In the final episode of season 4, Richard Russell, the English record producer, musician, and owner of the record label XL Recordings, talks to Damian about what makes good music, how he built a different kind of record label, and how to work with the world’s biggest artists. He also argues that having only one strong skill can be an advantage—and help you do what you love—if you can build a strong team around you. Get your free WeTransfer pro account here: we.tl/richard Influence is a...

In this episode, Dame Stephanie Shirley CH (the CH is for Companion of Honour) — a German-British software pioneer, businesswoman, and philanthropist — chats with Damian about making an entirely new kind of business for an untapped category of worker (women with household and caretaking responsibilities) before there was a model for either. And, as remote work proliferates now, she shares what she learned from designing a remote workforce 70 years ago. She also talks about prioritizing mental...

In this episode, the award-winning illustrator and founder of DrawTogether Wendy MacNaughton discusses the power of art. She talks about how her graphic journalism seeks to create policy and social change, how her work teaching kids to make art builds their confidence and creativity, and how drawing and sharing stories brings us closer together. Or, as Wendy says, “Pencils up! Everything is better when we draw together.” Get your free WeTransfer pro account here: we.tl/wendy Influence is a...

In this episode, Damian talks to the renowned English architect Thomas Heatherwick about collaboration, creativity, making spaces that last. Thomas’ approach to architecture is emotional, human, and visceral. His projects unfurl, sprout, and float, delighting and connecting the people they serve. From his limited edition Christmas cards to his dandelion-like UK Pavilion to Google’s brand new Bay View Campus in Mountain View, Thomas and his firm Heatherwick Studio redefine what’s possible. Get...

In this episode, the Years and Years actor Russell Tovey shares how he leaned into his love for art. He talks about how his passion grew into a well-loved and well-listened to podcast (Talk Art) and then a contemporary art book of the same name. Damian and Russell also discuss the elitism in the art world and what Russell is doing to make art accessible for everyone. Also: Russell introduces his upcoming documentary about British artist and poet David Robilliard (in partnership with...

In this episode, Damian talks to the UK-based fashion designer Harris Reed about how his bold gender-fluid designs are expanding the possibilities for who can wear what. His clothes have been on the cover of Vogue, been featured at the Met Ball, and worn by Beyonce, Harry Styles, Adele, and Lizzo, to name a few. He talks about how being his authentic self not only guides his business but is changing the model for how one can succeed in fashion. Get your free WeTransfer pro account here:...

In this episode, Damian talks with actor, writer, and producer Riz Ahmed about his two films nominated for Oscars this year—Flee, an animated documentary, and The Long Goodbye, a live-action short produced by WeTransfer. (That means we're up for an Oscar, too. Ahem!) He shares how having doors repeatedly closed on him opened up his whole acting career, how story can function like a body-swap technology, and how truth in a character is more important than relatability. Riz also talks about his...

On this episode, Damian talks with the acclaimed director and founder of Concordia Studio, Davis Guggenheim. Davis shares the story of how he turned Al Gore’s dry slide deck about global warming into an Academy Award-winning film that transformed the public’s understanding of climate change with his documentary An Inconvenient Truth (2006). He also explains the ingredients of a good documentary, breaks down how they’re realized in his films about Malala and U2, and talks about how...

Isha Datar is on a mission to change the way we eat. On this episode, she shares what she's learned from more than a decade at the forefront of "cellular agriculture," a term she coined. She talks about how lab-grown meat could not only reshape and reimagine the future of food, but also how it could dramatically scale back farming's environmental impact. Influence is a production of WeTransfer, produced in association with Reasonable Volume. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out...

Damian interviews the founder of Parley for the Oceans Cyrill Gutsch about his journey from product designer to environmental leader. Focusing on plastic, Cyrill talks about using art to inspire action, upcycling plastic collected from the ocean, and pioneering new materials that are better for the earth. But his vision is bigger than that. Cyrill has found a way to capture our attention, and by bringing ocean plastic to the forefront, has given us a path to a better future, See...

In this episode, Damian talks wine with Dan Keeling, the co-founder and editor of the bright, funny, and boisterous Noble Rot Magazine, and the co-founder of the Noble Rot restaurants in London. Dan talks about leaving his plum position in the music industry—one he earned after discovering acts like Coldplay and Lily Allen (maybe you've heard of them)—to make a magazine about wine. In this conversation, Dan talks about how sharing his enthusiasm for wine is rapidly changing the culture of...

In this episode, Damian talks with the artist, writer, and coder Xiaowei Wang about their surprising findings about modern technology from their travels in rural China. Expanding on their book, Blockchain Chicken Farm, Wang shares models for decolonizing tech, challenges our ideas about rural vs urban innovation, and calls for a more expansive vision for global advancement (instead of a tech silver bullet). Influence is a production of WeTransfer, produced in association with Reasonable...

When Rose Hudson-Wilkin was first called to church ministry as a child, the Church of England did not allow women to be priests. But being told what she could and couldn’t do didn’t deter her then, and it doesn’t deter her now. On this episode, Bishop Rose speaks to Damian about her journey from growing up in Jamaica to becoming a bishop in the Church of England—the first Black woman allowed the position. She talks about using her role to challenge discrimination, stand up for the vulnerable,...

In this episode, Damian talks to responsible tech evangelist (and WeTransfer Board Chair) Martha Lane Fox. As a Crossbench Peer in the United Kingdom House of Lords, a board member of Twitter and Chanel, and an early startup success, Martha has a unique voice in some of the most influential rooms on the planet. In this conversation, she talks about bringing a European perspective to Twitter, how video conferencing has made it easier to speak up in the House of Lords, and how she uses her many...

To perceive colour for the first time, Neil Harbisson implanted an antenna into his skull. To experience the movement of earthquakes within her body, Moon Ribas implanted sensors into her feet. Damian meets the two cyborg artists and co-founders of the Cyborg Foundation to find out how technology has altered their perceptions of reality, blurred the lines between human and machine, and tested the boundaries of society. Influence is a production of WeTransfer, produced in association...

Damian meets Nichelle Tramble Spellman, the creator and showrunner of the Apple TV+  series Truth be Told. Nichelle discusses representation in Hollywood, being true to her characters, and how she’s supporting the next generation of filmmaking talent—and stories not often seen on the screen—with her production company The 51. Her work writing and producing for television influences not only what stories are told, but also how audiences see the world. Influence is a production of WeTransfer,...

Loneliness affects everything from our physical health to our voting choices, according to research from this episode’s guest, Noreena Hertz. Her book, The Lonely Century, chronicles a loneliness crisis across the developed world. On this episode, Damian and Noreena discuss how technology, neoliberalism, open offices, and cities contribute to loneliness, and what people, workplaces, and governments can do to bring people together. Influence is a production of WeTransfer, produced in...

Aaron Koblin's dazzling data art projects have animated Johnny Cash's music and brought an Arcade Fire music video to viewers' childhood homes. On today's episode, Damian talks to the artist, designer, and co-founder of the VR company Within about what it means to be a tech optimist today, how VR might lead to more compassion, and how to save ourselves from the tech beasts we've created. Influence is a production of WeTransfer, produced in association with Reasonable Volume. See...

Nadya Tolokonnikova brought Russian punk feminism into existence with the creation of Pussy Riot, a music group and conceptual art piece in one. The Putin government put her in jail for two years after one of her performances. Despite the risks, she's spent the past decade working at the intersection of art and activism. In our latest episode, Tolokonnikova speaks with Damian about what's happened since the early days of Pussy Riot, why she believes in NFTs and the growth of digital art, and...

Damian explores the delightfully manipulative power of magic with the magician and comedian Justin Willman. Together they unpack the basic human principles underlying the ‘attention economy’, subliminal messaging, and the element of surprise.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On today's episode, Damian talks to Eli Pariser, author of The Filter Bubble and co-founder of New Public, about designing digital public spaces for the future. Using examples from across the globe, Eli imagines how online communities can work on bringing people closer together instead of driving us further apart. Influence is a production of WeTransfer, produced in association with Reasonable Volume. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this revealing conversation with Damian, Brittany Kaiser shares what happened behind closed doors at Cambridge Analytica. She talks about Cambridge Analytica's involvement in Donald Trump's presidential campaign, how the company used our data against us, and her experience as a whistle-blower. Plus: The things she wants everyone to know about data privacy. Influence is a production of WeTransfer, produced in association with Reasonable Volume. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and...

In the season kick-off, Damian talks to Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s, about the company's founding principles and keeping its mission on course as one of the world's most recognised ice cream brands. The pioneers of responsible business share why the social mission should never be a ‘job done.’ Whether partnering with local businesses or taking fierce action against police brutality, the duo’s campaigning zeal is still as bright as ever. Influence is a...

The world is changing, and so is the way we’re influenced. In season 3, we explore the hidden gems, hot spots, and dark alleys in the world of communication. Damian Bradfield will talk to ice cream makers, a magician, and a whistleblower about the intersection of responsibility and power, taking a forensic look at the invisible forces that influence the way we think, feel, and act. Tune in on March 10th. Influence is a production of WeTransfer, produced in association with Reasonable...