Podcast
Most Innovative Companies
Hosted by Fast Company · EN
Which companies are on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence? What’s the next major breakthrough in healthcare? How do iconic brands reinvent themselves to appeal to the next generation? Most Innovative Companies is where tech, business, and innovation convene. Join hosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen as they bring you the latest innovations transforming business and society—and highlights the companies that are reshaping industries and culture.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why is Shein buying Everlane?
5d ago01:29:34Tap to summarizeOn today’s episode, cohosts Yasmin Gagne and Josh Christensen talk about some of the biggest stories in the Fast Company world. Next Yaz and Josh talk to Fast Company senior writer Elizabeth Segran about the deal between clothing brands Everlane and Shein. And finally, Fast Company executive editor Amy Farley interviews Sev Ohanian, the cofounder of Proximity Media, the production studio behind the movie Sinners. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news
Transcribe →Inside the evolution of Vans Warped Tour
2w ago01:07:30Tap to summarizeOn today’s episode, our cohost Yasmin Gagne is back! David Salazar and Josh Christensen catch her up on some of the biggest, weirdest, and most viral stories of the year in a new segment called “Unauthorized Superlatives.” Next, David talks with the Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman about how the touring festival began and evolved over 2025, their hiatus and comeback, and what to expect this year. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news
Transcribe →The race to build agentic commerce
3w ago01:25:39Tap to summarizeOn today’s episode, cohosts Bryan Lufkin and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the latest inflation report, OpenAI’s partnership with private equity, and selling Buzzfeed. Next, Bryan and Josh talk with Fast Company staff writer Elizabeth Segran about the race to build agentic commerce. And finally, Bryan talks with writer, speaker and Fast Company contributor Laëtitia Vitaud about why women over 50 are best equipped to deal with the world changed by AI. To read Elizabeth’s reporting, go to: fastcompany.com/91533534/shop-til-you-bot-google-openai-and-the-race-to-build-agentic-commerce To read Laetitia’s writing, go to: fastcompany.com/91505607/why-women-over-50-are-the-future-of-work-in-the-age-of-ai For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news
Transcribe →What to know about Apple’s new CEO
4w ago01:09:50Tap to summarizeOn today’s episode, cohosts Kristin Toussaint and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including Coinbase layoffs, GameStop’s bid to buy eBay, and Spirit Airlines’ shutdown. Next, Josh and Kristin talk with Fast Company global technology editor Harry McCracken to dive deep into what’s next for Apple and its new CEO, John Ternus. And finally, Kristin speaks with B Lab’s co-lead executive Sarah Schwimmer about the evolution of the company over the past 20 years, the ongoing challenges her team faces, and how companies can assess their social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news
Transcribe →Bluesky set out to fix social media. Now it’s running into familiar problems
Apr 2301:19:46Tap to summarizeOn today’s episode, cohosts Elizabeth Segran and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including SpaceX’s partnership with Cursor, Apple’s new CEO, and Allbirds’ pivot to AI. Next, Elizabeth and Josh talk with Fast Company contributing writer Tanya Chen on the problems Bluesky is running into. And finally, Elizabeth speaks with the CEO and president of GAP Global Brand Mark Breitbard on how GAP is reinventing itself and what’s next for the brand. To read more about Bluesky, go to fastcompany.com/91528304/bluesky-set-out-to-fix-social-media-now-its-running-into-familiar-problems For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news
Transcribe →Inside the SpaceX founder factory
Apr 1601:25:21Tap to summarizeOn today’s episode, cohosts David Salazar and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the latest on the war in Iran, 7-Eleven store closures, and Amazon’s bid to boost its satellite internet business. Next, David and Josh sit down with Fast Company senior writer Rebecca Heilweil to discuss her deep dive into what makes SpaceX an impressive founder factory. And finally, Josh and David are joined by Fast Company senior tech editor Max Ufberg in a game of sorts about the tech we use everyday. To check out Rebecca’s reporting, go to fastcompany.com/91518561/inside-spacex-founder-factory-race-solve-next-generation-impossible-problems For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news
Transcribe →Are robots actually taking over Amazon warehouses?
Apr 901:18:18Tap to summarizeOn today’s episode, cohosts Bryan Lufkin and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including Anthropic’s new AI model, the deal between Amazon and USPS, and the latest on the war in Iran. Next, Josh and Bryan talk with Fast Company staff writer Pavithra Mohan about how robotics is taking over Amazon warehouses. And finally, Bryan talks with the CEO of TED, Logan McClure Davda, about the transformation of TED and what the TED community will look like in the future. To check out Pavithra’s reporting on Amazon, go to fastcompany.com/91514112/what-will-the-robot-jobs-apocalypse-look-like-ask-amazon-warehouse-workers For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news
Transcribe →How Apple became Apple
Apr 201:20:08Tap to summarizeOn today’s episode, cohosts Kristin Toussaint and Josh Christensen discuss the latest news in business and innovation, including the latest on the war in Iran, layoffs at Oracle, and shutting down Sora. Next, Josh and Kristin talk with Fast Company global technology editor Harry McCracken about what he found out when he collected an oral history of Apple’s earliest days. And finally, Kristin speaks with Inequality Media cofounder Robert Reich and executive director of Inequality Media Heather Kinlaw Lofthouse on their organization and how the team educates a broad range of audiences about power imbalance and civic issues in the United States today. To read about Apple’s early days, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/91514404/apple-founding-50th-anniversary-apple-1-apple-ii-jobs-wozniak For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to fastcompany.com/news
Transcribe →Inside the innovation shaping food and dining
Mar 3000:37:30Tap to summarizeIn this special episode of Most Innovative Companies, host David Salazar goes behind the scenes of Fast Company’s flagship franchise to unpack how this year’s list comes together—and what it takes for a company to truly stand out. Joined by Fast Company contributor Clint Rainey and restaurant technology expert Kristen Hawley, the conversation explores how innovation shows up across the food and restaurant industries—from rethinking agriculture and supply chains to reinventing convenience and sustainability. You’ll hear how companies like Row 7 are reshaping the way we grow and experience vegetables, how Kraft Heinz is using AI to modernize a pantry staple, and why QuikTrip is turning gas stations into unexpected destinations for premium beverages. Plus, a look at Shia, a small but ambitious nonprofit restaurant proving that sustainability and profitability don’t have to be at odds. Along the way, the group breaks down what makes a strong Most Innovative Companies pick, how editors balance applications with industry expertise, and why impact—not just novelty—is the ultimate measure of innovation. Whether it’s a global brand or a 22-seat restaurant, this episode reveals how bold ideas in food are shaping the future of how—and what—we eat. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To see the Most Innovative Companies 2026 list:https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/list
Transcribe →Inside Fast Company’s Most Innovative AI Companies
Mar 2700:38:39Tap to summarizeIn this special miniseries, host David Salazar goes behind the scenes of Fast Company’s 2026 Most Innovative Companies list with two of the journalists who helped shape its AI coverage: senior writer Mark Sullivan and global technology editor Harry McCracken. Together, they break down why Fast Company separates AI from applied AI, and what that distinction reveals about the companies building the future of the category. The conversation spotlights three major players—Anthropic, Sierra, and Google—and explores what made each one stand out on this year’s list. Along the way, they discuss Anthropic’s rise in the enterprise market through Claude Code, Sierra’s push to reinvent customer service with AI agents, and Google’s comeback story as Gemini becomes central to its broader product ecosystem. They also dig into the editorial judgment behind the list itself: how Fast Company weighs innovation, business impact, momentum, and controversy in one of the most closely watched sectors in business. For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news To see the Most Innovative Companies 2026 list:https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/list
Transcribe →