, 2011 | Keynote: “Digital Natives: Blurring the Lines” (with Matt Mason) | White Space Summit @New York Comic Con, Javits Center, New York
TEDx Transmedia
Sep. 30, 2011 | MAXXI Museum, Rome
Nederlands Film Festival
Sep. 26, 2011 | Keynote: “From Linear Narratives to Storyworlds” | Beeldenstorm Professionals Programma, Utrecht, Netherlands
Authors @Google
Jul. 12, 2011 | Google, New York
Crossover Summit at Sheffield Doc/Fest
Jun. 08, 2011 | Keynote: “When Games and Stories Collide” | The Chapel, Sheffield, England
LBi Branded Content Salon
Apr. 14, 2011 | LBi UK, Truman Brewery, London
Bristol Festival of Ideas
Apr. 12, 2011 | Watershed, Bristol, England
London Book Fair
Apr. 11, 2011 | Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London
Guardian Changing Media Summit
Mar. 23, 2011 | Keynote: “Finding, Funding or Being the Future” | Kings Place, London
Ars Electronica Futurelab
Sep. 04, 2010 | Tabakfabrik, Linz, Austria
Bloomberg BusinessWeek Digital Media Summit
Mar. 10, 2010 | McGraw-Hill Building, New York
Our Digital Lives
Apr. 30, 2008 | Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H.