Fast Company culture maven KC Ifeanyi gets icons from art and business to break down the secrets of their success and their tricks for overcoming creative deserts.
Listeners of Creative Conversation that love the show mention: kc, creative, listen.
The Creative Conversation podcast, hosted by KC, is an absolute gem in the world of podcasts. From the moment I stumbled upon it and listened to the conversation between Annelise Campbell and Monica Veloz, I became an instant fan. The discussion they had about creators of color was not only insightful but also incredibly funny. It felt like I was sitting in on a casual conversation among friends, and that's what sets this podcast apart.
One of the best aspects of The Creative Conversation is the effort that KC puts into covering meaningful topics and finding guests who are authentic and truly care about being a positive force in the creative world. Each episode brings forth unique perspectives and insights that make you think differently about your own creativity. KC does a fantastic job leading these conversations, allowing the guests to share their experiences and wisdom with ease.
Furthermore, the production team deserves a shoutout for their hard work behind the scenes. The podcast has top-notch sound quality, which makes it easy to fully immerse yourself in each episode. Additionally, I appreciate how inclusive The Creative Conversation is by featuring voices from various backgrounds and experiences. This commitment to diversity enriches the discussions and encourages listeners to broaden their horizons.
However, despite its numerous strengths, there are a few minor drawbacks to The Creative Conversation podcast. Occasionally, some episodes can feel slightly unstructured or meandering at times. While this may be part of its charm for some listeners, others might prefer more concise discussions with a clear focus. Additionally, there could be room for more diverse perspectives within certain topics to provide a well-rounded view.
In conclusion, if you are someone who seeks inspiration and wants to unleash your creative spirit while making a positive impact on the world, The Creative Conversation is an absolute must-listen podcast for you. KC excels at leading conversations that cover a broad range of topics related to creativity and living a fulfilling life. Whether you're just starting out or already established, this podcast will undoubtedly leave you feeling inspired and eager to pursue your creative endeavors. I highly recommend giving it a listen and subscribing to stay updated on the latest episodes.
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Moby's prolific music career spans 35 years, most notably helping to bring electronic music to the mainstream—and perhaps less notably, but still importantly, giving so much of that music away for free. Amid consistently putting out albums, Moby launched Mobygratis in 2005, a platform where creatives can download instrumental music made by Moby to use in any number of projects. Moby has continued to update and iterate on Mobygratis, but the ethos has remained the same: helping creatives realize their projects with less financial burden and unleashing the “democratic chaos” of seeing what people create with the music. In this episode, Moby explores his relationship to creativity and commerce, the tsunami of AI, what effective activism looks like, and why as a creative it's okay (and even better) to not have a plan B. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To listen to the latest episodes of Creative Control on Fast Company:https://www.fastcompany.com/podcasts/creative-control Visit Mobygraits
The days of celebrities, athletes, and creators relying solely on their talent to build their brands is over. Today, it's all about partnering with brands, investing in companies, or even launching a business of your own. Join host KC Ifeanyi each episode as he talks to one of the world's most creative people about how their business endeavors intersect with, and grow, their creativity.
On today's episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen break down the latest news in the world of business and innovation, including the U.S. dollar's slide into multiyear lows as the tariff wars with China escalate, the outlook for unemployment, Nvidia's plans to make supercomputers entirely in the U.S., and OpenAI's news of launching a social network. (1:24) Next, Yaz and Josh interview ‘Fast Company freelance reporter Patrick Sisson about cleantech companies rebranding themselves as vital for national security as government funding for anything climate-related gets cut. (10:00) Finally, Yaz interviews Twitter cofounders Ev Williams and Molly DeWolf Swenson about their new private social media network Mozi, which focuses on helping people foster in-person connections. (23:15)
Generative AI has taken the brand world by storm. But how is the planet's best-known AI company building its own brand? Like everything to do with AI, the brand aspect of this category is evolving and changing seemingly week to week. There's newer brands like Anthropic, Perplexity, and DeepSeek, alongside established giants' own sub-brands like Apple Intelligence, Google Gemini, Amazon's Rufus AI assistant, and on and on.With about 400 million users, and almost constant news coverage, OpenAI may be the best known purely AI company.In episode seven of Fast Company's Brand New World podcast, host Jeff Beer talks to OpenAI's chief marketing officer Kate Rouch about the strategy behind their Super Bowl ad, how the company defines its brand values, and why, despite helpful lessons from the last 30 years of tech, new precedents will still be set for the AI brand category.
On today's episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen break down the latest news in the world of business and innovation, including President Trump delaying reciprocal tariffs, TikTok-alternative Skylight, a major win for college athletes, and Microsoft's 50th anniversary. (00:46) Next, Yaz and Josh interview Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen about how Flexport and the companies it works with are digesting the tariffs plus the continued uncertainty around global trade. (05:46) Finally, Yaz interviews cofounder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, Ben Lamm, about the company's progress in trying to bring back the Woolly Mammoth and the criticism the company is facing after it unveiled three dire wolf puppies. (31:34) For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/news For the latest ‘Fast Company' coverage on Trump's tariffs, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/section/tariffs
In episode six, host Jeff Beer is at Google's world headquarters in Mountain View, CA to talk to chief marketing officer Lorraine Twohill. We dig into the brand's overall GenAI strategy, not only for how they're working as a marketing organization, but also how they're marketing Google's own AI tools like Gemini.We also chat about how Lorraine and her team are balancing between third-party tools like Brandtech Group's Pencil Pro, and WPP's One, and the company's own proprietary tools.Of course, we get into the lessons learned over the reaction to Google's “Dear Sydney” Olympic ad for Gemini last summer, but also how the ultimate goal for AI's impact on the brand's marketing is to come up with an idea in the morning, and see it out in the world that afternoon.
On today's episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen break down the latest news in the world of business and innovation, including the latest on the sweeping tariffs announced on wednesday, the Trump administration being sued by federal workers, Newsmax stock pops 500% on NYSE, Meta's head of AI research Joelle Pineau is leaving the company, and fast-fashion giant H&M plans to use AI clones of its human models—plus the backlash. (00:44) Next, Josh and Yaz speak to ‘Fast Company' senior editor Max Ufberg about the Tesla Takedown protests happening across the globe. Plus, Max shares details of the coordinated event called Global Action Day where worldwide protests are calling on people to sell their Teslas and their shares of Tesla stock. (05:17) Finally, Yaz spoke to award-winning actor Walton Goggins and GoDaddy's CEO Aman Bhutani about GoDaddy's partnership with Walton Goggins Goggle Glasses. (26:26) For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To read the latest on Fast Company's coverage of Tesla: https://www.fastcompany.com/91308723/elon-musk-blames-tesla-protests-shady-payoffs-while-making-shady-payoffs-wisconsin Visit Walton Goggins Goggle Glasses
Sephora is compelling for any number of reasons, and one is it's been a leader in the beauty industry working with GenAI and broader AI technology.A McKinsey piece reported earlier this year that Gen AI could add up $9 billion to $10 billion to the global economy based on its impact on the beauty industry alone.As consumer brands go, the beauty industry has been ahead of the curve on AI, with companies like Sephora, L'Oreal, Dior, Estee Lauder, P&G, all creating AI-powered tools for customers to use as early as 2017.In this episode, host Jeff Beer talks to Sephora's US CMO Zena Arnold, and Vlad Kuznetsov, the company's Chief Information Officer, to get a peek under the hood for a glimpse at how one of the most powerful brands in an incredibly influential consumer industry is thinking about Gen AI right now.
On today's episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen break down the latest news in the world of business and innovation, including the Trump administration's Signal scandal, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's resignation, Chinese electric-vehicle maker BYD outperforming Tesla per its 2024 revenue, and important privacy issues related to the bankruptcy announcement of DNA-testing site 23andMe. Next, ‘Fast Company' associate editor David Salazar joins the show to discuss the anime streaming service, Crunchyroll, and why it made Fast Company's 2025 Most Innovative Companies list. Finally, Yaz speaks to clinical psychologist Becky Kennedy (aka Dr. Becky), one of the cofounders of the website Good Inside, about the Good Inside method for being better parents. Finally, Yaz speaks to clinical psychologist and co-founder of the parenting company Good Inside, Dr. Becky, about the Good Inside method for raising children. For more of the latest business and innovation news go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To check out the 2025 Most Innovative Companies list go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/list For more on Dr. Becky, visit: https://www.goodinside.com/
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 DOGE staff breaking into the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Trump administration's plans to cut 25% of the IRS workforce, and Pepsi's acquisition of prebiotic soda company Poppi for nearly $2 billion. (01:01) Next, Fast Company executive editor Amy Farley joins the show to discuss this year's Most Innovative Companies. (07:41) Finally, senior staff writer Ainsley Harris talks to Yaz and Josh about her feature on Robinhood and the company's recent bets on crypto and prediction markets. (34:45)
This past December, Coca-Cola released a set of holiday ads made entirely from generative AI. They asked three different studios to create their own interpretations of the 1995 Coke holiday spot called “Holidays Are Coming” using AI video-generation models, including Leonardo, Luma, and Runway. The brand got three unique adaptations from studios Silverside AI, the Wild Card, and Jason Zada's Secret Level. Even though the AI ads were supposed to be a reimagining of Coke's holiday ads from the '90s, which is a pretty innocuous concept, the backlash was intense. The reactions were passionate and numerous enough to get coverage from The New York Times, USA Today, NBS News, and more. Despite the backlash, the ads were effective and these new AI ads also got the job done. Coke is confident that its early experimentation is not only fun, but a meaningful investment that—despite the negative reviews in the short term—is setting the company up for long-term marketing success. In this episode, host Jeff Beer talks to Pratik Thakar, Coca-Cola's global vice president for generative AI, about the companies' approach to using AI, creative risk-taking, and those holiday ads.
On today's episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen break down the latest news in the world of business and innovation including the stock market tumble, what's going on with all those tariffs, Elon Musk blaming X's outage last week on an alleged cyberattack, and Mark Carney becoming the next prime minister of Canada. Next, It's SXSW again with Josh and Yaz down in Austin for the annual festival and holding court at the Fast Company Grill. We recapped our time at SXSW with ‘Fast Company' senior editor Max Ufberg. Finally, Yaz interviewed author, activist, and founder of the MeToo Movement, Tarana Burke, on stage at SXSW. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To see the latest ‘Fast Company' coverage on SXSW, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/section/sxsw 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.
On today's episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen break down the latest news in the world of business and innovation including the stock market tumble, what's going on with all those tariffs, Elon Musk blaming X's outage last week on an alleged cyberattack, and Mark Carney becoming the next prime minister of Canada. Next, It's SXSW again with Josh and Yaz down in Austin for the annual festival and holding court at the Fast Company Grill. We recapped our time at SXSW with ‘Fast Company' senior editor Max Ufberg. Finally, Yaz interviewed author, activist, and founder of the MeToo Movement, Tarana Burke, on stage at SXSW. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To see the latest ‘Fast Company' coverage on SXSW, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/section/sxsw 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.
If GenAI is the biggest technological advancement since the internet itself, then the creative possibilities are or will be pretty much endless. From a brand marketing and advertising perspective, we are still very early days, but there needs to be those willing and able to push the envelope, test boundaries, make mistakes, learn lessons, and evolve from there. Yet how far should the boundaries of brand content be pushed? In this episode, I look for some answers by talking to two founders of boutique creative shop Food Arts & Technology, industry legends creative technologist Iain Tait and designer Richard Turley. I also sat down with Jason Zada, founder of AI-focused production studio Secret Level, who has worked with major brands like Coke on utilizing these new tools. There are so many different perspectives on how this tech will and should be used creatively. Here you'll get a glimpse into the perspective of people trying their best to push the tech and their own creativity for brands.
If GenAI is the biggest technological advancement since the internet itself, then the creative possibilities are or will be pretty much endless. From a brand marketing and advertising perspective, we are still very early days, but there needs to be those willing and able to push the envelope, test boundaries, make mistakes, learn lessons, and evolve from there. Yet how far should the boundaries of brand content be pushed? In this episode, I look for some answers by talking to two founders of boutique creative shop Food Arts & Technology, industry legends creative technologist Iain Tait and designer Richard Turley. I also sat down with Jason Zada, founder of AI-focused production studio Secret Level, who has worked with major brands like Coke on utilizing these new tools. There are so many different perspectives on how this tech will and should be used creatively. Here you'll get a glimpse into the perspective of people trying their best to push the tech and their own creativity for brands.
On today's episode, co-hosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen break down the latest news in the world of business and innovation including the will-they-won't-they tariffs on Mexico and Canada, Walgreens plans to go private, and a “huge win” for the NFT industry (52:00) Next, along with the federal workforce, private companies are increasingly calling their employees back to full-time in-person work. Fast Company staff writer Pavithra Mohan joins Yaz and Josh to discuss return-to-office mandates. (07:05) Finally, Yaz talks with Fast Company's global design editor, Mark Wilson, about the 25th anniversary and enduring popularity of the beloved PC video game, The Sims. (33:36) For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To read the latest ‘Fast Company' coverage on return-to-office mandates, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/work-life 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.
On today's episode, co-hosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen break down the latest news in the world of business and innovation including the will-they-won't-they tariffs on Mexico and Canada, Walgreens plans to go private, and a “huge win” for the NFT industry (52:00) Next, along with the federal workforce, private companies are increasingly calling their employees back to full-time in-person work. Fast Company staff writer Pavithra Mohan joins Yaz and Josh to discuss return-to-office mandates. (07:05) Finally, Yaz talks with Fast Company's global design editor, Mark Wilson, about the 25th anniversary and enduring popularity of the beloved PC video game, The Sims. (33:36) For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To read the latest ‘Fast Company' coverage on return-to-office mandates, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/work-life 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.
To paraphrase a great philosopher, brand ideas are like small intestines – everybody has one. But could you build something with that idea in less than an hour? In this episode, we meet with David Jones,founder and CEO of The Brandtech Group, a $4 billion company which invested heavily in integrating AI into marketing and advertising services by acquiring leading companies like Pencil and Jellyfish. Jones says GenAI tools tailored to brands make that idea possible, so we challenge him and creative director James Dow to make it happen, right here, right now on the podcast. While that's happening, we also take a look inside a few of the large-scale tools being deployed by major ad agencies right now. Omnicom Advertising Group chief operating officer Deepthi Prakash gives us a peek under the hood of TBWA Worldwide's CollectiveAI platform, which it has built working with companies like Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, Adobe, and more to create tools trained on decades of successful strategies, creative work and philosophies, then utilized to help inform and evaluate new work and ideas. I won't spoil the brand idea we have, but by the end, you may just have a new favorite toothpaste.
On today's episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen break down the latest news in the world of business and innovation, including the recent drop in Tesla's valuation and layoffs at Starbucks. (00:58) Next, Jay Willis, a ‘Fast Company' contributor and editor of ‘Balls and Strikes,' joins Yaz and Josh to discuss DOGE, Elon Musk, and the Trump administration's current move-fast-and-break-things approach. (04:45) Finally, Yaz and Josh interview YouTube's senior director of product management, Kurt Wilms, about the company's ‘live room' strategy. (30:55) For more of the latest news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review ‘Most Innovative Companies' on your podcast app of choice. Also, you can find more ‘MCI' podcast content on the 'Fast Company' YouTube channel along with additional videos on business news, tech, design, and work life.
David Droga is a legendary advertising creative and executive. He's also CEO of Accenture Song, one of the largest advertising and marketing services firms on the planet. For those two reasons, we kick off Brand New World with Droga at the 2024 Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. Why there and then? It's the world's biggest convergence of media, marketing, entertainment, technology, and brands, and a mirror of what's happening and a bellwether of what's to come, on a global scale. There's no better time and place to start a conversation about how brands, and the marketing and advertising industries are approaching AI at this nascent moment. In this episode, I talked to Droga about what Accenture's $3 billion commitment to AI means for his work, how it compares to the first digital revolution two decades ago, where it may be headed in the not-so-distant future, and the impact it will have on the art of persuasion and pop culture.
David Droga is a legendary advertising creative and executive. He's also CEO of Accenture Song, one of the largest advertising and marketing services firms on the planet. For those two reasons, we kick off Brand New World with Droga at the 2024 Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. Why there and then? It's the world's biggest convergence of media, marketing, entertainment, technology, and brands, and a mirror of what's happening and a bellwether of what's to come, on a global scale. There's no better time and place to start a conversation about how brands, and the marketing and advertising industries are approaching AI at this nascent moment. In this episode, I talked to Droga about what Accenture's $3 billion commitment to AI means for his work, how it compares to the first digital revolution two decades ago, where it may be headed in the not-so-distant future, and the impact it will have on the art of persuasion and pop culture.
On today's episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen break down the latest news in the world of business and innovation, including the release of Grok 3's AI chatbot from Elon Musk's xAI, and how the prebiotic soda market may be the latest gold rush. (00:55) Next, Katey Rich, awards editor at ‘The Ankler,' joins us to talk about Hollywood's Biggest Night: the Oscars and their heavy investment in this year's marketing campaigns and press runs. Catch her podcast, Prestige Junkie, here. (06:28) And finally, Yaz speaks to Kat Cole, CEO of AG1 (formerly Athletic Greens). They discuss growing the brand and navigating the booming supplement market. (38:11) For more of the latest business and innovation news go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To read the latest Fast Company coverage on the Oscars: https://www.fastcompany.com/91276999/oscars-2025-predictions-best-picture-odds-shift-industry-awards https://www.fastcompany.com/91266057/oscar-nominations-2025-surprises-snubs-best-picture-full-list 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.
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.
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. (00:51) 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. (04:35) Finally, Josh and Yaz discuss the $5 billion deal that brought the WWE to Netflix. (37:36) For more of the latest news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To read Jeff Beer's coverage on Super Bowl Ads, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/91268582/shane-gillis-and-post-malone-are-your-new-favorite-neighbors-in-bud-lights-super-bowl-ad To read Yaz Gagne's feature on the WWE, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/91231333/wwe-raw-netflix-tko-endeavor-livewrestling 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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