Future of StoryTelling (FoST)
Society & Culture
About
The Future of StoryTelling (FoST) podcast is a series of conversations between FoST founder and CEO Charlie Melcher and some of the world’s brightest storytellers across a range of disciplines, focusing on how stories can help provoke positive and lasting change in the world.The Future of StoryTelling is a passionate community of people from the worlds of media, technology, and communications who explore how storytelling is evolving in the digital age.
Episodes
- The Stories of Smell — Sissel Tolaas, Revisited
This episode features Norwegian chemist, artist, and smell researcher Sissel Tolaas, who explores scent's potential for storytelling. Tolaas shares insights into analyzing smell molecules from various sources, including museum archives and…
- Building a Business Out of Play — Matt DuPlessie
Matthew DuPlessie, Founder & CEO of Level99, talks with Charlie Melcher about designing immersive experiences. He explains how Level99 prioritizes participation and player choice over traditional narrative structures, allowing the experien…
- Little Cinema, Big Ideas — Jay Rinsky
Jay Rinsky, founder of Little Cinema, explains how his studio creates immersive, shared cinematic experiences by combining film, live performance, and audience interaction. Little Cinema reimagines classic films into interactive events, mo…
- Netflix is Going Beyond the Screen — Greg Lombardo
Greg Lombardo, VP at Netflix, details the strategy behind Netflix House and real-world experiences, transforming shows like Stranger Things and Bridgerton into immersive physical environments. He discusses Netflix's approach to experience…
- Escaping Into Story — David Spira and Peih-Gee Law
Hosts David Spira and Peih-Gee Law examine escape rooms as participatory, immersive experiences, discussing their evolution, the growth of escape room tourism, and how interactive play influences learning, collaboration, and social connect…
- What Ice Cream Can Teach Us About Connection — Manish Vora
Manish Vora, CEO and co-founder of the Museum of Ice Cream, shares how a 30-day pop-up across from the Whitney Museum became a global experiential brand and helped define what he calls the “experium,” a mix between a museum and an experien…
- The 4 Elements of Transformative Experience — Margaret Kerrison, Revisited
We’re revisiting our conversation with writer and immersive storyteller, Margaret Kerrison, an episode first recorded following the launch of the ambitious Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience at Disney World in Florida. As a key arc…
- Mixed Reality and the Human Experience — Todd Eckert
Today, we speak with producer Todd Eckert of Tin Drum, a studio creating original work for mixed reality. While the medium remains unfamiliar to many, Todd has spent years exploring its potential as a form of storytelling that blends the p…
- Art as Activism, Activism as Art — Pierce Freelon, Revisited
We’re re-releasing a conversation from 2021 that remains strikingly relevant today. In this episode, we speak with Pierce Freelon– musician, filmmaker, social entrepreneur, and former Durham, North Carolina City Councilman– whose work sits…
- Scaling the Intimacy of Live Music — Warren Webster
Before Billie Eilish and Olivia Dean were winning Grammys and selling out at Madison Square Garden, they were performing in living rooms with Sofar Sounds. In this episode, we talk with Warren Webster, CEO of Sofar Sounds, about the import…
- Humanity is First — Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Revisited
Today, we’re re-releasing a favorite conversation and a 2024 Webby Award-nominated episode with acclaimed Mexican filmmaker, Alejandro González Iñárritu. Iñárritu is best known for directing Oscar-winning films like Birdman and The Revenan…
- Behind the Curtain of The Wizard of Oz at Sphere — Carolyn Blackwood and Ben Grossmann
What happens when one of Hollywood’s most beloved classics is reimagined for one of the most advanced immersive venues in the world? In this episode, Carolyn Blackwood and Ben Grossmann break down how they adapted The Wizard of Oz for the…
- The Future of Storytelling for Audiences — Charlie Melcher and Rohit Bhargava
We’re moving away from media that is flat, fixed, linear, and passive. The future of storytelling is embodied, immersive, agentic, responsive, and social — and this is what Charlie Melcher’s new book, The Future of Storytelling: How Immers…
- Inside The Shed’s Vision for Interdisciplinary Arts — Alex Poots
Since launching The Shed in 2019, Alex Poots has developed it into one of NYC’s most dynamic cultural institutions– a home for genre-defying performances, bold commissions, and unexpected collaborations. In this episode, he shares his insi…
- Directing the Machine — Eliza McNitt
Today’s guest is Eliza McNitt, an Emmy-nominated filmmaker working at the intersection of technology, science, and film. From her groundbreaking VR trilogy SPHERES to her latest AI film ANCESTRA , Eliza embraces emerging technologies to te…
- How SFMOMA Centers the Audience — Christopher Bedford
Today’s conversation is with Christopher Bedford, the Helen and Charles Schwab Director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Chris is leading a bold vision to make the museum community-centered, inclusive, and reflective of San Franc…
- Meta's Wearable Revolution — Shachar Scott
Today’s conversation is with Shachar Scott, VP of Global Marketing at Meta Reality Labs. Shachar has played a key role in introducing the world to immersive, wearable technology, like the Meta Quest headset and the wildly popular Ray-Ban M…
- Enriched Reality at Venice Immersive — Liz Rosenthal and Michel Reilhac
Today’s conversation is with Liz Rosenthal and Michel Reilhac, the curators of Venice Immersive, the Extended Reality section of the Venice International Film Festival. For close to a decade, Liz and Michel have put together one of the wor…
- Embodied Cognition and Sensual Media — Annie Murphy Paul, Revisited
Today on the podcast, we revisit an all-time favorite conversation with Annie Murphy Paul, author of The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain . Annie's insightful and informative book about embodied cognition is an invalu…
- Photos and Stories — Stephen Shore, Revisited
In this revisited conversation, renowned photographer Stephen Shore talks about the craft of photography, tells stories from his illustrious career, and shares his philosophy on art and life. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org .…
- Memoirs of a Theater Kid — Jeffrey Seller
Jeffrey Seller is the legendary Broadway producer behind shows like Rent , Hamilton , In the Heights , and more. His shows have won a combined 22 Tony Awards, including four for Best Musical, and he's the only producer to have mounted two…
- JR Reality and the Power of Portraits — JR, Revisited
French photographer and street artist JR is best known for his striking large-scale black and white portraits that he flyposts in public spaces. Today on the FoST Podcast, we revisit a conversation with him about his foray into digitizing…
- Embodied Storytelling in a Real-Life Game — Jeroen van Hasselt
Demise of the Gricers is a groundbreaking "real-life game" by interactive experience studio Entered. Brought to life in a former train yard in As, Belgium, it combines elements of immersive theater, video games, escape rooms, and LARP to c…
- Inside the AI Revolution with Secret Level — Jason Zada and Eric Shamlin
Jason Zada and Eric Shamlin lead the team at Secret Level, an AI-native entertainment studio that’s exploring new frontiers in storytelling. They made waves this past winter when they created a TV commercial for Coca-Cola with generative A…
- From Conversations to Change with Yerba Madre — Emily Kortlang
Yerba Madre (formerly Guayakí) is a certified B Corp that aspires to create more than just profits with their yerba mate teas. CMO Emily Kortlang and her team are doubling down on what makes the brand unique: their commitment to regenerati…
- Behind the Scenes Under the Dome — Eric Spring in ‘t Veld
Today's guest is Eric Spring in 't Veld, founder and creative director of Dutch escape room company Mama Bazooka. Eric and his team created the Netherlands' first-ever escape room in 2013, as well as the award-winning Girlsroom experience.…
- The Worth of Water — Scott Harrison, Revisited
On today's episode, we revisit a conversation with Scott Harrison, founder and CEO of Charity: Water. Scott and his team recently opened The Experience Lab by Charity: Water just outside of Nashville, where they utilize experiential storyt…
- Discovering Great Stories with The Black List — Franklin Leonard and Randy Winston
The Black List is a platform that helps writers get feedback on their work and connect with professionals who can bring their project to life. After twenty years of successfully uplifting writing for film, TV, and theater, they’ve now turn…
- Taking Design from Good to Great — Robert Brunner
Today’s guest is Robert Brunner, founder and creative director of Ammunition. Robert is one of the world’s foremost industrial designers, having worked on popular products from the iconic Beats headphones to the omnipresent Square terminal…
- The Stories of Smell — Sissel Tolaas
Sissel Tolaas is an expert on the art and science of smell. Her endeavor to help people rediscover this essential sense and understand its importance has led her to collaborate with some of the world’s top research institutions, cultural o…
- How to Design an Escape Room — Victor van Doorn, Revisited
On today’s episode of the FoST Podcast, we revisit a conversation with Victor van Doorn, co-founder and creative director of escape room company Sherlocked. He and other escape room creators like him aren’t just making timed puzzle rooms—…
- Storytelling's Future Normal — Rohit Bhargava
Rohit Bhargava is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur whose specialty is identifying the trends and innovations of the future that others tend to overlook. In this episode, he discusses his predictions for the next gene…
- Balanced and Connective Brand Storytelling — Angela Ahrendts, Revisited
For the last episode of 2024, we return to the very first conversation on the FoST Podcast with Angela Ahrendts. Angela has had an incredible career in business--she's been the CEO of Burberry, SVP of Apple Retail, and more--and in this di…
- Exploring the Experience Economy — Joe Pine, Revisited
Today on the FoST Podcast, we revisit a conversation with Joe Pine, co-author of the seminal 1999 book The Experience Economy: Competing for Customer Time, Attention, and Money . In it, Joe predicted that creating memorable experiences wou…
- Science is a Story — Vivienne Ming, Revisited
Today, we revisit a conversation with Dr. Vivienne Ming, theoretical neuroscientist, author, and serial entrepreneur. Dr. Ming has worked in AI and machine learning for 25 years, inventing multiple systems to improve health outcomes and ad…
- The Story of "The Work of Art" — Adam Moss
Earlier this year, celebrated magazine editor Adam Moss authored his first book, The Work Of Art: How Something Comes From Nothing . Inspired by his experience as a painter, Adam interviewed dozens of the best creatives of our time, from S…
- Cooking and Creativity at Attica — Ben Shewry
Ben Shewry is a chef, author, and co-owner of Attica Restaurant in Melbourne, Australia. Recognized as one of the top restaurants worldwide, Attica offers guests an experience that immerses them in Australia’s unique cuisine. In his new bo…
- Spherical Storytelling and Shared Reality at Cosm — Neil Carty
Cosm is a global immersive technology company that aims to democratize access to "shared reality" — highly immersive, highly social experiences — across the globe. Today's guest, Neil Carty, is Head of Cosm Studios and Labs, where he helps…
- Authentic Brand Engagement at Johnnie Walker Princes Street — Christian Lachel
BRC Imagination Arts has 40 years of experience creating brand experiences that are especially participatory, personalized, and emotionally engaging. One great example is Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh, Scotland, the creation o…
- Drone Storytelling at New Heights — Kimbal Musk
Kimbal Musk is the cofounder and CEO of Nova Sky Stories, the company that's pushing the boundaries of the new medium of aerial drone storytelling. Combining light and sound to create emotionally resonate experiences, Nova collaborates wit…
- The Rise of Uncle Nearest — Fawn Weaver
When Fawn Weaver learned that the first master distiller for Jack Daniel's Distillery was a formerly enslaved man named Nearest Green, she set out to tell his story in the best way she could think of: by creating a whiskey brand that celeb…
- Embodying Empathy with Global X-Perience — DJ Begbie
Hong Kong-based nonprofit Crossroads Foundation brings together those who are in need with those who can provide help. To raise awareness about global issues and create lasting change, they’ve come up with a unique approach: immersive, exp…
- Your Brain is a Storyteller — Theodore H. Schwartz
In his new book, Gray Matters: A Biography of Brain Surgery , neurosurgeon Dr. Theodore Schwartz delves into the history and practice of neuroscience. What he and his fellow scientists have discovered is that our lives are based on stories…
- Greater Humanity with Layered Reality — Andrew McGuinness
Immersive entertainment company Layered Reality's approach is, as the name suggests, layered: they combine components of immersive theater with new technologies to create productions that feel participatory, immersive, and alive. Today, th…
- Making Change One Story at a Time, Revisited — Jose Antonio Vargas
Today, we revisit an episode from 2020 with Jose Antonio Vargas, Founder of the nonprofit Define American. Drawing on his background as a journalist and his own experience as an undocumented immigrant, Jose created Define American to educa…
- Agency, Exploration, Discovery, Revisited — Vince Kadlubek
In this revisited episode, we go back to a conversation with Vince Kadlubek of legendary immersive art collective Meow Wolf, whose installations give visitors agency to re-engage their imaginations and create their own stories—an experienc…
- Good, True, and Beautiful, Revisited — Glen Keane
Legendary Disney veteran and Academy Award winner Glen Keane has made invaluable contributions to the art of animation. In this episode, we revisit a conversation from 2020 with Glen about his story, craft, and philosophy on creativity. Fo…
- Creating a Healthy AI Ecosystem, Revisited — Stephanie Dinkins
Since this 2020 conversation with artist, educator, and AI practitioner Stephanie Dinkins, essential questions about artificial intelligence have only become more pressing. In turn, Stephanie's method of approaching AI—with a conscious eye…
- "Silo" and Disrupting Entertainment, Revisited — Hugh Howey
Silo , the TV adaptation of Hugh Howey's acclaimed sci-fi novel Wool , has become one of Apple TV's hottest properties since it aired last May: it's earned a second season and several nominations in the forthcoming 2024 BAFTA Television Aw…
- Evolving Layers of Experience, Revisited — Felix and Paul
Today, we revisit a conversation from 2021 with immersive storytelling pioneers Félix Lajeunesse and Paul Raphaël of Felix & Paul Studios. For over ten years, these two have been carefully developing a unique experiential language— a l…