Creative Control

Since the 2008 election, Democratic candidates for president have won at least 60% of the under-30 vote. After last week’s election, that number is down to 54%. Joining Yaz and Josh to discuss Donald Trump’s success with young male voters is ‘Fast Company’ contributing writer, a Gen Zer himself, Henry Chandonnet. Then, Yaz sits down with Oura CEO Tom Hale to discuss the state of the wearable health-tech space.

And for more content, subscribe to Fast Company Premium : https://www.fastcompany.com/premium

Since the 2008 election, Democratic candidates for president have won at least 60% of the under-30 vote. After last week’s election, that number is down to 54%. Joining Yaz and Josh to discuss Donald Trump’s success with young male voters is ‘Fast Company’ contributing writer, a Gen Zer himself, Henry Chandonnet. Then, Yaz sits down with Oura CEO Tom Hale to discuss the state of the wearable health-tech space.

And for more content, subscribe to Fast Company Premium : https://www.fastcompany.com/premium

After a slew of problems—some of them really dark—Victoria's Secret cancelled its fashion show in 2018. Now, the company has brought back the event, which included legendary models and performances from the iconic Cher. It reverberated across social media, but has the company really put its problems in the past or are they are still there, simmering just below the surface? Most Innovative Company’s cohost Yasmin Gagne went to the show and gives her assessment.

Also, Yaz talks with celebrity stylist Law Roach about his career evolution and abrupt retirement . . . and the work he has done since retiring.

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

There’s a growing shift in consumer sentiment about the fast-food industry. As inflation pushes menu prices steadily upward, more people are asking themselves if that weekly trip to Taco Bell, Wendy’s, or KFC is still worth the cost. ‘Fast Company’ senior editor Christopher Zara breaks down the economics of fast food and discusses what companies are doing to try and lure customers back to the drive-through. Also, ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Jeff Beer discusses the most recent advertising fails and successes, from Heinz’s racially tone-deaf imagery to the surprisingly popular combination of Grimace and the New York Mets.

Two weeks ago, the WeightWatchers board ousted CEO Sima Sistani, who helmed the company for two-and-a-half years, appointing board member Tara Comonte interim CEO. During that time, the company has radically altered its business model to stay competitive in the Ozempic era. Cohost Yasmin Gange analyzes what this leadership change signals for the company’s strategy. Also, ‘Fast Company’ associate editor David Salazar talks with Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. His tenure of the past 3 years comes amid a cultural discussion about whether or not the Grammys and the Academy are still relevant. They chatted about diversifying the Grammy voting process, advocating for artists, and how Mason feels about AI in the music industry.

This week, we’re recording the show at Fast Company’s Innovation Festival using a modular soundproof booth from ROOM. ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Jeff Beer, who covers advertising and branding, returns to talk about the latest ads and over-the-top videos from brands including Pepsi, the NFL, and Progressive—and the nearly-11-minute-long promo video, ‘ManningCast: The Musical.’ Also, how are brands responding to the backlash against DEI, and who’s going against the trends?

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

Will Packer is a film, television, and podcast producer who has worked in Hollywood for more than 20 years, making movies like ‘Ride Along,’ ‘The Wedding Ringer,’ and ‘Girls Trip.’ He also has a book on the way next year, ‘Who Better Than You?: The Art of Healthy Arrogance & Dreaming Big,’ about the stories and lessons he’s learned in the entertainment industry. Will’s latest show, ‘Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist,’ premieres September 5 on Peacock, and tells the story of Muhammad Ali’s famous fight in Atlanta and the massive theft that followed. He chatted about his experiences as a producer, where he finds story inspiration, and one of his biggest accomplishments: convincing Beyoncé to change her mind.

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

Last week in a major shakeup, Starbucks announced the appointment of Brian Niccol as its new chairman and CEO. Niccol, then CEO of Chipotle, will succeed Starbucks’s Laxman Narasimhan, who is stepping down immediately from the position he’s held for only 17 months. For a company that has aggressively claimed it does not make fast food, this could signal a shift in how Starbucks views itself . . . and how it attempts to regain the 20% in market cap that it’s lost. ‘Fast Company’ contributing writer Clint Rainey discusses the coffee chain’s past mission and values, and how different leadership has shifted the brand’s focus.

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

This week, we’re taking a look at what some top brands are doing in the sports and entertainment space. This is part of our ongoing monthly series, Brands that Matter, with ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Jeff Beer who covers advertising and branding.

Then, we chatted with ‘Fast Company’ contributing writer Nicole LaPorte about the Gap new CEO. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, Gap was synonymous with denim and khakis. But the rise of fast-fashion brands such as Zara and H&M, shift from shopping in malls to shopping online, and the pandemic’s ‘house clothes’ trend, all hit the Gap hard. Then, former Mattel president and COO Richard Dickson came in to take over. And if you’re wondering why a successful toy company executive would want to move to a flailing clothing company . . . we got you.

Cofounder and CEO of 23andMe, Anne Wojcicki, wants to take the public company private. Founded in 2006, the DNA-testing startup was valued at $6 billion in 2021. Now, it’s trading for less than a dollar. So what happened? ‘Fast Company’ senior writer Ainsley Harris breaks down 23andMe’s history, and why the company faces an uncertain future.

Also, actor Edward Norton chats with ‘Fast Company’ staff writer David Salazar about his startup, Zeck. After decades of serving on nonprofit and corporate boards, as well as working with boards as a founder, Norton realized that modern, streamlined tools could vastly improve boardroom communication. His company aims to change the dynamics of boards and company management by reducing repetitive tasks and facilitating better collaboration.

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