Creative Control: Recent Episodes
Fast Company
Fast Company's Creative Control is taking a deep dive into the forces that are shaping the creator economy and what it means for its future. As the creator economy continues its rapid expansion, there are issues that deserve a closer look. Topics like who owns what online, where’s the middle class for creators, and what web3 technology will really mean for creators after the hype.
OpenAI is reportedly nearing $1 billion in annual sales. There’s an AI arms race among big tech companies. AI is everywhere and on everyone’s mind, so we’re breaking it all down. Fast Company senior writer Mark Sullivan explains who the major players are—from Nvidia to Anthropic—why ChatGPT has had such a strong impact on society, and how Congress will decide to regulate AI. Eleven Madison Park chef and owner Daniel Humm talks about the difficulties of running a fine-dining restaurant and why he decided to make the menu completely plant-based during the pandemic. The restaurant is celebrating 25 years in the global fine-dining industry with the new book, Eat More Plants, penned by Humm. And we discuss Walmart’s search for a new CEO with healthcare experience. Don’t forget to check out our Fast Company Innovation Festival! https://events.fastcompany.com/innovationfestival23
Late last year, everyone thought we were headed for a recession. But now we’re doing great. What’s going on? James Surowiecki, author of The Wisdom of Crowds and a Fast Company contributing writer, explains how “Bidenomics” is actually helping boost the economy. Courtney Tracy calls herself the truth doctor on TikTok. This came about after she’d dealt with a serious life event in 2019 and thought she needed to hide her struggle. She realized that if an up-and-coming licensed therapist was going to hide her mental health problems, what does that say about mental health overall? That we should hide it, be embarrassed about it . . . really? She was struggling, and she thought the world needed a therapist who was significantly struggling. So she called herself the truth doctor and, in fact, told the truth about her struggles to encourage other people to be honest with themselves and tell the truth about their struggles. And we’re sorry to hear about Britney’s divorce . . . Don’t forget to check out our upcoming Innovation Festival at: https://events.fastcompany.com/innovationfestival23 And apply for MIC! https://www.fastcompany.com/apply/most-innovative-companies
The Women’s World Cup is coming to an end this weekend! The international soccer championship is down to its final week in which Spain and England will be facing off in the final match. Fast Company senior editor Amy Farley and staff editor AJ Hess catch us up on the drama and break down what this tournament means for pro women’s sports. Also, SKIMS cofounder and CEO Jens Grede explains how Kim Kardashian is like the Michael Jordan of the influencer generation and why the pumpkin spice latte is so important. And Broadway’s back, baby! Our personal fave is Spamalot. Don’t forget to sign up for our upcoming Innovation Festival on September 18-21: https://events.fastcompany.com/innovationfestival23
It’s looking like the future won’t be spent in the office. Based on a recent Deloitte study, 66% of mid- to executive-level financial services professionals do not want to come back to the office full-time. Writer and journalist Shalene Gupta breaks down the numbers and explains the impact that this will have on future pathways toward leadership. And historically, financial advice has been “male, pale, and stale,” according to Vivian Tu. The popular FinTok influencer explains why she’s passionate about teaching financial literacy. In addition to her proprietary “STRIP” method for achieving financial independence, she recommends setting up a “money date” with a close friend. Find out how much they make and pay for rent, and what their various expenditures are, she suggests. Tu says we need to ask each other these questions so we can set realistic expectations. “That’s real intimacy. Get financially naked with your friends!” And then we chat about periods, because they’ve been a taboo subject for so long, and . . . mustard Skittles, because that’s a thing. Fast Company Innovation Festival is coming up! Check it out here: https://events.fastcompany.com/innovationfestival23 Find out more about Vivian Tu’s forthcoming book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735755/rich-af-by-vivian-tu/
The new visual platform, Spill, is not trying to become the next Twitter—it’s aiming to create an entirely new social media platform. Spill’s cofounder and CEO Alphonzo “Fonz” Terrell said he wants to create a fun, safer, and more rewarding space for its users, especially black, female, and queer folks. In order to create a safer and more inclusive community, Spill is building its algorithms based on specific data sets that will not just flag certain terms, but also look at who’s saying those terms. This will create a context-based model for content moderation. While the app is in its beta phase, it’s still invite-only; but since they’re moving at the “speed of culture,” Terrell said they’re aiming to scale up as soon as possible. There is already a vibrant kaleidoscope of diverse channels where “Spillionaires” are interacting and engaging with one another. Then we talk about the resale industry with Charles Gorra, founder and CEO of Rebag. He explains how the market has shifted and consumers have gotten past the “ick” factor of resale. Now it means you’re a smart shopper and you’re contributing to a circular economy: “It’s not consumption anymore, it’s investment.” And finally, we chatted about 46,000-year-old worms that may give researchers insight into how to “elongate” humans’ lives . . . maybe.
Our show today was produced by Mariam Kiparoidze with help from Avery Miles and Blake Odom. And special thanks to Max Ufberg for stepping in to host this week! Mix and sound design by Tad Wadhams and our executive producer is Josh Christensen.
AI is poised to upend the music industry, and Fast Company Associate Editor David Salazar joins us to discuss what AI generative music is and how the music industry is combating it. Antidiabetic medication Ozempic is all over the news these days, but it's not as new as it seems. Beyond the TikTok trends and celebrity shout-outs, it's been used to treat diabetes for years. But now talk of this medication has reached a fever pitch. Found CEO Sarah Jones Simmer talks about how her company prioritizes comprehensive weight care management, the ongoing discussion about Ozempic, and the very complicated history of weight in this country. Basically, how do we thread the needle between self-acceptance and positive body image and the existing health challenges, like the skyrocketing rates of diabetes? Then we discuss Barbenheimer because, well, we have to.
The thing about the Barbie movie is that saying those three words together just seems inherently ridiculous. And one of the best things Mattel has done is really kind of lean into that. Starting with the Technicolor shots of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling on set to the colorful trailers that really churned up the enthusiasm for the movie, Mattel created the momentum that has led to a laundry list of product tie-ins, including the Xbox console that actually looks like a house or a makeup station. Fast Company Senior Staff Editor Jeff Beer explains how this Blockbuster movie's marketing campaign stands out . . . and that having fun is at the core of the global brand's approach. Then to something more serious — Human Rights Watch Executive Director Tirana Hassan talks about how the organization is using technology to push back on misinformation and disinformation, and even how AI can benefit the organization in its investigations.
The thing about the Barbie movie is that saying those three words together just seems inherently ridiculous. And one of the best things Mattel has done is really kind of lean into that. Starting with the Technicolor shots of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling on set to the colorful trailers that really churned up the enthusiasm for the movie, Mattel created the momentum that has led to a laundry list of product tie-ins, including the Xbox console that actually looks like a house or a makeup station. Fast Company Senior Staff Editor Jeff Beer explains how this Blockbuster movie's marketing campaign stands out . . . and that having fun is at the core of the global brand's approach. Then to something more serious — Human Rights Watch Executive Director Tirana Hassan talks about how the organization is using technology to push back on misinformation and disinformation, and even how AI can benefit the organization in its investigations.
We have to talk about the new Twitter on the block: Threads. How does it work? And more importantly, how does it compare to Twitter? Fast Company Senior Staff Editor Max Ufberg is back to explain what Mark Zuckerberg’s newest platform is, the drama between the two companies, and how Threads' algorithms won't promote hard news or political discourse. And e.l.f CMO Kory Marchisotto talks about the company’s successful media strategy on TikTok . . . and why it decided to make a Chipotle-inspired, guac-themed eye-shadow palette.
Steven Lim used to work at Buzzfeed, cohosting the wildly popular show ‘Worth It.’ But a few years ago, he left to start his own digital studio, Watcher Entertainment, to take a chance on making content a little differently. Being a creator himself, Lim knew the struggle of writers, producers, and talent fighting to keep their own IP and earn what they’re worth, so he decided to take a unique approach that could be a new standard for digital content production—or as Lim puts it, ‘the stupidest decision’ he could ever make. Steven told us all about his perspective working at a small independent studio after being at a large media company, and his ambitions to raise the bar for digital content in the future.
Last week, we took a trip to VidCon in Anaheim, California, to meet up with some of the top creators in the industry. Joel Bervell, a fourth-year medical student at Washington State University, rose to fame on TikTok for calling out racial inequities in the healthcare system. One of his first videos, posted early on in the pandemic, taught people that pulse oximeters can overestimate oxygen saturation on people with darker skin—a fact with serious implications for Black COVID patients who weren’t receiving the necessary care. In our conversation, Joel talked about the myths about race that he’s encountered in medical school and how social media can be a powerful educational tool.
SuperOrdinary launched in 2017 as a way for U.S. brands to reach consumers in China. The company has since expanded to working with creators in other international markets. SuperOrdinary cofounder and CEO Julian Reis explains how his company is further leaning into what he calls the “supporter economy”—and how he’s navigating operations amid geopolitical tensions.
After World War II, the U.S. had to change the way it communicated if it was going to keep up with the Soviets in the Cold War, especially once Sputnik was launched. It was the vision of a Missouri boy called Lick that would solve those communication issues and spark the creation of the internet.
Founded in 2017, Cameo is a platform that allows people to buy custom messages from celebrities to send to their family and friends. The company has expanded the business and created a viable revenue stream for celebrities and creators—even for those who may not be in the traditional Hollywood spotlight. Cofounder and CEO Steven Galanis believes the company amounts to a public utility, connecting celebrities to fans in a direct, accessible way. He shared his perspective on where Cameo is headed, and why its future may or may not involve AI celebrities.
AI art generators such as DALL-E, Midjourney, and Craiyon have gained noticeable attention in the past months. But like so much of what AI touches, there are some big questions that need answers: Who owns the images that feed into these generators? Who owns the images they produce? Entertainment lawyer Wynton Yates shares his perspective on AI art generators, copyright infringement, and the legal questions being debated right now. And transmedia artist Stephanie Dinkins dives into how she uses AI in her work while maintaining her curiosity and excitement for the future of art and technology.
Back in 2018, Tumblr banned all nudity, which, unsurprisingly, led to a massive dip in page views as well as adult creators being forced off the platform. But earlier this month, Tumblr, under new management, announced it would be relaxing its “no porn” rule to allow some adult content back onto the site. In this episode, Tumblr CEO Matt Mullenweg breaks down the fine print of what this means for creators and the future of Tumblr.
We're taking a break this week and wishing everyone a warm holiday! When we come back, we'll be talking about what's changing in content policies at Tumblr and the effect of the Facebook Papers one year later.
A few weeks ago, Elon Musk, Twitter’s new CEO, tweeted a poll asking if he should bring back Vine, the short-form video app Twitter purchased in 2012 but shuttered in 2016. Nearly 5 million votes later, 70% of people had voted to resurrect Vine. There were a number of factors that led to the app’s downfall. So if Vine were to come back, what would it need to do differently? More importantly, could it compete with the reigning short-form video juggernaut that is TikTok? To help me unpack this, I interviewed Lauren Schnipper, VP of corporate development at Jellysmack and co-host of the creator economy podcast Creator Upload.
Most creators know they won’t reach the level of getting insanely lucrative brand deals or tens of millions of followers—and that’s perfectly fine. The overall sentiment from creators is that they just want stable and reliable income, i.e. a more robust middle class. It's a reasonable request but one that hasn’t been so easy to attain. A perfect vehicle to explore this right now is Twitch. In case you missed it, there’s been a few changes at Twitch that the company says are in the best interest of creators. But some creators, particularly those in the middle class, aren’t so sure.
When you think about what you’re already shelling out for on-demand entertainment with Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Apple Music, HBO Max, how do content creators fit within your budget? We conducted a poll to get some answers. And to help me unpack these results, I reached out to Anthony Iaffaldano, VP of sales, marketing, and insights at Fandom.
We’ve explored how algorithms and content moderation can make some creators feel targeted on social platforms. One way creators are getting around being flagged is through algospeak, e.g. using “unalive” instead of dead, “seggs” instead of sex, “corn” instead of porn, etc. Coded internet language has been around for decades, most commonly known as leetspeak. But no matter what you call it, massaging words to sidestep moderation raises some interesting questions we’re exploring in this episode.
If you’re on TikTok, Michael Le has undoubtedly landed on your For You page at some point with his dance videos, which have earned him 52 million followers and more than 10 billion views. Now Michael is launching Joystick, a gaming ecosystem that aims to empower users and content creators to become business owners. According to Michael, the key to his success has been adapting and experimenting both in the content he creates and in his business pursuits. But how do you translate 52 million followers into a new business—especially a new business that many might not see as part of your core brand?
In this special podcast episode, hear the latest on what’s taking place in edge computing and hybrid cloud from a top industry executive at AWS. Also learn how these innovations can ultimately help you transform your business.
You think you know where a skit from Antonio Baldwin (aka Tony Talks) is headed until the punchlines start hitting you in the most unexpected places. It’s the kind of random comedy that forces you to pay attention—and it’s certainly caught the attention of his growing audience. Tony landed a spot on Fast Company’s inaugural Creator 25 list, and you need only watch his content (and listen to this episode) to understand why.
A lot of people say success in the creator economy is democratized: You put in the work, stay consistent, and you’ll find your audience and revenue. That may be true for some, but for many marginalized creators success feels like a steeper hill to climb than it should be. Discoverability is crucial to any creator’s career online. But what happens when the algorithms powering discoverability seem to be working against you or don’t see you at all?
Brittany "Broski" Tomlinson turned her 15 seconds of fame as "the Kombucha girl" meme into a full-fledged career. In this live episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Control, Tomlinson gives her candid take on the creator economy and explains how she's building a name for herself offline.
Here is a sneak peek of Season 2! Creative Control premieres next week, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss new episodes every Thursday.
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
Every company’s success is tied to its talent - recruiting and retaining the employees needed to deliver high-level customer experiences that support the bottom line. Yet rapid transformation has disrupted many things that organizations used to do to maintain great company cultures. So how can business leaders reimagine their employee experiences to meet the needs of their workforces? How does that translate into better customer experiences? In this thought-provoking podcast episode, FastCo Works will hear from Freshworks CMO Stacey Epstein as she shares some of the latest industry best practices and learnings for companies navigating these work culture shifts.
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
We’re hard at work developing season 2 of Creative Control coming this fall. In the meantime, enjoy this throwback episode to keep your creative juices flowing!
Over the past 15 episodes, we covered a lot of ground within the creator economy. For the season one finale, we're revisiting some of these topics with Kaya Yurieff, a reporter with The Information who's also been sorting through the ups and downs of this space. In this episode, Kaya gives her opinion on burnout, the creator middle class, and government regulation of social media, as well as her forecast for the creator economy’s next chapter.
Last week, we profiled a talent agency working specifically with deaf and disabled creators. This week, we're going even further into the space of marginalized creators with Annelise Campbell. Annelise is the founder of the CFG, an influencer marketing agency geared toward BIPOC creators like Monica Veloz, a lifestyle and beauty creator of nine years who, since linking up with CFG, has gained an entirely new perspective on value as an Afro-Latina creator. In this episode with Annelise and Monica, we cover everything from how creators of color should view their work to holding brands accountable for the work that still needs to be done.
According to the World Health Organization, 1 billion people around the world are living with a disability. However, it's safe to say that the majority of them still don't feel seen or adequately represented. It’s something Keely Cat-Wells set out to fix with C Talent, a talent management and consultancy agency working exclusively with deaf and disabled entertainers. As someone living with a disability, Keely wanted to make navigating the creator economy and Hollywood more equitable and inclusive. And in this episode, we cover how C Talent is doing just that, where brands are falling short, and how the creators C Talent works with are thinking about the dreaded “inspiration porn.”
One would think an inventor's job should be identifying a problem and building an innovative solution to fix it. Simone Giertz has been great about the first part but intentionally "shitty" about the second. For most of her career as an inventor and content creator, Simone has been the self-proclaimed "Queen of Shitty Robots" with inventions that were never meant to be anything more than a punchline. But a brain tumor forced her to stop hiding behind her shittiness and realize her dream of creating and selling products that actually work.
Rounding out this 3-episode arc of the current state of social media platforms is the question of government regulation. We know social media companies aren't as forthright as they could be about how their platforms work. And we know social media has fundamentally impacted politics and our health. So what's the government doing about social media? Top executives across Meta, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Snap have all been grilled on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers have introduced bills that try to take on issues like addictive algorithms and surveillance advertising. But so far, nothing concrete has taken shape. The European Union is way ahead of the US in regulating social media. So what will it take to catch up? And more importantly what does effective regulation even look like?
Does this sound familiar? You open Instagram or TikTok to kill some time, and the next thing you know, your eyes are dried out and your thumb feels like it’s about to fall off. It’s only then you realize how long you’ve been scrolling. For most of us, spending sometimes hours on social media leaves us a little achy but mainly just feeling guilty for having wasted a chunk of our day. But for some people, getting sucked into social media like that can have a major impact on their mental health. In this episode, I’m looking at where we are now at the intersection of social media and mental health—and I'm talking to a psychiatrist and a technologist who are trying to make these platforms a little less harmful.
It feels strange to think back to a time when we weren’t so concerned with social media algorithms. For years, we accepted this idea that algorithms were there to serve us more of what we love online. Which is true…to a certain degree. Since 2016, that rosier depiction of algorithms has completely disintegrated. Now when we talk about algorithms, we’re talking about issues like mental health, addiction, political interference, and government regulation. I wanted to get a better understanding of where we are now with social media algorithms. And it's a lot to unpack so I'm going to be tackling this topic in three separate episodes. Up first: what we know (and don’t know) about algorithms.
When Lilly Singh started her YouTube channel in 2010, she was all about the hustle, which led to a number of opportunities including acting roles and a late-night talk show. But in that hustling, Lilly admits her value system got out of whack. She was so focused on accolades and awards that she never thought to tie her value to things like mental health or self-growth. But now she's turning it around—and she’s encouraging us all to do the same in her new book “Be a Triangle.” In this episode, Lilly unpacks how her YouTube career and stint in late-night has had a major impact on what she values and how she views content creation today.
Last week I discussed burnout with therapist Kati Morton and got into the nuts and bolts of what happens in our brains when we experience burnout and how to recover from it. But I also wanted to get the perspective of a content creator. Mayuko Inoue is a software engineer who's worked for Intuit, Patreon, and Netflix. But she left her stabile career behind to become a full-time creator in 2020. So I wanted to unpack burnout with a creator who jumped out of one fire in working tech and into a completely different fire as a content creator.
Before the World Health Organization officially recognized burnout as a syndrome in 2019, there was already a mounting wave of high-profile creators speaking out against what they felt as pressure from platforms to consistently churn out content or their channels would suffer. And, unsurprisingly, the past two years have only made burnout worse. But therapist and content creator Kati Morton explains the small (and unconventional) changes you can make to put out the fire.
Since starting her channel in 2017, Emma Chamberlain has amassed more than 11 million YouTube subscribers, in large part because of her wry comedic tone and signature lo-fi editing style. Not being overproduced in both the look and content of her vlogs made Emma more relatable to an audience that increasingly has favored content creators removing the literal and proverbial filters from their lives. And part of Chamberlain being so candid has been admitting to her audience (and herself) that she needed a break from YouTube. She’s shifted her focus to building out her podcast Anything Goes and her coffee company Chamberlain Coffee. I wanted to talk to Emma to see how she’s redefining her relationship with YouTube and how she’s finding her place in the coffee industry—potential haters and all.
Doctors are taking to platforms like TikTok and Twitter to make medicine less of a mystery for people—and becoming celebrities along the way. But the ethics here are in a very grey area. We’ve seen how misinformation can run rampant on social media. And we’ve also seen that it doesn’t take much for anyone to gain a following online. So I wanted to explore this to get a better understanding of what it means when your doctor becomes an influencer.
As the cofounder and CEO of Patreon (and a creator himself), Jack Conte’s whole mission has been helping creators make a stable living. Patreon allows creators to charge monthly or annual subscription fees for access to their content. And since the company started nine years ago, it’s paid out $3.5 billion to more than 250,000 creators. Patreon itself was recently valued at $4 billion, so clearly Jack was on to something. But knowing how much the creator economy has evolved, how is Patreon thinking about features to better serve creators? And are we getting closer to a more robust middle class of creatives?
Spotter buys YouTubers’s back catalogs in exchange for capital to grow their businesses—and the company recently announced plans to invest $1 billion in creators. CEO Aaron DeBevoise explains who’s getting a cut, the possibility of expanding to TikTok, and how changes to YouTube could impact Spotter.
When you think about things having a copyright, what probably comes to mind are movies, music, and books—but what about dance moves? Historically, copyrighting choreography favors artists working in more traditional forms like ballet or modern dance, while choreography in videos games, music videos, and social media have remained in copyright law's blindspot. But, as we explore in this episode, hopefully not for much longer.
In the first episode of Fast Company's new podcast Creative Control, host KC Ifeanyi dives into the tangled history of the NCAA and collegiate athletes being able to earn money from their name, image, and likeness. The new policy has been a long time coming for athletes in the NCAA who can now score brand deals and monetize their social media. But the rules here are still very fragmented. So how are athletes navigating this new era?
Fast Company's new podcast Creative Control is taking a deep dive into the forces shaping the creator economy, and what it means for its future. Creative Control premieres next week, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss new episodes every Thursday.
We’re gearing up for a brand new podcast on the creator economy! So in the meantime, check out this past interview from our very first season of Creative Conversation in 2018 with YouTube beauty guru Jackie Aina.
We’re gearing up for a brand new podcast on the creator economy! So in the meantime, check out this past interview from our forth season of Creative Conversation in 2021 with legendary actor Wayne Brady.
We’re gearing up for a brand new podcast on the creator economy! So in the meantime, check out this past interview from our first season of Creative Conversation in 2020 with viral rapper Saweetie.
We’re gearing up for a brand new podcast on the creator economy! So in the meantime, check out this past interview from our first season of Creative Conversation in 2018 with celebrated actor Paul Scheer.
We’re gearing up for a brand new podcast on the creator economy! So in the meantime, check out this past interview from our first season of Creative Conversation in 2018 with powerhouse actor Carrie Coon.
We’re gearing up for a brand new podcast on the creator economy! So in the meantime, check out this past interview from our first season of Creative Conversation in 2018 with legendary actor Regina Hall.
Today we have a special holiday episode where KC chatted with World Changing Ideas Host Talib Visram and The New Way We Work Host Kate Davis to reflect on the past year here at Fast Company and to share some of their New Year's resolutions.
We have another roundup of the best answers to that all-important question: How do you define creativity? Enjoy!
Tracy Oliver has made it a point in her career as a film and TV producer and writer to center her work around Black women—but, most importantly, Black women who are allowed to be more than just savior figures or martyrs of Black trauma. From the box office hit Girls Trip to her latest show Harlem, Tracy creates worlds where Black women can be ridiculous, gross, lighthearted—they can just be human. In our conversation, Tracy explains the importance of basing your work around what you want to see in the world, and how to ask for what you're worth.
How can you make satire of reality when reality itself is stranger than fiction? And when reality feels flat-out depressing, is anyone in the mood to laugh? It’s what writer and director Adam McKay was thinking about while making Don’t Look Up. Adam’s latest film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence as a pair of astronomers who are desperately trying to alert the world that a comet is about to end life on Earth as we know it—“trying” being the operative word here. In our conversation, Adam explains the delicate dance of making comedy and satire today, and the creative freedom in subverting your expectations.
Kenny G is one of those artists you love, hate, or just allow to quietly exist in the background of your life, like so much of his smooth jazz has done over his 40-year career. Even if you don't like Kenny G's take on jazz, you can't deny he's an incredibly skilled musician who, even after decades of playing the saxophone, stays in the mindset of a neophyte. In our conversation, Kenny explains how trusting his ideas and a relentless pursuit of perfection fuels his creativity and success.
We have another roundup of the best answers to that all-important question: How do you define creativity? Enjoy!
John Cho is at a point in his career where he can be intentional with what projects he chooses. And his intention for his latest project was to push himself like no other role has done before. John stars as Spike Spiegel in Netflix's adaptation of the beloved anime Cowboy Bebop—and the role took him to the brink of both his creativity and his body. In our conversation, John explains the clarity he found while nursing an on-set injury, the acting advice that changed his perspective, and how he's returning to the simplicity of creativity.
There's little you can do about the inherent stressors in the creative process. But what you can do is learn how to better manage the negative emotions that impede your work flow. In our conversation, Michael Parke, assistant professor of management at the Wharton School, gives key strategies for how we can all better recognize and handle stress to become better creatives and leaders.
Nick Kroll's career has largely been defined by the cavalcade of memorable characters he's created over the years through his comedy specials, The Kroll Show, and of course his hit Netflix show Big Mouth. While Nick is exceptionally good at slipping into an array voices and personas, he’s pushing himself to step in front of those characters to reveal more of himself—and that's proving to be his greatest creative challenge to date. In our conversation, Nick unpacks how he’s tackling that challenge and where he’s taking the expanding universe of Big Mouth.
If you've never wondered about the web of legalities and social landmines Seth Green tumbles through to make Robot Chicken, then he considers his job complete. Since premiering in 2005, Robot Chicken has won 6 Emmys and a die-hard following that's kept the show around for 11 seasons. But creating jokes around popular pop culture characters adds a legal filter to his creativity. On top of that, as the social and political landscapes have become increasingly thorny, Seth is contending with what role a show like Robot Chicken plays in reflecting the world back at itself—he’s also figuring out how to stay calm and carry on through it all.
Last week, I had Ellen Pompeo on the podcast and the theme of making something old feel new again kept popping up. She's been on Grey's Anatomy for 18 seasons, so who could blame her? I came across research from Ed O'Brien, associate professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and figured he was the perfect person to help us figure out how to find new ways of tackling something we think is too familiar or boring.
Ellen Pompeo has spent 18 seasons playing Dr. Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy—and it's fair to say doing something for that long can either make or break your creativity. For Ellen, it’s been a task of finding new ways to keep Grey’s relevant to audiences, as well as exploring new ventures outside of acting such as her new podcast Tell Me. In our conversation, Ellen explains how she keeps her creativity fresh, her struggles with being a perfectionist, and with maybe being a little bit too outspoken at times.
Author Soman Chainani explains his greatest challenge: getting into a creative flow state. Check out this clip cut for time, as well as Soman's full episode from last week!
Soman Chainani is a bestselling author who’s on a mission to revamp the young adult space. His wildly popular series The School for Good and Evil and his latest novel Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales subvert conventional fairy tales for something darker and more complex. Soman isn’t looking to create the sanitized world of Walt Disney. He wants to bring back the real lessons embedded in Grimm’s fairy tales but with a modern twist. In this episode, Soman explains his alt-Walt vision and why it’s not only good for his creativity, but for the kids he’s writing for.
Fast Company recently released Innovation by Design: Creative Ideas That Transform the Way We Live and Work, a book highlighting the people and companies at the forefront of impactful design. In this episode, Fast Company design editor Suzanne LaBarre shares her top stories from the book and how the events of last year gave this project a sense of urgency.
One thing is certain: Jeff Daniels has the range. From cutting his teeth in traditional American theater to a wide spread of film and TV roles including The Purple Rose of Cairo, Speed, Dumb and Dumber, The Newsroom, 101 Dalmatians, and Godless, Daniels has an air of creative fearlessness about him. But it's not about just jumping off the ledge. It’s recognizing your blindspots in your craft, doing the work to improve, and then when the opportunity to stretch yourself comes up, not shying away from it. In this episode, Daniels explains how he applied that strategy to his latest role in Showtime's American Rust. He also discusses his reprisal of Atticus Finch on Broadway in To Kill a Mockingbird and his music career he doesn’t mind you not knowing about.
It's easy to categorize Michael Jai White as the ripped martial arts action star of Spawn, Mortal Kombat, and Black Dynamite. But with a career that stretches over 30 years, he's done more than you think—even with the shackles of being typecast and, let's be frank, racism in the entertainment industry. Let Michael tell it, though, and all of that has led him to where he's at now with his own production company Jaigantic Studios where he’s making the projects he's always wanted to make. In this episode, Michael explains how he's learned to exist outside the boxes people want to put him in and why truth and honesty should factor into your creativity.
For Elizabeth Banks, acting was her first passion that really clicked—and she’s certainly had success in that regard with roles in 30 Rock, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and The Hunger Games franchise. But over the years, Elizabeth has proven she’s just as talented at creating new opportunities for herself in producing (Shrill), directing (Pitch Perfect 2, Charlie's Angels, Cocaine Bear), entrepreneurship (co-owner of Archer Roose wines), and now podcasting. In this episode, Elizabeth talks about owning her ambition; she gets personal about her new podcast with Audible, My Body, My Podcast; and she explains why her creativity is “quietly revolutionary.”
One of the longstanding principles of creativity has always been collaboration. We hear it all the time how thinking in groups and getting feedback from others is essential to the creative process. But how many of us actually do it on a regular basis? Actor and director Joseph Gordon-Levitt would like to remind us all that we should be collaborating more often--and he has some ideas on how to do just that. In this episode, Joseph details how the collaborative process brings out his best work, most notably in his latest project Mr. Corman for Apple TV+, and how you can jumpstart your own collaborative process.
We have a bonus episode for you this week! At the end of every Creative Conversation, our host Kc Ifeanyi asks his guests the same question: "How do you define creativity?" In this episode, we've compiled some our favorite answers from this season. Hopefully, these can give you a quick creative boost. Enjoy!
We all first fell in love with Amber Riley as Mercedes Jones on Glee. But before her breakout role, she was actually rejected from American Idol, which almost made her quit singing altogether. With her mirrorball-winning run on Dancing with the Stars; her roles in TV, film, and Broadway; and her own original recorded music, it’s hard to imagine the entertainment industry without a powerhouse like Amber—but it really almost never was. In this episode, Amber explains how she pushed past that initial rejection and how she’s building a brand on more than just her raw talent.
Danielle Brooks got her big break as Taystee, the lovable leader in Netflix's Orange is the New Black. That character was only meant to appear in a few episodes but wound up becoming the anchor for one of the show’s most poignant story arcs. But it shouldn’t be a surprise that Danielle’s talents stretched a bit part into a featured role. She’s always had leading lady potential—and she’s proving just that with her starring role as gospel legend Mahalia Jackson in Lifetime's biopic Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia. In this episode, Danielle explains how she proved her leading lady abilities both in front of and behind the camera, why she almost turned down Orange is the New Black; and why Hollywood fame was never her goal.
The celebrated film composer and musician has been trying to be a better collaborator—and 37 years later, he's finally there. In this episode, Danny explains his breakthrough in collaboration with his latest solo album Big Mess, the best advice he's ever gotten from none other than Helena Bonham Carter, and he revisits some of his most well-loved film scores of his career.
Quinta Brunson is the perfect example of a creator who was able to turn her 15 minutes of viral fame into a solid career. In 2014, she first gained internet fame with her Instagram skit about a girl who's never been on a nice date. That exposure led to an opportunity to producer content for BuzzFeed. And from there, Quinta has been building her career with even bigger opportunities including HBO's A Black Lady Sketch Show, the upcoming ABC comedy Abbott Elementary that she created and stars in, and her new collection of personal essays She Memes Well. In this episode, Quinta explains how writing her book taught her how to ask for help, why she's rejecting the idea of going viral, and the key to handling rejection.
David Oyelowo’s pedigree of being a classically trained stage actor has largely translated into his career in film with weighty roles in Selma, The Butler, Nightingale, and etc. So when the opportunity to make his directorial debut with the kid-centric fantasy The Water Man came about, his fear was double-fold: stepping behind the camera for his first major film and going left of what people have come to expect from him as a "serious" actor. In this episode, David explains how his extensive acting career was the best kind of film school and how the very personal touches he brought to The Water Man.
At 19, Julia Michaels entered the music industry as a songwriter for artists including Fifth Harmony, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, and many others. But she didn't dare step into the booth herself until she wrote her 2017 hit "Issues," which she felt was too personal to give to anyone else. Three EPs later (and jumping over hurdles of self-doubt), Julia has finally dropped her debut studio album, Not In Chronological Order. And it seems fitting that Julia, now 27, released her first full-length album when she herself is feeling the most fulfilled. In our conversation, Julia explains how she fights imposter syndrome; how being in a functional relationship shaped her creative approach to this album; and how she pushes past writer's block.
The author of critically acclaimed novels including The Joy Luck Club and The Kitchen God's Wife is known for beautifully unpacking facets of the Chinese immigrant experience, the complexities of family dynamics, and the trauma that often fuels it. In this episode, Amy breaks down her relationship between trauma and creativity, what she learned from being in a rock band, and the challenges of making something personal universal.
Zach King has made a name for himself as a digital illusionist, using seamless editing to create mind-bending videos. He gained popularity on Vine and has translated his brand of "magic" to TikTok where he's one of the platform's most followed creators. It's easy to get caught up in the wow factor of Zach's tricks, but what's truly impressive is how he seems to never run out of new ideas, which, apparently is a fear he's been working on overcoming. In our conversation, Zach explains how he keeps his creative momentum going, why limitations are necessary, and why he started revealing some of his digital magic secrets.
No one is doing prank comedy quite like Eric Andre. He got his start in standup but rose to fame/notoriety with Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show, a psychedelic sendup of late night talk shows where celebrity guests and everyday people on the street are at the mercy of his frenetic whims. It’s hard to tell sometimes, but beneath all the chaos of Andre’s physical comedy and pranks, there’s a craft he’s honed for five seasons of his show and that he’s applied to his Netflix film Bad Trip. In this episode, Andre explains the creative challenges of making a narrative prank comedy film, why he thinks his show has finally hit its stride 5 seasons in, and how Chris Rock talked him off the ledge from the biggest bomb of his career.
Wayne Brady is arguably one of the hardest working performers in show business. From Broadway to TV and film and everything in between, Wayne has done it all—and often simultaneously. In this episode, Wayne explains how he gave himself permission to pursue all of his passions (and why he refuses to pick just one), how he actually does it all without crashing and burning, and the number one thing to remember in unlocking your creative potential.
It’s easy to get caught up in the staggering commercial success directors Joe and Anthony Russo have had in the Marvel Cinematic universe. But what’s always worth mentioning are creative swings they’ve taken—not just in the MCU but throughout their entire career in TV and film. In this episode, the Russo brothers explain what's at the root of their creative "fuckery," their dynamic as a directing duo, how they're using their massive platform to elevate overlooked stories, and the career changing advice Steven Soderbergh gave them.
Even without the machine of a major label behind him, Brooklyn rapper Kota the Friend has managed to release three EPs, three mixtapes, and two studio albums in the span of six years, earning him more than 200 Million global streams and co-signs from everyone from LaKeith Stanfield and Lupita Nyong’o, to SZA and Erykah Badu. Kota is even dropping another studio album as well as a joint album with producer Statik Selektah in the coming months. So how does he get it all done while keeping his sanity? A little structure, unitasking...and watching Pixar's "Soul" no less than 30 times.
Viggo Mortensen has cemented himself as a powerhouse actor in films including A History of Violence, Eastern Promises, and, of course, The Lord of the Rings trilogy. And now he's stepping behind the camera with his directorial debut "Falling," a beautifully fractured portrait of a complex father/son relationship. In our conversation, Viggo explains his late-stage career pivot and why memory can be such a powerful creative tool.
Since launching their first line of products in 2017, Sarah Lee and Christine Chang’s skincare brand Glow Recipe has been a driving force in the Korean beauty wave, particularly in the US—and it’s not hard to see why. From their colorful packaging to alluring scents, Glow Recipe’s products are designed to be a multi-sensory experience, and, at times, a method of storytelling into Korean culture. In this episode, Lee and Change dive into their philosophy of “skintertainment" and the learning curves of growing a top-selling brand in three years.
Comedian and actor Jermaine Fowler has found great success in TV and film, most recently starring in Coming 2 America. But personal trauma has kept him away from what started his career in entertainment: stand-up comedy. In our conversation, Jermaine explains how he's channeling grief into art (specifically, an upcoming Showtime event he’s calling "hilariously dark and funny as shit"); how he moves past rejection; and what he's learned from working with greats like Eddie Murphy and Whoopi Goldberg.
On December 16, Fast Company Podcast Network went live on Facebook and Youtube. Creative Conversation host, KC Ifeanyi, was joined by Kate Davis--host of Secrets of the Most Productive People--and Talib Visram--host of Fast Break--to talk about 2020.
They say "confidence is key," which is true. But in Ashley Graham's case, it's a little more than that: confidence is her brand. From her entrepreneurial endeavors to her career in media with her podcast "Pretty Big Deal," confidence is at the root of everything she does and her main source of creative inspiration. In our conversation, Ashley explains how she found (and maintains) her confidence and what it's done for her creativity.
Choreographer and creative director JaQuel Knight has become to the go-to creative force behind major artists including Britney Spears, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, and yes, Beyoncé. For Knight, it's not just the big moves he obsesses over—it’s the right flick of the wrist, swing of the hair, or, in the case of the “Single Ladies” music video exact, and I mean EXACT, timing. In our conversation, Knight unpacks how his laser-focused attention to detail fuels his desire to never be complacent (even if that means hiding his own trophies), how he creates and cultivates his own opportunities, and the bigger reason why he’s going through the arduous task of copyrighting his dance moves.
A custom series on science, technology, and innovation in partnership with GSK. In this episode, we hear from GSK's Chief Scientific Officer and President of R&D Hal Barron as he explains how GSK celebrates smart risks in order to build an innovative culture.
Joel Dudley, chief scientific officer at health startup Tempus and one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in business, has spent the better part of his career using big data and AI to find better solutions in how we treat diseases. In this episode, Joel explains how he's tackling such a lofty goal by thinking outside the parameters of the status quo of medicine.
A custom series on science, technology, and innovation in partnership with GSK. In this episode, we hear from Kim Branson, global head of artificial intelligence and machine learning at GSK. He talks about how AI helps automate the boring and create knowledge for future generations.
In this episode Kc speaks with Dr. Diana Anderson as she discusses being a board-certified healthcare architect and the impact of innovative hospital design on treatment.
A custom series on science, technology, and innovation in partnership with GSK. In this episode, we hear from GSK's Chief Scientific Officer and President of R&D Hal Barron as he explains how GSK collaborates with its competitors to solve the world's biggest problems.
For most people, being a doctor is fulfilling enough of a career. But for Dr. Roshan Sethi, he saw no need to pick a passion, which led him down the path to becoming both a screenwriter and a doctor. In this episode, Dr. Sethi explains how his dual careers inform each other and how he’s leveraging his voice for more authentic cultural representation across TV and film
In this episode, our host Chris Denson talks to Rene Lammers, Chief Science Officer at PepsiCo, and Erik Roth, Senior Partner at McKinsey and Company. They discuss the importance of messaging when building a new business.
Rapper Saweetie’s breakout moment came in 2017 with her cocky freestyle “ICY GRL.” Quelling any notions of being a one-hit-wonder, Saweetie scored another viral hit with 2019’s undeniable song of the summer “My Type.”But even with two platinum hits, two well received EPs, and blipping on everyone’s radar as the one to watch, Saweetie didn’t feel successful or that people got a full sense of who she is.But she’s planning to fix that with her first full-length album Pretty Bitch Music.In this conversation, Saweetie explains the deeper meaning behind her project and its title, her rather scholarly approach to writing rhymes, how she’s breaking down misconceptions of what it means to be a woman (let alone a woman who raps), and more.
In addition to penning hits for the likes of Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and more, The-Dream has his own prolific R&B career. And he recently enrolled in design school during quarantine. In this episode, he breaks down his non-stop work ethic and why he doesn't believe in writer's block.
Creative Conversation is doing special three-part series covering specific issues within the ongoing protests for racial equality. Every Thursday this month, we’ll be spotlighting the creatives and professionals using their backgrounds, skills, and platforms to push for lasting change.
Social media has been a natural component in organizing and disseminating information during these recurring protests against racial inequality.However, there's understandable concern in how these platforms may be censoring and suppressing posts, or remaining complicit in fueling misinformation and divisive rhetoric. As valuable as it can be to leverage massive platforms like Facebook, Tik Tok, and Twitter, there is an argument to have a less policed space or, at the very least, one that has activists' best interests in mind.That's exactly what Chloë Cheyenne Rogers set out to build with CommunityX, a platform connecting people locally and globally around causes and movements. In this conversation, Rogers explains the personal family trauma behind CommunityX and why it's important to rethink how we organize.
Creative Conversation is doing special three-part series covering specific issues within the ongoing protests for racial equality. Every Thursday this month, we’ll be spotlighting the creatives and professionals using their backgrounds, skills, and platforms to push for lasting change.
It's easy for some to push violence against the black trans community squarely into an LGBTQ+ issue—and it certainly is. However, it's also a race issue that can't be ignored. And Ianne Fields Stewart is one of the many voices ready to remind you. Stewart is a New York City-based black transfeminine actor and dancer working at the intersection of art and activism. She's also the founder of The Okra Project, a collective that targets food insecurity within the black trans community. And the confluence of the recent murders and attacks on trans men and women during the larger movement for racial equality—all while COVID-19 is still very much a threat—has given Stewart a new perspective on her activism.
In this episode, our host Chris Denson talks to Max Levchin, co-founder and CEO at Affirm and co-founder of PayPal, about how to overcome a fear of failure and embrace risk in bringing forward new ideas. Then Chris dives into how established organizations need to be constantly iterating and incorporating their learnings from failures with Dilip Mistry, Partner at McKinsey and Company.
Creative Conversation is doing special three-part series covering specific issues within the ongoing protests for racial equality. Every Thursday this month, we’ll be spotlighting the creatives and professionals using their backgrounds, skills, and platforms to push for lasting change. The high anxieties surrounding all the political, social, and health-related unrest has pushed the conversation of mental health to the forefront—and the black community should be the most mindful. From COVID-19 affecting black people at disproportionate rates to the current battle for substantive changes to the mechanisms of racism running the country, the black community continues to face elevated levels of stress which can cause significant and lasting damage to physical and mental health. But Dr. Jess Clemons has some actionable advice to help you better manage your mental health. In this episode, she breaks down how to look for signs of mental distress, how black people can navigate the current social landscape in a healthy way, pro-tips for self-care, and more.
As if her career doesn’t already speak for itself, Janet Mock is ready to show you what she can really do. From her early days as an editor for People magazine, Mock has used her skills as a storyteller to springboard into becoming a New York Times bestselling author of two memoirs and, in her most recent pivot, a budding force in TV and film. With mega producer Ryan Murphy as her mentor, Mock has written for, directed, and produced a variety of projects including Pose, The Politician, and Hollywood. But now she's stepping out on her own.In this episode, Mock explains the importance of building those stepping stones toward your ultimate passion projects, how she learned to listen to other voices in the room, and why she chose the story of another, more infamous Janet to be her debut project through Netflix.
You may know Mark Mothersbaugh from his days as the frontman for the art-punk band Devo, but his career scoring film, TV shows, and video games stretches over 200 titles including Thor: Ragnarok, Dawson's Creek, Rugrats, Crash Bandicoot, and, yes, Tiger King. Not only is Mark clearly prolific and versatile, but his creativity also expands into building his own unique instruments, creating subversive visual art (e.g., a giant ruby turd), and more. In this episode, Mark explains how dismantling and rebuilding the tools of your craft can lead to creative breakthroughs, and how he’s learned to reconcile his art with the mainstream, which may or may not include subliminal messaging.
When To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before dropped on Netflix back in 2018, it turned its lead actors into overnight stars, as well as the author who wrote the book the film is based on. Jenny Han had success in the YA space with her other series, but it was To All the Boys that truly elevated her career—not to mention discussion around inclusive storytelling, which for creators can sometimes be a double-edged sword. In this episode, Han explains the weight of representation, why having structure can kill her creative process, and the benefits of letting your mind wander (productively, of course).
As a writer, producer, and director, Alan Yang has worked on hit shows including Parks and Rec, The Good Place, Little America, Forever, and Master of None. While the end results have led to an Emmy win and heaps of critical accolades, getting there is always a process that leaves him wondering, “should I just quit this?” But pushing himself to that point is exactly where his most creative ideas come from—and you should be doing the same. In this episode, Yang explains the importance of surprising yourself, how getting rejected by Jay Leno was a necessary wakeup call, and how the opening scene of his new Netflix movie Tigertail became a behind-the-scenes movie in itself—and an invaluable lesson in leadership.
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez finally released her debut studio album 'Before Love Came to Kill Us'—and how it came together spotlights creative lessons to live by.
Creative Conversation headed to Lagos, Nigeria for Social Media Week where host Kc Ifeanyi interviewed R&B and Nollywood star Banky W. live on stage. In the conversation, Banky W. details his storied career, including starting his own record label, starring in Nigeria’s highest grossing film of all time, his battle with cancer, and stepping into the political arena to try and galvanize Nigeria’s younger generation disillusioned by politics as usual. Banky W. may not be a name most Western audiences are familiar with, but listening to this episode will definitely make you a fan of his work and activism.
On this episode, our host Chris Denson talks to Helen Vaid, Global Chief Customer Officer at Pizza Hut, about collaboration and how to build the right internal team of stakeholders for fast ideation and faster action. Then he dives into how new businesses can best foster that collaboration inside a large organization with Ari Libarikian, global leader of Leap by McKinsey.
Since her time on season 10 of Drag Race and winning All-Stars 4, Drag Queen Monet X Change has appeared in national ad campaigns, released a visual album, and got her own talk show—and that's barley her first act. Listen her to Monet explain how she learned to embrace her blackness for drag, why she's making music and not drag music, and how she’s able to block out criticism on social media and that nagging beast of perfection to focus on her craft.
Digging into Reginald Hudlin's résumé is like the most inspiring rabbit hole you could possibly tumble down. Most people know Hudlin as the director of such classic '90s films as House Party and Boomerang. But his career spans wide across the creative, development, and executive corners of the entertainment industry, where he's even dipped his toe into comic creation. In this episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Conversation, Hudlin explains how creative risk-taking not only led to personal breakthroughs but shaped black culture and pop culture at large.
Listen to the latest episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Google Play, or Stitcher.
Nate Berkus' life has always been surrounded by "decorative turmoil", so it's no surprise that he has grown into the superstar interior designer he is today. In this episode of Creative Conversation, Berkus travels through his storied career going from being "a terrible assistant," to his big break on The Oprah Winfrey Show, to his own failed show ("…worst job of my life."), and how he's expanding his brand in design and even in Hollywood. Listen to the latest episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Google Play, or Stitcher.
Marques Brownlee has been called "the best technology reviewer on the planet" (by a former VP at Google, no less) and his 10 million YouTube subscribers would probably agree. So how does one go from reviewing a remote for an HP Pavilion laptop in his living room to becoming one of the most powerful voices in tech? In this episode of Creative Conversation, Brownlee breaks down what he sees as true innovation and creativity in the tech industry and what the gadgets and devices of yesteryear can teach us about the future. Listen to the latest episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Google Play, or Stitcher.
Noah Baumbach has been making films for 25 years, but none has caught fire quite like his latest. Marriage Story has been racking up awards nominations in advance of the big ones—the Oscars, where, at the very least, costars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver are likely to be nominated. In this episode of Creative Conversation, Baumbach dives into the creative choices he made to frame Marriage Story as a film about love, how he barrels through writer's block, why he never yells "Action!" on set, cowriting the upcoming Barbie film—and, of course, Adam Driver's singing. Listen to the latest episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Google Play, or Stitcher.
The First Step is a custom podcast from Fast Co. Works in partnership with McKinsey and Company. On this episode, Chris dives into how to take an idea and put it in action with Jesse Dorogusker, Hardware Lead at Square. Then he talks to Ralf Dreischmeier, global leader of Leap by McKinsey. Whether you are starting a new digital business at your company or just starting a new task at work, the gap between thought and action can often seem cavernous. Often we find ourselves paralyzed, unable to act. In the case of starting a new digital business, taking action is essential to maintaining success and growing your company. Leap by McKinsey was designed to help companies take that first step and launch new digital businesses.
Lots of people work in creative industries, but very few have been able to take their art and pivot to build something more impactful than the art itself. That's exactly what Piera Gelardi did when she started Refinery29, a digital media company that in many ways, has helped to shape a more inclusive and interactive modern media landscape. In this episode, Piera speaks about how she made that pivot from artist to business-leader, why she loves improv exercises, and the reasoning behind developing Refinery29's iconic immersive experience 29Rooms. Subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Carrie Coon got an unconventionally late start in film and TV at 33, after having long since established herself on the stage. But she's more than made up for lost time with unconventional roles. Her performances as Nora Durst in The Leftovers, Vera Walker in The Sinner, and as Elizabeth in The Keeping Hours have solidified Coon as Hollywood's bona-fide spooky mother. In this episode of Creative Conversation, Coon explains how she's reframing the archetype of mom characters, why being a good student can be bad for creativity, and what the physical side of creativity taught her (and what it can teach you). Subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Most people consider themselves lucky to be able to craft a career path within one creative industry. Mo Rocca, acclaimed humorist, journalist, and actor has successfully been able to leave his mark on a few of those paths – even though he believes that we will all be forgotten eventually. He sits down with us at the Fast Company Innovation Festival for this live episode of Creative Conversation to talk about his creative journey that touches on multiple creative outlets. Listen to him dish on why you should lean into your weird interests, why humor and sadness sometimes go hand in hand, and his favorite historical figures highlighted in his new book “Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving”. Subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts.
It’s no surprise that improvisation is seen as a kind of holy grail for creativity. Whether it’s comedians or musicians, the act of creating something novel and interesting out of next to nothing is, indeed, quite remarkable. But what exactly is going on inside an improvising brain? And, most importantly, how can everyday people tap into that kind of creativity? Subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts.
When you hit that afternoon slump at your desk, maybe it’s not an issue of getting another cup of coffee—maybe you need to change your environment. Some of the most frustrating roadblocks to creativity can stem from being in a static environment. Whether you’re at the office or working remotely, being in the same old space for hours at a stretch can drain you of your creative juices. On this episode, we explore why your surroundings play such a crucial role in your creative process, the folly of chasing Silicon Valley-esque playgrounds, and how to make small changes to your environment for a big boost in creativity. Subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Creative geniuses make creativity look easy. But in reality, it’s uncomfortable to dive into uncharted territory to build or think of something new. Words like “innovation” and “disruption” get tossed around all the time, but uncertainty often keeps us from reaching that creative breakthrough. In this episode, creativity expert Dr. Ron Beghetto how we can navigate that uncertainty and turn it into a valuable part of the creative process. Subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts.
We all know brainstorming is an essential part of the creative process, but what do you do when your mind is too foggy to welcome the storm? Brain fog, brain farts, mental fatigue...call it what you will, it can be a major roadblock to creativity. But is there a way to use that hazy state of mind to your creative advantage? On this episode of Creative Conversation, KC Ifeanyi unpacks exactly what brain fog is and why you shouldn't be in such a rush to clear your mind. Subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts.
As an editor and writer for Fast Company magazine, Kc Ifeanyi covers some of the most creative minds in film, television, business and beyond. In this podcast, he unpacks the most frustrating parts of the creative process by talking to psychologists, scholars, and experts who are on the forefront of understanding creativity. New episodes will be released this month. You can subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, Radio Public, and wherever you get your podcasts.
Any creative content from RCA's roster of artists goes through Camille Yorrick. From music videos to visuals and more, Yorrick has helped shaped the creative visions of everyone from Pink to Childish Gambino. The longtime music industry vet has been nominated for a Grammy for her work on "Beyoncé's I Am...World Tour" documentary and has cut her teeth in music videos with the legendary director Diane Martel. In our conversation, Yorrick explains how she tempers her opinions with an artists' intuition and takes us back to the golden age of music videos (and what we can learn from them today.)
Jean Elie got his big break playing Issa Rae's younger brother Ahmal on HBO's Insecure. Although landing on a hit show can lead to other more high-profile roles, Jean is wasting no time in creating lanes of his own. In addition to acting, Jean is producing and writing his own projects including several shorts and the series Send Help, which is being co-produced by Rainn Wilson's entertainment company SoulPancake. He's also been getting writing room experience on Netflix's Magic for Humans, which is paving the way for even more projects down the line. But as a young actor still trying to establish himself in that field, is he spreading himself too thin in other areas? In our conversation, Jean explains his stance on straight actors playing gay characters, the power of being the only black voice in a white room, and the rules of being a creative hustler.
Paul Scheer's résumé is a dizzying display of creative output: when he's not acting in shows like Black Monday, Veep, or Fresh Off the Boat, he's busy hosting two wildly successful podcasts (How Did This Get Made? and Unspooled), writing comic books for Marvel, and rebooting the 1999 cult classic Galaxy Quest. But for someone who seems like a wellspring of creativity, Scheer admits his biggest hurdle is still pushing past that first draft. In our conversation, Scheer explains how to accept that you will suck at what you're working on (hopefully, temporarily), how he juggles such a random, career, and why it's ok not to finish your to-do list.
Give Jemaine Clement a platform, and he'll spin it into something comical. The New Zealander is best known as one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords but his work in comedy stretches across radio, film, stage, and TV. And his latest project, a TV series adaptation of his 2014 mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows, is an exercise in how to mine your past ideas and make them fresh again. In our conversation, Jemaine also explains how to overcome creative differences (without punching your partner in the face) and the importance of editing improv.
Greetings from the 9th annual Fast Company Grill! We had some amazing panel discussions down in Austin, but this one in particular was a personal favorite. I had the chance to sit down with Oprah Winfrey Network president Tina Perry, the legendary Phylicia Rashad, and famed playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney to discuss David Makes Man, Tarell’s new show on OWN. David Makes Man explores childhood trauma, the black experience, drug abuse, and much more through a surreal lens. In our discussion, Tarell talks about his first foray into TV and pitching the show directly to Oprah Winfrey herself. Phylicia gives awe-inspiring lessons in creativity. And Tina lays out OWN’s vision for more diverse storytelling.
For Sasha Velour, all roads led to drag. Being a Fulbright scholar, Vassar grad, graphic artist, and illustrator, were all primers for the trailblazing work she does now as a performer, public speaker, and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. But even after winning season 9 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, landing brand ambassador deals, and selling out shows, Sasha is still riddled with creative self-doubt. In our conversation, she explains how leaning into the fantasy of drag helps to cope with reality, the creative process behind her legendary lip syncs, and how she’s elevating drag by empowering its performers.
This episode is pretty much going to be a love letter to all the 80s and 90s kids out there. You probably know E.G. Daily best as the voice of Tommy Pickles in Rugrats, Buttercup in The Powerpuff Girls, or as Pee-wee Herman’s love interest in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. Those iconic roles would be enough for a lifetime of bragging rights, but Daily has been working non stop in film, TV, music, and stage for more than four decades. In our conversation, Daily explains the process behind crafting a voice and why it’s so important to listen to your inner “hell yeahs” and “hell nos.”
Nicholas Britell has become one of Hollywood’s most sought after composers--and for good reason. His scores for films including Moonlight, The Big Short, Vice, and If Beale Street Could Talk aren’t your average film scores. Nicholas experiments with unconventional techniques in order to capture abstract themes like finance, love...or Dick Cheney’s life. In this episode, Nicholas explains how he went from managing hedge funds on Wall Street to being an Oscar nominated composer, and he explains how "breaking" music led to one of the most powerful scenes in If Beale Street Could Talk.
If you think your multi-hyphenate status is challenging, let’s run down Amanda Seales’ resume real quick. Amanda is a creative powerhouse—and more importantly she’s a creative powerhouse with something to say.
It would seem that Roy Wood Jr. is vying for the title of the busiest comic is show business. In addition to being a correspondent for "The Daily Show" and hosting the show "This Is Not Happening," Roy just released his second Comedy Central special "No One Loves You." But for all the work that he’s done over his career, Roy admits he’s not quite where he wants to be with his comedy. In this episode, Roy explains how his approach to comedy has been sharpened to have a social edge and how Solange (of all people) has changed how he performs on stage.
Killer Mike has never been one to keep his opinions to himself. Whether he’s stumping for politicians or calling out racial inequality, the outspoken rapper and activist has been using his platform and his craft to make change happen. And now he’s got a Netflix show to add to his arsenal. In our conversation, Killer Mike explains why “Trigger Warning” is necessary viewing (even if you’re easily triggered), and how he’s balancing his art and activism.
KC sits down with comedian, writer, and producer Larry Wilmore for a very special and very live episode of Creative Conversation, straight from the Fast Company Innovation Festival.
Long before “diversity” was a buzzword for beauty brands, Jackie was championing dark-skinned women and men who never saw themselves represented in the makeup industry.
As the son of legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, Roman's career seemed on track to follow directly in his father's footsteps--but that hasn't been quite the case.
From Lady Gaga's famous meat dress to spearheading the creative vision of Mugler, Diesel, and Uniqlo to starting his own label Nicopanda, Nicola Formichetti has cemented himself within the fashion industry as a foremost stylist and artistic director.
We all know and love Regina Hall from her comedic work in films like "Girls Trip" or "Scary Movie." But for her latest role in the indie dramedy "Support the Girls" she’s pushing the boundaries of our expectations and her abilities as an actor. Regina breaks down how she approaches her characters and teases some upcoming projects she's been writing and producing.
Excess. Greed. Addiction. The American Dream isn’t what it used to be—and Lauren Greenfield’s new doc “Generation Wealth” takes a closer look to find out why.
Tumble into the mind of visionary filmmaker Terence Nance, whose new HBO show, “Random Acts of Flyness,” is like nothing you’ve seen before—guaranteed.
What makes Max Richter unique is that his creativity is matched only by his ambition, which lends a sense fearlessness to his work that, hopefully, will fuel your own creativity.
The creative tag team behind Netflix's "GLOW" is the definition of work spouse goals. In this episode, Flahive and Mensch explain how they've fine-tuned their collaborative dynamic to an art.
Where you just see a slice of pizza on the ground, David Sedaris sees an essay in the making.
Join Fast Company editor KC Ifeanyi for in-depth explorations on the creative process with some of the most innovative thinkers across film, TV, music, and beyond.