Episodes

  • Why Michael Bierut still designs with a notebook and pencil

    Why Michael Bierut still designs with a notebook and pencil
    Jun 24 2025
    Welcome to the first episode of By Design, our new show for news, interviews, and criticism from the wide world of design. Our first guest is Michael Bierut. He has been the brains behind some of the most iconic design work in recent history. Mastercard, Slack, Saks Fifth Avenue, and countless more came from Beirut’s desk as a partner at Pentagram. Now, as Michael steps into (semi) retirement, he sat down with By Design hosts Liz Stinson and Mark Wilson for a thoughtful reflection on his legendary career and why both humans and technology will need to work together for real design innovation. And yes, they do revisit the infamous “H” logo he designed for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Liz and Mark also give their analysis on the latest in design news. Is Apple’s Liquid Glass any good? Can Sam Altman and Jony Ive make a useful piece of AI hardware? Plus, Liz and Mark make their cases for the best and worst new designs before producer Cody Nelson picks a winner.
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Inside Walmart’s ambitious plan to make your clothes in America again

    Inside Walmart’s ambitious plan to make your clothes in America again
    Jun 20 2025
    On today's episode, Josh Christensen and guest co-host Liz Stinson discuss the latest news in the world of business and innovation including the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, OpenAI and Microsoft's falling out, and the Trump phone. Next, Josh and Liz talk to staff writer Liz Segran about the state of apparel manufacturing in America. Finally, Yaz interviewed author and journalist Evan Osonos on his latest book The Haves and Have-Yachts: Dispatches on the Ultrarich. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To read Elizabeth Segran’s story on Walmart and American Giant:https://www.fastcompany.com/91333584/walmarts-plan-to-make-clothes-in-america-again
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler on how labor is uniting in response to Trump

    AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler on how labor is uniting in response to Trump
    Jun 17 2025
    In an exclusive interview with Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan, the U.S. labor leader also discusses DOGE, Musk, and AI.
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    48 mins
  • Sweetgreen's CEO explains why his salads are so expensive

    Sweetgreen's CEO explains why his salads are so expensive
    Jun 12 2025
    On today's episode, co-hosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in the world of business and innovation, including Apple’s newest product announcements at WWDC, Warner Bros. Discovery’s split back into two companies, and the U.S. and China meeting in London to discuss trade talks. Next, since its inception in 2008, NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts have become a staple on YouTube with over 11 million subscribers. Josh and Yaz speak with Fast Company associate editor David Salazar about the lasting influence, favorite acts, and future programming of Tiny Desk Concerts. Finally, Yaz and Josh interview Sweetgreen CEO Jonathan Neman about the company's new menu items, advancements in culinary technology like Infinite Kitchens, and the removal of seed oils from their food preparation process. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To read David Salazar’s piece on NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts:https://www.fastcompany.com/91337277/npr-tiny-desk-concert-artist-impact
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Creative Control: Why Moby keeps giving music away for free

    Creative Control: Why Moby keeps giving music away for free
    Jun 10 2025
    Moby’s prolific music career spans 35 years, most notably helping to bring electronic music to the mainstream—and perhaps less notably, but still importantly, giving so much of that music away for free. Amid consistently putting out albums, Moby launched Mobygratis in 2005, a platform where creatives can download instrumental music made by Moby to use in any number of projects. Moby has continued to update and iterate on Mobygratis, but the ethos has remained the same: helping creatives realize their projects with less financial burden and unleashing the “democratic chaos” of seeing what people create with the music. In this episode, Moby explores his relationship to creativity and commerce, the tsunami of AI, what effective activism looks like, and why as a creative it’s okay (and even better) to not have a plan B. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To listen to the latest episodes of Creative Control on Fast Company:https://www.fastcompany.com/podcasts/creative-control Visit Mobygraits
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    56 mins
  • How Bravo became one of NBCUniversal’s strongest streaming assets

    How Bravo became one of NBCUniversal’s strongest streaming assets
    Jun 5 2025
    On today's episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in the world of business and innovation including Chime Financial’s upcoming IPO, Microsoft introducing the Bing Video Creator using OpenAI’s Sora, layoffs at Business Insider, Meta's plan to meet AI energy demands, and the long awaited release of the Nintendo Switch 2. Next, Tinder and Bumble are facing challenges, leading their management to pursue ambitious turnaround strategies. Josh and Yaz talk about the current state of dating apps and what they can learn from Hinge. Finally, Josh and Yaz speak with Chairman of Bravo & Peacock Unscripted, Frances Berwick, and star of the reality TV show Below Deck Mediterranean, Captain Sandra “Sandy” Yawn, about the growth of Bravo’s reality TV empire, NBCUniversal's streaming strategy, and what it’s like to go from Yacht Captain to TV star. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To read Yaz’s article on dating apps: Why Bumble and Tinder are suddenly scrambling to keep up with Hinge
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Brand New World: 2024 was Apple's year for advertising—or was it?

    Brand New World: 2024 was Apple's year for advertising—or was it?
    Jun 3 2025
    The first iteration of Brand New World was a very specific look at how AI is changing how brands and marketers work. Now we’re back to talk about brand culture more broadly. Of course that will involve AI from time to time, but I’ll also be digging into sports, entertainment, music, comedy, and everywhere else brands squeeze their way into pop culture.For those who don’t know or are unfamiliar, the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity is part awards show, part industry conference, and probably the biggest annual gathering of brands, marketers, entertainment folks, tech folks, and media on the planet. Anything and anyone that touches a brand—from social platforms, to sports stars to celebrities—is there. This year, ahead of the festival that kicks off June 16th, Apple has been named the Creative Marketer of the Year. Now, Apple is an iconic marketer, an all-time, first ballot Hall of Famer. But in my opinion, 2024 has been a bit of a mixed bag. So why is this Apple's year? To discuss where this past year fits in the pantheon of Apple’s greatest hits, I called up Elizabeth Paul. A strategist by trade, Paul is the chief brand officer at award-winning ad shop The Martin Agency. You’ll know their work for major brands like Geico, UPS, the new Axe work with Pete Davidson, and much more. More importantly, she’s always up for some hot take banter about the work and culture around advertising and brands. Last month, a new doc called The Seat debuted on Netflix about how Mercedes’ Formula One team decided on a successor for racing legend Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton had announced his departure, so the racing giant was forced to strategize its next move quickly and discreetly. That’s where WhatsApp comes in. The entire process of evaluating and naming young Italian driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli played out over the messaging app. “The Seat” is not only a feature doc, but an excellent piece of brand entertainment, produced in partnership with WhatsApp. This episode I was excited to chat with Meta’s head of global consumer marketing Eshan Ponnadurai to talk about the process behind the doc, as well as the role it plays in the brand’s overall strategy. Esh has worked on major brands from Ford and P&G, to Uber, YouTube and Google. He’s got a long history of finding compelling and authentic brand stories to tell in unique ways.
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • ‘Hacks’ showrunner Lucia Aniello already knows how it ends

    ‘Hacks’ showrunner Lucia Aniello already knows how it ends
    May 29 2025
    On today's episode, co-hosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in the world of business and innovation, including a U.S. trade court’s ruling on the Trump administration's tariffs, Salesforce's acquisition of AI-powered data management company Informatica, and the end of Elon Musk’s time in government. Next, Josh and Yaz speak with the showrunner and co-creator of "Hacks," Lucia Aniello, about the Emmy-winning comedy’s season finale. They also discuss how Aniello created and runs the show with her husband, Paul W. Downs, and her close friend Jen Statsky, as well as how they foster a supportive writers' room. Finally, Yaz interviews the co-author of "Like: The Button That Changed the World," Bob Goodson, about how data from your likes can be used to train AI-driven algorithms to deliver more content you’re obsessed with.
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    1 hr and 6 mins
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