Viggo Mortensen has cemented himself as a powerhouse actor in films including A History of Violence, Eastern Promises, and, of course, The Lord of the Rings trilogy. And now he's stepping behind the camera with his directorial debut "Falling," a beautifully fractured portrait of a complex father/son relationship. In our conversation, Viggo explains his late-stage career pivot and why memory can be such a powerful creative tool.

Since launching their first line of products in 2017, Sarah Lee and Christine Chang’s skincare brand Glow Recipe has been a driving force in the Korean beauty wave, particularly in the US—and it’s not hard to see why. From their colorful packaging to alluring scents, Glow Recipe’s products are designed to be a multi-sensory experience, and, at times, a method of storytelling into Korean culture. In this episode, Lee and Change dive into their philosophy of “skintertainment" and the learning curves of growing a top-selling brand in three years.

Comedian and actor Jermaine Fowler has found great success in TV and film, most recently starring in Coming 2 America. But personal trauma has kept him away from what started his career in entertainment: stand-up comedy. In our conversation, Jermaine explains how he's channeling grief into art (specifically, an upcoming Showtime event he’s calling "hilariously dark and funny as shit"); how he moves past rejection; and what he's learned from working with greats like Eddie Murphy and Whoopi Goldberg.

On December 16, Fast Company Podcast Network went live on Facebook and Youtube. Creative Conversation host, KC Ifeanyi, was joined by Kate Davis--host of Secrets of the Most Productive People--and Talib Visram--host of Fast Break--to talk about 2020.

They say "confidence is key," which is true. But in Ashley Graham's case, it's a little more than that: confidence is her brand. From her entrepreneurial endeavors to her career in media with her podcast "Pretty Big Deal," confidence is at the root of everything she does and her main source of creative inspiration. In our conversation, Ashley explains how she found (and maintains) her confidence and what it's done for her creativity.

Choreographer and creative director JaQuel Knight has become to the go-to creative force behind major artists including Britney Spears, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, and yes, Beyoncé. For Knight, it's not just the big moves he obsesses over—it’s the right flick of the wrist, swing of the hair, or, in the case of the “Single Ladies” music video exact, and I mean EXACT, timing. In our conversation, Knight unpacks how his laser-focused attention to detail fuels his desire to never be complacent (even if that means hiding his own trophies), how he creates and cultivates his own opportunities, and the bigger reason why he’s going through the arduous task of copyrighting his dance moves.

A custom series on science, technology, and innovation in partnership with GSK. In this episode, we hear from GSK's Chief Scientific Officer and President of R&D Hal Barron as he explains how GSK celebrates smart risks in order to build an innovative culture.

Joel Dudley, chief scientific officer at health startup Tempus and one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in business, has spent the better part of his career using big data and AI to find better solutions in how we treat diseases. In this episode, Joel explains how he's tackling such a lofty goal by thinking outside the parameters of the status quo of medicine.

A custom series on science, technology, and innovation in partnership with GSK. In this episode, we hear from Kim Branson, global head of artificial intelligence and machine learning at GSK. He talks about how AI helps automate the boring and create knowledge for future generations.

In this episode Kc speaks with Dr. Diana Anderson as she discusses being a board-certified healthcare architect and the impact of innovative hospital design on treatment. 

A custom series on science, technology, and innovation in partnership with GSK. In this episode, we hear from GSK's Chief Scientific Officer and President of R&D Hal Barron as he explains how GSK collaborates with its competitors to solve the world's biggest problems.

For most people, being a doctor is fulfilling enough of a career. But for Dr. Roshan Sethi, he saw no need to pick a passion, which led him down the path to becoming both a screenwriter and a doctor. In this episode, Dr. Sethi explains how his dual careers inform each other and how he’s leveraging his voice for more authentic cultural representation across TV and film

In this episode, our host Chris Denson talks to Rene Lammers, Chief Science Officer at PepsiCo, and Erik Roth, Senior Partner at McKinsey and Company. They discuss the importance of messaging when building a new business.

 Rapper Saweetie’s breakout moment came in 2017 with her cocky freestyle “ICY GRL.” Quelling any notions of being a one-hit-wonder, Saweetie scored another viral hit with 2019’s undeniable song of the summer “My Type.”But even with two platinum hits, two well received EPs, and blipping on everyone’s radar as the one to watch, Saweetie didn’t feel successful or that people got a full sense of who she is.But she’s planning to fix that with her first full-length album Pretty Bitch Music.In this conversation, Saweetie explains the deeper meaning behind her project and its title, her rather scholarly approach to writing rhymes, how she’s breaking down misconceptions of what it means to be a woman (let alone a woman who raps), and more.

In addition to penning hits for the likes of Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and more, The-Dream has his own prolific R&B career. And he recently enrolled in design school during quarantine. In this episode, he breaks down his non-stop work ethic and why he doesn't believe in writer's block.

Creative Conversation is doing special three-part series covering specific issues within the ongoing protests for racial equality. Every Thursday this month, we’ll be spotlighting the creatives and professionals using their backgrounds, skills, and platforms to push for lasting change. Social media has been a natural component in organizing and disseminating information during these recurring protests against racial inequality.However, there's understandable concern in how these platforms may be censoring and suppressing posts, or remaining complicit in fueling misinformation and divisive rhetoric. As valuable as it can be to leverage massive platforms like Facebook, Tik Tok, and Twitter, there is an argument to have a less policed space or, at the very least, one that has activists' best interests in mind.That's exactly what Chloë Cheyenne Rogers set out to build with CommunityX, a platform connecting people locally and globally around causes and movements. In this conversation, Rogers explains the personal family trauma behind CommunityX and why it's important to rethink how we organize.

Creative Conversation is doing special three-part series covering specific issues within the ongoing protests for racial equality. Every Thursday this month, we’ll be spotlighting the creatives and professionals using their backgrounds, skills, and platforms to push for lasting change. It's easy for some to push violence against the black trans community squarely into an LGBTQ+ issue—and it certainly is. However, it's also a race issue that can't be ignored. And Ianne Fields Stewart is one of the many voices ready to remind you. Stewart is a New York City-based black transfeminine actor and dancer working at the intersection of art and activism. She's also the founder of The Okra Project, a collective that targets food insecurity within the black trans community. And the confluence of the recent murders and attacks on trans men and women during the larger movement for racial equality—all while COVID-19 is still very much a threat—has given Stewart a new perspective on her activism.

In this episode, our host Chris Denson talks to Max Levchin, co-founder and CEO at Affirm and co-founder of PayPal, about how to overcome a fear of failure and embrace risk in bringing forward new ideas. Then Chris dives into how established organizations need to be constantly iterating and incorporating their learnings from failures with Dilip Mistry, Partner at McKinsey and Company.

Creative Conversation is doing special three-part series covering specific issues within the ongoing protests for racial equality. Every Thursday this month, we’ll be spotlighting the creatives and professionals using their backgrounds, skills, and platforms to push for lasting change. The high anxieties surrounding all the political, social, and health-related unrest has pushed the conversation of mental health to the forefront—and the black community should be the most mindful. From COVID-19 affecting black people at disproportionate rates to the current battle for substantive changes to the mechanisms of racism running the country, the black community continues to face elevated levels of stress which can cause significant and lasting damage to physical and mental health. But Dr. Jess Clemons has some actionable advice to help you better manage your mental health. In this episode, she breaks down how to look for signs of mental distress, how black people can navigate the current social landscape in a healthy way, pro-tips for self-care, and more.

As if her career doesn’t already speak for itself, Janet Mock is ready to show you what she can really do. From her early days as an editor for People magazine, Mock has used her skills as a storyteller to springboard into becoming a New York Times bestselling author of two memoirs and, in her most recent pivot, a budding force in TV and film. With mega producer Ryan Murphy as her mentor, Mock has written for, directed, and produced a variety of projects including Pose, The Politician, and Hollywood. But now she's stepping out on her own.In this episode, Mock explains the importance of building those stepping stones toward your ultimate passion projects, how she learned to listen to other voices in the room, and why she chose the story of another, more infamous Janet to be her debut project through Netflix. 

You may know Mark Mothersbaugh from his days as the frontman for the art-punk band Devo, but his career scoring film, TV shows, and video games stretches over 200 titles including Thor: Ragnarok, Dawson's Creek, Rugrats, Crash Bandicoot, and, yes, Tiger King. Not only is Mark clearly prolific and versatile, but his creativity also expands into building his own unique instruments, creating subversive visual art (e.g., a giant ruby turd), and more. In this episode, Mark explains how dismantling and rebuilding the tools of your craft can lead to creative breakthroughs, and how he’s learned to reconcile his art with the mainstream, which may or may not include subliminal messaging.

When To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before dropped on Netflix back in 2018, it turned its lead actors into overnight stars, as well as the author who wrote the book the film is based on. Jenny Han had success in the YA space with her other series, but it was To All the Boys that truly elevated her career—not to mention discussion around inclusive storytelling, which for creators can sometimes be a double-edged sword. In this episode, Han explains the weight of representation, why having structure can kill her creative process, and the benefits of letting your mind wander (productively, of course).

As a writer, producer, and director, Alan Yang has worked on hit shows including Parks and Rec, The Good Place, Little America, Forever, and Master of None. While the end results have led to an Emmy win and heaps of critical accolades, getting there is always a process that leaves him wondering, “should I just quit this?” But pushing himself to that point is exactly where his most creative ideas come from—and you should be doing the same. In this episode, Yang explains the importance of surprising yourself, how getting rejected by Jay Leno was a necessary wakeup call, and how the opening scene of his new Netflix movie Tigertail became a behind-the-scenes movie in itself—and an invaluable lesson in leadership.

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez finally released her debut studio album 'Before Love Came to Kill Us'—and how it came together spotlights creative lessons to live by.

Creative Conversation headed to Lagos, Nigeria for Social Media Week where host Kc Ifeanyi interviewed R&B and Nollywood star Banky W. live on stage. In the conversation, Banky W. details his storied career, including starting his own record label, starring in Nigeria’s highest grossing film of all time, his battle with cancer, and stepping into the political arena to try and galvanize Nigeria’s younger generation disillusioned by politics as usual. Banky W. may not be a name most Western audiences are familiar with, but listening to this episode will definitely make you a fan of his work and activism.

On this episode, our host Chris Denson talks to Helen Vaid, Global Chief Customer Officer at Pizza Hut, about collaboration and how to build the right internal team of stakeholders for fast ideation and faster action. Then he dives into how new businesses can best foster that collaboration inside a large organization with Ari Libarikian, global leader of Leap by McKinsey.

Since her time on season 10 of Drag Race and winning All-Stars 4, Drag Queen Monet X Change has appeared in national ad campaigns, released a visual album, and got her own talk show—and that's barley her first act. Listen her to Monet explain how she learned to embrace her blackness for drag, why she's making music and not drag music, and how she’s able to block out criticism on social media and that nagging beast of perfection to focus on her craft.

Digging into Reginald Hudlin's résumé is like the most inspiring rabbit hole you could possibly tumble down. Most people know Hudlin as the director of such classic '90s films as House Party and Boomerang. But his career spans wide across the creative, development, and executive corners of the entertainment industry, where he's even dipped his toe into comic creation. In this episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Conversation, Hudlin explains how creative risk-taking not only led to personal breakthroughs but shaped black culture and pop culture at large. Listen to the latest episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Google Play, or Stitcher.

Nate Berkus' life has always been surrounded by "decorative turmoil", so it's no surprise that he has grown into the superstar interior designer he is today. In this episode of Creative Conversation, Berkus travels through his storied career going from being "a terrible assistant," to his big break on The Oprah Winfrey Show, to his own failed show ("…worst job of my life."), and how he's expanding his brand in design and even in Hollywood. Listen to the latest episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Google Play, or Stitcher.

Marques Brownlee has been called "the best technology reviewer on the planet" (by a former VP at Google, no less) and his 10 million YouTube subscribers would probably agree. So how does one go from reviewing a remote for an HP Pavilion laptop in his living room to becoming one of the most powerful voices in tech? In this episode of Creative Conversation, Brownlee breaks down what he sees as true innovation and creativity in the tech industry and what the gadgets and devices of yesteryear can teach us about the future. Listen to the latest episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Google Play, or Stitcher.

Noah Baumbach has been making films for 25 years, but none has caught fire quite like his latest. Marriage Story has been racking up awards nominations in advance of the big ones—the Oscars, where, at the very least, costars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver are likely to be nominated. In this episode of Creative Conversation, Baumbach dives into the creative choices he made to frame Marriage Story as a film about love, how he barrels through writer's block, why he never yells "Action!" on set, cowriting the upcoming Barbie film—and, of course, Adam Driver's singing. Listen to the latest episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Google Play, or Stitcher.

The First Step is a custom podcast from Fast Co. Works in partnership with McKinsey and Company. On this episode, Chris dives into how to take an idea and put it in action with Jesse Dorogusker, Hardware Lead at Square. Then he talks to Ralf Dreischmeier, global leader of Leap by McKinsey. Whether you are starting a new digital business at your company or just starting a new task at work, the gap between thought and action can often seem cavernous. Often we find ourselves paralyzed, unable to act. In the case of starting a new digital business, taking action is essential to maintaining success and growing your company. Leap by McKinsey was designed to help companies take that first step and launch new digital businesses.  

Lots of people work in creative industries, but very few have been able to take their art and pivot to build something more impactful than the art itself. That's exactly what Piera Gelardi did when she started Refinery29, a digital media company that in many ways, has helped to shape a more inclusive and interactive modern media landscape. In this episode, Piera speaks about how she made that pivot from artist to business-leader, why she loves improv exercises, and the reasoning behind developing Refinery29's iconic immersive experience 29Rooms.  Subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Carrie Coon got an unconventionally late start in film and TV at 33, after having long since established herself on the stage. But she's more than made up for lost time with unconventional roles. Her performances as Nora Durst in The Leftovers, Vera Walker in The Sinner, and as Elizabeth in The Keeping Hours have solidified Coon as Hollywood's bona-fide spooky mother. In this episode of Creative Conversation, Coon explains how she's reframing the archetype of mom characters, why being a good student can be bad for creativity, and what the physical side of creativity taught her (and what it can teach you). Subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Most people consider themselves lucky to be able to craft a career path within one creative industry. Mo Rocca, acclaimed humorist, journalist, and actor has successfully been able to leave his mark on a few of those paths – even though he believes that we will all be forgotten eventually. He sits down with us at the Fast Company Innovation Festival for this live episode of Creative Conversation to talk about his creative journey that touches on multiple creative outlets. Listen to him dish on why you should lean into your weird interests, why humor and sadness sometimes go hand in hand, and his favorite historical figures highlighted in his new book “Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving”.  Subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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. 

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 chasing Silicon Valley-esque playgrounds, and how to make small changes to your environment for a big boost in creativity. Subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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 Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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 your podcasts. 

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' intuition and takes us back to the golden age of music videos (and what we can learn from them today.)

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 is paving the way for even more projects down the line. But as a young actor still trying to establish himself in that field, is he spreading himself too thin in other areas? In our conversation, Jean explains his stance on straight actors playing gay characters, the power of being the only black voice in a white room, and the rules of being a creative hustler. 

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 you will suck at what you're working on (hopefully, temporarily), how he juggles such a random, career, and why it's ok not to finish your to-do list.

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 punching your partner in the face) and the importance of editing improv. 

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, Tarell talks about his first foray into TV and pitching the show directly to Oprah Winfrey herself. Phylicia gives awe-inspiring lessons in creativity. And Tina lays out OWN’s vision for more diverse storytelling.

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, the creative process behind her legendary lip syncs, and how she’s elevating drag by empowering its performers.

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 voice and why it’s so important to listen to your inner “hell yeahs” and “hell nos.”

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 how "breaking" music led to one of the most powerful scenes in If Beale Street Could Talk.