MPSF Speaker Series

In his April MPSF speech, Ken Burns described American history not as a single story, but as something layered, complex, and alive. Full of voices, contradictions, and moments that don’t always resolve neatly.

It’s not quiet. It’s not simple. But when you take it all in, it forms something meaningful.

That’s the kind of perspective we explore at MPSF Speaker Series: thoughtful, nuanced, and rooted in a deeper understanding.

speakerseries.net

The speakers you want to hear. The topics that matter most.

The box office is open for the 2026-2027 season! Grab your seat before they’re gone.

Subscribe for the speakers. Stay for the learning. Tickets available at speakerseries.net.

During his MPSF Q&A, Ken Burns shared his dream dinner party guest list—featuring voices like Abraham Lincoln, Louis Armstrong, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Jackie Robinson—with a final seat up for debate between Leonardo da Vinci and George Washington.

But what stood out most wasn’t just the names, it was the reminder that history isn’t only shaped by the well-known. In every story Ken Burns has told, there are countless overlooked individuals whose impact is just as meaningful.

The question isn’t just who you’d invite, it’s whose stories we’re still missing.

Father’s Day, handled.

Give dad seven nights of unforgettable stories, big ideas, and conversations worth talking about long after the curtain closes.

🎟️ 7 events, 8 speakers
📍3 venues (Peninsula, Marin, Oakland)
💡 One remarkable season

Gift a season of inspiration: speakerseries.net

During his MPSF speech in April, Ken Burns shared a guiding principle that has shaped his life and work:

“Do something that will last and be beautiful.

It doesn’t have to be a bridge, or a symphony, or a book, or a business. It could be the look in the eye of a child you raise with love or a simple garden you tend. But above all, do something that will last and be beautiful.”

speakerseries.net

READY, SET, GO!

The box office is officially OPEN for the 2026–2027 MPSF Speaker Series!

This season features a powerhouse lineup of thought leaders and storytellers ready to inform, challenge, and inspire:

General CQ Brown · Michelle Caruso-Cabrera · Kevin Fedarko & Pete McBride · The Honorable Avril Haines · Amb. Michael McFaul · Dr. Amber Straughn · Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau

Get your tickets now at speakerseries.net — and don’t wait. These will go fast.

People don’t remember statistics.

They remember stories.

That’s why Frans Lanting & Christine Eckstrom have spent decades combining images and storytelling to create connection and awareness.

Because when people feel something, they’re far more likely to act.

In a world filled with AI-generated images, people look to Christine Eckstrom & Frans Lanting to see what’s real.

During their MPSF speech, Frans and Christine shared that their work isn’t just about documenting nature. It’s about helping us see it, understand it, and ultimately care enough to protect it.

🎤 The wait is over — the 2026–2027 MPSF Speaker Series is here!

This season, we’re bringing you a powerhouse lineup of voices who challenge, inspire, and spark conversation: General CQ Brown, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, Kevin Fedarko & Pete McBride, The Honorable Avril Haines, Amb. Michael McFaul, Dr. Amber Straughn, and Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau.

Expect a season of thought-provoking ideas, unforgettable stories, laughter, reflection, and the kind of community connection that only happens when we gather together in the theater.

🎟 Season tickets are now available at speakerseries.net.

We can’t wait to see you there!