Brainstorm Speaker Series: Sam Ellis

The Brainstorm Speaker Series is a series of free events presented by Jackson Hole News & Guide, Teton County Library, and The Center featuring trailblazers who are renowned in their fields and are known for sparking ideas and inspiring conversation. Support for the series comes from Teton County Library Foundation & Friends.

Sam Ellis is a journalist, video director, editor, and animator based in New York City. He’s currently the showrunner and creator of “Search Party,” a YouTube channel that covers sports and geopolitics. Ellis has produced explainers on the world’s thorniest geopolitical stories; from the rise of Vladimir Putin, turmoil in the Middle East, and the international drug trade, to the world of sports; the rise of England’s Premier League, the socialist roots of the NFL, and the unlikely triumph of New Zealand’s rugby team. But he’s most interested in the intersection of the two; Why no one wants to host the Olympics, the warlord using MMA to raise an army, and how Mongolia conquered sumo wrestling.

Previously, Ellis produced the hugely popular video series, Vox Atlas, for which he earned an Emmy nomination. Ellis has also directed multiple episodes of TV; covering pandemics and vaccines for Netflix’s “Explained” and immigrant labor in horse racing for HBO Sport’s ‘Level Playing Field’. He specializes in breaking down the most complex new stories and presenting them with a refreshing, accessible, and engaging visual style.