Turi Munthe Keynote Speaker

Author of Why We Think What We Think (2026) and expert on beliefs, polarisation and public opinion
Founder of Demotix and Parlia, pioneering platforms in citizen journalism and opinion intelligence
Journalist, investor and adviser specialising in media, free speech and geopolitical affairs

Turi Munthe's Biography

Turi Munthe is a journalist and policy analyst turned media entrepreneur and writer. He is the author of Why We Think What We Think (Penguin, 2026), which explores the unexpected origins of our deepest beliefs.

As a journalist and Middle East policy analyst, Turi has written for the Economist, Guardian, TLS, THES, the Nation, Spectator, and many others. He has appeared on the BBC, Fox, CNN, al-Jazeera, NBC and others, and given lectures at universities all over the world – Oxford, Sciences Politiques Paris, CUNY, and elsewhere. He has also advised governments across Europe and the Middle East.

As an entrepreneur, he founded Demotix, which became the largest network of photojournalists in the world and sold to Bill Gates’ Corbis Corporation in 2012. In 2019, Turi founded Parlia, an encyclopaedia of opinion. Parlia developed the Opinion DNA – a questionnaire designed in collaboration with top academic psychologists to help users understand the fundamental drivers of their own beliefs.

As an investor, Turi has supported startups in the media and media-tech space since the mid-2010s, both as an angel and as a partner in North Base Media, the leading media-focused early stage investment firm.

Turi also advises media and media-adjacent companies and non-profits, particularly as they relate to pluralism and freedom of speech. He has sat on the boards of Index on Censorship, OpenDemocracy, the Bureau for Investigative Journalism, The Signals Network (supporting whistleblowers) and Larger Us (which works to combat polarisation). He is a board member of one of Italy’s largest media companies, GEDI, publisher of La Repubblica and La Stampa and host of radio stations, and a board member of Mill Media, one of the UK’s most innovative new journalism companies.

Turi studied Arabic and History at St. John’s College, Oxford; Hebrew at the Hebrew, University of Jerusalem; and abandoned a PhD at NYU in Anthropology of Religion to start his first business.

Why Do We All Think Differently?

We tend to assume our opinions are the result of reason and evidence. In reality, they are shaped by a far wider range of influences, from culture and geography to biology and personal experience. Drawing on the ideas behind his acclaimed book Why We Think What We Think, Turi Munthe explores the origins of belief and what they can teach us about disagreement, identity, and the increasingly divided world we live in.

The Illusion of Rationality

Most of us like to think we arrive at our beliefs through careful thought. The evidence suggests otherwise. Our views are often shaped by instincts, biases, and influences that operate below the level of conscious awareness. In this thought-provoking talk, Turi examines why we believe what we believe and what happens when we mistake conviction for certainty.

The Geography of Thought

Why do people in different places often see the world in fundamentally different ways? This fascinating talk explores the relationship between place and perspective, looking at how history, environment and culture shape the way societies think. From ancient trade routes to modern political divides, Turi reveals how geography continues to influence belief.

Why Diversity of Thought Matters

Difference can be frustrating, but it is also one of humanity's greatest strengths. Drawing on insights from psychology, evolution, and history, Turi makes the case for intellectual diversity as a driver of creativity, resilience, and progress. At a time when many are searching for consensus, this talk explores the value of productive disagreement.

What Animals Can Teach Us About Politics

Politics did not begin with humans. Across the animal kingdom, species have developed sophisticated ways of organising power, resolving conflict, and cooperating with one another. Looking at everything from primates to insects, Turi explores what these behaviours can tell us about leadership, alliances and the political instincts that continue to shape human societies.

The Future of Media

The way we create, consume and trust information is changing at extraordinary speed. Having worked as a journalist, media entrepreneur, and founder of pioneering platforms including Demotix and Parlia, Turi brings a unique perspective to the forces reshaping public discourse. This talk explores what lies ahead for journalism, technology, and the search for trustworthy information in a noisy digital world.

Talking Across Divides

In an increasingly polarised world, it has never been harder to have meaningful conversations with people we fundamentally disagree with. Drawing on psychology, history, and the ideas behind Why We Think What We Think, Turi explores why opposing views can feel impossible to understand, how we can engage more constructively across deep divides, and how to change your mindset to ensure you use intellectual conflict for what it is: an opportunity to learn and to grow.

He combines the perspective of a journalist, entrepreneur and investor to help audiences understand how beliefs are formed, how narratives spread and how ideas shape societies, markets and institutions.
He translates complex questions about media, technology, free speech and human behaviour into clear insights that help leaders navigate an increasingly polarised and information-rich world.
He has advised governments, built global media businesses and invested in pioneering media technology companies, bringing a rare understanding of both the forces shaping public opinion and the industries that influence it.
He draws on decades of experience across journalism, policy and entrepreneurship to explore the relationship between belief, identity and decision-making in modern society.
His presentations help leaders understand why people think the way they do, anticipate shifts in public sentiment and communicate more effectively in an age of disruption, distrust and competing narratives.