Good Company with Michael Kassan

Reese Witherspoon is one of the most beloved and accomplished actors and producers, having earned an Academy Award, SAG, BAFTA, Emmy awards and numerous other nominations and accolades throughout her career. She was inspired to transform her role in Hollywood—at times, trading in scripts for business plans and advocacy. Since forming her media company Hello Sunshine, Reese has become one of the most prolific names in creative content, not only due to groundbreaking films like Wild and Gone Girl and high-end television shows such as Big Little Lies, The Morning Show and Little Fires Everywhere, but also because of the business’s values: inclusive stories that celebrate all women, both onscreen and behind the camera. In this episode, Reese shares how her love of reading books coupled with her passion for acting influenced the media empire she’s built, how she views the creative landscape today and how empowered women empower women.

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Reddit caught lightning in a bottle earlier this year when it debuted a viral five-second Super Bowl ad – so much so that it won a Grand Prix at Cannes Lions last week. In this bonus episode, we sit down with Chief Marketing Officer Roxy Young to discuss the magic that went into making the spot in less than a week, how she’s been building a brand based on the power of passionate communities, and why the platform so uniquely serves as a crystal ball for trends and purchase behavior. Plus, she talks WallStreetBets and separating Reddit from many of the challenges technology platforms face in the public eye.

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Consumers and advertisers alike are flocking to the world of audio in droves, and iHeartMedia’s own Bob Pittman and Rich Bressler have a front row seat to what’s behind the broad appeal of a medium that stands out for both its simplicity and its flexibility. We sit down with the duo to unpack audio’s multifaceted role as a companion to the masses, a unique source of information in a crisis, a bastion of diverse voices and potentially as an answer to the cookieless future.

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If there’s anyone with a plan to bring New York back, and to do it with fanfare, it’s Tribeca Enterprises Co-Founder and CEO Jane Rosenthal. In this episode, we talk to the Oscar and Emmy-nominated producer on how she’s reimagining the Tribeca Film Festival as it kicks off a global wave of re-openings for large-scale events. She also talks to us about storytelling through new mediums like gaming and VR, as well as the organization’s work with brands to put the spotlight on diverse artists and creators. 

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Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz is riding high coming off the best quarter in 25 years. Three years in to taking the top post at the storied toy company, he discusses transforming the organization through a focus on its instantly recognizable IP, encompassing beloved brands like American Girl, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price. Plus, he fills us in on Mattel’s film pursuits, like Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, starring Vin Diesel; and we get an update on Barbie, who just celebrated her 62nd birthday – and her huge influence on the company’s success as a symbol of social progress. 

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NBCUniversal’s Chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships, Linda Yaccarino, is betting big on the power of partnership – whether that’s colleagues coming together again in the workplace or competitors coming up with solutions to their industry’s thorniest issues. In this episode, we talk to her about the media company’s plans to do just that, like unveiling at its ONE21 event numerous partnerships across content and tech to help marketers build a new experience for viewers across its platform. Linda also fills us in on Olympics plans, Upfronts, and why trust is the hardest thing to build and the easiest thing to lose.

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Creative powerhouse Keith Cartwright launched an agency during one of the most challenging moments in history and isn’t looking back. We talk to him about the alluring draw of entrepreneurship and the lessons about process he’ll take with him into the future. Plus, he elaborates on the power of creativity in combating racial bias and helping brands understand how they can use business to shift, shape and mold what happens in society. 

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Anna Malaika Tubbs is on a mission to change the narrative around the value of a woman’s role as a mother – and of caregivers at large. In this special Mother’s Day episode, we sit down with the writer to discuss her new book, The Three Mothers, which unveils the story of the women who raised three civil rights movement leaders – Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin. She also tells us about her nomadic childhood moving around the world and how it influenced a deep appreciation for human differences; and predicts the sociological impact of the past year on family life.

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For a “relationship person” like Horizon Media President, CEO & Founder Bill Koenigsberg, the pandemic’s drastic impact on the natural daily rhythms of business felt especially painful. But Koenigsberg did not let limitations prevent him from keeping the culture of his 2,700-person organization – and the familial style of his dealings with clients – intact. In this episode, he gets to the heart of why the concept of “business is personal” has never rung truer. Plus, he discusses adapting to an e-Commerce-centric world and gives his predictions on the future of the Upfronts. 

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CNN anchor and “Reliable Sources” host Brian Stelter is feeling optimistic, despite four years fighting an uphill battle against disinformation in the news. We talk to the media critic and author of bestseller Hoax about how to uphold the integrity of the news in a post-Trump world and what’s to become of the symbiotic relationship between the press and the White House. Plus, he gets candid on the upsides and downsides of “news as the new sports” and shares his hopes for a long-term ripple effect of getting more people informed on the facts. 

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