Keynote performer, activist, independent artist, and cultural thought leader.
Arts organizations, universities, activist groups, creative professionals, and audiences seeking thought-provoking storytelling, cultural commentary, and creative inspiration.
Ani DiFranco is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, poet, and activist whose fiercely independent career has reshaped modern music and empowered generations of artists. Known early on as the “Little Folksinger,” Ani quickly transcended labels, evolving a sound that spans folk, punk, funk, jazz, hip hop, soul, electronica, and more.
Her collaborations reflect this breadth, pairing her with visionaries such as Utah Phillips, Maceo Parker, Prince, Billy Bragg, Pete Seeger, Michael Franti, and Chuck D. Ani has shared stages with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and other cultural legends, solidifying her influence across genres and eras.
Rejecting major-label conventions, Ani founded Righteous Babe Records and built a career rooted in creative freedom and principled independence. Prince once remarked that her power came from having “no ceiling over her,” capturing the ethos that continues to define her work. Her acclaimed 2017 album Binary and her bestselling 2019 memoir No Walls and the Recurring Dream reflect her evolution as both an artist and a cultural commentator.
Widely considered a feminist icon, Grammy winner Ani DiFranco is the mother of the DIY movement, being one of the first artists to create her own record label in 1990.
While she has been known as the “Little Folksinger,” her music has embraced punk, funk, hip hop, jazz, soul, electronica and even more distant sounds. Her collaborators have included everyone from Utah Phillips to legendary R&B saxophonist Maceo Parker to Prince.
Ani DiFranco has shared stages with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Kris Kristofferson, Greg Brown, Billy Bragg, Michael Franti, Chuck D., and many more. Her most recent album Binary was released in June 2017 on Righteous Babe Records and her memoir No Walls and the Recurring Dream was released in May 2019 by Viking Books.
Rejecting the major label system, Ani DiFranco has referenced her staunchly-held independence (and the accompanying creative freedom) in song more than once, including in “The Million You Never Made” (Not a Pretty Girl), which discusses the act of turning down a lucrative contract.
“The Next Big Thing” (Not So Soft), which describes an imagined meeting with a label head-hunter who evaluates the singer based on her looks, and “Napoleon” (Dilate), which sympathizes sarcastically with an unnamed friend who did sign with a label. After recording with Ani in 1999, Prince described the effects of her independence.
“We jammed for four hours and she danced the whole time. We had to quit because she wore us out. After being with her, it dawned on me why she’s like that – she’s never had a ceiling over her.”
Her lyrics are rhythmic and poetic, often autobiographical, and strongly political. “Trickle Down” discusses racism and gentrification, while “To The Teeth” speaks about the need for gun control, and “In or Out” questions society’s traditional sexuality labels.
Her 2016 single “Play God” has become a battle cry for reproductive rights. Rolling Stone said of her in 2012, “The world needs more radicals like Ani DiFranco: wry, sexy, as committed to beauty and joy as revolution.”
Over the years she’s performed at countless benefit concerts, donated songs to many charity albums, and given time and energy to many progressive causes. She has learned from and demonstrated beside Gloria Steinem, Jesse Jackson and Dennis Kucinich. In 2004, she marched in the front row of the March for Women’s Lives along with Margaret Cho, Janeane Garofalo, Whoopi Goldberg, and many others, later performing on the main stage.
Ani DiFranco has beaten the drum for voter registration and turnout with “Vote Dammit” tours in multiple presidential election years, including most recently in 2016. She’s currently on the board of Roots of Music, an organization that provides at-risk youth with support and musical education in New Orleans, and the creative council of EMILY’s List, which helps elect pro-choice Democratic women to office.
As a songwriter and social activist, she has been the inspiration for woman artists and entrepreneurs for over two decades. Featured on the covers of SPIN, Ms., Relix, High Times, and many others for her music and activism.
Ani DiFranco is the idol of empowered women who came of age in the 90s and continues to bring younger fans into her fold. From Alice Walker to Amy Schumer, Ani is respected by wordsmiths across milieux and generations.
She blazed the trail for self-directed artist careers and has been cited by musicians from Prince to Bon Iver as an inspiration to release their own art outside of the major label system.
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Steve Gutzler is the President of Leadership Quest, a Seattle based Leadership Development company. Steve is a dynamic, highly sought after speaker who has delivered over 2500 presentations, to a who’s who list of clients including, Pandora Radio, Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing, Cisco, Starwood Corporation, U.S. Security Administration, and Oxford Financial to name just a few. […]
Mike Massimino, a former NASA astronaut, is a professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University and the senior advisor for space programs at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. \ He received a BS from Columbia University, and MS degrees in mechanical engineering and in technology and policy, as well as a PhD in […]
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Nichole Pitts is a visionary leader, strategist, and advocate for ethical business practices and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. As the founder and CEO of Ethintegrity, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, helping clients navigate the intricate landscape of ethics, compliance, and DEI with finesse and innovation. Nichole is […]
Dr. Gregory Stock stands at the forefront of biotechnology and bioethics, offering profound insights into the evolving landscape of life sciences. As a biotech entrepreneur, best-selling author, and esteemed public communicator, he delves into the intricate interplay between advanced technologies and their societal implications. His compelling narratives challenge audiences to contemplate the future of human […]
Tom Turcich is not just a keynote speaker; he’s a living testament to the power of human resilience, the spirit of adventure, and the boundless possibilities of the human experience. As the tenth person to walk around the world and the first to do so with a dog, Tom Turcich has captured the world’s imagination […]
Sean Bott, specializing in keynote speaking, corporate training, and comedy mentalism, with his unparalleled ability to fuse humor, psychology, and entertainment, Sean brings forth a transformative experience that resonates deeply with audiences across the corporate landscape. His magnetic presence and profound insights have graced esteemed platforms, including those of 20th Century Fox, Disney, and Pacific […]
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