Edie Lush
Award-Winning Journalist & Event MC | Executive Editor, Hub Culture | Bloomberg TV Correspondent | Yale & UCLA | Communication Coach
Adam Savage
MythBusters Co-Host & Executive Producer | NYT Bestselling Author | Board Member, Smithsonian Air & Space Museum | Innovation & Creativity
Few figures have made curiosity as contagious as Adam Savage — the mind behind MythBusters, a New York Times bestselling author, and a leading voice in science communication. Creator of Tested.com and a board member of the Smithsonian, Savage teaches audiences that creativity is a practice anyone can master.
Want to book Adam Savage as a speaker for your event? Please provide the info below and we’ll get in touch within 24h:
Adam Savage biography
Adam Savage spent decades turning curiosity into creation before the world ever heard of MythBusters. Growing up in Sleepy Hollow, New York — the son of a filmmaker-animator and a psychotherapist — he began building his own toys at age five and never stopped. By the time he joined the San Francisco theater and effects world in the 1990s, he had worked as a graphic designer, welder, machinist, carpenter, animator, and scenic painter, mastering every material from metal and glass to pneumatics and animatronics. His special effects portfolio spans more than 100 commercials and a dozen feature films, including Star Wars: Episode I and Episode II, Galaxy Quest, The Matrix Reloaded, and The Mummy.
Innovation speaker Adam Savage became a household name in 2003 when he joined Jamie Hyneman to co-host and executive produce MythBusters on the Discovery Channel. Over 14 seasons and 278 hours of television, the show tested and debunked more than 750 myths, earned eight Emmy nominations, and drew audiences of over 10 million viewers per episode. The program redefined how an entire generation thinks about science — making experimentation, skepticism, and hands-on problem-solving unmistakably cool. Savage followed the show’s conclusion with the spinoff MythBusters Jr. (2019) and Savage Builds on Science Channel, where he continued pushing the boundaries of fabrication and engineering.
The Maker, Author, and Science Advocate
Off-screen, Savage has built one of the most engaged communities in the maker movement through Tested.com, the platform and YouTube channel he leads as editor-in-chief. His popular One Day Builds series — in which he completes ambitious projects within 24 hours — has become a masterclass in creative problem-solving, attracting millions of devoted fans. In 2019, he crystallized four decades of hard-won lessons into Every Tool’s a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It, a New York Times bestseller that doubles as both memoir and creativity manual. He holds honorary doctorates from the University of Twente (Netherlands) and Rowan University, is an honorary lifetime member of the National Science Teachers Association and Sigma Xi, received the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism from Harvard, and sits on the board of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. He has delivered keynotes at SXSW, TED stages, MIT, IBM, Lockheed, and dozens of major corporate and academic events.
As a speaker, Adam Savage brings to the stage an electrifying combination of storytelling, humor, and hard-earned practical wisdom that resonates with audiences far beyond the science and tech world. Senior leaders, creative teams, and cross-functional organizations leave his talks with a renewed license to experiment, iterate, and embrace intelligent failure. He translates the philosophy of making — curiosity as competitive advantage, imperfection as progress, tools as extensions of human intention — into frameworks that are immediately actionable in any industry. For organizations navigating rapid change, his message is both grounding and galvanizing: creativity is not a talent, it’s a practice.
Adam Savage Speaking Videos
Adam Savage - Ground Rules for Success
Adam Savage - How simple ideas lead to scientific discoveries
Adam Savage Keynote Topics
Most organizations don't fail for lack of resources — they stall because of perfectionism, fear of failure, and waiting for conditions to be "just right." Drawing from over four decades of making, Savage dismantles those barriers with hard-won frameworks: start before you're ready, use what's at hand, and build momentum through iteration. This session gives teams the mindset and permission structure to move from idea to execution — faster, more creatively, and with far less friction.
Centuries before modern technology, people mapped the earth and measured the speed of light using nothing but their senses and a willingness to look harder. Savage traces that lineage of curiosity through his own career — from designing props for Hollywood blockbusters to debunking myths with explosives on national television — to argue that the most powerful innovation tool any organization has is the one embedded in every employee: the ability to ask "what if?" This talk challenges senior audiences to create cultures where questions are rewarded over answers.
Over 14 seasons of MythBusters, Savage and his team ran nearly 3,000 experiments — the vast majority of which failed on the first attempt. In this talk, he reframes failure not as an obstacle but as the raw material of progress. With self-deprecating humor and vivid storytelling, he walks audiences through his most spectacular misfires and what each one actually taught him. The result is a practical framework for building teams that learn faster, recover smarter, and find breakthrough solutions in unexpected places.
Whether reverse-engineering a suit of armor from The Matrix or designing a rover model for Star Wars, Savage's career has been defined by the challenge of translating ambitious visions into physical reality — on time, under pressure, and often with entirely new techniques. This keynote bridges the gap between imagination and execution, offering leaders and teams a builder's perspective on project design, constraint management, and the art of finishing what you start.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Adam Savage
Why Adam Savage?
Booking Adam Savage as a speaker is a decision that pays dividends long after the event ends. He is one of the rare figures who combines genuine technical expertise with world-class storytelling — a combination that resonates equally with engineers, executives, and creative teams. As the co-host and executive producer of MythBusters, a New York Times bestselling author, and a leading voice in science communication with decades of hands-on fabrication experience, Savage delivers keynotes that are as intellectually rigorous as they are entertaining. His core message — that curiosity, creativity, and intelligent failure are the engines of progress — translates across industries and organizational cultures. Audiences don't just leave inspired; they leave with concrete frameworks they can apply immediately. Aurum Speakers Bureau is proud to represent Adam Savage for keynote engagements worldwide. Contact us to check availability and receive a personalized proposal.
What is Adam Savage most famous for?
Adam Savage is best known as the co-host and executive producer of MythBusters, the long-running Discovery Channel series that ran for 14 seasons (2003–2016) and tested over 750 myths, urban legends, and popular misconceptions. The show earned eight Emmy nominations and drew audiences of more than 10 million viewers per episode. Beyond television, Savage is recognized as a leading figure in the global maker movement through his platform Tested.com, as the author of the New York Times bestseller Every Tool's a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It, and as a respected voice on creativity, science communication, and hands-on problem-solving.
What is Tested.com and what does Adam Savage do there?
Tested.com is a digital media platform and YouTube channel that Savage leads as editor-in-chief, focused on the maker and builder community. Through series like One Day Builds — in which Savage completes elaborate fabrication projects within a single day — the platform showcases prop-making, cosplay, engineering, and creative problem-solving in real time. The channel has attracted millions of subscribers and serves as a living extension of the philosophy Savage articulates on stage: that making things is one of the most human, fulfilling, and intellectually rigorous pursuits available to anyone.
What topics does innovation speaker Adam Savage cover in his keynotes?
Speaker Adam Savage covers a range of themes centered on creativity, curiosity, innovation, and resilience. His talks explore the mindset of makers — how to start projects before conditions are perfect, how to learn from failure, and how to build organizational cultures where experimentation is rewarded. He draws from his career in Hollywood special effects, 14 seasons of MythBusters, and the maker community to deliver content that resonates with corporate audiences, technology teams, educational institutions, and leadership groups. Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you design the ideal keynote format and topic focus for your event — contact us to get started.
How to book Adam Savage as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Adam Savage as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Adam Savage's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Adam Savage or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Adam Savage speaking fee?
Adam Savage speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Adam Savage to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Adam Savage.
How can I contact Adam Savage?
We only work with Adam Savage on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Adam Savage and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Adam Savage speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Adam Savage for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Adam Savage for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Adam Savage is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Adam Savage for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
