07-26-19

Airlines are fixing the middle seat, but will it work?

A third of passengers on planes get stuck with a middle seat, getting smushed for hours at a time in a chair that costs exactly the same ticket price as a window or aisle. The Federal Aviation Administration has recently approved a new design that is likely to make the middle seat less unbearable. Fast Company hit the streets of New York to find out what people thought of the new design.

Latest Videos

Could your side hustle become a second career?

In this episode of Hit the Ground Running podcast, Yasmin and Christina turned to Jasmine Lawrence, founder of natural hair and body care line Eden BodyWorks, to learn more about how to turn their hobbies into additional streams of income. In addition to being the CEO of her own company, Lawrence is a product manager on the Everyday Robot Project at X. The first thing she advises? Stop thinking of your side hustle as a secondary job. Instead, think of yourself as someone who has dual careers.

Could your side hustle become a second career?

Lil Nas X is reinventing the rules of music promotion

Lil Nas X uses his Nike lawsuit controversy to promote his new Kanye West-produced single, and the Frito-Lay strike shows the not-so-hot working conditions behind your Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. This is Fast Company’s brand hit and miss of the week.

Lil Nas X is reinventing the rules of music promotion

Texting this one word connects the hungry to food with dignity

In the United States, food insecurity isn’t caused by a lack of food, but by a lack of access to the food available. It affected one in four households in 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated the situation. Meanwhile, 96% of Americans have a cellphone. Bento is a text-message-based platform that connects people in need to prepaid meals at local restaurants and grocery stores.

Texting this one word connects the hungry to food with dignity

How Ryan Reynolds created an ingenius marketing metaverse

The star hilariously uses his ‘Deadpool’ character to promote his new movie ‘Free Guy,’ and staff at a Nebraska Burger King have it their way and quit. This is Fast Company’s brand hit & miss of the week.

How Ryan Reynolds created an ingenius marketing metaverse

How Nike stays ahead of the curve with its socially conscious marketing

It feels like, in recent years, there is no escape from brands speaking out on social and political issues. But amidst the cancel-culture chaos of socially conscious marketing, one brand stands out for its authenticity. So how does a company like Nike, with 60,000 employees, decide what issues it wants to tackle and the best way to go about it? Host Chris Denson spoke with Jarvis Sam, VP, Diversity & Inclusion, and Melanie Auguste, VP, Global Brand Marketing, about their approach.

How Nike stays ahead of the curve with its socially conscious marketing

The ad industry just got a wake-up call for its mistreatment of women

Looks like not much has changed since the Mad Men era, as hundreds of women recently shared their horror stories about working in advertising, and Heinz ketchup uses hot dog controversy to create its latest ad campaign. This is Fast Company’s brand hit & miss of the week.

The ad industry just got a wake-up call for its mistreatment of women

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

On this episode of the Hit the Ground Running podcast, Yasmin and Christina talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. They also speak with Joseph Johnson, chief people officer at Mansueto Ventures.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Megan Thee Stallion in a fintech ad? Here’s why it works

Introducing Fast Company's brand hit and miss of the week. Cash App drops $1 million with Megan Thee Stallion, and Toyota doesn't let disregarding democracy get in the way of its political donations.

Megan Thee Stallion in a fintech ad? Here’s why it works

Can AI unlock the hidden potential of plants?

On this episode of the ‘World Changing Ideas’ podcast, Brightseed cofounder and COO Sofia Elizondo discusses the AI her company has developed to find nutrients in plants that can be used as preventive medicine.

Can AI unlock the hidden potential of plants?

The founders of Philadelphia International Records look back at 50 years of Philly Soul

This Black Music Appreciation Month, Fast Company’s KC Ifeanyi spoke with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff—the innovative founders of Philadelphia International Records. As Gamble and Huff celebrate the 50th anniversary of PIR, the two explain the importance of their label and how they created that signature Philly Soul sound. KC also caught up with Dr. Mark Anthony Neal, professor of African and African American Studies at Duke University, and Philly legend DJ Jazzy Jeff on how PIR has impacted their lives and careers.

The founders of Philadelphia International Records look back at 50 years of Philly Soul

Impact

The Bootleg fire is burning through trees that are being used as carbon offsets

How to unearth the startup talent in middle America

This beach-cleaning robot sifts sand for the tiny plastics that humans miss

News

Duolingo is now worth $6.5 billion, and its CEO is having a very big day

Can vitamin D protect you from COVID-19? Here’s what the latest research says

How creative are you? This 4-minute word test will tell you

Co.Design

Why Sonos and The North Face are putting an Antarctic expedition in your ears

Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine are redesigning high school from the ground up

Why you’re seeing so much neon in this year’s Olympic Games

Work Life

How to tell if your company is ready for employees to work-from-anywhere

How to craft wellness rewards that’ll actually motivate your teams

My company is growing fast and my team is overwhelmed. What should I do?