World Changing Ideas | Fast Company

World Changing Ideas

Join Fast Company’s Talib Visram as he investigates the innovations that are solving our biggest problems, from rethinking food production to developing a circular economy to taking on climate change. Available wherever you listen to podcasts. Subscribe now.

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RECENT EPISODES

How urban forestry can help battle climate inequality

It’s not enough to plant trees in cities. They need to grow in communities where access to nature has long been ignored.

How urban forestry can help battle climate inequality

How to build a fashion brand that considers both its workers and the planet

Another Tomorrow gets its wool from an ethical sheep farm in Tasmania, and avoids any silk—whose production involves boiling silkworms alive. But it also pays its workers a living wage. Its founder says these constraints make the clothes more interesting.

These real-life power-ups let gamers help fight child malnutrition

Nutritional food packs that can save children’s lives cost only 25 cents. Gamers can now help raise that cash—with the help of SpongeBob SquarePants.

These real-life power-ups let gamers help fight child malnutrition

In places where water is hard to access, these panels can grab it from thin air

Source Global’s technology has so far brought drinking water to Navajo Nation, Aboriginal Australians, and tribes in Colombia.

In places where water is hard to access, these panels can grab it from thin air

How these giant companies are working together to find the best ways to reuse ocean plastic

‘We think of [ocean-bound plastic] as waste, but it’s not. It’s actually a lost opportunity.’

How these giant companies are working together to find the best ways to reuse ocean plastic

This app lets hungry people secure their next meal with a text

Rather than waiting in line at a food bank, someone can just text the word “HUNGRY” to Bento, choose a nearby restaurant, and pick up a meal.

This app lets hungry people secure their next meal with a text

This novel approach to storytelling is designed for Gen Z readers

Young adults are engaging with a book that’s made specifically for Instagram, Snapchat, and Spotify.

This novel approach to storytelling is designed for Gen Z readers

This free environmental documentary streaming site is Netflix for the planet

It’s run by the executive producer of the Oscar-winning movie ‘My Octopus Teacher.’

This free environmental documentary streaming site is Netflix for the planet

How these mayors are bringing guaranteed income to their cities

On the ‘World Changing Ideas’ podcast, we spoke to two mayors who launched guaranteed income pilot programs in their cities—and to a recipient of those supplemental checks.

How these mayors are bringing guaranteed income to their cities

This company mines everyday plants for breakthrough discoveries

On today’s ‘World Changing Ideas’ podcast, we explore the ‘dark matter’ inside the plants we think we know so well.

This company mines everyday plants for breakthrough discoveries

We taste-tested Beyond Meat’s new burger

Transitioning from animal to plant-based is about improving the taste, says CEO Ethan Brown on Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas podcast, but also changing our long-held cultural attitudes.

We taste-tested Beyond Meat’s new burger

How this donation app helped get food directly to hungry people during the pandemic

On this week’s episode of the ‘World Changing Ideas’ podcast: how ironing out food distribution could be the key to solving hunger in America.

How this donation app helped get food directly to hungry people during the pandemic

This pregnancy test came back positive for the environment

Peeing on a stick has never been more sustainable.

This pregnancy test came back positive for the environment

Podcast: This sustainable sneaker company is coming for the industry giants

In this week’s episode of ‘World Changing Ideas,’ the founders of Brazilian brand Cariuma discuss how they make sustainable shoes without sacrificing style or performance.

Podcast: This sustainable sneaker company is coming for the industry giants

Podcast: Trucks are often empty—this company wants to make sure they’re always carrying cargo

In this week’s episode of our ‘World Changing Ideas’ podcast, we talked to the 2020 winner of the Transportation category, a company that helps pack cargo trucks more efficiently.

Podcast: Trucks are often empty—this company wants to make sure they’re always carrying cargo

This company is 3D-printing houses in North America. Next stop? The moon

Icon’s 3D-printed homes have helped tackle the housing crisis in Central Texas and rural Mexico. The company has even bigger goals for its future.

This company is 3D-printing houses in North America. Next stop? The moon

What if we replaced elected politicians with randomly selected citizens?

Congress would be made up of ordinary people, selected in lotteries, not elections. It’s an idea that goes back thousands of years—but is getting new attention.

What if we replaced elected politicians with randomly selected citizens?

One day, you might live in a 3D-printed house

Icon—a winner of Fast Company’s 2020 World Changing Ideas Awards—has built a 3D printer so large it can print the walls of a house in 24 hours.

One day, you might live in a 3D-printed house

Impact

When it rains more, there’s less economic growth (Bad news: There’s more rain now)

2021 was a year of labor action—but it didn’t translate into more unionized workers

Why Exxon’s ‘net zero’ pledge is meaningless

News

Why are Bitcoin, Shiba Inu, and Dogecoin crashing? Look to Wall Street

Check out Apple’s newest short film celebrating Chinese New Year, shot brilliantly on an iPhone

Wharton students think the average American makes six figures. Here’s the reality

Co.Design

4 clueless ways companies are responding to workers in crisis

The $50 billion plan to fight wildfires could be a surprise boon to the building industry

Ralph Lauren’s Olympic jackets automatically adapt to athletes’ body temp

Work Life

How to tell your ‘career story’ in a way that lands you a new job

Try this low-effort way to approach tasks, and watch your productivity skyrocket

Science shows friendships can keep us healthy. Here are 5 ways to make good friends