Today’s guest is Robert Brunner, founder and creative director of Ammunition. Robert is one of the world’s foremost industrial designers, having worked on popular products from the iconic Beats headphones to the omnipresent Square terminal to the Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader. In this episode, Robert shares his insights about the role that design plays in connecting people to brands and how he helps companies tell stories through their products. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . ...
Feb 27, 2025•30 min
Sissel Tolaas is an expert on the art and science of smell. Her endeavor to help people rediscover this essential sense and understand its importance has led her to collaborate with some of the world’s top research institutions, cultural organizations, and brands. Today on the FoST Podcast, she shares her learnings from thirty years of research on smell and how she imagines it could shape the future. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced ...
Feb 14, 2025•28 min
On today’s episode of the FoST Podcast, we revisit a conversation with Victor van Doorn, co-founder and creative director of escape room company Sherlocked. He and other escape room creators like him aren’t just making timed puzzle rooms— they’re creating embodied, social story experiences that players love. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp. 124 West 13th Street New York, NY 10011 Founder and CEO, Char...
Jan 30, 2025•29 min
Rohit Bhargava is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur whose specialty is identifying the trends and innovations of the future that others tend to overlook. In this episode, he discusses his predictions for the next generation of stories, from immersive entertainment to generative AI to history itself. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp. 124 West 13th Street New York, NY 10011 Founder ...
Jan 16, 2025•33 min
For the last episode of 2024, we return to the very first conversation on the FoST Podcast with Angela Ahrendts. Angela has had an incredible career in business--she's been the CEO of Burberry, SVP of Apple Retail, and more--and in this discussion shares invaluable insights on her approach to brand storytelling. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp. 124 West 13th Street New York, NY 10011 Founder and C...
Dec 12, 2024•24 min
Today on the FoST Podcast, we revisit a conversation with Joe Pine, co-author of the seminal 1999 book The Experience Economy: Competing for Customer Time, Attention, and Money . In it, Joe predicted that creating memorable experiences would become a key aspect of business in the future— a prediction we’ve seen borne out with the rise of immersive and experiential in entertainment, marketing, retail, and beyond. Joe is now working on his next book, a follow-up to The Experience Economy about tra...
Nov 28, 2024•27 min
Today, we revisit a conversation with Dr. Vivienne Ming, theoretical neuroscientist, author, and serial entrepreneur. Dr. Ming has worked in AI and machine learning for 25 years, inventing multiple systems to improve health outcomes and address social issues. She uses data to help foreground more just and diverse stories—a talent and commitment that now is more important than ever. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of StoryT...
Nov 14, 2024•25 min
Earlier this year, celebrated magazine editor Adam Moss authored his first book, The Work Of Art: How Something Comes From Nothing . Inspired by his experience as a painter, Adam interviewed dozens of the best creatives of our time, from Stephen Sondheim to Sofia Coppola to Ira Glass. The result is a detailed study of the process of making art in many different disciplines— and a rich resource for any creative person. He shares his learnings on today’s episode of the FoST Podcast. To learn more,...
Nov 04, 2024•35 min
Ben Shewry is a chef, author, and co-owner of Attica Restaurant in Melbourne, Australia. Recognized as one of the top restaurants worldwide, Attica offers guests an experience that immerses them in Australia’s unique cuisine. In his new book, Uses for Obsession , and on this episode of the FoST Podcast, Ben discusses how that experience came to be, as well as his personal learnings on creativity and culture in and around the kitchen— insights which are incredibly applicable to any storyteller. T...
Oct 17, 2024•33 min
Cosm is a global immersive technology company that aims to democratize access to "shared reality" — highly immersive, highly social experiences — across the globe. Today's guest, Neil Carty, is Head of Cosm Studios and Labs, where he helps encourage and support creatives working in spherical storytelling. He talks about what makes Cosm special and the power of 360° content. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of St...
Oct 03, 2024•30 min
BRC Imagination Arts has 40 years of experience creating brand experiences that are especially participatory, personalized, and emotionally engaging. One great example is Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh, Scotland, the creation of which was spearheaded by today's guest: Chief Creative Officer Christian Lachel. Christian takes us behind the scenes at Princes Street to reveal how he and his team created one of the most authentic and immersive brand experiences out there today. To lea...
Sep 19, 2024•30 min
Kimbal Musk is the cofounder and CEO of Nova Sky Stories, the company that's pushing the boundaries of the new medium of aerial drone storytelling. Combining light and sound to create emotionally resonate experiences, Nova collaborates with some of the best artists of our time to tap into the awe of looking up into the night sky. In this episode, Kimbal discusses their work and the future of this nascent art form. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . -- © 2024 Future of StoryTellin...
Sep 05, 2024•30 min
When Fawn Weaver learned that the first master distiller for Jack Daniel's Distillery was a formerly enslaved man named Nearest Green, she set out to tell his story in the best way she could think of: by creating a whiskey brand that celebrates his legacy. In her new book, Love & Whiskey , Fawn shares what she learned of the incredible friendship between Nearest and Jack, the impact of their relationship, and how she turned that story into the fastest growing whiskey brand in American hi...
Aug 22, 2024•37 min
Hong Kong-based nonprofit Crossroads Foundation brings together those who are in need with those who can provide help. To raise awareness about global issues and create lasting change, they’ve come up with a unique approach: immersive, experiential programs on world need that allow people to have real emotions and foster genuine empathy. Director and senior spokesman DJ Begbie shares what these programs look like and why they're so effective. To learn more, visit our website. -- © 2024 Futur...
Aug 08, 2024•36 min
In his new book, Gray Matters: A Biography of Brain Surgery , neurosurgeon Dr. Theodore Schwartz delves into the history and practice of neuroscience. What he and his fellow scientists have discovered is that our lives are based on stories that our brains construct, and those stories are not fact, but fiction. Ted is certainly not the first guest on this podcast to talk about the relationship between brain science and storytelling— but as a neurosurgeon, he comes at it from a uniquely hands-on p...
Jul 25, 2024•34 min
Immersive entertainment company Layered Reality's approach is, as the name suggests, layered: they combine components of immersive theater with new technologies to create productions that feel participatory, immersive, and alive. Today, their CEO Andrew McGuinness joins us to talk about how he’s built such a successful immersive entertainment company and where he plans to take it next. To learn more, visit our website. -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of StoryTellin...
Jul 11, 2024•32 min
Today, we revisit an episode from 2020 with Jose Antonio Vargas, Founder of the nonprofit Define American. Drawing on his background as a journalist and his own experience as an undocumented immigrant, Jose created Define American to educate storytellers, challenge stereotypes, and ultimately change the narrative around immigration, one story at a time. To learn more, visit our website. -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp. 124 West 13th Street New Yor...
Jun 27, 2024•27 min
In this revisited episode, we go back to a conversation with Vince Kadlubek of legendary immersive art collective Meow Wolf, whose installations give visitors agency to re-engage their imaginations and create their own stories—an experience that can be transformational. To learn more, visit our website . -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp. 124 West 13th Street New York, NY 10011 Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher Director, Carolyn Merriman Assistant Pr...
Jun 13, 2024•27 min
Legendary Disney veteran and Academy Award winner Glen Keane has made invaluable contributions to the art of animation. In this episode, we revisit a conversation from 2020 with Glen about his story, craft, and philosophy on creativity. For additional links and more information, visit our website . -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp. 124 West 13th Street New York, NY 10011 Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher Director, Carolyn Merriman Assistant Producer...
May 30, 2024•28 min
Since this 2020 conversation with artist, educator, and AI practitioner Stephanie Dinkins, essential questions about artificial intelligence have only become more pressing. In turn, Stephanie's method of approaching AI—with a conscious eye towards breaking down bias, rather than perpetuating it— has only become more necessary. For additional links and more information, visit our website. -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp. 124 West 13th Street Ne...
May 16, 2024•26 min
Silo , the TV adaptation of Hugh Howey's acclaimed sci-fi novel Wool , has become one of Apple TV's hottest properties since it aired last May: it's earned a second season and several nominations in the forthcoming 2024 BAFTA Television Awards among other accolades. To celebrate the success of Silo , we're revisiting this episode with Hugh about how Wool took the world by storm. -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp. 124 West 13th Street...
May 02, 2024•31 min
Today, we revisit a conversation from 2021 with immersive storytelling pioneers Félix Lajeunesse and Paul Raphaël of Felix & Paul Studios. For over ten years, these two have been carefully developing a unique experiential language— a language which they’ve deployed to incredible effect in the location-based VR experience Space Explorers: The Infinite . Felix and Paul discuss the elements of this language and how it came to be in this revisited episode. For additional links, information, and ...
Apr 18, 2024•42 min
Improvisation is an essential skill for comedians at the famous Second City— and it’s a valuable skill for creators and businesses off stage, too. No one knows this better than Kelly Leonard, the Executive Director of Learning and Applied Improvisation at Second City Works. In this episode, Kelly shares some of his insights into how improv can make us better bosses, makers, friends, family members, and all around better people. For additional links, information, and more, visit our website . -- ...
Apr 05, 2024•33 min
We all get sick-- and yet somehow, so much of the communication from biopharmaceutical companies fails to connect with the average person. Jim Weiss, the Founder and Chairman of health innovation company Real Chemistry, is working to change that. In this episode, Jim shares how his consultancy is making healthcare communications more effective, creative, and human. Listen to Jim's podcast, Get Real with the Chairman , here . For additional links, information, and more, please visit our websi...
Mar 21, 2024•29 min
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey has been delighting Children Of All Ages for generations. However, The Greatest Show On Earth is anything but dated — after all, you don’t last for 150 years without regular refreshes. Join Juliette Feld Grossman, COO of Feld Entertainment, as she walks audiences through the new circus and how her family business has been so successful in creating wildly popular live family entertainment. For additional links, information, and more, please visit our website...
Mar 07, 2024•29 min
On today’s episode of the FoST Podcast, founder and CEO of Niantic John Hanke discusses his company’s philosophy when it comes to making AR games, his predictions for the future of mixed reality, and Rangers Wanted , the brand-new AR app Niantic created with the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, Trigger XR, and FoST. For more information, additional links, and more, visit our website . Download Rangers Wanted for iOS here , and for Android here . -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Pr...
Feb 19, 2024•30 min
Paola Antonelli is Senior Curator of Architecture & Design at the Museum of Modern Art, where she’s been expanding the understanding and appreciation of design in all its forms for nearly 30 years. On this episode of the FoST Podcast, Paola asks thought-provoking questions about the value of design, illuminates design’s relationship to story, and discusses the evolution of the museum. For more information, additional links, and more, visit our website . -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp...
Feb 01, 2024•32 min
In this revisited episode, we return to a conversation from February 2023 with Greg Lombardo, VP and Head of Experiences at Netflix. As Netflix's experiential offering continues to grow, Greg's insights on creating immersive entertainment that successfully engages fans both on a deep level and on a large scale remain incredibly relevant. For more information, additional links, and more, visit our website . -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp. ...
Jan 18, 2024•28 min
The high-touch, immersive storytelling of theater company Les Enfants Terrible’s show Alice’s Adventures Underground is made possible by a complex system behind the scenes. On this episode of the FoST Podcast, Creative Director James Seager and Artistic Director Oliver Lansley pull back the curtain to give us a special look at the magic that the audience doesn’t see. For additional links, information, and more, visit our website . -- © 2023 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of Sto...
Dec 21, 2023•34 min
AKQA is not just one of the most successful design and innovation agencies in the world— it’s also a workplace that allows creative people to truly thrive. On today’s episode of the FoST Podcast, AKQA founder and CEO Ajaz Ahmed discusses his principles of leadership and how AKQA serves its clients, employees, and community. For additional links, information, and more, visit our website . -- © 2023 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp. 124 West 13th Street New Yo...
Dec 07, 2023•47 min
