Most Innovative Companies

On today’s episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen talk to Fast Company contributor John Pavlus about how the godmother of AI, Fei-Fei Li, is building world models — AI that many hope will replace LLMs.

Then, Yaz talks to Fast Company staff writer Pavithra Mohan about her deep dive into how actual humans in the human resources department are disappearing and being replaced by apps and AI.

To read John’s reporting, go to: fastcompany.com/91549046/fei-fei-li-world-labs-ai-gets-physical-models-spatial-intelligence 

To read Pavithra’s deep dive, go to: fastcompany.com/91565321/amazon-is-taking-human-out-of-hr-ai-chatbot-app-aza 

For more...

On today’s episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen talk to Fast Company’s  Nate Berg about how a Walmart heir helped transform a small town in Arkansas.

Then, Fast Company staff writer David Salazar sits down with the CEO of American Association of Independent Music Ian Harrisson and COO of an independent record label Partisan Records Zena White to talk about the challenges, opportunities, and future of the independent music business. 

To check out Nate’s reporting, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/91550093/alice-walton-crystal-bridges-expansion-bentonville 

For more of the latest bu...

On today’s episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen talk to Fast Company staff editor David Salazar on the most innovative ideas that are changing the world we live in.

Next, Bustle Digital Group founder and CEO Bryan Goldberg speaks with Yaz about how he is building brands, including Nylon magazine, for the influencer era.

To read more about world changing ideas, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/world-changing-ideas 

For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news

On today’s episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen talk about some of the biggest stories in the Fast Company world.

Then Yaz and Josh speak with Fast Company senior writer Ainsley Harris about AG1, Grüns, and the gummy-ification of wellness.

And finally, Yaz speaks to a physician, epidemiologist, and former CEO of the Vaccine Alliance Gavi Dr. Seth Berkley about hantavirus, Ebola, vaccines, and how political agendas are reshaping scientific institutions.

To read Ainsley’s reporting, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/91538779/ag1s-green-with-envy-over-the-gummy-ification-of-wellness 

For more of the latest...

On today’s episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen talk about some of the biggest stories in the Fast Company world.

Then Yaz and Josh talk to Fast Company staff editor Shalene Gupta about how women in senior level positions are finding it harder and harder to balance work and motherhood and what their hacks are.

And finally, Yaz talks to CEO of TaskRabbit Ania Smith about the role of gig work in the age of AI

To read Shalene’s reporting, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/91541720/corporate-america-is-crushing-senior-level-mothers 

For more...

On today’s episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen talk about some of the biggest stories in the Fast Company world.

Then, Yaz and Josh talk to Fast Company senior writer Ainsley Harris about Uber’s strategy around autonomous vehicles.

And finally, Josh sits down with Audible’s chief financial and growth officer, Cynthia Chu, to talk about Audible’s growth, how the company approaches using AI in audiobooks, and what its relationship is like with publishers and authors.

To read Ainsley’s reporting, go to: fastcompany.com/91548707/uber-robotaxi-strategy-dara-khosrowshahi 

For more of the...

On today’s episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen talk about some of the biggest stories in the Fast Company world.

Next Yaz and Josh talk to Fast Company senior writer Elizabeth Segran about the deal between clothing brands Everlane and Shein.

And finally, Fast Company executive editor Amy Farley interviews Sev Ohanian, the cofounder of Proximity Media, the production studio behind the movie Sinners. 

For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news

On today’s episode, our cohost Yasmin Gagne is back! David Salazar and Josh Christensen catch her up on some of the biggest, weirdest, and most viral stories of the year in a new segment called “Unauthorized Superlatives.”

Next, David talks with the Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman about how the touring festival began and evolved over 2025, their hiatus and comeback, and what to expect this year. 

For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news

On today’s episode, cohosts Bryan Lufkin and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the latest inflation report, OpenAI’s partnership with private equity, and selling Buzzfeed.

Next, Bryan and Josh talk with Fast Company staff writer Elizabeth Segran about the race to build agentic commerce.

And finally, Bryan talks with writer, speaker and Fast Company contributor Laëtitia Vitaud about why women over 50 are best equipped to deal with the world changed by AI.

To read Elizabeth’s reporting, go to: fastcompany.com/91533534/shop-til-you-bot-google-openai-and-the-race-to-build-agentic-commerce 

To...

On today’s episode, cohosts Kristin Toussaint and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including Coinbase layoffs, GameStop’s bid to buy eBay, and Spirit Airlines’ shutdown.

Next, Josh and Kristin talk with Fast Company global technology editor Harry McCracken to dive deep into what’s next for Apple and its new CEO, John Ternus.

And finally, Kristin speaks with B Lab’s co-lead executive Sarah Schwimmer about the evolution of the company over the past 20 years, the ongoing challenges her team faces, and how companies can assess their social and environmen...

On today’s episode, cohosts Elizabeth Segran and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including SpaceX’s partnership with Cursor, Apple’s new CEO, and Allbirds’ pivot to AI.

Next, Elizabeth and Josh talk with Fast Company contributing writer Tanya Chen on the problems Bluesky is running into. 

And finally, Elizabeth speaks with the CEO and president of GAP Global Brand Mark Breitbard on how GAP is reinventing itself and what’s next for the brand. 

To read more about Bluesky, go to fastcompany.com/91528304/bluesky-set-out-to-fix-social-media-now-its-running-into-familiar-problems 

For more of the l...

On today’s episode, cohosts David Salazar and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the latest on the war in Iran, 7-Eleven store closures, and Amazon’s bid to boost its satellite internet business. 

Next, David and Josh sit down with Fast Company senior writer Rebecca Heilweil to discuss her deep dive into what makes SpaceX an impressive founder factory.

And finally, Josh and David are joined by Fast Company senior tech editor Max Ufberg in a game of sorts about the tech we use everyday. 

To check out Re...

On today’s episode, cohosts Bryan Lufkin and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including Anthropic’s new AI model, the deal between Amazon and USPS, and the latest on the war in Iran.

Next, Josh and Bryan talk with Fast Company staff writer Pavithra Mohan about how robotics is taking over Amazon warehouses.  

And finally, Bryan talks with the CEO of TED, Logan McClure Davda, about the transformation of TED and what the TED community will look like in the future.

To check out Pavithra’s reporting on Amazon...

On today’s episode, cohosts Kristin Toussaint and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the latest on the war in Iran, layoffs at Oracle, and shutting down Sora.

Next, Josh and Kristin talk with Fast Company global technology editor Harry McCracken about what he found out when he collected an oral history of Apple’s earliest days.

And finally, Kristin speaks with Inequality Media cofounder Robert Reich and executive director of Inequality Media Heather Kinlaw Lofthouse on their organization and how the team educates a broad range of audiences about powe...

In this special episode of Most Innovative Companies, host David Salazar goes behind the scenes of Fast Company’s flagship franchise to unpack how this year’s list comes together—and what it takes for a company to truly stand out.

Joined by Fast Company contributor Clint Rainey and restaurant technology expert Kristen Hawley, the conversation explores how innovation shows up across the food and restaurant industries—from rethinking agriculture and supply chains to reinventing convenience and sustainability.

You’ll hear how companies like Row 7 are reshaping the way we grow and experience vegetables, how Kraft Hein...

In this special miniseries, host David Salazar goes behind the scenes of Fast Company’s 2026 Most Innovative Companies list with two of the journalists who helped shape its AI coverage: senior writer Mark Sullivan and global technology editor Harry McCracken.

Together, they break down why Fast Company separates AI from applied AI, and what that distinction reveals about the companies building the future of the category. The conversation spotlights three major players—Anthropic, Sierra, and Google—and explores what made each one stand out on this year’s list.

Along the way, they discuss Anthropic’s rise in...

In this special episode of Most Innovative Companies, host David Salazar goes behind the scenes of Fast Company’s flagship recognition program to unpack how the 2026 list comes together—and what separates true industry changers from the rest.

Focusing on the Television, Streaming, and Film category, Salazar is joined by Fast Company editorial director Jill Bernstein and contributor Thom Geier to break down the intersection of creativity, technology, and business shaping Hollywood today. From bold, genre-defying storytelling to new distribution strategies and cutting-edge production tools, they explore how innovation is redefining what—and how—we watch...

On today’s episode of the Most Innovative Companies podcast, our host, Josh Christensen, Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan, and executive editor Amy Farley break down this year’s Most Innovative Companies list. They discuss why companies like Anthropic, Unwell, Rimas Entertainment, Proximity Media, Google, Diplo’s Run Club, and the Professional Women's Hockey League made the list. They also unpack the themes that emerged and the biggest takeaways from a year in innovation.  

To read more about the most innovative companies of the year, go to: Fastcompany.com 

For more of the lates...

On today’s episode of Most Innovative Companies, Josh Christensen and guest cohost Sarah Whittle discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the war in Iran, the FFC’s threats to broadcasters covering the war critically, and the meatpackers’ strike in Colorado. 

Next, Sarah and Josh talk with Fast Company contributor Lilly Smith about how low-rise jeans have come back into style and what differentiates them today from denim in the early 2000s.

Finally, Sarah tells Josh about the lessons she’s learned over her long career in social media.

To read Lill...

On today’s episode, cohosts Elizabeth Segran and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the economic effects of the war in Iran, Microsoft’s support for Anthropic in the lawsuit against the Trump administration, and the latest jobs report. 

Next, Elizabeth and John talk with Fast Company senior writer Rebecca Heilweil about how the self-driving Waymo robotaxis are causing problems for the transit systems in San Francisco and other cities. 

And finally, Josh speaks with Mozilla CEO Athony Enzor-DeMeo about how Mozilla plans to build trust, grow its user base, and di...

On today’s episode, cohosts Kristin Toussaint and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the economic impacts of the Middle East conflict, how prediction markets drew criticism for allowing bets on the U.S. and Israel strikes on Iran and Crypto rebound.

Next, Kristin and Josh talk with Fast Company senior writer Rebecca Heilweil about how the Anthropic-Pentagon dispute unfolded and what it will take if the U.S. military wants to start working with other AI companies. 

Finally, Kristin speaks with Beehiiv CEO Tyler Denk about how Beehiiv started, how...

NOTE: After recording this episode Netflix backed out of bid for Warner Bros. Discovery . We discuss the state of the deal prior to this news. For up to date recording, go to ⁠fastcompany.com/news.

On today’s episode, cohosts Bryan Lufkin and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the Supreme Court’s ruling on tariffs, Trump’s State of the Union address, and how Meta’s AI safety specialist lost control of an AI agent.

Next Josh and Bryan talk with Fast Company staff writ...

Description: 

On today’s episode, cohosts David Salazar and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including Paramount's last-chance-bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, Mark Zuckerberg's testimony in a social media addiction trial, and the latest investment in Elon Musk’s xAI by a Saudi Arabian AI company.

Next, Josh and David talk with Fast Company senior writer Ainsley Harris on the delivery robots in her neighborhood and the controversy surrounding them.

Finally, David speaks with the journalist and writer Gabriel Sherman about his new book Bonfire of the Murdochs, divin...

AI, advanced manufacturing and economic growth are driving unprecedented power demand

In this bonus episode, Williams CEO Chad Zamarin joins from the company’s 2026 Clean Energy & Technology Expo to unpack why energy demand is surging faster than new infrastructure can be built—and what it will take to close the gap. For Williams, the answers lie in a holistic approach combining innovative partnerships and next‑generation infrastructure to deliver reliable, sustainable, and affordable solutions at scale. It’s a multifaceted challenge that demands nuanced solutions, but our very planet depends on it.

On today’s episode, cohosts Elizabeth Segran and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the latest jobs report, Kraft Heinz putting their split on pause, and Spotify’s blockbuster earnings report. 

Next, Josh and Elizabeth speak with Fast Company’s head of editorial strategy, David Lidsky, on what’s next for Disney under Josh D’Amaro’s leadership.

And finally, Elizabeth talks to the CEO of Ulta Beauty, Kecia Steelman, about how the company grew so significantly over the past few years, what makes Ulta stand out, and what the retailer’s bi...

On today’s episode, cohosts Kristin Toussaint and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including Disney’s new CEO, the SpaceX and xAI merger, and business leaders in the Epstein Files.

Next, Josh and Kristin talk with Fast Company contributing writer Adam Bluestein on why America wants more mining engineers.

Finally, Fast Company senior staff editor Jeff Beer speaks with NBCUniversal Media Group chairman Matt Strauss on NBC’s place in the streaming industry and their upcoming coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

To check out Adam’s story...

On today’s episode, cohosts Bryan Lufkin and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including Minnesota executives’ response to ICE killings and the ensuing protests, the TikTok deal, and a round of layoffs from Amazon, UPS, and Nike.

Next, Bryan and Josh sit down with David Lidsky, head of editorial strategy for Fast Company and Inc., about his deep dive into what makes Palantir such a successful founder factory. 

And finally, our guest cohost, Fast Company staff editor Kristin Toussaint, talks about all things energy sustainability and efficiency in the U.S. an...

On today’s episode, cohosts David Salazar and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including highlights from Davos, Minnesota-based corporations’ lack of reaction to ICE, and the latest on Netflix's bid to take over Warner Bros. Discovery.

Next, Josh and David talk to Fast Company contributing writer Chris Stokel-Walker about the sexualized deepfakes X users have been creating with Grok and how regulators, and the public, have been responding. 

Finally, Fast Company global tech editor Harry McCracken spoke with Arm chief marketing officer Ami Badani about the future of the company that...

On today’s episode, cohosts Elizabeth Segran and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the investigation of Fed Chair Jarome Powell, the nurses strike in New York City, and Paramount’s escalated hostile bid to take over Warner Bros. Discovery.

Next, Elizabeth and Josh talk to Fast Company senior writer Ainsley Harris about a startup, Rainmaker, that can bring rain to places that need it. 

And finally, Elizabeth speaks with Walmart’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer Latriece Watkins about how Walmart has attracted higher income families and what’s...

On today’s episode, cohosts Kristin Toussaint and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the aftermath of Nicolás Maduro’s capture, the latest on the Warner Bros. Discovery deal, and the new Nvidia chip.

Next, Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan talks with journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin about his new book, 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History—and How It Shattered a Nation, as well as similarities he sees between now and then.

And finally, Fast Company senior writer Ainsley Harris speaks with Kalshi cofounder Luana Lopes Lara about t...

On today’s episode, cohosts David Salazar and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including unemployment rates, the partnership between Disney and OpenAI, and the word of the year. (00:45)

Next, Josh and David talk to Fast Company senior staff editor Jeff Beer to discuss the annual Brands That Matter list. This year, the list includes brands like JLab, Liquid I.V., Levi’s, Bubble Skincare, State Farm, and Gozney. (09:55)

Finally, Yasmin Gagne talks to the VP of product at Instagram, Tessa Lyon, about how she’s thinking about the company’s future...

On today’s episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the Warner Bros. Discovery deals, Nvidia’s permission to sell AI chips to China, and Trump's attempt to bail out farmers. (00:44)

Next, Yaz and Josh speak with writer, filmmaker and Fast Company contributor John Pavlus about AI hallucinations and how Amazon is trying to minimize them. (03:04)

And finally, Yaz talks to Matt Baer, CEO of the subscription styling service Stitch Fix, about his turnaround plan to increase revenue and active client growth, and how Stitch Fix part...

On today’s episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including Costco’s lawsuit against the U.S. government over Trump tariffs, Apple’s new AI chief, and OpenAI’s new “code red.”  (00:51)

Next, Yaz and Josh speak with Fast Company staff writer Pavithra Mohan about Silicon Valley’s obsession with hustle culture and how a billion-dollar AI startup is doing things differently. 08:14

And finally, Josh sits down with Anthony Padilla, Ian Hecox, and Ale Catanese of Smosh to discuss their 20th anniversary and how Smosh went from a comedy c...

On today’s episode, co-hosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including Cloudflare’s glitch that briefly broke half the internet, the U.S. House’s overwhelming vote to release all remaining Jeffrey Epstein files, and Anthropic’s discovery of what may be the first largely AI-led global cyber-espionage campaign.

In addition, they talk about Jeff Bezos reentering the spotlight with a mysterious new AI venture; the latest on media industry shake-ups, including the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery; Disney’s truce with YouTube TV; a major settlement between NPR and th...

On today’s episode, co-hosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation. Topics include the end of the government shutdown, SoftBank selling off it’s Nvidia stake, and yet another betting scandal in professional sports

Next, Bill McKibben is an author, and activist focusing on climate change and other environmental issues. He is a co-founder of the international climate organization 350.org and the founder of Third Act, which organizes people over the age of 60 for climate and racial justice. He came on the show to talk about his book, Here...

Small business owners are staying optimistic — three-quarters expect revenue gains despite ongoing labor shortages, inflation pressures, and economic uncertainty. Their confidence, fueled by strong demand and increased clarity around tax policy, is driving investment and innovation heading into 2026.

On today’s episode, co-hosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation. Topics include the most recent info on the government shutdown, OpenAI’s deal with Amazon, and Elon Musk’s potential big payday

Next, Yaz and Josh talk to Jay Willis, a Fast Company contributing writer and the editor-in-chief of Balls and Strikes, about the latest gambling scandal to hit the NBA, what led up to this moment, and where the league may go from here.

Finally, Yaz interviews Hinge founder and CEO Justin McLeod a...

On today’s episode, co-hosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation. Topics include the latest on tariffs, layoffs at companies like Amazon and Target, and NBCUniversal’s poaching of Taylor Sheridan.  

Next, Yaz and Josh talk to Fast Company senior editor Bryan Lufkin about “ghost jobs” and other hiring trends in the current, uncertain economic climate.

Finally, Yaz interviews Lucy Guo. Guo is the founder of the content creator monetization platform Passes, which lets creators make money from fans through things like selling merch and private...

You might not know the name Tyler Evans, but you’ve definitely seen his work. He designed Zorhan Mamdani’s iconic campaign poster, led design for Bernie Sanders’ campaign, and was the Teamster’s creative director. Now the creative director for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Evans has a front-row seat to some of the biggest players in progressive politics. 

This week on “By Design,” Evans shared his takes on modern political designs including the “shameful” rise of AI in politics and why the left haven’t been able to counter the MAGA movement. 

We’ll also cover the latest in design n...

Host Greg Lindsay talks to Jaclyn Presnal, Vice President of new energy ventures at Williams. They discuss how her team is developing solutions to navigate growing power demands including carbon capture and solar farms.