Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2019 i Fast Company

If you’re not listening to a podcast these days, chances are the person next to you is. Last year was a watershed for the medium, with creators beginning to generate significant revenue in myriad ways. A few years ago, a popular podcast would maybe get a couple hundred thousand downloads and a single sponsor. Today, they’re spinning off live events, selling merchandise, crowdfunding, being optioned by television studios—all the while accruing millions of listeners. Podcasting has become a lucrative entertainment medium. Check out today’s spoken-word landscape, by the numbers. The Download Percentage of U.S. population over the age of 12 who had listened to a podcast in the previous month $1,000,000 Amount Spotify reportedly paid Amy Schumer to host the podcast 3 Girls, 1 Keith THE DEVICE SPLIT 24% LISTEN TO…

Last summer, Netflix offered Hollywood something unexpected: a rare peek inside the highly secretive streaming service. The company rented out a huge L.A. sound stage and invited each of the major talent agencies to come one by one and watch presentations from the heads of Netflix’s many divisions—from unscripted series to stand-up comedy—as they outlined the company’s ambitions. For Netflix to lavish this kind of attention on agencies—one attendee described the food offerings as “craft services gone wild”—it wanted something. The primary, not-so-secret message to the gatekeepers of the world’s biggest stars? Please make Netflix your destination, not your last resort, for making movies. “How do we convince A-list actors and directors to work at our studio?” is how one agent who was there describes the subtext of Netflix’s message.…

An online resource for recipes, restaurant reviews, and discussion threads on culinary minutiae (such as how to store sourdough starter or fresh galangal), Food52 has grown over the past decade to reach more than 13 million monthly visitors across platforms. Taking a page from other blogs turned brands, like Glossier and WhoWhatWear, the company is now developing its own line of kitchen goods. “We’re in a category where consumers have almost no voice in the products they use,” says cofounder Amanda Hesser. The new Five Two line is the first time Food52, which has long sold products on its website, has harnessed its sales data and reader feedback to develop its own items. Five Two debuted last October with a cutting board that sold out in five days. The company,…

1 Waking Up “TREASURE,” BRUNO MARS Getting out of bed is never fun, but Bruno mars helps make it a little easier. This song is peppy and upbeat without being too much to handle first thing in the morning. 2 Driving “BODY LIKE A BACK ROAD,” SAM HUNT I love a good country song when I’m out on the road, especially for long drives. “Body Like a Back Road” is catchy, clever, and fun to sing along to—even better with the windows rolled down. 3 Working Out “CAN’T STOP THE FEELING,” JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE When it comes on during a workout, this song always motivates me to keep going even if I’m hitting a wall. Also an excellent choice for dance parties with my kids! 4 Psyching Up “RESPECT,” ARETHA FRANKLIN…

At a time when lack of faith in INSTITUTIONS—GOVERNMENT, CORPORATIONS, AND, YES, THE NEWS MEDIA—SEEMS TO BE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH, BUSINESS AND THOUGHT LEADERS WHO TOOK THE STAGE AT FAST COMPANY’S ANNUAL INNOVATION FESTIVAL CHAMPIONED THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING A STAND, EMBRACING CREATIVITY AND INCLUSIVITY, AND FINDING TRUSTED COLLABORATORS. “I REALLY ONLY WANT TO WORK WITH PARTNERS WHO SHARE THE AMBITION, UNDERSTAND INTUITIVELY WHAT WE’RE DOING, AND WANT TO DO THE SAME THING,” SAID COURTENEY MONROE, CEO OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GLOBAL NETWORKS. MONROE HAS TEAMED UP WITH BRIAN GRAZER AND RON HOWARD’S IMAGINE ENTERTAINMENT TO PRODUCE THE SCRIPTED ANTHOLOGY SERIES GENIUS—EXTENDING A BRAND TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH DOCUMENTARIES AND WILDLIFE SHOWS. ARTIST AND ENTREPRENEUR PHARRELL WILLIAMS ECHOED THE SENTIMENT when talking about movie executive Chris Meledandri, who persuaded Williams to…

1988 NIKE, “IS IT THE SHOES?” When Spike met Mike. ’Nuff said. 1995 NIKE, “IF YOU LET ME PLAY” An anthem for female athletes, as young girls describe the positive power of sports. 1995 ESPN, “THIS IS SPORTSCENTER” Pro sports meets The Office. This long-running campaign made the cubicles of ESPN look like the funniest workplace around. 1998 MILLER, “HIGH LIFE MAN” Directed by Errol Morris, these ads are still considered a high-water mark in wry copywriting. 2003 HONDA, “COG” A Rube Goldberg machine masterpiece that became one of the most awarded commercials of all time. 2005 HEINEKEN, “BEER RUN” Director David Fincher presents an action-packed vision of what might happen when a Hollywood superstar like Brad Pitt runs out of beer. 2006 COKE, “HAPPINESS FACTORY” Created by W+K Amsterdam,…

Few filmmakers have experienced as wide a range of praise and criticism as M. Night Shyamalan. After finding fame at age 29 with the blockbuster The Sixth Sense, followed by Unbreakable and Signs, he put out a series of misses, culminating in 2013’s widely panned Will and Jaden Smith vehicle After Earth. But in 2015, Shyamalan surprised audiences with a twist: He released The Visit, a horror movie he self-financed for $5 million that went on to gross $65 million in the U.S., sparking a professional renaissance. The next year, his $9 million horror film Split (a sequel of sorts to Unbreakable) grossed $138 million. Shyamalan, who’s now producing a psychological thriller series starring Rupert Grint for Apple TV, explains how he regained his moviemaking powers. Glass is the third…

Until recently, if you needed an ultra-sound scan, it meant a trip to a hospital or a specialist’s office with an expensive, stand-alone machine. That’s changing, thanks to a new device called the Butterfly iQ—a $2,000 smartphone-connected imager that puts the ultrasound right into doctors’ hands. Approved by the FDA in October 2017 for 13 clinical applications (including obstetric, lung, and cardiac imaging), the device’s pioneering ultrasound-on-a-chip technology was developed by Dr. Jonathan M. Rothberg, who sequenced the first individual human genome and invented the low-cost Ion Torrent DNA sequencer (which was acquired by Life Technologies for $725 million in 2010). He spent five years developing the Butterfly scanner, which started shipping to physicians and hospitals last fall. Here’s how this portable scanner could transform healthcare. 1 A cost-saving chip…

This powerful, ultracompact speaker from French audio company Devialet delivers a clear sound up to 95 decibels and deep bass from a pair of vibrating drivers. The unique spherical design of the Phantom Reactor makes it a discreet but attractive addition to your desk, mantel, or bookshelf. The speaker can play music via Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, and AirPlay, and has a mini jack to connect other devices. (Devialet Phantom Reactor 600, $999, devialet.com) NECESSARY VICE Goorin Bros. hats (STARTING AT $35, GOORIN.COM) “I have too many hats from Goorin Bros., which has two outposts in New York City. I love shopping in the actual store. I can get up close and see how I could use the hats to make my mark on an outfit that I have in mind.…

What’s your best habit? I’m deliberate. I always have a plan—organization (1) is important to me. Not only mentally but physically as well. I throw out everything old, and I don’t keep anything I don’t need. What’s your worst habit? Going online before bed. After I put my two kids to bed, I inevitably end up on my email instead of, say, reading a book, and then my mind gets going. One hour turns into two… maybe three… When you’re stuck creatively, you … Seek alone time outdoors. I live in the Bay Area, so I usually leave my house for a walk. I use the calming scenery to sit and think. Which businessperson do you most admire? Howard Schultz. Starbucks (2) has stood for the same thing since it…

KFC | Cat Climber Seven hundred thousand people tuned in to KFC’s four-hour live stream of cats climbing on Colonel Sanders. W+K used a simple sketch to present the idea to KFC and as a reference while the cat climber was being built. Bud Light | Philly Philly Statue After Eagles QB Nick Foles dubbed a Super Bowl LII trick play the “Philly Philly,” a nod to Bud Light’s “Dilly Dilly,” W+K helped the beer maker create a life-size bronze statue for the Eagles’ stadium, commemorating the fourth-down touchdown moment. Laika | ParaNorman’s 2-Bit Bub Mobile Game To celebrate the stop-motion animated zombie film ParaNorman, a ghost dog is the hero of an action-puzzler game that takes players through 30 levels of locations pulled directly from the film.…

Licki A cat brush shaped like a tongue you hold in your mouth to “bond with your fur baby… by communicating in their love language.” Can we get it in flavors? say, maybe, calico or Persian? (amazon.com, $24.99) The Clip-on Man Bun Business in front, party in the back—and hipster passé up top! (walmart.com, $9.99) Toilet Nightlight Peek-a-poo, anyone? Seriously, just grab the god-damn iPad back from Junior. (glowbowl.com, $14.99) iPotty A great way to keep squatting tots occupied and, more important, protect your precious iPad. (amazon.com, $39.99) Office Blinders These babies debuted at SXSW and will help keep you focused in your open office, but don’t make the mistake I did. Remember, your boss can still see you. (greenfunding.jp, 29,800 yen) Ostrich Pillow Here at Fast Company, when the…

Chiat/Day, Los Angeles | 1994 Workers at ad agency Chiat/Day’s “virtual office” had no assigned seats and had to check out laptops and phones each day. The result: People began ditching work to escape. Intel, Santa Clara, California | 1995 CEO Andy Grove assigned himself a cubicle, hoping to foster conversations and “constructive confrontation,” in which people could criticize him and the company without fear. Pixar, Emeryville, California | 2000 Steve Jobs rejected the open-office trend for Pixar’s headquarters. Instead, he placed groups of five to six workers in adjacent offices, with a collaboration space in the middle. Zappos, Las Vegas | 2013 Zappos’s campus is intentionally cramped. CEO Tony Hsieh allocated less than 100 square feet per employee, based on research that showed denser cities are more productive. Airbnb,…

RARE IS THE PLANE RIDE THAT DOESN’T END WITH Mandy Ginsberg’s seatmates telling her about their love lives. Since taking the helm of Match Group in January 2018, Ginsberg has overseen a robust dating-app portfolio that includes Tinder, OkCupid, and Plenty of Fish, among other brands, and spans 42 languages and more than 190 countries. Though relationship advice isn’t her specialty, she’s adept at cultivating online spaces where they might grow. From the millennial African American who uses the BLK app to the senior looking to ease back into the dating world on Our Time, Ginsberg is making sure Match Group, whose 2018 revenue is expected to hit $1.72 billion (up 30% year over year), leaves no single behind. INVITE EVERYONE TO THE PARTY Ginsberg says single people can range…

1 Autobiography of a Yogi PARAMAHANSA YOGANANDA A legendary work of wisdom imbued with Eastern spirituality—and a reminder of what living a meaningful life can and should be. He was a guru to my gurus. 2 Siddhartha HERMANN HESSE A tale to follow you through your entire life. It teaches us that experience is the key to understanding and that the most epic of journeys is the one that happens inside of you. I always have it with me. 3 Runny Babbit SHEL SILVERSTEIN I love how the simple reconstruction of letters can bring giggles to the entire family. This book proves there is power in creating something that can be enjoyed by everyone, whether you’re 1 or 100. 4 Tao of Wu THE RZA Universal pillars of wisdom straight…

1 Pack Right “I wrap my clothes in tissue paper when packing. It keeps them from wrinkling and bunching up, even if I am flying for 14 hours to Japan.” 2 Get Over It “I always book the latest possible flight when going to Europe; I arrive midmorning, which is good for [getting over] jet lag.” 3 Do Not Disturb “Wearing an eye mask on a flight is key. It’s a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign and lets you control the light/dark balance when crossing multiple time zones.” 4 Save Face “I always put on an Sk-II face mask: It protects my skin from the dry airplane air.”…

On September 3, 2018, at 2:20 p.m., an image appeared on Instagram: a tightly cropped black-and-white close-up of a face, eyebrows, and chin bordering a resolute gaze, and the message “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” You know what I’m talking about. That ad. Nike’s Colin Kaepernick spot was more than just an ad. By centering a campaign around the controversial quarterback, the company was making a bold statement in defense of the banished NFL star’s career-ending protest against racial injustice. The reaction was explosive and immediate. Celebrities, consumers, pro athletes, activists, and the president of the United States all weighed in. Welcome to Hot Take City, Population: the Internet. Brand suicide! Brand bravery! Buying more Nikes! Lighting Nikes on fire! Even those skeptical of Nike making…