Biography

Building, writing, and speaking at the intersection of emerging tech and cultural trends.

Samantha Radocchia, or “Sam Rad,” is a futurist, bestselling author, multimedia storyteller, and frontier tech pioneer who combines the mindsets of an anthropologist and technologist.

Sam is the founder of Radical Next, a meta-media studio and strategic consultancy creating transformative stories, experiences, and media productions that shape the future. Her upcoming book by the same name, Radical Next: Thriving in Times of Radical Change explores how radical next ideas and technologies will transform societies in the decades to come.

A charismatic speaker and compelling storyteller, Sam delivers keynotes globally at industry events, Fortune 500 corporations, trade associations, national governments, international organizations, and NGOs — empowering individuals, leaders, and organizations not only to survive, but to thrive through radical and accelerating change.

Sam was trained in anthropology and symbolic systems, studying simulated and virtual realities, multiple dimensions, and metaverses — pushing the bounds of human consciousness and social organizations through her research. Her early work focused on virtual world economies, and she was amongst the first anthropologists to live in the virtual world “Second Life” in 2009.

As a futurist, this work has led Sam on a journey working with a range of frontier technologies, indigenous and emerging social structures, people, places, and practices. She refers to herself as an archaeologist of the future, as Fredric Jameson coined — applying a traditional anthropological ethnographic approach to envisioning and illustrating future possibilities.

A four-time entrepreneur, Sam holds several patents linking the physical and digital worlds, and has served across multiple founding executive roles across the C-Suite. An early blockchain and web 3 pioneer, she previously was co-founder of LOVE, a London-based Web 3 communication platform, and Chronicled, a San Francisco-based blockchain company bringing trust to global commerce and supply chains. Prior to Chronicled, Sam founded two companies leveraging AI to map personal taste.

Sam is the author of the #1 Bestseller, Bitcoin Pizza: The No Bullshit Guide to Blockchain, writes as a contributor to Forbes, and was named to the 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30 List. She’s deeply passionate about decentralization and believes technology is a tool to empower not entrench.

Sam is no stranger to risk and has accumulated over 700 jumps as a competitive skydiver.

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Radical Next: The Operating System for the Future

We are living during a unique moment in human history – and what’s coming next is radically different.

Socio-cultural paradigm shifts, technological advancements, and evolving geopolitics are fundamentally reshaping our societal backbones – or “operating systems.” The convergence of exponential technologies such as artificial intelligence, immersive realities, and quantum computing are accelerating towards “the singularity” and we find ourselves on the cusp of a new era: The Age of Acceleration.

This history-defining moment of radical evolution will restructure our societies for the decades to come. So what does this mean for you? Your organization? Your industry? Your entire reality? Embark on a revelatory odyssey with Sam Rad, as she navigates the tides of time, illuminating the legacies of the past, realities of the present, and potentials of the future. Harness the promise of tomorrow with Sam Rad's compelling narratives, actionable strategies, and infectious enthusiasm.

With her signature candid delivery, Sam Rad will:

- Guide you on a journey of radical and accelerating technological change across society, diving deeply into your industry
- Illustrate future possibilities and inspire you to envision and embrace the radical next future with optimism and curiosity
- Equip you with actionable insights to enact radical evolution in your organization

Thriving in Times of Radical Change

From 787 skydiving jumps that funded her first tech venture at 20 to an inspiring journey spanning 50+ countries, Sam Rad is not just a radical futurist—she's an adventurer, anthropologist, entrepreneur, technology pioneer, inventor, and author. Drawing from her life’s journey of groundbreaking achievements, Sam masterfully combines personal anecdotes, case studies, interactive experiences, and scientific research to present an immersive storytelling blueprint on navigating our radical next future.

Sam Rad offers not just sage advice, but also candidly gripping, and unapologetically relatable anecdotes that ignite a fire of 'Radical Resilience' within. Discover how to harness the chaos, break free from societal constraints, and craft an organization (and life) that's not only reactive to change but revels in it.

Sam Rad shares key methodologies to enable you to:

- Harness intuitive intelligence and unlock the secrets of future forecasting.
- Initiate transformational shifts by editing your organization's "DNA."
- Embrace the "Radical Next" mindset, essential for thriving in an era of rapid technological and socio-cultural revolutions.

Testimonials

Sam is a rare individual who has the unique ability to catalyze and inspire everyone around her.
– ASAEL MEIR, PARTNER, COHNREZNICKLLP
Samantha not only distills complex topics surrounding emerging technologies, but also makes sense of why they impact the lives of individuals and businesses alike.
– STEVEN MISTER, PRESIDENT AND CEO, COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE NUTRITION (CRN)
Sam took the audience on a mesmerizing and radical journey.
– AELEN HAUGEN, SUPPLY CHAIN, CISCO

Booksby Samantha Radocchia

Radical Next: Thriving in Times of Radical Change

Bitcoin Pizza: The No Bullshit Guide to Blockchain

Blog Posts

How a Simple Apology Can Spark Healing and Mental Health Conversations

Learn how a heartfelt apology shared by Johnny Crowder can help you break stigma and ignite life-changing conversations about mental health and self-compassion.

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An Astronaut’s Guide on Leadership and Innovation Lessons on Earth

Explore how former NASA astronaut Dr. Leroy Chiao’s experiences in space unlock insights on leadership, innovation, and resilience for teams on Earth.

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The Future of Event Keynotes: Personalization, AI, and Interactive Storytelling

Find out how event personalization, AI-driven insights, and interactive storytelling are revolutionizing keynote speeches with business futurist Greg Verdino.

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The Power of Play: Why Entertainment Is Essential for Engagement

“Entertainment is the emotional glue that connects people to ideas.”—Robert McKee, storytelling expert There’s a shift that happens the moment someone laughs. Shoulders loosen. The room lightens. The noise of the outside world fades just...

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Designing Events That Spark Lasting Connections

Discover Wendy Porter’s proven WPE Planning Process for crafting live, virtual, and hybrid events that foster genuine connections, boost engagement, and drive ROI.

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The Best Diversity and Inclusion Speakers

Why are diversity and inclusion speakers some of the most transformative voices on stage? Because inclusion is no longer a box to check; it’s a culture to create. From boardrooms to classrooms, arenas to virtual...

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Blog Posts

 

How a Simple Apology Can Spark Healing and Mental Health Conversations

Imagine if a single, mental health–focused apology could dismantle stigma, validate someone’s pain, and launch...

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An Astronaut’s Guide on Leadership and Innovation Lessons on Earth

In the boundless vacuum of space, leaders face challenges that dwarf anything encountered on Earth....

Read More

The Future of Event Keynotes: Personalization, AI, and Interactive Storytelling

Imagine a keynote at your next event that feels designed just for your audience—where every...

Read More

The Power of Play: Why Entertainment Is Essential for Engagement

“Entertainment is the emotional glue that connects people to ideas.”—Robert McKee, storytelling expert There’s a...

Read More

Designing Events That Spark Lasting Connections

Imagine stepping into an event where every detail is designed to foster genuine human connection—from...

Read More

The Best Diversity and Inclusion Speakers

Why are diversity and inclusion speakers some of the most transformative voices on stage? Because...

Read More