Fast Company Digest

Due to geopolitical and Federal rate uncertainty, gold is becoming a popular investment option lately. And those looking to stock up have turned to a new place to buy: Costco. The discount club’s share price jumped 46% over the past year and is estimated to sell $100 to $200 million in gold bars every month. Rob Walker, who writes ‘Fast Company’s’ weekly Branded column, breaks down how Costco became an unlikely destination for our latest gold rush. On another note, with healthcare bills being so confusing, not to mention shockingly high, it is possible to try to negotiate lower rates. Since that can be a complicated process, ‘Fast Company’ writer Emily Guy Berkin explains four ways to pay less.

The total solar eclipse was the biggest story this week for millions in the U.S. But scientist Frederic Bertley says that the eclipse frenzy illustrates how America is an entertainment culture, always looking for the next dopamine hit. Instead, he says we should take this collective moment of interest in science to address the inequalities in STEM education. Also, Google’s productivity expert, Laura Mae Martin, offers five techniques to help us stop procrastinating and complete those tasks that are always lingering on our to-do list.

On Monday, April 8, millions in North America will be able to witness a full solar eclipse. Writer Frederic Bertley explains the science behind this natural wonder—so rare, the next full solar eclipse won’t occur until 2046. And for those interested in boosting employee engagement, we’ll be discussing this guide for emotionally intelligent leaders; it offers ways for helping your team feel valued, respected, more productive, and happier.

A team of engineers at NASA is developing a silvery sheet of fabric that uses the pressure of sunlight to move through space without using a single drop of fuel. It’s a scientific project that could enable unrestricted space travel. Meanwhile, in more Earthly news, Zoom’s head of product walked us through a massive makeover of the video conferencing service—the first since the beginning of the pandemic—designed to improve the experience for millions of users by adding more customization and selective screen sharing.

First, most large online platforms have given up on news. Meta, aka Facebook, has removed its tools for news publishers. Google is experimenting with removing the news tab from search results, and Elon Musk, the owner of X (aka Twitter) rails against the media. Writer Ryan Broderick explores the possibility of LinkedIn, with its one billion worldwide users filling the online news distribution void. Plus, our CEO Stephanie Mehta talks to Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian about making the shift from mass market to premium, including unpopular steps like last year’s controversial Sky Club changes.

As Congress attempts to ban TikTok in the United States, the app is fighting back—attempting to mobilize its 170 million American users to call Congress and oppose the bill. But it’s not the first tech platform to leverage its army of users against proposed legislation. Here’s what TikTok likely learned from Uber and AirBnB’s similar legal battles. Next, brainstorming meetings: We’ve all been in ones that are dominated by one or two of our loudest, most extroverted colleagues. For all the non-extraverts out there, here are five ways to make sure everyone’s ideas are heard.

As Reddit prepares to go public this month, its executives want to stay on the good side of some important stakeholders: the communities that organized on Reddit itself during the meme-stock phenomenon of 2021. Also, with 85% of Americans worried they’ll lose their jobs, leaders are considering the best ways to deal with layoffs. When is transparency a good idea, and what is the best way to go about it?

What do job interviews look like when conducted by AI bots? Also, writer Talib Visram interviews the dean of the CUNY Journalism School about why, even amid mass media layoffs, applications are up more than 45%.

This week, writer Rob Walker discusses Waymo, which had been considered the most trusted company in the autonomous-vehicle race until a misguided trip into a Lunar New Year celebration in San Francisco ended in flames (literally!). Next, remember Facebook in the run-up to the 2016 election? At that time, the company sponsored debates and aggressively courted political advertisers. But this year, the company is working just as hard to stay out of politics altogether.

This week: 911 emergency services have reached a critical staffing crisis in recent years with one in four jobs vacant. Writer Adam Bluestein explores how remote work for 911 dispatchers can combine workplace flexibility and critical, real-time response rates. Also, personal finance writer Emily Guy Birken breaks down an essential question for tax season: Should you hire an accountant to make sure everything’s right or use DIY tax-filing software to take care of filing your returns yourself?