SXSW 2025

About SXSW

SXSW (South by Southwest) is an annual conglomerate of film, interactive media, music festivals, and conferences that take place in Austin, Texas. Founded in 1987, SXSW has grown into a major event that celebrates innovation and creative expression across various fields. It attracts industry professionals, creators, and audiences worldwide, providing a platform for networking, collaboration, and showcasing new ideas.

SXSW Executive Summary

We loved the level of excellence at SXSW, which profoundly impacts our culture. Highlights included keynotes from notable figures such as:

• Jay Graber, CEO of Bluesky, an open-sourced platform that respects First Amendment rights while combating the influence of Mark Zuckerberg.

• Meredith Whittaker, President of Signal, an encrypted open-source platform.

• Michelle Obama, along with her brother, Craig Robinson, who amplified Dr. Laurie Santos's message on happiness.

AI is here. We've been urged to research AI agents, understanding that while much of our current work is digital, physical AI, such as robotics, is advancing significantly in fields like the military, healthcare, and business. In fact, Amazon's CIO mentioned that 75% of package delivery is now done with robotics.

We must also comprehend Quantum Computing. Although traditional computing is not going away, Quantum Computing has the potential to transform everything by increasing the capability and capacity of the problems we can solve to improve our lives. However, there is a dark side—the nation that wins this arms race will have the ability to decrypt sensitive information.

Introduction

My husband, Fred, and I spent 10 days in Austin, Texas, attending the SXSW 2025 Conference. SXSW fed us with new information about technology and provided us with incredible stories through extraordinary documentary films. This year felt like attending the Olympics, as we witnessed excellence in various fields of play.

I have been eager to attend SXSW for the last 10 years, and this was the right year to go, particularly because there were fewer in-person participants (50,000 compared to 300,000 pre-COVID) and more online participants (180,000). Additionally, since the convention center in Austin is being torn down, the conference will be spread around Austin for the next three years.

Navigating SXSW required significant intellectual, mental, and physical energy, all while grappling with a constant feeling of FOMO due to the overwhelming number of activities available. As the week progressed, we figured out time-saving methods such as attending the session before a popular one (to secure a good spot) and limiting ourselves to just two meals a day.

Day-by-Day Summary

Friday, March 7, 2025

The opening session provided insight into SXSW's objectives: celebrating the power of human creativity, the importance of in-person gatherings, sharing ideas, building bridges, blending communities together, and finding common ground.

The first keynote speaker was Kasley Killam, in conversation with Amy Gallo. Kasley had been a guest speaker at our Yale ELI course the week prior, so it was a pleasure to explore her work and research in social health further. She spoke about how we often overlook and undervalue connection. Human connection can offer numerous advantages, including:

• Fewer depressive symptoms

• A stronger immune response

• Better cognitive functioning

• A lower risk of heart disease

• A longer lifespan

In fact, research shows that those who maintain strong personal connections can gain an additional 7.5 years of life. Scientific American even found that hugs boost immunity!

Next, we attended the session titled “United Through Play: Coalitions for Sport Equity,” presented by the Coalitions for Sport Equity and Nike. This program highlighted the crucial need for kids, particularly girls, to have advocates and access to sports. One quote I loved was, “From moment to movement needs momentum.” This initiative is working with Dove to ensure girls feel connected to sports, focusing on body confidence and increasing participation.

Following that was a keynote discussion on online security and confidentiality, featuring Meredith Whittaker and Guy Kawasaki, the host of the Remarkable People podcast. Meredith is a prominent advocate for secure communications and raised critical questions about what would happen if all our communications were publicly accessible.

Her talk on Signal being open-source and encrypted demonstrated how it allows users to keep their information secure. Inspired by her presentation, I downloaded Signal as a viable alternative to WhatsApp and Apple messaging, recognizing the need to transition our family to this more secure platform. I was thoroughly impressed with Meredith; she educated us on the dangers of using unsecured platforms and the critical need for open-source alternatives that empower users.

We then headed to our first premiere film titled “I'm Carl Lewis.” It was fantastic, featuring Carl himself along with the filmmakers, who answered questions afterward. I loved this film, which promoted itself by stating it would be remembered as depicting “The Greatest,” athletics' first commercially global star. While I knew parts of Carl's story, I had never realized how much of it had remained untold. Carl's talent was never debated, but his confidence and courage to challenge the existing system of amateurism in Olympic sports often faced criticism. Phil Knight's interview in the film emphasized how significant Carl was to Nike's success as a running company, and it was an honor to have Carl and his family at the premiere.

Next, we attended the premiere of another documentary called “The Librarians,” which unveils the organized efforts happening across the U.S. to ban books on topics that conservative leaders deem inappropriate for children, including Black history and LGBTQ+ stories. This critical dialogue aligns with ongoing discussions about freedom of expression and the importance of access to diverse literature.

We ended this lengthy first day with one final documentary film, “Remaining Native,” which tells the fascinating story of Ku Stevens, a young Native man living on the Yerington Paiute reservation in Northwest Nevada. He discovers the history of his great-grandfather, Frank Quinn, who was separated from his family to attend an Indian boarding school 50 miles away. Frank attempted to escape three times, with his third attempt proving successful. This premiere also included a Q&A with the directors, Ku, and his family.

Saturday, March 8, 2025

After our late night, we started a bit slower today. We attended two different women's health sessions, one of which was moderated by Katie Couric. The second session was “Informed & Empowered: Harnessing the Power of Self-Advocacy.” The key takeaway was: if you are working with a doctor and it’s not a good fit, “fire your medical team.” It’s essential to be your own advocate for yourself and future generations and to find a supportive community.

The keynote featured a conversation with Issa Rae. Issa created and starred in the award-winning HBO series Insecure and has appeared in films such as BARBIE, SPIDERMAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, and AMERICAN FICTION. She is currently driving content through her multi-faceted media company, HOORAE, where she is developing a new show on Apple+ titled “One of Them Days,” which is a comedy-drama.

Next was a featured session with Dr. Peter Attia, discussing “The Science and Art of Longevity.” He delved into the distinction between lifespan (how long you live) and health span (how well you live). His talk introduced the concept of "Medicine 3.0," which adopts a more proactive approach to health. He emphasized preparing for the “marginal decade”—the last decade of life—and making it the best possible. Dr. Attia encouraged learning from athletes who focus on training rather than exercise and suggested identifying ten things that matter most to you (like activities, recreation, travel, etc.) so that you can train for them and maintain them in your later years.

It's like investing money; you must also invest in your physical well-being. We need to focus on the elements of life that we can control, namely:

• Nutrition

• Exercise

• Sleep

• Emotional health

• Exogenous molecules—statins are important for reducing cholesterol.

• Geo-protective drugs—we don’t yet know if any work for humans.

He also spoke about the “window of distress,” advising us to stay rested, eat well, and remain active to embody the science and art of longevity. An accountability partner can be an excellent tool for this journey.

Sunday, March 9, 2025

We began our day with the Remaining Native group for a run sponsored by Nike. About 50 participants joined us for the event. After a blessing from two Native individuals, we embarked on a windy and cold 5K run, enjoying the camaraderie and the beautiful riverside course.

We then attended the Audible event “The Unusual Suspects,” featuring Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell, live with Brené Brown. The audience was predominantly there to see Brené, and during the discussion, they explored her research on shame. She explained that shame is the fear of being unworthy of belonging and connection, while guilt relates to actions (“I did”). Brené emphasized the importance of developing shame resilience and recognizing these critical distinctions.

The next session featured Eddy Cue, Senior Vice President of Services at Apple, and Ben Stiller, an award-winning actor, director, writer, and producer, discussing “Moving Culture Through Innovation.” They spoke about Apple TV’s hit show Severance, emphasizing that curiosity involves the willingness to exit a conversation differently than one entered it. They also mentioned that if you create something great, it should benefit everyone, underscoring the need to focus on doing a few great things and doing them well.

While passing through the SXSW Expo, we accidentally caught KPMG's Frontier Snapshot for 2025 presentation. The report outlined seven frontiers:

• Artificial Superintelligence (Humanoid robots and Biotech)

• Computing Infrastructure

• Quantum Computing

• Space Economy

• Digital Assets

• Environmental Resilience

• Advanced Manufacturing

The report is always worth reading, as it's thoroughly researched and provides fresh perspectives on issues influencing the world and business.

Next, I attended “The Future of Mega Events: What Comes After Paris Olympics?” which was a nostalgia-inducing reminder of the brilliance and enjoyment of the 2024 event. The discussion focused on the Opening Ceremonies along the Seine River, supported by a highlight video that evoked the emotions of that amazing experience. The panel’s key takeaway was that the keyword for the Opening Ceremonies was “US”—the idea that we are all alive at the same time and in the same place, emphasizing the importance of celebrating this shared existence. Despite the rain, the presenters remarked that Paris was “beaten by the water but not sinking,” encapsulating a sense of pride, unity, and a collective experience.

The event harnessed tools that support our spirits, minds, and hearts.

I also attended “A Touch More,” live with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, featuring guests Nikki Hiltz and Gabby Thomas. They recorded their podcast and discussed the upcoming Grand Slam Track and Field Series, which will feature four meets in Jamaica, LA, Philadelphia, and one more location to be determined, with the first meet set for April 4th. Both Nikki and Gabby committed to participating in all four events.

Megan and Sue then addressed a recent ruling regarding transgender athletes' eligibility for college sports, to which Nikki, a non-binary 1500-meter runner, stated this is a vital human rights issue and also an attack on women athletes—especially considering the current administration's reversal on NIL funding, which must comply with Title IX. The separation of NIL from Title IX means very little funding will flow to women in college sports.

Monday, March 10, 2025

Today we focused on documentary films, starting with the premiere of “Forever We Are Young,” which spotlighted BTS’s fanbase, The Army. Although we are not avid BTS fans, we wanted to understand how the Army has initiated a global movement. My main takeaway was that the fans are exceptionally competent on social media, willing to dedicate tremendous amounts of time to help each other (such as translating content), and they have created a strong sense of belonging within their community. This notion of belonging is essential to any social movement and shows how a central passion—like a boy band—can foster cohesion for any cause.

Next, we saw “The Makings of Curtis Mayfield,” directed by and featuring Grammy and Academy Award-winning H.E.R. The film explores the legacy and deep musical and cultural influences of singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, and entrepreneur Curtis Mayfield. This felt like a beautiful multi-generational moment, with so many artists of different generations who were inspired by Mayfield. H.E.R. was there to discuss the film, providing a guided experience through the story on screen and conducting interviews with Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Tom Morello, and others, allowing the artists to reflect and sometimes perform music in tribute to Mayfield.

The day concluded with “Mola: A Tibetan Tale of Love and Loss,” a premiere that featured the filmmakers in a Q&A session afterward. This impactful film followed Kunsang Wangmo, known as Mola, a 100-year-old Tibetan nun exiled from her homeland in 1959 to escape the Chinese occupation. Now 100 years old, and after living with her daughter Sonam in Switzerland for the past 45 years, she wants to return to Tibet to die. Both Mola's granddaughter Yangzom Brauen and son-in-law Martin Brauen were present, and they gifted each of us with a bag and picture book detailing their lives with Mola, who lived with them in Europe.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Fred attended the keynote: “From Sci-Fi to Society: The Next Era of AI and Quantum Computing.” We have entered a new era in which computers can learn, generate, and operate independently. A new computer paradigm is rapidly evolving that leverages quantum mechanics to solve seemingly impossible challenges. Instead of focusing on “What is the answer?” it’s now more about “What is the right question to be asked?”

Next, we watched a compelling documentary called “The Secret of Me.” This was a young person who was born male and raised female, exploring the difficulties of not knowing this secret until he was in college.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

The first session was dedicated to “Quantum Computing—The What, Why, and When,” followed by Charina Chou, COO for Google Quantum AI, and Tye Brady, Chief Technologist of Amazon Robotics. They explained that computing uses bits of 1 or 0, while quantum computing uses Q-bits, which can be both 1 and 0 at the same time. Quantum technology gives us the ability to solve more complex problems, such as cancer treatment. Additionally, quantum computing has the potential to break encryptions in the future.

The next session was “Can AI Be Trained to Be Ethical, and Will It?” The panel aimed to uncover whether ethical AI is a plausible goal and the steps needed to achieve it. Empathy needs to be built into our systems, considering the users' perspectives. We need to have stakeholders and users work together to inform guidelines and governance.

We then attended a keynote with John Fogerty, singer, songwriter, and leader of Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), and Tom Morello, Grammy Award winner and original member of Rage Against the Machine. The discussion focused on Fogerty’s career, which started with signing a contract that gave away his rights to his music. They discussed his successful career as a Grammy winner and being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

We wrapped up the day with a Documentary Short Program featuring six different short films. The Goldfish Club, an English film about wingwalkers, and Welcome Home, Freckle, a Korean film about family and domestic violence, were both interesting. That night, we went to the movie “Odyssey,” a narrative with potential to entertain, but after it was described as making the SXSW film committee feel ‘uncomfortable,’ we agreed to leave early.

Thursday, March 13, 2025

The featured session today was “Michelle Obama, Craig Robinson & Dr. Laurie Santos.” Former First Lady Michelle Obama and her brother, former basketball coach Craig Robinson, have a new podcast called IMO. They had a conversation with Dr. Laurie Santos, a psychology professor at Yale University and host of the podcast The Happiness Lab. Their conversation focused on how to transform our thinking from despair to hope.

Following that, Bryan Johnson presented his keynote titled “Don’t Die,” billed as a moving discussion exploring the vastness of consciousness and the future of humanity. Bryan’s keynote included how to live healthily at every age. He talked about happiness in relation to his five points:

1. Sleep

2. Exercise

3. Diet

4. Community

5. Measurement

   He stated we should build our lives around sleep, becoming a ‘professional sleeper,’ where our last meal should be at least two hours before bed, avoiding blue light, maintaining a consistent pattern, and establishing a wind-down routine. He discussed four pillars of exercise: mobility, cardio, resistance, and HIIT.

Regarding community, he emphasized the importance of:

• Connection & Belonging

• Support & Reciprocity

• Shared Purpose

• Shared Experiences

• Vulnerability

On the measurement side, he recommended blood work, speed of aging tests, understanding the amount of microplastics inside of us, full-body MRIs, VO2 tests, and assessing bio-age fitness. He has a company called Blueprint that can assist with better sleep, exercise, younger skin and hair, optimizing whole-body health, and setting longevity goals.

We ended the day with the documentary “Take No Prisoners,” which offered unprecedented access to America’s top hostage negotiator, Roger Carstens.

Friday, March 14, 2025

We explored some of the music festival today, enjoying a performance by Sierra Spirit.

Saturday, March 15, 2025

We seized the opportunity to watch two remarkable documentaries: “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore” and “Deaf President Now.”

Sunday, March 16, 2025

We concluded our time in Austin with a tour of UT Austin and the LBJ Library, enjoying a walking tour of the city that included the Capitol, followed by lunch at The Star Cafe in the Bullock Texas State History Museum.

Thank you, Austin, for sharing your beautiful city, friendly people, delicious food, and southern hospitality with us. We thoroughly enjoyed the time spent being educated by exceptional individuals on new and leading-edge topics.