POPULARITY
We sit down with Bridget Winston to unpack what separates a real Chief Revenue Officer from a bookings-focused sales leader, and why the org chart tells you the truth faster than the job title. We get practical about SaaS metrics, AI-driven go-to-market, and the leadership habits that keep teams performing as the playbook keeps changing.• Evaluating a CRO remit by reporting lines and revenue accountability• Using GRR and NRR to diagnose product-market fit and ICP clarity• Treating revenue as a lagging indicator of customer centricity• Preparing for LLM-driven discovery with brand, PR, and earned media• Testing AI tools that shrink territory and quota planning cycles• Shifting budget from paid ads to community-led growth and local events• Turning customer testimonials into repeatable social proof loops• Managing humans and AI agents with specific, camera-ready feedback• Fixing incentives and systems before blaming the team• Creating urgency with day-five impact expectations instead of tired 30-60-90 plansYour org chart can tell you whether you're hiring a true Chief Revenue Officer or just renaming a VP of Sales. We sit down with Bridget Winston, CRO at Patient Now and a three-time CRO, to get brutally clear on what revenue ownership actually means and why “bookings” is a dangerous north star when retention and expansion are what compound.We dig into the SaaS metrics that expose reality fast: GRR, NRR, LTV to CAC, and how boards interpret dashboards when product-market fit and ideal customer profile are still shaky. Bridget shares a sharp reframing that stuck with us: revenue is a lagging indicator of customer centricity. From there, we zoom out to the “SaaS-pocalypse” conversation and what happens to pricing, planning cycles, and revenue per employee as AI turns some companies into dinosaurs and others into cheetahs.Then we get tactical about the LLM era of B2B discovery. If buyers are finding software through ChatGPT-style answers, Reddit threads, G2-style reviews, and YouTube, we need consumer-grade brand building, PR, and community-led growth that creates earned media AI can't ignore. Bridget also breaks down AI tools she's used to compress territory planning and quota work from months to weeks, plus AI coaching that improves call quality and handoffs without blowing up day-to-day operations.We even take a fun detour into Spark Tank wine trivia, then bring it back to leadership: how to give feedback with real specificity, fix systems before blaming people, and set expectations for day-one impact. Subscribe, share this with a revenue leader, and leave a review so more builders can find the show.Bridget Winston: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgetwinston/Bridget Winston is the Chief Revenue Officer at PatientNow, leading go-to-market and customer-facing teams across a rapidly growing vertical SaaS platform in the fast-expanding $20 billion aesthetics and wellness industry. A three-time CRO with over 20 years of experience, Bridget was formerly the CRO at Chief, where she led membership growth and helped the company reach a $1.1 billion valuation. During her tenure, Chief was recognized by TIME as one of the 100 Most Influential Companies and by Fast Company as one of the Most Innovative Companies. Before that, Bridget served as the CRO at Shutterstock, growing revenue to $300 million.Website: https://www.position2.com/podcast/Rajiv Parikh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivparikh/Email us with any feedback for the show: sparkofages.podcast@position2.com
There is a very loud version of entrepreneurship online right now: quit the job, burn the safety net, go all in, and figure it out later. I get the appeal. I also think that advice can get expensive very quickly, especially when the business has not been validated yet. Mike Shannon joins me to talk about the much messier, smarter side of starting a business. Mike has built multiple companies, appeared on Shark Tank, worked in AI, and wrote Sweaty Equity, a book about the unglamorous middle of entrepreneurship. His story is not the polished founder myth. It is Shark Tank one day, Chicago Bulls laundry room the next, then years of pivots, investor pressure, customer discovery, and learning how to actually build something that works. If you are a corporate professional, side hustler, first-time founder, or future entrepreneur wondering whether you should quit your job to start a business, this conversation is your reality check. We talk about why keeping your day job can create runway, why "build the thing, sell the thing" matters more than startup hype, and how to use messy action without blowing up your career stability. Inside this episode • Why quitting your job too early can create unnecessary founder pressure • How Mike Shannon went from Shark Tank with Mark Cuban to the Chicago Bulls laundry room • Why business validation matters more than investor validation • The simple startup framework: build the thing, sell the thing • How customer discovery helps you avoid forcing the wrong idea into the market • What Sweaty Equity reveals about the messy middle of entrepreneurship What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way?
Ryan Hogan is a Partner & CEO at Talent Harbor, a specialized core leadership search and fractional services firm catering to EOS-powered businesses. Talent Harbor has a unique methodology focusing on the particular needs of EOS-powered companies to provide tailored talent solutions that align with the company culture and growth goals. The Talent Harbor Methodology involves three essential phases: Assess, Search, and Integrate, ensuring a thorough evaluation of organizational dynamics, careful talent screening for cultural fit, and seamless integration processes. Prior to his work at Talent Harbor, Ryan Hogan co-founded Hunt A Killer, a renowned interactive murder mystery experience, recognized as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company and the fastest-growing CPG company by Inc Magazine. Ryan's diverse background includes service in the U.S. Navy as both an MH-53E aircrewman and Surface Warfare Officer, as well as founding ventures like WarWear and Run For Your Lives, showcasing strong entrepreneurial skills utilized in his current endeavors. He holds a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing & Management (Entrepreneurship) from the University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business. Ryan has been associated with various organizations, including being a Host at Confessions of an EOS Implementer, Founder of Creators Combine, Founder of Warwear, Co-Founder and CEO of Hunt A Killer, and more. Connect with Ryan! https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanehogan/ Wilson360 Peer Groups! https://wilson-360.com/peer-groups/
Education On Fire - Sharing creative and inspiring learning in our schools
Josh Dorfman is a climate entrepreneur, author, and media personality. He is the CEO and host of Supercool, a media company covering real-world climate solutions that cut carbon, increase profits, and enhance modern life. Josh was previously the co-founder and CEO of Plantd, a carbon-negative building materials manufacturer, which was named to Fast Company's list of the World's Most Innovative Companies in 2024. He has founded two modern design sustainable furniture companies, directed Vine.com, an Amazon e-commerce business specializing in natural and organic products, and served as the CEO of The Collider, the nation's first innovation center for climate resilience and adaptation. Additionally, Josh was previously known as The Lazy Environmentalist, a media brand he developed into an award-winning television series on Sundance Channel, a daily radio show on SiriusXM, and two popular books.His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, TechCrunch, Fast Company, and Reuters. Josh has also made regular appearances on national television and radio programs, including Morning Joe, Fox & Friends, and NPR's All Things Considered, and is the only guest to ever ride a bike onto The Martha Stewart Show.Josh holds an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania.5 takeaways:Clean energy is bigger than AI. Global clean energy investment hit $2.3 trillion in 2025 — dwarfing AI spending — yet it barely makes the headlines.Talk solutions, not just problems. Research consistently shows that solution-focused storytelling is what gets people to genuinely care about climate.Systems beat individual action. The biggest impact comes from businesses embedding sustainability into infrastructure — making the right choice the default, not an effort.Any skill set has a place in the climate economy. Finance, law, marketing, design — the clean energy transition needs all of it. It's becoming the economy, full stop.Build resilience, not just inspiration. Young people need the tools to hold both problems and solutions in mind — and find real agency through their careers, not just their recycling bin.Chapters:00:00 - The Front Lines of Sustainability00:49 - The Journey into Climate Awareness13:48 - The Shift Towards Sustainable Business Practices25:51 - The Rise of Climate Innovation34:21 - The Importance of Empowerment in Educationhttps://getsuper.cool/Newsletter | https://supercool.beehiiv.com/subscribeYouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@getsupercoolClimate Adoption Playbook | https://getsuper.cool/playbook/LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/getsupercoolhttps://www.educationonfire.com
ICON has been telling the same story since 2018. Humanity has a construction problem that solving for regulations and supply-demand incentives alone won't fix. We need fundamentally new ways to build. Jason Ballard, ICON's founder and CEO, and Will Hurd, the former CIA officer, congressman, and OpenAI board member who just joined as President of ICON Prime, came on to lay out what happens when a non-consensus thesis held for eight years starts to materialize in the real world. The conversation cuts across the full stack, housing, AI, robotics, labor, reindustrialization, and space. The through-line is Ballard's argument that breakthrough technologies are never narrow, that building the technology for a moon base solves the housing and building crisis on Earth. Agenda0:00 What ICON is building and why shelter is broken 6:40 The regulation stack and ICON as a technology company 11:40 Customer shapes, business model, and the innovation stack 17:10 AI, ChatGPT from the inside, and the case for optimism 23:40 The spoons-and-ditches fallacy and Hurd's regulation inversion 30:30 What is ICON Prime and the barracks crisis 36:40 Military construction, Afghanistan, and expeditionary printing 42:40 The moon base, Olympus, and in-situ resource utilization 49:40 Eight years of the same thesis and software's limit 56:40 Austin's talent gravity and the ICON diaspora 1:00:40 The moon in our lifetime 1:04:40 National security, espionage, and Austin as a target 1:08:40 Laser on the moon, 2028 Previous ICON Episode with Evan LoomisGuest Links & BioJason Ballard: X/TwitterWill Hurd: LinkedInICON: Website, ICON Prime, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTubeJason BallardJason Ballard has dedicated his life to working on big problems in service to humanity, most recently and notably as the co-founder and CEO of ICON, the construction technologies company using construction-scale 3D printing to tackle the global housing crisis and prepare to build on other worlds. ICON has been named one of the "Most Innovative Companies in the World" by Fast Company and recently profiled on CBS's 60 MINUTES. Raising $451 million to date in funding, ICON has delivered communities of resilient 3D-printed homes at high-speed and lower cost in the U.S. and internationally and forged partnerships with world-renowned architects, builders and housing organizations missionally aligned to shift the paradigm of homebuilding. In fall 2022, ICON was awarded $57.2 million from NASA to develop a lunar surface construction system that will target humanity's first-ever construction on another planetary body. In 2019, Ballard was awarded the Austin Under 40 Award in the Technology category. In 2021, Ballard was named to TIME100 Next as one of the emerging leaders shaping the future as well as Newsweek's America's Greatest Disruptors: Visionaries and Innovators Who Are Changing the World. Prior to co-founding ICON, Ballard served as CEO of an eco-friendly home upgrade company that normalized sustainable and healthy approaches to home improvement. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Ballard worked at a homeless shelter, in various roles in sustainable building, and as an environmental consultant for ACRT. Ballard is a GLG Social Impact Fellow and served on the Carbon War Room / Rocky Mountain Institute Energy Think Tank. Ballard hails from East Texas and studied conservation biology at Texas A&M University. He also completed a masters program in Space Resources at Colorado School of Mines in 2022. He enjoys astronomy, ultrarunning, chess, comic books, and outdoor activities when he has free time. He resides in Austin, TX with his four children.Will HurdThe Honorable Will Hurd is a former CIA officer and congressman whose career spans intelligence, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence policy, and public service. He currently serves as Division President of ICON Prime, a space and defense tech company and will lead ICON Prime's strategy and government partnerships as the company scales its robotic construction technology across the national security enterprise and beyond Earth. He is also the author of American Reboot: An Idealist Guide to Getting Big Things Done. Hurd brings deep expertise at the intersection of technology, national security, and governance to his board roles and ongoing policy work.Hurd began his career serving overseas in the CIA, where he worked to prevent attacks on the United States and disrupt efforts to smuggle nuclear materials into the country. He later held roles at Crumpton Group and FusionX, helping defend critical infrastructure from cyber threats. In 2014, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Texas's 23rd District, where he served three terms and played a key role in shaping technology and national security policy.Following his time in Congress, Hurd held leadership roles at Allen & Company and CHAOS Industries. He also previously served on the boards of In-Q-Tel and OpenAI.He currently serves on the board of directors for Personal.AI, The Aerospace Corporation, the Council on Foreign Relations, and advisory boards of Palo Alto Networks and the Center for European Policy Analysis.A San Antonio native, Will received a BS in Computer Science from Texas A&M University. -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack
"Just consider the possibility that we don't have to suffer to solve climate change."Are you interested in green growth to battle climate change instead of degrowth? What do you think about mayors making the best for their cities, thus, solving climate change? How can we create even more pockets of delight? Interview with Josh Dorfman, co-founder of Plantd and CEO and host of Supercool podcast. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, technology, industry innovation, people's responsibility, the need for a vision, and many more. Josh Dorfman is a climate entrepreneur, author, and media personality with two decades turning low-carbon innovations into products people actually want. As CEO and host of Supercool, he spotlights companies scaling climate solutions that cut emissions, boost profits, and improve daily life through a weekly podcast and platform. He co-founded Plantd in 2021, raised $19.5 million as CEO, partnered with D.R. Horton, and earned Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies nod for carbon-negative building materials. He now serves as fractional CMO. Previously, he led Vine.com at Amazon and built The Lazy Environmentalist into TV, radio, and books.Learn more about Josh through these links:Josh Dorfman on LinkedIn@Josh_Dorfman as Josh Dorfman on Xas Josh Dorfman on InstagramSupercool websiteSupercool on LinkedInSupercool on Youtubeas Supercool on X@getsupercool as Supercool on InstagramPlantd websitePlantd on LinkedIn@PlantdMaterials as Plantd on X@plantdmaterials as Plantd on InstagramConnected episodes you might be interested in:No.274 - Interview with Richard Gill about the upcoming transformationsNo.410 - Interview with Casey Handmer about the need for economic growthNo.418 - Interview with Zoe Wang about making regenerative solutions easy to adoptNo.419R - Green growth or degrowth? Possible outcomes for climate and societyWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Ryan Stern is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Collectively and Alexa Tonner is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Collectively, a global leader in creator marketing that transforms brands into social-first enterprises, part of the Brandtech Group. Collectively quickly rose to prominence as a strategy-led data-backed creator marketing partner to some of the world's leading brands including Unilever, Dove, TRESemmé, Intuit QuickBooks, Salesforce, Meta, Converse, Delta, and many more. Collectively was the first creator marketing company recognized by Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list and has earned Cannes Lions, Effie, Webby, Glossy, Shorty, and OMMA awards for its programs. In 2025, Ryan was named an Advertising Week Future is Female nominee and Collectively was named to Adweek's Fastest Growing Agencies and Top 10 women-led agencies.In 2026, Alexa was named an ADWEEK Architects of Culture Honoree.
Josh co-founded Plantd, a sustainable building supplies company that "Fast Company" named One of the Most Innovative Companies in 2024. And last year he created a podcast show called Supercool that showcases climate entrepreneurs.
In this special episode of Most Innovative Companies, host David Salazar goes behind the scenes of Fast Company's flagship franchise to unpack how this year's list comes together—and what it takes for a company to truly stand out. Joined by Fast Company contributor Clint Rainey and restaurant technology expert Kristen Hawley, the conversation explores how innovation shows up across the food and restaurant industries—from rethinking agriculture and supply chains to reinventing convenience and sustainability. You'll hear how companies like Row 7 are reshaping the way we grow and experience vegetables, how Kraft Heinz is using AI to modernize a pantry staple, and why QuikTrip is turning gas stations into unexpected destinations for premium beverages. Plus, a look at Shia, a small but ambitious nonprofit restaurant proving that sustainability and profitability don't have to be at odds. Along the way, the group breaks down what makes a strong Most Innovative Companies pick, how editors balance applications with industry expertise, and why impact—not just novelty—is the ultimate measure of innovation. Whether it's a global brand or a 22-seat restaurant, this episode reveals how bold ideas in food are shaping the future of how—and what—we eat. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To see the Most Innovative Companies 2026 list:https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/list
NAD is having a major moment — from IV drips and supplements to wellness clinics and now skincare. But is the science real, or is it just the next CBD? In this episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina sits down with Melisse Shaban, CEO of Aramore and veteran beauty executive (Revlon, Aveda, The Beauty Shop), to break down exactly what NAD is, why your skin cells need it, and whether the new wave of NAD skincare products is worth your money. They dig into the cellular biology of aging skin, why most moisturizers are just sitting on the surface, and what it actually takes for an ingredient to penetrate to the basal layer where the real work happens. Melisse also shares how Harvard and MIT research led to Aramore's formulation, how to spot faux players in the NAD skincare space, and why she believes NAD precursors, retinol, and sunscreen are the only three non-negotiables in any skincare routine. The conversation takes a fascinating turn into the future of beauty — from pharma's growing role in skincare to GLP-1s, inflammation management, and what's really next for aging women. Plus: a candid, unexpected conversation about death, dignity, and the industry no one is building yet. In This Episode: 0:00 – NAD Is Everywhere: Real Science or Clever Marketing? 1:06 – Meet Melisse Shaban: From Revlon to the New Frontier of Skin Health 2:57 – Aging Starts Earlier Than You Think: Collagen Loss in Your 20s 4:00 – What Is NAD? A Plain-English Breakdown 5:36 – Why Your Skin Cells Can't Use Sugar or Protein (But Love Fat) 6:15 – The 8 Layers of Skin & What Happens as They Age 8:06 – Harvard Research That Changed How We Think About Skin Aging 10:17 – Why Most Skincare Just Sits on the Surface 11:52 – Your Skin Shows It First: What Dermatologists See Before Doctors Do 13:26 – Why You Won't See Results Overnight — And Why That's Okay 15:48 – NAD vs. Retinol: Are They Competing or Complementary? 17:41 – Does NAD Stimulate Collagen? (The Fibroblast Connection) 18:22 – How to Spot Fake NAD Products (And What to Actually Look For) 20:49 – "Clean Beauty" Is Table Stakes Now — Here's What Matters More 22:33 – Real Science vs. Marketing: Why R&D Is Finally Coming to Skincare 24:29 – The Longevity World's Reputation Problem (And NAD's Connection to It) 26:13 – Supplement vs. Topical: Do You Need Both? 28:54 – Sublingual, Drips & Future Delivery Systems 30:00 – When Should You Start Using NAD? (Earlier Than You'd Guess) 31:30 – Turning 40 & Waking Up: Steering the Ship Before It's Too Late 33:10 – Where Beauty Is Headed in the Next 5–10 Years 36:01 – The Next Big Industry Nobody Is Talking About: Death 38:25 – Where to Find Aramore + The Kennedy Family Connection 39:54 – Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts Want a deeper look? Watch the full episode on YouTube for a more visual experience of today's discussion. This episode is best enjoyed on video—don't miss out! About the Guest: Melisse Shaban is a seasoned entrepreneur and brand builder with extensive leadership experience across the health, wellness, and beauty sectors. She is the Founder of Virtue Labs, where she transformed breakthrough wound-healing technology into a $50M+ premium hair care brand honored with more than 60 industry awards and recognized by Fast Company as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2022. Today, she serves as CEO of Aramore, a longevity science company pioneering innovations in cellular health to advance healthy aging through skincare and supplements. Earlier in her career, she led the acquisitions, growth, and sale of Frederic Fekkai and Pout Cosmetics, as well as the acquisitions of NIA-24 and StriVectin, and held executive roles at Aveda and The Body Shop. She currently serves on the boards of Salon Lofts, Willow Innovations/Elvie, and several nonprofits, including Duke Raleigh Hospital, Ravenscroft School, and Point Foundation. In 2021, she was named to Forbes' inaugural “50 Over 50” list. Connect with Melisse Shaban: Website: https://aramoreskincare.com/THESKINREAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melisseshaban Dr. Mina is a board-certified dermatologist on a mission to cut through the noise and help women feel amazing in their skin again. After decades in clinic, she has taken her expertise online to offer trusted, no-fluff education and skin strategies that actually work. No filters. No fear tactics. Just science, simplicity, and a little fun! Follow Dr. Mina here: Instagram: https://instagram.com/drminaskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drminaskin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drminaskin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drminaskin/ Visit The Skin Real Serenbe: https://theskinrealserenbe.com/ Book your Meet and Greet here Thanks for tuning in. And remember, real skin care is real simple when you know who to trust. Disclaimer: This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Edisi "World's 50 Most Innovative Companies" tahun 2026 dari majalah Fast Company sangat menarik karena menandai berakhirnya era spekulasi teknologi dan dimulainya era utilitas yang bermakna. Hal paling menonjol adalah bagaimana kecerdasan buatan (AI) tidak lagi diposisikan sebagai sekadar tren futuristik, melainkan sebagai infrastruktur inti yang bekerja di balik layar untuk memperkuat efisiensi perusahaan raksasa seperti Walmart dan Google. Edisi ini berhasil membedah bahwa inovasi sejati di tahun 2026 bukan terletak pada kecanggihan perangkat lunak semata, melainkan pada bagaimana teknologi tersebut digunakan untuk memecahkan masalah sistemik yang nyata dan memperdalam hubungan antarmanusia di tengah dunia yang semakin digital. Hal menarik lainnya adalah pergeseran radikal dalam struktur kekuasaan media dan ekonomi kreator yang digambarkan melalui profil Tubi, Proximity Media, dan Unwell Network. Majalah ini menyoroti tren "kedaulatan konten," di mana tokoh-tokoh seperti Ryan Coogler dan Alex Cooper tidak lagi hanya menjadi pekerja seni, melainkan pemilik ekosistem bisnis yang mandiri. Melalui strategi personalisasi yang tajam dan pembangunan komunitas yang sangat terikat, perusahaan-perusahaan ini membuktikan bahwa di tengah banjir informasi, kemampuan untuk mengkurasi konten dan membangun kepercayaan audiens adalah mata uang yang jauh lebih berharga daripada anggaran produksi yang besar. Terakhir, edisi ini memberikan perspektif yang provokatif tentang nilai "keaslian" manusia dan pergeseran kekuatan manufaktur global. Penekanan pada peran Reddit sebagai penjaga "jantung manusia" di internet memberikan pengingat penting bahwa di era AI, data yang dihasilkan secara organik oleh manusia menjadi komoditas yang paling dicari. Di sisi lain, keberhasilan BYD dalam menggulingkan dominasi Tesla menunjukkan bahwa inovasi fisik dan kontrol rantai pasok yang ekstrem kini kembali menjadi penentu utama kemenangan bisnis global. Secara keseluruhan, Fast Company edisi ini menarik karena ia berfungsi sebagai peta navigasi bagi pembaca untuk memahami bahwa masa depan bisnis adalah tentang keseimbangan antara efisiensi mesin yang tanpa batas dan keaslian pengalaman manusia yang tidak tergantikan.
Who's really winning the AI race? And what does innovation even mean anymore? Fast Company's Executive Editor Amy Farley joins Rapid Response to break down this year's Most Innovative Companies list — the surprising winners, the notable snubs, and the unexpected lessons hiding between Google, Gap, and Bad Bunny.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this special miniseries, host David Salazar goes behind the scenes of Fast Company's 2026 Most Innovative Companies list with two of the journalists who helped shape its AI coverage: senior writer Mark Sullivan and global technology editor Harry McCracken. Together, they break down why Fast Company separates AI from applied AI, and what that distinction reveals about the companies building the future of the category. The conversation spotlights three major players—Anthropic, Sierra, and Google—and explores what made each one stand out on this year's list. Along the way, they discuss Anthropic's rise in the enterprise market through Claude Code, Sierra's push to reinvent customer service with AI agents, and Google's comeback story as Gemini becomes central to its broader product ecosystem. They also dig into the editorial judgment behind the list itself: how Fast Company weighs innovation, business impact, momentum, and controversy in one of the most closely watched sectors in business. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To see the Most Innovative Companies 2026 list:https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/list
In this special episode of Most Innovative Companies, host David Salazar goes behind the scenes of Fast Company's flagship recognition program to unpack how the 2026 list comes together—and what separates true industry changers from the rest. Focusing on the Television, Streaming, and Film category, Salazar is joined by Fast Company editorial director Jill Bernstein and contributor Thom Geier to break down the intersection of creativity, technology, and business shaping Hollywood today. From bold, genre-defying storytelling to new distribution strategies and cutting-edge production tools, they explore how innovation is redefining what—and how—we watch. The conversation highlights standout companies, including Ryan Coogler's Proximity Media, IMAX's big-screen resurgence, AI dubbing startup Flawless, John Wells Productions' real-time hit The Pitt, and Apple TV+'s evolving prestige strategy. Along the way, the group unpacks the key criteria behind the list—innovation and impact—and why the most meaningful shifts in entertainment often happen behind the scenes. More than just a list, this discussion reveals how storytelling itself is evolving—and why it still matters as much as ever. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To see the Most Innovative Companies 2026 list, go to:https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/list
On today's episode of the Most Innovative Companies podcast, our host, Josh Christensen, Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan, and executive editor Amy Farley break down this year's Most Innovative Companies list. They discuss why companies like Anthropic, Unwell, Rimas Entertainment, Proximity Media, Google, Diplo's Run Club, and the Professional Women's Hockey League made the list. They also unpack the themes that emerged and the biggest takeaways from a year in innovation. To read more about the most innovative companies of the year, go to: Fastcompany.com For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news
On today's episode of Most Innovative Companies, Josh Christensen and guest cohost Sarah Whittle discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the war in Iran, the FFC's threats to broadcasters covering the war critically, and the meatpackers' strike in Colorado. Next, Sarah and Josh talk with Fast Company contributor Lilly Smith about how low-rise jeans have come back into style and what differentiates them today from denim in the early 2000s. Finally, Sarah tells Josh about the lessons she's learned over her long career in social media. To read Lilly's reporting, go to: fastcompany.com/91480581/ultra-low-rise-denim For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news
Banking as a service and embedded finance get a practical breakdown as Academy Bank's David Robinson explains how a family-owned Kansas City institution built a BaaS program from the ground up. Tedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential, and co-host Stephen Bishop sit down with David to unpack what it takes to launch, staff, and scale an embedded banking practice at a community bank.Find out more at fintechconfidential.comAcademy Bank, a subsidiary of Dickinson Financial Corporation, operates alongside Armed Forces Bank with roughly $4.8 billion in combined assets and a stated goal of reaching $6 billion. David walks through why the bank chose Treasury Prime as its middleware provider, how it integrated Lithic for card processing, and why keeping compliance and BSA functions in-house was a non-negotiable. The conversation gets specific about due diligence red flags, deals that fell apart mid-process, fee income versus deposit economics, and what changed internally when embedded banking finally showed up in every team's annual goals.1️⃣ Prepare for bank meetings like an earnings call; anticipate every compliance question before the first conversation.2️⃣ Build your AML, BSA, and fraud monitoring team before approaching a sponsor bank, not after.3️⃣ Bring your operations and compliance leads to early bank meetings, not just the founder.4️⃣ Treat banker feedback as a data point; show how you tested it and what you changed.5️⃣ Ask your bank partner if embedded work appears in the annual goals of their compliance, risk, and legal teams.GUESTDavid Robinson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmrembeddedbanking/COMPANYAcademy Bank: https://www.academybank.comAcademy Bank BaaS: https://www.academybank.com/business/banking-as-a-serviceFINTECH CONFIDENTIALPodcast: https://fintechconfidential.com/listenNotifications: https://fintechconfidential.com/accessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidentialX: https://x.com/FTconfidentialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechconfidentialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintechconfidentialSUPPORTERSSkyflow: Build fast without breaking privacy. A zero-trust data privacy vault delivered as an API. Visit https://skyflowsecure.com Under: Streamline your application and underwriting process by turning PDFs into smart, signable forms. Get started free at https://under.io/ftcHawk AI: Real-time payment screening, AML transaction monitoring, and dynamic customer risk rating to fight fraud and financial crime. Sign up for a demo at https://gethawkai.comABOUTGuest: David Robinson is Director of Fintech and Embedded Banking at Academy Bank. He brings over 20 years of financial services experience across State Street, UMB Bank, and now Academy Bank, where he built the embedded banking practice from the ground up starting in December 2022.Company: Academy Bank is a full-service community bank under Dickinson Financial Corporation, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Named one of Fortune's Most Innovative Companies in 2023, it operates over 70 branches across Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri.Host: Tedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential. The show is produced by DD3 Media and brings you the people, tech, and companies that change how you pay and get paid.CHAPTERS00:00 Episode Highlights01:24 Skyflow Sponsor Read02:26 Meet the Hosts03:39 Introducing David Robinson04:37 Defining BaaS and Embedded Finance05:29 Academy Bank Growth Strategy06:56 Rapid Fire: This or That08:11 Choosing Treasury Prime09:22 Future Programs and Segments09:53 What Stays In-House12:42 Managed vs. Bank-Owned Compliance14:35 Marketplace Shift and Multi-Platform16:53 Partnerships Are a People Business18:26 Under Sponsor Read18:56 How Banks Vet Fintech Fit19:25 Diligence and Fit20:21 Regulators and Scale21:30 When Deals Fall Apart23:23 Greenlights and Redlines24:23 Advice for Fintechs26:12 Why Academy Bank27:49 Top Tips and Misconceptions29:38 Fees vs. Deposits30:46 Internal Shift and Speed35:47 Crystal Ball and Closing36:54 Final Advice for Founders38:51 Wrap Up39:23 Hawk AI Sponsor Read40:09 Disclaimer
X: @billyeargin @ileaderssummit @americasrt1776 @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk @JTitMVirginia Join America's Roundtable radio co-hosts Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy with Bill Yeargin, one of America's top CEOs who took an iconic American boat manufacturing company which was experiencing financial difficulties. By transforming the corporate culture at Correct Craft, Bill took Correct Craft with revenues of $40 million in 2009 and reached its goal of becoming a billion-dollar enterprise in 2023. During Yeargin's tenure, Correct Craft grew by over 20X and won many awards, including Florida's Manufacturer of the Year and the boating industry's Most Innovative Company. It also became an influential voice in the boating industry as well as in Washington, DC. In highlighting the new book titled "Mindset Matters" which he co-authored with Zach Hutcheson, CFO of Correct Craft, Bill Yeargin shares his insights and experiences over the past 20 years at the helm of Correct Craft. The company played a pivotal role in World War II when the leadership of the company in 1945 heeded the call of General Eisenhower who needed over 400 boats in the winter to move over 15,000 US soldiers in the perilous crossing of Germany's River Rhine. The company was then producing less than 20 boats per month, yet did the impossible in what National Geographic called the "Miracle Production" when Correct Craft built over 400 boats in less than 30 days while keeping the Sabbath. The unique story of Correct Craft over the past 101 years reminds us all of the creativity and ingenuity of Americans fueling innovation and achieving ground-breaking results. About Bill Yeargin: Bill Yeargin is a thought leader, CEO, board member, global traveler (110 countries), innovator, and culture evangelist. He has authored six books including the best sellers Education of a CEO and Faith Leap. Bill has shared leadership insights in innumerable articles and columns for over three decades and has been a popular speaker at hundreds of events on six continents. The company Bill leads as CEO, Correct Craft, is a 100-year-old company with global operations. Correct Craft's subsidiaries include multiple boat brands, engine brands, water sports parks, and entities devoted solely to vertical integration and innovation. The company has manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and distributes into about 70 countries. Under Bill's leadership, Correct Craft has developed a unique culture of “Making Life Better.” They have won all their industry's major awards and were recognized as Florida's “Manufacturer of the Year.” Correct Craft has also been recognized as the boating industry's “Most Innovative Company.” A passionate lifelong learner, Bill has earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and an MBA. He has also completed post-graduate studies at Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, and the London School of Economics. Bill is a certified public accountant and certified Lean Six Sigma black belt. In addition, he is certified in both Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and DISC. Palm Beach State College recognized Bill as an outstanding alum with its Emerald Torch Award. Nova Southeastern University awarded Bill a doctorate of humane letters in recognition of his “contribution to the lives of others and the betterment of humanity.” Bill served on numerous for-profit and non-profit boards and earned a certificate in corporate governance from both Columbia University and Cornell University. He also earned both a certificate in Risk Governance and Qualified Risk Director® credential from the DCRO Risk Governance Institute. Bill currently serves on multiple boards and is board chair of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). Bill actively represents his industry on both national and state issues. He served both the Obama and Trump administrations on cabinet-level advisory councils and has been invited to the White House nine times by three different presidents. Bill was appointed by Florida's governor to serve on the University of Central Florida board of trustees. Bill has been recognized with many of the marine industry's top awards including Boating Industry's “Mover and Shaker of the Year.” Florida Trend magazine has recognized Bill as one of “Florida's Most Influential Business Leaders” and he is an Orlando Business Journal “CEO of the Year.” The governor of Florida also presented Bill with the “Governor's Business Ambassador Medal.” About Correct Craft: Celebrating 100 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a Florida-based company with global operations. Focused on “Making Life Better,” the Correct Craft family includes Nautique, Centurion, Supreme, Bass Cat, Yar-Craft, SeaArk, Parker, and Revel boat companies, Pleasurecraft Engine Group, Indmar Marine Engines, Velvet Drive Transmissions, Ingenity Electric, Mach Connections, Merritt Precision, Osmosis, Watershed Innovation, and Aktion Parks. For more information, please visit www.correctcraft.com. americasrt.com https://ileaderssummit.org/ | https://jerusalemleaderssummit.com/ America's Roundtable on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-roundtable/id1518878472 X: @billyeargin @ileaderssummit @americasrt1776 @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk @JTitMVirginia America's Roundtable is co-hosted by Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy, co-founders of International Leaders Summit and the Jerusalem Leaders Summit. America's Roundtable radio program focuses on America's economy, healthcare reform, rule of law, security and trade, and its strategic partnership with rule of law nations around the world. The radio program features high-ranking US administration officials, cabinet members, members of Congress, state government officials, distinguished diplomats, business and media leaders and influential thinkers from around the world. Tune into America's Roundtable Radio program from Washington, DC via live streaming on Saturday mornings via 68 radio stations at 7:30 A.M. (ET) on Lanser Broadcasting Corporation covering the Michigan and the Midwest market, and at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk Mississippi — SuperTalk.FM reaching listeners in every county within the State of Mississippi, and neighboring states in the South including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. Tune into WTON in Central Virginia on Sunday mornings at 9:30 A.M. (ET). Listen to America's Roundtable on digital platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Google and other key online platforms. Listen live, Saturdays at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk | https://www.supertalk.fm
In a world that has moved beyond "VUCA" (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) to become BANI—Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, and Incomprehensible—the old ways of tackling global crises are broken. While world leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference to discuss traditional defence, a few blocks away, the World Food Programme (WFP) was hosting its annual Innovation Forum to tackle a different security threat: the silent conflict of global hunger.In this episode, we dive into how the WFP is moving beyond "big hearts and good intentions" to build a high-performance innovation engine. We explore how they use a systematic approach—mapped to the ISO 56002 international standard—to transform "glimmers of ideas" from internal and external entrepreneurs into life-saving reality.We take a closer look at:Innovation as a System: How the WFP Innovation Accelerator uses venture capital models, incubators, and boot camps to reach over 104 million people annually.High-Tech vs. Frugal Tech: From Building Blocks (a blockchain-based aid system saving millions in fees) to Clean Cooking (heat-retention bags that cut energy needs by 70%).The Scale Challenge: Why most "promising pilots" fail and how the WFP's Scale Enablement Programme helps them grow.Based in Munich, the Accelerator has supported over 500 ventures across 90+ countries and was recognized by Fast Company as one of the world's "Most Innovative Companies".Amongst its success stories we look at:ShareTheMeal: The fundraising app that has shared over 220 million meals.H2Grow: Low-tech hydroponics allowing refugees to grow food in deserts using 90% less water.SMP PLUS: An AI tool that generates nutritious, cost-optimized school menus in minutes rather than weeks.SCOUT: A forecasting engine that has already saved $6 million in logistics costs.
Episode Info Wayne Slavin is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sure, a VC backed insurtech startup. Prior to Sure he was the VP of Product Management at Tapingo, TechCrunch's Most Innovative Company of 2013. His other past projects and companies include NetStumbler, a consumer app with more than 1.5 billion downloads, the Barnes & Noble Nook eBook reader, Buddy Media (now part of salesforce), and BackupRight the enterprise SaaS company he sold in 2012. He has a Masters Degree from Columbia University. You can see Wayne from his appearance on the show in April of 2024 in the final episode of Season 5. Episode Overview: SURE's Role: SURE provides the technology infrastructure and services that enable large brands, including Fortune 500 companies and major auto manufacturers, to launch and manage their own digital insurance businesses. This allows these brands to control the customer experience and build long-term, durable insurance operations. Embedded Insurance: The trend of "embedded insurance" is driven by the fact that insurance is often a necessary component of a core product (like cars or homes) or can be a friction point in a sale. Companies are recognizing the value of offering insurance directly to their customers to enhance the overall experience and capture economic benefits. The "One-Stop-Shop" Vision: Many large consumer brands aim to be a comprehensive provider for their customers, whether it's for car ownership, homeownership, or financial well-being. Insurance is a natural extension of this strategy, allowing them to create a complete ecosystem around their core offerings. Structural Advantage: Brands that already have a customer base have a significant advantage. Acquiring these customers for insurance purposes costs them next to nothing, giving them better economics than external insurance providers. Evolution of SURE: Over the past year, SURE has focused on helping its partners achieve "permanence" in their insurance offerings. This means enabling them to build stable, long-term insurance programs that are not subject to the fluctuating appetites or market conditions of traditional insurers. Challenges for Traditional Insurers: The existing insurance industry has had ample opportunity to improve its technology and customer experience but has largely failed to do so. This has created an opening for new models. The "Build vs. Buy" Dilemma: While some companies attempt to build their own insurance carriers, this is capital-intensive and distracts from their core business. Partnering with a third-party carrier often results in a loss of control over customer experience and technology, leading to suboptimal outcomes. SURE's Sweet Spot: SURE offers a middle ground, enabling brands to have their own differentiated insurance programs with control and economic upside without the need to become full-fledged insurers or rely on inadequate partnerships with traditional carriers. Speed to Market: SURE can bring partners to market with approved insurance products in as little as 90 days, or even faster for simpler offerings, demonstrating a significant advantage over the lengthy internal development times typical for such initiatives. Industry Inertia: The insurance industry often suffers from a lack of incentive for long-term growth and innovation. Decisions are often based on avoiding blame (omission vs. commission) rather than proactively pursuing new opportunities. This makes it difficult for established players to adapt to new models. The Future of Insurance Distribution: The future will likely involve insurance being more deeply integrated into the customer journey, moving away from discrete purchases and towards seamless, embedded solutions. The current models of comparison engines and traditional carrier partnerships are becoming less relevant. Investor Appetite: There is a significant appetite from investors like private equity and sovereign wealth funds for insurance-like returns, especially for well-defined, scalable programs that leverage existing customer bases. This episode is brought to you by The Future of Insurance book series (future-of-insurance.com) from Bryan Falchuk. Follow the podcast at future-of-insurance.com/podcast for more details and other episodes. Music courtesy of Hyperbeat Music, available to stream or download on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music and more.
NEVILLE SPITERI is founder and CEO of WEVR, a creative development and production studio, pioneering the field of immersive interactive experiences. Signature projects include “Harry Potter VR” with Warner Brothers, “Gnomes & Goblins” created with Jon Favreau, an Emmy finalist for Outstanding Innovation in Interactive Media, and the immersive underwater VR experience “The Blu,” discovered at Sundance and presented at the LA County Natural History Museum. WEVR was named one of the “Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in AR/VR” by Fast Company. Host Jason E. Squire is Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Editor of The Movie Business Book. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0)
In this episode, Joe Crane sits down with Ryan Hogan, a Navy veteran who transitioned from enlisted aircrewman to Surface Warfare Officer while building a career as an entrepreneur. With 15 years of active duty experience and a tenure in the Reserves, Ryan discusses the "trial-by-fire" lessons learned from early ventures like WarWear and Run For Your Lives, emphasizing the unique challenges of managing a business while serving on active duty. The conversation centers on Ryan's success as the co-founder of Hunt A Killer, the high-growth mystery game he eventually sold. He credits much of his scaling success to the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and peer-to-peer learning through Vistage, which helped him transition from a founder-led startup to a systems-driven organization. Following the sale, Ryan launched Talent Harbor to fix the inefficiencies he encountered in the hiring industry. He introduces the "Recruiting as a Service" (RaaS) model, which replaces traditional high-commission headhunting with a transparent, flat-fee monthly rate. By treating recruiting as a core operational competency rather than a one-off task, Ryan is now helping other founders build more efficient systems for finding and retaining top-tier talent. Episode Resources: Talent Harbor Ryan Hogan - LinkedIn About Our Guest Prior to founding Talent Harbor, Ryan Hogan co-founded Hunt A Killer, a subscription-based interactive murder mystery experience. In 2019, Hunt A Killer was named by Fast Company as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies. In 2020, Inc Magazine named it the fastest-growing CPG company. Ryan started his career enlisting in the U.S. Navy as an MH-53E aircrewman, and transitioned to officer where he served as a Surface Warfare Officer onboard various warships. Along the way, Ryan founded WarWear and Run For Your Lives, honing the entrepreneurial skills that he would use in Hunt A Killer, and now Talent Harbor. About Our Sponsors Navy Federal Credit Union Navy Federal Credit Union offers exclusive benefits to all of their members. All Veterans, Active Duty and their families can become members. Have you been saving up for the season of cheer and joy that is just around the corner? With Navy Federal Credit Union's cashRewards and cashRewards Plus cards, you could earn a $250 cash bonus when you spend $2,500 in the first 90 days. Offer ends 1/1/26. You could earn up to 2% unlimited cash back with the cashRewards and cashRewards Plus cards. With Navy Federal, members have access to financial advice and money management and 24/7 access to award-winning service. Whether you're a Veteran of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force or Coast Guard, you and your family can become members. Join now at Navy Federal Credit Union. At Navy Federal, our members are the mission. Join the conversation on Facebook! Check out Veteran on the Move on Facebook to connect with our guests and other listeners. A place where you can network with other like-minded veterans who are transitioning to entrepreneurship and get updates on people, programs and resources to help you in YOUR transition to entrepreneurship. Want to be our next guest? Send us an email at interview@veteranonthemove.com. Did you love this episode? Leave us a 5-star rating and review! Download Joe Crane's Top 7 Paths to Freedom or get it on your mobile device. Text VETERAN to 38470. Veteran On the Move podcast has published 500 episodes. Our listeners have the opportunity to hear in-depth interviews conducted by host Joe Crane. The podcast features people, programs, and resources to assist veterans in their transition to entrepreneurship. As a result, Veteran On the Move has over 7,000,000 verified downloads through Stitcher Radio, SoundCloud, iTunes and RSS Feed Syndication making it one of the most popular Military Entrepreneur Shows on the Internet Today.
In this episode of The Girl Dad Show, Young Han sits down with Scott Doty, founder and CEO of BrainStorm Tutoring & Arts and a devoted father of two, for a thoughtful conversation on parenting, purpose, and building a life aligned with your values. Scott Doty grew up in Ramsey, New Jersey, where he balanced sports, music, and academics before attending Tufts University and earning his Master's degree from the University of Melbourne in Australia. Along the way, he became a National Merit Finalist, a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar, and a member of Mensa. In 2006, Scott and his wife Ashley founded BrainStorm Tutoring & Arts, which has grown into Northern New Jersey's premier academic mentoring network. Today, BrainStorm employs over 60 people, has won Best in Northern New Jersey seven years in a row, and was named One of the Most Innovative Companies in America by Entrepreneur Magazine. Scott has taught on five continents and is a sought-after performance coach specializing in college admissions, test prep, purpose-led life design, and productivity. He also advises startups on brand strategy, company culture, and client relationships. Scott shares his journey as an entrepreneur who intentionally built flexibility into his work so he could remain present at home. Together, he and Young explore what it means to raise grounded, curious kids in a fast-moving, hyper-digital world. Scott opens up about his parenting philosophy, including his no-cell-phone rule, how he thinks about protecting children's mental health, and the balance between exposing kids to the real world while still creating a safe foundation. This episode dives into education, intentional parenting, and the responsibility of helping children become confident, capable humans. It's a conversation about slowing down, leading with values, and creating impact both inside the home and beyond it. ✨ All episodes of The Girl Dad Show are proudly sponsored by Thesis, helping founders go further together.
Mike Cessario is the founder and CEO of Liquid Death, one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic brands and healthy beverage platform built on comedy. An advertising veteran-turned-entrepreneur, he has grown Liquid Death into the #2 most-followed beverage brand on social media through viral, entertainment-first campaigns. Scaling across categories including mountain water, soda-flavored sparkling water, iced tea, and energy, the rare brand has been most recently valued at $1.4 billion under Cessario's leadership. He has been named to TIME100 Next, and Liquid Death has earned accolades, including Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies (#1 in advertising), Bain Insurgent Brands, and Ad Age's America's Hottest Brands. ------ Thank you to the sponsors that fuel our podcast and our team: LMNT Electrolytes https://drinklmnt.com/tetra Use code 'TETRA' ------ Athletic Nicotine https://www.athleticnicotine.com/tetra Use code 'TETRA' ------ Squarespace https://squarespace.com/tetra Use code 'TETRA' ------ Sign up to receive Tetragrammaton Transmissions https://www.tetragrammaton.com/join-newsletter
Lauryn Menard, co-founder of Gob, joins us to discuss how she's tackling the 40 billion petroleum-based earplugs produced annually by creating the first biodegradable, mycelium-based alternative. Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2025 and featured in Time Magazine's Best Inventions, Lauryn shares her journey from industrial designer to biotech entrepreneur. She explains why she chose mycelium over other biomaterials, how she scaled production without building a factory from scratch, and her strategy for bringing sustainable products to mainstream consumers through cultural relevance—partnering with artists like Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan at major music venues. Lauryn also reveals her vision for Gob's future: replacing an entire category of single-use products, from cotton pads to condoms, with materials that return to the earth. This conversation explores the intersection of design, biomaterials, entrepreneurship, and the urgent need for better infrastructure to support a regenerative economy.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything Chapters:(00:00:00) - Introduction: Lauryn's favorite subject - nature's zero waste system(00:06:00) - Lauryn's journey from luxury design to founding Gob(00:09:00) - The 40 billion earplug problem and material innovation(00:11:00) - Beginning with the end in mind: designing for product end-of-life(00:13:00) - Why mycelium? Finding the perfect material match(00:17:00) - Scale and volume: why small products have massive impact(00:22:00) - From concept to cylinder: the design process and user testing(00:24:00) - Cultural relevance over sustainability marketing(00:30:00) - Teaching the next generation of bio-designers at CCA(00:42:00) - Gob's future: replacing entire categories of single-use productsLinks and Resources:GOBEcovative138. Living Textures, Wild Pigments: Suzanne Lee on Nature's New Aesthetic Toolbox126. Sizzling Success: Eben Bayer of MyForest Foods on Scaling Mycelium MagicFacts Machine - Science, comedy & trivia showTopics Covered: biomaterials, single use goods, FCMG, mycelium, ear plugs, entrepreneurship, branding, storytelling, biofabricationHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow EverythingEmail: groweverything@messaginglab.com
David Baszucki is the founder and CEO of Roblox. TIME named Roblox one of the “100 Most Influential Companies,” and it has been recognized by Fast Company for innovation on their “Most Innovative Companies” and “Most Innovative Companies in Gaming” lists.This episode is brought to you by:Qlosi prescription eye drop used to treat age-related blurry near vision (presbyopia) in adults: https://Qlosi.com/TimAG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/TimWealthfront high-yield cash account: https://Wealthfront.com/TimNew clients get 3.75% base APY from program banks + additional 0.65% boost for 3 months on your uninvested cash (max $150k balance. Terms apply. The Cash Account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC (“WFB”) member FINRA/SIPC, not a bank. The base APY as of 9/26/25 is representative, can change, and requires no minimum. Tim Ferriss, a non-client, receives compensation from WFB for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of WFB. Experiences will vary. Outcomes not guaranteed. Instant withdrawals may be limited by your receiving firm and other factors. Investment advisory services provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
If you haven't seen the ad just yet, “Driven” kicks off with a high-octane brand campaign starring Chalamet and directed by Oscar-nominee James Mangold (A Complete Unknown, Ford v. Ferrari). The spot blends cinematic flair with automotive innovation, with Chalamet and a bride (played by Larsen Thompson) hijacking the Lucid Gravity SUV from a top-secret desert facility in a two-minute “director's cut.” Akerho “AK” Oghoghomeh is the Senior Vice President & Global Head of Marketing at Lucid Motors, where he's redefining what it means to build a premium brand in the EV space. Known for blending creativity, culture, and strategy, AK has led some of the most transformative campaigns in food, beverage, and now mobility. At Lucid, he's steering global storytelling and cultural partnerships around the launch of the Gravity SUV and beyond.Before Lucid, AK was Chief Marketing Officer at Beyond Meat, where he helped reshape how people think about food, and Senior Vice President of Marketing at Red Bull North America, where he drove record-breaking U.S. growth. From scaling Amazon's recruitment engine to building lifestyle movements with Red Bull, AK thrives on turning bold ideas into brands that inspire.Ian Grody is Chief Creative Officer of Giant Spoon, an independent, integrated agency that expands the ways people experience brands. As the only creative agency on Fast Company's Top 50 Most Innovative Companies 2023 and #1 in its Advertising category, Giant Spoon is known for turning marketing upside down. Obsessed with culture and driven by insatiable curiosity, the agency is composed of teams across creative, media, and strategy to stir shit up for ambitious brands.Leading creative at Giant Spoon, Ian has produced award-winning work for clients like Lucid, Autodesk, HBO, Johnnie Walker, Netflix, Away, Marvel, and Savage x Fenty across offices in New York City and Los Angeles.Over the course of his career, Ian has been named one of Adweek's 100 People Shaping Culture and Media and included on The Drum's 100 Most Awarded Creative Directors in the World. Ian has written superhero shows, dystopian thrillers, and raunchy country musicals for networks like MTV, SyFy, and CMT; optioned features domestically and abroad; and published a graphic novel with AWA Studios and The Tribeca Film Festival.
Jeremy Barker is the founder and CEO of Murphy Door, best known for transforming hidden doors and space-saving furniture into a thriving direct-to-consumer brand. From humble beginnings to Fortune's Most Innovative Companies 2025, Jeremy has built Murphy Door into the industry leader in functional design and custom craftsmanship.With Murphy Door, Jeremy is redefining what it means to blend utility, aesthetics, and engineering. What started as a bold idea, turning bookcases into fully functional hidden doors has scaled into a multi-million-dollar business recognized nationwide. By combining product innovation with viral social media, Murphy Door has grown from scrappy startup to household name.Jeremy's story blends grit with vision. From serving as a firefighter and paramedic, to living out of his car while learning how to face failure head-on, to now running one of America's most innovative companies, he's proof that persistence and transparency can turn customers into lifelong advocates.Whether you're scaling a DTC brand, looking to harness social media for growth, or exploring how AI and software can reshape customer experience, Jeremy offers an unfiltered look at what it takes to build with purpose and why owning mistakes early is the fastest path to building trust.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:43] Intro[01:16] Turning bold ideas into real products[02:04] Growing sales with early Facebook ads[07:05] Securing patents to gain attention[09:32] Stay updated with new episodes[09:42] Turning mistakes into loyal fans[14:56] Managing expectations with transparency[17:08] Simplifying processes to prevent confusion[19:00] Owning mistakes to improve clients' trust[20:11] Episode Sponsors: Electric Eye & Heatmap[22:52] Leveraging partnerships to fuel growth[24:01] Empowering customers to tell stories[26:42] Rewarding referrals with revenue share[31:12] Learning to test before scaling spend[34:53] Preventing conflicts with partner clarityResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeCustom-built, multi-purpose hideaway doors murphydoor.com/Follow Jeremy Barker linkedin.com/in/jeremy-barker-02007648Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectClear, real-time data built for ecommerce optimization heatmap.com/honestIf you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!
Bio: Josh Dorfman is a climate entrepreneur, author, and media personality. He is the CEO and host of Supercool, a media company covering real-world climate solutions that cut carbon, increase profits, and enhance modern life. Josh was previously the co-founder and CEO of Plantd, a carbon-negative building materials manufacturer, which was named to Fast Company's list of the World's Most Innovative Companies in 2024. He has founded two modern design sustainable furniture companies, directed Vine.com, an Amazon e-commerce business specializing in natural and organic products, and served as the CEO of The Collider, the nation's first innovation center for climate resilience and adaptation. Additionally, Josh was previously known as The Lazy Environmentalist, a media brand he developed into an award-winning television series on Sundance Channel, a daily radio show on SiriusXM, and two popular books. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, TechCrunch, Fast Company, and Reuters. Josh has also made regular appearances on national television and radio programs, including Morning Joe, Fox & Friends, and NPR's All Things Considered, and is the only guest to ever ride a bike onto The Martha Stewart Show. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Plantd site Supercool podcast Bender Innovation site Yaupon Brothers Tea site Josh Dorfman on LinkedIn Paul's Strategy Sessions Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode
In this episode, our guest is Heidi Steinecker, DrPH & Principal of Health & Human Services Consulting at Resultant. With over two decades of leadership in public health and healthcare systems—including as Deputy Director of the California Department of Public Health—Heidi is helping states transform how they use data to prevent crises and protect vulnerable communities.Heidi takes complex public health challenges and breaks them down into clear, data-driven strategies that work. She's spent her career modernizing outdated systems, leading emergency responses, and designing early intervention models that save lives. Today at Resultant—recently named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2025—Heidi is focused on helping agencies turn massive amounts of public health data into actionable, equitable solutions.Heidi, welcome to the Talk to Your Pharmacist podcast. Now that our listeners have heard a bit about your background maybe you can fill in any gaps to that intro and share a bit about your personal life.Topics to discuss --How public health agencies can move from reactive to proactive using predictive analyticsWhy modernizing health data systems is no longer optional—and how to get startedFrom Classroom to Policy Leadership – before becoming California's Deputy Director of Public Health during the COVID‑19 pandemic How did your early experiences in teaching inform your approach to leadership and communication during a public health crisis?Leading Transformation at Scale – At CDPH, you transformed manual inspection systems into proactive, cloud‑based predictive models Can you discuss a specific challenge you faced transitioning these systems, and how you overcame resistance to change?Bridging Local and Global Health – Your doctoral work at MCW focused on infectious diseases in high-risk settings and you emphasize “local health is global health” How do you translate lessons learned in global health contexts to strengthen health systems here in the U.S.?Modernizing Public Health Infrastructure – In a recent podcast, you emphasized that modernization starts with relationships—combined with tech like AI and predictive analytics.What are the critical steps to building both the relational and technical foundations needed for effective public health modernization?Guest - Heidi Steineckerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiwsteinecker/Host - Hillary Blackburn, PharmD, MBAwww.hillaryblackburn.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-blackburn-67a92421/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Mike Shannon. Picture this: On a Friday night, you're 22 years old, standing in front of 8 million viewers on Shark Tank, shaking hands with Mark Cuban after closing a deal for your startup. The next morning? You're back in the Chicago Bulls locker room, folding towels and doing laundry like nothing happened. This is the extraordinary double life that our guest Mike Shannon lived while building his first company. By day, he was pitching investors and building a start-up. By night, he was mopping floors during Bulls games and running errands for NBA superstars. It's a story that perfectly captures the wild contradictions of entrepreneurship—where dreams and reality collide in the most unexpected ways. Mike Shannon is the CEO and co-founder of Impruve, an AI-native operating system built for financial advisors. Before launching Impruve, he co-founded Packback, an AIpowered education platform used by millions of students and recognized by TIME as a Top EdTech Company and by Fast Company as one of the 10 Most Innovative Companies. Over 12 years, he scaled the business from scrappy startup to $20M ARR and a $50M+ acquisition. Earlier in his career, Mike appeared on Shark Tank and secured a deal with Mark Cuban. His entrepreneurial journey began—uniquely—while living a double life as an NBA ball boy and evolved through years navigating the highs and lows of startup life. Those stories are captured in his upcoming book, Sweaty Equity: A Ball Boy, a Billionaire, and the Bonkers Startup Tale You've Never Heard. Mike holds a B.S. in Finance from Illinois State University and sits on the board of directors for Future Founders, a nonprofit supporting thousands of aspiring young entrepreneurs nationwide. He lives in Chicago with his wife and two young boys.
Infinitum's Bhavnesh Patel joins JSA TV to discuss how the company's cutting-edge air-core motors are transforming the industry. Recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, Infinitum is leading the way in sustainability by reducing raw material use and cutting energy consumption by 20%. Learn how these groundbreaking motors are making a major impact on AI-driven data centers and what's next for the future of energy-efficient technology.
“We are a hospitality company first and foremost.” Joining Dan this week is Alissa Klees, the Brand Leader of Spark by Hilton, the trailblazing brand that earned Hilton recognition as one of Fast Company's 2024 Most Innovative Companies. Alissa delves into what hospitality means to her, encompassing both personal and professional interactions. She shares the incredible journey of Spark, from its secretive "Skunkworks-type room" origins to its rapid global expansion. Highlights include the brand's focus on simplicity, affordability, and owner satisfaction, making conversions quick and efficient. Alissa emphasizes the positive impact on hotel staff pride and guest experiences, backed by Hilton's innovative culture and robust supply chain strategies. The episode also explores future growth opportunities and the lasting impact Spark aims to achieve within the industry.Takeaways:Ensure that the guest experience is straightforward and predictable to meet their expectations consistently. Consider establishing strong partnerships with supply chain managers. Look into negotiating bulk purchasing agreements to keep your renovation or building projects on schedule and within budget.Implement systems that align with the philosophy of 'people serving people' to build a strong, service-oriented culture.Collect and analyze guest feedback to identify design or service aspects that need improvement. Be flexible and ready to adapt based on the feedback to continually enhance the guest experience.Provide value-driven experiences to make budget-conscious guests consider and prefer your brand.Quote of the Show:“We are a hospitality company first and foremost.” - Alissa KleesLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alissak/ Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/brands/spark-by-hiltonShout Outs:0:48 - Fast Company https://www.fastcompany.com/ 1:50 - Skunkworks https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/business-areas/aeronautics/skunkworks.html 2:00 - Lockheed Martin https://www.lockheedmartin.com/ 2:35 - Larry Traxler https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrytraxler/ 5:38 - Danny Meyer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Meyer 6:17 - Hampton https://www.hilton.com/en/brands/hampton-by-hilton/ 16:24 - Sonesta https://www.sonesta.com/ 17:58 - JM Hospitality https://www.jmhospitality.com/ 19:58 - DoubleTree https://www.hilton.com/en/brands/doubletree-by-hilton/ 20:02 - Rogers Arena https://rogersarena.com/ 25:42 - Peloton https://www.onepeloton.com/ 32:55 - Chris Nassetta https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisnassetta/ 36: 23 - Waldorf Astoria https://www.hilton.com/en/brands/waldorf-astoria/ 37:32 - Tru https://www.hilton.com/en/brands/tru-by-hilton/ 46:01 - Ernest Hemingway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Hemingway 49:18 - Conrad https://www.hilton.com/en/brands/conrad-hotels/ 52:58 - Graduate https://www.hilton.com/en/brands/graduate-hotels/ 53:14 - NoMad https://www.hilton.com/en/brands/nomad-hotels/ 53:25 - MGM https://mgmgrand.mgmresorts.com/en.html
Fast Company Magazine shocked a lot of people when it published its list of the most Innovative Companies for Economic Development and – whoa! – a city appeared. An Intelligent Community in the USA state of Ohio: Hilliard. The ICF network knows Hilliard as one of the leading cities and a two-time Top7 community. But this was a big-time recognition. How much of it had to do with being an Intelligent Community? The City Manager, Michelle Crandall tells us in this podcast. Michelle currently serves as the City Manager for the City of Hilliard, Ohio, USA (population 38,000). She began this position in January 2020 as Hilliard's first ever City Manager, following a charter change in the City's form of government. Previously Michelle was with the City of Dublin, Ohio for more than 25 years in a variety of roles, including Assistant City Manager, Deputy City Manager and Director of Administrative Services. Michelle serves as vice-chair for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), chair of Broadband Access Ohio (BAO), and immediate past chair of the Central Ohio Mayors & Managers Association (COMMA). She previously served on the International City and County Management Association (ICMA) Executive Board as a Vice-President representing the Midwest region, and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Innovation. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Wittenberg University and a Master of Public Administration from The Ohio State University. Additionally, she attended the University of Virginia, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service Executive Leadership Development Program (LEAD) and the American University Washington Semester Program. Under Michelle's leadership, the City of Hilliard was named by Fast Company in 2025 as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies in the category of Economic Development. In both 2023 and 2024, the City of Hilliard was named a Top7 Intelligent Community by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) and was named the Best Suburb to Do Business by Columbus CEO. In 2023, Michelle was named among Columbus Business First's inaugural class of “Women of Influence”, being honored as a “Trailblazer”. Additionally, in 2018 Michelle was the recipient of a Richard Childs Fellowship through the Kettering Foundation in partnership with the National Civic League and a recipient of a Japan Local Government Center CLAIR Fellowship.
In this episode of SPACES, Benjamin Urban, CEO of DIRTT highlights everything you need to know about industrialized construction. DIRTT, a global leader in industrialized construction for interior spaces, was recently named #1 in Manufacturing on Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, 2025.Before steering this prefab pioneer, Benjamin grew AGILE INTERIORS—one of DIRTT's biggest partners—diversifying markets for global clients. His résumé spans Johnson & Johnson international business, IHS market intelligence, and casino development abroad for the Gillmann Group. Armed with a business degree from the University of Denver and international credentials from Tec de Monterrey, he now champions industrialized construction that's fast, flexible, sustainable. If you design hospitals, retrofit offices, or just love rethinking “how it's always been done,” you don't want to miss this conversation. We cover software, scheduling, costs, sustainability, and more! DIRTTBenjamin Urban: LinkedInIf you enjoy our content, you can check out similar content from our fellow creators at Gābl Media. Spaces Podcast Spaces Podcast website LYNES // Gābl Media All rights reserved
Big innovation doesn't always mean big headlines. Sometimes it looks like improving how 5.5 million students get to school every day.In this episode of Building Better, Brandon Bartneck talks with Sean McCormack, Chief Information Officer at First Student. They dive into the challenges of routing 45,000 school buses, the role of AI and EVs in improving safety and sustainability, and why “user-centric design” means something very different when your user is a bus driver in the dark at 6am.Sean brings a refreshing perspective on product development and leadership. He talks about real-world agile development—not the buzzword version—and what it means to test, learn, and iterate when people's lives are at stake. They also explore the difference between flashy products and meaningful work, and how the most rewarding engineering problems often live in overlooked corners of our world.About Sean McCormackSean McCormack is CIO at First Student, where he leads digital strategy, technical operations, and innovation. Prior to joining First Student, he served as VP of Engineering at W.W. Grainger and CTO at Harley-Davidson, where he launched connected vehicle programs and led product innovation. His background spans enterprise architecture, e-commerce, and systems integration across global organizations.About First StudentFirst Student is the leading provider of K–12 transportation in North America. Every day, they help 5.5 million students get to school safely across 45,000 buses. Recognized as one of Fast Company's 2025 Most Innovative Companies, First Student delivers a wide range of services including special needs transportation, route optimization, EV transition, fleet maintenance, and more.Key TakeawaysSafety—not efficiency—is the top priority in school transportationTechnology like AI cameras and EVs are improving both safety and cost long termAgile development and real-world testing are essential for effective product developmentListening to end users—especially drivers—is critical for designing tools that actually workThere's massive opportunity in solving “unsexy” problems that others overlookLinks & ResourcesLearn more: firststudentinc.comFollow First Student: LinkedInShow Notes: brandonbartneck.com/buildingbetter/seanmccormackListen & SubscribeApple PodcastsSpotify
On today's episode of The CLS Experience, we have a very exclusive treat. He's not just any expert; he's the trailblazer who defined what it means to be a brand evangelist, starting in the 1980s at Apple's Macintosh Division and later, magnifying his impact as Apple's chief evangelist in the mid-1990s, just to name a few. Fast forward to today, he's at the helm of Canva, an AI-powered graphic design behemoth that boasts over 170 million users and is generating a staggering $1.7 billion in revenue, No big deal. Canva stands tall on Fast Company's list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2023 and graces TIME's Most Influential Companies List for 2023, BIG facts. He also has a dynamic thought provoking podcast called Remarkable people where he dives deep below the surface, REAL deep. Throughout a career spanning four decades, he has left his undeniable mark on giants like Google, Mercedes-Benz, and Wikipedia, AND he's a dynamic speaker and New York Times bestselling author. Whether it's about leading the charge in Silicon Valley, penning the playbook on innovation, or teaching us the art of the start, he's been a guiding light in navigating the complexities of creativity and success. He's just a juggernaut in all facets of life and a terrific husband and father. Please welcome the impressive, highly influential, multifaceted, handsome and abundant, Guy Kawasaki. 5:42 - Aligning Yourself With Something Great 7:45 - Exploring AI and Passion in Work 17:48 - The Power of Growth and Grit 35:44 - The Art of The Interview and Good QuestionsCheck out Guy's Podcast Here: https://guykawasaki.com/remarkable-people/Grab a copy of Guy's latest book here: https://guykawasaki.com/books/think-remarkable/To join our community click here.➤ To connect with Guy Kawasaki follow Guy on Instagram➤ Order a copy of my new book The Reinvention Formula today! ➤ Join our CLS texting community for free daily inspiration and business strategies to elevate your day, text (917) 634-3796To follow The CLS Experience and connect with Craig on Social Media:➤ INSTAGRAM➤ FACEBOOK➤ TIKTOK➤ YOUTUBE➤ WEBSITE➤ LINKEDIN➤ X
In today's complex, fast-paced world, what can we learn from philosophers? John Kaag thinks we can learn a lot. He's created an audiobook Spring Training (for the Rest of Your Life), discussing his ideas highlighting Thoreau, Emerson and William James. He's also the co-founder of Rebind, an AI company transforming classic literature into interactive, guided experiences. Rebind pairs books with original interactive commentary from some of today's greatest thinkers who serve as expert guides, featuring conversations, personal anecdotes, historical context, and reflections. Rebind was named to Fast Company's prestigious list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2025 and was a TIME Magazine "Best Invention of 2024." John Kaag joins us from Massachusetts. __________________ Bio John Kaag is a distinguished philosopher and author, widely recognized for his deep knowledge of Henry David Thoreau's classic Walden. He has authored several books, including American Philosophy: A Love Story and Hiking with Nietzsche, both of which were New York Times and NPR Best Books of the Year. In 2023, he published Henry at Work, a thorough examination of Thoreau's philosophy as it relates to post-pandemic work habits. Kaag has contributed to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Harper's Magazine, bringing timeless philosophical insights to a wider audience. ________________________ For More on John Kaag Spring Training (for the Rest of Your Life) Rebind Try Rebind - Discount offer _________________________ Podcast Episodes You May Like Living for Pleasure – Emily Austin, PhD The Art of the Interesting – Lorraine Besser, PhD An Artful Life – John P. Weiss _________________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You'll get smarter about the investment decisions you'll make about the most important asset you'll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren't quite done yet, discover what's next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn't just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how The Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one – on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who also helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a twenty-six-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Today, in addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, which thanks to his guests and loyal listeners, ranks in the top 1 % globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider has recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He's the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. Connect on LinkedIn _________________________ Wise Quotes On Philosophers - and AI "I think it's interesting. I think that when it comes to the perennial questions of philosophy, like why am I here? What is the good life? Why is life worth living? These questions typically are answered in very personal settings, between friends, between family members, between, I teach at UMass Lowell, so my classes are relatively small within a classroom setting. But I think what's interesting is that when like lots of readers and lots of thinkers don't have the chance to interact with others in a sort of active way. My mother was one of these individuals. She retired when she was 68,
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 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)
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)
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.
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.
Katharine is CEO and Co-Founder of Stuf, one of Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies in 2022. She was named to Inc. Magazine's Female Founders 100 list in the same year. Katharine is passionate about reinventing consumer experiences in the physical world and leads the company's strategic vision and overall strategy in transforming the self-storage industry. From 2015-2020, Katharine led supply growth at Industrious, the nation's largest premium shared workplace provider. She built and managed a 20+ person team and oversaw the company's rapid expansion while developing go-to-market strategies for new digital products and tenant experience services. As VP of Real Estate, Katharine pioneered an "industry first” asset and liability-light growth strategy leading to CBRE's partial acquisition of Industrious in early 2021. Prior to Industrious, Katharine worked at Equinox as Manager of Development, supporting the company's national expansion of luxury fitness clubs. She previously worked at L&L Holding Company and PGIM Real Estate (Prudential). Connect & Invest with Jake: Follow Jake on X: https://x.com/JWurzak 1 on 1 coaching with Jake: https://www.jakewurzak.com/coaching Learn How to Invest with DoveHill: https://bit.ly/3yg8Pwo Links: Katharine on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharinelau/ Stuf - https://www.stufstorage.com/ Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:06) - Katherine's career in RE/Hospitality (00:07:36) - Advice to young people in RE + AI (00:11:06) - Insights learned from development at Equinox (00:13:51) - Niche vs. expansive real estate (00:15:27) - Inside building a successful coworking space (00:29:40) - remote work philosophies (00:33:36) - Starting and building ‘Stuf' (01:12:00) - What would you like to be doing more or less in 3 years? (01:13:14) - How do you compete with your larger competitors? (01:15:19) - What was the most surprising thing you've gotten wrong in building Stuff? (01:23:08) - What's your favorite hotel?
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.
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.
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.