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,...

Improvisation is an essential skill for comedians at Chicago’s 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 top tips for improv that can also make us better bosses, creatives, friends, family members, and all around better people. For additional links, information, and more,...

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," on Apple Podcasts at...

Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus has been delighting "kids of all ages" since 1871. However, the Greatest Show on Earth is anything but dated— after all, you don’t last for 150 years without regular refreshes. Today's guest is Juliette Feld Grossman, is COO of Feld Entertainment, the company responsible for reinventing Ringling for modern audiences. In this episode, Juliette walks us through the new circus and how her family business has been so successful in creating wildly...

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 at fost.org. -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp. Produced by Future of StoryTelling,...

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 on design’s relationship to story, and discusses the evolution of the museum. For more information, additional links, and more, visit our website at...

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 portfolio continues to grow, Greg's insights on creating successful location-based entertainment to engage and excite fans at scale remain incredibly relevant. For more information, additional links, and more, visit our website at https://futureofstorytelling.org/fost-originals/podcasts/ -- © 2024 Future of StoryTelling,...

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 at...

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 at futureofstorytelling.org/case-study/ajaz-ahmed-solving-the-leadership-crisis/ -- © 2023 Future of...

This week, the FoST Podcast is celebrating a very special occasion: our 100th episode. For this milestone, we’re honored to interview Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu, the renowned filmmaker behind such critically acclaimed works as "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" and "The Revenant". He also created the immersive installation "Carne y Arena," which uses VR and multisensory elements to powerfully convey the experience of immigrants at the US-Mexico border. Alejandro represents...

For decades, Maira Kalman has worked on countless projects across many different kinds of media and with many different collaborators— all while staying true to her signature smart, funny style. On this episode of the FoST Podcast, she talks about cultivating curiosity, clarity, and confidence throughout her illustrious career. For additional links, information, and more, visit our website at https://futureofstorytelling.org/case-study/maira-kalman-a-strong-voice/. -- © 2023 Future of...

Experience designers are working on turning the innate knowledge of human experience into a craft. Abraham Burickson's forthcoming book, Experience Design: A Participatory Manifesto, distills his learnings as one of the foremost experts in this field into a practical handbook for everyone who wants to create memorable, transformative experiences. For additional links, information, and more, visit our website at...

On this special episode of the Future of StoryTelling Podcast, pioneering photographer Stephen Shore talks about the craft of photography, tells stories from his illustrious career, and shares his philosophy on art and life. For additional links, information, and more, visit our website at fost.org -- © 2023 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...

AREA15 is the world’s first district dedicated entirely to immersive entertainment. Leading it is CEO Winston Fisher, whose real estate background gives him a unique perspective on location-based entertainment. Today on the FoST Podcast, Winston discusses how space can be considered content, what he’s learned from AREA15, and what a 21st century business model looks like. For additional links, information, and more, visit...

As Chief Creative Officer of BBDO Worldwide, David Lubars is constantly adapting to change— a skill that has allowed him to lead the agency to become the most creatively recognized in the world. On today’s episode of the FoST podcast, David shares his insights on how BBDO creates magic in an environment full of mess. For additional links, information, and more, visit our website at fost.org. We want to hear from you! To participate in this year's FoST Community Survey, please visit...

The mission of the National Geographic Society is to illuminate and protect the wonder of the world. Chief Storytelling Officer Kaitlin Yarnall, her team, and the storytellers they fund aim to achieve this goal by telling the right story in the right way to the right person. On today’s episode of the podcast, Kaitlin shares insights on impact storytelling from one of the biggest scientific and educational nonprofits in the world. For additional links, information, and more, visit our website...

In their new film, The Beanie Bubble, co-directors Kristin Gore and Damian Kulash look closely at the hopes and delusions behind a consumerist craze– and, perhaps, behind our society as a whole. On today’s episode of the FoST Podcast, Charlie sits down with this dynamic duo to explore their creative process, the themes of their film, and collaboration as a married couple. For additional links, information, and more, visit our website at fost.org -- © 2023 Future of StoryTelling,...

Derek Ham, PhD, is using the spatial and empathetic capacities of VR to illuminate stories from African American history, allowing participants to feel embodied in different moments in time. On today’s episode of the FoST Podcast, Derek and Charlie talk about revisiting history through space, empathizing with the full spectrum of emotions, and the opportunities presented by emerging media. For additional links, information, and more, visit our website at fost.org. -- © 2023 Future of...

Fever is a platform that is filling a crucial hole in the live entertainment market: they’re not only curating the best events for users based on their interests, but also providing creators with the data they need to scale and improve their experiences. In today’s episode, Fever co-founder and CEO Ignacio Bachiller discusses how Fever works for both consumers and producers, and where he sees the live entertainment industry heading. For additional links, information, and more, visit our...

Esports are a rapidly growing entertainment phenomenon, drawing in millions of viewers from around the glove, particularly young people. As the developer and publisher of some of the world’s most popular esports, Riot Games is at the forefront of this field. Today, Riot’s Global Vice President of Esports Publishing, Dan Sutton, helps us understand what esports are and why the stories that arise from them are just as compelling as those in traditional sports. For additional links,...

In honor of the Tribeca Festival taking place this week in New York City, we’re revisiting a conversation with Tribeca’s CEO and co-founder Jane Rosenthal. In this episode, Jane discusses the festival’s important role in finding, highlighting, and supporting the development of new and diverse voices.

For years, French artist JR has been making statements by printing large-scale portraits and pasting them in public locations across the globe. Now, he’s using augmented reality technology to make it easier than ever for communities to share their stories. JR Reality, created with Superblue and Niantic, is a platform that lets anyone with a smartphone add their portrait and story to geotagged locations throughout their city. On today’s episode, JR talks about the creative process behind the...

A true disruptor, Hugh Howey turned his sci-fi novella series Silo from a self-published ebook into a bestseller and now an acclaimed streaming series. On the occasion of Silo’s release on Apple TV+, Hugh talks about changing the traditional model of publishing, adapting his work to television, and the creative revolution he sees on the horizon.

Industrial Light & Magic sets the gold standard for visual effects and immersive storytelling in collaboration with some of the world's most popular IPs. On today’s episode of the FoST podcast, ILM’s SVP, Chief Creative Officer Rob Bredow and VP of Immersive Content Vicki Dobbs Beck discuss the work of ILMxLAB and the exciting ways that storytelling is becoming more immersive than ever with AR, AI, and other next-generation technologies.