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.

Read More

Videos

Sam Rad (Samantha Radocchia) · Dell Technologies World 2023 · Generative AI, Immersive Realities

Get Ready for the Automation Fair 2023 Expo!

Sam Rad, Keynote Speaker | Decentralized Industry 4.0 - SingularityU Italy Summit 2019

Sam Rad (Radocchia) · Radical Next · Keynote Speaker · Bank of You - ExFinance Brazil 2019

Request Availability

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

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

Events Strategy That Proves ROI and Builds Trust with Rachel Andrews

Learn how events build trust, prove ROI, and drive business outcomes with Rachel Andrews, Global Head of Meetings & Events at Cvent.

Read More

Women Keynote Speakers Who Inspire Permission to Lead Beyond Applause in 2026

Top women keynote speakers in 2026 who give audiences permission to lead, speak up, and take action beyond Women's History Month celebrations.

Read More

Best Artificial Intelligence Speakers for Manufacturing Conferences (2026 Guide)

Discover the Best Artificial Intelligence Speakers for Manufacturing Conferences. Compare AI experts on automation, Industry 4.0, robotics, and leadership.

Read More

Fear and Joy Cannot Coexist: Why Your Brain Blocks Purpose and How to Fix It

Fear blocks clarity and purpose. Keynote speaker Magie Cook shares neuroscience-backed strategies to shift from fear to joy and unlock your potential.

Read More

Events Create Magical Experiences Through Intimate Design Strategy

Events create magical experiences when you prioritize intimate connections over crowd size, transforming how attendees engage and remember your gathering.

Read More

Pioneers Create Their Path to Success Through Vision, with Gaby Natale

Pioneers build what doesn't exist yet. Learn how keynote speaker Gaby Natale's Virtuous Circle framework helps teams execute when the path isn't obvious.

Read More

Related Futurist Speakers

Contact Us Today

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Fill out the form so we can best understand your needs.
    A representative from The Keynote Curators will reach out to you.

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form