Future of StoryTelling (FoST)

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. Cast your vote for the FoST Podcast in the Webby Awards by going to this link: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2024/podcasts/individual-episodes/arts-culture For additional links, information, and more, visit our website at https://futureofstorytelling.org/case-study/kelly-leonard-second-city-and-the-power-of-yes-and/ -- © 2024 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix, Andrew Atkin Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Kelly Leonard, Bonnie Eldon, David Gray, Amy Snook, Michael Bass, Eitan Wolf, and Megan Worman.

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 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-real-with-the-chairman/id1735398501 For additional links, information, and more, please visit our website at fost.org. Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 2024 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix, Andrew Atkin Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Jim Weiss, Danielle Clark-Brown, Kate Vos, Bonnie Eldon, David Gray, Amy Snook, Michael Bass, Eitan Wolf, and Megan Worman.

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 popular live family entertainment. For additional links, information, and more, please visit our website at futureofstorytelling.org/case-study/juliette-feld-grossman-the-new-greatest-show-on-earth/ Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 2024 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix, Andrew Atkin Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Juliette Feld Grossman, Sabrina Lowe, Steve Yaros, Bonnie Eldon, Elisabeth March, David Gray, Amy Snook, Michael Bass, and Megan Worman.

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. Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 2024 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix, Andrew Atkin Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to John Hanke, Bonnie Eldon, Elisabeth March, David Gray, Amy Snook, and Megan Worman.

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 https://futureofstorytelling.org/case-study/paola-antonelli-design-in-our-time-at-moma/ Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 2024 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix, Andrew Atkin Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Paola Antonelli, Esther Omole, Bonnie Eldon, Elisabeth March, David Gray, Amy Snook, and Megan Worman.

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/ Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 2024 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix, Andrew Atkin Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Greg Lombardo, Bonnie Eldon, Elisabeth March, David Gray, Amy Snook, and Megan Worman.

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 futureofstorytelling.org/case-study/les-enfants-terribles-systems-for-immersive-storytelling/ Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix, Andrew Atkin Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to James Seager, Oliver Lansley, Laura Nicholson, Bonnie Eldon, Elisabeth March, David Gray, Amy Snook, and Megan Worman.

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/ Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix, Andrew Atkin Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Ajaz Ahmed, Bonnie Eldon, Elisabeth March, David Gray, Amy Snook, and Megan Worman.

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 what we aspire to at FoST: someone who believes in using new technology not for its own sake, but in the service of telling more powerful, empathetic, and human stories. For additional links, information, and more, visit our website at https://futureofstorytelling.org/case-study/alejandro-g-inarritu-humanity-is-first/ This episode has been nominated for "Best Episode of an Arts and Culture Podcast" in the 2024 Webby Awards! To help us win the People's Voice award, cast your vote here: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix, Andrew Atkin Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu, Paloma Quintanal, Bonnie Eldon, Elisabeth March, David Gray, Amy Snook, and Megan Worman.

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/. Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix, Andrew Atkin Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Maira Kalman, Kimisa H, Bonnie Eldon, Elisabeth March, David Gray, and Megan Worman.

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 futureofstorytelling.org/case-study/abraham-burickson-the-craft-of-experience-design/ Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix, Andrew Atkin Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Abraham Burickson, Bonnie Eldon, Meghal Janardan, Elisabeth March, Michael Bass, David Gray, and Megan Worman.

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 https://futureofstorytelling.org/case-study/stephen-shore-photos-and-stories/ Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Executive Producer, Mike Rugnetta Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Winston Fisher, Bonnie Eldon, Meghal Janardan, Elisabeth March, Michael Bass, David Gray, and Megan Worman.

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 https://futureofstorytelling.org/case-study/winston-fisher-at-area15-space-is-content/ Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Executive Producer, Mike Rugnetta Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Winston Fisher, Bonnie Eldon, Meghal Janardan, Elisabeth March, Michael Bass, David Gray, and Megan Worman.

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. Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Executive Producer, Mike Rugnetta Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to David Lubars, Bonnie Eldon, Meghal Janardan, Elisabeth March, Michael Bass, David Gray, and Megan Worman.

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 at fost.org. Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Executive Producer, Mike Rugnetta Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Kaitlin Yarnall, Bonnie Eldon, Meghal Janardan, Elisabeth March, Michael Bass, David Gray, and Megan Worman.

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 Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Executive Producer, Mike Rugnetta Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Kristin Gore, Damian Kulash, Bonnie Eldon, Meghal Janardan, Elisabeth March, Michael Bass, and Megan Worman.

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. Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Executive Producer, Mike Rugnetta Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Derek Ham, Bonnie Eldon, Meghal Janardan, Elisabeth March, Michael Bass, and Megan Worman.

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 website at futureofstorytelling.org/fost-originals/podcasts/ Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Executive Producer, Mike Rugnetta Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Ignacio Bachiller, Bonnie Eldon, Meghal Janardan, Elisabeth March, Michael Bass, and Megan Worman.

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, information, and more, visit our website at https://futureofstorytelling.org/case-study/the-future-of-sports-is-electronic/ Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Executive Producer, Mike Rugnetta Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Dan Sutton, Brenna Web, Bonnie Eldon, Meghal Janardan, Elisabeth March, Michael Bass, and Megan Worman.

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. Vote for the FoST Podcast in the 2024 Webby Awards by going to this link: https://bit.ly/4aHyD5t -- © 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 Merriman Assistant Producer, Madison Brown in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Executive Producer, Mike Rugnetta Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Jane Rosenthal, Bonnie Eldon, Meghal Janardan, Elisabeth March, Michael Bass, and Megan Worman.