Emmy-nominated series
40 million views
Watch trailer and 2 seasons below
The Future Starts Here is a short-form series that captured audiences, tackling a wide range of subjects including the science behind social media, parenting with technology, the creative process, gender and transgender identities, and the relationship between humans and robots.
WATCH TRAILER
SEASON 1
SEASON 2
BONUS BEHIND THE SCENES

WHO WE ARE

Tiffany Shlain
Director, Co-Founder
Tiffany Shlain is an artist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, founder of the Webby Awards, and national bestselling author. Her work has been shown at The Museum of Modern Art, The Sundance Film Festival, on the National Mall in Washington DC and at US embassies worldwide. Her solo exhibition at Nancy Hoffman Gallery in NYC You Are Here and currently has an exhibition with Ken Goldberg for the Getty Museum's PST Art & Science Collide initiative that debuted in LA and traveled to di Rosa SF and is on view until April 11, 2026. Shlain has received over 80 awards and distinctions for her films and work, including selection for the Albert Einstein Foundation’s initiative Genius:100 Visions for the Future, and inclusion on NPR’s list of Best Commencement Speeches. You can read more about her work here.

Jennifer Traig, PhD
Editor, Writer and Researcher
Jenny Traig is a researcher, writer, and editor whose books include Act Natural, Well Enough Alone, and Devil in the Details. She is also the editor of The Autobiographer's Handbook and Don't Forget to Write. Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Atlantic, McSweeney's, Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, Salon, and Slate. Jenny holds a PhD in Literature from Brandeis University and currently teaches writing at the University of Michigan. She has been working with Let it Ripple for over 19 years, focusing on research, writing, and production.

Lauren A. Schiller
Strategist & Producer
Lauren A. Schiller is an author, award-winning producer/host, and live event moderator. Creator of the nationally syndicated radio show and podcast Inflection Point, she was one of the first to document how women build power and lead change. Her book It’s a Good Day to Change the World offers inspiration and advice for a feminist future. Her audio series Relativity, created with her brother, has been featured at venues like the Wadsworth Atheneum and the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco. Lauren moderates live events at City Arts & Lectures, The Commonwealth Club, and more. A former advertising executive, she now produces art exhibitions and films with Let It Ripple.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tanya Selvaratnam
Author, Film Producer, Artist
Tanya Selvaratnam is a writer, artist, and Emmy-nominated and multiple Webby-winning producer with more than 25 years of experience in the arts & social justice. Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Long Beach, CA, Selvaratnam is based in New York City and Portland, Oregon. With the artist Laurie Anderson and the producer Laura Michalchyshyn, she is a cofounder of The Federation: a coalition of artists, organizations, and allies committed to keeping cultural borders open and showing how art unites us. She has also been an advisor and producer for Freedoms, which catalyzes public discourse and civic engagement through the arts; specifically, she worked on the organization’s 50 State Initiative as well as the For Freedoms Congress. Most recently, she produced for The Vision & Justice Project; Glamour Women of the Year; The Meteor; For Freedoms Congress; The Shed multi-arts center; and UNSTOPPABLE/Planned Parenthood. Her book Assume Nothing: A Story of Intimate Violence was published by Harper Collins in 2020.

Geralyn Dreyfous
Academy Award Winning Exec Producer
Geralyn Dreyfous is an executive producer of several Oscar and Emmy-Award winning films and series. Geralyn taught Documentary and Narrative writing with Dr. Robert Coles at Harvard University. She is the Founder/ Board Chair of the Utah Film Center and a charter member of the Utah Coalition for Film and Media. In 2007, she co- founded Impact Partners Film Fund. IP has been involved in the financing of over 30
films, including The Cove, which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary; The Garden, which was nominated an Oscar; Freeheld, which won an Oscar; Born Into Brothels, which won an Emmy; and Hell and Back Again, nominated for an Oscar. She was also Executive Producer on In A Dream, The Invisible War, Anita, Connected, The Crash, and The Square.

Erik Lammerding
Tech and Communications Entrepreneur
Erik's focus is corporate development & platform strategy. Before founding N3TWORK, his current endeavor, Erik was responsible for building Apple’s consumer market for 3rd party apps. His team focused on helping develop, deliver and market the highest quality products on both iOS & Mac. Key relationships included: Electronic Arts, Airbnb, Time Warner, Conde Nast, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Instagram, FiftyThree, Nike, Twitter, Path, Netflix, HBO, PopCap, Jawbone, MLB Advanced Media & Zynga. Prior to Apple, he was part of the founding team at FusionOne, an early pioneer in the area of Internet based services. There he led the the strategic partnership efforts, helping build branded & integrated relationships with Nokia, HP, IBM, Palm and Apple. He currently serves as an advisor to: Blakjet, Circa, Moonfrye & RedRover.
Non-profit activity includes: Charitywater.org, Technology advisor to wearethorn.org.

Alan Eyzaguirre
Silicon Valley Pioneer
Alan Eyzaguirre is a Silicon Valley pioneer focused on corporate marketing and communications. At Apple, Adobe, Nokia, IDG and LACMA, Alan has helped visionary leaders define consumer messages and executive communication platforms. Alan has closely worked with some of the most notable leaders of our time including Tiffany Shlain, Michael Govan, Jerri DeVard and Steve Jobs on everything from keynote presentations, yearly strategic reviews and brand transformation campaigns. As an Alumni of the Aspen Institute Seminar, Alan has served on various executive offsites including a recent gathering of the Association of Art Museum Directors. Alan Eyzaguirre’s global marketing and communications experience is an asset to entrepreneurial and corporate organizations.

Sawyer Steele
Tiffany Shlain founded Let it Ripple 501c3 with Sawyer Steele in 2014. and had worked together at Tiffany's film studio The Moxie Institute since 2006. Co-founder Sawyer Steele is an Emmy-nominated producer, transgender activist. He has produced and co-written award-winning films and art activations showcased at Sundance and MoMA. Sawyer also co-created the Emmy-nominated series The Future Starts Here, featuring TransBoom, where he shares his journey as a transgender man. Co-founder of global initiatives like Character Day and 50/50 Day, he has engaged millions worldwide. After 20 years in the Bay Area, Sawyer now lives in Portland, Maine, with his partner and two kids and is pursuing a graduate degree.
SUPPORTERS
Our films, art, global activations, resources, and experiences are supported
by visionary foundations and individuals like you. All donations are tax-deductible.




HISTORY
Tiffany Shlain founded Let it Ripple 501c3 with Sawyer Steele in 2014. and had worked together at Tiffany's film studio The Moxie Institute since 2006. Co-founder Sawyer Steele is an Emmy-nominated producer, transgender activist. He has produced and co-written award-winning films and art activations showcased at Sundance and MoMA. Sawyer also co-created the Emmy-nominated series The Future Starts Here. Co-founder of global initiatives like Character Day and 50/50 Day, he has engaged millions worldwide. After 20 years with Bay Area, Sawyer now lives in Portland, Maine, with his partner and two kids and is pursuing a graduate degree.
