Future of StoryTelling (FoST)

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About the show

The Future of StoryTelling (FoST) is a passionate community of people from the worlds of media, technology, and communications who believe that better stories can create a better future. Join FoST Founder and CEO Charlie Melcher for a series of conversations with expert storytellers from a range of disciplines to learn how they’re navigating the changing media landscape, focusing on how stories can help create positive and lasting change in the world. Conversations address a breadth of topics, from immersive storytelling to emerging technologies, the neuroscience of narrative, and much more. www.futureofstorytelling.org

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60 recent

36 min

Why the Medium Matters — David Byrne, Revisited

To mark the release of David Byrne’s new book, SLEEPING BEAUTIES , we’re revisiting our conversation with him from the FoST archives. A legendary musician, storyteller, and lead singer of Talking Heads, Byrne reflects on the creation of his immersive theatrical project, Theater of the Mind, the relationship between art and science, and why some ideas demand entirely new forms. He also discusses the value of creative experimentation, getting outside your comfort zone, and how shared experiences can actually change the way we see ourselves and the world. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . -- © 2026 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, Tsuki Carlson in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Michael Simonelli Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to David Byrne, Madison Brown, Lor Simpson, David Gray, Bonnie Eldon, and Megan Worman.

33 min

The Anatomy of a Welcoming Space — David Rockwell

David Rockwell is the founder and president of Rockwell Group, the acclaimed architecture and design firm helping shape how we experience space, food, theater, and culture. Whether it's redefining modern luxury dining through the design of the Nobu restaurants, or creating signature work in boutique hospitality through the W Hotels, David is a visionary for architects and storytellers across the board. In the theater realm, David has designed Broadway sets for hit shows including Hairspray and She Loves Me, winning him a Tony Award amongst several nominations in scenic design. In this episode, David joins Charlie Melcher to explore the intersection of architecture, theater, hospitality, and storytelling. He discusses how an early love of community theater shaped his approach to design, why uncertainty is essential to the creative process, and how his team searches for the “emotional DNA” at the heart of every project. The conversation features a live Q&A with members of the FoST Explorers Club. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . -- © 2026 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, Tsuki Carlson in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Michael Simonelli Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to David Rockwell, Branden Torres, Lena Kim, Lor Simpson, David Gray, Bonnie Eldon, and Megan Worman, and the FoST Explorers.

30 min

The Power of Deep Story — Bob Rogers

Bob Rogers is a pioneer of immersive storytelling and the founder of BRC Imagination Arts, the renowned strategic design and production agency behind experiences like the Johnnie Walker Princes Street Experience, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and the Las Vegas Raiders Allegiant Stadium Tour, to name a few. His new book, DEEP STORY, distills more than four decades of experience creating transformative visitor experiences for brands, museums, cultural institutions, and theme parks. Today on the FoST Podcast, Bob shares his deep story philosophy, and what it means to put the guest at the center of the story, create experiences that move people, and use storytelling to inspire change. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. To request an invitation to the FoST Explorers Club London trip, visit https://bit.ly/4wPk1eX. -- © 2026 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, Tsuki Carlson in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Bob Rogers, David Gray, Bonnie Eldon, and Megan Worman.

29 min

Generative AI and the Future of Gaming — Yves Jacquier

Could generative AI unlock a new era of storytelling in video games? Ubisoft, the gaming company behind some of the best-selling open-world franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry is exploring this very question. Yves Jacquier founded the Ubisoft La Forge lab in 2016 to bring game creators together with academic researchers. At La Forge, they work to envision and prototype emerging technologies with the ambitious goal of enabling more interactive, responsive, and transformative gaming experiences. In this episode, we speak with Yves about how generative AI could reshape the player experience, the limitations of large language models, the promise of world models, and why human-centric design will remain essential to the future of storytelling. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . To request an invitation to the FoST Explorers Club London trip, visit https://form.jotform.com/262284711554155 . To get your copy of Charlie’s book, The Future of Storytelling , visit thefutureofstorytelling.com/home . -- © 2026 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, Tsuki Carlson in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Michael Simonelli Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Yves Jacquier, Madison Brown, Lor Simpson, David Gray, Bonnie Eldon, and Megan Worman.

41 min

30 Years of Broadway and the Legacy of Rent — Jeffrey Seller, Revisited

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. Last year, 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. We’re revisiting this conversation today — Jeffrey shares openly about his journey to finding himself in theater, stories of his creative collaboration with artistic powerhouses like Jonathan Larson and Lin-Manuel Miranda, his philosophy of good producing, and more. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org. -- © 2026 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, Tsuki Carlson in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Jeffrey Seller, Madison Brown, David Gray, Bonnie Eldon, Eitan Wolf, and Megan Worman.

30 min

Humans, Machines & Democracy — Baratunde Thurston

In a world increasingly dominated by technology, how do we ensure storytelling remains authentic and impactful? Today's guest, Baratunde Thurston, has spent decades grappling with our relationship to technology and each other, through his work as the Director of Digital at The Onion to his Webby Award-winning project, Life With Machines. Baratunde comes from a rich background in comedy, activism, and media — he shares insights on the evolving art of storytelling in the age of AI, and how we can learn to live well with these technologies rather than simply endure them. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . -- © 2026 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, Tsuki Carlson in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Michael Simonelli Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Baratunde Thurston, Madison Brown, Lor Simpson, David Gray, Bonnie Eldon, and Megan Worman.

54 min

Making the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

Most presidential libraries are built to remember a presidency in archives. This project began with a unique challenge: How can we tell Theodore Roosevelt’s story to inspire people to become better citizens, leaders, and stewards of the world? And how can we make the visitor, not Roosevelt, the hero of the story? What emerged isn’t a traditional museum or archive. It's an immersive journey through Roosevelt's life that invites you to step into the story. We’re releasing a special episode — our host today is Ted Roosevelt V, interviewing Charlie Melcher, Founder and CEO of the Future of StoryTelling, and Ed O’Keefe, CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Ted, Ed, and Charlie look back on how the library started, the challenges and triumphs felt along the journey, and where it stands today following the library’s opening and the celebrations and reflections of America 250. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . To get your copy of Charlie’s book, The Future of Storytelling , visit thefutureofstorytelling.com/home . -- © 2026 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, Tsuki Carlson in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Michael Simonelli Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Ted Roosevelt V, Ed O’Keefe, Madison Brown, Lor Simpson, David Gray, Bonnie Eldon, and Megan Worman.

31 min

World-Building at Secret Cinema — Dean Rodgers

Secret Cinema has been at the forefront of immersive live experiences based on beloved films and cultural franchises since their founding in 2007. Known for immersive productions of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Casino Royale, and the recent Dirty Dancing , Secret Cinema’s work revolves around the question that we often tackle at Future of StoryTelling: How can we make the audience the hero in our stories? Leading the company’s creative and strategic studio for brands, entertainment partners, and new immersive ventures is Dean Rodgers, the experiential director at Studio Secret Cinema. In this conversation, Dean talks about the art of world-building and what he calls “world belonging,” the importance of creating moments of collective awe, and why live, participatory experiences may become even more valuable in an increasingly digital world. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . To get your copy of Charlie’s book, The Future of Storytelling , visit thefutureofstorytelling.com/home . -- © 2026 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, Tsuki Carlson in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Michael Simonelli Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Dean Rodgers, Madison Brown, Lor Simpson, David Gray, Bonnie Eldon, and Megan Worman.

30 min

When Classical Music Meets AI — Paola Prestini

Opera is often thought of as one of the most traditional art forms. Rooted in centuries-old conventions and grand theaters, it’s not usually the first place people look for experimentation or technological innovation. But in today's conversation with Paola Prestini — co-founder and artistic director of National Sawdust and VisionIntoArt and one of the top composers in the world — we challenge that very assumption. Paola speaks to how opera can be a space to explore new technologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and even artificial intelligence. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . To get your copy of Charlie’s book, The Future of Storytelling , visit thefutureofstorytelling.com/home . -- © 2026 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, Tsuki Carlson in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Paola Prestini, Madison Brown, Lor Simpson, David Gray, Bonnie Eldon, and Megan Worman.

41 min

A New Language for VR Storytelling — Felix and Paul, Revisited

With the launch of Interstellar Arc, the groundbreaking free-roaming VR experience at AREA15 in Las Vegas, we’re revisiting this conversation with the creators and immersive storytelling pioneers Félix Lajeunesse and Paul Raphaël, co-founders of Felix & Paul Studios. In this conversation, Félix and Paul talk about the evolution of virtual reality, from their early VR experiments and the acclaimed Traveling While Black to filming an Emmy-award winning production on the International Space Station. At the forefront of this medium, Félix and Paul talk about their challenges and learnings from VR work: what it means to develop a new language of storytelling, the importance of establishing “presence” for immersion, and how VR can situate us inside experiences to connect with distant worlds. To learn more, visit our website at fost.org . To get your copy of Charlie’s book, The Future of Storytelling , visit thefutureofstorytelling.com/home . -- © 2026 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, Tsuki Carlson in collaboration with Charts & Leisure Founder, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Félix Lajeunesse, Paul Rafaël, Madison Brown, Lor Simpson, David Gray, Bonnie Eldon, and Megan Worman.