Creative Control

No one is doing prank comedy quite like Eric Andre. He got his start in standup but rose to fame/notoriety with Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show, a psychedelic sendup of late night talk shows where celebrity guests and everyday people on the street are at the mercy of his frenetic whims. It’s hard to tell sometimes, but beneath all the chaos of Andre’s physical comedy and pranks, there’s a craft he’s honed for five seasons of his show and that he’s applied to his Netflix film Bad Trip. In this episode, Andre explains the creative challenges of making a narrative prank comedy film, why he thinks his show has finally hit its stride 5 seasons in, and how Chris Rock talked him off the ledge from the biggest bomb of his career.

Wayne Brady is arguably one of the hardest working performers in show business. From Broadway to TV and film and everything in between, Wayne has done it all—and often simultaneously. In this episode, Wayne explains how he gave himself permission to pursue all of his passions (and why he refuses to pick just one), how he actually does it all without crashing and burning, and the number one thing to remember in unlocking your creative potential.

It’s easy to get caught up in the staggering commercial success directors Joe and Anthony Russo have had in the Marvel Cinematic universe. But what’s always worth mentioning are creative swings they’ve taken—not just in the MCU but throughout their entire career in TV and film. In this episode, the Russo brothers explain what's at the root of their creative "fuckery," their dynamic as a directing duo, how they're using their massive platform to elevate overlooked stories, and the career changing advice Steven Soderbergh gave them.

 Even without the machine of a major label behind him, Brooklyn rapper Kota the Friend has managed to release three EPs, three mixtapes, and two studio albums in the span of six years, earning him more than 200 Million global streams and co-signs from everyone from LaKeith Stanfield and Lupita Nyong’o, to SZA and Erykah Badu. Kota is even dropping another studio album as well as a joint album with producer Statik Selektah in the coming months. So how does he get it all done while keeping his sanity? A little structure, unitasking...and watching Pixar's "Soul" no less than 30 times.

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.