Answer: The spectacle is just the spark—what I’m really after is connection. The flaming wallet, the toilet paper cannon, they all create a shared moment where people lean in, laugh, and feel part of the story. From there, trust builds, and real engagement follows.
Reference: Introduction; Ch. 6 “Fifteen Seconds” (pp. 15–24, 49–51)
Podcast & Interview Information
Everything You Need for a Great Interview Experience
We know how much work goes into producing a standout podcast or television interview—so we’ve made it easy to get everything you need in one place. From downloadable headshots and bios to social media links and promo assets, this page is designed to simplify your prep and support your success.
More than just a guest, Steve Spangler shows up ready to help you deliver an unforgettable episode. Steve is well-known for using cool science experiments and even a little magic to illustrate his key points. In other words, this is not your ordinary interview experience. Steve and his team’s priority is to be easy to work with—responsive, flexible, and focused on helping you get exactly what you need.
For the fastest response or to schedule an interview, please reach out to Carly at [email protected]
About Steve Spangler
In September 2005, Steve Spangler dropped a roll of Mentos into a 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke. The video became one of YouTube’s first viral phenomena. Twenty years later, his videos have crossed 4.5 billion views, and parents are still finding Diet Coke stains on their kitchen ceilings.
That’s the story most people know. The longer story is more interesting.
Steve is a two-time Emmy Award winner, a member of the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame, and the bestselling author of The Engagement Effect (Forefront Books, 2025). He’s been a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show 27 times. Ellen called him America’s Science Teacher. He hosts the nationally syndicated series DIY Sci on FOX and CW affiliates and streaming on Amazon Prime. TIME Magazine listed him among the year’s most influential people. Global Gurus named his program the world’s #1 in education for three years in a row.
Over thirty years, Steve has delivered more than 6,500 live presentations, trained 120,000 educators, and built and sold three companies in the educational products and content space. The principles that get a fifth grader to lean in get a Fortune 500 audience to do the same.
Today, he serves as the STEM Educator in Residence at High Point University, where his work now extends into the schools of business, entrepreneurship, and communication.
Introduction for Steve Spangler
He’s a bestselling author, STEM educator, and television host who has spent thirty years turning science into something nobody wants to miss.
He’s the guy behind YouTube’s first viral science video — the one that taught the world what happens when you drop Mentos into a bottle of Diet Coke. His videos have since generated more than 4.5 billion views across social media. That’s billion. With a “b.”
His books and experiments have become go-to resources for parents and educators worldwide — the kind of stuff that makes kids actually want to know what happens next.
If you’ve seen the enormous mess he repeatedly made on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, you already know why Ellen calls Steve the science teacher you always wanted — because the fire department shows up twice a year.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Steve Spangler.
Let’s Talk Numbers
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6,500 LIVE PRESENTATIONS
Seen by Millions
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4.5 BILLION VIDEO VIEWS
4.5 Billion Video Views and 4.3 Million Subscribers
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2,100 TV APPEARANCES
Sharing a Passion for Making Science Fun
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2 EMMY AWARDS
3 Daytime Emmy Nominations for DIY Sci
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27 ELLEN APPEARANCES
Dubbed “America’s Science Teacher” by Ellen DeGeneres
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TOP 30 Global Gurus
Named in the List of Top 30 Education Speakers
Headshots
Steve Spangler Logos
We have provided a handy ZIP file containing all the various versions of Steve’s logo
Social Media Links
BOOK SUMMARY:
Author: Steve Spangler
Subtitle: Cultivating Experiences That Ignite Connection, Build Trust, and Inspire Action
Release Date: October 7, 2025 | Forefront Books
The Engagement Effect is about creating experiences that actually matter—moments that make people feel seen, connected, and ready to engage. If you’ve ever wondered how to spark genuine interest or connection, this book unpacks what’s behind that moment when someone leans in and truly cares. Whether it’s a brief exchange or a big event, it’s about designing the kind of experience that invites people to pay attention, feel something, and want to be part of it.
Shared experiences > Real connection > True engagement
Steve believes engagement isn’t a gimmick—it’s a mindset. The core message is simple but powerful: you can’t force people to engage, but you can create the conditions that make them want to. At its heart, The Engagement Effect is about designing experiences that lead to genuine connection, because connection is what fuels trust, curiosity, and lasting change.
Why It Matters Now
In an age of distraction, engagement has become the currency of influence. This book offers practical strategies—and plenty of laugh-out-loud stories—for anyone who needs to capture and keep attention, from teachers and trainers to CEOs and community leaders. Steve’s message is simple but powerful: you can’t force people to engage, but you can create the conditions that make them want to.
Book Photos
Book Interview Questions & Answers
Download our list of suggested questions to get your creative ideas flowing for the interview. Each question has a short answer along with a reference to where you’ll find more information about the answer in the book.
Example questions
Your wallet catches on fire, you’ve launched potatoes in baseball stadiums, and you’ve TP’d audiences with a leaf blower on national television. Why all the spectacle—what does it have to do with engagement?
You say in the book, ‘Leaders are in the experience business.’ What do you mean by that?
Answer: Whether you’re teaching a class, leading a team, or running a meeting, you’re creating an experience—whether you mean to or not. Great leaders design those experiences to foster connection and invite engagement, not just deliver information.
Reference: Ch. 1 “You Are the Maestro” (pp. 29–32)
You learned a lot about connection growing up in a family of magicians. What’s the biggest lesson from that world that still guides you today?
Answer: The magic isn’t the trick—it’s how you make people feel. My parents taught me that showmanship, timing, and making people like you first matter more than any illusion. Without connection, even the best trick falls flat.
Reference: Ch. 1–5 (pp. 29–48
Listen to Previous Podcasts
You never know what’s going to happen when Steve Spangler is a guest. Things fizz, pop, smoke or might even catch on fire, and the next thing you know you’re caught up in his special blend of learning and fun. Steve’s paramount goal is to work with you to create an unforgettable experience for you and your guests.
Best of Steve on the Ellen DeGeneres Show
Since his first appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2007, Steve Spangler has always found an entertaining and messy way to make science fun for Ellen and her audience. Ellen calls Steve “America’s Science Teacher” and then she calls the Burbank Fire Department. Over 15 years, Steve made a record-breaking 27 appearances on the Ellen Show. Enjoy these highlights!
Watch DIY Sci – Steve Spangler’s Television Series
The weekly series features jaw-dropping science experiments that challenge viewers to try the experiments at home, using easy-to-find materials. DIY Sci has received 5 Daytime Emmy nominations, including a personal nomination for Steve Spangler as Outstanding Host in an Educational Program. Here are three of the videos:
Popular Science Experiment from Steve Spangler
There’s nothing like curling up with a good book from Steve Spangler. Wait… curling up? Crack open any of Steve’s bestselling books and he will have you turning your kitchen into the coolest STEM lab in just minutes. Get ready to amaze your family and friends with Steve Spangler’s favorite hands-on science experiments and STEM challenges guaranteed to get ooohs & ahhhs!
