Creative Control
Fast Company
Fast Company's Creative Control is taking a deep dive into the forces that are shaping the creator economy and what it means for its future. As the creator economy continues its rapid expansion, there are issues that deserve a closer look. Topics like who owns what online, where’s the middle class for creators, and what web3 technology will really mean for creators after the hype.
DeepSeek, OpenAI, and the relentless AI race
On today’s episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen break down the latest news in the world of business and innovation, including Elon Musk’s unsolicited bid to buy OpenAI, the latest inflation numbers for the U.S., and the AI summit in Paris.Next, ‘Fast Company’ senior writer Mark Sullivan, who covers AI and all things tech-related, walks Yaz and Josh through how DeepSeek upended the AI arms race and what’s next for its competitors.And finally, Yaz and Josh talk to Caroline Spiegel, f
The Super Bowl is all about the ads
On today’s episode, hosts Yaz Gagne and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in the world of business and innovation including the Trump administration’s trade wars, Elon Musk’s crusade against the federal bureaucracy, and the 2024 earnings results recently announced by Apple and Palantir.Then, Yaz talks to ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Jeff Beer, who’s been covering advertising and marketing for nearly two decades, about the ads we’ll be seeing during this Sunday’s Super Bowl.Finally,
Teflon Son? How Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son’s legend keeps growing
On today’s episode, host Josh Christensen is joined by ‘Fast Company’ associate editor David Salazar to help break down the latest news in the world of business and innovation, including the fallout from DeepSeek’s LLM launch, the backtracked federal funding freeze, and the rising price of eggs. (01:02)Next, Yasmin Gagne interviews Lionel Barber, former editor of the ‘Financial Times,’ about his new book, a biography of Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son: ‘Gambling Man: The Wild Ride of Japan’s Masayosh
The LA fires are still burning, TikTok is still running in the US, and the new Trump administration has begun
On today’s episode, Donald Trump has been sworn in as president once again and almost immediately began enacting his agenda. Hosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen break down the president's executive orders and policy promises relating to the economy, the tech industry, labor and climateThen, the fires in Los Angeles are still burning. ‘Los Angeles Times’ climate columnist Sammy Roth unpacks the fallout from this disaster and the role climate change has played.Finally, The TikTok ban went int
Inside Trader Joe’s and NVIDIA
Fast Company contributing writer Clint Rainey discusses his recent series on Trader Joe’s. He explains how the grocer remains a beloved brand despite a record number of product recalls, safety violations, worker misconduct complaints, and an environmental record that belies its reputation. Then, Tae Kim, a senior technology writer at Barron's and author of The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant ,explains the secret behind NVIDIA's success.
Police departments are embracing AI-enhanced surveillance technology to stop crime
Police departments across the country are embracing AI-enhanced surveillance technology in the name of stopping crime. One prominent security firm called Flock Safety is leading the effort and profiting off our fears. Fast Company Senior Writer Ainsley Harris joined Yaz and Josh to explain how the Atlanta-based startup signed a deal with San Francisco in March 2024 to install and operate 400 LPRs (license plate recognition systems).Then, Yaz chats with President and CEO of Warner Bros.
How the most innovative companies work: Mattel - FROM FASTCO WORKS AND ATLASSIAN
With a history exceeding 50 years, Hot Wheels has proven it has staying power. Rooted in authentic car design and performance, the brand continues to innovate. In this episode, part of the Atlassian-sponsored 'Behind The Teams' series, Roberto Stanichi, executive vice president of Hot Wheels & the global head of vehicles; Ted Wu, head of design; and Subri Kovilmadam, Mattel’s vice president of technology, reveal how Mattel’s culture of collaboration works.
Why the NFL, Universal Pictures, and erotic audio company Quinn made our Brands That Matter list
On today’s episode, Yaz and Josh are joined by ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Jeff Beer and ‘Fast Company’ associate editor David Salazar to discuss the annual Brands That Matter list. This year, the list includes not just such companies as Athletic Brewing, Quinn Erotic Audio, and DoorDash, but, for the first time, it includes CMOs who have taken some really interesting creative risks.Plus, Josh talks with Second City Works creative director Tyler Dean Kempf about improv classes fo
Are Amazon robots taking over their fulfillment centers?
In today’s episode, Yaz and Josh take a trip to an Amazon fulfillment center to get a firsthand look at the retailer’s fleet of robots. Meant to help their workers cope with the onslaught of holiday shopping, these robots cause Yaz and Josh to wonder: Will the robots help the workers or replace them? To delve even deeper, Yaz and Josh also spoke with Amazon Chief Technologist Tye Brady about the development of these robots, what they mean for worker safety, and their grandiose names.
Why everyone is leaving Twitter for Bluesky
There’s a new social media giant on the scene. After Donald Trump’s Elon Musk–assisted reelection, Blueksy’s user base ballooned. It now has over 20 million users and is the No. 1 app in the App Store. Yaz and Josh sit down with Bluesky COO Rose Wang to discuss Bluesky’s core tenets, what the surge in users has meant for her team, and whether Bluesky can succeed where others have failed: at being a permanent replacement for X. Plus, a special segment with our senior 'tween' correspondent Eleanor
Why Gen Z men really voted for Trump
Since the 2008 election, Democratic candidates for president have won at least 60% of the under-30 vote. After last week’s election, that number is down to 54%. Joining Yaz and Josh to discuss Donald Trump’s success with young male voters is ‘Fast Company’ contributing writer, a Gen Zer himself, Henry Chandonnet. Then, Yaz sits down with Oura CEO Tom Hale to discuss the state of the wearable health-tech space.And for more content, subscribe to Fast Company Premium : https://www.fastcompany.com/p
Why Gen Z men really voted for Trump
Since the 2008 election, Democratic candidates for president have won at least 60% of the under-30 vote. After last week’s election, that number is down to 54%. Joining Yaz and Josh to discuss Donald Trump’s success with young male voters is ‘Fast Company’ contributing writer, a Gen Zer himself, Henry Chandonnet. Then, Yaz sits down with Oura CEO Tom Hale to discuss the state of the wearable health-tech space.And for more content, subscribe to Fast Company Premium : https://www.fastcompany.com/p
The Victoria’s Secret fashion show is back. Are the company’s old problems back too?
After a slew of problems—some of them really dark—Victoria's Secret cancelled its fashion show in 2018. Now, the company has brought back the event, which included legendary models and performances from the iconic Cher. It reverberated across social media, but has the company really put its problems in the past or are they are still there, simmering just below the surface? Most Innovative Company’s cohost Yasmin Gagne went to the show and gives her assessment.Also, Yaz talks with celebrity styli
Why is fast food so expensive now?
There’s a growing shift in consumer sentiment about the fast-food industry. As inflation pushes menu prices steadily upward, more people are asking themselves if that weekly trip to Taco Bell, Wendy’s, or KFC is still worth the cost. ‘Fast Company’ senior editor Christopher Zara breaks down the economics of fast food and discusses what companies are doing to try and lure customers back to the drive-through. Also, ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Jeff Beer discusses the most recent advertising
Can WeightWatchers survive the Ozempic era?
Two weeks ago, the WeightWatchers board ousted CEO Sima Sistani, who helmed the company for two-and-a-half years, appointing board member Tara Comonte interim CEO. During that time, the company has radically altered its business model to stay competitive in the Ozempic era. Cohost Yasmin Gange analyzes what this leadership change signals for the company’s strategy. Also, ‘Fast Company’ associate editor David Salazar talks with Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. His tenure of the pas
NFL ad season begins, and Robinhood still has faith in crypto
This week, we’re recording the show at Fast Company’s Innovation Festival using a modular soundproof booth from ROOM. ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Jeff Beer, who covers advertising and branding, returns to talk about the latest ads and over-the-top videos from brands including Pepsi, the NFL, and Progressive—and the nearly-11-minute-long promo video, ‘ManningCast: The Musical.’ Also, how are brands responding to the backlash against DEI, and who’s going against the trends?
Plus, Robinhood
How Will Packer uses arrogance to his advantage
Will Packer is a film, television, and podcast producer who has worked in Hollywood for more than 20 years, making movies like ‘Ride Along,’ ‘The Wedding Ringer,’ and ‘Girls Trip.’ He also has a book on the way next year, ‘Who Better Than You?: The Art of Healthy Arrogance & Dreaming Big,’ about the stories and lessons he’s learned in the entertainment industry. Will’s latest show, ‘Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist,’ premieres September 5 on Peacock, and tells the story of Muhammad Ali’s fa
Can Brian Niccol turn Starbucks around?
Last week in a major shakeup, Starbucks announced the appointment of Brian Niccol as its new chairman and CEO. Niccol, then CEO of Chipotle, will succeed Starbucks’s Laxman Narasimhan, who is stepping down immediately from the position he’s held for only 17 months. For a company that has aggressively claimed it does not make fast food, this could signal a shift in how Starbucks views itself . . . and how it attempts to regain the 20% in market cap that it’s lost. ‘Fast Company’ contributing writ
Can the Gap make a comeback?
This week, we’re taking a look at what some top brands are doing in the sports and entertainment space. This is part of our ongoing monthly series, Brands that Matter, with ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Jeff Beer who covers advertising and branding.Then, we chatted with ‘Fast Company’ contributing writer Nicole LaPorte about the Gap new CEO. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, Gap was synonymous with denim and khakis. But the rise of fast-fashion brands such as Zara and H&M, shift from shopping in m
How 23andMe went from a $6 billion valuation to trading for pennies
Cofounder and CEO of 23andMe, Anne Wojcicki, wants to take the public company private. Founded in 2006, the DNA-testing startup was valued at $6 billion in 2021. Now, it’s trading for less than a dollar. So what happened? ‘Fast Company’ senior writer Ainsley Harris breaks down 23andMe’s history, and why the company faces an uncertain future.Also, actor Edward Norton chats with ‘Fast Company’ staff writer David Salazar about his startup, Zeck. After decades of serving on nonprofit and corporate b
AI is changing tech, but where's the energy coming from?
Last week, Amazon announced it hit a goal of 100% renewable electricity seven years early. But a report from an Amazon employee group argues that this claim is misleading. They say that only a fifth of the company’s data centers in the U.S actually run on clean power. Meanwhile, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and a host of other companies continue their development of AI—yet another huge energy demand. A recent report by Goldman Sachs says utility companies will need to spend nearly 40% more in the
Who is MSCHF and why are 10,000 people playing their game on Venmo?
Brooklyn-based art collective MSCHF has a long history of expertly harnessing pop culture humor to poke fun at big corporations. Their latest project is a game built on top of Venmo, where players buy in for $10 and participate in hourly votes to eliminate each other, and a daily vote to pick a winner. The first player chosen to win by 100% of the votes will win a prize pot of over $119,000. Fast Company Global Design Editor Mark Wilson breaks down MSCHF's history and how they combine artistic c
Are LinkedIn influencers the worst kind of influencer?
In a recent viral LinkedIn post, Cap X Media’s CEO Matthew Baltzell poses in a backwards baseball cap and details his experience firing an employee for the first time. He talks about the process, what he learned, and asks for feedback from readers. One commenter wrote, “This LinkedIn post is a disgrace,” while another said, “You brought pain into someone’s life and then turned it into a ‘gold star for me’ moment. They’re certainly appalled by this on other (less weird) social platforms.”But plen
Inside MrBeast's corporate structure
A nonprofit founded by right-wing billionaire Charles Koch was a "key contributor" to a recent video produced by the popular content creator MrBeast. The video, titled "We Schooled Hundreds of Teachers," was uploaded on April 30th to "Beast Philanthropy," a second channel MrBeast uses to showcase charity work. MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, lists the organization Stand Together as one of the main financial sponsors. Stand Together was founded by Koch in 2003 as The Seminar Network
How Dropout competes in a cutthroat, subscription-streaming market
Last September, CollegeHumor rebranded as Dropout. The 25-year old comedy platform made the move after a surge in subscriptions to the company's streaming platform, Dropout TV. After decades of struggling to find profitability, this became the centerpiece of its business model.“Truthfully, as a high school dropout, I never really connected with the brand name CollegeHumor,” said Dropout CEO Sam Reich. "We promised ourselves we would only do away with the name when we felt that Dropout was popula
Why tech bro podcasts are obsessed with alpha men
Last week, an article by ‘Fast Company’ senior writer Ainsley Harris riled up a small but very online part of the tech community. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, Elon Musk, Anduril Industries founder Palmer Lucky, Y combinator CEO Garry Tan, and even MrBeast, along with many others, were all reacting to her article, ‘Tech bro podcasts are obsessed with alpha men, and it’s dangerous for the rest of us.’We talked to Ainsley and had her explain why so many ‘techno-optimists’ fell in love with t
Perplexity slams Google
By now, we’re used to talking to AI chatbots, and we’re used to googling something to find an answer. Last week, though, Google launched a new feature that combines the two called AI Overviews. The feature—which many users are already trying to turn off—is designed to reduce the number of searches users have to make. But the idea of combining a chatbot, search tool, and encyclopedia has actually been championed and refined by a two-year-old startup called Perplexity. The ambitious startup, which
Why is the WNBA so hot right now?
The WNBA’s 2024 season comes on the heels of a recent groundswell of interest in women’s basketball. Last year was the WNBA’s most-watched regular season in over two decades and the recently wrapped NCAA tournament has brought a new generation of fans to the sport. The women’s March Madness final averaged 18.7 million viewers, while the men’s final averaged just 14.82 million viewers. Basically, the WNBA is a hot commodity and brands are noticing. Fast Company Staff Editor AJ Hess joined us to e
We're looking at 2024 Summer Trends
It’s May! We’re enjoying the spring weather and getting ready for this summer. So, we wanted to chat with some Fast Company folks who have their ears to the ground on what’s going to be a hit this summer. Fast Company Associate Editor David Salazar and Senior Staff Writer Liz Segran joined us to share their ideas—and a big shout-out to our interns, Ellie Stevens and Leila Frankina, for their help.
Then, we sat down with Airbnb's Chief Business Officer Dave Stephenson where we chatted about the s
The unraveling of a unicorn: Why InVision failed
InVision was once a prominent player in the design software space. But the company that was once valued at $2 billion announced it will be discontinuing its design-collaboration services by the end of this year. The cofounders, Clark Valberg and Ben Nadel, originally designed the software as a prototyping tool for designers but it quickly gained popularity and ultimately achieved unicorn status after raising $100 million in 2017. This was followed by another milestone when it raised $115 million
Minimum wage increases for fast food workers and Lyft drivers
Fast food workers in California are seeing an increase in their paychecks. This is because of a recent minimum wage law that went into effect earlier this month. The law requires fast food chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks to pay workers $20 per hour. It will also affect restaurants that have at least 60 other locations nationwide. Opponents of the law say it will lead to layoffs and store closures . . . but for fast food workers who have been fighting for better pay, this could mean being ab
Boeing is having a bad year
Boeing has been in the news recently . . . Between a door plug blowing off mid-flight and sudden nose dives causing injuries, the company has been in very hot water. ‘Fast Company’ contributing writer Clint Rainey joined us to explain what’s really going on at Boeing and how it plans to address safety and quality concerns. For more on our Boeing coverage.
Then, we spoke with Ghia founder and CEO Melanie Masarin and Nowadays cofounder and CEO Justin Tidwell to understand what’s behind all the dem
NBC's hiring and firing of Ronna McDaniel
Two weeks ago, the former Republican National Committee boss Ronna McDaniel was hired and then fired as an MSNBC contributor. This came about after pushback from staff, including complaints that she had touted Donald Trump’s debunked claims of voting malfeasance in the 2020 election. At the same time, there was backlash from people on the right who chalked up her dismissal as proof of left-wing media bias. Presiding over the chaos was NBCUniversal News chairman Cesar Conde, who has been trying t
Truth Social and Sephora Tweens
Truth Social went public last week. The company disclosed its finances in an SEC filing that revealed it had brought in just over $4 million in revenue while losing more than $58 million in 2023. Those numbers don’t seem to make sense. ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Max Ufberg joined us to break down what is responsible for the dire state of that business.Also, tweens and teens experimenting with makeup and skincare is nothing new, but there’s a new trend happening where tweens are
Powering the Future - AI Bootcamp FROM FASTCO WORKS AND SAP
The impact of AI on finance departments will be huge.
The Most Innovative Companies list is out!
Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list is out! We chatted with Fast Company Executive Editor Amy Farley to hear about the top five winners and who her personal faves were. Spoilers:Nvidia, OpenAI and Microsoft were at the top but some surprises were the National Women's Soccer League, United Auto Workers and ... Chess.com.Then, Fast Company Senior Staff Editor Jeff Beer sat down with Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant and CMO Taylor Montgomery to discuss how the fast-food company is one of the m
The Most Innovative Companies list is out!
Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list is out! We chatted with Fast Company Executive Editor Amy Farley to hear about the top five winners and who her personal faves were. Spoilers:
Nvidia, OpenAI and Microsoft were at the top but some surprises were the National Women's Soccer League, United Auto Workers and ... Chess.com.
Then, Fast Company Senior Staff Editor Jeff Beer sat down with Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant and CMO Taylor Montgomery to discuss how the fast-food company is one of the
Fast Company at SXSW and Netflix's 3 Body Problem
This past weekend, Fast Company hosted a three-day event as part of SXSW in Austin. Yaz moderated a bunch of panels, Josh was producing podcasts, and best-friend-of-the-pod Max Ufberg also moderated a number of panels. We met up with Max in person to record the show for the first time! Here's our recap of the weekend at the Fast Company Grill.
Then, Netflix’s new series “3 Body Problem” is based on the first volume of the Chinese science fiction trilogy “Remembrance of Earth’s Past.” The series
Supply Ch(AI)n Strategy Session - AI Bootcamp FROM FASTCO WORKS AND SAP
How artificial intelligence is shaping the product journeys from procurement to end customers.
Oscar Campaigns & TheRealReal
What is an Oscar campaign? How do studios run them? When does Oscar campaigning start?
We spoke with Allie Carieri to learn all about the work (and the money) that go into creating Oscar campaigns. Carieri creates experiences and events around entertainment, awards, film, and television as an independent marketing strategist. She also oversees experiential marketing activations as an accounts director at Civic Entertainment Group. She told us about the history of Oscar campaigns, the budgets beh
Time for Growth - AI Bootcamp FROM FASTCO WORKS AND SAP
In this podcast, leaders in HR and AI reveal what it will take for businesses to get their staff on board.
Inside the chaos at the Bored Ape Yacht Club
In 2022, The Bored Ape Yacht Club was kind of inescapable on some parts of the internet. People—including a range of celebrities from Gwyneth Paltrow to Eminem—were spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to acquire some monkey jpegs store on the blockchain as NFTs. The conglomerate overseeing the collection along with other NFT series, such as CryptoPunks, is called Yuga Labs. VCs including A16z flocked to invest in it, valuing the company at $4 billion. Yuga’s stated ambition at the time was
Why people are ditching Tinder . . . and falling in love with lab-grown diamonds
We’re about to hit the end of peak dating season with Valentine’s Day this week and what better way to commemorate that than to chat about the state of the dating industry. Fast Company Staff Writer Jess Bursztynsky joined us to chat about what the apps are doing to address dating fatigue and how they're continuing to incorporate AI into their strategies, for example, Tinder is able to use AI to help users pick out which photos in their camera rolls would work best for their profiles. Then Angar
Super Bowl ads and Stanley cups
The Super Bowl is set to kick off this Sunday, and we’re taking a look at some of the ads that are already out there. ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Jeff Beer joined us to share what he thinks about this year’s slate of ads. He’s noticed how brands are evolving to use the Super Bowl itself in their teasers and ads, which shows the trajectory of the way brands are going . . . they used to go for funny or emotional but now it’s an ad about being an ad. Using the game itself to help advertise a
WWE, Netflix—and the baby-faced rival who wants to body slam them
Yaz wrote a story about an upstart wrestling league called All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and its founder and CEO Tony Khan. ‘Fast Company’ deputy editor David Lidsky joined us to chat about Yaz’s piece on Tony, why he formed AEW in 2019, and how he was a huge wrestling nerd who grew up doing e-wrestling.
And here are some more wrestling updates:
Starting in January 2025, WWE’s flagship series, Raw, will be moving to Netflix
WWE will still have some shows streaming on Peacock and still has pay-per-
Daily Harvest rolls out Ozempic-designed meals
Daily Harvest is introducing a new collection of meals tailor-made for people on weight-loss medications like Ozempic. Daily Harvest president Ricky Silver explained how Daily Harvest’s January Jumpstart program includes GLP-1-focused meal plans.Then we chatted with Sharp Entertainment CEO Matt Sharp. Sharp is the guy behind such reality TV hits as ‘90 Day Fiancé,’ ‘Inmate to Roommate,’ and ‘Help! I’m in a Secret Relationship!’ He told us about how many nos he got from networks before finding su
Big Tech might not be able to use Section 230 for protection anymore
A number of recent court cases are using a new tactic to take on tech platforms, including Snap, Meta, and TikTok. ‘Fast Company’ contributing writer Issie Lapowsky walked us through the complicated legalese behind these cases. Basically, they’re using a novel legal workaround to Section 230 called a ‘product liability claim.’Rather than faulting these platforms for other people’s posts—the kind of claims Section 230 protects them from—these cases accuse the companies of essentially building fau
How to build a beauty brand during the pandemic
We spoke with Jeff Lee, cofounder and CEO of DIBS Beauty about his approach to building brand awareness, partnering with celebrities, and starting a company during the pandemic.“What makes us so unique, I think, is the way we speak with our customer at DIBS; we like to joke that it’s reverse master class. People used to learn about makeup from celebrities, from celebrity makeup artists. . . . We’re just about, take the stick, take the brush, take the powder, put it on—you won’t mess it up. And i
Fast Company Podcasts look back on 2023
And that's a wrap on 2023. Join our podcast hosts, Kathleen Davis, KC Ifeanyi, Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen as they look back on this past year. Happy New Year!
Ozempic and Wegovy: How 2 diabetes medications became the most popular weight-loss drugs
In the United States, nearly three-quarters of adults qualify as overweight or obese, 42% of whom are considered obese. The World Obesity Federation predicts that 51% of the global population will be overweight or obese by 2035.‘Fast Company’ contributing writer Adam Bluestein joined us to break down how Novo Nordisk, the company behind Ozempic and Wegovy, developed and marketed its weight-loss drugs. He also explained why the drugs have become so popular in the U.S., how drug pricing is extreme
Lilly Singh on being intentional when creating new projects
From YouTube to late night to actor to writer, Lilly Singh has always been a storyteller. In that vein, she started a company called Unicorn Island Productions a few years ago. The company has both a production arm and a nonprofit arm, which is Unicorn Island Fund. Singh told us that the company's mandate is simple. It's making stories that look like the real world. That means making stories that highlight underrepresented voices—which, more and more that's becoming South Asian voices—a
Fast-fashion giant Shein is thinking of going public
Shein is a giant fast fashion retailer that's looking into filing an IPO. Fast Company Senior Staff Writer Liz Segran helps break down what that might mean for both the company and the fast fashion industry at large.For more on Shein, check out Liz's articleSerendipitously, Shein’s head of strategic communications Peter Pernot-Day also joined us. He filled us in on how the company's on-demand model is constantly responding to consumers, creating low inventory levels, which leads to virtually no
Sam Altman is still CEO of Open AI
The long-simmering fault lines within OpenAI over questions of safety with regard to the deployment of large language models like GPT, the engine behind OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Dall-E services, came to a head on November 17 when the organization’s nonprofit board of directors voted to fire CEO Sam Altman. But then he was reinstated on November 22. It’s been a wild ride, but Fast Company senior writers Ainsley Harris and Mark Sullivan joined us to help break down the confusing back and forth at the
Ideo layoffs and the end of design thinking
Ideo is one of the most famous global design agencies in the world. Founded in 1991, it is celebrated for popularizing the modern corporate mantra of design thinking. It’s also known for a top-tier client list including companies such as Coca-Cola, Disney, and Apple, with estimated annual revenues of more than $100 million. But Ideo has been shedding employees since 2020. This is the second round of layoffs in 2023 alone. Ideo has since confirmed to Fast Company that it’s eliminating 32% of its
The SAG-AFTRA strike is over!
After 118 days, the SAG-AFTRA strike finally came to a close. Fast Company deputy digital editor Morgan Clendaniel breaks down what happened this past summer with the strike, as well as the overall state of unions at the moment. As of airing this episode, the union’s national board approved the new contract with major studios and sent it to membership for ratification.“I’m completely uninterested in building small things.” Emma Grede has started a LOT of businesses. Probably best known
WeWork, Adam Neumann, and the end of an empire
WeWork’s tumultuous ride has come to an end. We chatted with journalist Reeves Wiedeman, author of Billion Dollar Loser: The Epic Rise and Spectacular Fall of Adam Neumann and WeWork, about one of the wildest and most dramatic startup stories in corporate America’s history.“The brand is bruised.” What’s going on at Marvel Studios? ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Jeff Beer breaks down the Marvel Cinematic Universe with culture writers Joanna Robinson and David Gonzales. They chat about MCU’s s
FROM FASTCO WORKS AND CAPITAL ONE: Empathy and Innovation: Keeping the Customer at the Center
Companies now have mountains of data to help drive decisions and develop products, but a holistic approach to product development must also prioritize customers’ needs and preferences. In this podcast interview, Stephanie Mehta, CEO of Mansueto Ventures, the parent of Fast Company, sits down with Emily Roberts, Senior Vice President and Head of Enterprise Consumer Product at Capital One to hear how to harness the power of technology and customer feedback loops to innovate products and experience
‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ director Emma Tammi talks about horror innovation
Halloween season is here! And actor-director-producer Emma Tammi joined us to chat about her upcoming film, Five Nights at Freddy’s, based on the popular video game franchise. She told us all about adapting a video game to a movie, working with large animatronic puppets, and creating a horror movie that’s aimed at a PG-13 audience. But the scariest part of the movie process, according to Emma? Reading the reviews. . . .Opening Friday, October 27, in theaters and on Peacock, Five Nights at Freddy
FROM FASTCO WORKS AND SAP - Growth Agents: How Pink Lily went from a side hustle to a multimil- lion-dollar company
The company’s director of finance explains how her job goes well beyond accounting. Tina Hetzer, director of finance at Pink Lily, is one of the rising financial stars who are helping to bring their businesses to the next level. She built Pink Lily’s finance team from scratch and has helped the company become one of the fastest-growing retailers in the country. In this podcast, part of the SAP-sponsored Growth Agents series, Hetzer discusses the cash-flow challenges unique to fashion retailers a
How Issa Rae secured success: Create what you’re passionate about
Actor, producer, and entrepreneur Issa Rae has several businesses under her belt already, and now she has partnered with Gallo to launch her own prosecco line, Viarae. We chatted about her business ventures, and how she decides which creative projects to pursue. It comes down to backing things that she loves and/or needs. When she wanted to start a coffee business, for example, it was because she wanted a coffee shop in her neighborhood—specifically to have a place where she could write all the
FROM FASTCO WORKS AND SAP - Growth Agents: Duolingo’s CFO on how the company took over the language learning space
Duolingo’s freemium subscription model, beloved brand and strategic investments have allowed it to execute its education mission and become a cultural touchstone. Matthew Skaruppa, CFO of Duolingo, is one of the rising financial stars who are helping to bring their businesses to the next level. Since he joined the company in 2020, Duolingo has grown its base of monthly active users by more than 80%. Each month, 75 million users hone their language skills on the Duolingo app. In this podcast, par
FROM SAP AND FASTCO WORKS: Growth Agents: The inside story of Sweetgreen’s rapid rise to the top
Mitch Reback, CFO of Sweetgreen, is one of the rising corporate financial stars who is helping to take their companies to the next level. When he started, Sweetgreen had 25 stores; today, there are more than 220—and Reback says the company is still in its “infancy.” In this podcast, part of the SAP-sponsored Growth Agents series, Reback takes a deep dive into his role as a growth agent. Capital is the engine that drives growth, and Reback says his job is to make sure the company has adequate cap
Designing AI with Intention: Brian Chesky's Call to Arms for Creative People
James Vincent talks to Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, at Fast Company's Innovation Festival this past September in New York City. They discuss the future of AI, the need to design good principles, and Chesky's "call to arms' for creative people.
Why nostalgia is such a powerful force for brand marketing
What do Chanel, Heinz 57, and Coors Light all have in common? They’re all brands that have built a connection with their consumers. On today’s episode, we’re looking at our company’s ‘Brands That Matter’ recognition program with ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Jeff Beer. Not only is it about building connections, but also developing culturally relevant messaging, making an impact through social causes, and communicating their mission and values clearly. We also chat about peak marketing nosta
For Lego, net zero goals are anything but child’s play
Lego has been pushing its ambitious sustainability efforts for years . . . only to recently do an about-face (sort of) by telling us that it will continue manufacturing its blocks with petroleum-based ABS plastic. Even though the company promised to get rid of petroleum-based materials by 2030.“Fast Company” senior editor Liz Stinson breaks down Lego’s recent announcement, which was more like “an excuse” or kind of an apology. In its efforts to redesign its bricks by using recycled plastic mater
Creative Control series roundup!
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Who is the ‘most fairly paid’ CEO in America—and what does that even mean?
So many CEOs make waaaay more than their workers. To use just one famous example, Apple CEO Tim Cook made more than $99 million in 2022. That’s 1,117 times the company’s median worker pay of $84,000 a year. ‘Fast Company’ deputy digital editor Morgan Clendaniel explains why CEO pay has increased exponentially over the years and discusses how that plays a significant role in overall income inequality.Want to find novelty in your desk job? Michelle Khare discusses trying out all kinds of different
How ChatGPT is launching tech’s next big wave
OpenAI is reportedly nearing $1 billion in annual sales. There’s an AI arms race among big tech companies. AI is everywhere and on everyone’s mind, so we’re breaking it all down. Fast Company senior writer Mark Sullivan explains who the major players are—from Nvidia to Anthropic—why ChatGPT has had such a strong impact on society, and how Congress will decide to regulate AI.Eleven Madison Park chef and owner Daniel Humm talks about the difficulties of running a fine-dining restaurant and why he
YouTube’s $14 billion bet on NFL Sunday Ticket
YouTube paid $14 billion for the rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket. For the next seven years, NFL viewers will be able to watch live football games from their living rooms—on YouTube.
Fast Company senior writer Ainsley Harris explains the reason behind this purchase: YouTube consumption is heavily fragmented. Everyone is watching YouTube, but very few people are watching together. Sunday Ticket is a cornerstone type of content and NFL games pull in millions of people. This move speaks to the long-
So, thanks to Bidenomics, we’re not in a recession?
Late last year, everyone thought we were headed for a recession. But now we’re doing great. What’s going on? James Surowiecki, author of The Wisdom of Crowds and a Fast Company contributing writer, explains how “Bidenomics” is actually helping boost the economy.Courtney Tracy calls herself the truth doctor on TikTok. This came about after she’d dealt with a serious life event in 2019 and thought she needed to hide her struggle. She realized that if an up-and-coming licensed therapist was going t
SKIMS’ CEO on how Kim Kardashian is like Michael Jordan—and Starbucks
The Women’s World Cup is coming to an end this weekend! The international soccer championship is down to its final week in which Spain and England will be facing off in the final match. Fast Company senior editor Amy Farley and staff editor AJ Hess catch us up on the drama and break down what this tournament means for pro women’s sports.Also, SKIMS cofounder and CEO Jens Grede explains how Kim Kardashian is like the Michael Jordan of the influencer generation and why the pumpkin spice latte is s
Future executives don't want to go back to the office, and why we still don't know how to manage our finances
It’s looking like the future won’t be spent in the office. Based on a recent Deloitte study, 66% of mid- to executive-level financial services professionals do not want to come back to the office full-time. Writer and journalist Shalene Gupta breaks down the numbers and explains the impact that this will have on future pathways toward leadership.And historically, financial advice has been “male, pale, and stale,” according to Vivian Tu. The popular FinTok influencer explains why she’s passionate
What is Spill and could it (finally) kill Twitter?
The new visual platform, Spill, is not trying to become the next Twitter—it’s aiming to create an entirely new social media platform. Spill’s cofounder and CEO Alphonzo “Fonz” Terrell said he wants to create a fun, safer, and more rewarding space for its users, especially black, female, and queer folks. In order to create a safer and more inclusive community, Spill is building its algorithms based on specific data sets that will not just flag certain terms, but also look at who’s saying those te
AI and Ozempic: The two great disruptive technologies of 2023
AI is poised to upend the music industry, and Fast Company Associate Editor David Salazar joins us to discuss what AI generative music is and how the music industry is combating it.Antidiabetic medication Ozempic is all over the news these days, but it's not as new as it seems. Beyond the TikTok trends and celebrity shout-outs, it's been used to treat diabetes for years. But now talk of this medication has reached a fever pitch.Found CEO Sarah Jones Simmer talks about how her company prioritizes
Barbie's global domination: Exactly how Mattel pulled it off
The thing about the Barbie movie is that saying those three words together just seems inherently ridiculous. And one of the best things Mattel has done is really kind of lean into that. Starting with the Technicolor shots of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling on set to the colorful trailers that really churned up the enthusiasm for the movie, Mattel created the momentum that has led to a laundry list of product tie-ins, including the Xbox console that actually looks like a house or a makeup station.
Barbie's global domination: Exactly how Mattel pulled it off
The thing about the Barbie movie is that saying those three words together just seems inherently ridiculous. And one of the best things Mattel has done is really kind of lean into that. Starting with the Technicolor shots of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling on set to the colorful trailers that really churned up the enthusiasm for the movie, Mattel created the momentum that has led to a laundry list of product tie-ins, including the Xbox console that actually looks like a house or a makeup station.
Will Threads disrupt the digital public square?
We have to talk about the new Twitter on the block: Threads. How does it work? And more importantly, how does it compare to Twitter?Fast Company Senior Staff Editor Max Ufberg is back to explain what Mark Zuckerberg’s newest platform is, the drama between the two companies, and how Threads' algorithms won't promote hard news or political discourse.And e.l.f CMO Kory Marchisotto talks about the company’s successful media strategy on TikTok . . . and why it decided to make a Chipotle-inspired, gua
How Watcher Entertainment is changing the rules of content creation
Steven Lim used to work at Buzzfeed, cohosting the wildly popular show ‘Worth It.’ But a few years ago, he left to start his own digital studio, Watcher Entertainment, to take a chance on making content a little differently. Being a creator himself, Lim knew the struggle of writers, producers, and talent fighting to keep their own IP and earn what they’re worth, so he decided to take a unique approach that could be a new standard for digital content production—or as Lim puts it, ‘the st
How TikTok’s Medical Mythbuster exposes racism in healthcare
Last week, we took a trip to VidCon in Anaheim, California, to meet up with some of the top creators in the industry. Joel Bervell, a fourth-year medical student at Washington State University, rose to fame on TikTok for calling out racial inequities in the healthcare system. One of his first videos, posted early on in the pandemic, taught people that pulse oximeters can overestimate oxygen saturation on people with darker skin—a fact with serious implications for Black COVID patients who weren’
How SuperOrdinary links brands and creators to international markets
SuperOrdinary launched in 2017 as a way for U.S. brands to reach consumers in China. The company has since expanded to working with creators in other international markets. SuperOrdinary cofounder and CEO Julian Reis explains how his company is further leaning into what he calls the “supporter economy”—and how he’s navigating operations amid geopolitical tensions.
Introducing 'Computer Freaks' - Chapter One: The Dollhouse
After World War II, the U.S. had to change the way it communicated if it was going to keep up with the Soviets in the Cold War, especially once Sputnik was launched. It was the vision of a Missouri boy called Lick that would solve those communication issues and spark the creation of the internet.
What if an AI Elvis sent you a birthday Cameo?
Founded in 2017, Cameo is a platform that allows people to buy custom messages from celebrities to send to their family and friends. The company has expanded the business and created a viable revenue stream for celebrities and creators—even for those who may not be in the traditional Hollywood spotlight. Cofounder and CEO Steven Galanis believes the company amounts to a public utility, connecting celebrities to fans in a direct, accessible way. He shared his perspective on where Cameo is headed,
Is AI art innovation or infringement?
AI art generators such as DALL-E, Midjourney, and Craiyon have gained noticeable attention in the past months. But like so much of what AI touches, there are some big questions that need answers: Who owns the images that feed into these generators? Who owns the images they produce? Entertainment lawyer Wynton Yates shares his perspective on AI art generators, copyright infringement, and the legal questions being debated right now. And transmedia artist Stephanie Dinkins dives into how she uses A
The thin line between borrowing and stealing in fandom
This is the third of our special series about fandom. To start from the beginning, listen to our episodes from the past two weeks!
When it comes to fan creators and making money, copyright law is pretty strict—any unlicensed use of a property that doesn’t fall under fair use (like the characters from Star Wars, for example) is considered copyright violation. But at the same time, plenty of fan merchandise and other creations, both for-profit and not, proliferate online and at conferences. Aftera
The dark side of fandom
This is the second of our special series about fandom. To start from the beginning, listen to last week’s episode!Being part of an active fandom creates close communities, even families, especially for those who haven’t found any shared interests with friends in other areas. And after several exoduses from various platforms, some of the biggest fandom spaces are fan-operated, like the fanfic archive AO3. But within these communities, people can face discrimination, gatekeeping, and other obstacl
Presenting: The new season of 'Most Innovative Companies'
Is AI coming for our jobs?? ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Max Ufberg explains that it is . . . but that it’s not all bad news.
And Yaz chatted with Loom CEO Joe Thomas—Loom is essentially TikTok for business, which sounds crazier than it is—about how video conferencing is here to stay.
Also, a special thanks to Marfa Public Radio for helping us out with some recording on this episode!
Welcome to the (fandom) dance party!
‘The Witcher’ TV show might not seem like the most natural inspiration for enthusiastically queer romance writing, but for some fanfic authors, it’s a world rich with creative inspiration. Fanfic writers, especially those missing authentic representation in mainstream media, have long used their own writing to make stories that speak to them. And fandom communities, once niche conventions and now massive online archives and popular forums, offer welcoming spaces to explore and build friendships.
Coming soon: A deep dive into the world of fandom
Next week, we’ll be back with a special series of episodes about fandom—covering fanfic, fan art, cosplay, and all the passion that goes into building these communities. We’ll also be unpacking the hurdles fan creators face, from harassment to legal issues, and how these challenges affect the wider creator economy.
Is banning Tiktok “un-American?”
Since the last time we discussed the efforts to ban Tiktok, we’ve been hearing more about future legal challenges to these restrictions and the international impact they would have.
So to get some different perspectives on Tiktok’s actual security risks and the courtroom sagas already shaping up, we talked with Timothy Edgar and Anupam Chander. Timothy is a professor at both Harvard and Brown, specializing in cybersecurity, and Anupam is a law professor at Georgetown who focuses on global regula
How AI could shape the next 50 years of hip-hop
This year marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, a genre that’s gone from a niche art form to a cultural and financial powerhouse across the world. But with that huge burst of growth, are the true hip-hop creators getting their due? And what role will AI play in hip-hop in the next 50 years?
To help us unpack hip-hop’s history and future, we talked with Sacha Jenkins. Sacha is a filmmaker, musician, and the creative director of the media company, Mass Appeal. He’s also the cocurator of Hip Hop:
What do politicians not understand about TikTok?
As Montana becomes the first state to pass a bill banning TikTok on all personal devices, discussions about why and how to restrict the Chinese-owned platform are circulating everywhere. TikTok creator V Spehar, @underthedesknews, has amassed 3 million followers with their clear, brief explanations of current events, and they believe that the communities and conversations on TikTok play a vital role in how we engage with each other across the globe. So when TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testi
Navigating the creator economy 2.0
To jumpstart season 3 with an overview of the creator economy, we’re featuring a roundtable conversation with some experts, recorded a few weeks ago at SXSW.Our panel of experts—Julie Haleluk, global head of video creator program at Amazon Live Shoppable Videos; Adrienne Lahens, global head of operations at TikTok Creator Marketing Solutions; Julian Reis, founder and CEO of SuperOrdinary; and Brent Weinstein, chief development officer at Candle Media—chatted with KC about the ups and do
Announcing Season 3 of Creative Control!
Next week, Creative Control is back with Season 3! Some of the topics we’re unpacking this season include the push to ban TikTok, how hip-hop has undeniably shaped social media, and why it’s so difficult for adult content creators to monetize their work. Also, we’re diving into how the creator economy is challenging our norms around copyright, ownership, and originality.
CC Flashback: Brittany Broski live from Fast Company’s Innovation Festival!
While we’re on break, working on the next season of Creative Control, we’re revisiting this live episode from Fast Company’s Innovation Festival last fall. Content creator and comedian Brittany Broski gave her candid take on the creator economy and how she’s building a career beyond that kombucha meme that made her famous.
CC Flashback: Emma Chamberlain on taking a coffee break from YouTube
In between seasons, we’re taking another listen to this interview with Emma Chamberlain, one of YouTube’s undisputed royalty.Since starting her channel in 2017, Emma has amassed more than 11 million YouTube subscribers, in large part because of her wry comedic tone and signature lo-fi editing style. Her vlogs aren’t overproduced or too slick, instead she’s candid with her fans—which means being honest about needing a break from YouTube.Emma’s shifted her focus to building out her podcas
CC Flashback: Should your doctor be an influencer?
We’re working on the next season of Creative Control. In the meantime, we’re revisiting this still-relevant topic: doctors on platforms like TikTok and Twitter making medicine less of a mystery for people—and becoming celebrities along the way.But the ethics of being a medical influencer are a bit hazy. We’ve seen how misinformation can run rampant on social media, and it doesn’t take much for anyone to gain a following, no matter their credentials. So what are the implications of docto
CC Flashback: Why copyright law is out of step with choreographers in the digital age
While we’re on break, working on the next season of Creative Control, we wanted to revisit this throwback episode about copyright law and dance, and how some choreographers are fighting to get their work protected as intellectual property. It’s part of the wider issue of how popular trends can spread online without proper credit or compensation—something creators of color, in particular, have been calling out.
CC Flashback: How NCAA athletes are navigating the Wild West of NIL deals
We’re taking a little break right now while we work on the next season. We’ll be back soon with new conversations and stories about what’s changing in the creator economy. In the meantime, in honor of March Madness, we wanted to revisit this throwback episode about the NCAA changing their rules to finally allow college athletes to make money from their own name, image, and likeness.
Why celebrities are choosing equity over endorsements
Over the past few years, it seems that celebrities and influencers are increasingly choosing to have their own brand instead of simply endorsing a product. Take Emma Chamberlain, for example. When she was on the podcast, she explained why, as an avid coffee lover, she started her own brand instead of doing a regular endorsement. To dig into this a little more, we spoke to Marian Leitner-Waldman, founder and CEO of canned wine company Archer Roose, about why she chose director/actor Eliz
Making Sh*t Up: Improvisation and the Art of Making Something out of Nothing
We’re taking a little break while we work on the next season. In the meantime, we’re sharing an improv workshop from Fast Company’s Innovation Festival last year, led by actor, singer, and improvisor extraordinaire Wayne Brady. He gets into the importance of active listening in improv, and focusing on inclusion in his growing media empire.
Monetizing your brand in the creator economy
We’re taking a little break right now while we work on the next season. But we’ll be back soon with new conversations and stories about what’s changing in the creator economy. In the meantime, we wanted to share a conversation from Fast Company’s Innovation Festival last fall. Associate editor Yaz Gagne moderated the panel, Monetizing Your Brand in the Creator Economy, featuring Tracy Chan from SoundCloud, Ami Gan from OnlyFans, Ritu Khanna from Shopify, and entrepreneur and content cre
How brands should elevate (not exploit) Black creators
Last week we talked to some creators about how they’re approaching Black History Month this year. If you haven’t already listened to that episode, please check it out. And for this episode, I’m keeping the conversation going with Tiffany Hardin, founder and CEO of Gild Creative Group. Tiffany shared her perspective as an influencer marketing agent who has all the do’s and, most importantly, don’ts of how brands should be thinking about Black History Month.
How Black creators are navigating Black History Month
Black History Month is almost upon us. It’s a time meant to celebrate Black culture, but as we’ve seen year after year, it’s also a time for racist trolls, tone-deaf brand campaigns, and corporate platitudes that amount to little change if any at all. It’s a lot to deal with, so I wanted to explore how Black creators are handling it all. Hear how Tyra Blizzard (@tblizzy), Garrison Hayes (@garrisonhayes), and Millana Snow (@millanasnow) are navigating February this year.
Where are we now after the Facebook Papers?
Back in the fall of 2021, a whistleblower named Frances Haugen dropped a bombshell. She released what would become known as the Facebook Papers, a massive set of internal documents that essentially showed the harmful impact Facebook and Instagram can have on society and politics. Deeper still, the documents showed that Facebook knew of those dangers but seemed to put profits over everything.It’s easy to forget just how big a story this was, given our relentless news cycle. So, to unders
Is the creator economy dead?
We’ve discussed where the creator economy is headed this year. And there are general trends that I do think will be important to keep in mind in the short term. But what about the long term? The creator economy is still relatively young. So what will it look like once the dust and hype really settle down? Dmitry Shapiro, cofounder and CEO of app platform Koji, has some thoughts that are pretty surprising. For starters, the creator economy as we know it is dying.
How jazz powerhouse Samara Joy went from a viral video to Grammy nominee
If you haven’t heard of Samara Joy, I’m about to put you on. Samara is a jazz singer whose buttery vocals have earned her some of the top accolades jazz has to offer, including two Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal album. And I think it’s worth mentioning here that Samara is only 23. She’s being touted as the “first Gen Z jazz singing star.” So it’s no surprise that her career got a massive boost by going viral on social media. But she’ll be the first to tell yo
The Fast Company podcast team looks back on 2022
Kate Davis, KC Ifeanyi, and Amelia Hemphill discuss the biggest stories at Fast Company this past year and share their favorite moments from Fast Company podcasts. Kate highlights The New Way We Work's 4-part miniseries "Ambition Diaries," which examined the effects of the pandemic on women's progress in the workplace. KC reviews some of the biggest trends in the creator economy. Amelia explains some of the most innovative approaches to sustainability, including a toilet that incinerate
Top predictions for the creator economy in 2023
It’s been another destabilizing year across the board. But the creator economy has surprisingly held strong—despite a looming recession, increasing pressure from lawmakers to ban TikTok in the U.S., and Elon Musk being Elon Musk at Twitter. The creator economy is currently valued at $16.4 billion, a 19% increase from 2021. So will that energy carry over into 2023? To get a better understanding of where the creator economy is heading next year, I interviewed Stephanie Smith, head of tale
Unpacking the ‘Black Internet Effect’ with Shavone Charles
This interview has been a long time coming because Shavone Charles is someone I’ve known for quite a few years now. When I met her, she was the head of global music and youth culture communications at Instagram. Prior to that, she held a similar position at Twitter. And last year, she became TikTok’s first head of global diversity and inclusion communications. Shavone is one of those people who has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to help creators of color gain more visibility
How social media companies should think about paid subscriptions
You might have noticed that more and more social media platforms are offering paid versions of their services, like Twitter Blue, Snapchat Plus, and Discord Nitro. But what you may not have noticed is that this is nothing new. Social media platforms in China have had a huge head start in getting users to not only pay for features, but in creating features that truly are innovative. In this episode, Connie Chan, general partner at the VC firm Andreessen Horowitz, analyzes what Western co
What Tumblr’s new rules on adult content means for creators
Back in 2018, Tumblr banned all nudity, which, unsurprisingly, led to a massive dip in page views as well as adult creators being forced off the platform. But earlier this month, Tumblr, under new management, announced it would be relaxing its “no porn” rule to allow some adult content back onto the site. In this episode, Tumblr CEO Matt Mullenweg breaks down the fine print of what this means for creators and the future of Tumblr.
Coming up after Thanksgiving . . .
We're taking a break this week and wishing everyone a warm holiday! When we come back, we'll be talking about what's changing in content policies at Tumblr and the effect of the Facebook Papers one year later.
If Elon Musk resurrects Vine, can it compete with TikTok?
A few weeks ago, Elon Musk, Twitter’s new CEO, tweeted a poll asking if he should bring back Vine, the short-form video app Twitter purchased in 2012 but shuttered in 2016. Nearly 5 million votes later, 70% of people had voted to resurrect Vine. There were a number of factors that led to the app’s downfall. So if Vine were to come back, what would it need to do differently? More importantly, could it compete with the reigning short-form video juggernaut that is TikTok? To help me unpack
Will changes at Twitch help or hurt creators' pockets?
Most creators know they won’t reach the level of getting insanely lucrative brand deals or tens of millions of followers—and that’s perfectly fine. The overall sentiment from creators is that they just want stable and reliable income, i.e. a more robust middle class. It's a reasonable request but one that hasn’t been so easy to attain. A perfect vehicle to explore this right now is Twitch. In case you missed it, there’s been a few changes at Twitch that the company says are in the best
How much do you spend on the creators you love?
When you think about what you’re already shelling out for on-demand entertainment with Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Apple Music, HBO Max, how do content creators fit within your budget? We conducted a poll to get some answers. And to help me unpack these results, I reached out to Anthony Iaffaldano, VP of sales, marketing, and insights at Fandom.
Decoding what algospeak means for creators
We’ve explored how algorithms and content moderation can make some creators feel targeted on social platforms. One way creators are getting around being flagged is through algospeak, e.g. using “unalive” instead of dead, “seggs” instead of sex, “corn” instead of porn, etc. Coded internet language has been around for decades, most commonly known as leetspeak. But no matter what you call it, massaging words to sidestep moderation raises some interesting questions we’re exploring in this e
Want 52 million followers on TikTok? Adapt and experiment like Michael Le
If you’re on TikTok, Michael Le has undoubtedly landed on your For You page at some point with his dance videos, which have earned him 52 million followers and more than 10 billion views. Now Michael is launching Joystick, a gaming ecosystem that aims to empower users and content creators to become business owners. According to Michael, the key to his success has been adapting and experimenting both in the content he creates and in his business pursuits. But how do you translate 52 mill
FROM AWS AND FAST CO WORKS: At the Edge of Innovation: A Conversation with AWS’s Jan Hofmeyr
In this special podcast episode, hear the latest on what’s taking place in edge computing and hybrid cloud from a top industry executive at AWS. Also learn how these innovations can ultimately help you transform your business.
Welcome to the hilariously bizarre world of Tony Talks
You think you know where a skit from Antonio Baldwin (aka Tony Talks) is headed until the punchlines start hitting you in the most unexpected places. It’s the kind of random comedy that forces you to pay attention—and it’s certainly caught the attention of his growing audience. Tony landed a spot on Fast Company’s inaugural Creator 25 list, and you need only watch his content (and listen to this episode) to understand why.
Why marginalized creators are feeling invisible online
A lot of people say success in the creator economy is democratized: You put in the work, stay consistent, and you’ll find your audience and revenue. That may be true for some, but for many marginalized creators success feels like a steeper hill to climb than it should be. Discoverability is crucial to any creator’s career online. But what happens when the algorithms powering discoverability seem to be working against you or don’t see you at all?
Why marginalized creators are feeling invisible online
A lot of people say success in the creator economy is democratized: You put in the work, stay consistent, and you’ll find your audience and revenue. That may be true for some, but for many marginalized creators success feels like a steeper hill to climb than it should be. Discoverability is crucial to any creator’s career online. But what happens when the algorithms powering discoverability seem to be working against you or don’t see you at all?
Brittany Broski live from Fast Company's Innovation Festival!
Brittany "Broski" Tomlinson turned her 15 seconds of fame as "the Kombucha girl" meme into a full-fledged career. In this live episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Control, Tomlinson gives her candid take on the creator economy and explains how she's building a name for herself offline.
What's On The Horizon For Season 2 of Creative Control
Here is a sneak peek of Season 2! Creative Control premieres next week, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss new episodes every Thursday.
CC Throwback: How Soman Chainani darker lens creates fairytales
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
CC Throwback: Author Jenny Han on the double-edged sword of representation
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
CC Throwback: Unpacking composer Nicholas Britell’s unusual creative process
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
FROM FRESHWORKS AND FAST CO. WORKS: What is the future of the employee experience?
Every company’s success is tied to its talent - recruiting and retaining the employees needed to deliver high-level customer experiences that support the bottom line. Yet rapid transformation has disrupted many things that organizations used to do to maintain great company cultures. So how can business leaders reimagine their employee experiences to meet the needs of their workforces? How does that translate into better customer experiences? In this thought-provoking podcast episode, Fa
CC Throwback: Lessons on leveling up with Danielle Brooks
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
FROM FRESHWORKS AND FAST CO. WORKS: What is the future of the employee experience?
Every company’s success is tied to its talent - recruiting and retaining the employees needed to deliver high-level customer experiences that support the bottom line. Yet rapid transformation has disrupted many things that organizations used to do to maintain great company cultures. So how can business leaders reimagine their employee experiences to meet the needs of their workforces? How does that translate into better customer experiences? In this thought-provoking podcast episode, FastCo Work
CC Throwback: Monet X Change on the power of Blackness in drag
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
CC Throwback: Minding your mental health with Dr. Jess Clemons
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
CC Throwback: Ellen Pompeo broke her creative rut and you can too
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
CC Throwback: Using brainstorming and improv to boost your creativity
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
CC Throwback: John Cho’s childlike approach to creativity
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
CC Throwback: Janet Mock on trusting other voices in the room
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
CC Throwback: How uncertainty and negativity can fuel creativity
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
Creative Control's season one finale
Over the past 15 episodes, we covered a lot of ground within the creator economy. For the season one finale, we're revisiting some of these topics with Kaya Yurieff, a reporter with The Information who's also been sorting through the ups and downs of this space. In this episode, Kaya gives her opinion on burnout, the creator middle class, and government regulation of social media, as well as her forecast for the creator economy’s next chapter.
How one woman is getting BIPOC creators a seat at the table
Last week, we profiled a talent agency working specifically with deaf and disabled creators. This week, we're going even further into the space of marginalized creators with Annelise Campbell. Annelise is the founder of the CFG, an influencer marketing agency geared toward BIPOC creators like Monica Veloz, a lifestyle and beauty creator of nine years who, since linking up with CFG, has gained an entirely new perspective on value as an Afro-Latina creator. In this episode with Annelise and Monica
This talent agency is making room for deaf and disabled creators
According to the World Health Organization, 1 billion people around the world are living with a disability. However, it's safe to say that the majority of them still don't feel seen or adequately represented. It’s something Keely Cat-Wells set out to fix with C Talent, a talent management and consultancy agency working exclusively with deaf and disabled entertainers. As someone living with a disability, Keely wanted to make navigating the creator economy and Hollywood more equitable and inclusiv
Why inventor Simone Giertz is making products that actually work now
One would think an inventor's job should be identifying a problem and building an innovative solution to fix it. Simone Giertz has been great about the first part but intentionally "shitty" about the second. For most of her career as an inventor and content creator, Simone has been the self-proclaimed "Queen of Shitty Robots" with inventions that were never meant to be anything more than a punchline. But a brain tumor forced her to stop hiding behind her shittiness and realize her dream of creat
Social media regulation needs to happen—but how?
Rounding out this 3-episode arc of the current state of social media platforms is the question of government regulation. We know social media companies aren't as forthright as they could be about how their platforms work. And we know social media has fundamentally impacted politics and our health. So what's the government doing about social media? Top executives across Meta, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Snap have all been grilled on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers have introduced bills that try to take
Inside the push to make social media less addictive
Does this sound familiar? You open Instagram or TikTok to kill some time, and the next thing you know, your eyes are dried out and your thumb feels like it’s about to fall off. It’s only then you realize how long you’ve been scrolling. For most of us, spending sometimes hours on social media leaves us a little achy but mainly just feeling guilty for having wasted a chunk of our day. But for some people, getting sucked into social media like that can have a major impact on their mental health. In
What we know (and don't) about social media algorithms
It feels strange to think back to a time when we weren’t so concerned with social media algorithms. For years, we accepted this idea that algorithms were there to serve us more of what we love online. Which is true…to a certain degree. Since 2016, that rosier depiction of algorithms has completely disintegrated. Now when we talk about algorithms, we’re talking about issues like mental health, addiction, political interference, and government regulation. I wanted to get a better understanding of
Lilly Singh wants you to be a triangle
When Lilly Singh started her YouTube channel in 2010, she was all about the hustle, which led to a number of opportunities including acting roles and a late-night talk show. But in that hustling, Lilly admits her value system got out of whack. She was so focused on accolades and awards that she never thought to tie her value to things like mental health or self-growth. But now she's turning it around—and she’s encouraging us all to do the same in her new book “Be a Triangle.” In this episode, Li
How a Silicon Valley engineer-turned-creator is pushing back against hustle culture
Last week I discussed burnout with therapist Kati Morton and got into the nuts and bolts of what happens in our brains when we experience burnout and how to recover from it. But I also wanted to get the perspective of a content creator. Mayuko Inoue is a software engineer who's worked for Intuit, Patreon, and Netflix. But she left her stabile career behind to become a full-time creator in 2020. So I wanted to unpack burnout with a creator who jumped out of one fire in working tech and into a com
Burnout is getting worse—but recovery won't take as long as you think
Before the World Health Organization officially recognized burnout as a syndrome in 2019, there was already a mounting wave of high-profile creators speaking out against what they felt as pressure from platforms to consistently churn out content or their channels would suffer. And, unsurprisingly, the past two years have only made burnout worse. But therapist and content creator Kati Morton explains the small (and unconventional) changes you can make to put out the fire.
Emma Chamberlain on taking a coffee break from YouTube
Since starting her channel in 2017, Emma Chamberlain has amassed more than 11 million YouTube subscribers, in large part because of her wry comedic tone and signature lo-fi editing style. Not being overproduced in both the look and content of her vlogs made Emma more relatable to an audience that increasingly has favored content creators removing the literal and proverbial filters from their lives. And part of Chamberlain being so candid has been admitting to her audience (and herself) that she
Should your doctor be an influencer?
Doctors are taking to platforms like TikTok and Twitter to make medicine less of a mystery for people—and becoming celebrities along the way. But the ethics here are in a very grey area. We’ve seen how misinformation can run rampant on social media. And we’ve also seen that it doesn’t take much for anyone to gain a following online. So I wanted to explore this to get a better understanding of what it means when your doctor becomes an influencer.
Patreon CEO Jack Conte on the creative middle class
As the cofounder and CEO of Patreon (and a creator himself), Jack Conte’s whole mission has been helping creators make a stable living. Patreon allows creators to charge monthly or annual subscription fees for access to their content. And since the company started nine years ago, it’s paid out $3.5 billion to more than 250,000 creators. Patreon itself was recently valued at $4 billion, so clearly Jack was on to something. But knowing how much the creator economy has evolved, how is Patreon think
This company is investing $1 billion in your favorite YouTube creators
Spotter buys YouTubers’s back catalogs in exchange for capital to grow their businesses—and the company recently announced plans to invest $1 billion in creators. CEO Aaron DeBevoise explains who’s getting a cut, the possibility of expanding to TikTok, and how changes to YouTube could impact Spotter.
Why copyright law is out of step with dancers in the digital age
When you think about things having a copyright, what probably comes to mind are movies, music, and books—but what about dance moves? Historically, copyrighting choreography favors artists working in more traditional forms like ballet or modern dance, while choreography in videos games, music videos, and social media have remained in copyright law's blindspot. But, as we explore in this episode, hopefully not for much longer.
How NCAA athletes are navigating the Wild West of "NIL" deals
In the first episode of Fast Company's new podcast Creative Control, host KC Ifeanyi dives into the tangled history of the NCAA and collegiate athletes being able to earn money from their name, image, and likeness. The new policy has been a long time coming for athletes in the NCAA who can now score brand deals and monetize their social media. But the rules here are still very fragmented. So how are athletes navigating this new era?
Introducing Creative Control
Fast Company's new podcast Creative Control is taking a deep dive into the forces shaping the creator economy, and what it means for its future. Creative Control premieres next week, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss new episodes every Thursday.
CC Flashback: Jackie Aina
We’re gearing up for a brand new podcast on the creator economy! So in the meantime, check out this past interview from our very first season of Creative Conversation in 2018 with YouTube beauty guru Jackie Aina.
CC Flashback: Wayne Brady
We’re gearing up for a brand new podcast on the creator economy! So in the meantime, check out this past interview from our forth season of Creative Conversation in 2021 with legendary actor Wayne Brady.
CC Flashback: Saweetie
We’re gearing up for a brand new podcast on the creator economy! So in the meantime, check out this past interview from our first season of Creative Conversation in 2020 with viral rapper Saweetie.
CC Flashback: Paul Scheer
We’re gearing up for a brand new podcast on the creator economy! So in the meantime, check out this past interview from our first season of Creative Conversation in 2018 with celebrated actor Paul Scheer.
CC Flashback: Carrie Coon
We’re gearing up for a brand new podcast on the creator economy! So in the meantime, check out this past interview from our first season of Creative Conversation in 2018 with powerhouse actor Carrie Coon.
CC Flashback: David Sedaris
We’re gearing up for a brand new podcast on the creator economy! So in the meantime, check out this past interview from our first season of Creative Conversation in 2018 with celebrated author David Sedaris.
CC Flashback: Regina Hall
We’re gearing up for a brand new podcast on the creator economy! So in the meantime, check out this past interview from our first season of Creative Conversation in 2018 with legendary actor Regina Hall.
A message on what's to come in the new year.
A message on what's to come in the new year.
New Year's Special - Reflecting on 2021
Today we have a special holiday episode where KC chatted with World Changing Ideas Host Talib Visram and The New Way We Work Host Kate Davis to reflect on the past year here at Fast Company and to share some of their New Year's resolutions.
How do you define creativity? (Part 3)
We have another roundup of the best answers to that all-important question: How do you define creativity? Enjoy!
Tracy Oliver's recipe for comedy gold: Big, brash, and Black
Tracy Oliver has made it a point in her career as a film and TV producer and writer to center her work around Black women—but, most importantly, Black women who are allowed to be more than just savior figures or martyrs of Black trauma. From the box office hit Girls Trip to her latest show Harlem, Tracy creates worlds where Black women can be ridiculous, gross, lighthearted—they can just be human. In our conversation, Tracy explains the importance of basing your work around what you want to see
Adam McKay on creating comedy in chaos
How can you make satire of reality when reality itself is stranger than fiction? And when reality feels flat-out depressing, is anyone in the mood to laugh? It’s what writer and director Adam McKay was thinking about while making Don’t Look Up. Adam’s latest film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence as a pair of astronomers who are desperately trying to alert the world that a comet is about to end life on Earth as we know it—“trying” being the operative word here. In our conversation, A
Kenny G's creativity starts with trust (and a lot of practice)
Kenny G is one of those artists you love, hate, or just allow to quietly exist in the background of your life, like so much of his smooth jazz has done over his 40-year career. Even if you don't like Kenny G's take on jazz, you can't deny he's an incredibly skilled musician who, even after decades of playing the saxophone, stays in the mindset of a neophyte. In our conversation, Kenny explains how trusting his ideas and a relentless pursuit of perfection fuels his creativity and success
How do you define creativity? (Part 2)
We have another roundup of the best answers to that all-important question: How do you define creativity? Enjoy!
John Cho is simplifying his creativity—and you should too
John Cho is at a point in his career where he can be intentional with what projects he chooses. And his intention for his latest project was to push himself like no other role has done before. John stars as Spike Spiegel in Netflix's adaptation of the beloved anime Cowboy Bebop—and the role took him to the brink of both his creativity and his body. In our conversation, John explains the clarity he found while nursing an on-set injury, the acting advice that changed his perspective, and how he's
How to deal with negative emotions in your creative process
There's little you can do about the inherent stressors in the creative process. But what you can do is learn how to better manage the negative emotions that impede your work flow. In our conversation, Michael Parke, assistant professor of management at the Wharton School, gives key strategies for how we can all better recognize and handle stress to become better creatives and leaders.
Will the real Nick Kroll please stand up?
Nick Kroll's career has largely been defined by the cavalcade of memorable characters he's created over the years through his comedy specials, The Kroll Show, and of course his hit Netflix show Big Mouth. While Nick is exceptionally good at slipping into an array voices and personas, he’s pushing himself to step in front of those characters to reveal more of himself—and that's proving to be his greatest creative challenge to date. In our conversation, Nick unpacks how he’s tackling that challeng
Seth Green's zen, and the art of making "Robot Chicken"
If you've never wondered about the web of legalities and social landmines Seth Green tumbles through to make Robot Chicken, then he considers his job complete. Since premiering in 2005, Robot Chicken has won 6 Emmys and a die-hard following that's kept the show around for 11 seasons. But creating jokes around popular pop culture characters adds a legal filter to his creativity. On top of that, as the social and political landscapes have become increasingly thorny, Seth is contending with what r
How to make boring work feel new again
Last week, I had Ellen Pompeo on the podcast and the theme of making something old feel new again kept popping up. She's been on Grey's Anatomy for 18 seasons, so who could blame her? I came across research from Ed O'Brien, associate professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and figured he was the perfect person to help us figure out how to find new ways of tackling something we think is too familiar or boring.
Ellen Pompeo is keeping her creativity fresh and intensity in check
Ellen Pompeo has spent 18 seasons playing Dr. Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy—and it's fair to say doing something for that long can either make or break your creativity. For Ellen, it’s been a task of finding new ways to keep Grey’s relevant to audiences, as well as exploring new ventures outside of acting such as her new podcast Tell Me. In our conversation, Ellen explains how she keeps her creativity fresh, her struggles with being a perfectionist, and with maybe being a little bit too outspo
How author Soman Chainani gets into a creative flow state
Author Soman Chainani explains his greatest challenge: getting into a creative flow state. Check out this clip cut for time, as well as Soman's full episode from last week!
Author Soman Chainani's twisted fantasies are revolutionizing YA fiction
Soman Chainani is a bestselling author who’s on a mission to revamp the young adult space. His wildly popular series The School for Good and Evil and his latest novel Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales subvert conventional fairy tales for something darker and more complex. Soman isn’t looking to create the sanitized world of Walt Disney. He wants to bring back the real lessons embedded in Grimm’s fairy tales but with a modern twist. In this episode, Soman explains his alt-Walt vision and why it’
Why design is more than you think it is
Fast Company recently released Innovation by Design: Creative Ideas That Transform the Way We Live and Work, a book highlighting the people and companies at the forefront of impactful design. In this episode, Fast Company design editor Suzanne LaBarre shares her top stories from the book and how the events of last year gave this project a sense of urgency.
Jeff Daniels explains his controlled free fall into creativity
One thing is certain: Jeff Daniels has the range. From cutting his teeth in traditional American theater to a wide spread of film and TV roles including The Purple Rose of Cairo, Speed, Dumb and Dumber, The Newsroom, 101 Dalmatians, and Godless, Daniels has an air of creative fearlessness about him. But it's not about just jumping off the ledge. It’s recognizing your blindspots in your craft, doing the work to improve, and then when the opportunity to stretch yourself comes up, not shyi
Michael Jai White doesn’t let others box in his creativity—and you shouldn’t either
It's easy to categorize Michael Jai White as the ripped martial arts action star of Spawn, Mortal Kombat, and Black Dynamite. But with a career that stretches over 30 years, he's done more than you think—even with the shackles of being typecast and, let's be frank, racism in the entertainment industry. Let Michael tell it, though, and all of that has led him to where he's at now with his own production company Jaigantic Studios where he’s making the projects he's always wanted to make. In this e
Elizabeth Banks and her "quietly revolutionary" creativity
For Elizabeth Banks, acting was her first passion that really clicked—and she’s certainly had success in that regard with roles in 30 Rock, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and The Hunger Games franchise. But over the years, Elizabeth has proven she’s just as talented at creating new opportunities for herself in producing (Shrill), directing (Pitch Perfect 2, Charlie's Angels, Cocaine Bear), entrepreneurship (co-owner of Archer Roose wines), and now podcasting. In this episode, Elizabeth talks about owni
Why collaboration really does matter, according to Joseph Gordon-Levitt
One of the longstanding principles of creativity has always been collaboration. We hear it all the time how thinking in groups and getting feedback from others is essential to the creative process. But how many of us actually do it on a regular basis? Actor and director Joseph Gordon-Levitt would like to remind us all that we should be collaborating more often--and he has some ideas on how to do just that. In this episode, Joseph details how the collaborative process brings out his best work, mo
How do you define creativity?
We have a bonus episode for you this week! At the end of every Creative Conversation, our host Kc Ifeanyi asks his guests the same question: "How do you define creativity?" In this episode, we've compiled some our favorite answers from this season. Hopefully, these can give you a quick creative boost. Enjoy!
Why hearing "no" was exactly what Amber Riley needed
We all first fell in love with Amber Riley as Mercedes Jones on Glee. But before her breakout role, she was actually rejected from American Idol, which almost made her quit singing altogether. With her mirrorball-winning run on Dancing with the Stars; her roles in TV, film, and Broadway; and her own original recorded music, it’s hard to imagine the entertainment industry without a powerhouse like Amber—but it really almost never was. In this episode, Amber explains how she pushed past that initi
Danielle Brooks is finding the spotlight as a leading lady
Danielle Brooks got her big break as Taystee, the lovable leader in Netflix's Orange is the New Black. That character was only meant to appear in a few episodes but wound up becoming the anchor for one of the show’s most poignant story arcs. But it shouldn’t be a surprise that Danielle’s talents stretched a bit part into a featured role. She’s always had leading lady potential—and she’s proving just that with her starring role as gospel legend Mahalia Jackson in Lifetime's biopic Robin Roberts P
How Danny Elfman is trying to be a less "sh*tty collaborator"
The celebrated film composer and musician has been trying to be a better collaborator—and 37 years later, he's finally there. In this episode, Danny explains his breakthrough in collaboration with his latest solo album Big Mess, the best advice he's ever gotten from none other than Helena Bonham Carter, and he revisits some of his most well-loved film scores of his career.
Quinta Brunson on finding creativity past viral moments
Quinta Brunson is the perfect example of a creator who was able to turn her 15 minutes of viral fame into a solid career. In 2014, she first gained internet fame with her Instagram skit about a girl who's never been on a nice date. That exposure led to an opportunity to producer content for BuzzFeed. And from there, Quinta has been building her career with even bigger opportunities including HBO's A Black Lady Sketch Show, the upcoming ABC comedy Abbott Elementary that she created and stars in,
How David Oyelowo personalized his passion project
David Oyelowo’s pedigree of being a classically trained stage actor has largely translated into his career in film with weighty roles in Selma, The Butler, Nightingale, and etc. So when the opportunity to make his directorial debut with the kid-centric fantasy The Water Man came about, his fear was double-fold: stepping behind the camera for his first major film and going left of what people have come to expect from him as a "serious" actor. In this episode, David explains how his extensive acti
How Julia Michaels pushes past imposter syndrome
At 19, Julia Michaels entered the music industry as a songwriter for artists including Fifth Harmony, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, and many others. But she didn't dare step into the booth herself until she wrote her 2017 hit "Issues," which she felt was too personal to give to anyone else. Three EPs later (and jumping over hurdles of self-doubt), Julia has finally dropped her debut studio album, Not In Chronological Order. And it seems fitting that Julia, now 27, released her first full-length a
How author Amy Tan transforms trauma into art
The author of critically acclaimed novels including The Joy Luck Club and The Kitchen God's Wife is known for beautifully unpacking facets of the Chinese immigrant experience, the complexities of family dynamics, and the trauma that often fuels it. In this episode, Amy breaks down her relationship between trauma and creativity, what she learned from being in a rock band, and the challenges of making something personal universal.
How social media star Zach King builds creative momentum
Zach King has made a name for himself as a digital illusionist, using seamless editing to create mind-bending videos. He gained popularity on Vine and has translated his brand of "magic" to TikTok where he's one of the platform's most followed creators. It's easy to get caught up in the wow factor of Zach's tricks, but what's truly impressive is how he seems to never run out of new ideas, which, apparently is a fear he's been working on overcoming. In our conversation, Zach explains how he keeps
Inside the method of Eric Andre’s madness
No one is doing prank comedy quite like Eric Andre. He got his start in standup but rose to fame/notoriety with Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show, a psychedelic sendup of late night talk shows where celebrity guests and everyday people on the street are at the mercy of his frenetic whims. It’s hard to tell sometimes, but beneath all the chaos of Andre’s physical comedy and pranks, there’s a craft he’s honed for five seasons of his show and that he’s applied to his Netflix film Bad Trip. In this e
Wayne Brady on giving yourself permission to own your passion
Wayne Brady is arguably one of the hardest working performers in show business. From Broadway to TV and film and everything in between, Wayne has done it all—and often simultaneously. In this episode, Wayne explains how he gave himself permission to pursue all of his passions (and why he refuses to pick just one), how he actually does it all without crashing and burning, and the number one thing to remember in unlocking your creative potential.
The Russo brothers explain the process of their creative "f*ckery"
It’s easy to get caught up in the staggering commercial success directors Joe and Anthony Russo have had in the Marvel Cinematic universe. But what’s always worth mentioning are creative swings they’ve taken—not just in the MCU but throughout their entire career in TV and film. In this episode, the Russo brothers explain what's at the root of their creative "fuckery," their dynamic as a directing duo, how they're using their massive platform to elevate overlooked stories, and the career changing
How rapper Kota the Friend conquered burnout
Even without the machine of a major label behind him, Brooklyn rapper Kota the Friend has managed to release three EPs, three mixtapes, and two studio albums in the span of six years, earning him more than 200 Million global streams and co-signs from everyone from LaKeith Stanfield and Lupita Nyong’o, to SZA and Erykah Badu. Kota is even dropping another studio album as well as a joint album with producer Statik Selektah in the coming months. So how does he get it all done while keepin
Viggo Mortensen on the art of memory
Viggo Mortensen has cemented himself as a powerhouse actor in films including A History of Violence, Eastern Promises, and, of course, The Lord of the Rings trilogy. And now he's stepping behind the camera with his directorial debut "Falling," a beautifully fractured portrait of a complex father/son relationship. In our conversation, Viggo explains his late-stage career pivot and why memory can be such a powerful creative tool.
How the co-CEOs of Glow Recipe found creativity (and heritage) in skincare
Since launching their first line of products in 2017, Sarah Lee and Christine Chang’s skincare brand Glow Recipe has been a driving force in the Korean beauty wave, particularly in the US—and it’s not hard to see why. From their colorful packaging to alluring scents, Glow Recipe’s products are designed to be a multi-sensory experience, and, at times, a method of storytelling into Korean culture. In this episode, Lee and Change dive into their philosophy of “skintertainment" and the learning curv
How Jermaine Fowler is fighting past pain to find his funny again
Comedian and actor Jermaine Fowler has found great success in TV and film, most recently starring in Coming 2 America. But personal trauma has kept him away from what started his career in entertainment: stand-up comedy. In our conversation, Jermaine explains how he's channeling grief into art (specifically, an upcoming Showtime event he’s calling "hilariously dark and funny as shit"); how he moves past rejection; and what he's learned from working with greats like Eddie Murphy and Whoopi Goldbe
LIVE SHOW: The Year That Changed Everything
On December 16, Fast Company Podcast Network went live on Facebook and Youtube. Creative Conversation host, KC Ifeanyi, was joined by Kate Davis--host of Secrets of the Most Productive People--and Talib Visram--host of Fast Break--to talk about 2020.
How supermodel Ashley Graham channels confidence into creativity
They say "confidence is key," which is true. But in Ashley Graham's case, it's a little more than that: confidence is her brand. From her entrepreneurial endeavors to her career in media with her podcast "Pretty Big Deal," confidence is at the root of everything she does and her main source of creative inspiration. In our conversation, Ashley explains how she found (and maintains) her confidence and what it's done for her creativity.
How choreographer JaQuel Knight's obsession with details defines his career (and saved Beyoncé's "Single Ladies")
Choreographer and creative director JaQuel Knight has become to the go-to creative force behind major artists including Britney Spears, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, and yes, Beyoncé. For Knight, it's not just the big moves he obsesses over—it’s the right flick of the wrist, swing of the hair, or, in the case of the “Single Ladies” music video exact, and I mean EXACT, timing. In our conversation, Knight unpacks how his laser-focused attention to detail fuels his desi
Creativity Equation: Innovation
A custom series on science, technology, and innovation in partnership with GSK.
In this episode, we hear from GSK's Chief Scientific Officer and President of R&D Hal Barron as he explains how GSK celebrates smart risks in order to build an innovative culture.
How a former software engineer is changing the future of medicine
Joel Dudley, chief scientific officer at health startup Tempus and one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in business, has spent the better part of his career using big data and AI to find better solutions in how we treat diseases. In this episode, Joel explains how he's tackling such a lofty goal by thinking outside the parameters of the status quo of medicine.
Creativity Equation: Collective Knowledge
A custom series on science, technology, and innovation in partnership with GSK.In this episode, we hear from Kim Branson, global head of artificial intelligence and machine learning at GSK. He talks about how AI helps automate the boring and create knowledge for future generations.
Dr. Diana Anderson and Healthcare Architecture
In this episode Kc speaks with Dr. Diana Anderson as she discusses being a board-certified healthcare architect and the impact of innovative hospital design on treatment.
Creativity Equation: Collaboration
A custom series on science, technology, and innovation in partnership with GSK.In this episode, we hear from GSK's Chief Scientific Officer and President of R&D Hal Barron as he explains how GSK collaborates with its competitors to solve the world's biggest problems.
How this doctor paved his way into Hollywood (While still practicing medicine.)
For most people, being a doctor is fulfilling enough of a career. But for Dr. Roshan Sethi, he saw no need to pick a passion, which led him down the path to becoming both a screenwriter and a doctor. In this episode, Dr. Sethi explains how his dual careers inform each other and how he’s leveraging his voice for more authentic cultural representation across TV and film
The First Step: How To Build an Effective Narrative When Building a New Company
In this episode, our host Chris Denson talks to Rene Lammers, Chief Science Officer at PepsiCo, and Erik Roth, Senior Partner at McKinsey and Company. They discuss the importance of messaging when building a new business.
Viral rapper Saweetie is ready to show you who she really is
Rapper Saweetie’s breakout moment came in 2017 with her cocky freestyle “ICY GRL.” Quelling any notions of being a one-hit-wonder, Saweetie scored another viral hit with 2019’s undeniable song of the summer “My Type.”But even with two platinum hits, two well received EPs, and blipping on everyone’s radar as the one to watch, Saweetie didn’t feel successful or that people got a full sense of who she is.But she’s planning to fix that with her first full-length album Pretty Bitch Music.In
Inside the no-sleep hustle of Grammy-winning songwriter The-Dream
In addition to penning hits for the likes of Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and more, The-Dream has his own prolific R&B career. And he recently enrolled in design school during quarantine. In this episode, he breaks down his non-stop work ethic and why he doesn't believe in writer's block.
This ex-Google employee built a better platform for protesting
Creative Conversation is doing special three-part series covering specific issues within the ongoing protests for racial equality. Every Thursday this month, we’ll be spotlighting the creatives and professionals using their backgrounds, skills, and platforms to push for lasting change.
Social media has been a natural component in organizing and disseminating information during these recurring protests against racial inequality.However, there's understandable concern in how these platforms may b
Black Trans Lives Matter, too—and this activist won’t let you forget it
Creative Conversation is doing special three-part series covering specific issues within the ongoing protests for racial equality. Every Thursday this month, we’ll be spotlighting the creatives and professionals using their backgrounds, skills, and platforms to push for lasting change.
It's easy for some to push violence against the black trans community squarely into an LGBTQ+ issue—and it certainly is. However, it's also a race issue that can't be ignored. And Ianne Fields Stewart is one of t
The First Step: How Affirm CEO Max Levchin handles risk-taking in launching a new business
In this episode, our host Chris Denson talks to Max Levchin, co-founder and CEO at Affirm and co-founder of PayPal, about how to overcome a fear of failure and embrace risk in bringing forward new ideas. Then Chris dives into how established organizations need to be constantly iterating and incorporating their learnings from failures with Dilip Mistry, Partner at McKinsey and Company.
Dr. Jess, the internet's favorite psychiatrist, has a gameplan for your mental health
Creative Conversation is doing special three-part series covering specific issues within the ongoing protests for racial equality. Every Thursday this month, we’ll be spotlighting the creatives and professionals using their backgrounds, skills, and platforms to push for lasting change.
The high anxieties surrounding all the political, social, and health-related unrest has pushed the conversation of mental health to the forefront—and the black community should be the most mindful.
From COVID-19 a
Janet Mock on how to build your creative credibility
As if her career doesn’t already speak for itself, Janet Mock is ready to show you what she can really do. From her early days as an editor for People magazine, Mock has used her skills as a storyteller to springboard into becoming a New York Times bestselling author of two memoirs and, in her most recent pivot, a budding force in TV and film. With mega producer Ryan Murphy as her mentor, Mock has written for, directed, and produced a variety of projects including Pose, The Politician, and Holly
Inside the subversively creative mind of Mark Mothersbaugh
You may know Mark Mothersbaugh from his days as the frontman for the art-punk band Devo, but his career scoring film, TV shows, and video games stretches over 200 titles including Thor: Ragnarok, Dawson's Creek, Rugrats, Crash Bandicoot, and, yes, Tiger King. Not only is Mark clearly prolific and versatile, but his creativity also expands into building his own unique instruments, creating subversive visual art (e.g., a giant ruby turd), and more. In this episode, Mark explains how dismantling an
To All the Boys author Jenny Han on the double-edged sword of creativity and inclusion
When To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before dropped on Netflix back in 2018, it turned its lead actors into overnight stars, as well as the author who wrote the book the film is based on. Jenny Han had success in the YA space with her other series, but it was To All the Boys that truly elevated her career—not to mention discussion around inclusive storytelling, which for creators can sometimes be a double-edged sword. In this episode, Han explains the weight of representation, why having structure ca
Alan Yang’s secret to creativity? Push yourself to the point you want to quit
As a writer, producer, and director, Alan Yang has worked on hit shows including Parks and Rec, The Good Place, Little America, Forever, and Master of None. While the end results have led to an Emmy win and heaps of critical accolades, getting there is always a process that leaves him wondering, “should I just quit this?” But pushing himself to that point is exactly where his most creative ideas come from—and you should be doing the same. In this episode, Yang explains the importance of surprisi
Jessie Reyez has a lot to prove—and you have a lot to learn from her process
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez finally released her debut studio album 'Before Love Came to Kill Us'—and how it came together spotlights creative lessons to live by.
Creative Conversation Live in Lagos, Nigeria, with Nollywood star Banky W.
Creative Conversation headed to Lagos, Nigeria for Social Media Week where host Kc Ifeanyi interviewed R&B and Nollywood star Banky W. live on stage. In the conversation, Banky W. details his storied career, including starting his own record label, starring in Nigeria’s highest grossing film of all time, his battle with cancer, and stepping into the political arena to try and galvanize Nigeria’s younger generation disillusioned by politics as usual. Banky W. may not be a name most Western audien
The First Step: How Pizza Hut cooks up collaboration to keep innovating
On this episode, our host Chris Denson talks to Helen Vaid, Global Chief Customer Officer at Pizza Hut, about collaboration and how to build the right internal team of stakeholders for fast ideation and faster action. Then he dives into how new businesses can best foster that collaboration inside a large organization with Ari Libarikian, global leader of Leap by McKinsey.
The creative power of blackness and drag, according to Monet X Change
Since her time on season 10 of Drag Race and winning All-Stars 4, Drag Queen Monet X Change has appeared in national ad campaigns, released a visual album, and got her own talk show—and that's barley her first act. Listen her to Monet explain how she learned to embrace her blackness for drag, why she's making music and not drag music, and how she’s able to block out criticism on social media and that nagging beast of perfection to focus on her craft.
A creativity masterclass, with Reginald Hudlin
Digging into Reginald Hudlin's résumé is like the most inspiring rabbit hole you could possibly tumble down. Most people know Hudlin as the director of such classic '90s films as House Party and Boomerang. But his career spans wide across the creative, development, and executive corners of the entertainment industry, where he's even dipped his toe into comic creation. In this episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Conversation, Hudlin explains how creative risk-taking not only led to persona
How Nate Berkus stays inspired in a constantly evolving industry
Nate Berkus' life has always been surrounded by "decorative turmoil", so it's no surprise that he has grown into the superstar interior designer he is today.
In this episode of Creative Conversation, Berkus travels through his storied career going from being "a terrible assistant," to his big break on The Oprah Winfrey Show, to his own failed show ("…worst job of my life."), and how he's expanding his brand in design and even in Hollywood.
Listen to the latest episode of Fast Company's podcast C
How Marques Brownlee uses technology to express his creativity
Marques Brownlee has been called "the best technology reviewer on the planet" (by a former VP at Google, no less) and his 10 million YouTube subscribers would probably agree. So how does one go from reviewing a remote for an HP Pavilion laptop in his living room to becoming one of the most powerful voices in tech?
In this episode of Creative Conversation, Brownlee breaks down what he sees as true innovation and creativity in the tech industry and what the gadgets and devices of yesteryear can te
How Noah Baumbach made a film about love, through a story about divorce
Noah Baumbach has been making films for 25 years, but none has caught fire quite like his latest. Marriage Story has been racking up awards nominations in advance of the big ones—the Oscars, where, at the very least, costars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver are likely to be nominated. In this episode of Creative Conversation, Baumbach dives into the creative choices he made to frame Marriage Story as a film about love, how he barrels through writer's block, why he never yells "Action!" on set,
The First Step: How Square conquers fear to bring new ideas to life
The First Step is a custom podcast from Fast Co. Works in partnership with McKinsey and Company. On this episode, Chris dives into how to take an idea and put it in action with Jesse Dorogusker, Hardware Lead at Square. Then he talks to Ralf Dreischmeier, global leader of Leap by McKinsey.
Whether you are starting a new digital business at your company or just starting a new task at work, the gap between thought and action can often seem cavernous. Often we find ourselves paralyzed, unable to ac
How Piera Geraldi gives her audience permission to be creative
Lots of people work in creative industries, but very few have been able to take their art and pivot to build something more impactful than the art itself. That's exactly what Piera Gelardi did when she started Refinery29, a digital media company that in many ways, has helped to shape a more inclusive and interactive modern media landscape.
In this episode, Piera speaks about how she made that pivot from artist to business-leader, why she loves improv exercises, and the reasoning behind developin
How actress Carrie Coon uses fear to fuel her creativity
Carrie Coon got an unconventionally late start in film and TV at 33, after having long since established herself on the stage. But she's more than made up for lost time with unconventional roles. Her performances as Nora Durst in The Leftovers, Vera Walker in The Sinner, and as Elizabeth in The Keeping Hours have solidified Coon as Hollywood's bona-fide spooky mother.In this episode of Creative Conversation, Coon explains how she's reframing the archetype of mom characters, why being a
LIVE! with Mo Rocca at the Fast Company Innovation Festival 2019
Most people consider themselves lucky to be able to craft a career path within one creative industry. Mo Rocca, acclaimed humorist, journalist, and actor has successfully been able to leave his mark on a few of those paths – even though he believes that we will all be forgotten eventually. He sits down with us at the Fast Company Innovation Festival for this live episode of Creative Conversation to talk about his creative journey that touches on multiple creative outlets. Listen to him dish on w
This is your brain on improvisation
It’s no surprise that improvisation is seen as a kind of holy grail for creativity. Whether it’s comedians or musicians, the act of creating something novel and interesting out of next to nothing is, indeed, quite remarkable. But what exactly is going on inside an improvising brain? And, most importantly, how can everyday people tap into that kind of creativity?
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How to Boost Your Creativity by Changing Your Environment
When you hit that afternoon slump at your desk, maybe it’s not an issue of getting another cup of coffee—maybe you need to change your environment. Some of the most frustrating roadblocks to creativity can stem from being in a static environment. Whether you’re at the office or working remotely, being in the same old space for hours at a stretch can drain you of your creative juices. On this episode, we explore why your surroundings play such a crucial role in your creative process, the folly of
How uncertainty can make us more creative
Creative geniuses make creativity look easy. But in reality, it’s uncomfortable to dive into uncharted territory to build or think of something new. Words like “innovation” and “disruption” get tossed around all the time, but uncertainty often keeps us from reaching that creative breakthrough. In this episode, creativity expert Dr. Ron Beghetto how we can navigate that uncertainty and turn it into a valuable part of the creative process.
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This is the best time to brainstorm
We all know brainstorming is an essential part of the creative process, but what do you do when your mind is too foggy to welcome the storm? Brain fog, brain farts, mental fatigue...call it what you will, it can be a major roadblock to creativity. But is there a way to use that hazy state of mind to your creative advantage? On this episode of Creative Conversation, KC Ifeanyi unpacks exactly what brain fog is and why you shouldn't be in such a rush to clear your mind.
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Introducing Season Three of Creative Conversation
As an editor and writer for Fast Company magazine, Kc Ifeanyi covers some of the most creative minds in film, television, business and beyond. In this podcast, he unpacks the most frustrating parts of the creative process by talking to psychologists, scholars, and experts who are on the forefront of understanding creativity.
New episodes will be released this month. You can subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, Radio Public, and wherever you get y
Camille Yorrick, EVP of creative content at RCA Records
Any creative content from RCA's roster of artists goes through Camille Yorrick. From music videos to visuals and more, Yorrick has helped shaped the creative visions of everyone from Pink to Childish Gambino. The longtime music industry vet has been nominated for a Grammy for her work on "Beyoncé's I Am...World Tour" documentary and has cut her teeth in music videos with the legendary director Diane Martel. In our conversation, Yorrick explains how she tempers her opinions with an artists' intui
Jean Elie, actor and producer
Jean Elie got his big break playing Issa Rae's younger brother Ahmal on HBO's Insecure. Although landing on a hit show can lead to other more high-profile roles, Jean is wasting no time in creating lanes of his own. In addition to acting, Jean is producing and writing his own projects including several shorts and the series Send Help, which is being co-produced by Rainn Wilson's entertainment company SoulPancake. He's also been getting writing room experience on Netflix's Magic for Humans, which
Paul Scheer, actor and comedian
Paul Scheer's résumé is a dizzying display of creative output: when he's not acting in shows like Black Monday, Veep, or Fresh Off the Boat, he's busy hosting two wildly successful podcasts (How Did This Get Made? and Unspooled), writing comic books for Marvel, and rebooting the 1999 cult classic Galaxy Quest. But for someone who seems like a wellspring of creativity, Scheer admits his biggest hurdle is still pushing past that first draft. In our conversation, Scheer explains how to accept that
Jemaine Clement, actor and musician
Give Jemaine Clement a platform, and he'll spin it into something comical. The New Zealander is best known as one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords but his work in comedy stretches across radio, film, stage, and TV. And his latest project, a TV series adaptation of his 2014 mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows, is an exercise in how to mine your past ideas and make them fresh again. In our conversation, Jemaine also explains how to overcome creative differences (without pu
LIVE with Tarell Alvin McCraney, Phylicia Rashad, and OWN president Tina Perry at the Fast Company Grill
Greetings from the 9th annual Fast Company Grill! We had some amazing panel discussions down in Austin, but this one in particular was a personal favorite. I had the chance to sit down with Oprah Winfrey Network president Tina Perry, the legendary Phylicia Rashad, and famed playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney to discuss David Makes Man, Tarell’s new show on OWN. David Makes Man explores childhood trauma, the black experience, drug abuse, and much more through a surreal lens. In our discuss
Sasha Velour, drag queen
For Sasha Velour, all roads led to drag. Being a Fulbright scholar, Vassar grad, graphic artist, and illustrator, were all primers for the trailblazing work she does now as a performer, public speaker, and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. But even after winning season 9 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, landing brand ambassador deals, and selling out shows, Sasha is still riddled with creative self-doubt. In our conversation, she explains how leaning into the fantasy of drag helps to cope with reality,
E.G. Daily, actor and singer
This episode is pretty much going to be a love letter to all the 80s and 90s kids out there. You probably know E.G. Daily best as the voice of Tommy Pickles in Rugrats, Buttercup in The Powerpuff Girls, or as Pee-wee Herman’s love interest in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. Those iconic roles would be enough for a lifetime of bragging rights, but Daily has been working non stop in film, TV, music, and stage for more than four decades. In our conversation, Daily explains the process behind crafting a vo
Nicholas Britell, film composer
Nicholas Britell has become one of Hollywood’s most sought after composers--and for good reason. His scores for films including Moonlight, The Big Short, Vice, and If Beale Street Could Talk aren’t your average film scores. Nicholas experiments with unconventional techniques in order to capture abstract themes like finance, love...or Dick Cheney’s life. In this episode, Nicholas explains how he went from managing hedge funds on Wall Street to being an Oscar nominated composer, and he explains ho
Amanda Seales, comedian and actor
If you think your multi-hyphenate status is challenging, let’s run down Amanda Seales’ resume real quick. Amanda is a creative powerhouse—and more importantly she’s a creative powerhouse with something to say.
Roy Wood Jr, comedian
It would seem that Roy Wood Jr. is vying for the title of the busiest comic is show business. In addition to being a correspondent for "The Daily Show" and hosting the show "This Is Not Happening," Roy just released his second Comedy Central special "No One Loves You." But for all the work that he’s done over his career, Roy admits he’s not quite where he wants to be with his comedy. In this episode, Roy explains how his approach to comedy has been sharpened to have a social edge and how Solange
Killer Mike, rapper and activist
Killer Mike has never been one to keep his opinions to himself. Whether he’s stumping for politicians or calling out racial inequality, the outspoken rapper and activist has been using his platform and his craft to make change happen. And now he’s got a Netflix show to add to his arsenal. In our conversation, Killer Mike explains why “Trigger Warning” is necessary viewing (even if you’re easily triggered), and how he’s balancing his art and activism.
LIVE with Larry Wilmore
KC sits down with comedian, writer, and producer Larry Wilmore for a very special and very live episode of Creative Conversation, straight from the Fast Company Innovation Festival.
Jackie Aina, YouTube beauty guru
Long before “diversity” was a buzzword for beauty brands, Jackie was championing dark-skinned women and men who never saw themselves represented in the makeup industry.
with director Roman Coppola
As the son of legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, Roman's career seemed on track to follow directly in his father's footsteps--but that hasn't been quite the case.
with fashion director and designer Nicola Formichetti
From Lady Gaga's famous meat dress to spearheading the creative vision of Mugler, Diesel, and Uniqlo to starting his own label Nicopanda, Nicola Formichetti has cemented himself within the fashion industry as a foremost stylist and artistic director.
with actor Regina Hall
We all know and love Regina Hall from her comedic work in films like "Girls Trip" or "Scary Movie." But for her latest role in the indie dramedy "Support the Girls" she’s pushing the boundaries of our expectations and her abilities as an actor. Regina breaks down how she approaches her characters and teases some upcoming projects she's been writing and producing.
with photographer and filmmaker Lauren Greenfield
Excess. Greed. Addiction. The American Dream isn’t what it used to be—and Lauren Greenfield’s new doc “Generation Wealth” takes a closer look to find out why.
with filmmaker Terence Nance
Tumble into the mind of visionary filmmaker Terence Nance, whose new HBO show, “Random Acts of Flyness,” is like nothing you’ve seen before—guaranteed.
with composer Max Richter
What makes Max Richter unique is that his creativity is matched only by his ambition, which lends a sense fearlessness to his work that, hopefully, will fuel your own creativity.
with showrunners Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch
The creative tag team behind Netflix's "GLOW" is the definition of work spouse goals. In this episode, Flahive and Mensch explain how they've fine-tuned their collaborative dynamic to an art.
with author David Sedaris
Where you just see a slice of pizza on the ground, David Sedaris sees an essay in the making.
Introducing Fast Company’s Creative Conversation podcast
Join Fast Company editor KC Ifeanyi for in-depth explorations on the creative process with some of the most innovative thinkers across film, TV, music, and beyond.