Playwright and director Aleshea Harris knew early on she wouldn’t be satisfied playing a role in someone else’s story—she wanted to create her own. Harris initially set out to be an actor, but quickly realized the limits of waiting for permission to tell more expansive stories centered on the Black experience. So began her career as one of the most fearless playwrights in contemporary theater, with works including What to Send Up When It Goes Down, On Sugarland, and Is God Is, the latter of which has been adapted into a film. But Harris didn’t hand the reins to another director—she took on the challenge of extending her vision from stage to screen on her own terms. In this episode, Harris explores transforming Is God Is into a film, what new muscles she’s developed as a first-time director, and how she thinks about white audiences consuming her very Black art.

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In 2022, Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell was the global head of social and editorial at Twitter until he was part of the mass layoffs following Elon Musk's acquisition of the company. Terrell and his fellow Twitter alum DeVaris Brown immediately pivoted to create their own social media platform, Spill. After years of seeing how harmful and exploitative social media apps can be to Black and queer folks in particular, they were determined to design a space to serve and safeguard the communities that actually drive online culture. 

It's easy to think of Spill as Black Twitter getting its own platform. And while Terrell is devoted to maintaining the trust of its users and building more equity for them, what he really sees Spill becoming is an operating system for fandom.

In this episode of Creative Control, Terrell explains how being a "failed" musician set his career in motion, what the future of fandom looks like, how he's navigating brand partnerships with community trust, and what growth opportunities he sees for Spill in a very chaotic social landscape.

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When Riz Ahmed feels lost in his creative endeavors, he asks two questions: Does it stretch me? Does it stretch culture? Those questions have guided Ahmed to an Oscar- and Emmy-winning acting career (The Long Goodbye and The Night Of, respectively), a boundary-pushing music catalog, and stories that have redefined who gets to be seen at the center of the frame. And now, in the latest chapter of his career as WePresent's guest curator, he’s posing those two questions to all creatives. 

In this episode of Creative Control, we explore how Ahmed is utilizing his role as WePresent's guest curator (a role previously held by the likes of Marina Abramović, Solange Knowles, and Olafur Eliasson) and how his upcoming version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet ties directly into his vision of stretching culture—particularly at a time when it needs it most. 

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To listen to the latest episodes of Creative Control on Fast Company:https://www.fastcompany.com/podcasts/creative-control

In 2022, Jennette McCurdy shook the culture with I’m Glad My Mom Died, a brutally honest memoir that spent more than 80 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, sold more than 3 million copies, and is now being adapted as a series for Apple TV+. But more than anything, the book marked a turning point for McCurdy as she reclaimed writing—not acting—as her true creative home.

Now, she’s pushing her passion even further with her debut novel, Half His Age. The book follows Waldo, a 17-year-old student who enters an affair with her married English teacher. It’s an unsettling, razor-sharp examination of power, consent, female rage, class, and consumerism.

In this conversation, McCurdy unpacks her writing process (it’s a full-body endeavor), the discomfort she’s intentionally leaning into, and what it means to take full authorship—and creative control—of her career.

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Grammy-winning producer Hit-Boy has shaped the sound of modern hip-hop—crafting timeless records for Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Nas, Kanye West, and more. But behind the hits is a deeper story about creative ownership, personal growth, and learning when to let go.

Recorded live at Fast Company’s Innovation Festival, executive director of editorial programming KC Ifeanyi traces Hit-Boy’s evolution from a teenage producer chasing opportunity to a creative leader rewriting his own rules. He opens up about being locked into a restrictive publishing deal for nearly two decades, how mentorship from Jay-Z helped him regain control, and why he now sees that period as a necessary part of his growth.

Hit-Boy also dives into his creative process—why he treats beat-making like a video game, how rejection is baked into the job, and what it really takes to make music that lasts. He shares his perspective on AI as a creative tool (not a threat), his journey with therapy and mental health, and why setting boundaries has been essential to protecting his energy.

Now expanding into film, brand work, and building a creative hub for the next generation, Hit-Boy describes this chapter of his life as a “software update”—a full reset, creatively and personally.

For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to ⁠https://www.fastcompany.com/news⁠

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Since its debut, Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross has become Roku’s most-watched unscripted original (show?) ever—igniting global conversations about self-discovery, independence, and the freedom of traveling alone. At Fast Company's 11th annual Innovation Festival this past September, Tracee and Brian Tannenbaum, head of Roku Originals, took to the stage for a candid conversation about how the series redefines unscripted storytelling and authentically reaches a unique audience, as well as why this experience has forever changed Tracee's expectations of creative and business partnerships. 

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Small business owners are staying optimistic — three-quarters expect revenue gains despite ongoing labor shortages, inflation pressures, and economic uncertainty. Their confidence, fueled by strong demand and increased clarity around tax policy, is driving investment and innovation heading into 2026.

Cassandra Peterson, better known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, has spent nearly 25 years turning horror, humor, and high camp into an art form—and a solid business. In this bonus Halloween episode of Creative Control, Peterson opens up about her wild journey from Las Vegas showgirl to pop culture icon, discussing how to build a brand that lasts and her latest project that's been decades in the making: Elvira's Cookbook From Hell: Sexy, Spooky Soirées and Celebrations for Every Occasion.

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To listen to the latest episodes of Creative Control on Fast Company:https://www.fastcompany.com/podcasts/creative-control

Shea Couleé has become an undeniable force in drag, rising from Chicago’s local scene to snatching crowns on RuPaul’s Drag Race to breaking new ground in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Shea has been an integral part of drag becoming mainstream—and she has a few ideas on where it should be headed next. In this episode, Shea charts her creative journey through drag, lessons she’s learned in building a brand, how her Black and queer identities have turbocharged her creativity, her iconic debut in the MCU starring in Ironheart, and why more risk-taking in drag is what’s needed now more than ever. 

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Las Vegas Aces star Jewell Loyd has amassed a stack of staggering accolades: garnering two WNBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, and six WNBA All-Star nods, not to mention being anointed as the "Gold Mamba” from the late great Kobe Bryant himself. But Loyd’s impact goes beyond the court.

In 2015, she and her brother launched Loyd & Co., a financial services firm they built to give underserved communities real access to capital, wealth-building tools, and long-term financial security. And in recent months, they've been ramping up their ambitions with several acquisitions that are expanding the firm's reach. In this episode, Loyd opens up about the inspiration behind her company, the impact they’re already making, and her audacious next step: creating what she calls a “bank with a soul.”

For more of the latest business and innovation news, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/news

To listen to the latest episodes of Creative Control on Fast Company:https://www.fastcompany.com/podcasts/creative-control

In this bonus episode, executive director of editorial programming, Kc Ifeanyi, chats with editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan about Fast Company's Innovation Festival 2025. They discuss the latest panels, and Fast Tracks, or what Brendan likes to call "field trips for grown-ups." This is where attendees visit the companies that FC reports on.  

Later, Brendan asks Kc about a moment at the innovation festival that "keeps him up at night."

Fast Company's 11th annual Innovation Festival hits New York City this September 15-18. There's an incredible lineup of speakers, activations, workshops, dinners, and much more. It's going to be a packed week full of insights, networking, and, of course, innovation. Head to events.fastcompany.com to get the most up-to-date lineup of speakers and sessions. And use code "create20" for 20% off a Select Innovation Festival pass.