Shows
America's CupPrepare for turbulenceThe longest-ever government shutdown this fall lasted 43 days and severely impacted air travel, from millions of delays and cancelations to hours-long waits at security.Though that chaos has concluded, aviation still isn’t stress-free for travelers. There’s still a shortage of air traffic controllers, while the powers that be are more focused on cracking down on flyers wearing pajamas, and installing pull-up bars in airports.With a multi-national tournament, there will be much criss-crossing countries. After the World Cup draw, we know fans of Croatia, Germany, and Japan will have to cross international borders at l...
2025-12-1224 min
America's CupPointless palm trees and secret public bathroomsSpread out across Los Angeles County there are 10 million people, a bigger population than that of 40 other states combined.The sprawling, smoggy city of Los Angeles is no stranger to hosting big events, for athletes and Hollywood stars alike. But it’s in a new era of hosting continuous mega-events: eight World Cup games in 2026, the 2027 Super Bowl, and the culmination in the 2028 Olympics.Journalist Alissa Walker has been following the preparation in granular, hyper-local detail on her newsletter, Torched (sign up here!). She joins me today to talk LA and its World Cup prep, fr...
2025-11-2136 min
America's Cup"Insanity": Miami hosts as Florida cracks down on immigrationUnder Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida has become a hotbed for immigration enforcement. Local police in cities and counties, as well as Florida Highway Patrol, have been authorized to carry out ICE-adjacent duties like detaining people suspected of breaking federal immigration laws.In a state where a quarter of residents are immigrants, many residents are “living in the shadows,” says Yareliz Mendez-Zamora, a social justice advocate with the American Friends Service Committee. And amid the “insanity,” Miami intends to put out the welcome mat for thousands of international visitors.Miami is a gateway to Latin America, a crucia...
2025-11-1225 min
America's CupInside the World Cup's massive volunteer programAmong those involved in making sure the World Cup goes off as smoothly as possible, the front-facing organizing roles often get the most credit and coverage. But there’s a giant volunteer force at work behind the scenes. The unsung, on-the-ground heroes that truly power the tournament.At Qatar, that force was made up of 20,000 volunteers, whittled down from 420,000 applicants. In 2026, there will be 65,000 volunteers. So across the 16 host cities, there are lengthy and intense application processes to select the lucky thousands who will work across hospitality, fan zones, ceremonies; as airports meeters-and-greeters, stadium assistants, and cultural am...
2025-10-3031 min
America's CupUruguay 1930 to Qatar 2022: The 22 tournaments that came beforeTalib interviews Jonathan Wilson, one of the preeminent football writers of our time. His new book, The Power and the Glory, is the definitive history of the World Cup. Each chapter is dedicated to the 22 tournaments that have gone before, from Uruguay 1930 to Qatar 2022. Wilson is unrivaled in his ability to set up political and economic context, show the soccer stakes, and weave through compelling and funny anecdotes.The discussion is about the 2026 World Cup—and the issues explored on this newsletter and podcast—through a lens of historical parallels and precedents. They get into everything from Muss...
2025-10-1644 min
America's CupAtlanta can do big. But this is bigger than bigCall it what you want: A blue ribbon core in a red state. The city in a forest. The little engine that could.These are all terms used to describe Atlanta by today's guests: Katie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of Metro Atlanta’s Chamber of Commerce; and Rich McKay, CEO of the Atlanta Falcons. McKay also oversees Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the Falcons play—and where Atlanta will host eight World Cup matches next summer, including a semi-final.On a visit to New York to talk up their town, they sat down with Talib to chat all...
2025-10-0740 min
America's CupFlagging freedomsThis episode delves into the multi-faceted role of flags in the context of the upcoming 2026 World Cup in the United States. Talib discusses the political implications of flag-waving, and examines how the rights to protest and freedom of expression may be challenged. Guest interviews are Emerson Sykes from the ACLU, who explores legal aspects and potential governmental responses to protests, and César Jiménez Martínez from the London School of Economics, who provides a philosophical perspective on the significance of flags in national identity and protest movements. The episode also considers past World Cups, the symbolism of fla...
2025-09-3032 min
America's CupSafety is frictionIn the first podcast episode of America’s Cup (also a Substack newsletter), Talib discusses the complex interplay of security, politics, and logistics involved in hosting the 2026 World Cup in the United States. With a backdrop of consistent gun violence highlighted by the recent shooting of Charlie Kirk, the conversation delves into the uncertainties and planning challenges for such a high-profile event. He interviews Juliette Kayyem, an expert in mega-event security, and a former U.S. Homeland Security personnel, to explore how safety measures will be managed across multiple cities while maintaining an enjoyable atmosphere for fans. Topics covered in...
2025-09-1824 min
Fast Company DigestEssential stories from Fast Company for the week of February 26-March 1What do job interviews look like when conducted by AI bots? Also, writer Talib Visram interviews the dean of the CUNY Journalism School about why, even amid mass media layoffs, applications are up more than 45%.
2024-02-2922 min
World Changing IdeasFlashback: How a pair of shoes can help drop the carbon footprintLet's rewind to when Talib Visram chatted with Cariuma Co-founders Fernando Porto and David Python about their mission to make the footwear industry more sustainable using materials like sugar cane and bamboo.
2023-04-1232 minWorld Changing IdeasFlashback: How we can prevent food waste and change our food system for the betterA look back on a conversation between Talib Visram and Full Harvest Founder and CEO Christine Moseley about her passion for the environment, affordable healthy food, and efficiencies.
2023-04-0522 min
Creative ControlNew Year's Special - Reflecting on 2021Today we have a special holiday episode where KC chatted with World Changing Ideas Host Talib Visram and The New Way We Work Host Kate Davis to reflect on the past year here at Fast Company and to share some of their New Year's resolutions.
2021-12-2729 min
The New Way We Work2021 In Review and New Year's ResolutionsToday we have a special holiday episode where Kate Davis is joined by KC Ifeayni--host of Creative Conversation--and Talib Visram--host of World Changing Ideas--to reflect on the past year here at Fast Company and to share some new year's resolutions
2021-12-2730 minWorld Changing IdeasHow a 3D Printer Could Help End HomelessnessWhile the pandemic has exposed underlying issues of housing insecurity for many Americans, homelessness in the U.S was already a massive crisis.Talib Visram talks with Jason Ballard, CEO and co-founder of ICON, a digital construction company that 3D-prints houses. They discuss how this new technology will revolutionize homebuilding — and potentially make it to the moon.
2021-03-3130 minWorld Changing IdeasHow Can We Make Our Democracy Better? Go Back to Ancient GreeceFor many years the U.S has seemed more politically divided than ever before. Only 16 percent of Americans think democracy is working well and almost 80 percent live under one-party rule in their state.Talib Visram talks with Adam Cronkright about of by for*, a non-partisan, non-profit organization he co-founded, which aims to replace politicians with everyday people.
2021-03-1729 minWorld Changing IdeasHow One CEO Decided to Pay Every Employee $70,000The federal minimum wage has not increased since 2009. Lawmakers are haggling over different ways to introduce legislation for a wage hike but until that happens, company leaders have stepped in with their own plans.Talib Visram talks with Gravity Payments CEO and Founder Dan Price about his decision to increase his employees' salaries to a minimum of $70,000.
2021-03-0336 minCreative ControlLIVE SHOW: The Year That Changed EverythingOn December 16, Fast Company Podcast Network went live on Facebook and Youtube. Creative Conversation host, KC Ifeanyi, was joined by Kate Davis--host of Secrets of the Most Productive People--and Talib Visram--host of Fast Break--to talk about 2020.
2020-12-2143 minWorld Changing IdeasLIVE SHOW: The Year That Changed EverythingOn December 16, Fast Company Podcast Network went live on Facebook and Youtube. Creative Conversation host, KC Ifeanyi, was joined by Kate Davis--host of Secrets of the Most Productive People--and Talib Visram--host of Fast Break--to talk about 2020.
2020-12-2144 minThe New Way We WorkLIVE SHOW: The Year That Changed EverythingOn December 16, Fast Company Podcast Network went live on Facebook and Youtube. Creative Conversation host, KC Ifeanyi, was joined by Kate Davis--host of Secrets of the Most Productive People--and Talib Visram--host of Fast Break--to talk about 2020.
2020-12-2144 minThe New Way We WorkHow to Beat Open Office DistractionsIn Season 1 of Secrets of the Most Productive People, we examined why people found it so difficult to focus in an open office. This week, we try to figure out how beat the distractions that make open office work so hard. Fast Company editorial assistant, Talib Visram, tried out three different methods to combat open office distractions and then reported back to co-host Pavithra Mohan on what he learned, what he'd do differently, and how effective each method was in helping him be more productive.
2020-02-2427 min