The Engagement Effect

Cultivating Experiences that Ignite Connection, Build Trust, and Inspire Action

Description

Emmy Award–winning television host and entrepreneur Steve Spangler shows how cultivating experiences can spark curiosity, build trust, and inspire people to take action.

Steve Spangler has spent more than three decades studying a simple question: What makes people lean in instead of tune out?

As an Emmy Award-winning television personality, educator, entrepreneur, and professional speaker, Spangler has captivated audiences everywhere from elementary classrooms to corporate boardrooms—and in front of millions of viewers during his 27 appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Many people first discovered Spangler through the viral Mentos and Diet Coke experiment, one of YouTube’s earliest internet science sensations. But behind that unforgettable moment is a deeper insight: Engagement doesn’t happen by accident. It’s intentionally designed.

In The Engagement Effect, Spangler reveals the principles he has refined through decades of live demonstrations, national television appearances, and large-scale audience experiences—including events that have brought more than fifteen thousand students, teachers, and families together in a single stadium for hands-on STEM learning.

Through stories, demonstrations, and leadership insights drawn from decades on stage and television, Spangler shows readers how to create experiences that make people feel seen, involved, and inspired to act.

Readers will learn how to:

• Capture attention in the first fifteen seconds
• Turn passive audiences into active participants
• Design shared experiences that spark curiosity
• Build trust that inspires engagement
• Transform everyday interactions into memorable experiences

Whether you lead a classroom, a team, an organization, or a room full of conference attendees, The Engagement Effectoffers a practical framework for creating experiences people remember—and act on.

Because when people truly engage, learning deepens, trust grows, and ideas finally begin to stick.

About the author(s)

Steve Spangler has dedicated his career to proving that the best engagement is powered by experience. He’s a best-selling author, two-time Emmy Award winner, and the host of the nationally syndicated television series DIY Sci. Spangler gained worldwide attention as the creator of YouTube’s first viral science video, teaching millions how to launch a geyser by dropping Mentos into Diet Coke—a moment that helped shape the future of online science communication. Today, his science videos have amassed over 4.5 billion views and continue to inspire curiosity around the globe.

As the STEM Educator-in-Residence at High Point University and a member of the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame, Spangler works with leaders, educators, and organizations to design transformational experiences that spark curiosity, build trust, and drive engagement that lasts. His approach moves beyond information delivery to create moments that resonate, inspire action, and foster lasting connection.

With more than 2,100 television appearances and a global reputation for making science accessible and unforgettable, Steve Spangler’s work empowers leaders at every level to turn everyday interactions into extraordinary opportunities for engagement, innovation, and impact.

Reviews

“Over the course of twenty-seven appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, I saw Steve Spangler turn science segments into unforgettable shared experiences—moments that sparked joy, curiosity, and connection for millions. The Engagement Effect captures that same energy and breaks down the how and why behind it all. This book is Steve at his best.”

—Chris Cucci, Producer, The Ellen DeGeneres Show

“There’s something truly electric about watching fifteen thousand students, teachers, and parents fill Coors Field for our annual STEM Day with Steve Spangler. That kind of excitement and connection doesn’t happen by accident—it’s the result of intentional strategies that make every individual feel seen, involved, and inspired. In The Engagement Effect, Steve reveals the same powerful techniques he’s used to make STEM Day one of our most impactful events. This book is an excellent tool on how to captivate an audience and turn engagement into action.”

—Greg Feasel, President and Chief Operating Officer, Colorado Rockies Baseball

“For decades, I’ve had a front-row seat to Steve Spangler’s ability to turn everyday television into something unforgettable. He doesn’t just demonstrate science—he creates shared moments filled with wonder, laughter, and meaning. The Engagement Effect is full of heart, humor, and the kind of insight that turns information into inspiration.”

—Kim Christiansen, Anchor, 9NEWS Denver

“The strongest brands don’t just sell products—they create experiences that connect, inspire, and build trust. That’s what we saw when Excelligence acquired Steve Spangler Science. Steve’s work has always gone beyond science, products, and speaking; it’s about sparking curiosity and cultivating engagement. The Engagement Effect distills that mission into a powerful playbook for leaders and educators who want to elevate every interaction into something meaningful, memorable, and transformative.”

—Anupam Martins, Chief Executive Officer, Excelligence Learning Corporation

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