Most Innovative Companies

On today’s episode, cohosts Bryan Lufkin and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including Minnesota executives’ response to ICE killings and the ensuing protests, the TikTok deal, and a round of layoffs from Amazon, UPS, and Nike. Next, Bryan and Josh sit down with David Lidsky, head of editorial strategy for Fast Company and Inc., about his deep dive into what makes Palantir such a successful founder factory.  And finally, our guest cohost, Fast Company staff editor Kristin Toussaint, talks about all things energy sustainability and efficiency in the U.S. and internationally with Mike Zatz, senior VP and head of global data ecosystem and partnerships at Measurabl. To check out David’s story, go to fastcompany.com/91476499/inside-the-founder-factory-known-as-palantir-americas-most-polarizing-company  For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news

On today’s episode, cohosts David Salazar and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including highlights from Davos, Minnesota-based corporations’ lack of reaction to ICE, and the latest on Netflix's bid to take over Warner Bros. Discovery. Next, Josh and David talk to Fast Company contributing writer Chris Stokel-Walker about the sexualized deepfakes X users have been creating with Grok and how regulators, and the public, have been responding.  Finally, Fast Company global tech editor Harry McCracken spoke with Arm chief marketing officer Ami Badani about the future of the company that designs the architecture of the chips most of our smartphones use. To check out more of Chris’s reporting, go to: fastcompany.com/user/chrisstokelwalker  For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news

On today’s episode, cohosts Elizabeth Segran and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the investigation of Fed Chair Jarome Powell, the nurses strike in New York City, and Paramount’s escalated hostile bid to take over Warner Bros. Discovery. Next, Elizabeth and Josh talk to Fast Company senior writer Ainsley Harris about a startup, Rainmaker, that can bring rain to places that need it.  And finally, Elizabeth speaks with Walmart’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer Latriece Watkins about how Walmart has attracted higher income families and what’s next for the retail giant. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news To read Ainsley’s reporting on Rainmaker, go to fastcompany.com/91448561/this-is-the-hardest-startup-in-america 

Andrew Ross Sorkin, a renowned journalist and author, shares insights from his book '1929,' drawing parallels between the financial crises of the past and today. He discusses the importance of regulation and transparency in today's market landscape. Luana Lopes Lara, co-founder of Kalshi, elaborates on the innovative prediction markets, their regulatory journey, and a unique partnership with CNN that reinforces market data as reliable forecasts. They explore the potential growth of prediction markets and their ethical safeguards, contrasting them with traditional financial systems.

On today’s episode, cohosts David Salazar and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including unemployment rates, the partnership between Disney and OpenAI, and the word of the year. (00:45) Next, Josh and David talk to Fast Company senior staff editor Jeff Beer to discuss the annual Brands That Matter list. This year, the list includes brands like JLab, Liquid I.V., Levi’s, Bubble Skincare, State Farm, and Gozney. (09:55) Finally, Yasmin Gagne talks to the VP of product at Instagram, Tessa Lyon, about how she’s thinking about the company’s future. They discuss Instagram’s new features, like Your Algorithm, the creator economy, and the use of AI on the app. (40:00) For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news To read about the brands that matter in 2025, go to: fastcompany.com/brands-that-matter/list 

On today’s episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the Warner Bros. Discovery deals, Nvidia’s permission to sell AI chips to China, and Trump's attempt to bail out farmers. (00:44) Next, Yaz and Josh speak with writer, filmmaker and Fast Company contributor John Pavlus about AI hallucinations and how Amazon is trying to minimize them. (03:04) And finally, Yaz talks to Matt Baer, CEO of the subscription styling service Stitch Fix, about his turnaround plan to increase revenue and active client growth, and how Stitch Fix partners its stylists with in-house AI tools for a better personalized styling experience. (30:17)   For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/newsTo read John’s reporting about Amazon’s usage of AI that minimizes hallucinations, go to fastcompany.com/91446331/amazon-byron-cook-ai-artificial-intelligence-automated-reasoning-neurosymbolic-hallucination-logic

Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox, co-founders of Smosh, share their journey from the early YouTube days to a well-established comedy brand. They discuss the challenges of selling and repurchasing Smosh, emphasizing their focus on 'comedy rooted in friendship' to stay relevant. Ale Catanese, the current CEO, outlines the company's efforts in creating a sustainable work culture and a new talent-first studio space. Pavithra Mohan dives into the hustle culture in Silicon Valley, contrasting it with companies like Linear that prioritize work-life balance.

On today’s episode, co-hosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including Cloudflare’s glitch that briefly broke half the internet, the U.S. House’s overwhelming vote to release all remaining Jeffrey Epstein files, and Anthropic’s discovery of what may be the first largely AI-led global cyber-espionage campaign. In addition, they talk about Jeff Bezos reentering the spotlight with a mysterious new AI venture; the latest on media industry shake-ups, including the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery; Disney’s truce with YouTube TV; a major settlement between NPR and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; and how Google introduced Gemini 3 along with its enigmatic Antigravity coding platform. Next, Fast Company senior writer Mark Sullivan joins the conversation to discuss SoftBank and Peter Thiel’s surprising decision to dump Nvidia stock despite the company’s blowout earnings. Finally, Harvey Spevak, executive chairman and managing partner of Equinox Group, shares how the company rebuilt after COVID, why it’s expanding globally, and why it ditched Kiehl’s for Grown Alchemist. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To learn more about Mark Sullivan’s coverage on Softbank, read:Why did SoftBank sell off its Nvidia stake?

Bill McKibben, a prominent climate activist and co-founder of 350.org, shares insights on his book, Here Comes the Sun, discussing how solar and wind power can tackle the climate crisis. He critiques Bill Gates's views on climate policy and emphasizes the need for clean energy in AI infrastructure. Meanwhile, Eric Lempel, head of marketing for Sony Interactive Entertainment, explores PlayStation's strategy amidst rising digital sales, the importance of exclusives, and how AI can enhance game development while allowing creativity to flourish.

Small business owners are staying optimistic — three-quarters expect revenue gains despite ongoing labor shortages, inflation pressures, and economic uncertainty. Their confidence, fueled by strong demand and increased clarity around tax policy, is driving investment and innovation heading into 2026.