Future of StoryTelling (FoST)

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 importance of connecting artists and fans through intimate live music to create community. Warren also discusses the economics of Sofar concerts and how they approach scaling this intimacy across the globe. Stay tuned to hear special Sofar Sounds live performances featured.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

To get your copy of Charlie’s b...

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 Revenant, but today, we discuss his work beyond Hollywood. Unpacking Carne y Arena, a groundbreaking virtual-reality installation centered on the lived experiences of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Alejandro embodies a storyteller who creates to evoke empathy and humanity.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

To get your copy of Charlie’s book, The Future of Storytelli...

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 Sphere. They discuss the technical challenges and creative opportunities of using VFX, generative AI, and 4D effects to pull audiences into the world of Oz, while preserving the authenticity of the original film.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

To get your copy of Charlie’s book, The Future of Story...

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 Immersive Experiences Are Transforming Our World is all about. In this episode, guest host Rohit Bhargava in collaboration with FoST members asks Charlie all about his book and how audiences can become “actiences.” 

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

To get your copy of Charlie’s book, The Future of Storytelling, visit thefutur...

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 insights on the space, its programming, and the evolving role of cultural institutions as platforms for innovative and interdisciplinary arts and storytelling.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

To get your copy of Charlie’s upcoming book, The Future of Storytelling, visit thefutureofstorytelling.com.

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Produc...

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 tell deeply personal and cosmic stories. In this conversation, we explore her creative evolution — and how she’s using AI to expand the language of storytelling and make the invisible visible.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

To pre-order your copy of The Future of Storytelling, and enter for a chance to win a customizable immersive getaway, click here...

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 Francisco’s cultural identity. In this episode, he shares how SFMOMA is adapting to a changing world and redefining what a modern museum can be.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

To pre-order your copy of The Future of Storytelling, and enter for a chance to win a customizable immersive getaway, click here.

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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 Meta glasses. In this episode, she shares her insights on what storytelling opportunities these devices present, how Meta has successfully gotten customers to adopt them, and the role authenticity plays in their marketing.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

To pre-order your copy of The Future of Storytelling, and enter for a chance to w...

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 world’s leading showcases for immersive arts and media, convening a global community of artists, technologists, and producers to experience and celebrate the evolution of immersive media. In this episode, they discuss this year's edition of Venice Immersive (showing from August 27 - September 6), what they've learned from watching immersive media grow, and how they anticipate the medium will continue to evol...

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 invaluable read for any storyteller interested in creating embodied, multi-sensory narratives.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

To get your copy of Charlie's upcoming book, The Future of Storytelling, visit thefutureofstorytelling.com

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© 2025 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Stree...

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. 

To get your copy of Charlie's upcoming book, The Future of Storytelling, visit thefutureofstorytelling.com

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© 2025 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Director, Carolyn Merriman

A...

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 shows that went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. This spring, Jeffrey published his autobiography, Theater Kid, an honest and moving reflection on his path to finding his place on Broadway, as well as an invaluable source of wisdom for anyone interested in building a business in a creative field. In this episode, he shares openly about his journey to...

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 the collaborative Inside Out project—where communities are invited to create their own public art in his style—and what the project has taught him about the power of giving people the space to tell their own stories.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2025 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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 create a first-of-its-kind story experience. In this conversation, Entered co-founder and creative director Jeroen van Hasselt takes us behind the scenes of the project to share how he and his team approached its unique design and what they learned from it.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2025 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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 AI, which sparked many conversations about AI’s role in the future of creativity. Today, Jason and Eric pull back the curtain on the advantages and challenges of this new technology that's helping artists dream bigger and move faster.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2025 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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 regenerating the planet and to creating dialogues, rather than just increasing sales. On today's episode of the FoST Podcast, Emily shares her fascinating insights on using a story-first approach to build relationships that go beyond product.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2025 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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. Their third project, The Dome, has been on TERPECA’s list of top ten escape rooms worldwide since 2019, and was ranked #1 in the world twice in a row in 2019 and 2020. In this episode, Eric goes in depth into the development, design, and evolution of this leading example of the genre.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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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 storytelling to help visitors foster empathy for people struggling to access clean water. To celebrate this new endeavor, please enjoy this conversation from 2020.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY...

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 turned their attention to a new industry: publishing. Today, The Black List Founder and CEO Franklin Leonard and Creative Director of Fiction Randy Winston talk about the platform’s expansion into fiction and what they’ve learned from supporting great, fresh voices.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2024 Future of StoryT...

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 to the Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader. In this episode, Robert shares his insights about the role that design plays in connecting people to brands and how he helps companies tell stories through their products.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

For more information on Charlie's SXSW session, click here.

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© 2024 Future of Stor...

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 organizations, and brands. Today on the FoST Podcast, she shares her learnings from thirty years of research on smell and how she imagines it could shape the future.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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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— they’re creating embodied, social story experiences that players love.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Director...

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 generation of stories, from immersive entertainment to generative AI to history itself.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Director, Car...

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 discussion shares invaluable insights on her approach to brand storytelling.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

D...

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 would become a key aspect of business in the future— a prediction we’ve seen borne out with the rise of immersive and experiential in entertainment, marketing, retail, and beyond. Joe is now working on his next book, a follow-up to The Experience Economy about transformation, which you can follow on his Substack at transformationsbook.substack.com.

To learn more, visit our webs...

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 address social issues. She uses data to help foreground more just and diverse stories—a talent and commitment that now is more important than ever.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10...

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 Stephen Sondheim to Sofia Coppola to Ira Glass. The result is a detailed study of the process of making art in many different disciplines— and a rich resource for any creative person. He shares his learnings on today’s episode of the FoST Podcast.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2024 Future...

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 book, Uses for Obsession, and on this episode of the FoST Podcast, Ben discusses how that experience came to be, as well as his personal learnings on creativity and culture in and around the kitchen— insights which are incredibly applicable to any storyteller.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2024 Future of StoryTe...

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 encourage and support creatives working in spherical storytelling. He talks about what makes Cosm special and the power of 360° content.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founde...

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 of which was spearheaded by today's guest: Chief Creative Officer Christian Lachel. Christian takes us behind the scenes at Princes Street to reveal how he and his team created one of the most authentic and immersive brand experiences out there today.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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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 with some of the best artists of our time to tap into the awe of looking up into the night sky. In this episode, Kimbal discusses their work and the future of this nascent art form.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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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 celebrates his legacy. In her new book, Love & Whiskey, Fawn shares what she learned of the incredible friendship between Nearest and Jack, the impact of their relationship, and how she turned that story into the fastest growing whiskey brand in American history.

To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. 

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, experiential programs on world need that allow people to have real emotions and foster genuine empathy. Director and senior spokesman DJ Begbie shares what these programs look like and why they're so effective.

To learn more, visit our website.

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by F...

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 that our brains construct, and those stories are not fact, but fiction. Ted is certainly not the first guest on this podcast to talk about the relationship between brain science and storytelling— but as a neurosurgeon, he comes at it from a uniquely hands-on perspective.

To learn more, visit our website.

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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, their CEO Andrew McGuinness joins us to talk about how he’s built such a successful immersive entertainment company and where he plans to take it next.

To learn more, visit our website.

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New...

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 educate storytellers, challenge stereotypes, and ultimately change the narrative around immigration, one story at a time.

To learn more, visit our website.

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder a...

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 experience that can be transformational.

To learn more, visit our website.

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Director, Carolyn Merriman

Assistant Pro...

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.

For additional links and more information, visit our website.

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Director, Carolyn Merriman

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 towards breaking down bias, rather than perpetuating it— has only become more necessary.

For additional links and more information, visit our website.

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO...

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 Awards among other accolades. To celebrate the success of Silo, we're revisiting this episode with Hugh about how Wool took the world by storm. 

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founde...

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 language which they’ve deployed to incredible effect in the location-based VR experience Space Explorers: The Infinite. Felix and Paul discuss the elements of this language and how it came to be in this revisited episode.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future o...

Improvisation is an essential skill for comedians at the famous Second City— and it’s a valuable skill for creators and businesses off stage, too. No one knows this better than Kelly Leonard, the Executive Director of Learning and Applied Improvisation at Second City Works. In this episode, Kelly shares some of his insights into how improv can make us better bosses, makers, friends, family members, and all around better people.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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We all get sick-- and yet somehow, so much of the communication from biopharmaceutical companies fails to connect with the average person. Jim Weiss, the Founder and Chairman of health innovation company Real Chemistry, is working to change that. In this episode, Jim shares how his consultancy is making healthcare communications more effective, creative, and human.

Listen to Jim's podcast, Get Real with the Chairman, here.

For additional links, information, and more, please visit our website.

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Co...

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey has been delighting Children Of All Ages for generations. However, The Greatest Show On Earth is anything but dated — after all, you don’t last for 150 years without regular refreshes. Join Juliette Feld Grossman, COO of Feld Entertainment, as she walks audiences through the new circus and how her family business has been so successful in creating wildly popular live family entertainment.

For additional links, information, and more, please visit our website.

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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On today’s episode of the FoST Podcast, founder and CEO of Niantic John Hanke discusses his company’s philosophy when it comes to making AR games, his predictions for the future of mixed reality, and Rangers Wanted, the brand-new AR app Niantic created with the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, Trigger XR, and FoST.

For more information, additional links, and more, visit our website.

Download Rangers Wanted for iOS here, and for Android here.

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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Paola Antonelli is Senior Curator of Architecture & Design at the Museum of Modern Art, where she’s been expanding the understanding and appreciation of design in all its forms for nearly 30 years. On this episode of the FoST Podcast, Paola asks thought-provoking questions about the value of design, illuminates design’s relationship to story, and discusses the evolution of the museum.

For more information, additional links, and more, visit our website.

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Str...

In this revisited episode, we return to a conversation from February 2023 with Greg Lombardo, VP and Head of Experiences at Netflix. As Netflix's experiential offering continues to grow, Greg's insights on creating immersive entertainment that successfully engages fans both on a deep level and on a large scale remain incredibly relevant.

For more information, additional links, and more, visit our website.

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© 2024 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Duration: 00:27:41

The high-touch, immersive storytelling of theater company Les Enfants Terrible’s show Alice’s Adventures Underground is made possible by a complex system behind the scenes. On this episode of the FoST Podcast, Creative Director James Seager and Artistic Director Oliver Lansley pull back the curtain to give us a special look at the magic that the audience doesn’t see.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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© 2023 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street<...

AKQA is not just one of the most successful design and innovation agencies in the world— it’s also a workplace that allows creative people to truly thrive. On today’s episode of the FoST Podcast, AKQA founder and CEO Ajaz Ahmed discusses his principles of leadership and how AKQA serves its clients, employees, and community.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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© 2023 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011...

This week, the FoST Podcast is celebrating a very special occasion: our 100th episode. For this milestone, we’re honored to interview Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu, the renowned filmmaker behind such critically acclaimed works as Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and The Revenant. He also created the immersive installation Carne y Arena, which uses VR and multisensory elements to powerfully convey the experience of immigrants at the US-Mexico border. Alejandro represents what we aspire to at FoST: someone who believes in using new technology not for its own sake, but in the service of telling more power...

For decades, Maira Kalman has worked on countless projects across many different kinds of media and with many different collaborators— all while staying true to her signature smart, funny style. On this episode of the FoST Podcast, she talks about cultivating curiosity, clarity, and confidence throughout her illustrious career.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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© 2023 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and...

Experience designers are working on turning the innate knowledge of human experience into a craft. Abraham Burickson's forthcoming book, Experience Design: A Participatory Manifesto, distills his learnings as one of the foremost experts in this field into a practical handbook for everyone who wants to create memorable, transformative experiences.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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© 2023 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder an...

On this special episode of the Future of StoryTelling Podcast, pioneering photographer Stephen Shore talks about the craft of photography, tells stories from his illustrious career, and shares his philosophy on art and life.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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© 2023 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Director, Carolyn Merriman

Assistant Producer, Madison Brown

AREA15 is the world’s first district dedicated entirely to immersive entertainment. Leading it is CEO Winston Fisher, whose real estate background gives him a unique perspective on location-based entertainment. Today on the FoST Podcast, Winston discusses how space can be considered content, what he’s learned from AREA15, and what a 21st century business model looks like.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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© 2023 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

New Yo...

As Chief Creative Officer of BBDO Worldwide, David Lubars is constantly adapting to change— a skill that has allowed him to lead the agency to become the most creatively recognized in the world. On today’s episode of the FoST podcast, David shares his insights on how BBDO creates magic in an environment full of mess.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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© 2023 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 100...

The mission of the National Geographic Society is to illuminate and protect the wonder of the world. Chief Storytelling Officer Kaitlin Yarnall, her team, and the storytellers they fund aim to achieve this goal by telling the right story in the right way to the right person. On today’s episode of the FoST podcast, Kaitlin shares insights on impact storytelling from one of the biggest scientific and educational nonprofits in the world.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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© 2023 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

In their new film, The Beanie Bubble, co-directors Kristin Gore and Damian Kulash look closely at the hopes and delusions behind a consumerist craze– and, perhaps, behind our society as a whole. On today’s episode of the FoST Podcast, Charlie sits down with this dynamic duo to explore their creative process, the themes of their film, and collaboration as a married couple.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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© 2023 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 1...

Derek Ham, PhD, is using the spatial and empathetic capacities of VR to illuminate stories from African American history, allowing participants to feel embodied in different moments in time. On today’s episode of the FoST Podcast, Derek and Charlie talk about revisiting history through space, empathizing with the full spectrum of emotions, and the opportunities presented by emerging media.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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124 West 13th Street

Fever is a platform that is filling a crucial hole in the live entertainment market: they’re not only curating the best events for users based on their interests, but also providing creators with the data they need to scale and improve their experiences. In today’s episode, Fever co-founder and CEO Ignacio Bachiller discusses how Fever works for both consumers and producers, and where he sees the live entertainment industry heading.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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© 2023 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Prod...

Esports are a rapidly growing entertainment phenomenon, drawing in millions of viewers from around the globe, particularly young people. As the developer and publisher of some of the world’s most popular esports, Riot Games is at the forefront of this field. Today, Riot’s Global Vice President of Esports Publishing, Dan Sutton, helps us understand what esports are and why the stories that arise from them are just as compelling as those in traditional sports.

For additional links, information, and more, visit our website.

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© 2023 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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In honor of the Tribeca Festival taking place this week in New York City, we’re revisiting a conversation with Tribeca’s CEO and co-founder Jane Rosenthal. In this episode, Jane discusses the festival’s important role in finding, highlighting, and supporting the development of new and diverse voices. 

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Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

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Assistan...

For years, French artist JR has been making statements by printing large-scale portraits and pasting them in public locations across the globe. Now, he’s using augmented reality technology to make it easier than ever for communities to share their stories. JR Reality, created with Superblue and Niantic, is a platform that lets anyone with a smartphone add their portrait and story to geotagged locations throughout their city. On today’s episode, JR talks about the creative process behind the app and what it means both for him and for the world.

For additional links, information, and more...

A true disruptor, Hugh Howey turned his sci-fi novella series Silo from a self-published ebook into a bestseller and now an acclaimed streaming series. On the occasion of Silo’s release on Apple TV+, Hugh talks about changing the traditional model of publishing, adapting his work to television, and the creative revolution he sees on the horizon.

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124 West 13th Street

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Founder and CEO, Charles Mel...

Industrial Light & Magic sets the gold standard for visual effects and immersive storytelling in collaboration with some of the world's most popular IPs. On today’s episode of the FoST podcast, ILM’s SVP, Chief Creative Officer Rob Bredow and VP of Immersive Content Vicki Dobbs Beck discuss the work of ILMxLAB and the exciting ways that storytelling is becoming more immersive than ever with AR, AI, and other next-generation technologies.

For additional links and more information, visit our website.

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Produ...

With critically acclaimed shows worldwide, Punchdrunk is the company that put immersive theater on the map. On today’s episode of the FoST Podcast, Punchdrunk’s founder and artistic director Felix Barrett gives us a very special “one-on-one”– he’ll take us through their iconic production Sleep No More from beginning to end, illuminating the creative process behind it all along the way.

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In their new book Your Brain on Art, VP of Hardware Design at Google Ivy Ross and Founder and Director of the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Susan Magsamen show that great art and stories are not just enjoyable, but necessary for us to flourish as humans. On this episode of the FoST Podcast, they discuss the neuroscience supporting their hypothesis and the culture shift needed to help us live fuller, more artistic lives.

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Burning Man is much more than an event– it’s a co-created immersive world. Marian Goodell, the CEO of Burning Man Project, has helped the community grow while maintaining its culture, spirit, and collaborative ethos. On this episode of the FoST Podcast, Marian talks about what makes Burning Man such a fertile ground for creativity.

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124 West 13th Street

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Dir...

Chief Metaverse Officer at Journey and “Godmother of the Metaverse” Cathy Hackl is paying close attention to the metaverse– and if you’re a creator or an entrepreneur, you should be too. On this episode of the FoST Podcast, Cathy shares how she defines the metaverse, what opportunities it’s creating for commerce and creativity, and how she’s working towards a protopian world both physical and virtual.

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124 West 13th Street

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Escape rooms give audiences the opportunity to use their minds and bodies in an exciting, participatory experience. Victor van Doorn and his company Sherlocked are taking that offering to the next level by integrating deep storytelling into their rooms for an altogether more immersive experience. Hear Victor talk about how Sherlocked designs with an eye towards narrative and flow on today’s episode of the FoST podcast. 

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Fans dream of living in their favorite storyworlds, and as Head of Experiences at Netflix, Greg Lombardo is helping make those dreams come true for lovers of shows like Stranger Things and Bridgerton. What's more, he and his team are bringing shows to people in cities across the globe, producing immersive experiences at incredible scale. In this episode, Greg discusses the strategy behind these experiences and what makes them special. 

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As new technology arises, so do new opportunities for expression, empathy, and empowerment. Our guest today, Alton Glass of GRX Immersive, shares how he’s making the most of these opportunities and helping others do the same through educational programs designed to help diverse creators take advantage of virtual reality and other emerging forms.

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124 West 13th Street

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Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Director, Carolyn Merriman

We all play roles in our day-to-day lives– but we don’t always have a choice in them. Roleplaying games, and particularly live action roleplays (aka “LARP”), allow us to reclaim the ability to decide who we’re going to be, both within the game and beyond. On today’s episode of the FoST Podcast, Dr. Sarah Lynne Bowman shares her learnings on how roleplaying games work and why they’re becoming more and more popular.

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Today’s marketers are tasked with telling stories that not only represent their products, but that also empower their customers. As VP of Global Marketing at Google, Marvin Chow understands better than anyone how important it is for a brand to have a positive impact and help its users do the same. On this episode of the FoST Podcast, Marvin shares learnings on marketing for one of the biggest brands in the world.

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Creators, marketers, and other storytellers have long wondered: could there ever be an objective measurement of how moving our stories are to audiences? Neuroscientist and tech entrepreneur Paul J. Zak says yes— and he's studied 50,000 brains to back up his claims. Paul shares science-based insights on what makes stories effective from his new book, Immersion: The Science of the Extraordinary and the Source of Happiness, on this episode of the FoST podcast. 

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124 West 13th Street

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In recent years, brick-and-mortar retail has been facing a crisis. But Ben Kaufman and his family experience company, CAMP, have come up with a solution: make shopping in person a memorable, immersive experience. On this episode of the FoST podcast, Ben discusses how CAMP is combining play, product, and programming to give young families a place to make memories together. 

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124 West 13th Street

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With immersive experiences becoming more and more popular, it's important to ask: what makes an experience not just entertaining, but transformative? Margaret Kerrison, former Disney Imagineer and multi-award winning writer for immersive experiences, shares her answer to that question and more from her new book, Immersive Storytelling for Real and Imagined Worlds: A Writer’s Guide.

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124 West 13th Street

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Singer/songwriter Aloe Blacc sits down to talk about what makes a song “evergreen,” how he writes his lyrics, and the potential of machine learning in art.

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124 West 13th Street

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Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Director, Carolyn Merriman

Assistant Producer, Madison Brown

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Found...

Co-founder & CEO of thatgamecompany, visionary designer of Journey (2012) and Sky: Children of the Light (2019), and game media evangelist Jenova Chen talks about designing video games that bring out the best in people. 

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124 West 13th Street

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Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Director, Carolyn Merriman

Assistant Producer, Madison Brown

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

David Byrne, multi-award-winning artist and front man of Talking Heads, shares the insights and aspirations that shaped his newest immersive project, Theater of the Mind. 

For additional links, episode transcripts, and more, visit our website. 

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124 West 13th Street

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Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Director, Carolyn Merriman

Assistant Producer, Madison Brown

in collaboration with Cha...

Marc Simons, co-founder of Giant Spoon, the agency behind the legendary Westworld SXSW activation discusses immersive as a tool for building brands.

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

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Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Producer, Sarah Vitak

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Founder, Jason Oberholtzer

Executive Producer, Mike R...

Want to know the future of the metaverse? Ask author, futurist, and digital media trailblazer, Robert Tercek. Hear his forecasts on the future of virtual reality on this week's episode.

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Producer, Sarah Vitak

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

F...

Jessica Brillhart shares stories about the highs and lows of working with an emerging technology and takes a look at the past, present, and future of VR cinematography.

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Producer, Sarah Vitak

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Founder, Jason O...

Innovator in the world of narrative gaming, Sam Barlow, talks about making games that break the mold and letting the player drive the story.

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Producer, Sarah Vitak

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Founder, Jason Oberholtzer

Executive P...

Zach Morris, Tom Pearson, and Jennine Willett of Third Rail Projects on caring for the audience, incubating new work, and intimacy versus scale.

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

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Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Producer, Sarah Vitak

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Founder, Jason Oberholtzer

Chief engagement officer at Salesforce.org, Cristina Jones, weighs in on the power of listening to your audience, using storytelling for good, and why action leadership is the new thought leadership.

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

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Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Producer, Sarah Vitak

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Peabody Awardee and “Godmother of Virtual Reality,” Nonny de la Peña shares her vision for the future of immersive journalism and virtual reality.

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Producer, Sarah Vitak

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Founder, Jason Oberholtzer

E...

Chris Alden, founder of Palace Games, named one of the top escape room companies in 2020 by TERPECA, gives us a peak behind the curtain at how story, experience, and technology all factor into designing great escape rooms.

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

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Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Producer, Sarah Vitak

Associate Producer, Luke Gernert

Duration: 00:31:59

Writer and digital anthropologist Frank Rose shares his insights about how the art of storytelling shapes our world, changes with new technology, and is wired into our brains.

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Producer, Sarah Vitak

Associate Producer, Luke Gernert

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Kathryn Hymes and Hakan Seyalıoğlu, the cofounders of Thorny Games, discuss inventing games as children, play as an integral part of being human, and designing games that allow players to co-create the story.

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Producer, Sarah Vitak

Associate Producer, Luke Gernert

<...

Literary icon Margaret Atwood discusses the future and the effects that stories can have upon it. 

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Associate Producer, Luke Gernert

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Founder, Jason Oberholtzer

Executive Producer, Mike Rugnetta

Editor, Garrett Cr...

StoryFile cofounder & CEO Stephen Smith discusses his company's pioneering technology, which allows users to converse directly with history. 

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Associate Producer, Luke Gernert

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Founder, Jason Oberholtzer

Executive Producer, Mike Rugnetta

Ed...

Award-winning writer, director, and producer Bernie Su discusses his innovative approach to building interactive stories for brand new mediums. 

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Associate Producer, Luke Gernert

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Founder, Jason Oberholtzer

Executive Producer, Mike Rugnetta

...

Artist & designer Dario Calmese discusses predictive design, the sources of inspiration and creativity, and his practice of beginning every creative project with writing.

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Associate Producer, Luke Gernert

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Founder, Jason Oberholtzer

Executive Producer, Mike Rugnetta Duration: 00:31:32

Author and neuroscientist Anil Seth discusses his book Being You: A New Science of Consciousness and brings his scientific perspective to bear on topics including embodied storytelling, co-creation, artificial intelligence, and how the stories that we hear and tell can change our experience of the world around us. 

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

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Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Me...

Moment Factory cofounder Sakchin Bessette discusses the studio's process, philosophy, and techniques, and explores broader questions about the field of immersive entertainment. 

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Associate Producer, Luke Gernert

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Founder, Jason Oberholtzer

...

Acclaimed science writer Annie Murphy Paul discusses her book "The Extended Mind," how the process of thinking actually takes place both inside and outside the brain, and the connections between extended thinking and embodied storytelling. 

For more information, visit our site.

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© 2022 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

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Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Associate Producer, Lu...

Film-making duo and co-founders of Felix & Paul Studios, Félix Lajeunesse and Paul Raphaël, discuss their journey to becoming experts in virtual reality cinema, how the role of storytelling in VR has evolved, and the process behind their groundbreaking collaboration with NASA, which brought audience members to space (virtually) for the first time. 

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© 2021 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

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Founder and CEO, Charles Melc...

Founder of Second Life and High Fidelity Philip Rosedale discusses how online and virtual worlds have changed since Second Life's inception and shares his insights about the metaverse. 

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© 2021 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Associate Producer, Luke Gernert

in collaboration with Charts & Leisure

Baobab Studios Founder and CEO Maureen Fan discusses her passion for animation, her company's unique approach to VR production and interactive storytelling, and the challenges of being a female Asian CEO in a sector dominated by white men. 

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© 2021 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Associate Producer, Luke Gernert

Microsoft Corporate VP of Global Events, Production Studios, and Marketing Community Bob Bejan discusses the lessons learned from Microsoft's shift to virtual events during the pandemic, and how those lessons can apply to the broader developing world of virtual and interactive entertainment. 

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© 2021 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.

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124 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher

Executive Producer, Carolyn Merriman

Associate Producer, Luke Ge...