Creative Control

DeepSeek, OpenAI, and the relentless AI race Feb 13, 2025

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, founder of the audio-erotica startup, Quinn.

For more of the latest business and innovation news go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news

To subscribe to AI Decoded go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/section/ai-decoded

Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review Most Innovative Companies on your podcast app of choice. You can also find more Most Innovative Companies podcast content on Fast Company’s YouTube channel along with more videos on business news, tech, design, and work life.

The Super Bowl is all about the ads Feb 06, 2025

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, Josh and Yaz discuss the $5 billion deal that brought the WWE to Netflix.

Teflon Son? How Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son’s legend keeps growing Jan 30, 2025

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 Masayoshi Son.’ They discuss Son’s biggest wins, even bigger losses, and the recently announced $500 billion AI infrastructure project alongside OpenAI and Oracle called Stargate. (06:54)

Then, ‘Fast Company’ editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan discusses the reaction at Davos to President Trump’s inauguration. (37:40)

For more of the latest business and innovation news go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news

Gambling Man: The Wild Ride of Japan’s Masayoshi Son: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/451627/gambling-man-by-barber-lionel/9780241582725

Be sure to subscribe, rate and review Most Innovative Companies on your podcast app of choice. You can also find more Most Innovative Companies podcast content on Fast Company’s YouTube channel along with more videos on business news, tech, design and work life.

The LA fires are still burning, TikTok is still running in the US, and the new Trump administration has begun Jan 23, 2025

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 climate

Then, 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 into effect over the weekend for a grand total of 12 hours. For now, the app remains operational in the U.S. after former President Biden declared he wouldn’t enforce the ban and President Trump signed an executive order on Monday pausing the ban for 75 days. But, what comes next for TikTok and the creators who lobbied for it to be saved? ‘Fast Company’ executive editor Maia McCann and senior staff editor Max Ufberg help explain the state of TikTok. But, what comes next for TikTok and the creators who lobbied for it to be saved? ‘Fast Company’ executive digital director Maia McCann and senior staff editor Max Ufberg try to explain the state of TikTok.

For more of the latest news coming out of the Trump administration, and in the world of business, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news

For more on the Los Angeles Fires and Sammy Roth’s writing on climate change, you can find his newsletter, Boiling Point, here and subscribe to his podcast of the same name here

Be sure to subscribe, rate and review Most Innovative Companies on your podcast app of choice. You can also find more Most Innovative Companies podcast content on Fast Company’s YouTube channel along with more videos on business news, tech, design and work life.

Inside Trader Joe’s and NVIDIA Jan 17, 2025

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 Jan 09, 2025

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. Discovery Global Streaming and Games JB Perrette about how (HBO) Max's globalization efforts are the biggest aspect of its growth.

How the most innovative companies work: Mattel - FROM FASTCO WORKS AND ATLASSIAN Dec 17, 2024

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 Dec 12, 2024

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 for corporate teams, the recent influx of AI tools, and Josh’s former life as an improviser.

Are Amazon robots taking over their fulfillment centers? Dec 05, 2024

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 Nov 21, 2024

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 Farley and her review of the 'Wicked' movie.

Then, Yaz and Josh talk with Fast Co. staff editor AJ Hess about the new docuseries, 'The Offseason,' and recent big investments in women’s sports.

Why Gen Z men really voted for Trump Nov 14, 2024

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/premium

Why Gen Z men really voted for Trump Nov 14, 2024

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/premium

The Victoria’s Secret fashion show is back. Are the company’s old problems back too? Oct 24, 2024

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 stylist Law Roach about his career evolution and abrupt retirement . . . and the work he has done since retiring.

and check out the YouTube Video of Yaz's chat with Law Roach!

Why is fast food so expensive now? Oct 17, 2024

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 fails and successes, from Heinz’s racially tone-deaf imagery to the surprisingly popular combination of Grimace and the New York Mets.

Can WeightWatchers survive the Ozempic era? Oct 10, 2024

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 past 3 years comes amid a cultural discussion about whether or not the Grammys and the Academy are still relevant. They chatted about diversifying the Grammy voting process, advocating for artists, and how Mason feels about AI in the music industry.

NFL ad season begins, and Robinhood still has faith in crypto Sep 19, 2024

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 cofounder and CEO Vlad Tenev shares about his company’s growth since the GameStop chaos of 2021, the regulation he’d like to see for cryptocurrency, and how he thinks about AI as a new language tool.

How Will Packer uses arrogance to his advantage Aug 29, 2024

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 famous fight in Atlanta and the massive theft that followed. He chatted about his experiences as a producer, where he finds story inspiration, and one of his biggest accomplishments: convincing Beyoncé to change her mind.

Also, Anu Duggal, founding partner of Female Founders Fund, talks about how things have changed, or not, for female entrepreneurs in the startup ecosystem. After 10 years in seed-funding for companies, she sees optimism in climate tech, but AI? . . . Not so much.

Can Brian Niccol turn Starbucks around? Aug 22, 2024

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 writer Clint Rainey discusses the coffee chain’s past mission and values, and how different leadership has shifted the brand’s focus.

Also, we talk with rapper Saweetie about her successful brand partnerships with Postmates and McDonald’s, and her perspective on growing her own brand and image. And Candace Bushnell, author of ‘Sex and the City’ (the book!), chats about looking back on her writing and TV career and what stories she wants women to see today.

Can the Gap make a comeback? Aug 14, 2024

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 malls to shopping online, and the pandemic’s ‘house clothes’ trend, all hit the Gap hard. Then, former Mattel president and COO Richard Dickson came in to take over. And if you’re wondering why a successful toy company executive would want to move to a flailing clothing company . . . we got you.

How 23andMe went from a $6 billion valuation to trading for pennies Aug 07, 2024

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 boards, as well as working with boards as a founder, Norton realized that modern, streamlined tools could vastly improve boardroom communication. His company aims to change the dynamics of boards and company management by reducing repetitive tasks and facilitating better collaboration.

And heads up, our show will be shifting to publish on Thursdays starting August 22!

AI is changing tech, but where's the energy coming from? Jul 17, 2024

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 next three years to keep up with the demand from cloud service providers. For example, training an AI model like OpenAI’s GPT-3 required just under 1,300 megawatt hours, which is the amount of power used by 130 U.S. homes in a year. ‘Fast Company’ deputy digital editor Morgan Clendaniel discusses how to interpret Amazon’s claims about renewable power, and how much energy we’ll need to power even more data processing. Also, Jeff Beer, ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor covering advertising and branding, breaks down some of the recent campaigns and marketing from Etsy and Taco Bell, and what to expect from ads during the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Who is MSCHF and why are 10,000 people playing their game on Venmo? Jul 03, 2024

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 commentary with capitalism. And Pinterest Chief Product Officer Sabrina Ellis discusses AI's possible uses on a platform with such a vast library of images. How can Pinterest continue to be a source of inspiration for users, an avenue for shopping, and expand the diversity of its content? And what insights can AI provide into the things that catch our eye?

Are LinkedIn influencers the worst kind of influencer? Jun 26, 2024

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 plenty of comments sympathized with Baltzell over the uncomfortable situation, even praising him for sharing it. In fact, deranged behavior like this is a daily occurrence on LinkedIn, where business influencers operate very differently from influencers on other social media platforms. ‘Fast Company’ contributing writer Joe Berkowitz discusses his own forays into LinkedIn’s world of ‘corporate positivity.’ And Andrew Lacey, founder and CEO of medical technology company Prenuvo, talks about how the full-body MRI scanning that his company is offering might change our perspective on preventative healthcare—if the high cost can be lowered by other systemic reforms in healthcare.

Inside MrBeast's corporate structure Jun 12, 2024

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 and it describes itself as a "philanthropic community" dedicated to tackling the "country’s biggest problems," which range from education initiatives to what it calls "freedom-minded solutions." But we wanted to focus on how MrBeast’s corporate structure operates, so Fast Company contributing writer Ryan Broderick joined us to chat about it.

Then, Fast Company associate editor David Salazar had a conversation with Vault founder David Greenstein and musician James Blake, who was the first artist on Vault and has been vocal about its potential as a new way for fans to engage with their favorite artists. They chatted about experimenting with new ways to monetize music.

How Dropout competes in a cutthroat, subscription-streaming market Jun 05, 2024

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 popular enough to eclipse it, and we feel that time is now.”

Since purchasing the company for a whopping $0 in 2020, Reich has prioritized producing long-form improv content, keeping costs low and driving brand awareness through vertical videos on social media networks like TikTok. Dropout currently has 11 active series including its two most popular properties Game Changer and Dimension 20, a series where comedians actually play a live game of Dungeons & Dragons. By the end of this year, they are set to have 15 series including a live comedy special series called Dropout Presents that will launch this summer with a stand-up special from YouTuber Hank Green. The company has also ventured into live event programming for Dimension 20 in partnership with Live Nation, starting with a four-show tour of the U.K. this spring and, most impressively, leading up to a show at Madison Square Garden in January of 2025.

Why tech bro podcasts are obsessed with alpha men May 29, 2024

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 the Great Man Theory, and how that’s problematic.

Then, we spoke to Gamefam founder and CEO Joe Ferencz about the rise of Roblox and Fortnite as brand-engagement platforms and how they use these sandbox games to not only create new virtual worlds, but also to advertise different IPs.

Perplexity slams Google May 22, 2024

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 calls itself an Answer Engine, has been funded by the likes of Jeff Bezos and Nvidia. The stakes are high: If Perplexity can pull off its mission, the company could become—according to some—a Google killer. Perplexity’s CEO Aravind Srinivas spoke at our Most Innovative Companies Summit last week, and had some choice words about Google’s new features and the future of his own company. We spoke to executive editor Amy Farley to unpack what he said.

Then, we chatted with ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Jeff Beer about brand apology ads and E.l.f beauty’s recent study on how there are too many dicks across U.S corporate boards.

Why is the WNBA so hot right now? May 15, 2024

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 explain how this happened and why the stakes for the WNBA are so high this season.

Then, in a bit of a role reversal, Josh played the interviewer and asked Yaz about her latest reporting on Oprah. It covered Weight Watchers, diet culture, and our favorite topic on this show, GLP-1s. The impetus for Yaz's article was a Weight Watchers event last week in New York where Oprah was speaking. Yaz explained what happened and what it means for the future of the company.

We're looking at 2024 Summer Trends May 08, 2024

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 so-called "Airbnb Effect" happening in certain communities around the country, the company's efforts to advocate for renters, and the its latest Icons offerings.

The unraveling of a unicorn: Why InVision failed May 01, 2024

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, which effectively doubled its valuation.

So, what happened? How did this unicorn unravel? ‘Fast Company’ contributing writer Nicole Gull McElroy joined us to explain and discuss.

Then we chatted with legendary English fashion designer Paul Smith who has been working in the industry for more than 50 years. Aside from the clothes, he’s also heavily involved in designing the look of his stores around the world. His iconic store on L.A’.s Melrose Avenue has a bright pink wall that’s been around since the early 2000s. But since the 2010s, that wall has become an Instagram hot spot with people lining up to take photos against the hot pink backdrop. Smith explained to us how the wall—which costs about $66,000 a year to maintain—has changed brand awareness, and spoke about his long career as designer-of-choice for such stars as Daniel Day-Lewis, David Bowie, and Jony Ive.

Minimum wage increases for fast food workers and Lyft drivers Apr 24, 2024

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 able to get a decent living wage. Fast Company Staff Writer Pavithra Mohan joined us to unpack it all. For more on this, check out Pavithra's reporting.

Then we chatted with Lyft CEO David Risher about taking over the company after cofounders Logan Green and John Zimmer left a year ago, having to lay off more than a quarter of the company’s workforce last April, and focusing on his key strategy: “customer obsession drives profitable growth.” We also discussed the company’s future in Minneapolis, whether self-driving cars will transform the industry, and what Risher learned heading up U.S. retail at Amazon under Jeff Bezos.

Boeing is having a bad year Apr 17, 2024

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 demand for non-alcoholic drinks. Companies like Athletic Brewing are experiencing enormous growth as consumers are embracing Sober October and Dry January and curbing their drinking in general. It’s perhaps not going all that well for all brands. After we recorded this interview on April 9th, Boisson, the largest nonalcoholic retailer in New York, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed all eight of its brick-and-mortar stores. Still, the nonalcoholic market is forecasted to grow exponentially within the next decade, especially as major breweries such as Anheuser-Busch and Heineken expand their alcohol-free offerings.

NBC's hiring and firing of Ronna McDaniel Apr 10, 2024

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 to make the network for all viewpoints. But is that even possible in the Trump era? We talked to Fast Company contributing writer Brian Stelter, who profiled Cesar Conde in our upcoming spring issue.

Then we chatted about one of Fast Company’s recognition programs, Brands That Matter. This is where Fast Company highlights companies that build a connection with their audiences by being culturally relevant, making an impact, and communicating their mission and values clearly. Our advertising and brand correspondent, Jeff Beer, joined us to share his favorite brands at the moment. Kristen Wiig's reprisal of the Target lady, SunChips jumping on the eclipse phenomenon, and . . . Dramamine producing a short documentary about barf bags.

Truth Social and Sephora Tweens Apr 03, 2024

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 showing a lot of interest in the Sephora brand . . . so we wanted to hear directly from them and got to speak with one tween about how they got so interested in skincare, and, of course, what their favorite products are. Then we spoke with Artemis Patrick, president and CEO of Sephora North America, who shared why she thinks tweens love the brand so much and what the company is doing to connect with that community.

Powering the Future - AI Bootcamp FROM FASTCO WORKS AND SAP Mar 25, 2024

The impact of AI on finance departments will be huge.

The Most Innovative Companies list is out! Mar 20, 2024

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 most innovative brands out there.

For more on the MIC list, check it out here. And check out Jeff's Taco Bell feature story!

Fast Company at SXSW and Netflix's 3 Body Problem Mar 13, 2024

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 depicts a fictional past, present, and future when an alien civilization comes to Earth. Yaz chatted with “Game of Thrones” showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, “True Blood” executive producer Alexander Woo, and director Derek Tsang about the process of adapting a popular book series and turning it into a successful television show . . . and whether or not fan reactions factor into it.

Supply Ch(AI)n Strategy Session - AI Bootcamp FROM FASTCO WORKS AND SAP Mar 11, 2024

How artificial intelligence is shaping the product journeys from procurement to end customers.

Oscar Campaigns & TheRealReal Mar 06, 2024

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 behind these efforts, and we list some of the more successful campaigns.

On another story, luxury consignment company The RealReal has struggled to prove to investors that it can be a profitable company. But just last week, the company announced that it had its first profitable quarter. Rati Sahi Levesque, president and COO, explains how the company turned things around.

Time for Growth - AI Bootcamp FROM FASTCO WORKS AND SAP Mar 04, 2024

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 Feb 28, 2024

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 to create an interoperable gaming metaverse, where NFT holders could game on a browser.

Lately, though, it seems that things haven’t been going so well for the company. ‘Fast Company’ tech editor Max Ufberg joined us to interview Yaz and ‘Fast Company’ staff editor, Connie Lin, about what happened and whether NFTs are even still . . . a thing.

Then, Bubble Goods founder and CEO Jessica Young wanted to create an online marketplace where you could find the best—and best-for-you—foods right at your fingertips. Bubble Goods carries only packaged goods that are free of preservatives, artificial dyes, and fillers, plus no refined or cane sugar. And everything it sells comes from small, indie makers that Bubble Goods taste-tests first to make sure its worthy of its consumers. We spoke to Jessica about what led her to create this space for food products, the vetting process for items to be on the site, and what are some of her favorites on the platform.

Super Bowl ads and Stanley cups Feb 07, 2024

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 product is creating a very meta approach.

We also talked about what’s going on with those Stanley cups. ‘Fast Company’ senior staff writer Liz Segran explained how the trendy tumblers do contain lead but more importantly, how this revelation will impact the company’s dominance in the very crowded reusable water bottle market. Also, how sustainable are these containers when they’re being marketed as a fashion accessory?

For more MIC behind the scenes, check out Yaz at @yazzyg on Instagram and Josh @joshuagchris on TikTok!

WWE, Netflix—and the baby-faced rival who wants to body slam them Jan 31, 2024

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-view offerings
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is joining the board of directors at TKO Group (which consists of UFC and WWE)

Then, our producer Blake Odom sat down with Vuori founder and CEO Joe Kudla. They chatted about the company’s $4 billion valuation, its most prominent investor (SoftBank), and how it jumped into the very crowded athleisure space.

Fast Company Podcasts look back on 2023 Dec 27, 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!

Lilly Singh on being intentional when creating new projects Dec 13, 2023

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—and ensuring that women are at the center of the stories. The company recently released a kids' animated series called The Mindful Adventures of Unicorn Island. The series comprises a quick 10 episodes that teach kids one mindfulness exercise each episode. And they're free on YouTube.

"And it's so meaningful to me because [. . .] it's kind of like a love letter to younger Lilly, because in my adult life, meditation and mindfulness and mental health are so important. But admittedly, when I was younger, I knew nothing about this. It was never discussed in school or at home. If kids could learn how to meditate and regulate their emotions . . . just know that feeling things is okay and how to deal with that and how to reconcile that, that would be amazing."

For more MIC behind the scenes, check out Yaz at @yazzyg on Instagram and Josh @joshuagchris on TikTok!

Ideo layoffs and the end of design thinking Nov 22, 2023

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 headcount this year. Fast Company Senior Editor Liz Stinson breaks down the reason for the layoffs and what this means for "design thinking."

For more, check out Mark Wilson's piece on Ideo

"People thought we were crazy." Somos cofounder and CEO Miguel Leal wanted to bring authentic Mexican food to people's kitchens. "It was time to move the cuisine forward," he said. "Eighty-two percent of Mexican food comes from a restaurant. That is not the same for Italian food. That is not the same for Chinese food. That is very peculiar to Mexican food. And because of the size of the market, it's a $68 billion market. We just thought, what a great opportunity to become the spaghetti and sauce of Mexican food."

And speaking of home cooking, Happy Thanksgiving!!

For more MIC behind-the-scenes, check out Yaz at @yazzyg on Instagram and Josh @joshuagchris on TikTok!

The SAG-AFTRA strike is over! Nov 15, 2023

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 for cofounding Good American, Emma is also a founding partner at Skims. For her, when it comes to starting a business, it’s never about who she’s going to partner with but rather what problem are we solving: What are we trying to do, and how do we uniquely align that with the right individual at the time?

As she was starting out, Emma worked with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Dior, Chanel, and Calvin Klein. She said that gave her a kind of unique understanding and perspective, but also a clear insight into what she considers one of the best accelerators: fame. “I was very, very early in influencer marketing, and I think that we’ve seen enough celebrities create brands and fail or create brands and not have success like Good American and Skims and Safely to know that it isn’t talent alone [that’s] going to propel a brand.”

For more MIC behind-the-scenes, check out Yaz at @yazzyg on Instagram and Josh @joshuagchris on TikTok!

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ director Emma Tammi talks about horror innovation Oct 25, 2023

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’s is produced by the spooky creatives at Blumhouse with the murderous mascots from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.

Everyone feels like they have a book in them. Well, Roya Shariat proved it! The Glossier director of social impact and brand partnerships shared her tips on working a full-time job while pursuing her passion project. Spoiler: There’s no such thing as balance. It’s more of a trade-off. “It’s something I continue to struggle with,” says Roya, “and I’d say I’m not the best at dividing my time. It’s using my nights and weekends for that passion project and being a little ruthless sometimes about not going to socialize this month because I’ve got to work on this book proposal . . . It’s just, sometimes, not sleeping and sometimes working seven days a week.” Her cookbook, Maman and Me, is available now in bookstores around the U.S and coming soon to global markets.

For more MIC behind-the-scenes, check out Yaz at @yazzyg on Instagram and Josh @joshuagchris on Tiktok!

How Issa Rae secured success: Create what you’re passionate about Oct 18, 2023

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 time, but there was never one nearby. So, she helped found Hilltop Coffee and Kitchen. She’s also the co-owner of Sienna Naturals because she said she prefers to wear her hair naturally but taking care of it is very hard. Other projects involve making her production company, Hoorae, an all-encompassing ecosystem, and recently teaming up with Adam McKay to adapt the New York Times’ podcast series, Nice White Parents, into an HBO series.

On the WGA and SAG strikes, she says it was tough with the work stoppage and not being able to talk about her creative projects, but she fully supported them. And now, she says, she’ll have to navigate what to create next because everything is going to have to be high concept, and there will be fewer diverse shows. That will result in fewer casting opportunities, too: “While the writers were able to fight for more minimum staffing rooms, that means there’s less stuff to work on because everything is so expensive. In the same way that [the] ’90s to the 2000s had fewer diverse shows on the air, I think that’s for sure going to be a casualty of it all,” she explains.

For more behind-the-scenes looks of our in-studio recording, follow Yaz @yazzyg and Josh @thejoshuachris

Creative Control series roundup! Sep 18, 2023

YouTube’s $14 billion bet on NFL Sunday Ticket Aug 30, 2023

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-term investment that YouTube is making in both live sports and live NFL games.

“We’re in an era of reckoning hypocrisies.” When Seth Rogen got into pottery a few years ago, he started sculpting ashtrays. Few people were putting a lot of thought into the lifestyles of people who smoked weed. But now, people are actually celebrating it. So, Rogen decided to create well-designed accessories, like ashtrays and grinders, to address the pent-up desire from weed smokers to decorate their space with nice things. “Crafting products that speak to your personal tastes and lifestyles is validating.” Say goodbye to your old soda cans.

And then we look into that rumor regarding The New Yorker article about Tiger Global.

Check out our upcoming Innovation Festival: https://events.fastcompany.com/innovationfestival23

Barbie's global domination: Exactly how Mattel pulled it off Jul 19, 2023

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. Fast Company Senior Staff Editor Jeff Beer explains how this Blockbuster movie's marketing campaign stands out . . . and that having fun is at the core of the global brand's approach.

Then to something more serious — Human Rights Watch Executive Director Tirana Hassan talks about how the organization is using technology to push back on misinformation and disinformation, and even how AI can benefit the organization in its investigations.

How Watcher Entertainment is changing the rules of content creation Jul 06, 2023

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 stupidest decision’ he could ever make.

Steven told us all about his perspective working at a small independent studio after being at a large media company, and his ambitions to raise the bar for digital content in the future.

How TikTok’s Medical Mythbuster exposes racism in healthcare Jun 29, 2023

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’t receiving the necessary care. In our conversation, Joel talked about the myths about race that he’s encountered in medical school and how social media can be a powerful educational tool.

How SuperOrdinary links brands and creators to international markets Jun 22, 2023

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.

What if an AI Elvis sent you a birthday Cameo? Jun 15, 2023

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, and why its future may or may not involve AI celebrities.

Is AI art innovation or infringement? Jun 08, 2023

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 AI in her work while maintaining her curiosity and excitement for the future of art and technology.

The thin line between borrowing and stealing in fandom Jun 01, 2023

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. Afterall, fandoms can be their own marketing machines for profitable franchises, so companies don’t always crack down on violations. That is, until they see their profits or trademarks threatened—as was the case recently with Netflix and The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical.

So, is it possible to encourage and protect the inspiration-fueling fandoms while still honoring the original authors? What’s the line between derivative and original? And most importantly, what’s werewolf erotica got to do with this?

The dark side of fandom May 25, 2023

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 obstacles around identity, body type, and income. While some fans might find wild success with their writing or artwork, others have experienced rampant harassment and threats—and the difference has a lot to do with who they are.So how do fan creators balance independence from big platform companies with the challenges of moderating inclusive communities?To see some of the fantastic costumes Yalda’s created, check out her Instagram @yaldamn.

Welcome to the (fandom) dance party! May 18, 2023

‘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.

This is the first of our special series about the many worlds of fandom. To see the (explicit!) fanart of Gulliver’s Travels mentioned in the episode, head to the Met Museum’s archives.

Coming soon: A deep dive into the world of fandom May 11, 2023

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?” May 04, 2023

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 regulation of new technologies. Both experts emphasized how banning Tiktok opens up a lot of new questions about how tech companies, specifically social media platforms, are treated in the U.S. and other countries. Because, while other countries including China and India have banned certain apps in the past, an American ban on Tiktok would send an entirely new message about how we do—or don’t—want to communicate with the rest of the world.

How AI could shape the next 50 years of hip-hop Apr 27, 2023

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: Conscious Unconscious, a photo exhibit presented by Fotografiska New York and created in partnership with Mass Appeal.

What do politicians not understand about TikTok? Apr 20, 2023

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 testified before Congress a few weeks ago, V went to listen in, and see firsthand how politicians are talking about the controversial app.

Navigating the creator economy 2.0 Apr 13, 2023

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 downs of the creator economy. Given the huge influx of creators who entered the space in 2020 and the economic concerns that emerged last year, how is the creator economy maturing? And how do political conflicts play out, with so many creators staking their livelihoods on TikTok and other platforms?

Announcing Season 3 of Creative Control! Apr 06, 2023

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! Mar 30, 2023

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 Mar 23, 2023

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 podcast, Anything Goes, and her coffee company, Chamberlain Coffee. We talked about how she’s redefining her relationship with YouTube and finding her place in the coffee industry—potential haters and all.

CC Flashback: Should your doctor be an influencer? Mar 16, 2023

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 doctors being influencers, and is it actually making us healthier?

CC Flashback: Why copyright law is out of step with choreographers in the digital age Mar 09, 2023

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 Mar 02, 2023

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 Feb 23, 2023

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 Elizabeth Banks as not just a celebrity endorser but a partner in the company and its chief creative officer.

Making Sh*t Up: Improvisation and the Art of Making Something out of Nothing Feb 16, 2023

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 Feb 09, 2023

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 creator Jackie Aina.

How brands should elevate (not exploit) Black creators Feb 02, 2023

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 Jan 26, 2023

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? Jan 19, 2023

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 understand what impact the Facebook Papers really had, I spoke to Hayley Tsukayama, a senior legislative activist from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Bill Burton, a political consultant working with Frances Haugen.

Is the creator economy dead? Jan 12, 2023

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 Jan 05, 2023

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 you, and I think it’s clear from her level of talent, that she’s much more than her age or social media presence. In our conversation, Samara charts her career from honing her talent in the Bronx to becoming an international jazz star. She also explains what her success could mean for jazz, and why she’s treading lightly on social media.

The Fast Company podcast team looks back on 2022 Dec 29, 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 incinerates your bowel movement under water. Finally, Kate, KC, and Amelia share their New Year's resolutions.

Subscribe to The New Way We Work, Creative Control, and World Changing Ideas on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Top predictions for the creator economy in 2023 Dec 22, 2022

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 talent strategy at UTA IQ; Zehra Naqvi, senior investment associate at Republic; and Madison Long, cofounder and CEO of Clutch.

Unpacking the ‘Black Internet Effect’ with Shavone Charles Dec 15, 2022

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 and recognition, and she lays it all out in her new book, ‘Black Internet Effect.’ In my conversation with Shavone, we talk about her trailblazing career, how she’s developing her personal creative pursuits, and what she sees as the next step for creators of color.

How social media companies should think about paid subscriptions Dec 08, 2022

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 companies should be learning from their successes.

What Tumblr’s new rules on adult content means for creators Dec 01, 2022

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 . . . Nov 24, 2022

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? Nov 17, 2022

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 this, I interviewed Lauren Schnipper, VP of corporate development at Jellysmack and co-host of the creator economy podcast Creator Upload.

Will changes at Twitch help or hurt creators' pockets? Nov 10, 2022

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 interest of creators. But some creators, particularly those in the middle class, aren’t so sure.

How much do you spend on the creators you love? Nov 03, 2022

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 Oct 27, 2022

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 episode.

Want 52 million followers on TikTok? Adapt and experiment like Michael Le Oct 20, 2022

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 million followers into a new business—especially a new business that many might not see as part of your core brand?

FROM AWS AND FAST CO WORKS: At the Edge of Innovation: A Conversation with AWS’s Jan Hofmeyr Oct 18, 2022

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 Oct 13, 2022

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 Oct 06, 2022

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! Sep 29, 2022

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 Sep 22, 2022

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 Sep 15, 2022