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.
Oct 24, 2019•20 min
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...
Oct 10, 2019•25 min
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, Goog...
Sep 26, 2019•22 min
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 Conve...
Sep 12, 2019•17 min
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 yo...
Sep 05, 2019•47 sec
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' intui...
May 02, 2019•33 min•Ep. 21
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...
Apr 17, 2019•29 min•Ep. 20
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 ...
Apr 03, 2019•39 min•Ep. 19
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 pu...
Mar 20, 2019•20 min•Ep. 18
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, Tare...
Mar 13, 2019•37 min•Ep. 17
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,...
Mar 06, 2019•37 min•Ep. 16
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 vo...
Feb 27, 2019•41 min•Ep. 15
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 ho...
Feb 13, 2019•38 min•Ep. 14
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.
Feb 06, 2019•37 min•Ep. 13
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...
Jan 30, 2019•32 min•Ep. 12
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.
Jan 23, 2019•28 min•Ep. 11
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.
Nov 07, 2018•45 min
Oct 24, 2018•31 min•Ep. 10
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.
Oct 10, 2018•29 min•Ep. 9
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.
Sep 26, 2018•29 min•Ep. 8
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.
Sep 12, 2018•30 min•Ep. 7
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.
Aug 29, 2018•31 min•Ep. 6
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.
Aug 15, 2018•23 min•Ep. 5
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.
Aug 01, 2018•29 min•Ep. 4
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.
Jul 18, 2018•33 min•Ep. 3
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.
Jun 27, 2018•28 min•Ep. 2
Where you just see a slice of pizza on the ground, David Sedaris sees an essay in the making.
Jun 13, 2018•33 min•Ep. 1
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.
Jun 01, 2018•2 min
