Your instructor, James Patterson—currently the best-selling author in the world—lets you know what he has planned for your class and what you'll need to learn to start writing your own best-sellers.
Getting into the proper mindset is an essential first step to writing a best-seller. This lesson explores James's secrets for staying focused, productive, and motivated.
How do you recognize a great idea? How do you figure out if it's worthy of your effort? James spells out the techniques he uses to generate his ideas and then separate the good ones from the less compelling ones.
With the right plot, your reader won't be able to stop turning the pages. In this lesson, James measures out his unique approach to developing plot lines that keep readers wanting more.
For James, conducting in-depth research not only makes his writing better, it also boosts his credibility with his readers. Find out when and how James conducts his research and how he incorporates it into his writing in a thoughtful way.
James' secret weapon is a comprehensive outline. Learn how he sets himself up for a fast and successful first draft. No matter what, don't skip this lesson!
James has never shown the outline for his best-seller Honeymoon to anyone (not even his publisher) until now. Follow along with the outline provided in your Class Workbook as James further explains his process.
Even when you've written as many books as James has (76 best sellers and counting), there's still nothing scarier than staring at the blank page. Here's how to conquer those fears.
From Alex Cross to Michael Bennett, James has mastered the art of creating complex and memorable characters. Hero to villain, learn how to make your character stay with your reader well beyond the last page.
Grab your reader's attention quickly and make them hold on for dear life. James shares his tips for getting your reader hooked from the very first line.
Dialogue should always push the story forward. Listen to James explain a few common dialogue pitfalls and easy ways to avoid them.
James is well known for his numerous short and snappy chapters. Learn how he propels the reader through the book with an outline as his roadmap.
The secret to suspense is...
We've all read great books with terrible endings. Of the infinite possible endings, learn how James chooses the right one.
James is liberal with a red pen; his editing is key to keeping the reader engaged. Learn how to trim the fat with our interactive editing assignment.
When does James decide to use a co-author and is it a true collaboration? In this lesson, we meet two of his most trusted co-authors who share their process for making a collaboration truly successful.
Author of 76 best-sellers and holder of the Guinness World Record for the first person to sell over 1 million eBooks, James knows a thing or two about getting published. In this lesson he shares what he's learned.
Readers do judge books by their covers. What should they think about yours?
Before publishing his first book, James was an executive at a top ad agency in New York. Find out what James learned from his time in advertising and how he used it to change the book marketing game.
What happens when Hollywood takes an interest in your story? Sit back and listen as James shares the best and worst moments from his time on the set.
Every master begins as a student. James shares his long, winding path to becoming the world's best-selling author.
You've been given the tools to help write your next book. Now what?
Meet your instructor, Usher Raymond IV. In this chapter, Usher shares what you'll take away from his MasterClass, and why he's excited for you to start your journey.
It's time to take the first step. Usher shows you how to find opportunities to perform, use social media to grow your audience, and leaves you with your first class assignment.
Creativity is fueled by inspiration. Find out about the unexpected places Usher gathers his inspiration and how to expand your own library of references.
What's the difference between imitation and inspiration? Watch as Usher shows you how to take favorite elements from gathered inspiration, and apply it to your future performances.
If you're a performer, your voice can be your most important instrument. Learn how to identify and expand your range, warm up your voice, and take care of it pre and post performance.
Mastering dance is all about discovering your own style. Usher explains how interpretation and individuality are the keys to a captivating dance performance. And yes, it involves a lot of practice.
All performers are actors. Usher shares techniques he mastered through years of trial and error so that you don't have to learn the hard way. At the end of this lesson you'll learn how to discover new parts of your personality with his creative assignment.
If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready. From pre-show rituals, rehearsal techniques and mindful meditation, Usher shares how he preps himself for exhilarating live performances.
Capture your audience's heart. Follow Usher as he shares his best tips on how to read a room, trust your instincts, and win over the crowd. He also breaks down one of the hardest performances of his life.
There's no such thing as perfect. Even superstars run into hurdles. If you aren't committed from the moment you walk on stage to the moment you walk off, the audience will know. Usher highlights the importance of perseverance, and what it means to put on a flawless show.
Usher walks you through his latest tour performances at London’s O2 Arena. If you missed his last world tour, you won’t want to miss this chapter.
Working with others isn't always easy. In this chapter, Usher guides you through his approach to collaboration, including insights into his work with artists such as David Guetta and Alicia Keys.
Usher breaks down his secrets to branding success so you can create your personal brand. From social media to sex appeal, Usher shares the tools you'll need to set yourself apart.
The road to yes is paved with a thousand no's. Learn how to navigate the pitfalls that line the path to success, and build the inner drive to lead you on your own journey.
Discover the Usher you've never seen before. Follow his life story, and get exclusive insight into one of entertainment's most successful careers, spanning over 25 years.
Usher leaves you with the most important takeaways from his MasterClass. He's given you his teachings. Now it's time to put them to work.
Annie Leibovitz's iconic photographs have appeared in museums, books, and magazines from Vanity Fair to Rolling Stone—and now she’s your instructor. In introducing her class, Annie reflects on her career and the power of telling stories with photography.*
Annie discusses portraiture and photojournalism, and what makes portrait photography so compelling for her as a medium. Learn why Annie loves the photo series and why a single image cannot truly "capture" a person.*
Annie breaks down her process for developing imaginative and creative concepts for her photo shoots, sharing examples from Tess Gallagher, Amy Schumer, Keith Haring, Whoopi Goldberg, and more.*
Annie discusses her philosophy around photography equipment, working with natural light, and the value of keeping your lighting kit small.
Annie talks about her approach to studio photography, her strong preference for shooting on location, and the role of environment in her portraiture.
Annie shares how she approaches working with a subject for a photo shoot, including refuting the popular notion that it's a photographer's responsibility to put a subject at ease.
Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at Annie's photoshoot for Vogue magazine, where she captures the cast of Angels in America. Watch her and her team set up the photoshoot, effect her concept, and show the way she works with her subjects.
Annie discusses why your family and loved ones may be your best photography subjects and what opportunities come from photographing subjects who are close to you.
Annie discusses the importance of self-reflection and explains why it's so important for every photographer to look back at their work.*
In this chapter, Annie shares how she approached transitioning from film to digital, and what starting out in the dark room can teach you. Annie also shares her perspective on focus and sharpness—and how above all else it's the content that matters.
Annie sits down with students from her alma mater, the San Francisco Art Institute, to critique their work and share her own approach to core principles of photography.
Annie brings you inside a photo shoot with the renowned chef Alice Waters. Learn how Annie built the concept for the photos, conducted research, and prepared for the shoot.
Annie gives you an exclusive look into her digital post-production process, and shares her thoughts about what it means to be a photographer and creative artist.
Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Alfred Stieglitz, and Richard Avedon—Annie introduces us to the photographers who have inspired her, sharing the personal lessons she has derived from their work.*
Learn how Annie’s artistic journey impacted her evolution as a photographer—from the inspiration of family photos to the San Francisco Art Institute and Rolling Stone. *Lessons marked with an asterisk contain images with nudity.
Whether you’re a beginner or a budding champion, Serena Williams can teach you how to improve your game on and off the court.
Consistency is key in tennis. Experience the drills Serena’s father ran for her as a kid—drills she still runs every day as a pro.
Master baseline play with advanced footwork, backhand and troubleshooting techniques that Serena uses to challenge any opponent.
Serena teaches you how to turn defense into offense, when to anticipate and react, and how to open up the court for easy winners.
Serena Williams believes that tennis is 70% mental. Learn how to dig deep in tough situations from a player known for impossible comebacks.
Serena rarely comes to the net, but when she does, she makes it count. Learn proper approach, volley, and smash techniques.
The average women’s professional tennis match lasts two hours, but Serena trains to play all-out for four. Here she reveals her tips for staying in top shape, her pro drills, and how to keep it fun while putting in the hard work.
Serena starts a big match before she even steps out onto the court. Learn the physical and mental routines that take Serena to the Grand Slams over and over again.
Serena’s run of titles is otherworldly, but it all started with goals, heroes, and a lot of practice.
Serena’s serve is legendary. Weaponize your serve as Serena teaches you the mechanics that power 128mph of pure genius.
Meet Christina—your new vocal coach. Begin your training as Christina asks you to throw away your rule book and shares what she has planned for your class.
Christina learned the secrets of powerful performances from music legends like Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. Learn how to gather inspiration, tap into your emotions and embrace your flaws to better connect with your audience.
Your vocal cords are like any other muscle—you must stretch and warm them up before a performance. Let Christina walk you through the vocal warmups and exercises she uses to get ready for the show.
Your voice is an instrument. Learn to protect it as Christina talks about the top three things to avoid, adjusting to different environments, and cures to heal a strained voice.
Expand your vocal range with Christina. Learn her secrets for nailing those high notes and building your range. Use the Range Finder tool at the end of the lesson to put into practice what you've learned.
Through Christina's student critique, you will learn how changing your vocal placement and posture can add new dimension to your performance.
Watch as Christina coaches a student on projection, and reveals a vocal technique that allows you to emotionally connect with your listeners.
Learn the techniques Christina uses to achieve her gritty style on songs like Fighter. Through her critique of a pop vocalist, Christina demonstrates how grit and attitude can transform a performance from pop to rock.
Throw away your idea of sounding perfectly polished and learn how to use diction and enunciation to tell a story.
Harmony. Belting. Vibrato. Slides. Master these vocal techniques as Christina breaks them down for you step-by-step.
Christina demonstrates how to use different textures and tones, from gritty growl to haunting sadness, to emotionally charge a performance.
Master creating an unforgettable duet as Christina teaches you what to look for in a duet partner, how to perfect your timing, and how to navigate the rehearsal process.
Learn to perfect duets. In this lesson Christina breaks down the pitch, timing and emotion you'll need to captivate an audience with your partner.
Learn how to develop your inner-rhythm and experiment with beat to reinvent a performance. Watch Christina play with beat and tempo to breathe new life into Say Something and Aint No Other Man.
Christina shows you how to own the live mic. Learn the microphone techniques to create an incredible performance in any sized venue, anywhere.
Mic check. Christina breaks down the difference between live performance and studio time, as well as the microphone techniques she's perfected over her career. Then, get a rare glimpse into the recording booth as you watch Christina perform her iconic song 'Beautiful'.
Every singer gets performance anxiety, including Christina. Learn how to deal with your nerves and center yourself before a show.
Christina teaches you her approach to turning a studio performance into an engaging live performance. Watch her let loose on 'Fighter' and learn her tricks for pumping up an audience.
If you sang the wrong lyrics of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, how would you recover? Christina reflects on the most difficult mistakes of her career and how to overcome them.
Christina shares her wisdom around finding yourself as an artist, ignoring the haters, and adjusting to the life of a successful artist.
Learn how to use your art to express your voice and challenge the opinions of those around you, while staying within your comfort zone. Christina challenged the norms of sexuality and shame with her music. What will you talk about with yours?
Christina reflects on her career journey and shares with you the most important lessons she's learned along the way.
Take the next step. Learn from Christina how to own the difficult moments and continue following your dreams.
Meet your new instructor, a self-taught filmmaker who's made films on all seven continents. Are you ready to become a 'soldier of cinema'?
Werner teaches you the importance of careful film analysis by deconstructing the opening scene of Viva Zapata, starring Marlon Brando.
If you want to master storytelling, don't just watch movies. Werner explains why reading is key to becoming a great filmmaker and shares passages from his mandatory reading list.
Forget the three-act screenwriting structure. Werner reveals how he draws on poetry and Beethoven to inspire scripts that capture his vision in words.
You don't need millions to make a movie. With $10,000 and an extraordinary idea you can start the journey toward bringing your project to the screen.
Film is an art—but it's also a business. Werner shares his insights into the industry to help you learn how to protect your stories.
Jungles, oceans, and volcanic craters—Werner has shot movies in them all. Learn how to find spectacular locations and turn them into functional sets for your own films.
When Christian Bale had to eat real maggots in Rescue Dawn, Werner offered to eat them first. Here, he explains the power of leading by example to inspire your cast and crew.
In filmmaking, if you're on time, you're late. Be professional: Organize your set to tell the story, not to impress anyone. Forget the director's chair, turn off your cell phone, and stay close to your actors.
Keep it simple, focused, and efficient—don't shoot coverage. Learn how to use one camera to make the best film possible.
Learn how to paint with light, work with cinematographers, and bring your vision to life with extraordinary images.
Werner teaches the basic rules of cinematography—and how to break them—to maximize your creative vision.
Through casting, wardrobe, and behavioral ticks, Werner shares both the subtle and bold techniques for developing characters with your actors.
Werner breaks down how he directs actors on set and how to work with the best of the best, including Klaus Kinski.
Sound quality can make or break your film. Learn how to avoid lost footage and listen for the remarkable.
Learn how to communicate the mood you want for your music and how to work with composers to create amazing, memorable scores.
Editing begins on the set. Werner's methods are unique, and will give you a practical way to cut through the footage to make a beautiful film.
Inspiration can come from anywhere, but you have to know how to recognize it—and seek it out. Learn where Werner got the ideas for many of his most famous films.
Amazing stories are often a combination of discoveries. Werner breaks down the genesis of Fitzcarraldo and the development of scenes in Stroszek.
Werner discusses his techniques to "crack a human being open." Learn how to make your subjects comfortable, identify with them, and capture their humanity.
Werner breaks down the need for narrative discipline and "knowing the heart of men." Learn how to get to the heart of your subject and shape your story.
There are lines you should not cross. Learn from Werner's experiences filming Grizzly Man and Into the Abyss, and how to get to the heart of your subject quickly.
Ditch the 'fly-on-the-wall' approach to documentary filmmaking. Shape the 'ecstatic truth' to tell a beautiful and brilliant story.
Be one of the ruthless ones who burst onto the scene. Learn how to deal with rejection and take control of your career.
The life of a filmmaker is fraught with doubt, rejection, and constant battles for survival. Learn how to survive in an impossible industry.
Werner leaves you with the words of a medieval mystic and wishes you luck on your journey.
Meet Aaron. He's an Oscar winner, a TV hitmaker, and the writer of some of the smartest dramas ever to hit the screen. And now, he's your instructor.
Every great story is born from intentions and obstacles. Learn how to build the "drive shaft" that will set your script in motion.
How do you know if your idea is good enough to turn into a script? Aaron walks you through the steps every writer should take to test an idea—and decide whether it will work best in TV or film.
Aaron shares some of the decisions he made to develop some of his most unforgettable characters—like The Social Network's Mark Zuckerberg and The West Wing's Toby and Leo.
Your characters don't have to be like you—or even likeable. Drawing on examples from A Few Good Men and Steve Jobs, Aaron explains why he always empathizes with his characters even if he disagrees with them.
Good research is the key to a great script. Bad research is a waste of time. How can you tell the difference? Aaron shares lessons from Malice and The Social Network to help you gather the information you really need.
You have pages of research—now what? Avoid clunky exposition and learn how to seamlessly weave research into your story.
Aaron knows that the audience isn't just watching his work. They're participating in it, too. Learn how to write stories that will keep them engaged and entertained.
The rules of great drama aren't new. Here, Aaron explains how most of them were laid out more than 2,000 years ago by Aristotle in his Poetics, and how to use those lessons to become a diagnostician for your own story ideas.
Page numbers don't sound exciting, but they're a great tool for tracking the act-structure and pacing of your story.
Even Aaron gets writer's block. Learn how he gets unstuck and what writing tools he uses to make sure he's ready when inspiration strikes.
While workshopping J.J.'s script, Aaron shares his tips on writing action scenes that move as fast on the page as they will on the screen.
The offbeat characters in Jeanie's script are a hit with Aaron, who warns about the dangers of getting feedback from close-minded studio execs. (Warning: explicit content).
Discussing Roland's script, Aaron reveals a simple trick that writers can use to justify improbable events in their stories.
Evelyn's TV pilot kicks off a conversation about opening scenes and the importance of showing your audience something they've never seen before.
After workshopping Corey's script and learning about his background, Aaron discusses the importance of having confidence as a writer, and shares his own origin story, starting with his days as a struggling New York actor.
A great story is more than just a collection of great scenes. Learn how to give your script momentum from one beat to the next.
Your script only has one opening scene. Make it memorable by introducing your theme, grabbing the audience, and setting up your characters' intentions and obstacles.
In a study of a scene from Steve Jobs, Aaron explains how high stakes, strong intentions & obstacles, and competing tactics make for an exciting scene to write.
Aaron analyzes a classic scene from The West Wing: the scathing confrontation between President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and Governor Robert Ritchie (James Brolin).
If you want to write Aaron Sorkin-worthy dialogue, learn from the master himself on how to make music with your words and put them to the test by performing your own scenes out loud.
Aaron does a deep dive into the musical nuances of dialogue in the Bartlet–Ritchie scene.
Rewrites aren't a sign of a bad script; they're a sign of a good writer. Hear how Aaron reworks and strengthens his screenplays during the rewriting process.
Rewrites aren't a sign of a bad script; they're a sign of a good writer. Hear how Aaron reworks and strengthens his screenplays with help from trusted advisors.
Aaron creates a virtual writers’ room to “break” part of the Season 5 premiere—an episode he's never seen.
Aaron discusses what is needed in the teaser of the show and how to reverse engineer a plot.
Aaron and the students continue to work together to break episode 501 of The West Wing.
How can research drive the plot forward? Aaron and the students discuss the limitations of the 25th Amendment as a plot point.
Take Aaron's advice: When you have great characters, use them. Learn how to keep your protagonists active.
Who's got a bad idea? Aaron and the students run through various plot ideas as the writers' room continues.
As Aaron says, "You don't have to assault the audience with plot." The writers discuss the value of pacing—plus the limits of reality within fiction.
Aaron and the students wrap up the virtual writers' room and discuss lessons learned.
You've got a screenplay—now it's time to pitch. Learn what questions Hollywood's decision makers will ask you during a pitch and how to effectively answer them.
Aaron turns the tables on his writers and pitches them his idea for a brand-new TV series called Mission to Mars.
In the final lesson, Aaron offers his parting wisdom and leaves you with one more assignment that will last the rest of your life.
Reba warmly welcomes you to the world of country music. As your teacher, Reba kicks off her MasterClass by sharing an early story about her father, what you will be learning, and what she hopes you will take away from her class.
Melody, lyrics, relatability. Learn how Reba assesses what makes a great country song, using examples from “Fancy”, Merle Haggard’s “Carolyn”, and others.
You don’t have to be the greatest singer in the world to pursue singing. Watch as Reba breaks down her tried and true warm up exercises, and teaches you the techniques she uses to protect her voice from strain and damage.
Welcome to the recording studio! From working with producers, to conveying authentic emotion in your recording sessions, Reba explains her own unique recording process.
See the Master in action. Watch as Reba records a brand new song in the studio, working with her band, producers, and engineers.
Learn the backstory of how Reba recorded one of her most infamous songs, "Fancy". Then, watch as Reba and the band break down the song to record a never-before-done acoustic version of the song.
There’s a lot to learn when it comes to creating an effective performance, both mentally and physically. Reba discusses the importance of feedback, psyching yourself up, and what you can learn from other performers.
Anyone in country music knows Reba is a mesmerizing performer. Learn her techniques on how to engage an audience through stories and charm while performing, including taking the audience on a rollercoaster with the set list.
Reba performs "Just Like Them Horses" exclusively for her MasterClass. Watch as Reba discusses the backstory and very personal inspiration for the song, and how to pull back when your emotions are about to take over.
Case Study: How to improve eye contact during your performance.
Case Study: How to convey the emotion behind your songs in your performance.
Case Study: Sometimes being different in the country music industry is good.
Case Study: How to use breath control to deliver your song effectively.
The country music industry is unlike any other music industry in the world. Reba walks you through what makes the country music business special, and what it’s been like to be a woman in country music.
Reba offers her wisdom on what it takes to create a long-lasting career in the music business. From networking, managing your finances, to work ethic, Reba breaks down skills that have led to her success.
When it comes to the music business, you need the right people around you. Learn how to build your team, choose a manager, and kick off your singing career.
Reba’s look has changed throughout her career. Watch as Reba breaks down the decision behind every look, and why it’s important to have a visual brand.
It’s not just what you do—but how you do it. Learn the core values of how Reba conducts her life and business, and how she has managed a graceful 40-year career.
From Oklahoma ranch girl to Country Music Hall of Fame member, Reba discusses her journey in the music business, and how she has achieved everything she has.
Reba closes her MasterClass with some final thoughts for you to apply on your journey.
Reba performs her Grammy-winning hit "Does He Love You" exclusively for her MasterClass.
Welcome to the deadmau5 studio. Meet Joel, the man behind the mau5head, and learn what he's got planned for your class in electronic music production.
It's all about experimentation. Learn Joel's unique approach to the music creation process and how to get the most out of your time in the studio.
Get in the studio and watch how deadmau5 music takes shape in real time: from an empty project to beginnings of a track.
Ready to start building out your home studio and making tracks of your own? Here's Joel's advice for what gear you need and what you don't.
Whether you've had musical training or not, you can use these deadmau5 techniques to start drawing melodies into your DAW and creating loops that resolve.
Here's how deadmau5 takes basic chord structures and spreads them out across different instruments to make full arrangements including bass parts and leads.
Once you've got a chord structure and an arrangement, it's time to build the unique instrumental sounds that give your track its character. It all starts with learning the basics of synthesis.
Don't be intimidated by the wall of knobs and flashing lights. For deadmau5, modular synths are all about messing around and finding unexpected sounds. Watch how he builds and tweaks his patches from scratch.
Analog synths are a big part of the deadmau5 sound and a great way to add creative elements to your productions. Hear the difference for yourself when Joel plays some of the same patches on digital and analog equipment.
Learn how deadmau5 puts life back into tired presets, builds big stereo images and fattens up his basses using plug-ins and effects processors.
The kick drum is the heartbeat of an electronic music track. Learn how Joel layers his kick drum samples to lay the groundwork for big, danceable grooves.
Dive deeper into deadmau5's rhythmic techniques, with lessons on snare sounds and a closer look at the drums tracks in Snowcone.
You've developed your chord structure, arranged it with exciting synth sounds and added drums -- now deadmau5 shows you how to combine all those elements into an exciting song
Learn how deadmau5 works when he's remixing other artists, and what he likes to hear when other artists remix him.
Good producers need to know how to write original music and how to mix it to sound great. Here are some important techniques Joel uses to shape his tracks in the mix.
Unlike a lot of other artists, deadmau5 masters all of his music himself. Learn the basics of his approach to gain structure, EQing and limiting.
Go plugin by plugin through Snowcone's master chain and hear how each piece is affecting and honing the track's sound.
Joel puts on his label-manager's-hat to talk about what he looks for when he's signing up and coming EDM artists, and offer advice about how develop your brand and promote it the right way.
Major labels can be major headaches, or worse. Here's some of what's Joel's learned about navigating the logistics of a recording career.
It takes effort and planning to play a set that's creative and keeps your audience engaged. Here's how to take your music from the studio to the stage.
Gigging and touring as an EDM artist means learning and managing lots of gear. These are Joel's techniques for keeping things running smoothly on the road.
Performance is about more than just making great music. For deadmau5, your live show's got to give audiences an experience they'll never forget.
You've made it through the class and learned all types of skills. Now here's Joel's advice for how to start putting it to use.
Meet your new instructor, the Academy Award-winning composer of over 150+ films spanning multiple genres.
Hans has created some of the most memorable themes in film. Learn how he creates a theme, and how simplicity is his best tool to maintain a theme.
Discover how Hans approaches writing to story and his number one rule for film composers.
Learn how Hans works with directors, including what he needs to learn from the director in order to start writing - sometimes even before the film is shot.
Learn how to effectively have a conversation with the director throughout the film process.
Hans continues his discussion on what makes a great director and what makes a great relationship between composer and director.
Hans is known for creating unique sound palettes. Learn how and why he does it, and how to do it on your own.
Hans is known for his use of synths. Hans discusses how he uses synths, as he creates a song from his starter patch for us.
Hans discusses how to score to different types of scenes, as well as recognizing when a scene doesn't need a score.
Learn how Hans approaches the relationship between music and dialogue, and how music can be dialogue too.
Your editor is your drummer. Learn how to recognize the tempo to a scene and edit to it.
Hans continues his tempo discussion with how he scored an extremely well-edited scene from Sherlock Holmes.
Hans creates music diaries to each film to help him along. Learn how and why he does it as he walks through his diary for Sherlock Holmes.
Learn how Hans gets to know his characters in order to create memorable themes for them.
What makes Batman's theme in The Dark Knight Trilogy so recognizable? Learn how he developed the theme by thinking about the story and character.
Hans fell in love with the Joker, and created a haunting tune from just one vibrating note. Watch as he discusses how the story and character's impact on the story helps create the theme.
"Pirates were the rock-n'-rollers of the middle ages." Hans breaks down how he created Jack Sparrow's theme by finding the tone for the movie first.
For Frost/Nixon, Hans had to score to a dialogue-heavy film. Learn his approach to creating a minimal but beautiful score.
Learn how Hans accentuated the tension in the already-tense boat scene from The Dark Knight.
Learn how to find and write for the best musicians and instruments for your score.
Hans discusses the important of earning your musicians' respect and how to effectively communicate with them.
Hear from Hans on how he makes sure he's getting the best performance he can while recording an orchestra.
Not every score is perfect on the first try. Learn how Hans asks for feedback on his scores and how he approaches rewrites when it's not quite working.
The true test - learn how Hans approaches showing a score to an audience and how he determines if it's working or not.
Hans gives you the tips and tricks he's learned over the years on how to approach writing music.
Hans provides insights into how to make sure you aren't limiting your creativity when writing.
Learn how Hans fell in love with storytelling and switched his career from a "radio star" to film composer.
Hans discusses the importance of learning how to listen and dissect music when it works and doesn't work.
All artists struggle with the challenges that come with pursuing a life in the arts. Hear Hans' advice on how to never give up and never compromise your voice.
Hans continues his discussion on an artist's life, telling you why he was inspired to pursue the life of a composer in the first place.
Listen to Hans' final words as he closes out his MasterClass and as you move forward in your career.
Welcome to Gordon Ramsay's kitchen. Meet the Michelin star chef and learn what he has got planned for his students.
Learn how Gordon became one of the most recognizable chefs in the world. Hear how his passion for cooking brought him from his mother's home to some of the world's greatest kitchens.
Take a tour of Gordon's own kitchen as he shares the design concepts driving its layout. He'll show you how just a few good pots, pans, utensils, and a hot plate are all you need to get cooking.
Do ugly vegetables taste better? Which are the most versatile herbs? Gordon shows you how to select great produce to create phenomenal dishes.
Learn how to make perfect poached eggs every time as Gordon shows you how to master one of his go-to breakfast dishes.
Knife skills: The basics are so important. Gordon shows you how to properly sharpen and hold these critical tools, and the best ways to practice and improve your knife skills.
Even in a restaurant kitchen, cooking eggs is one of the most difficult tasks. Learn how to make the perfect scrambled eggs and elevate them by adding sea urchin and white truffle.
Butchery 101. Learn how to get every ounce of goodness from a chicken by breaking it down into parts.
Ditch dry chicken. From the stove to the oven, learn how Gordon creates a simple, yet delicious entrée using this humble protein. You won't want to miss the way Chef Ramsay roasts his root vegetables before plating this dish.
Learn Gordon's top tips on what to look for at the fishmongers to make sure you only get the best quality ingredients.
Gordon details his path for mastering his craft, from opening his first restaurant, to gaining his third Michelin star, and to building a culinary empire.
Do you find the thought of tackling a whole fish intimidating? Gordon gives you a step-by-step tutorial on how to fillet a whole salmon.
Gain essential tips and tricks for cooking skin-on fish fillets. Gordon shows you how to perfectly cook salmon and create a delicious, light supper with an elegant shellfish and vegetable minestrone.
While studying in Italy, Gordon learned the process of creating handmade fresh pasta for incredible Italian dishes. Now, he's sharing what he's learned with you.
Gordon shows you how to roll out delicate, paper thin pasta that's perfect for ravioli, tortellini, fettuccine, and a variety of other noodles.
Since its opening, only one dish has remained on the menu at three Michelin star Restaurant Gordon Ramsay: lobster ravioli. Now, Gordon shares the recipe for its signature filling and shows you how to shape and fill your ravioli to perfection.
Gordon didn't always have the luxury of cooking with expensive ingredients. Here he shows you how to get the most from a variety of cuts of beef, lamb and pork.
He's served over a million of this classic dish all around the globe! Now, Gordon demystifies his iconic Beef Wellington for you to share this showstopper with friends and family.
The path hasn't always been easy for Gordon. Listen to his universal advice for how to succeed.
Wrap up your MasterClass with a few final words of encouragement from Gordon.
Welcome to Shondaland. Meet Shonda, the woman behind some of television's biggest and most talked about hits, and learn what she'll teach you about the craft of writing for television.
Shonda discusses the importance of knowing your television history and how you can learn some of the fundamentals of storytelling on your own.
It all begins with an idea. Shonda reveals her process for finding and assessing ideas, and determining what makes a great idea for a TV series.
Show titles, story bibles, tone, structure - Shonda walks you through how to take your idea and turn it into a fully-fleshed out concept.
Effective research can make your story come to life. Using case studies from Scandal and Grey's Anatomy, Shonda discusses her techniques and method for conducting research for her stories.
Meredith Grey, Olivia Pope, Cristina Yang - Shonda has created some of the most memorable characters to grace television. In this chapter, Shonda breaks down how she approaches the character development process.
Shonda shares her techniques on how to effectively develop and evolve your characters when writing your stories, including when and how to kill off characters.
You can't make a TV show without pitching it first. Shonda shares how she originally pitched Grey's Anatomy to network executives and her top tips for how to deliver an effective pitch.
Shonda breaks down the five acts of television and what needs to be accomplished in each one to tell an effective story in a one-hour drama.
You have your premise, your characters, and your research. Now it's time to write your script. Shonda talks about her own process for preparing to write a script, including how to create beat sheets and outlines.
Writer's block? No time? Shonda breaks through the myths of writing and details how exactly she gets her writing done.
When it comes to television, the pilot is everything. Shonda discusses the key ingredients to what makes a great pilot, including discussing her alternative opening scenes for the show Scandal.
Shonda shares her tips on how to write realistic and engaging dialogue for your characters.
Shonda breaks down the Grey's Anatomy pilot act-by-act and shares why she made certain story decisions.
Shonda continues to break down the Grey's Anatomy pilot act-by-act.
Shonda breaks down the first act of the Scandal pilot, revealing why she structured the opening scene the way she did.
Shonda discusses act two of the Scandal pilot and the introduction of Olivia's White House storyline.
Shonda discusses act three of the Scandal pilot and how to balance various story lines in a single episode.
Shonda discusses act four of the Scandal pilot and the importance of quickening the pace of your action.
Shonda discusses the final act of the Scandal pilot and reveals how she set up the pilot for an entire season of episodes.
You've written the first draft - now comes the task of editing your script. Shonda reveals her own editing process and provides tips on the best things to cut in a script.
Shonda has never had a TV show last for less than six seasons. In this chapter, Shonda discusses what keeps people watching a show beyond the pilot.
In this case study, Shonda discusses how the scene between Olivia and Rowan Pope in the season three premiere of Scandal cleverly uses dialogue to reveal who the characters are, and the importance of the scene in the show's story.
Shonda reveals her top tips for networking, working entry-level jobs, and her thoughts on film school.
Shonda discusses what she looks for in writers when staffing her shows and how her own writers' rooms are structured.
Shonda talks about how a writer can best adapt to the fast-paced world of television production and the important lessons she has learned in over a decade of producing TV.
Becoming and being a showrunner is exciting, but it comes with immense responsibilities. Shonda talks through how she learned to become an effective showrunner.
Writing is not just a profession; it is a way of life. Shonda discusses the issue of "work/life balance" and the physical and mental habits to survive a writer's life.
Learn how Shonda went from being a Dartmouth and USC graduate to the queen of Thursday night.
Shonda wraps up her MasterClass with a few departing thoughts and suggestions for next steps.
Frank welcomes you to his MasterClass. He shares what he hopes you'll learn from him, and tells you exactly how he found architecture. Or did it find him?
Frank is considered one of the most creative and expressive architects in the world. In this chapter, he’ll share why it’s important to develop your own creative signature and how to embrace the creative insecurity you will inevitably experience.
Over the course of his storied career, Frank has developed a series of hard-won philosophies about design and architecture. In the next two chapters, he passes these philosophies on to you.
Frank dives deeper into the theories he considers crucial to every architect's design process.
Sometimes the best ideas begin as the craziest ideas. Frank shares a few of his tips for exploring the crazy ideas, and where to begin again if you're feeling stuck.
From the great sculptures by Bernini, to the fluid movement in Hiroshige's carp paintings, Frank has found inspiration for his buildings in a myriad of places. See how he translates, interprets, and adapts shapes and themes into his own designs.
Critics, clients, even the ebb and flow of the economy can have dramatic effects on the work that you do. Frank shares stories of how he has overcome these obstacles, and ended up seeing them as opportunities.
It started with an offhand comment about a fish. It turned into Frank Gehry's signature style. Learn about Franks fascination with movement, where it came from, and how he's able to add it to an inanimate building.
Frank knows the importance of communicating with clients. By including them at every step of the design process, your projects will gain order and personality. In this chapter, Frank shares how to make creative collaboration a priority.
Frank shares the highlights, and low points, of his time designing and constructing the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall. You'll learn the importance of being a master builder, prototyping your work, and collaborating with other experts.
Frank's high profile New York City highrise began as a study of movement. Learn how Frank collaborated with curtain wall experts to create 'Bernini folds' from metal panels.
When he starts a new project, Frank knows it's crucial to consider a building's surroundings. In this chapter, he'll share his techniques for situating his work within existing landscapes.
Being a master builder means staying on top of the latest in material advancements. Frank gives you a peek into his 'prototyping graveyard', where he tests materials that pique his interest, and looks for the humanity in the mundane.
Working with an architect is an enormous investment. Learn how you can honor your client's trust, and play an indispensable part in bringing their design goals to life.
Frank Gehry and Associates have been a bustling business since 1962, a monumental feat in the world of architecture. In this chapter, Frank shares how he runs an ethical, creative, collaborative, and profitable business.
If you're thinking of hiring a partner, or working for one, listen to these best practices Frank has honed over the years. The key? It starts with respect.
After unpacking his process and sharing what inspires him, Frank explains how the next generation of architects can engage and challenge tradition to create groundbreaking designs.
Meet Steve. He's one of the most accomplished comedians of all time, an acclaimed writer, actor, and musician. And now, he's your instructor.
No talent? No problem. Steve shares some ways that anyone can jumpstart their comedic journey. He didn't let a lack of talent slow him down and thinks you shouldn't either.
Inspiration is all around you if you know where to look. Steve teaches you how to keep your eyes open and reveals some of the most abundant sources of comedic material.
Figuring out what you have to say can be one of the most daunting tasks a comedian faces. Steve provides some effective techniques for identifying your own unique voice and channeling it into comedy.
It's not just what you say, it's how you say it. Steve explains how his own stage persona emerged and teaches you how to cultivate one that will take your material to the next level.
There are a million ways to get someone to laugh. Steve refutes the myth that you need a punchline to be funny and analyzes a number of joke structures that you can use to keep them in stitches.
The difference is in the delivery. Steve offers techniques for pacing, physicality, and timing to help you hone those jokes you've written for the stage.
So you've got some jokes - now what? Steve reveals how you can turn your material into a stageworthy act.
Steve sits down with a group of young comedians and gives Nalini hands-on guidance in the development of her very first stand up bit.
Steve examines one of Tim's bits and illustrates how he can heighten the comedy, connect with the audience, and streamline his performance.
A strong opening and closing are the keys to a memorable act. Steve talks about the importance of these moments and shows you how to use them to your advantage.
Steve discusses the questions that face every comedian when it comes to vulgarity and political correctness.
Excellence in comedy requires practice just like everything else. Steve examines how to learn from your mistakes, refine your material, and ensure that you are ready to take the next step.
Even Steve Martin has a bad show every now and then. But with his help, you can learn how to avoid common pitfalls, manage your stage fright, and make the most out of bombing.
Failure, rivalry, bad reviews: being a comedian is hard. Steve teaches you how to roll with the punches and advocates for a life of being in the arts.
Steve shares the processes he's used to create some of his most memorable characters and bring them to life on screen, based on his experience acting in over 50 films from Father of the Bride to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Steve doesn't let writer's block trip him up, and neither should you. He reveals the storytelling exercises he's employed to write classics like The Jerk and Bowfinger.
Steve discusses his experience writing Roxanne, the inspirations behind some of its funniest scenes, and how he adapted a 19th century play into what became one of his most beloved films.
Steve believes that editing is one of a comedian's most powerful tools. In these lessons, he breaks down his own editing processes and illustrates how it can turn something good into something great.
With particular emphasis on the life of a written piece once it's in the hands of actors and directors, Steve continues discussing his editing practices. He then puts his critical eye into action to analyze Beth's sketch.
Steve uses his play, Meteor Shower, as a teaching tool to explain efficient writing, smart exposition, and practical character development.
Steve became the best by observing the best. Learn about the comedy legends that inspired him to pursue his passion and the impact they had on his craft.
Learn how Steve's love of performing took him from a childhood magic act to selling out arenas. And how he has now, finally, learned to relax.
Steve concludes his class by offering some parting advice and words of inspiration.
Featuring exclusive footage of a tribute to Tom Hanks at the Museum of Modern Art, Steve dissects some of his favorite speaking engagements and shares his process for delivering comedy gold in speeches.
David outlines what he'll cover in this class, and the best mindset you can have to learn how to write great drama.
Trying to understand drama? Look no further than everyday life. David teaches you how to recognize drama at its best—when it seeks to simply entertain, not teach.
Learn how drama functions as a form of myth, the ways in which it enlightens the complexities of humanity, and how it provides us with an outlet for expressing the issues that preoccupy us.
As a dramatist, your job is to tell a story. David teaches you how to keep your story simple by using Aristotle's Poetics as a guide. Learn how to keep your hero's journey at the heart of your narrative.
Start at the beginning of your story and don't stop until you reach the end. Throw away anything that isn't plot. David teaches you what to cut from your script and how to master the rules of writing.
David teaches you how to harness your fantasies and life experiences for drama. Look for drama in places where you'd least expect it and discover the inspiration behind several of his plays.
David teaches you what character really is—action. Learn how to create objectives for your characters and avoid the erroneous techniques commonly taught.
Plot is paramount. Become familiar with the essential ingredients of a plot like the precipitating event and the second-act problem. Learn how to find the plot hiding behind your scenes.
David shares with you the methods he uses to structure a plot and teaches you how to connect plot points.
Learn the ins and outs of the structure of a three-act play and how to achieve cohesion across acts.
David discusses the history of American Buffalo and delves into its plot, teaching you the symbolism of the eponymous coin and how the narrative speaks to viewers on a deeply human level.
David shares the inspiration behind Glengarry Glen Ross and discusses the differences between drama and tragedy.
Learn how David developed his style for writing dialogue, famously known as "Mamet-speak," and where to draw inspiration when trying to write great dialogue.
David talks about what informs and motivates dialogue, and how to achieve a musicality and rhythm in your character's speech pattern.
Writing drama is not the same as conveying information. A dramatist's job is to entertain, not bore, the audience. Learn how to recognize unnecessary narration and exposition and how to let the audience help you cut it out.
Every scene must contain three things. Learn what those are and how to recognize and remove scenes that are unnecessary to your script.
David discusses how he begins writing, the environment in which he likes to write, how he deals with writer's block, and how he looks to Hemingway for inspiration on how to begin writing.
David tells us that there isn't a fairy dust that will fix your script and explains the simple difference between him and an artist who spends his or her days simply dreaming about becoming a writer.
Learn how David reveres his audiences, what they are looking for when they come to the theatre, and how to learn from them.
Your responsibility as a writer: don't lie. David discusses how the audience comes to the theatre to hear the truth and how drama helps us search for the truth. He gives examples of conveying the truth from two of his most revered plays.
David continues talking about the truth in two of his most controversial works: Oleanna and Race.
Learn from David, in the role of the theatre director, on how he views what makes a great actor and how to cast the right ones for your play.
David tells us what he believes great actors should and shouldn't do.
The life of a dramatist is fraught with uncertainty, but dedication and passion towards your craft can lead you beyond consciousness.
David experiences the self-doubt common amongst writers. Learn how he overcomes it and the one thing you should avoid in order to forge a path towards becoming a writer.
David leaves you with parting words and an emotional story from one of his favorite science fiction novels.
Meet your new instructor: fashion icon and branding genius Diane von Furstenberg. Diane explains the goals of her MasterClass and the importance of acting with intention in your life.
Why do you want to be a designer? Diane challenges you to answer this question and gives advice on how to establish a foothold in the fashion industry.
Learn how to find inspiration for your designs. Art, nature, and color can all play a part in how your brand differentiates itself in the marketplace.
Learn how to position your product and brand within the market. Learn why your product needs to “stand” for something, and why your own perspective as a consumer is critical.
Diane explains the importance of market research, how to identify gaps in product offerings, and ways to measure up your competition.
From logos and names to building your brand portfolio, Diane breaks down how to craft your brand DNA.
Diane shares how she builds brand loyalty, communicates her brand’s story, and selects models.
Learn how to identify your consumers and build relationships with them. Brand loyalty depends on how deeply your consumer values your brand.
Social media has changed the way fashion brands interact with their consumers. Diane shares the best ways to approach marketing on these platforms.
Careful collaborations can drive your brand's growth. Diane shares her techniques for selecting brand partnerships, and avoiding pitfalls.
Diane and a student discuss inspiration, influences, and career dreams.
Diane talks to a rising designer about the roles of influences and muses.
Diane didn't go to fashion school, but she opened the industry’s doors anyway. Find out how she learned about the industry, advertising, and the power of the image in her early career.
Diane discusses how she launched—and re-launched—her iconic wrap dress.
Diane discusses failure and the importance of being true to yourself.
In the final lesson, Diane shares her philosophy and encourages you to get started designing your brand—and your life.
In this bonus chapter, Diane discusses her philanthropy and why she believes there’s nothing more important than generosity.
Meet Dr. Jane. She's one of the most accomplished scientists and conservationists of our time. And now, she's your instructor.
Learn how Dr. Jane's childhood aspirations took her from England's seaside to the forests of Africa.
Dr. Jane explains the challenges she faced during her initial work in Gombe and how she arrived at the one breakthrough that changed everything.
Dr. Jane goes into depth about how she studied complex behaviors in chimpanzees, including their usage of tools.
Dr. Jane’s discoveries weren’t all happy. Find out how she uncovered the darker side of our closest relatives.
Hear about the family bonds and infant development that Dr. Jane discovered while observing chimp families.
Dr. Jane teaches you some of the incredible secrets she’s uncovered about the intelligence of the animal and plant kingdoms, from chimps to trees.
According to Dr. Jane, there’s never been a more exciting time to study animal science. Hear how much she has learned about the remarkable similarities between chimps and humans and how much is still left to be uncovered.
After observing the similarities between chimps and humans, Dr. Jane believes that emotion plays an important role in science and that human beings might not be the only animal to display spiritual behavior.
Learn about the moment Dr. Jane turned from scientist to activist, and how she uncovered many problems facing chimps and humans.
Dr. Jane shares the three main problems challenging the health of our planet and explains how we mustn't lose hope in the face of these seemingly impossible problems.
The problems facing humans and animals are all interconnected. Learn how conflicts between humans and animals threaten both species.
Dr. Jane has observed many forms of animal cruelty. Here, she relates some of them in order to shed light on the problem and teach us how to give animals the respect they deserve.
Learn about the many kinds of waste we release into the environment and the effects they have on our interconnected world.
Water is one of our most precious resources. And yet, Dr. Jane says we take it for granted. Here’s how we should think about water before it's too late.
The destruction of forests is especially painful to Dr. Jane because of the emotional connection she has with trees. Learn about these incredible plants and the far-reaching effects of destroying forests.
The need to grow copious amounts of food to keep up with human population growth is harming our planet and our society, as Dr. Jane explains.
There is hope to combat the negative effects of industrial agriculture. Learn how organic farming helps restore forests, attract wildlife, and produce healthier and better tasting food.
You can become an activist today by choosing what you buy and what you eat. Learn how changing some small habits in your food consumption can have far-reaching effects on our environment.
It's easy to feel hopeless in the face of problems. But Dr. Jane teaches you the many ways you can help, and how we should think—and act—locally.
Dr. Jane is one of the best storytellers in the world. Learn her techniques for communicating effectively with anyone—even if that person doesn’t share your point of view.
Dr. Jane shares her tips for making presentations fun for her audiences - and for herself.
See how Dr. Jane communicates with climate change skeptics and companies who are harming animals.
We are on a downward path towards creating a planet that will no longer support human life. But Dr. Jane believes there is still hope for saving Earth, especially in young people.
Dr. Jane discusses the Jane Goodall Institute’s TACARE initiative, which gives local communities in Tanzania the tools they need to manage resources for long-term growth and sustainability.
An introduction to the origins of the Roots & Shoots program.
Learn the basic tenets of Roots & Shoots—and the meaning behind its name.
Dr. Jane contends that there are four main reasons for hope: the energy of youth, the power of the human brain, the resilience of nature, and the power of social media.
Dr. Jane ends her MasterClass by reminding us that our work has just begun—and that our greatest tool for creating change is the one that we all share: the indomitable human spirit.
Garry's teaching reflects his style of play: direct, dynamic, and ambitious. He shares what he will cover in this class, including concrete instruction for players at different levels.
Learn how a World Chess Champion thinks as Garry shares the tenets of his chess philosophy.
The double attack is a simple concept that can often be deadly. Garry offers elegant examples to show its power—and how to defend yourself from it.
Garry offers an in-depth study of the double attack to help you expand your practical portfolio.
Garry believes in the power of geometry. Through these positions, he shows how you can get the best out of your pieces—even the weak ones.
Missing a discovered attack can have dramatic consequences. Garry’s examples reveal how even top players can overlook this surprising move.
Not all pins are created equal. Understanding their effectiveness means understanding the power of paralyzing your opponent’s pieces, especially in the endgame.
Defense requires harmony, and knowing how to disrupt your opponent is critical. Garry shows how to identify an opponent’s target and then find a tactical way to destroy that defensive coordination.
The moment an opponent’s pieces lose their ability to counter threats, you can start building your attack.
The most destructive form of overload is when a piece has to watch for threats coming from different directions. Garry’s examples include one move that made his opponent literally jump out of his chair.
Trading pieces doesn’t mean simply eliminating pieces of equal value. In the endgame, it can create a decisive advantage—or save a game that appears hopeless.
In Garry’s experience, the endgame never means the end of excitement. He shows the purity and creativity of the endgame—including drama, shouldering, and zugzwang.
Garry continues his endgame lessons with pawn endgames, rook endgames, queen v. pawn—and, of course, the king’s role. While it can seem slow and weak in the middlegame, an active king is vital in the endgame.
Garry believes miracles happen when you know how to create them. While most players spend time on openings, you can make game-changing miracles by studying the rich possibilities of endgames.
Garry played e4 as a child prodigy and stuck with that move as the under-18 chess champion of the USSR and under-20 champion of the world. Learn when and how he grew his repertoire.
What happens when your opponent plays your opening? How do you find a satisfying opening both psychologically and strategically? Is there such a thing as universal opening advice?
He brought abandoned openings back from the dead and built a database of almost 20,000 different analyses—but Garry believes there are still more ideas to surface.
With a time control of 30 minutes, watch Garry take on three players with ratings of 1266, 1515, and 2103.
“What else can you do?” Garry breaks down Jason’s moves and answers questions about what his opponent could have done differently.
“It seems like the whole army is coming for me.” After Molly opens with the Sicilian, Garry counters with a quiet move. From there, Garry talks through how he developed his pieces and explains how Molly could have created more discomfort for him.
“No, I didn’t see that line.” Garry points out a line that Dennis missed and shows how he created the illusion of an attack without any real threat.
Garry dissects his opening against Vishy Anand in 1995. The discussion includes analysis of a decisive mistake, strong attacks, tactical motifs, and a powerful yet quiet move that came at a rare early stage of the game.
Garry focuses on pawn endgames and the drama they can create. An appetite for the beauty of the endgame is one of the best ways to improve your chess.
Even when Garry was a kid, the number 13 held special meaning for him. He shares the realization of that numeric destiny and the forces that shaped his singular style of play.
World champions climb to the top through brutal and relentless analysis. Learn what Garry believes is the greatest danger facing players.
The sting of Garry’s loss to Deep Blue has softened over the years. He looks back on that defeat and forward to the benefits of computers in chess training.
The poster that hung over Garry’s bed as a kid included a line borrowed from Soviet dissidents: “If not you, who else?” Garry talks about triumphing in the most grueling matches of his career, as well as how he recovered when his mistakes felt like a physical pain.
Whether you’re playing at home, at a club, or in a tournament, the variations in chess are limitless—and so are the possibilities for improving your game.
After a crushing loss to Karpov, Garry analyzed his play and came up with a variation that he never used.
Meet your instructor, legendary pianist and composer Herbie Hancock. For Herbie, music is more than the notes you play. Learn how to open your mind—and ears—to the real story.
For Herbie, music is more than the notes you play. Learn how to open your mind—and ears—to the real story.
Don't let improvisation intimidate you. Herbie’s approach starts with the simplest of ideas: Listen, then react.
Herbie taught himself to play jazz by playing along with his favorite records. Learn how to use his methods to accompany the music you love.
Countless jazz tunes are built around one of two simple harmonic patterns. Practice Herbie’s licks and improv ideas, and discover new opportunities to use them.
Listen, practice, and play along with Herbie’s solo performance of Sonny Rollins's standard, a classic example of rhythm changes.
Herbie breaks down the fundamentals of piano playing.
Build speed and strength in your fingers with the exercises that have helped Herbie most.
Playing alone means you’re free to play any way you want. Learn how Herbie breaks the rules of melody, rhythm, and harmony to infuse his solo performances with creativity.
Have you ever thought about music as a series of images? Herbie shares techniques that will push the boundaries of your improvising.
Herbie brings some guests to help demonstrate how musicians communicate while playing.
Where do songs come from? For Herbie, they start to take shape in life experiences. Here’s how he turns memories, impressions, and emotions into music.
A song is never finished. Even after you’ve recorded it, there’s still room for it to evolve. In this chapter, Herbie challenges you to give old compositions a contemporary edge.
Herbie brings in a rhythm section to break down two versions of his classic tune. They also accompany a synthesizer solo steeped in the sounds of funk and the blues.
Herbie shares advice from his years of composing and collaborating with the icons of jazz.
There’s a near-infinite number of ways play chords on your instrument. Learn some of Herbie’s go-to approaches, and let them spark your own experimentation.
Playing a new set of chords under a classic melody is one of Herbie’s favorite ways to study harmony. Explore the new possibilities he finds in Thelonious Monk’s classic tune.
Jazz players don’t just learn from other jazz players. One of Herbie’s harmonic touchstones is the French composer Maurice Ravel. Learn how to add some of Ravel’s sounds to your bag of harmonic tricks.
Herbie’s approach to harmony was built over years of experimentation. Let these ideas inspire your own harmonic exploration.
Herbie performs one of his most famous compositions alone at the piano. Listen and practice along to learn about how to play ballads and use the sus4 chord.
Herbie has tips for grooving deeper and feeling more comfortable playing in strange and complex rhythms, from swing to funk.
Herbie brings the rhythm section back to break down the groove of one of the Headhunters’ most complicated numbers. Play along and find the downbeat for yourself.
Herbie followed an unlikely path to jazz, and it’s been a wild ride ever since. His story serves as an inspiration and a testament to what you can accomplish when you let passion be your guide.
For his final solo performance, Herbie chooses one of his most popular compositions. A study in bluesy playing, it showcases the possibilities you can find in simple structures if you stay open to the moment.
Herbie offers his parting words and a bit of music as a thank-you for joining him.
Meet your new instructor: Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese. Martin explains the goals of his MasterClass and talks about the importance of staying true to yourself on your filmmaking journey.
Martin explains how he realized that filmmaking was his true calling in life. He also talks about the importance of watching the old masters of cinema, from Orson Welles to Max Ophüls.
Martin teaches you to appreciate the value of every shot using the lessons he learned from his tough—but inspirational—professor at NYU.
There is no set process for filmmaking, but in this lesson Martin offers you a glimpse of what his own process looks like. Learn to let your film take on its own life and always remain open to unexpected changes that could add value to a scene.
Martin encourages you to take inspiration from the work of other directors and discusses the significance of referencing other films in your own work.
Martin teaches the tenets of visual literacy and elaborates on the hallmarks of his style, including previsualization with storyboards, the use of voice-over, and the influence of documentary on his feature films.
Martin connects the atmosphere in which he first started making movies to the current climate of filmmaking, teaching you how technological advances can both help and hinder your creative process as a director.
Martin teaches you how to see the inherently cinematic elements of your daily life and how to identify the themes and stories you are most drawn to.
Martin shows you his process for reading scripts and how he goes about forming ideas. He also teaches you important lessons regarding research and explains how to further develop your script in rehearsal.
Martin explains the significance of casting and offers his wisdom on how to interact with your potential actors, both individually and as part of a group. He also shares which performances he uses as models and what he looks for in an actor.
Martin teaches you the importance of getting in front of the camera as a director. You'll also learn how to build a trusting relationship with your actors, how to make time for them to experiment, and when to stop talking and start to shooting.
Martin shows you what you should look for when scouting locations and how to turn your location limitations into advantages.
Martin teaches you how to reflect the themes of a story through production design. Learn how to bring the world of your film to life and when to take artistic license when depicting historical periods.
Learn how to let character dictate costume and how to collaborate with actors to find the perfect clothing for roles.
Martin teaches you how to work with your cinematographer and tells you the best way to learn—by asking your DP questions.
Discover Martin's experience with low-budget filmmaking collaborating with cinematographer Michael Ballhaus. Learn how to creatively get the shots you need, even under tight budget and schedule constraints.
Learn the differences between working with a small, core crew and a big one, and how to empower individual members of your crew.
Martin reveals the magic of the edit room, and shares the qualities you should look for in an editor. He also prepares you for the continuous evolution that is intrinsic to the editing process.
Martin teaches the importance being in sync with your editor and expounds on a valuable lesson: You may have to cut the scenes you love.
Martin gives you a lesson on the historic use of color in cinema and explains his use of color in his own films.
Martin discusses the evolution of black and white film and how he arrived at the decision to make Raging Bull in black and white.
Martin teaches you his approach to sound design: enter the editing room with the intention of cutting away sound instead of adding it. Learn how to create atmosphere with sound design, as well as how to use sound to solve editing problems.
Martin shows how music serves as part of the spiritual lives of his characters and talks about the films whose music influenced him, from director Kenneth Anger's independents to the traditional scores of Hollywood films.
Martin recommends promotional strategies and teaches you how to identify and target your film's potential audience.
Martin analyzes the first scene of Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon. Watch and learn as Martin breaks down the use of natural lighting and voice-over. Discover how every image in the scene embodies the structure of an entire historical moment.
Martin analyzes the visual language of this scene from Jacques Tourneur's Out of the Past, explaining the director's use of light and shadow. Martin discusses camera tilts and Robert Mitchum's performance in this scene.
Martin dissects the voice-over in François Truffaut's film, explaining how it pushes the story forward and gives the audience copious information about the characters. Martin also analyzes the composition of frames and the effect of the music.
Martin discusses color and background action in this scene from Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. Learn how point-of-view shots and specific angles contribute to the emotional power of the scene.
Martin analyzes Federico Fellini's choices in composition and lighting in this scene from 8 1/2, and shows how these impact our understanding of the protoganist. Watch and learn as Martin breaks down camera movement and the blocking of actors.
In his parting words of wisdom, Martin encourages you to find your own way and never lose sight of the creative spark that inspires you on each film.
The honest, everyday struggles of Judy Blume’s characters resonate with millions of readers. Now, she’s your instructor. Judy invites you to discover your own process by hearing what worked for her.
Judy was an anxious kid and used stories she invented as companions and a creative outlet. Hear her talk about the early beginnings of her rich imagination.
Judy believes the most powerful stories come from within, yet writers need to be highly attuned to the world around them. She shares her process for identifying and developing strong ideas.
Judy discusses the highly personal calculation every writer will make about whether to raid their own lives for material. She also talks about the importance of letting ideas percolate before committing them to paper.
Judy shares the inspiration behind some of her most iconic and enduring books and characters: Margaret, Fudge, and Blubber.
Learn how to tap into the childhood version of yourself to authentically relate to younger readers. Kids have big questions and want their lives reflected in the books they read.
Give kids credit—they understand more than you think. Judy explains that authors should never write as adults talking to children.
Judy deconstructs how she researched her sprawling novel, which she based on series of unbelievable-yet-true events that happened in her hometown when she was a teenager.
Judy calls her notebooks her security blankets. Take a peek inside them to see how she bridged information with imagination to fictionalize a story she personally experienced.
Compelling and layered characters drive stories forward and keep readers wanting to turn the page. But before that happens, writers need to get to know their characters as if they were real people.
Judy encourages you to explore voice and point of view until you land on a storytelling style that fits your characters. That style should reflect all the details that contribute to a character’s experience and journey.
Realistic dialogue elevates and sharpens your characters. Judy shares her love of writing dialogue and her ideas for troubleshooting if you don’t love it as much as she does.
What characters say to each other has the power to reveal. And sometimes, what they don’t say reveals even more.
Don’t be intimidated by the thought of writing an entire book. Judy wants to help you tackle a book scene by scene, beginning with how to find your starting point.
Judy discusses how settings can act as secondary characters and how to give your book the ending it deserves.
For Judy, early drafts require leaning on her notebooks as well as “letting the mess come out” and looking at potential problems later.
In later drafts, Judy goes deeper into character to propel a story forward. She also shares her feelings about what to do if writer’s block appears.
Judy shares what she always does before submitting a manuscript. She also teaches you how to write a killer query letter to find an agent.
A young editor discovered Judy in the slush pile and changed her work—and life—forever. Judy shares how she approached working with editors to arrive at the best possible version of her work.
Rejection is a fact of life if you want to be a writer. Learn how Judy overcame her doubts when the letters piled up—and how she used rejection to fuel her determination.
Writers should understand the power that cover art and titles can have on perception and sales. Judy shares lessons from the trenches, as well as her view on the importance of keeping a clear sense of your own identity within an ever-changing market.
Judy remains one of the most banned authors in the country, with books that are still challenged by censors. She shares her hard-earned belief that writers need to remain true to themselves and the truth of their stories.
Judy started writing because she was desperate for a creative outlet. She shares how her desire to feel normal led her to create enduring emotional connections with readers who wanted to feel the same way.
When you finish this MasterClass and begin your next project, Judy urges you to foster the most powerful force in your writing life: your own imagination. As she says, “No one can have too much imagination—let alone a writer.”
You know Samuel L. Jackson from iconic films like Pulp Fiction and Die Hard with a Vengeance. Now he’s your acting teacher. Sam shares his goals for his MasterClass, as well as his mindset toward acting: it’s an adventure.
Learn how Sam imbues every role with a sense of purpose and complexity of character—even if they only appear on screen for a few minutes. In this lesson, he shares the fundamentals of his characterization process.
Sam dives deep into the myriad ways actors can use their bodies to reflect their characters’ personalities. Learn how to use posture, gait, voice, and physical appearance to add complexity to your characters.
Sam breaks down the nuances of his characterization process and performance as Romulus, a prodigal but schizophrenic and homeless concert pianist, in The Caveman’s Valentine.
Sam directs student actors in a workshop, and the first scene on the docket is the iconic diner scene from Pulp Fiction. In this lesson, Sam helps them break down the script to gain a deeper understanding of the characters’ intentions.
Get inside Jules’s head as Sam breaks down the Ezekiel passage and walks the students through the different ways the character could perform the scene.
Creating in-depth character backstory is an integral part of Sam’s process. He pushes the students to develop a connection with Jules by imagining his life story and how he got to this moment in the diner.
One of the student actors puts a unique spin on Jules, showing that there are many “right” ways to create characters.
Sam reveals how his childhood experiences have informed his approach to character voices throughout his career, and discusses his method of developing a vocalization plan.
Sam directs the actors to perform a scene from The Negotiator in which two characters—Danny and Farley—are on opposite ends of the power spectrum. Students play the scene and then switch roles.
Sam analyzes the students’ choices of power positions when playing Danny and how movement and stillness can each convey power in a different way. He shows how posture works on each side of the phone as each character is pushed to their limits.
Learn Sam’s tried-and-true methods for developing strong working relationships with directors.
Sam describes the movie set environment as “a moving circus.” Learn his code of on-set conduct, which has earned him respect throughout the industry as a true professional.
On the surface, this Kingsman scene is a simple conversation between two characters. The actors’ task is to dig deeper, access the subtext of the exchange, and create characters who will make the otherwise “bland” dialogue more interesting.
When it comes to characterization, it’s better to show up with too much rather than not enough. Sam pushes the student actors to take risks and commit to their choices.
Sam encourages you to nurture a sense of curiosity and explore stories set in worlds that you are unfamiliar with, so that you have a more expansive view of the characters you take on throughout your acting career.
Don’t walk into a casting room thinking about the job; go in with the goal of demonstrating your skill as an actor. Sam gives you this and more time-tested rules for auditioning.
Sam walks you through the most important business relationships you’ll form as an actor, and offers wisdom on how to best work with them.
Learn how Sam got “plucked” from the Negro Ensemble Company, where he performed alongside Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman, to go to Hollywood.
Sam shares three very personal lessons learned over the decades he’s spent in Hollywood.
When you finish this MasterClass and continue your career in acting, Sam urges you to remember your responsibility to your audience—and to the world at large.
Meet your new instructor: Bob Woodward. In this chapter, Bob underscores the vital role of journalism today. He also shares his belief that there are no boundaries to searching for what he calls "the best obtainable version of the truth."
Bob's guiding principles push you to get outside your comfort zone, carve your own path, and leave opinion and political slant out of your reporting.
Bob explains what makes a compelling news story. He urges you to be open to changing course if a better story materializes.
Bob and a group of students from his Yale journalism seminar take a deep dive into his interview with then–presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
In-depth reporting requires you to be persistent, focused, and proactive. Bob discusses the value of giving your case the time it deserves and getting out in the field to verify what you've learned from your research.
Watergate was a pivotal moment in Bob's career. In this chapter, he shares the lessons he learned from reporting on this groundbreaking historical event.
Bob teaches you the importance of documentation—both acquiring documents for your reporting, and documenting your own research. He offers multiple ways to find written evidence to build your story.
Bob explains why sources decide to share information with journalists and teaches you how to assess who to talk to when investigating a story.
From establishing ground rules to strategically sharing what you already know, Bob teaches what to keep in mind as you initiate contact with sources for a story.
Bob reveals how he developed his relationship with Mark Felt, the source who became known as "Deep Throat" during the Watergate scandal.
Learning how to build trust with sources is one of the most valuable lessons you can learn as a reporter. Here, Bob breaks down his approach—from expediting intimacy to maintaining your boundaries.
As a reporter, the more sources you have in your arsenal, the better your chances of unearthing valuable information. Bob shares ways to expand the scope of people who will talk to you.
Bob and a group of students from his Yale journalism seminar analyze his interview with President Barack Obama about his decisions in war.
Developing a relationship with a source over time can be one of the most productive endeavors a reporter can take on. Here, Bob shares how he managed to build a relationship with then–CIA director Bill Casey.
There are several important steps you should take before formally interviewing a source. From determining the best location to meet, to deciding whether to send the questions ahead of time, Bob walks you through how to prepare for your interview.
Interviewing is one the most important parts of a reporter's job. Here, Bob details the best practices to follow as you question a source.
Many challenges can arise when you are interviewing someone to uncover the truth. Bob provides insight into how to push through interview obstacles, from withstanding hostility to addressing deception.
From the surprising value of rejection to the importance of honest communication, Bob reveals what he's learned from the many accomplished editors he's worked with over the years, including renowned Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee.
Using examples from his own reporting, Bob discusses some common pitfalls reporters run into when developing their theory of the case.
After all your investigative work and research, ultimately you have to write your story. Here, Bob shares strategies for turning what you've uncovered into a compelling piece of journalism.
From deciding what details to include to evaluating word choice, Bob provides advice on how to fine-tune your news story once your initial draft is complete.
Bob explains his approach to reporting on secrets—particularly information that involves the public's safety, national security, and government intelligence.
Bob shares the valuable lessons he has learned from mistakes he’s made during his long career as a journalist.
Bob discusses how the internet has transformed the landscape of journalism. He encourages reporters to continue fighting to uncover the truth—even in the face of attacks on the media.
Meet Marc. In his first lesson, the CFDA Award-winning designer describes the scope of his class, from inspiration to runway shows, and explains his goal: to inspire, encourage, and enlighten you on your journey in fashion.
You don't need to be an expert at knitting, sewing, or pattern making to be a great designer. But Marc recommends learning the basics to help you find and refine your creative voice.
Music, architecture, fictional characters—they've all inspired Marc and his work. Here, he talks about the importance of keeping your eyes—and mind—open to inspiration, no matter where you find it.
See how Marc approaches the sketching process. Learn what tools he uses and what he tries to accomplish in a sketch, and then watch as Marc completes a sketch.
Every designer approaches the creative process differently. Marc shares what his creative process entails, including how he uses mood boards and thinks about trends.
For Marc, it all begins with fabric. Learn how Marc chooses fabrics for his designs and how he works with different fibers. Then learn the story behind the fabric choices for three of his garments.
The shape and silhouette of your garment can be a very important part of communicating the message you want in your design. In this chapter, Marc discusses his approach to creating silhouettes and breaks down the silhouette choices behind three of his garments.
Marc discusses the process of going from sketch to pattern and why your first toile will never be perfect. Marc has also provided a pattern from his studio for you to download and study.
Marc shares his favorite construction techniques and how he approaches the construction process for his designs.
Marc breaks down the construction techniques in three of his garments, demonstrating what each technique achieved for each design.
A collection is more than just a series of garments. Marc shares his philosophy on what makes a cohesive collection.
Follow along as Marc breaks down the entire process for creating his Fall 2017 collection, from inspiration to runway.
Marc believes strongly in collaboration in the design process. Marc shares what he looks for in his collaborators and how he has worked with artists in the past to create unique designs.
For Marc, it all leads to the runway. Learn Marc's approach for creating an exciting show, including what he looks for in models.
Learn from Marc's experience at the venerable fashion house Louis Vuitton and how he approached respecting—and disrespecting—the brand's history.
The fashion industry can be tumultuous, even for the best of designers. In this chapter, Marc shares some tips on how you can survive and thrive.
Learn about Marc's transformation from fashion student to world-renowned designer.
Marc ends his Masterclass by encouraging you to ask questions, be fearless, and always pursue your love of fashion.
You know Ron Howard as an Oscar–winning director, a producer, an actor, and one of Hollywood’s great storytellers. Now, he’s your instructor. Meet Ron and learn why the director is the ultimate “keeper of the story.”
Ron believes anyone can direct a movie. The key is loving a story, understanding it, and then backing up your instincts with craft. Learn his technique for finding and telling fresh stories that will leave an impact on audiences.
Over the years, Ron has developed a personal checklist to evaluate and strengthen a script. Learn the key components of a great screenplay and how to build your own checklist to identify material that’s right for you.
Scripts must work on creative and intellectual levels. Ron knows there’s no shortcut to the rewriting process, and he shares how he ensures a script is “camera ready” before embarking on production.
Ron works on an idea when he feels a flush of inspiration, which can come from the theme, his personal relationship with the idea, or its freshness. Learn how this approach has helped him create some of his most enduring and beloved films.
Throughout the development process, your choices and beliefs as a director are going to be tested. Learn how Ron finds the best collaborators to navigate through development hell and bring his projects to life.
Learn Ron’s policy for collaborating on a movie and how working in groups of three can bring out the best in a creative team.
While collaboration is central to Ron’s process, he warns against directing by committee. Directors need to have the confidence to hear everyone, but listen to themselves.
The language of photography can overwhelm new directors. Ron talks you through how to find the right collaborator, rely on them, and work with them to define your movie’s visual tone.
Ron thinks about cinematic choices almost like a character in the movie. Learn how lighting, lenses, and stylistic choices can add visual power to your film.
Learn how Ron finds the right production designers and works to inspire them to create sets that help tell your story, using a mosaic of palettes and colors.
Ron revisits the cinematography and production design decisions that energized and surprised him when he made Frost/Nixon, including powerful lessons about turning compromise into creativity.
Seemingly small or trivial details can anchor a scene, reinforce a director’s vision, and forge a stronger connection with the audience.
Ron shares a story about how a lucky mistake—forgetting his headphones on an airplane—taught him how to better understand the mechanics of shots, camera setups, and sequences in an action scene.
Ron walks you through the movie’s iconic launch sequence and explains how meticulous research and shot planning energized a familiar historical moment.
Ron shares how he flipped the movie’s point of view at a key juncture in the film in order to underscore the realization of a powerful truth.
Ron encourages you to look beyond an actor’s tangible skills. Learn how to trust your gut and recognize the intangible qualities that a performer will bring to a role.
Ron urges you to collaborate with, inspire, and protect your actors. Learn how you can prepare yourself to work with them—and when to trust them to deliver the performance you need.
Learn why Ron always looks for moments where an actor’s instinct brings emotional truth to a scene.
A director’s job is to narrow the seemingly endless staging choices. Here, Ron offers a rare opportunity to watch his directorial process in action.
This approach most closely replicates the staging approach of the original movie. Watch Ron as he collects masters for each setup.
Ron shows you how he shoots all the coverage he knows he will need in order to optimize for creative choices in the edit.
Now that Ron knows he has all his master shots and additional coverage, he explores other possibilities—often following an actor’s natural instincts.
Ron reworks the scene for a Steadicam, which requires technical movement and choreography from actors.
Ron shows you an alternative approach he could have tried in the film: using a Steadicam to shoot from David Frost’s point of view.
If you need to compromise on set, Ron encourages you to keep the staging simple. This indie approach maximizes coverage with limited resources.
Reviewing the staging exercises, Ron talks you through what he was considering while blocking the actors and planning for each shot.
For Ron, the editing process is the time when you execute the final rewrite of a movie. Learn how to find the right editor and develop an editing style for your film together.
Early cuts can break your heart, but Ron knows that editing also offers a thrilling chance to uncover your story again and see your film in a new and improved way.
Sound design works on a subliminal level. Sometimes taking sound away can be as powerful as adding it.
Ron explains how the most talented composers pick up on details of actors’ performances and build music cues that deepen a story.
In his final lesson, Ron urges you to be open to the moments and experiences that inspire you, and to find a story that you love and tell it.
To start her MasterClass, Helen demonstrates a simple act that’s one of the hardest things for an actor to do: walking naturally. She then introduces you to the world of acting and the empty space that will be your classroom.
Helen talks about the beginning of her career and the events that inspired her to become an actress, from an amateur production of Hamlet to a variety show in her hometown.
While performing with an experimental theater group, Helen learned valuable lessons about voice training, physicality, and control. Here, she shares them with you.
Helen offers you advice for auditions and shares her unique way of assessing a role.
Breaking down a script is a very personal process. Learn Helen’s tricks for tackling a large volume of material at once, and experience the joy of discovering your character’s dialogue in your own mouth.
Helen shares her process for breaking down a Shakespeare passage by working through Portia’s “Quality of Mercy” speech from The Merchant of Venice, a monologue she’s never performed before.
Helen breaks down her favorite speech—“Our Revels” from The Tempest—giving you insight into her deeply personal relationship with the lines.
Real life is one of Helen’s greatest inspirations—she says it will always be better than anything we can invent. Learn how to find your character in the world around you and the importance of having a secret story that drives you in every role.
Helen breaks down her two types of research—literal and poetic—and emphasizes the importance of researching the people in your character’s profession, rather than just the profession itself.
Learn how Helen approached research for historical roles such as Elizabeth I, Elizabeth II, and Ayn Rand.
Helen has a deep enthusiasm for costume. She walks you through how various costumes serve the characters who wear them and how to make more thoughtful choices about what your characters wear.
Every piece of your character’s costume—down to the shoes—has to tell the right story. Learn how to evaluate accessories for your character.
Helen teaches you to let go of vanity and approach hair and makeup through the lens of your character.
For Helen, an actor’s face is an “empty space,” just like a stage, on which characters come to life and tell their stories.
Helen advises you on aspects of the preparation and rehearsal process, from learning your lines to working with a dialect coach to overcoming creative blocks.
Learn the essential human behaviors and aspects of the human experience you’ll need in your toolbox throughout your acting career.
For Helen, mastering on-camera technique allowed her to find freedom in her roles and to have moments of pure, out-of-control inspiration. She shares how she found inspiration in this vein from a surprising source: an abstract painter.
Helen dives into the nitty-gritty of working to camera, sharing advice for staying oriented on set and reserving your energy and emotions for your coverage on camera. She also encourages you not to obsess over every take.
Learn how to drop into character right before a take, how to stay grounded in your process, and how to give your best performance amid the distractions on set.
Close-up shots are an opportunity to show your character’s emotions and thoughts without putting words to them. Helen breaks down a scene from the first episode of Prime Suspect to illustrate.
Learn the two-track thinking required to have an impactful performance on camera: You must play the emotional moment of the scene in real time while knowing exactly where the camera is.
Helen breaks down two powerful moments of her Academy Award–winning performance in The Queen, illustrating how she reveals the nuances of her character without saying a word.
Helen gives you a unique look at what acting on a film set is actually like and shares the key to success when working to camera: concentration.
Actors may overlook details of set decoration, but Helen encourages you to think about what set dressing can say about your character. Learn how changing the dressing of a set can tell different stories about the character who lives there.
For Helen, props are an extension of your character. Learn how to use them naturally on camera while also cultivating an awareness of the demands of continuity.
Helen advises you on how to create successful relationships with writers and directors, and she shares lessons learned from working with renowned director Robert Altman on the film Gosford Park.
Helen shares her final thoughts and leaves you with her practical—and delightfully blunt—advice for young actors.
Discover which film actors had the biggest influence on Helen and why their work is so important to her.
Meet Stephen. The two-time MVP starts his class by sharing two turning points in his personal transformation from “nervous” junior varsity player to NBA champion.
Stephen breaks down his shooting techniques and shares some common mistakes that shooters should avoid.
Now that you've got the mechanics down, Stephen teaches you how to practice your form every day on the court.
Adding the catch to your mechanics puts you in a position to score at a moment's notice. Here's how Stephen shoots when he receives a pass.
The best way to become a better shooter is to become a better ball-handler. From posture to practice techniques, Stephen shows you his form for handling the ball.
Once you build strong foundations in ball-handling and shooting, it's time to start combining them. Stephen teaches you how to shoot off the dribble and how to practice pickup shooting.
Now that you're comfortable with your stationary ball-handling mechanics, Stephen teaches you what to keep in mind when you take the dribble on the move.
Stephen incorporates movement and footwork into shooting off the dribble, teaching you more sophisticated ways to practice becoming a dynamic scorer.
With the help of his practice partner, Brandon, Stephen teaches a few concepts for getting past a defender and creating an open shot.
Illustrating the concepts from the previous chapter with real in-game scenarios, Stephen talks through scoring moves and shows you his mechanics at work on the court.
Every player should work to master the ball screen. Stephen shares concepts, strategies, and practice tips for executing perfect ball screens.
Taking a look at game film, Stephen brings the ball screen work from the previous chapter to life and teaches you what to look for when watching ball screens in games.
With an emphasis on protecting the ball, layups, and floaters, Stephen breaks down his technique for finishing at the rim both in practice and in games.
Curl, pop, and fade are a few techniques for scoring when coming off of screens without the ball. Stephen teaches you how to lose a defender and score once the ball hits your hands.
Stephen teaches you his approach to overloading with two basketballs and a tennis ball to help you become a more confident ball-handler and make faster decisions in games.
Stephen shows you how to mentally prepare for competition and build a ball-handling warm-up you can use before games.
Stephen ends his class and prepares you to continue your journey, reminding you to always love what you do, be your own biggest fan, and push yourself toward your full potential.
Welcome to Wolfgang Puck’s kitchen. In his first lesson, Wolfgang shares the goal of his MasterClass: inspiring you to feel confident in the kitchen, whether you’re a home cook or restaurant chef.
The key to perfect seasoning is learning how to taste—and adjust—the flavors in a dish. Wolfgang introduces some essential ingredients and then shows you how to turn a simple soup into a delicious meal using just salt, pepper, honey, and lemon.
Wolfgang brings one of Spago’s most famous appetizers to your kitchen. Learn how to select ingredients, pair flavors, and utilize color to create this stunning dish.
Countless recipes and sauces are within reach once you know how to make your own veal stock and demi-glace. Learn why you should roast your ingredients before making stock and how to transform your stock into a flavorful demi-glace.
While working in three-star restaurants in France, Wolfgang perfected this classic pepper steak. Learn how to flawlessly sear your steak, and discover how to transform the demi-glace you made in the previous chapter into a rich red wine pan sauce.
Take your vegetables to the next level. Wolfgang shows you how to roast carrots to bring out their natural sweetness, and how to cleverly use the oft-discarded carrot tops. Finish this vibrant farro salad with orange yogurt vinaigrette.
Wolfgang breaks down the recipe he created for his Los Angeles exclusive French restaurant Ma Maison. Discover the secret to perfectly crispy chicken skin, and learn to make a tangy, sweet sauce that makes this dish unforgettable.
Learn to master one of the five French mother sauces with Wolfgang's recipe for béchamel sauce. Wolfgang shows you how to use the béchamel to make his restaurants’ best-selling macaroni and cheese, and the creamed spinach from his childhood.
Don’t be intimidated by buying and preparing fish. Wolfgang teaches you how to identify the freshest fish, and he shares his technique for perfectly seasoning and preparing his herb crusted branzino.
Think oatmeal is only for breakfast? Think again. Learn Wolfgang's imaginative recipe for oatmeal risotto, as well as proper knife-handling and mushroom cleaning techniques.
Learn to combine vibrant color and flavor in Wolfgang's seafood gazpacho. From selecting fresh clams to making a special clam mirepoix, you will discover Wolfgang's unique method for mastering your plating technique.
Great dining experiences call for great drinks. Learn to make four classic cocktails—berry margarita, negroni, bellini, and bloody mary. Wolfgang elevates his drinks with a unique chef’s twist that's guaranteed to please your guests.
Discover how Wolfgang worked his way up from an Austrian hotel kitchen to open his own Michelin-rated restaurants. Learn how hard work, risk-taking, and innovation influenced his journey.
Wolfgang shares the insight he's gained from years building a global brand. Analyzing his triumphs and failures, Wolfgang teaches the importance of risk-taking, innovation, and evolution.
Wolfgang breaks down the main tenets of his culinary philosophy. Sharing the lessons he's learned from his restaurants, Wolfgang shows you how to elevate your dining experiences at home.
Wolfgang ends his MasterClass with a bonus lesson on his recommended kitchen tools and appliances. He’ll show you that with just a few key essentials, you’ll be ready to start cooking.
Meet Alice in her home kitchen as she introduces you to her philosophy of cooking. She’ll teach you how to cook deliciously, with spontaneity, and in harmony with nature.
Alice teaches you how to become a discerning shopper whether at the farmers’ market or grocery store. Learn her guidelines for selecting ingredients, including questions to ask vendors and farmers.
Alice walks you through her process of planning an India-inspired lunch based on the ingredients in her shopping basket. Learn how to prepare vegetables three ways, and reach into your pantry to round out the meal.
Alice feels the same way about ingredients and kitchen tools—sometimes less is more. Alice demonstrates her favorite tools and challenges you to pare down your own collection for usefulness and beauty.
Alice teaches you how to choose the best quality ingredients with which to stock your pantry. She shares seven dishes all sourced from her own pantry including “Coming Home Pasta,” her go-to when returning home to an empty fridge after a long trip.
Alice’s distinctive pantry also includes items she mixes and makes herself to use throughout the week. Learn how to make Alice’s pantry staples including Quick Pickles, Sautéed Greens, and Oat Pancakes.
Fresh herbs are an essential element in Alice’s cooking. Learn how she uses tender and strong herbs for different dishes, and how she finds use for the whole plant—not just the leaves.
Alice teaches you to make one of her favorite and most versatile sauces, salsa verde. Alice demonstrates a version made with macerated shallots and offers variations on the sauce to serve with meats, vegetables, and fish.
Alice believes the making of a salad can bring as much joy as eating it. Learn Alice’s method for washing lettuces and follow her recipe for Mesclun Salad.
Alice teaches you how to make Chez Panisse’s everyday dessert, the galette. Learn how the perfect pastry dough results in a beautifully flakey crust.
Learn to make an egg pasta dough that can be used to make any shape of pasta. Then, use your dough to make Chez Panisse’s ricotta ravioli with chanterelle mushrooms.
Learn why the most iconic dessert at Chez Panisse is the most unembellished—the fruit bowl. Alice teaches you how to engage all of your senses to test ripeness and choose fruits at the peak of their season.
Quality time with your guests is just as important as making a quality meal. Learn how to think in three courses and time each step of your cooking for a delicious menu that allows you time to enjoy the party.
Finish preparing Alice’s dinner party menu with a last-minute burst of cooking over the fire or stovetop. Then learn how to plate and serve each course.
Learn how a life-changing trip to France led Alice from the frozen dinners of her childhood to pioneering the farm-to-table movement.
Alice breaks down the five principles of her Edible Schoolyard Project to show that food is a powerful teacher. She encourages you to continue your edible education by shopping and cooking sustainably and remembering that food is precious.
Now that Alice has covered her approach to home cooking, she challenges you to practice cooking over fire with the simple dish of an egg and grilled toast.
Meet your new instructor, Chef Thomas Keller. The award-winning chef shares an overview of what he’ll be teaching in his MasterClass: fundamental cooking techniques that will empower you to make great food in your own kitchen.
Before you start cooking, learn which essential tools—from knives to whisks—you should always keep in the kitchen.
Learn the key ingredients that you’ll need to enhance and add flavor to any dish.
Finish your kitchen setup by learning what cookware you'll need for every dish. Chef Keller also shows you how to avoid cluttering your kitchen with unnecessary tools.
What does it really mean when food is called local, organic, or sustainable? Chef Keller explains those terms and talks about how he chooses ingredients for meals.
Vegetables are a source of inspiration for Chef Keller. Here, he introduces you to a few preparations that will let you enjoy their flavors in every season.
Blanching gives you bright, vibrant, and well-seasoned vegetables. Learn Chef Keller’s technique, and find out his favorite tools for peeling asparagus.
Chef Keller teaches you how to bring out the natural sweetness of carrots by glazing them.
Learn how Chef Keller refines tomatoes for use in salads, sauces, and sandwiches—by peeling them.
Preparing artichokes takes patience and practice. But Chef Keller shows you how to transform the ingredient into dishes that are satisfying and versatile.
This French potato purée is not to be confused with mashed potatoes. Learn how to create this luxurious dish—starting with the correct potato varietal to use.
Capture the seasonal flavors of vegetables for year-round enjoyment by learning how to properly pickle them.
Learn how to purée a parsnip: a lesser-known root vegetable that Chef Keller loves.
Chef Keller teaches you how to confit an eggplant, applying a technique most commonly used with duck to make a creamy and succulent dish.
Learn how to enhance the flavor of a typical summer vegetable with this technique.
Chef Keller’s technique for beets involves baking to avoid diluting the flavor and color of the main ingredients.
Chef Keller loves working with eggs. He discusses why they are his favorite ingredient and explains the different ways you'll learn to work with them.
Homemade mayonnaise is versatile, dynamic, flavorful, and the building block for many sauces. Learn how Chef Keller makes it.
Hollandaise is a very special sauce for Chef Keller, and he teaches you how to make it to accompany your dishes.
Crème anglaise is one of Chef Keller’s favorite dessert sauces. Learn how to make a traditional vanilla anglaise—without curdling.
Use leftover egg whites from your sauces to make a beautiful, sweet dessert that will delight your friends and family.
Chef Keller begins every day with boiled eggs. There are many variables when boiling eggs—egg size, burner strength, and pot size, among others. Chef Keller teaches you how to boil an egg to your taste.
Chef Keller shows you two techniques for scrambled eggs—the way his mother made them and the technique he learned in France.
Chef Keller teaches you how simple it can be to poach an egg, resulting in an elegant and satisfying dish.
Elevate your breakfast by making a beautiful, silken, golden omelet that's finished with some classic ingredients.
While Chef Keller is trained in classical French cooking, he loves working with pasta. Learn how to transform five simple ingredients into versatile pasta dough.
Learn Chef Keller’s technique for determining when your pasta dough is done, which he learned from an Italian grandmother.
Chef Keller teaches you his technique for making a pasta that traps sauce in pockets.
Learn how to make a composed dish with your agnolotti, complete with peas, bacon, and a delicate parmesan crisp.
Chef Keller demonstrates how to make two pasta shapes that take a little bit of patience but lead to gratifying results.
In this dish, the ingredients are simple, but the technique is refined. Use your homemade pasta, garlic, and olive oil, and finish with bottarga.
Chef Keller shows you how to make these two classic pastas and how to make sure your pasta sheets stay pliable.
Learn how to make potato gnocchi. Chef Keller shows you how to feel and test it to see if you've worked with the correct amounts of ingredients.
Pomodoro sauce is quick and fresh. Chef Keller teaches you his technique for making a perfect pomodoro that he learned from other world-renowned chefs.
Learn the six disciplines that were critical to Chef Keller’s success early in his career, plus how you can apply them in your professional or home kitchen.
Chef Keller leaves you with his personal philosophy about cooking and his thoughts on the importance of nurturing the people you love through food.
Welcome to Armin’s studio. Get ready to learn more about producing, DJing, and growing your career from one of dance music’s all-time legends.
Armin’s production process starts with crafting melodies full of emotion and drama. Here are his techniques for creative melody making.
Armin might be teaching from a professional studio, but you can do everything he’s doing on your home computer. Here’s what you need to start making great tracks without breaking the bank.
It may sound strange, but for Armin great tracks start with great organization. Learn how to streamline your DAW projects for less hassle and more creativity.
It’s time to shift gears a little and watch Armin put some of the techniques he’s been teaching you to work. With the help of his producing partner Benno de Goeij, Armin’s going to produce an exclusive track right here in his MasterClass. This chapter is the first of eight parts showing you exactly how an Armin van Buuren dance floor hit gets made.
Use these production tricks to get more presence in your leads and fill out your track with euphoric atmospheres—all without clogging up your mix.
Armin and Benno start searching for the right melodies and sounds to fit the vibe of their new track.
Experimentation plays a huge role in Armin’s production process. Watch how he keeps trying new musical ideas until he finds the sounds that truly inspire him.
Dance music should make people dance, but it takes skill to give your tracks the sonic impact they need to rock a crowd. Here’s how to dial in your kick drum and bass sounds.
Adding percussion can turn a simple dance beat into a rich and complex groove. Learn how Armin adds loops and layers to his drum tracks.
Now that Armin and Benno have some melodies they like, it’s time to build out the low end of the track. Watch how the techniques Armin’s showed you for creating grooves come together in the context of a new track.
When inspiration strikes, Armin follows it. Here, he works on a new musical idea: a set of big leads to carry the breakdown of his track.
Once you’ve laid down a bunch of great musical ideas in your project, it’s time to sculpt the sound and make sure your audience is hearing everything you want them to. Open your ears and expand your skills with these lessons in mixing.
If you want your song to sound as big and loud as what you’re hearing on the radio and streaming portals, it’s all about how you process your master channel. Here’s how Armin approaches his “end bus.”
Now that Armin and Benno are feeling good about the elements of their track, Benno takes a step back to organize the project and rough in the mix.
Get a look at the way Armin thinks about arranging and mixing his songs as he takes you section by section, channel by channel, through his new psytrance-inspired hit.
A great dance track takes its listeners on a journey—from tense and intriguing breakdowns to high-energy drops. Here’s Armin’s approach to crafting exciting musical journeys.
Armin and Benno bring a collection of percussion loops and FX into their Logic project. Then, after some rough organization, it’s time to start arranging all of the elements of their track into an intro, breakdown, and drop.
If your drop doesn’t work, your track won’t work. Watch Armin and Benno tweak their track’s drop for maximum impact. Then take a listen to how the whole track came together.
Words—whether a sung melody or just a great vocal sample—can make your music catchier and more powerful. Here are some of the ways Armin adds lyrics to his productions.
Armin’s mastery doesn’t stop at dance floor trance tracks. In this chapter and the two that follow, Armin works with “Sunny Days” singer Josh Cumbee to show you how to track, edit, and manipulate live vocals.
Once Josh has finished singing, it’s time to “comp” his vocal performance. Watch Armin’s veteran ears and musical instincts at work as he and Josh select the best parts of each vocal take.
Learn how Armin uses editing and effects to get a clean, powerful vocal track that still sounds natural to the listener’s ear.
Using the example of “Sunny Days,” Armin shows you his step-by-step approach for turning pop songs into dance floor–ready club mixes.
It’s time to move away from producing and start talking about taking your music to the stage. Here are the core principles that make up Armin’s DJ philosophy.
A great DJ set is a product of careful preparation. Learn how Armin uses Ableton Live to shorten his songs and make fresh-sounding mashups that will excite the crowd.
Armin steps behind the CDJ decks to talk you through what gear he uses in his live sets and why.
Take a deep dive—see every knob twist and button push—as Armin demos some of the ways he transitions between tracks and adds exciting layers and effects to his mixes.
A live performer has to do more than just play great music. Learn how to handle yourself on stage, how to connect with your crowd, and how to be respectful of your fellow DJs.
Don’t overlook the power of radio. Armin is passionate about his A State of Trance show, and it’s a crucial component of his global brand. Here’s how you can use radio to both grow as a musician and grow your fan base.
Where did the Armin van Buuren sound come from? These are some of the musicians and DJs whose music helped make Armin the artist he is today.
Armin has had one of dance music’s longest running, most successful careers. Pick up some inside tips to help you get your music heard and make a name for yourself as a DJ.
In Armin’s last lesson, he reminds you to focus on your music, push past your doubts—and most importantly, always have fun doing it.
Meet your instructor—best-selling author and longtime New Yorker staff writer, Malcolm Gladwell. Malcolm outlines what he has planned for your class and reflects on the idea of writing as a calling.
Malcolm likes an imperfect argument—the perfect argument is too obvious. Learn how Malcolm builds an open-ended puzzle into his story, “The Ketchup Conundrum.”
Data is a big part of Malcolm’s stories. Learn three ways Malcolm helps readers digest data and engage with complex ideas in his writing.
Learn how to use surprises, guessing games, and suspense to invite readers into your story.
Malcolm shares his guiding principles to uncovering a good idea for a story through research.
What makes a story worth pursuing? Malcolm talks through his criteria for spotting a unique story and the first steps of story development.
Learn how Malcolm grows the idea of a story, and how he tests new ideas with family and friends.
Using David and Goliath and “What the Dog Saw,” Malcolm teaches you how to look for patterns and draw connections between seemingly disparate ideas.
The interview is the critical foundation for developing character in nonfiction. Malcolm teaches you how to conduct an interview to uncover what is uniquely interesting about your subject.
Malcolm breaks down two pieces of his own writing—one written for The New Yorker and one for a medical journal—to illustrate how he brings a new character to life.
If you could choose to describe a character by the way they look, or by what they keep in their bedroom, Malcolm says to choose the bedroom. Learn how to use the setting and action around a character to build their personality.
Malcolm believes that when you reveal story is just as important as what that story is. He explains this idea with an in-depth look at one of his favorite characters, late-night television pitchman Ron Popeil.
Learn how Malcolm uses sentence length and punctuation to guide readers through a sophisticated idea.
Using a New Yorker article he wrote about a company testing out a new drug, Malcolm demonstrates how to employ jargon to hook your readers.
Malcolm explains how to calibrate your tone for your readership using examples from his book David and Goliath and his own public speaking Q&As.
Malcolm feels that restraint is essential in the production of real emotion. Learn how to introduce humor and melancholy to form deep connections with your readers.
Using his essay “Something Borrowed” as an example, Malcolm demonstrates how to use language and emotion to build a powerful narrative.
For Malcolm, a title is the ultimate attention-grabber. Learn how to write powerful titles that will speak to your reader's emotions.
Getting a piece of writing to a finished state is a process. Malcolm walks you through his approach, from first draft to final polishing.
Once your story is published, the world will respond. Learn Malcolm’s tips for promoting your work, dealing with critics, and what to do when readers misinterpret your intent.
Learn Malcolm’s advice for aspiring writers, including how to launch and maintain your career as a professional writer.
Malcolm believes that you can’t become a great writer without being a great reader. Learn Malcolm’s strategies for critical reading.
Malcolm breaks down the strengths of some of his favorite writers: Lee Child, David Epstein, Michael Lewis, and Janet Malcolm.
Malcolm delivers his parting words about the true intent of nonfiction writing.
Meet your new instructor: writer, director, producer, and stand-up extraordinaire Judd Apatow. In your first lesson, Judd tells you what you’ll learn, why he’s teaching, and why we need comedy now more than ever.
Judd shares stories and lessons from a lifetime in comedy. Hear how he fell in love with comedy, interviewed his childhood idols, and went from washing dishes to making Hollywood hits.
When it comes to stand-up comedy, Judd's thesis is simple: the more personal you get, the funnier you'll be. Learn how to find, develop, and refine gut-busting stand-up material based on your own experiences.
Don't let nerves or inexperience stop you from getting up on stage. Judd educates you on how to work the crowd, overcome stage fright, and find value in every performance.
Many of Judd's most hilarious and heartfelt stories are based on his own experiences—but real life is just one ingredient. Judd offers guidance on how to examine your life, identify humorous moments, and use them as jumping off points for comedic stories.
After taking a detailed look at two projects that are based on real experiences, Judd shares valuable lessons on how to create stories that are hilarious, relatable, and engaging.
Judd believes that when you write, you should look at your comedies as dramas. In this lesson he shares the tools he uses to infuse heart and humor into everything he does.
Judd reveals how he cracked the code on story structure and shares the basic template that he uses for many of his projects.
Judd teaches you how to make the most out of your opening scenes and utilize "set pieces" for maximum comedic effect.
Judd shares his step-by-step process for brainstorming scene ideas, creating an outline, and setting reasonable writing goals for a first draft.
The prospect of filling the blank page is scary—even for Judd. Learn Judd's personal habits for finding his flow and allowing his creative mind to take the reins.
Amazing characters are at the heart of any great comedy. Judd reveals a secret weapon that he uses when he's looking for character inspiration. Plus, he teaches you how to craft compelling, authentic, and funny characters through psychology, ego, and emotion.
Learn how to milk the most humor out of your characters through carefully designed dynamics and strong presence.
A joke always works better when it is true to character. Learn how to use your characters’ desires, insecurities, and personalities to craft realistic, funny dialogue.
Writing an entire season of television can be a daunting task. Judd gives you guidance on how to familiarize yourself with writing for this unique format, plus insight into how he and his collaborators plan a full-season arc.
Collaboration is an essential aspect of Judd's creative process. Learn how you can use input from peers and friends to take your projects to the next level.
Everything in screenwriting is about rewriting. Judd examines the fundamental role that rewrites have played in his projects and how he refines his work until the picture is locked.
Casting is key in bringing a character to life. Judd explains his process for finding the right actors and conducting auditions in a way that encourages improvisation and collaboration.
Judd discusses his guiding principles for working with actors and lays out the methods he uses to help them give their best performances.
Learn how to knock 'em dead in your next audition. Judd explains the essential dos and don'ts for actors who are trying out for roles.
When you're making a comedy, it's all about establishing and maintaining your tone. In this lesson, Judd examines this crucial component of filmmaking and describes the steps you should take to communicate your creative vision with your collaborators.
There is no reason not to make something. Judd demystifies the process of directing, explains how he taught himself filmmaking, and provides rules for always capturing the content you need.
From budgets to scheduling to managing a crew, Judd discusses important aspects of filmmaking and offers advice on how to tackle each.
Using some of his favorite scenes as teaching tools, Judd reveals how he uses improvisation to capture hilarious and authentic human interactions between his actors.
A lot can change between the script and the screen. In this lesson, Judd takes a detailed look at a scene fromKnocked Upand shows how he and his actors brought his words to life. (Bonus: You also get his Seth Rogen impression.)
Judd shares some words to live by for editing films and illustrates how you can use the testing process to make your projects as strong and funny as possible.
Judd dives deeper on how to improve your projects through testing and provides some expert tips on how to squeeze extra humor out of your scenes.
A bad score can ruin a movie. Learn some of the common pitfalls of music in comedy and how to avoid them.
Everybody has to pitch, even Judd Apatow. Judd discusses what he is looking for when he is listening to pitches, as well the techniques that he personally uses when trying to sell a new project.
Show business is a competition. In this lesson Judd explains the things that you can do to stand out and excel in this demanding industry.
Judd provides some words of wisdom and inspiration for those pursuing a life in comedy.
Judd ends his class with some parting advice: Take a risk, find the courage to express yourself, and start writing jokes—because he’s not going to write them for you.
Meet your instructor: Chris Hadfield, retired astronaut and former Commander of the International Space Station. In his first lesson, Chris reflects on overcoming the impossible to explore outer space.
To become an astronaut, you have to become an expert on everything. Chris outlines the scope of an astronaut's training from leadership skills to survival skills.
Chris explains the functions of the basic parts of a rocket, the physics of launching one beyond the atmosphere, and how rocket design has evolved from mission to mission.
Only a few hundred humans have ever traveled to space. Chris describes in precise detail the emotions an astronaut feels on launch day and the physical feeling of leaving Earth.
Chris breaks down the equation for drag and shows how rockets are designed to overcome the biggest hurdle of launching into space—the atmosphere.
Chris uses familiar situations—like driving a car and jumping off a diving board—to illustrate how the laws of orbital mechanics govern spaceflight and navigation
Chris explains the pros and cons of different types of rocket fuels including liquid fuel, solid fuel, and ionized gas.
"Rockets and spaceflight are dangerous by definition. Learn how astronauts manage their fears and cope with tragedy as Chris had to do after the loss of a friend in the Columbia Space Shuttle mission. "
Learn the virtues and drawbacks of using the capsule model for human transport to space as Chris analyzes the designs of the Apollo, Gemini, Lunar Lander, and Soyuz.
Two-thirds of those who’ve flown to space got there on a Space Shuttle. Chris outlines the design of the Shuttle, the impact of its reusability, and how spacecraft will evolve in the future.
Learn how astronauts use stars, planets, and instruments to understand where their spaceship is, how it’s oriented, and where it’s going.
“It’s kind of like an elephant ballet.” Chris talks you through the process of flying your spaceship to the ISS, docking, and beginning your adventure aboard the laboratory in the sky.
The International Space Station couldn’t have been built without teams coming together from around the world. Chris details the process of constructing the ISS and explains the idea of shared exploration.
Learn about the many systems that work together to keeps astronauts alive aboard the ISS and how those systems are evolving so that we can travel even further in space.
Chris outlines a few experiments currently running on the ISS and explains how astronauts learn to conduct experiments in space on behalf of scientists on Earth.
Chris describes the great honor and responsibility of commanding the ISS, ranks the commander’s priorities, and outlines what it takes to reach and fulfill such an elite and difficult leadership position.
Preparing for space travel means learning massive amounts of information. Learn how Chris used a series of one-page summaries to recall complex systems and concepts on the fly during his time in space.
The first words spoken from the Moon were directed to Mission Control for a reason. Learn how Mission Control functions and why it is so critical to the success of a mission to space.
Chris gives a head-to-toe tour of an EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit), explaining how it keeps astronauts alive while spacewalking and conducting work outside the ship.
Chris outlines the physical and mental challenges of walking in space, describing the important roles played by support teams on Earth and inside the spacecraft during a spacewalk.
Chris describes his personal experience training for spacewalking in an underwater simulation and emphasizes the importance of gaining confidence in maneuvering and monitoring the spacesuit.
What can we learn from looking down at Earth from above? Chris explains what spaceflight means for our human perspective and how we can use what we learn in space to preserve our species and planet.
Chris teaches you the principles behind simulation setup, the mindset you need to learn as much as possible from simulations, and how astronauts prepare for worst-case scenarios.
Chris explains the technical and societal challenges we face in traveling to Mars, including the ideal flight path required, the physics of slowing down and landing, and the risk of human life.
Chris walks through the basic human needs required to live on another planet. Learn what it takes to grow food in space, protect ourselves from the elements, and readjust to gravity.
If we can safely get to Mars, in-situ resource utilization could help us sustain life there. Chris breaks down the vital Sabatier process for creating hydrogen, oxygen, and methane on Mars.
Chris discusses how finding life on Mars could deepen our understanding of the universe and illuminate our place within it. Learn how we’re working with robots to search for life and build an outpost on Mars.
In his parting words, Chris reflects on the cyclical nature of human exploration and Earth’s place in outer space.
Chris tells his personal story of becoming an astronaut and gives advice for achieving your goals—no matter where life takes you.
Meet your new instructor, writer/director/producer/professor—Spike Lee. Spike explains what he hopes you’ll gain from his class: the tools of film grammar—or visual storytelling—and the DIY spirit to make your own original, independent films.
Spike provides you with a blueprint of his writing process to help you write your script. Learn his index card technique, his disciplined writing practice, and his advice for writing with a partner.
Spike teaches you his techniques for writing bold, distinct characters, capturing two sides of a story, and creating stories that react to social injustice.
Breaking down the director’s choices in one of his favorite films, Elia Kazan’s On the Waterfront, Spike demonstrates how cinema can be a powerful tool for speaking the truth.
Learn Spike’s tips for creating realistic budgets and shooting schedules (and sticking to them), working on location, and how to make your crew feel appreciated.
Spike recounts his battle to secure additional funds for Malcolm X to show you how self-reliance, self-determination, and dedication to your story can help finance a project.
“The wrong actors, the wrong roles could turn out the wrong movie.” Spike shares his tips for successful casting and his experiences casting some of his most infamous roles.
Learn what to look for in a director of photography, including how to “audition” a DP and how to create a plan of action, once you’ve found the right collaborator.
Spike walks you through the iconic camera angles and techniques that have come to define his visual style. Then, he breaks down how he uses each to increase tension and heighten the drama.
Using his original storyboards for the assassination scene in Malcolm X, Spike illustrates the construction of a scene, and the level of detail required to create the illusion of chaos.
For Spike, the take is a sacred moment. Learn his rules for managing your crew and running a set effectively in order to deliver the best possible takes.
How can you inspire the best performance from your actor? Spike teaches his techniques for directing your actors with sensitivity and respect, including how to communicate and establish trust.
Spike believes that a good director both commands and surrenders to the moment. Using scenes from He Got Game and School Daze, he shares tips on how to harness improvisational moments and adjust to story changes on-the-fly.
Analyzing opening title sequences from Mo’ Better Blues, 25th Hour, and BlacKkKlansman, Spike teaches the art of establishing tone in the first few minutes of your film.
Spike shares his strategies for enhancing drama through music. Learn his advice for working with a composer, turning source into score, and using music as a counterpoint.
By taking a look at the inter-cutting technique in BlacKkKlansman, Spike demonstrates how he was able to create heightened drama and tonal balance in pivotal scenes.
Spike discusses the filmmaker’s responsibility to bring diversity to the film industry—both on screen and behind the scenes.
Examining his powerful nonfiction films When the Levees Broke and 4 Little Girls, Spike shares insights on how to handle true stories with passion and respect.
In his parting words, Spike reflects on what it takes to be an independent filmmaker and encourages you to take his tools and be a student of cinema.
Meet your new instructor, R.L. Stine (you can call him Bob). The legendary kids’ horror author outlines his intentions for the class and encourages you to forget the idea that writing is difficult.
Bob reveals how to stay alert for ideas and shares three great places to find them: experience, memory, and imagination. These are departments in what he calls "the idea store."
There are so many ways to find inspiration for your story. Here, Bob points to some that might surprise you—television and movies, titles, and topics.
Once you have an idea you love, Bob believes you should map out your plot using his preferred method: the outline.
Surprise endings and cliffhangers are tried and true methods to get kids to read—and keep them reading. Learn the value of figuring out your ending first and how to write a compelling cliffhanger.
As you continue to write your outline, Bob reveals what you should include in the middle of your book to keep readers engaged, from twists and surprises to false leads.
Bob shares two versions of his outline for I Am Slappy’s Evil Twin—the one that was rejected by his editor and the one that was accepted—and breaks down how he strengthened the plot in the outlining phase.
Making your books fun and easy to read is the key to hooking young readers. Learn Bob’s strategies for understanding young audiences.
Learn how to build the appropriate amount of “scary” into books for different age levels.
Bob breaks down the differences between YA and middle grade books using two examples from his own work.
When writing horror, Bob believes writing from the point of view of your main character will maximize fear. He explains the importance of focusing on what your characters are experiencing, rather than what they are feeling.
Bob teaches you how to write an effective hook that swiftly captivates young readers.
Learn to maximize "the scares" when writing for young audiences. Bob shares his method of tapping into your childhood fears, making ordinary locations scary, and using sensory details to set the scene.
Bob teaches you how to transform inanimate objects into terrifying monsters with examples from It Came from Beneath the Sink! and Say Cheese and Die!
Dialogue is the primary tool Bob uses to reveal character and story. Learn how he writes timeless, realistic dialogue and how to discover your own writing style.
Horror and humor go hand in hand. Bob explains why humor is harder to write than horror and how to use humor to create breaks between scary scenes.
Learn how Bob develops relatable middle-grade characters that help middle-grade readers enter the world of the story and make his books even scarier.
To demonstrate how to avoid clichés and construct realistic characters, Bob walks you through his character cheat sheet using examples from Give Me a K-I-L-L.
Bob takes you through his steps for writing a first draft and reminds you to enjoy the process.
Learn how to first revise on your own and then seek honest feedback. Bob teaches you what questions to ask of your draft-readers and editors—and how to take criticism in stride.
To develop a series, focus on selling the first book. Learn how to construct rich settings and characters that leave your readers eager to read book two.
From Shakespeare and Dickens to Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury, and Stephen King, Bob breaks down what he's learned about storytelling from some of his favorite writers.
Bob shares advice for aspiring writers and teaches why it's important to choose your genre and understand the market.
Bob gives recommendations on how to promote yourself as a writer through school visits, book fairs, and social media.
The best way to combat writer’s block is to be well-prepared. Learn the self-discipline, tools, and routines that helped Bob write the Goosebumps series.
Bob shares 20 story ideas to take away and make your own.
Experiment with writing exercises you can utilize to jump-start your process.
Now that Bob has covered his tips and tricks, he challenges you to start writing and have fun!
Meet your instructor—six-time World Series of Poker bracelet-winner Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu. Daniel starts his class with an outline of what you’ll learn and assures students that even the most complex poker concepts can be learned.
Learn how to immediately improve your game by playing the right cards at the right time. Daniel evaluates early, middle, and late position strategies and provides tips on how to capitalize on the opportunities that each position affords.
Daniel breaks down hand range theory using specific scenarios to demonstrate how to identify ranges based on board textures, betting patterns, and player tendencies.
Using footage of a hand from The Big Game, Daniel walks you through his entire thought process as he deduces his opponent’s hand range in real time.
Daniel discusses Game Theory Optimal poker and provides tips on how to calculate pot odds and fold frequency at game speed.
The continuation bet is a valuable tactic under the right circumstances. Learn the best times to make a c-bet and how to use this tool to maximize profits.
Learn how adding the check-raise to your toolkit can open up bluffing opportunities, extract extra value, and keep you from getting run over when you’re out of position.
Three-betting is more prevalent now than ever. Daniel teaches you how to defend against it and how to use it in your own game without becoming predictable.
Using footage of a hand from an EPT Barcelona Super High Roller event, Daniel illustrates the importance of modifying your three-betting strategy when encountering resistance.
A successful bluff requires more than a good poker face. Learn how to use board texture, capped ranges, and blockers to identify an opponent’s bluff and make your own bluffs believable.
Using footage from three different hands, Daniel reveals how he detects value-to-bluff ratios, exploits player tendencies, and pulls off triple-barrel bluffs at game speed.
Daniel explains the subtle art of bet sizing and teaches you how to maximize value while minimizing risk.
Learn the ideal conditions for using an overbet, how to price it, and how to use this advanced tactic as part of your winning strategy.
When the number of players at the table increases, your strategy should change to keep up. Daniel explains the nuances of multi-person pots and teaches you how to adjust your play for this unique situation.
A predictable player is an easy mark. Daniel teaches you how to keep your opponents guessing by adding layers to your game and shares his personal method for randomizing sub-optimal plays.
Using footage from a hand between three-time WSOP winner Antonio Esfandiari and pro player Tony G, Daniel demonstrates how a mixed strategy could have saved one poker legend a lot of money.
Daniel breaks down the most common mistakes players make as hands progress past the flop to teach you how to avoid them in your own play.
The way you play in a tournament early-on has a big impact on the final outcome. Learn strategies specific to early and middle stage play, like how to be mindful of stack sizes and account for blind structure from the get go.
Learn Daniel’s strategies for navigating the precarious “bubble” including how to get in the money by leveraging big stacks and avoid ICM suicide.
Now that you’ve made it past the bubble, it's time to bring home the prize. Daniel teaches you how to take calculated risks and execute strategically-timed aggression to become a tournament champion.
Learn the universal tactics to take from table to table—no matter the stage or type of play—that will help you throughout the everchanging tournament landscape.
Learn how to effectively play stack sizes, maximize value, and avoid common mistakes in cash games.
Daniel walks you through his methods for masking tells including how to maintain a consistent physical baseline, practice the perfect poker face, and protect your cards.
Daniel teaches his exact process for determining if a player is bluffing and reveals the physical tells he’s spotted in opponents that have made him the most cash.
Daniel delves deeper into his analysis of body language and demonstrates how craftier opponents may try to trick you with the notorious “reverse tell.”
Using footage from two different hands, Daniel pinpoints the exact moments that he picked up on live reads from his opponents, and reveals how he used that valuable information to maximize value and mitigate loss.
Learn the sophisticated ways Daniel uses table talk to get valuable information from his opponents and the steps you can take to protect yourself from prying players.
Daniel believes it is vital not to let emotion get in the way of logic. Learn the common mental traps poker players need to avoid and the checklist Daniel uses to keep a clear head.
Daniel encounters TILT just like every other player. Learn the mantra he uses to keep his emotions in check, and how to use TILT as a weapon against your opponents.
Daniel teaches you how to use your table image and play the metagame to get inside your opponent’s head and stay one step ahead.
Using footage from two different hands, Daniel shows how to use metagame as a weapon to steal a pot from his opponent, and incorporate his table image into his four-betting range.
Daniel profiles the different types of players you’ll encounter at the tables, the quickest ways to identify them, and how to adjust your strategy to beat each type of player.
Learn how to identify your ideal table—one where you can realistically win, maximize your earnings, and have a good time.
Learn the importance of good bankroll management, how to pick the right stakes, prepare for losing streaks, and keep yourself in the game for the long run.
Learn how to optimize your training time away from the felt through practice, meditation, and a balanced lifestyle.
Daniel believes that being a poker player is akin to running a business. Learn how to ensure that your “business” thrives through critical thinking, emotional stability, and adaptability.
Daniel shares lessons learned from his most challenging experiences and the best piece of advice he’s ever received, then encourages you to start training.
Daniel analyzes the fundamental differences between online and live poker, and shares advice on how to avoid hurting your earn rate.
Meet your new instructor: Oscar-winner Natalie Portman. As a self-taught actor, she’s built a repertoire of personal techniques for developing characters and shaping performances, and she’ll be sharing them with you.
To fully embody a character, you first need to gain a thorough understanding of what makes them tick. Natalie teaches you how to dig for illuminating details, create a personal timeline, and analyze influential relationships.
Real-life resources are invaluable for developing your character. Natalie explains how historical research, documentaries, and even YouTube videos can help you understand your character’s motivations and behavior.
To develop your character, you will need to use your body. Natalie teaches you how to find the right movements and physical exercises, as well as how to use wardrobe and makeup, to embody the role.
Natalie shares three performances by actors who have inspired her, breaking down thow they use physical movement to reveal character in surprising ways.
In this case study, Natalie reveals how she prepared for her role in “Black Swan” as a ballerina losing her grip on reality, which included training with a ballet instructor for months.
When preparing for roles that involve a foreign language, accent, or dialect, Natalie works with her dialect coach, Tanya Blumstein. In this lesson, Natalie and Tanya demonstrate how they collaborate to shape the voice of a character.
In this case study, Natalie and Tanya share how they prepared for Natalie’s role in “Jackie” as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
Natalie shares her techniques for working on set. You’ll learn how to emotionally connect with collaborators, handle vulnerability and self-consciousness, and maintain energy during a long day of shooting.
After years of performing on camera, Natalie has figured out what helps her achieve her best work. She explains her personal process as well as other tips for making the most of your time in front of the camera.
The rapport you establish with a director from the beginning of your collaboration can help you deliver a successful performance. Natalie teaches you how to navigate this relationship and bring your own ideas to the table.
Natalie reveals what she’s learned from her collaborations with gifted directors, including Darren Aronofsky, Mike Nichols, Anthony Minghella, and Pablo Larraín.
Unlike many of the directors she’s worked with, Terrence Malick doesn’t follow the traditional rules of filmmaking. Natalie shares what she learned from this acclaimed director’s unconventional approach.
Playing a historical figure requires intensive research into both the private and public sides of your character. Natalie discusses how she stays true to the facts about her character while leaving room for invention and creativity.
Using well-known films and performances, Natalie guides you through exercises to help you analyze a character arc, conduct character research, and dissect a director’s approach.
Natalie sees improvisation as the opportunity to create. She’ll teach you how to engage with your environment, be alert, and actively listen.
Natalie walks you through a sample scene, pointing out important questions to ask the production designer and director. She also shows you how to work with the set, props, and camera.
Green-screen acting forces you to rely solely on your imagination. In this lesson, Natalie offers practical tips on how to approach this unique acting challenge.
Natalie gives advice for auditioning, staying inspired, being an advocate for the people you work with, and nourishing your artistic spirit.
In her final lesson, Natalie encourages you to see acting as an exercise in empathy. As you step into your character’s shoes, she encourages you to be playful, not worry about making mistakes, and have fun above all else.
Meet your new instructor: Man Booker Prize-winning author Margaret Atwood. In your first lesson, Margaret shares her perspective on the art of writing and who ultimately gives your book its meaning.
Margaret encourages you to find your own path, overcome obstacles like fear, and start writing by sharing her own writer’s story and creative process.
Learn what makes a strong plot. Margaret advises you to study myths, fairy tales, and other historical works of literature so that you can use them as building blocks for your stories.
Margaret illustrates the myriad ways you can structure your story and create a multi-layered narrative, using the classic tales Little Red Riding Hood, Arabian Nights, and her own novel The Blind Assassin as examples.
Choosing the right point of view to tell your story from involves a lot of trial and error. Margaret explains the impact this decision has on your story, and offers an exercise to help you explore the effects of various points of view.
In this chapter, Margaret discusses her use of multiple points of view in Alias Grace, and why she wrote The Handmaid’s Tale from the first person point of view.
Actions and reactions reveal character, but so do details the writer thoughtfully weaves into the story. Margaret offers concrete tools to help you create nuanced, well-developed characters you know by heart.
Margaret teaches why the most compelling characters are often not very likeable, and delves into how gender plays into our expectations about character.
Learn Margaret’s advice for overcoming challenges such as constant interruption, writer’s block, or a narrative problem you can’t figure out how to solve.
Margaret teaches how to use dialogue to reveal character and story, and discusses the importance of making your dialogue authentic to the time and place in which your narrative transpires.
The more specific your details, the more engaged your readers. Learn how Margaret uses The Handmaid’s Tale to illustrate her approach to imagery.
Learn the difference between style and description as Margaret illustrates two different prose style extremes—baroque and plainsong.
Margaret explains the significance of time in fiction, and offers advice on keeping readers oriented without compromising your story structure.
From Melville to Dickens, Margaret shares some of her favorite opening lines and underscores the value of making your first five pages utterly compelling.
Margaret teaches her approach to keeping readers engaged through the middle of your book and discusses the merits of closed and open endings to your story.
For Margaret, revision is an opportunity to take a fresh look at your book and consider new possibilities. Learn the value of soliciting feedback from select readers, and the importance of a good line editor.
Margaret discusses the evolution of the novel and asserts that the writer’s objective should be to stay true to the foundational elements of storytelling, regardless of genre.
Learn Margaret's approach to writing speculative fiction and her advice on how to generate ideas and build your world in this genre.
Margaret reveals the ideas and research that inspired The Handmaid’s Tale, offering a first-hand look at some of these materials.
Getting details right is critical in historical fiction and can lend believability to any story. Margaret emphasizes this point but also shows how to avoid letting research slow you down.
Margaret reveals the one book she recommends to all writers, and shares inspirational stories from writers past and present to encourage you to persevere despite the obstacles you may confront.
From finding an agent, to getting published, and dealing with negative reviews, Margaret offers her perspective on the business of being a writer.
Margaret bids her students farewell, sharing her desire to pass on her wisdom to the next generation of writers.
Meet your new instructor: award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns. Ken shares why he’s teaching his MasterClass, what you’ll learn, and encourages you to break free from the rules of conventional filmmaking.
Your life experiences, personal goals, and early films are all fodder for your career as filmmaker. Learn the highs and lows of Ken’s first film and his advice for navigating the filmmaking process.
Using examples from his own project files, Ken teaches you how to identify powerful, universal themes that will resonate with audiences.
You’ve selected your topic, but what’s the story you’re telling? Ken teaches you how to use research to seek out different perspectives, discover your story, and anchor it in facts.
Learn how Ken sculpts stories to honor opposing viewpoints and portray a larger narrative picture.
Filmmaking requires passion, vision—and money. Using an example from The Civil War, Ken teaches you the purpose and process of writing a treatment and his tips for navigating the world of fundraising.
A bold beginning, engaging middle, and compelling end—the laws of storytelling can and should be applied to documentary filmmaking. Learn how to structure your narrative to keep viewers hooked.
Archival materials are some of the richest storytelling resources available. But how do you navigate the huge volume of possibilities? Ken teaches you his time-tested methods for unearthing rare audio and visual materials.
Learn how to identify character arcs, leverage conflict, and set aside judgment to portray memorable nonfiction characters that capture the complexity of real life.
Using the episode board from his docuseries The Vietnam War, Ken teaches you his strategies for visualizing the structure of your film.
For Ken, writing a script is an essential step towards organizing and shaping a film’s story and structure.In this lesson, he explains how to leverage all the narrative tools at your disposal—from interview bites to narration—in order to craft your script.
Ken teaches you how to use the cinematic tools of dramatic filmmaking to infuse emotion and meaning into the stills and live action of your documentary.
Using imagery from his film Unforgivable Blackness, Ken demonstrates how to artfully juxtapose photographs and interweave film to craft a compelling storyline.
The people you choose to interview help bring your film to life. Ken teaches you how to identify, approach, and vet the right subjects for your documentary.
Learn Ken’s interviewing techniques to help you connect with your subjects and draw out their most compelling stories.
Not all interviews run smoothly. Using raw footage from The War, Ken walks you through one of his most difficult interviews, and shares how four simple words transformed it into some of the most powerful moments in the film.
You don’t need a huge crew to make a great film. Ken teaches you how to approach interview and field shoots using a lean production team.
Learn how Ken uses music as a powerful storytelling tool in order to add layers of narrative depth and spark emotions in his audiences.
After editing Civil War, Baseball, and Jazz, Ken created a new process to efficiently hone raw footage into the final cut. Learn his method for tackling vast amounts of material during the editing process.
Ken teaches you the guiding principles he’s developed over the course of four decades in the edit bay.
Using early, never-before-seen-cuts of The Vietnam War, Ken illustrates how to synthesize the components of a story and sculpt the film in the edit.
Using pages from The Vietnam War and The Roosevelts, Ken walks you through the process of tracking a VO session and directing talent.
To truly immerse an audience in your film, sound design is key. Ken teaches you how to spot for sound and harness the vast array of aural tools at your disposal.
Film has the ability to bridge geographic, linguistic, and political boundaries. Ken breaks down the role of the filmmaker in society and their power and responsibility as an artist.
Part of the thrill of making a film is sharing it with others. Learn how to reach your audience and the importance of opening your film up to interpretation and conversation.
Ken encourages you to let go of any lingering doubt and take the leap toward making your documentary film.
In your first lesson, Gordon explains why he’s back with a second class and how his newest restaurant-inspired recipes will help you wow your next dinner guests with a fabulous at-home dining experience.
Learn how to sauté and purée to make this vegetarian main course, plus get tips on how to prep vegetables and poach eggs ahead of time for quick assembly when you’re ready to serve.
Gordon teaches you how to cook duck breast in its own rendered fat for a crispy skin and tender flesh. Then make a quick cherry glaze and learn Gordon’s techniques for wilting spinach and caramelizing endive.
Gordon’s perfect mashed potatoes rely on a waxy potato and potato ricer. Learn how to choose the right type of potato, infuse your cream with flavor, and achieve a smooth and creamy purée.
Gordon demonstrates how to transform an ordinary head of cauliflower into a show-stopping vegetarian dish. Learn how to sear cauliflower “steaks” and make a flavorful olive pistou with sautéed porcinis to top.
Learn how to gently sear a rack of lamb and finish with oven-roasting. Then make Gordon’s updated versions of the traditional mint jelly and mash—a mint yogurt sauce and glazed root vegetables with star anise.
Gordon shares his tips for extracting the bitterness from eggplant and roasting it in its own skin for this vegetarian side dish that quickly comes together. Learn how to incorporate aromatics and Turkish spices for a surprising flavor profile.
Make Gordon’s dish of grilled baby leeks, then poached in a miso broth full of umami flavor. Finish the dish by making a luscious, sauce-like caviar vinaigrette or simply omit the caviar to make this appetizer vegetarian.
Gordon teaches you how to truss and roast a whole chicken encrusted with homemade szechuan pepper mix. Then, carve the chicken into portions you’ll reserve for the salad in Chapter 10 and the ramen broth with udon in Chapter 11.
Utilizing chicken thighs from Chapter 9: Szechuan Roasted Whole Chicken, Gordon teaches you how to make his crispy hoisin chicken, quick pickles, and his unique plating for this salad meant for sharing.
Learn how to make a quick, flavorful, aromatic broth that tastes like it’s been simmering for days, then pair it with udon noodles and the Szechuan-crusted chicken breast—reserved from Chapter 9—for Gordon’s play on chicken noodle soup.
Gordon says to “treat tuna like you would an amazing wagyu steak.” Learn how to cook such a delicate meat, quick-pickled vegetables, and make cucumber “noodles” finished with a bright, yuzu dressing.
Gordon demystifies cooking with whole fish. Learn how to trim, marinate, and shallow fry a whole branzino with a stunning presentation that encourages guests to be interactive and build their own lettuce cups.
Gordon teaches you the techniques he calls “the science of soufflé.” Learn how to bake airy soufflés with crisp edges and perfect height for a sweet end to a special meal.
As Gordon says, “cooking isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.” He encourages you to stick with it and try your own spin on each dish as you gain confidence and creativity in the kitchen.
Meet your new instructor, Grammy Award-winning guitarist Tom Morello, and get ready to uncover your authentic artistic self.
Tom teaches you how to think beyond your musical influences, challenge the traditional boundaries of the electric guitar, and start developing your own voice as a musician.
Powerful, hard-driving riffs are the heart and soul of Tom’s musical legacy. Learn his tips for experimenting with tuning, slides, chukkas, and more, to unleash heavy, rocking riffs of your own.
Tom walks you through his basic pedal rig from delays to tuner and wah-wah to whammy. Learn how he uses each to create a diverse collection of sounds and effects.
It’s not what pedals you own, it’s how you use them. Learn Tom’s creative process for discovering sounds and how you can create your own.
Tom walks you through his own noise chart, including examples from “Guerilla Radio” and “Your Time Has Come,” to show you his system for keeping track of all the elements that come together to create an original sound.
A diverse set of musical influences can help you take your playing in exciting new directions. Learn how Tom incorporates the genres that have made an impact on him into his own music, and how you can do the same.
You can learn from other artists’ styles, melodies, attitudes, and sounds. Tom teaches you how to fold blues guitar—and more modern, non-guitar sounds from EDM and hip-hop—into your playing.
Tom teaches you how to structure your practice time, from balancing technique and theory to segmenting your practice day.
Tom believes that you have to play slowly to learn to play fast. Learn the finger exercises he used to go from scribbling around on the guitar to confidently shredding.
Aimed towards beginner players, Tom demystifies the pentatonic scale and the blues scale to help you start improvising solos.
In the next step on your soloing journey, Tom teaches you his methods for soloing in any key, anywhere on the neck.
Learn how to get lost in the music, experiment, and push yourself outside of your comfort zone with Tom’s techniques for becoming a more nimble improviser.
Using examples from guitarists Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen, Tom breaks down his strategies for creating innovative, rule-bending solos with melodies and effects.
Using his solo in Rage Against the Machine’s cover of Bruce Springsteen's “The Ghost of Tom Joad” as an example, Tom illustrates how a solo can defy convention and transcend genre.
Tom demystifies the songwriting process to teach you how to break down the barrier between yourself and the greats. Learn how to stay open to inspiration and patiently explore your ideas to create original, authentic songs.
Get inspired by Tom’s riff-writing process and apply his simple studio recording techniques to begin creating a song of your own.
Learn to complete your song by adding a chorus, a solo, and a structural arrangement to the whole piece. Tom also breaks down the arrangement of the Rage Against the Machine classic, “Bulls on Parade.”
Learn how to unleash your inner poet to write honest lyrics that come from your soul—then find the melody to fit them.
Tom takes you on a philosophical and practical tour of his strategies for getting the most out of a studio recording session.
Tom deconstructs one of Rage Against the Machine’s biggest hits, from inception to recording and release.
Learn how to find your own authentic voice as a performer and combat the nerves that might be keeping you from growing as an artist.
From warming up your hands to crafting the perfect setlist, Tom teaches you how to create powerful experiences for your audiences.
Learn how to find the right bandmates to help grow your artistic vision and how to diffuse the inevitable band problems that surface from creative collaboration.
Tom walks you through his signature guitars and trusty amps and shares the story behind each.
Tom wraps up his class with a few parting words and an artistic challenge to you: “Envision something that goes beyond what anybody’s imagined before—” and never stop pushing.
Meet your new instructors David Axelrod and Karl Rove. In your first lesson, they share how they each found politics, how their unlikely friendship began, and why they are passionate about democracy.
Karl and David lay out what a campaign team needs to consider at the start of a race. Learn why you need to take stock of the electorate--and your candidate--to develop a theory of why you can win.
Knowing your candidate inside and out is essential to a winning campaign. Both instructors illustrate why you must uncover every strength and weakness: to identify lines of attack and develop your message.
Karl delves into the whys and hows of conducting opposition research, and addresses the ethical concerns of this practice.
Both instructors teach you how to decide which candidate to work for, the different roles on a campaign team, and the role of key decision-maker.
Karl explains why you need a campaign plan, what it should include, and how to follow-through and evolve as the race progresses.
Karl teaches you how to determine which parts of the electorate your campaign should target and how to go about it, while David shares his advice on the importance of addressing what constituents care about most.
David and Karl trade off teaching the importance of polling and focus groups, while also highlighting the limitations of these types of research.
Karl breaks down what you need to include in a comprehensive campaign budget, how to figure out how much money you can raise, and the different ways you can go about raising it effectively.
Using effective ads from past successful campaigns, David and Karl teach you the different types of messages you can create for your campaign, from biographical content to positive, comparative, and negative ads.
David walks you through the entire media campaign for an Iowa governor’s race to demonstrate how to develop and evolve your campaign message.
David discusses the importance of the campaign launch, the fundamentals of the stump speech, and why candidates must be aware that all their actions are under scrutiny in a campaign.
Karl and David analyze the ever-changing media landscape and teach their most effective ways to use television and the internet to disseminate your candidate’s message.
David and Karl explain how essential social media is to modern campaigning. Learn how to use social media to spread your message, target voters, solicit donations, and find volunteers.
Karl breaks down why direct mail continues to be a valuable tool to reach voters during your campaign.
Using his experiences in the 2008 Obama presidential campaign, David offers his unique perspective on the power of slogans and logos.
Karl and David teach you strategies to support your candidate during the grueling election cycle, from finding ways to preserve their energy, to delivering tough feedback.
An expert in “the ground game,” Karl teaches how to use volunteers to reach potential voters during your campaign. David and Karl also discuss why volunteering can be an excellent entry point into working on campaigns.
Using examples from historic debates, David and Karl break down the tactics candidates can use to effectively win a debate.
David illustrates how to successfully emerge from the inevitable mistakes and negative attacks that happen during the course of any campaign.
Karl teaches you how to identify and leverage the organizations and individuals who can positively influence your campaign.
The closing weeks of a campaign are the busiest part of the election cycle. David and Karl lay out what to prioritize as you race toward the finish line.
Karl and David discuss their perspectives on the highly polarized current state of politics in America, and the future they see for the country.
David and Karl offer a call to action, encouraging you to get involved in politics and start making a difference.
Meet your new instructor: Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman. Paul will cover many of the issues you see in the headlines everyday—and provide tools to help you make sense of it all.
Paul believes that at its heart, economics is about people—how they earn a living and how they spend their income.
First—people respond to incentives. Second—each transaction has an equal give and take. Paul breaks down economic thinking into two main principles and teaches you the intricacies of each.
Paul walks you through the history of economic thought through the theories of Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes to make an important point—you have to understand the past to improve the future.
Learn how the Federal Reserve works to keep the economy healthy, and about the theoretical framework it uses to inform its decisions.
Learn about the market patterns and unregulated financial activities that led to our worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and how to prepare yourself for the uncertain economic future.
Learn how these concepts played out in Japan's 1998 crash and the 2008 recession in the US.
Paul details monetary solutions vs. fiscal solutions, how to rethink deficit spending, and what to do to brace for the next crisis.
The growing income gap poses a danger to the well-being of our economy. Learn the history of economic inequality, how race is always related, and the economic effects of growing up boomer vs. growing up millennial.
Learn the social and cultural costs of our inequality, and ways to advocate for a more equal society.
Paul explores the data behind “supply side” taxation, the potential impact of the 2017 tax cuts, and how the American tax plan affects each of us.
Learn the impact of technological expansion on the job market, the economy as a whole, and on the individual citizen.
Health care is central to American lives and the American economy. Paul breaks down the economics of the private health care market and explains two “market killers” in our current system.
Using examples from health care systems in the UK, Canada, and Switzerland, Paul examines three approaches to universal healthcare, noting the positives and challenges of each.
Through a discussion of his Nobel Prize-winning idea, the New Trade Theory, Paul explains the history and continued impact of trade on the economy.
Globalization has forever changed the way we communicate and do business. Paul discusses the transformative technologies that led to efficient global trade and the impact of those developments on our country’s economy.
Paul explains China’s rapid economic growth and details how the influx of their exported goods impact economies and rules of trade worldwide.
Through the example of Silicon Valley, Paul illustrates how economics can even control the geographic movement of people.
Paul teaches you how to read and interpret developing economic issues in order to stay informed. Learn his personal tools and techniques for spotting critical, accurate information in breaking news.
For Paul, being an economist requires thinking critically and learning from others. Learn his critical thinking methodology, like how to look for natural experiments, think past your own bias, and use the information at your fingertips.
Using his column “Myths of Austerity,” Paul demonstrates how he uses language, current events, and more to break down a complex topic while keeping the reader informed and engaged.
Paul ends his class with parting advice for aspiring activists and policy makers, or those who wish to become more informed citizens: remember to stay aware, to read, to listen, and to remain an active participant in society.
Meet your new instructor: best-selling author Dan Brown. In your first lesson, Dan lays out the practical takeaways you’ll get in his class and provides his first lesson in suspense.
Dan believes that all stories are comprised of the same elements. Learn the essential components that every compelling story needs, as well as Dan’s personal checklist for creating some of the most successful thrillers in history.
Dan teaches you how to mine the world around you for big ideas, how to choose the right topic for your book, and how to find the moral dilemma at the core of your story.
Learn how to use location to create interest, generate suspense, and build the structure of your book.
Dan teaches his techniques for crafting heroes that your readers will connect with on a human level. Then, learn how to create complex villains who function as catalysts for action and conflict.
Dan shares valuable tips for developing authentic secondary characters, and teaches you how to strategically design relationships between characters to maximize conflict and drive plot.
Dan takes a detailed look at the characters from his best-selling novel, The Da Vinci Code, to illustrate how different character types can be used to create suspense and propel the narrative.
For Dan, research is one of the most important parts of his creative process. Learn how to use on-location research and subject-matter experts to bring specificity and authenticity to your writing.
Dan goes deeper into his research process to show you how he uncovers the shocking connections between seemingly unrelated elements in his stories.
From the initial idea to the final chapter, Dan walks you through his entire process for building a story, and provides a step-by-step guide to transforming your vision into a captivating thriller.
Using his novel, Origin, and exclusive content from a never-before-seen project, Dan explains how to use parallel plotlines and dramatic opening paragraphs to create suspense that will keep readers turning the pages.
Dan teaches you his strategies to pull your readers into your scenes and craft cliffhangers that will leave them on the edge of their seats.
Learn Dan’s guiding principles for moving from an outline into a first draft, including how to develop stand-out, big moments and manipulate tension and release.
Dan teaches you how to strategically use narrative point of view to maximize suspense, withhold information, and reveal character.
Learn how to craft exposition that appeals to your reader's senses and write dialogue that communicates essential information while simultaneously revealing character.
Dan shares his practical system for tracking the status of an edit and demonstrates how to strengthen your project through revision.
When it comes to writing, Dan’s philosophy is simple: protect the process and the results will take care of themselves. Learn how to beat writer’s block and structure your writing habits in a way that maximizes your creative output.
Dan explains the importance of persistence, shares tips on how to build a team that believes in you, and teaches you how to write a query letter that will stand out in agency slush piles.
Dan provides parting words of wisdom and encouragement and reveals the never-before-seen artifact he promised to share in the first lesson of his class.
Back to teach his second MasterClass, Chef Thomas Keller shares why he’s returned, and outlines the techniques he’ll teach you—and the philosophy you’ll use to approach all your learning in the kitchen.
Chef Keller walks you through the grades and variety of cuts of beef, pork, and poultry. Learn the difference between choice and prime, the meaning of marbling, the purpose of air-drying meat, and the benefits of dry or wet aging
Chef Keller teaches you his paillard technique through this versatile, light dish finished with a sauce you’ll learn in Chapter 19: Vinaigrettes. Learn how to pound out a protein for a thin cut and how to execute a quick sauté.
Using veal top round and building on techniques you learned in Chapter 3: Chicken Paillard, Chef Keller teaches you his tricks for achieving an airy, crisp layer of breading and the perfect level of seasoning.
Chef Keller teaches you how to make the fried chicken served every other Monday at his restaurant Ad Hoc. Learn how to brine and break down a whole chicken and fry each piece to perfection.
Chef Keller gives an overview of the meats you’ll be roasting in the next three chapters, including three cuts of beef, two cuts of lamb, and a whole chicken. Then, learn how to calibrate your oven, and the importance of bringing proteins to temp.
Chef Keller teaches you his pan-roasting technique for Pekin duck breast, including how to render the fat for a crispy skin and how to achieve the perfect medium-rare finish. Then learn how to make a honey-orange gastrique sauce for a sweet and sour finish.
Chef Keller thinks of côte de bœuf, or rib steak, as a celebratory dish, built for sharing. Learn how to air-dry, truss, and roast a rib steak, and how to prepare a maître d’hôtel butter for the final flourish.
Learn how to re-create what Chef Keller describes as his first choice for his “last meal.” Chef Keller explains the benefits of brining and air-drying, and teaches you how to truss and roast a chicken in a single pot with vegetables.
The main ingredient is a center-cut rib roast, and a key implement is a propane blowtorch. Learn Chef Keller’s technique for a prime rib roast cooked to an even medium rare in every slice.
Chef Keller teaches you the principles of braising and the role of mirepoix, marinating, and matignon in adding flavor and texture to slow-cooked cuts of meat.
Learn how to truss, sear, and oven-braise a pork shoulder à la matignon with celery root, apples, and onions in a traditional cast-iron cocotte.
Chef Keller teaches you how to braise short ribs through a slow-cooked recipe that is worth the patience it requires. Learn how to make a red wine marinade, clarify it to become the base of the sauce, and reduce it into a finishing glaze.
Chef Keller teaches you his techniques for grilling a variety of proteins on a stove top hibachi. Learn how to choose the right fuel and manage your safety while grilling indoors.
Stocks are an essential building block in Chef Keller’s restaurants. Learn stock-making fundamentals, from their ingredients and techniques to the broader applications of stocks throughout so many dishes.
Chef Keller teaches you how to use a pressure cooker to make a restaurant-quality veal stock that will become the foundation for a number of sauces and recipes, including the sauce in Chapter 21: Brown Chicken Quick Sauce.
Learn the steps to simmering, clarifying, straining, and storing the light chicken stock that Chef Keller uses to cook pasta and as a base for soups and sauces.
Chef Keller walks you through the definition of a sauce and provides an overview of some the most common French sauces alongside the proteins they most commonly pair with.
Learn how to makes a variety of sauces including a basic oil-and-vinegar vinaigrette; a creamy vinaigrette, emulsified with a raw egg yolk and mustard; a sauce vierge; and a chow-chow vinaigrette, from a medley of chopped and pickled vegetables.
Using the stock you made in Chapter 17: Light Chicken Stock, Chef Keller teaches you how to make the French mother sauce, velouté. Then use your velouté to create three more versatile sauces.
Chef Keller developed this “quick” sauce in the early days of The French Laundry. Learn how to build flavor by browning chicken parts, caramelizing vegetables, repeatedly glazing and reglazing, reducing, and clarifying.
Chef Keller concludes his MasterClass with parting words of wisdom and reminds you the importance of patience and practice as you continue on your culinary journey.
Meet your new instructor: James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Dominique Ansel. Step into Chef Dominique’s bakery as he shares his vision for the class—to teach you the fundamentals of pastry and a curated selection of stunning desserts.
Learn Chef Dominique’s unlikely path from a working-class town in Northern France to the pastry kitchen of a Michelin-starred Manhattan restaurant—and finally—his very own bakery.
Chef Dominique believes that there is a precise moment in which a dessert is at its best. Learn how to make mini madeleines, pillowy cakes that can be baked and served within five minutes—when they are at their peak.
Chef Dominique teaches you how to make a vanilla sablé shell that serves as the base for a set of stunning fruit tarts in the chapters to come. Learn to fonçage and blind-bake pastry dough for a tart shell that serves as the optimal canvas for endless variation.
Pastry cream is an indispensable part of a baker’s arsenal. Learn to make Chef Dominique's classic version, and how to apply the infusion technique to create complementary flavors.
Chef Dominique teaches you to make a simplified strawberry jam that you’ll use as a robustly flavorful second filling in the strawberry fruit tart.
For Chef Dominique, presentation is one of the most important elements in making pastries. Learn his techniques for selecting, slicing, and glazing fruit, and how to build a beautiful strawberry tart that will impress your family and friends.
Chef Dominique demonstrates his creative methods for piping pastry cream and peeling apples, as well as how to incorporate color and pattern to assemble an apple tart that is as visually arresting as it is delicious.
A favorite of Chef Dominique's, biscuit is a French-style sponge cake that is light and gluten-free. Learn Chef’s tips for mixing, baking, and cutting perfect biscuit layers that will be used to build a delectable chocolate mousse cake.
Learn Chef Dominique’s method for making light and airy meringue and his technique for piping wonderfully crunchy meringue kisses. These mini meringues will be used in Chapter 12: Chocolate Cake Finishing.
Chef Dominique’s silky dark chocolate mousse relies on smooth ganache and lightly-whipped cream. Learn his techniques for perfectly textured mousse that can be enjoyed on its own or as a layer for chocolate cake.
Learn how to assemble the cake, coat it with a stunning, slate-black mirror glaze, and top it with mini meringues for a finished dessert as intricate as it is whimsical.
Chef Dominique demystifies tempered chocolate by demonstrating two techniques that result in chocolate bonbon shells with a magnificently glossy finish.
Learn how to make creamy, rich ganache that can be infused with flavors—like the banana-passionfruit variation in this chapter. Then, learn how to fill, cap, and unmold perfect bonbons.
What the omelet is to savory chefs, the croissant is to pastry chefs. Learn the techniques that make for golden, flaky croissants – like dough lamination and making starter – and watch as Chef analyzes croissants from his team around the globe.
Dominique takes you inside his New York bakery to share the origin story of the dessert that launched a thousand imitations – the croissant-meets-donut mashup Chef coined the Cronut® – and how you can use emotion to create your own memorable pastries.
Chef Dominique concludes his MasterClass by showcasing some of his most inventive creations from Dominique Ansel Bakery and leaves students with parting words of encouragement and inspiration.
Meet your new instructor: award-winning filmmaker Mira Nair. In your first lesson, Mira shares with you the two qualities every filmmaker needs to have—and why it's important for you to go out and make your own films.
Mira’s philosophy for filmmaking is rooted in individuality and creating films only you can make. Learn how to forge your own path, hone your craft, and use your distinctiveness to your advantage.
Mira teaches the importance of tapping into culture and politics to inspire your story. Learn how tenacity, collaboration, and feedback are key elements in developing a story into a script.
Never reveal your struggle. Mira teaches you how to maximize your resources as an independent filmmaker—however limited they may be.
The relationship between director and actor is built on trust. Learn what it takes to cast the right actor and get them to reveal their true spirit on camera.
Learn how to direct both child and adult actors, develop natural and honest chemistry with actors, and incorporate background action.
Mira shares her methods for incorporating unique and humanizing gestures into the actors’ performances in order to add life to the frame.
In Part 1 of Mira’s scene workshop, Mira works with two actors—Madina Nalwanga and Philip Luswata—from Queen of Katwe to teach you how to direct intensely emotional scenes.
In Part 2 of Mira’s scene workshop, Mira works with Madina Nalwanga to demonstrate how to support an actor an work with them to emotionally prepare for a scene.
In Part 3 of Mira’s scene workshop, Mira breaks down how actors Philip Luswata and Madina Nalwanga work with Mira’s direction to enhance their performances.
For Mira, Monsoon Wedding was a chance to experiment with telling a story inspired by her upbringing. Learn how to balance emotions in a story to bring out the universal truths and connect your story with a larger audience.
Mira discusses what a visual point of view is, how to manifest your point of view through a lookbook, and how to collaborate with your team to elevate the aesthetic of your film.
Bravery and humility are crucial to Mira’s process as a director. Learn Mira’s advice for preparing for life on set, including how to create harmony with the crew and actors and conserve your creative energy.
Mira says that the best cinematographers she has worked with are “poets of light.” Learn how to find the right cinematographer for your film and work together to design a cinematic style.
Learn the benefits of working closely with an editor throughout shooting, and how to use rhythm and juxtaposition of scenes in the edit to alter the mood of your film.
Mira teaches her philosophy on directing the viewer’s eye and heart with sound, advice for working with a composer, and how to use silence in an impactful way.
Mira shares her closing thoughts and encourages you to slowly but surely realize your stories and tell them from a personal perspective.
Meet your new instructor—world-renowned photographer Jimmy Chin—and join him on location for a photoshoot with his climber friends Conrad Anker and Bree Buckley.
The photoshoot continues as Jimmy leads you through an outdoor portrait session with Conrad and teaches you how he thinks about using natural light.
Learn Jimmy’s philosophy for finding your voice as a photographer, evolving creatively, and learning from failure.
With a focus on editorial photography, Jimmy teaches you how to construct a photo narrative to win magazine clients and tell a compelling story.
Now that you have a clear, powerful story in mind, Jimmy explains the core tenets of working with your editor and subjects to bring that story to life.
Join Jimmy as he breaks down two sky-high photoshoots from his career: one from the top of the tallest building in the United States, the other from the peak of the tallest mountain in the world.
Learn Jimmy's strategy for winning commercial clients, executing effective work, and integrating your creative voice into brand campaigns.
Analyzing photos and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from a high-alpine photoshoot, Jimmy teaches his approach to leading a team and composing shots in the mountains.
Learn Jimmy’s set of practical directives for safely and constructively running a creative shoot when the stakes are high.
In this chapter, featuring an interview with renowned mountaineer Conrad Anker, Jimmy breaks down how creative relationships fuel his photography, and explores the importance of forging partnerships with those who push you to greater heights.
A photographer is often the creative leader of a team. Jimmy teaches you how to set the bar high for professionalism and convey your creative vision, and lets you in on the preproduction meeting for the on-location shoots earlier in the class.
Jimmy breaks down his approach to photographing mountain landscapes, and how he composes his shots.
Using the photos captured on the shoot with Conrad, Jimmy teaches you his process for sifting through hundreds of images to find the best few for his narrative.
Jimmy takes you through a granular look at the tweaks he makes to a photo before presenting it to a commercial or editorial client.
Learn Jimmy’s techniques for retouching portraits as he moves through wide shots of Conrad against the horizon to portraits of him atop the wall.
Jimmy describes which cameras, lenses, and accessories he takes with him on shoots—and why.
Get the most out of your camera's functions and lenses. Jimmy dives into how different settings have different effects, and shares practical tips for determining which configuration will help you get the best shot.
Building a career takes tenacity and patience. Learn Jimmy's philosophy behind a life in photography--and how hard work, passion, and perseverance can lead to success.
From his childhood in Mankato, Minnesota to the cover of National Geographic, Jimmy shares his story of becoming a professional photographer and offers advice for finding your own mentors.
Jimmy wraps up his MasterClass with a few encouraging words on the importance of valuing the process over the final achievement, living in the moment, and pursuing your passion.
Meet your new instructor: Internationally-renowned wine critic James Suckling. In your first lesson, James brings you into Tuscany's Il Borro Cellars to tell you what you'll learn, why he's teaching, and how wine appreciation can enhance your life.
James believes that blind tasting can tell you a lot about a wine. Learn how to refine your palate and utilize the 100-point scale to evaluate the quality of a wine.
In order to appreciate wine, you must first be able to truly taste it. Understand the common characteristics of different varietals by discussing flavor, aroma, acidity, structure, texture, and balance.
Every bottle has a story. Meet the maker behind the historic Marchesi Antinori, and learn about the winemaking family's role in creating the legendary Super Tuscan Tignanello.
Soil and climate play an essential role in the winemaking process. James teaches you how to look for subtleties between vintages with a vertical tasting of Tignanello.
Tasting from a barrel can be dramatically different than from a bottle. Learn what to look for in the barrel, and how to determine a wine’s potential direction.
All great wines begin in the vineyard. Learn the principles of viticulture as James teaches you the factors that influence a great wine, and the importance of soil, climate, varietals, and regions.
James shares professional tips on how to design and organize a home cellar, properly store and age important bottles, and collect with confidence.
Along with legendary winemaker Lamberto Frescobaldi, James demystifies the process of reading a wine list. Gain the knowledge and etiquette to properly order in a restaurant setting, as well as share from your own collection.
For James, breaking the rules when experimenting with wine pairing is essential to the dining experience. Learn how to pair unconventional foods and wines to bring out new and highly creative flavor combinations.
James ends his class with a reminder of the key elements of wine appreciation: Be curious, be passionate, share with family and friends, and above all—don’t drink bad wine!
Meet your new instructor: Grammy Award-winning guitarist Carlos Santana. In your first lesson, Carlos points to music’s higher purpose, and asks you to decide what role you want to play in making it real.
Learn Carlos’s strategies for acquainting yourself with your instrument, and growing more proficient and confident as an artist.
The key to accessing a listener’s heart through your music is to “go inside the note.” Carlos teaches you how to put everything you have into everything you play.
What do you sound like? Learn how to combine your influences and dig inside yourself to uncover your unique voice on the guitar.
Carlos challenges you to think beyond the Western notion of classical music and explore some of his favorite musical influences from around the world.
If you can play the blues, you can play anything. Carlos shares his perspective on the blues masters, and provides you with techniques to infuse passion into your playing.
Rhythm is the canvas for melody. Carlos teaches you what he learned from watching conga players and incorporating other rhythmic traditions into his music.
Learn Carlos’s strategies for writing a melody that moves listeners to their core.
Music is everywhere. Carlos teaches you to draw musical inspiration from people, voices, and anything else you experience in the world around you.
Carlos teaches you his approach to building a passionate band, playing with vocalists, and participating in generous, fulfilling artistic collaborations.
Learn Carlos’s approach to reeling in an audience, connecting with them on an individual level, and carrying them through an emotionally compelling performance.
Take a tour through Carlos’s guitars and amps, and learn how he gets his famous sustain onstage.
To wrap up his MasterClass, Carlos encourages you to make the transition from part-time musician to full-time artist.
Carlos gives additional tips—like how to use the pick for maximum effect, and how to keep time with the feet—and reminds you to incorporate it into your practice.
Throughout his life and career, Carlos has accrued a trove of wisdom. He shares his unique outlook on why music matters, and the importance of helping others.
Carlos explores the universal language of music, and how it connects us through time and space.
Meet your new instructor: Will Wright, visionary game designer behind The Sims. In your first lesson, you’ll learn the core tenets of Will’s multidisciplinary game design process.
For Will, the natural and social worlds are a rich source of material. Learn what inspired the creation of The Sims and Spore, and how to find and hone your own ideas through wide-ranging research.
Rapid prototyping is a central component of Will’s game design process. Explore various types of prototyping and learn how to “find the fun” in the early stages of the design process.
Games are capable of producing emotions that other media cannot, since they allow players to create their own stories. Will teaches you how to create a sense of agency and responsibility in your players and offer them expressive tools.
Will believes game development is as much about programming a player’s brain as it is about programming the game itself. Learn Will’s strategies for creating compelling games that take player psychology into account.
Will believes that failure is critical to helping players learn, and making failure fun is a key part of game design. Learn how Will keeps players entertained throughout their experience.
Games use a system of signs and symbols to communicate meaning to the player. Will teaches how to create and use your own “game language” to educate players about the rules of your game world.
Your visual aesthetic helps define your game language and impacts your overall design. Will shares tips for discovering your own aesthetic and collaborating with art directors and illustrators to achieve your vision.
Game mechanics govern the interactions within your game system. Will teaches you how to identify mechanics in other games, and how to choose the game mechanics that will enhance your player experiences.
Watch while Will shares his insights and perspectives with an aspiring game designer as they review her latest prototype and he gives her suggestions for areas of focus and iteration.
An iterative process can continually improve your design. Learn Will’s strategies for scoping and iterating, including his helpful “feature triage” method.
Will and his programmer reveal and iterate on prototypes they are developing for their new game, Proxi. Witness how collaboration and prototyping can influence design decisions.
Player feedback is your most valuable resource as a designer, and the playtest is your first chance to get inside your player’s mind. Will teaches you to use playtesting to identify your audience, interpret feedback, and more.
Great sound can improve the experience of your game exponentially. Learn how to utilize music and sound design to expand your player’s imagination and heighten their emotional experience.
When it comes to pitching ideas, one size does not fit all. Will shares tips for structuring your initial pitch and modifying your message to connect with diverse audiences.
Will provides feedback and advice to a game designer who is in the late stages of the game design process.
When deciding what platform your game will use, you’re also deciding which audiences it will reach. Will teaches you what to consider—such as independence, monetization, and hardware—when making this choice.
Understanding the fundamentals of system design will help you build more robust interactions in your game. Will shares his tips for what to take into account when designing an interactive system for your players.
The lead designer sets the tone for the rest of the team and helps ensure a smooth production process. Learn Will’s leadership techniques and why he believes that creating a collaborative environment is so important.
What’s next? Will speculates on the future and advises game designers to stay open-minded in the wake of technological advancements.
Will ends his class encouraging you to use your new toolset, outlook, and approach to create something innovative and surprising.
Meet your new instructor: Oscar-winning actor and director Jodie Foster. Jodie talks about her perspective from both sides of the camera, what you’ll learn in her class, and why filmmaking means so much to her.
To help you find the story you want to tell, Jodie gets personal. She speaks candidly about failure, identity, and self-knowledge so you can learn her process for authentic filmmaking.
Jodie breaks down the concept of the “big idea” in film. You’ll discover how you can use it as a tool to hone your storytelling skills.
Inspiration can come from anywhere. Jodie translates a real-life experience into a dramatic scene with Scott Frank, the screenwriter of her first film, Little Man Tate.
As a director, your job is to communicate with your collaborators to create the vision for your film. Jodie discusses the tools she uses so you can bring your ideas to life.
Jodie breaks down a storyboard sequence from her movie The Beaver to explain how she chose shots that help convey the emotional message of the scene.
Jodie reunites with Scott to continue workshopping the draft screenplay inspired by her real-life experience. Learn how Jodie collaborates with writers to help build character, tension, and realism into a scene.
Jodie and Scott go deeper into how to make the relationship between a director and a screenwriter more fruitful and effective.
Using the short scene that she wrote with Scott, Jodie demonstrates how you can begin to visualize your story by mapping out a shot list.
Prepping and scheduling is critical to your film’s success. Learn the tools and methods that Jodie uses in her films that you can apply to your own.
Jodie argues that casting is one of the most important decisions you can make as a filmmaker. Learn how she approaches the casting process and what you can look for in an actor when casting your own films.
Drawing from her own acting process, Jodie teaches you how to inspire a powerful and honest performance from an actor.
Jodie teaches you how to work with an actor on set to create a compelling scene.
Directing a film is a series of choices and compromises. Learn about the tools Jodie uses to track her film while shooting, including set notes and reaction shots.
Using Jack O’Connell’s performance in Money Monster, Jodie shows you what she considers when selecting a performance from multiple takes. Learn how to review dailies to make choices for your own film.
Learn how Jodie approaches the editing process as she breaks down a scene put together from raw footage for Money Monster.
Jodie uses music as a tool bind the seams of a movie together. With examples from her own films, Jodie teaches you how music selection can enhance your film.
Jodie concludes her class with a note on the future of filmmaking, female filmmakers, and her final words of wisdom.
Howard Schultz didn’t have an MBA or an Ivy League degree, but he had a dream of building an enduring company. He tells you how to face self-doubt when starting your journey as an entrepreneur.
Howard shares the origin story of Starbucks, and how he built a company where values and profit are not in conflict.
Learn why intellectual curiosity, learning on the job, and finding a mentor are important for every entrepreneur.
Howard shares his thoughts on a question he gets from entrepreneurs: Should I disrupt an existing category or start a new one?
Learn why leaders of every organization must establish priorities and understand the intricacies of their business.
Howard shares his advice on how to find the right investors for your business and what to communicate to a potential investor.
Take a coffee break with Howard as he teaches you how he makes his favorite French press coffee.
Howard defines what culture means to him and ways to maintain a healthy balance.
Your primary job as CEO will be to hire a team that shares your values. Howard shares his approach to accomplishing this.
People don’t want to be managed. Howard gives advice on how to effectively lead your team.
Howard shares ways to stay ahead of the competition by cannibalizing your core business.
Hear how Howard led Starbucks through a crisis in 2008, and why it’s important to earn success everyday.
Howard gives you parting advice on knowing when is the right time to make the leap and start your business.
Meet your new instructor: Neil Gaiman, one of the most prolific storytellers of our time. In his first lesson, Neil explains why he loves to teach and how he wants to encourage you to tell stories that matter.
One of the central tools of literature is using the “lie” of a made-up story to tell a human truth. Neil shows you how to make your story’s world—no matter how outlandish—feel real to readers.
Neil believes that even old stories can be approached from new angles. Learn how to create your own “compost heap” of inspiration and how to draw from your experiences to make a story uniquely your own.
Your writer’s voice is what makes it possible for someone to pick up a page of text and recognize that you wrote it. Learn how to develop your voice and how to overcome the fear of making mistakes.
Every story has a big idea. Learn how to find a big idea that’s meaningful to you, as well as how to create conflict and compelling stakes for your characters.
Neil uses his young adult fantasy novel, The Graveyard Book, to illustrate how character motivations serve as the essential building blocks of a compelling plot.
The short story is an ideal format for risk-taking. Neil teaches you how to focus your scenes and descriptions for maximum impact.
Using “March Tale” as an example, Neil shows you how to expand your narrative by creating conflict for your protagonist and how to bring your story to a satisfying climax.
Neil teaches you how to write realistic dialogue, how to listen to and trust your characters, and techniques to help readers remember your characters.
Neil explains the technique of bringing a character to life by putting them in an unfamiliar situation that creates tension.
Learn Neil’s philosophy of worldbuilding, including how to create compelling and believable settings for your novel, and how to avoid the common pitfalls many inexperienced writers make.
Neil shares his techniques to liven up descriptive prose, including cold opens, withholding information, finding emotional weight, and choosing memorable details.
Neil shows how he uses humor in his work. He includes a close look at his novel Anansi Boys to illustrate his personal techniques such as “sherbet lemons” and “figgins.”
Readers’ expectations are intrinsically tied to genre. Neil explains how an understanding of your story’s genre can help you provide delightful surprises to your audience.
Writers don’t need to shy away from comics just because they’re not illustrators. Neil demonstrates his process of plotting and scripting a comic, using an award-winning issue of Sandman as an example.
Every writer faces times when they’re stuck. Neil talks about some of the difficulties of the writing life and gives ideas about how to get through them.
Neil gives advice about the editing process, including why it’s important to take time away from a project and to get feedback from a trusted reader.
In his rules for writers, Neil talks about striking the right balance between humility and confidence, as well as the need to stay organized and devoted to daily work.
Neil concludes with a deeply personal discussion of the responsibilities that people who create art have to their audience and what this means for humans as a whole.
Meet your instructor: Timbaland, producer of countless Top 40 hits for artists ranging from Jay-Z to Missy Elliott and Justin Timberlake. In your first lesson, Tim shows you how to create an entire track with just your voice and a microphone.
Step into the studio to see improvisation and creative feedback at work. Tim teaches you how to build a song around a beatbox, starting with the loop he created in the first lesson and adding harmony, melody, and texture.
It's essential to establish a workflow that serves your personal creative process. Tim talks you through his digital rig and reveals his process for selecting the sounds that he uses in his music.
Collaboration with producers and engineers is a key part of Tim’s process. In this chapter, Tim teaches you how he shares music with his team to get them excited and into the creative groove.
Tim recalls how he built the backing track for Jay-Z’s hit “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” and explains how to create a complex texture from simple elements.
Complex songs can develop from simple ideas. Tim and his co-producers show how a four-bar chord progression can form the structure of a multi-section song.
Tim’s drum sounds are legendary. Learn how careful audio engineering can turn dry drums into something that thunders through headphones.
Using Ginuwine’s “Pony” as an example, Tim demonstrates how choosing unique sounds can make your music production stand out from the competition.
Join Team Timbo in the studio as Tim’s co-producers Fede Vindver and Angel Lopez teach you how to imprint your signature sound on samples through effects and plug-ins.
Tim believes that contrast is essential in keeping a song interesting from the first beat to the last. Here he shows how to create that contrast without changing the song’s chord progression.
Timbaland’s collaborations with Missy Elliott are dynamic and iconic. Here Tim shares how they worked together to create their hits and shows you how vintage samples can bring a beat to the next level.
With help from New City vocalist Adrian Mitchell, Tim shows you the most important step in making a chart-topping hit— creating the vocal melody or “topline”— and shares his philosophy on lyrics.
Tim, Static Major, and Aaliyah had less than 24 hours to write “Are You That Somebody?” In this lesson, Tim explains how they did it. He also teaches subtle production techniques for turning good songs into great ones.
Tim pays homage to some of the great producers who came before him and explains what influences helped him shape his own sound.
Tim believes resilience and dedication are critical for success. As he concludes his MasterClass, he reveals what drives him and how you can keep focused on your inspiration and goals.
Meet your new instructor: Oscar-nominated filmmaker and artist David Lynch. In his first lesson, David talks about the importance of exploring deeply and encourages you to seek out thrilling ideas in the pursuit of creativity.
For David, ideas are everything. Learn how to draw from your intuition and life experience to unlock powerful sources of creative inspiration.
Writing is a way to remember ideas that come to life in your mind. Learn how to approach a blank page and find out why David thinks there is no formula for writing a good script.
David believes that the best learning is experiential and hands-on. He shares lessons from his first experiments in cinema and discusses the master filmmakers who have inspired him.
Casting is an intuitive process that can result in exciting discoveries and collaborations. Learn how to identify and recognize the right performer for a part and hear David discusses working with some of his favorite actors.
Rehearsals are the time to shape scenes and take risks. David teaches you how to bring out an actor’s potential in front of the camera and elicit an unforgettable performance.
Treat your team like a happy family and they will go the extra mile for you. Learn how David handles the pressures of the set while protecting a creative space for the cast and crew.
The world on screen begins as an idea in the director’s mind. David shares several show-and-tell techniques for conveying ideas to designers, encouraging improvisation along the way.
Using vivid black-and-white examples from “Eraserhead” and “The Elephant Man,” David teaches you how to think cinematically.
The right music can elevate every other cinematic element on screen. Learn how David collaborates with composers and sound designers to create the perfect union of sound and picture.
Rules are great for driving, but in cinema? David doesn’t like rules. Learn to distinguish restrictions that stifle creativity from those that actually help you to think outside the box.
Every artist struggles with fears of failure and the pressures of success. David encourages you to keep your creative decisions focused on one overriding goal: staying true to the idea.
David practices Transcendental Meditation twice a day. Learn to approach life and work with deeper awareness through meditation and enjoy the “doing” of almost any activity.
Meet your new instructor: Billy Collins, one of the most popular and prolific poets of our time. In your first lesson, Billy introduces the many pleasures of poetry and illuminates how poetry connects you to the history of the human heart.
Billy teaches you how to use form to win the love of your readers, an audience of strangers.
In poetry, you can do anything and go anywhere. Learn how to embrace the freedom of poetry to embark on explorations of subject, progression, and the balance of clarity and mystery.
Billy teaches practical exercises that will galvanize your writing process.
Billy shares his personal notebooks and gives rare insight into the process of writing his poem “Grand Central.”
A poem is not a cookbook. Learn how embracing nuance and ambiguity can be your greatest ally when reading poetry.
Billy invites acclaimed poet and friend Marie Howe to read and discuss Emily Dickinson’s “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain.” Learn how Dickinson’s creative use of capitalization builds an entire world out of a state of mind.
Billy and Marie discuss how the speaker in William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 73” uses metaphor to bid a final farewell to his beloved.
Learn the tools beyond rhyme and meter that Billy utilizes to achieve a musical, toe-tapping kind of joy in his poetry.
Billy is a self-proclaimed “terrible rhymer.” Learn one of his techniques for capturing a reader’s attention without relying on rhymed or metered poetry.
Billy teaches you how to harness the imaginative flexibility of a poem, turning it in new directions to be playful with your reader.
Learn how what began as a letter to her brother became one of Marie’s most acclaimed poems with “What the Living Do.”
Billy and Marie unpack how Billy’s poem “The Death of the Hat” moves from being a poem about a hat to an elegy for his father.
Your voice lies on the shelves of the library and the bookstore. Learn how reading the work of other poets will help develop your unique persona.
Learn how to develop a distinctive persona for yourself, solving most issues around writing poetry.
Billy shares how humor is an essential part of his persona and teaches you how to use humor in your poetry for serious reasons.
Learn how spacing and word repetition create tone in student Sarah Iqbal’s poem “My (Muslim) Father Seizes the Thing on My Nightstand.”
Billy and student Paul Epland discuss point of view in “The Crash.” Learn how Billy’s suggestion to add three words helps with the turn in the poem.
According to Marie, “so much of writing is getting beyond the will.” Billy and Marie share practical exercises they use to get out of their heads and into their writing.
Billy invites you to join the club of poets who have been writing since the beginning of time.
Meet your new instructors: Emmy-winning magicians Penn & Teller, who have dazzled audiences for more than 40 years. Penn & Teller share the tricks they’ll teach you and how the thinking behind magic can resonate beyond the stage.
Penn & Teller teach the French drop, one of the most fundamental sleight of hand methods. With students watching, they break down the steps of the trick and explain how it’s a building block for hundreds of other tricks.
Once you’ve mastered the French drop, you can expand upon that method to develop a routine with cups and balls. Penn & Teller demonstrate a few of the countless variations you can do with cups and balls.
Magic is an intellectual art form that requires the audience’s engagement as well as their suspension of disbelief. In this chapter, Penn & Teller crack open the philosophical and psychological concepts behind performing magic.
Penn & Teller are masters of misdirection. Learn how to use misdirection to persuade the audience to hear the story they want to believe.
Coin magic involves the principles of sound misdirection, sleight of hand, and palming. In this chapter, Penn & Teller teach various coin magic tricks that delight audiences of all ages.
To convince an audience, you need to encourage them to arrive at a conclusion on their own. Penn & Teller discuss their philosophy on the deception inherent in magic.
Mentalism is a genre of magic that exists across a spectrum of morality. Learn how Penn & Teller use mentalism to perform a “mind-reading” trick for entertainment purposes only.
Learn the fundamental moves in card magic that can unlock a world of tricks at your fingertips.
How are magicians able to fool audiences? They take advantage of the brain's vulnerabilities. Penn & Teller dive into some of the physiological aspects of the human brain and how it relates to magic.
Rope tricks play with images of destruction and resurrection. Penn & Teller walk you through their version of cut and restored rope tricks.
Authenticity, practice, and research are key strategies for perfecting a performance. As veterans of the stage, Penn & Teller draw from their years of experience to share wisdom and advice for aspiring performers of all disciplines.
Magic oversimplifies and distorts the principles of cause and effect. In this chapter, Penn & Teller discuss the philosophical aspects of cause and effect in relation to magic and the human psyche.
Empathy, wonder, joy: these emotions are all part of the shared experience of a magic performance. Teller shares a rare emotional account of a childhood memory that sent him on a lifelong path of bringing joy to others through magic.
Matt Donnelly is a co-host of the podcast Penn’s Sunday School and has recently started to learn magic. Penn & Teller team up with legendary magician Johnny Thompson to coach him on a chop-cup routine that requires a lot of practice and technical skill.
A professional magician with years of experience, Piff the Magic Dragon gets advice and coaching from Penn & Teller and Johnny Thompson on a new routine that he has created largely from scratch.
Watch Penn & Teller’s unique take on the “card to impossible location” trick in the form of a disappearing cell phone during their live stage show.
Meet your new instructor: Aaron Franklin, a Central Texas barbecue legend. In your first lesson, the award-winning pitmaster takes you inside his famed restaurant, Franklin Barbecue, explaining the techniques and recipes you’ll learn in the class.
Building and managing fire is key to barbecue mastery. In this chapter, Aaron demonstrates his technique for constructing clean fires, explains how to analyze smoke, and unpacks the anatomy and science of an offset cooker.
For your first cook, Aaron takes you step-by-step through his recipe and technique for smoking tender, flavorful pork butt: from seasoning and wrapping through shredding into tender morsels of pulled pork.
Though best known for his brisket, Aaron is a stickler when it comes to ribs. Learn his tried-and-true process for trimming, smoking, and slicing saucy, moist spare ribs in this intermediate-level cook.
Wood, and the smoke it creates, is the primary flavor agent in barbecue. In this chapter, Aaron takes you through a woodpile, explaining how to assess a piece of wood and how to choose the right pieces for different phases of your cook.
When Aaron isn’t cooking low and slow at Franklin Barbecue, he’s often grilling at home. Here, he shares his method of incorporating direct and indirect heat for seared steaks and charred broccolini in a meal quick enough to make any night of the week.
Is grass-fed beef superior to grain-fed? Fresh better than frozen? Aaron shares his tips for assessing beef quality and how to buy the best meat for your needs.
In the first of our five-chapter series on the Texas barbecue staple, Aaron shares his signature method for shaving and shaping briskets for an even and consistent cook.
Phase one of our brisket smoke involves building a fire, applying slather and rub, and cooking the meat undisturbed. Learn Aaron’s technique for seasoning evenly and developing clean flavors in the critical first hours of your cook.
In the second phase of our 12-hour brisket smoke, Aaron shares his techniques for spritzing, getting a derailed cook back on track, and pushing through the stall while maintaining a clean and steady fire.
Learn Aaron’s technique for wrapping brisket, checking for tenderness, and assessing when to pull and rest your meat in the final phase of our brisket cook.
Aaron walks you through his detailed, cut-by-cut process for slicing your brisket to minimize waste and maximize balance and flavor.
Learn how to make the MasterClass-exclusive recipe for the balanced, tangy-sweet sauce Aaron uses in his lesson on ribs.
Years of working exclusively on offset smokers has given Aaron a sense of what to look for—and avoid—when buying and modifying the cookers. Learn Aaron’s tips so your smoker functions at its peak.
Aaron’s journey began with a botched brisket cooked on a $99 smoker. Follow the unlikely path Aaron took to become a pitmaster, and learn what sparked the birth of the most famous barbecue joint in the country.
In this bonus chapter, Aaron traces the roots of barbecue culture in Texas from European immigrants to World War II vets, highlighting how brisket—a tough, difficult-to-cook cut of beef—became the region’s signature smoked meat.
Meet your new instructor: ten-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, Phil Ivey. In your first lesson, Phil explains why he's finally opening up about his game and reveals the exact moment he fell in love with poker.
Phil breaks down the importance of table position, debunks a common misconception about hand-range charts, and shares tips for defending the blinds.
Betting in poker is all about maximizing value and minimizing risk. Phil reveals his take on tactics like overbetting, bluff catching, and three-betting, and for the first time, shows how he’s used these tactics in past hands.
Using some of his favorite hands as teaching tools, Phil explains the importance of monitoring your opponents’ stacks and details the ideal circumstances for pulling off a convincing bluff.
Phil provides an in-depth look at a number of different postflop situations. Learn when to slow play a hand, how to float the flop, and which draws to play depending on the context.
Knowing when to shut it down is just as important as knowing when to go in for the kill. Phil discusses the dangers of overplaying a hand and explains how to avoid costly mistakes on the river.
Deepstacked poker is still anyone's game. Phil teaches you how to make the most of your suited connectors and pocket pairs, and analyzes two hands where implied odds determined the outcome.
Phil pulls back the curtain and reveals exactly what his thought process was during a hand. He shares his tips for inducing tilt and dealing with tough losses, and explains what is really behind the “Ivey glare.”
Phil discusses the danger of assumptions when it comes to table image, and reveals one of his favorite tactics for gathering information about opponents.
Learn how to train like Phil as he shares some of the practice routines that have helped him get to where he is today.
Phil shares the pitfalls of early success and talks about how he’s grown in his 25 years of playing the game.
Playing other variants of poker can help ambitious players capitalize on soft opportunities. Learn how to play seven-card stud from one of the best players to ever sit at the table.
Meet your new instructor: Grammy Award-winning violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman. Mr. Perlman tells you how this class will differ from traditional violin master classes and how through teaching others, you can teach yourself.
Mr. Perlman starts with discussing the bow and its mechanics, including speed, pressure, and various bow holds.
Building on bowing fundamentals, Mr. Perlman moves into advanced bow strokes and playing techniques, such as double-stops, harmonics, and higher positions.
Perfect your intonation by training your ear to recognize sharp or flat notes. Mr. Perlman shares techniques for staying in tune and for tuning with other musicians.
Your vibrato is like your fingerprint. Learn how it can add richness, color, and emotion to your playing.
Playing the violin is a physical experience. Learn Mr. Perlman’s methods for staying comfortable and avoiding injury.
Mr. Perlman demonstrates how to produce musical “color” through bowing techniques, varying dynamics, and shifting.
Mr. Perlman invites his current and former Juilliard students to a game that explores how to change an audience's perception of a phrase or piece by using musical color and other playing techniques.
There is a subtle art to playing a piece in various musical styles. Using selections from Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Bach, Mr. Perlman demonstrates romantic, classical, and baroque styles of playing.
From overcoming anxiety to achieving total focus, Mr. Perlman shares his tips for performing for a live audience.
Practice is an essential part of growing as a violinist. Mr. Perlman discusses his methods of practicing that help improve technical ability.
Mr. Perlman breaks down his practice schedule hour by hour, exploring scales, exercises, études, and repertoire pieces.
Mr. Perlman and students from Juilliard discuss their personal tips for improving memorization.
From communicating with a conductor to finding balance within an orchestra, Mr. Perlman shares how he collaborates with other musicians.
Mr. Perlman discusses the realities of standing out as a professional musician and how you can follow a variety of paths toward building a career in music.
Anyone can become a great violinist with practice, dedication, and talent. Mr. Perlman shares his personal story and reminds you to separate your abilities from any barriers you may face.
Mr. Perlman offers his parting words and wishes you luck in pursuing the violin.
Finding the right teacher with the right teaching style can make all the difference. Mr. Perlman gives parents and teachers advice on how to nurture talent in aspiring violinists.
Mr. Perlman introduces you to his famed violin, the 1714 Soil Stradivarius, and explains how to select the right instrument for yourself.
Meet your new instructor: Massimo Bottura, chef of the three-Michelin-star restaurant Osteria Francescana. Massimo explains why he believes in evolving classic recipes, developing your palate, and embracing creativity in the kitchen.
Start learning how to experiment with traditional recipes as Massimo shares his unique take on pesto, using bread crumbs in place of pine nuts. Joining Massimo is Taka Kondo, his sous-chef.
In the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, tortellini is the quintessential dish. Massimo shows you how to make the two classic tortellini accompaniments: il brodo, the rich, delicious broth, and a Parmigiano-Reggiano cream sauce.
Some special guests join Massimo to help make a very traditional tortellini dough and filling. Learn how to assemble this essential Emilia-Romagna dish.
Massimo shows you his interpretation of a burger that features regional ingredients from Emilia-Romagna. He then challenges students to create their own regionally-inspired burgers.
Zero-waste cooking is one of Massimo’s guiding principles in the kitchen. Massimo demonstrates how a vegetarian brodo di tutto (“broth of everything”) makes beautiful use of vegetable scraps.
Massimo shows you how he’s evolved his grandmother’s recipe for passatelli, fresh bread crumb noodles that are light and full of umami. The passatelli are served in the “broth of everything.”
Discover the secret ingredient in this striking vegetarian dish of roasted beets that is inspired by one of Massimo’s favorite artists, Damien Hirst. Its highly versatile sauces can be used in many other meat and vegetable preparations.
Massimo teaches you how to make a delicious parchment-baked sole using classic Mediterranean flavors: lemons, capers, olives, tomatoes, and parsley.
Tagliatelle with ragù is the dish that put Osteria Francescana on the map. Massimo teaches you his version that uses hand-chopped (not ground) beef and time to maximize flavor.
Massimo shows you how to transform leftover cakes and sweet breads into a delicious, light soufflé that’s better than the sum of its parts. In this recipe, he uses panettone, an Italian sweet bread with raisins and candied fruit.
Massimo teaches you a unique approach to risotto, using fresh orange juice and roasted pumpkin purée rather than the traditional white wine, butter, and onions. It turns out like a dessert, and you can riff on the recipe any way you’d like.
To help you develop your palate, Massimo walks through the tasting of three ingredients that are fundamental to his version of Italian cuisine: tomatoes, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and balsamic vinegar.
Massimo shares how he came up with the recipes for two signature dishes served at Osteria Francescana—The Crunchy Part of the Lasagna and Mediterranean Sole—and demonstrates how they each come together as final plates.
Meet your new instructor: David Baldacci, the New York Times–bestselling author of 38 thrillers to date. David starts with an overview of his class and his hope that you’ll overcome any doubts you have about writing.
You want to write—but how do you find your idea? David walks you through his daily practice of looking at the world through what he calls the “writer’s prism.”
Firsthand research brings depth and breadth to your story. David discusses why he recommends visiting locations in person, talking directly to people, and creating a battle plan.
Building on the previous lesson, David provides practical tips for finding sources and getting the most out of interviews.
David shows you how he writes outlines, emphasizing that it is an ever-evolving process.
The first chapter of your book should be a touchstone. David talks about how to open with a “big pop” and how to reference that opening in the rest of your chapters.
How do you keep readers on the edge of their seats? David shares how he builds suspense, using such strategies as red herrings, plot twists, cliffhangers, and a ticking clock.
David describes the tools he uses to create compelling characters: Expect your characters to change, allow them to have flaws, and give equal importance to your sidekicks and antagonists.
Become a student of humanity. Learn how to deepen your characters by writing believable dialogue.
Action in your story can reveal information about a location, someone’s motivation, and someone’s special skills. David explains how you can use choreography and pacing to maximize the impact of your story’s action.
David began writing when he was a full-time lawyer. He encourages you to be creative about making time to write and finding a writing process that works for you.
David shares his approach to editing and revising his novels, and why he enjoys the process.
Personal chemistry is critical when it comes to working with an editor. David talks about what to consider when you look for an editor and how to build a real partnership.
David offers rare insight into the inner workings of the publishing world, including how to find an agent, how to navigate rights, and how to best promote your book.
Adding to his advice on how to run your own writing career, David explains the importance of forming relationships with both booksellers and fans, and discusses how to use new platforms.
Should you turn your novel into a series? David takes you through the decision-making process.
David opens up about his journey as a writer, talking about passion, rejection, and how to stay authentic.
David believes the world always needs fresh voices. He offers his final words of encouragement for all aspiring writers.
Meet your new instructor: Joyce Carol Oates, the National Book Award–winning author of 58 novels and thousands of short stories. Joyce welcomes you and discusses the enduring importance of short fiction.
You want to write. When and how do you get it done? Joyce explains how to draft, revise, and share your work with others. She also touches on rejection and how to protect your time for writing.
Journaling is a tried-and-true method for self-expression and discovering your voice. For illustration, Joyce reads from one of Virginia Woolf’s diary entries.
Joyce discusses how delving into the darker elements of your personality and past can provide compelling, heartfelt fodder for fiction—as well as a means to finding a unique audience.
Some of Joyce’s experimental approaches to structure include considering the shape of a story on its first page and writing a one-sided dialogue. She reads from her story “Heat.”
Your past and your family can be a rich trove of story material. Joyce walks you through examining childhood influences, interviewing family, and remembering physical places that have left a lasting impression on you.
Joyce analyzes very brief narratives—ones with no more than a few pages—for the language and structure they require. As an example, she reads from the William Carlos Williams story “The Use of Force.”
Writing a monologue can be a useful stepping-stone to crafting a novel, as well as a good exercise in exploring the perspectives of characters unlike yourself. Joyce’s monologue story “Lethal” serves as an illustration.
Joyce reveals what inspired—and how she wrote—her most well-known and reprinted story, including how she chose the main character’s perspective and how adjusting perspective can be helpful for your own story.
How do you read with the intention of finding new ideas and learning from writers you admire? Joyce leads a discussion on reading as a writer.
Joyce and two of her students—Lindsey Skillen and Corey Arnold—read from Ernest Hemingway’s story “Indian Camp.” They review the work as they would in one of Joyce’s collegiate or graduate classes.
Joyce holds a workshop of her student Lindsey’s story “Labor Day,” which can be downloaded in advance of the lesson.
This workshop focuses on Corey’s short story “Near Death,” which can also be downloaded in advance.
Joyce shares her parting words, advising how to select a place to write that makes you feel inspired and how to continue finding joy in the writing process.
Meet your new instructor: four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles. She’s ready to inspire your gymnastics training by demonstrating fundamental and advanced skills and by giving you tips for setting goals and working with coaches.
Discipline and focus during practice are necessary for gymnasts to safely execute drills. Simone encourages you to master the basics, which are the foundation for learning harder skills and routines.
With eight-year-old Mia demonstrating, Simone walks you through the basics of the uneven bars. Some of the drills include glides, drop kips, tap swings, and floor handstands.
Simone demonstrates and explains advanced skills on the uneven bars, including cast to handstand, giants, and more.
Simone reviews and deconstructs footage of some of her most notable performances on bars, including her top-scoring routine from the 2018 World Championships and her routine from the 2018 U.S. Classic.
Even the most decorated World Championship American gymnast of all time can feel nervous. Simone offers tips for getting out of your head during moments of fear and shares what confidence means to her.
With help from nine-year-old Leah, Simone breaks down the basics of floor, including skills like cartwheels, roundoffs, front handsprings, pike fronts, and back handspring back tucks.
Simone demonstrates advanced floor skills, including layouts, double doubles, a combination pass, and, of course, the Biles.
It’s important to give yourself time to prepare for a meet. Simone reveals her preparation routine, shares how to use selective listening during a performance, and tells you how to let go of mistakes while competing.
Requiring a combination of acrobatics and dance, the balance beam is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. Nine-year-old Paislee demonstrates as Simone discusses skills like handstands, cartwheels, walkovers, and back handsprings.
Simone demonstrates advanced skills on the balance beam, including a front handspring, front aerial, handspring layout, split leaps, and a double-double dismount.
According to Simone, communication and trust are the two most important pieces of the athlete/coach relationship. In this chapter, she explores how to work effectively and cohesively with your coaches.
With eight-year-old Jurzie demonstrating, Simone walks you through the basics of vault, including feet to seat, high knees, deer runs, sprints, and front handspring flatback.
Simone loves the feeling of flying she gets when performing the vault. She demonstrates advanced vault skills, including a Yurchenko layout, a Yurchenko full, a Yurchenko 2.5, and a Cheng.
Simone reviews footage of her standout vault performances, including her execution of a Cheng at the 2016 P&G Championships. She also breaks down the Biles on vault.
Goals are action plans for a gymnast. Simone explains the importance of journaling as well as the practice of setting daily intentions to get the most out of your training.
Simone closes with thoughts on what taking a break from her sport meant to her as both a maturing athlete and a young adult. She encourages gymnasts to lean on their family for support.
Meet your new instructor: Editor-in-Chief of Vogue magazine, Anna Wintour. Anna opens with the early experiences that shaped her leadership style, and she explains why there’s never been a more exciting time to work as a creative leader.
Anna walks through the management techniques—including how to build and manage a team, and how to give feedback—that have helped her be an effective leader.
Anna discusses her dos and don’ts for interviewing. She also shares practical tips for those starting out in their careers, including how to discover your creative voice and the best ways to interact with your mentors.
Inviting you into her office at Vogue, Anna shows how she leads with a clear vision and point of view while encouraging creativity and collaboration among her team members. Anna also addresses how she deals with criticism.
With her forward-thinking and sometimes surprising editorial choices, Anna has kept Vogue relevant for more than 30 years. She explores the process behind several of her controversial covers and features, and explains why making mistakes is vital.
The Met Gala was not always the cultural touchstone it is today. Bringing you behind the scenes of the 2019 Met Gala, Anna shows how attention to every detail makes the gala one of the most influential and talked-about events of the year.
Photography is critical for communicating your message and your brand. Anna looks at a few of the greatest photographers and models of our time, and she offers tips for aspiring creative leaders on the power of the image.
Anna delves into the Vogue archives to discuss a number of her most famous, iconic, and memorable covers. She breaks down her decisions and how those decisions helped evolve the Vogue brand.
Anna has launched the careers of some of fashion’s most world-renowned designers. She talks about what makes a designer stand out to her, and she gives essential tips for surviving as a creative today.
Taking you behind the scenes of the 2018 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, Anna reveals what the judges look for in new and upcoming talent, and she gives advice to help designers and creatives succeed.
Telling the stories of Christopher Bailey, Miuccia Prada, and Michael Kors, Anna highlights what has made these creative leaders successful.
Iconic leaders don’t just execute on their job; they also build relationships with their audience and take a stand. Anna speaks about the deeper meaning in her work and why it’s always important to give credit to others.
Chef Thomas Keller returns for his third MasterClass, focusing on seafood, sous vide, and desserts. In this opening lesson, Chef Keller discusses how to buy and look for freshness in seafood and shares tips for storing fish.
Chef Keller teaches you how to make a dish that he eats several times a week: sautéed salmon with spinach. He demonstrates how to properly cut and fillet a King salmon and explains his technique for cooking salmon mostly on one side.
Chef Keller shows you how to cook a dish that has been cherished by generations and is served with a classic garnish of pommes château.
Beginning with a red wine butter sauce, Chef Keller shares his technique for preparing a delicious monkfish tail.
Sautéing and pan roasting are not the only ways to cook seafood. In this lesson, Chef Keller shows you how to create a salt crust for a branzino to capture and intensify the flavors.
One of the most famous dishes at the French Laundry is the butter-poached lobster with macaroni and cheese. Chef Keller shares his recipe and teaches his techniques. Viewer advisory: A live lobster is cooked during this lesson.
In this lesson, Chef Keller talks about the dish he made every night as a young chef under the mentorship of his older brother, Joseph.
Chef Keller teaches you how to build the right mix of seafood ingredients and spices for a lobster boil, an ideal meal for a summer evening. Viewer advisory: A live lobster is cooked during this lesson.
In this introductory lesson on sous vide cooking, Chef Keller provides an overview of sous vide packaging and preparation as well as how the technique is used.
Chef Keller shows you how to cook three kinds of vegetables using sous vide cooking methods, showcasing different preparation techniques.
Continuing to use the immersion circulator at a constant temperature, Chef Keller cooks a piece of turbot with chicken velouté enriched with cream.
In this lesson, Chef Keller demonstrates a sous vide technique that doesn’t require any restaurant-grade equipment: just a pot of hot water, a thermometer, and kitchen film.
Pots de crème are small but extremely rich. Chef Keller discusses the importance of ingredient selection in this dish, and he explains the techniques for creating a creamy filling.
Lemon tart is a very special dish to Chef Keller. He demonstrates the exact recipe for his lemon tart that he’s been making since the early 1980s, including how to make a pine nut crust and how to broil the dessert to perfection.
Chef Keller teaches you how to make an apple pie with a lard crust, reveals why he prefers the Granny Smith apple, and demonstrates techniques for creating the lattice top.
Eat up! Chef Keller concludes his MasterClass by showcasing techniques for slicing your desserts, and he offers some final words of advice.
Using short rib as an example, Chef Keller demonstrates how cooking for different times and at different temperatures via sous vide and more traditional preparations can lead to drastically different tastes and results.
Meet your new instructor: four-time Oscar-nominated composer Danny Elfman. He gives an overview of the class and welcomes you to his surreal and macabre world.
Danny wasn’t a classically trained musician before becoming a film composer—and he doesn’t think you need to be, either. He shares his unexpected journey to film composition.
The first day on the job for a film composer is the spotting session, where it’s critical to listen to your director. Danny explains how to map out your score and determine length, budget, and how to overcome temporary music.
To be a film composer, you must first be a student of cinema and film scores. Danny highlights how various scores throughout film history have elevated the director’s vision as well as influenced his own work.
A theme or melody can be everything and nothing at all; it can come easily or take a long time. Using examples from some of his most well-known scores, Danny teaches you how to create and identify themes and melodies for your film’s score.
While listening to the score he wrote for A Simple Plan, Danny walks you through how he crafted it and explains his choices.
There is no right or wrong instrument to convey a certain emotion. Danny shows you ways you can build tone, energy, and movement through your choices in instrumentation as well as how to treat, prepare, and play your instruments.
Writing specifically for a character can be daunting. In this case study, Danny discusses the process of creating the score for The Nightmare Before Christmas and how he collaborated with Tim Burton to invent Jack Skellington's story.
When you have a disorganized mind like Danny’s, studio and project organization are key to a successful career. He shares his process for organizing his studio, how he chooses his software, and the big board that keeps track of his output.
Identifying the tone of the film can dictate the sounds that make up your template. Danny walks you through how he creates a template from which to build a score, and he tells you how being prepared can help you realize your vision.
Artists are filled with doubt. Danny talks about how to manage that doubt and move forward. He opens up about his vulnerabilities, how he overcomes them, and how he sharpened his instincts to make better career decisions.
To map out a score, you need to figure out the tone and identify the moments that define the film. Using examples from films of different genres, Danny shows how he reverse-engineered the scores to reflect key moments and the tonal landscape.
Using Milk as a case study, Danny explores how a literal approach to scoring for the script isn’t necessarily the right decision and how improvisation can often be the missing piece to the puzzle.
Composing to an evolving film is a challenge. Danny explains how to find the editor’s tempo and rhythm, how to get in to and out of musical phrases, and how to sync to picture.
Danny loves the process of detailing. He shows a scene from Lawrence of Arabia to illustrate how sound design and detailing can elevate your score.
Danny listens to the score he made for The Unknown Known and explains how creating the villain’s theme for this documentary was not as straightforward as you might think.
Even seasoned composers like Danny face failure and have to pick themselves up again. By opening up about a temporary falling-out with Tim Burton, Danny shows how to overcome your ego and persevere in the face of failure.
Collaboration with directors is a subtle art form that Danny has cultivated for more than 35 years. He offers advice on how to talk to your director, present your ideas at playbacks, and receive feedback.
There is a line between influence, homage, and plagiarism. Danny illustrates how the line is drawn, when you have overstepped the boundaries, and how to rise above and maintain originality.
As a composer with no classical training, Danny offers a different perspective on getting into the business. He encourages you to find what makes you unique, pursue what you can do best, and promote that aspect of yourself to be heard.
Danny reflects on the journey he has taken together with you, as an old miner might tell stories around the campfire to young gold seekers before they venture out into the world to strike (cinematic) gold.
Meet your instructor: self-made billionaire and founder of Spanx, Sara Blakely. Sara talks about her journey as an inventor and entrepreneur, sharing that her purpose is to serve women and make products for women better.
Sara explains the importance of dedicated thinking time for developing your idea. Learn how to filter your ideas, how to differentiate yourself from your competitors, and when to patent your ideas.
To succeed as an entrepreneur, you need to develop the right mindset. Sara teaches you to train your brain to embrace failure, look for hidden lessons in challenging times, visualize and set your intentions, and aim high.
Sara teaches you her time-tested prototyping tactics, including how to gather consumer feedback and capitalize on your weaknesses. She also discusses the development of some of her inventions.
As an inventor, Sara continues to test the boundaries with manufacturers. She encourages you to think outside the box and teaches you tips for choosing a manufacturer, negotiating minimums, and diversifying for leverage.
A master salesperson who started her career by selling fax machines door-to-door, Sara shares her practical advice for sales, including how to understand your consumers, turn a “no” into a “yes,” and face your fear of sales.
Spanx became the brand it is today by creating a product women love and share by word of mouth. Sara encourages you to lead with your origin story and create buzz through creative marketing tactics.
Sara sits down with KJ Miller, the founder of Mented Cosmetics, an everyday nude makeup line for all skin tones. They discuss the importance of differentiation in retail, how to cadence product releases, and leading with your origin story.
Pricing is one of the most important components of a business. Sara offers tips for aspiring entrepreneurs on how to create perceived value, develop distribution plans, and navigate discount strategies.
Sara discusses positioning with Betsy Shilling, the founder of Wellround, a health and wellness company. Learn how to price products in relation to manufacturing costs and how to think creatively about distribution partnerships.
Company culture is a top priority for Sara, especially as Spanx continues to grow. She stresses the importance of hiring for your weaknesses, empowering employees, and creating a culture that embraces learning from failure.
Sara sits down with Jake Miller, the founder of Fellow Products, a high-end coffee gear company, to discuss the importance of developing a positive company culture and scaling mindfully, especially when it comes to hiring.
Sara details the development of a few of her most successful products, providing more insight into various stages of the product-development process, including naming, innovation, iteration, and differentiation.
Sara shares her wisdom for surviving the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial life. Learn the grounding philosophies that were key to her success, from building a support system and bucketing time to managing self-doubt.
Meet your new instructor: chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger. In his introduction, Bob talks about what he’s learned from great teachers and what he wants to share with you.
To demonstrate how to use your time effectively, Bob shares in detail how he structures his day to make the most of it. He talks about making time for focus and reveals just how early he wakes up.
Bob believes you must narrow your focus to develop a successful strategy. He illustrates this point by explaining how he ultimately convinced the Disney board that he should become the next CEO.
Bob breaks down the acquisition of Pixar, including his strategy to convince Steve Jobs—the head of Pixar—and the Disney board. He explains how he overcame the odds with the acquisition and why it was essential to Disney’s future success.
Bob shares his tips for successful negotiation, including how to remove your ego from the process and how to make everyone feel like they’ve come out a winner.
It goes without saying that the Disney brand is powerful. Bob explains why the brand needed to evolve while staying true to its core in order to stay relevant.
Bob shares the strategy behind folding Marvel into the Disney brand, and he discusses how to capitalize on well-loved brands to maximize growth.
Bob gives his perspective on consumer data and why he believes you sometimes have to push it aside and go with your gut. He uses the films Black Panther and Captain Marvel to illustrate his point.
Bob shares why he thinks taking risks is essential to success, even when they end in failure. He uses an example from early in his career when he made an epic mistake that ultimately yielded a huge success.
The process to acquire 21st Century Fox was complicated and time-consuming. Bob walks you through the deal and explains the challenges.
One of Bob’s superpowers is his ability to predict where the industry is headed. He talks about how Disney navigated the change to streaming video on demand, starting with ESPN+ and leading to Disney+.
Bob shares his tenets for successful leadership, including how to foster curiosity, practice candor, project optimism, be authentic, and own your mistakes.
To conclude, Bob wishes students the best on their future, encouraging them to lead with integrity and advocate for a better world.
Meet your instructor: Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and bestselling author Doris Kearns Goodwin. She talks about why she’s excited to teach this class, how she came to love history, and her path to becoming a presidential historian.
Looking at the early lives of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, and LBJ, Doris discusses whether leaders are born or made and why great leaders have ambition for something bigger than themselves.
Doris delves into the character traits that make up emotional intelligence, including humility, empathy, and resilience. She also shares Lincoln’s secret trick for dealing with anger and frustration.
Doris discusses the building blocks for leading a team well, including honest communication, sharing credit, building trust, allowing for failure, and paying attention to the needs of individual team members.
Don’t shy away from putting rivals on your team, advises Doris. She explains how to complement your weaknesses with strengths from team members, allow for differences of opinion, and create a culture of respect and honesty.
Using examples from the lives of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, and LBJ, Doris illustrates why recharging is essential for leadership, especially for solving complex problems and making high-stakes decisions with a clear mind.
Doris shares how some of the greatest presidents have made consequential decisions and how we can use their approach in our own lives. She also talks about how to heal divisions and build consensus.
Doris discusses the role she believes leaders should take in a crisis and how they should console their constituencies, sharing a case study on Teddy Roosevelt’s management of the 1902 Coal Crisis.
Doris talks about how leaders must tailor the way they communicate to the most popular mediums of the time. She also discusses how she believes presidents and citizens should interact with the press.
Doris shares the journey of her late husband, presidential speechwriter and adviser Richard Goodwin, who devoted his life to civil service. She also shares Richard’s draft of LBJ’s most famous speech on civil rights.
Doris explains her approach to studying and writing about history, including how she collaborated with Steven Spielberg on the film Lincoln.
Doris examines what made George Washington, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King Jr. such effective leaders.
Emphasizing the impact of great leadership on the United States, Doris encourages us all to be active and engaged citizens. She also describes which qualities matter and which don’t when it comes to voting for candidates.
Doris reinforces the importance of sharing stories as a way to seek connection and build legacies, and she offers a parting message of inspiration and hope.
For anyone who dreams of running for president someday, Doris provides words of wisdom and encouragement.
Bobbi shares her beauty philosophy: Makeup should be quick and natural, and it should enhance who you are. She explains what her class will cover and why she’ll be demonstrating on models of different ages and with a range of skin tones.
While makeup has been around for ages, styles are constantly changing. Bobbi discusses makeup from the 1960s to today. She talks about the origin of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and how the face of beauty has changed through the “It” girls of the times.
Color is critical: It can make a statement and reveal your individuality. Bobbi discusses how color and style are key to self-expression and how undertones can help you find the right colors. She also clears up a misconception about nude makeup.
Bobbi shares the essential items in her day bag, her evening bag, and her travel bag. You’ll learn how to simplify your makeup collection and carry only the essentials for different moments of your day and life.
Demonstrating on models with different skin tones, Bobbi shows you techniques for applying your foundation.
When you don’t need a full face of foundation, you can use a tinted moisturizer instead. Demonstrating on a medium skin tone, Bobbi applies tinted moisturizer and shows how you can then use your foundation and concealer for touch-ups, creating a spotless look with a healthy glow.
These are Bobbi’s favorite products because they can make you look great when you’re not feeling your best. Bobbi applies bronzer and blush to three models and discusses the tools, techniques, and products used.
Bobbi demonstrates how to play up your eyes and correctly fill in your brows. You’ll learn Bobbi’s tips and tricks for the eye and brow area, including which mascara color is the only one you should use.
Demonstrating with a dark matte color, Bobbi applies a statement lip on a model and shares how you can do it, too. This application works for a classic red, a bright pink, or darker and more unforgiving colors.
Bobbi breaks down today’s skincare products, from makeup removers to moisturizers, and explains which products are essential for healthy skin.
As an entrepreneur and CEO, Bobbi knows how to play up her features for the workplace while still looking professional. She’ll show you how to apply a workplace-appropriate look, depending on the type of office you work in.
So you can learn to be your own best makeup artist, Bobbi talks a model through how to apply her own makeup, emphasizing how to choose the right colors.
The smoky eye is a technique that can easily go wrong. Bobbi shows you how to apply a simple, modern smoky eye and then shows how you can play it up.
As a working artist and businesswoman, Bobbi knows how important it is to be able to do your makeup in just about a minute. She demonstrates a quick and easy look that uses only a few products.
Bobbi discusses some common makeup mistakes—including using too light of a foundation and washing out the color of your lips—and does a live demonstration of how to fix them.
Bobbi shares personal stories and lessons from her career as a makeup artist.
Bobbi shows you how to experiment with bold colors and not be afraid to make mistakes or take a look too far.
Bobbi shares lessons from her decades in the beauty industry: Be on time, ask for help, and do the most you can for others. She believes in the power of hard work and determination and urges you to not give up on your passions and goals.
Bobbi discusses the business of beauty and offers advice for aspiring leaders. She shares lessons from her time in the boardroom, from building a team to giving a business time to grow.
Meet your new instructor: American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland. Misty talks about the philosophy that’s helped her through challenges, and she shares how this class will help you gain confidence and a fresh perspective.
Misty opens up about some of the errors she’s made in past performances, explaining how she’s dealt with criticism and revealing her technical transformation to rebuild strength and increase quality of movement.
Misty discusses how she prepares her pointe shoes and which type she chooses for different performances. Then she demonstrates a warm-up at the barre and performs a solo variation from Swan Lake.
Misty introduces placement principles for proper alignment and shares a series of stationary exercises to practice pliés and tendus. These exercises will help you build strength and prepare for jumps.
To help you learn placement principles and prepare for larger moves like arabesques, Misty demonstrates a series of small movement exercises to practice temps lié and maintain stability while shifting her weight from side to side.
In an advanced demonstration, Misty shows you exercises to practice ronds de jambe. These sequences prepare you for turns and help you engage placement principles while executing elaborate choreography.
All the techniques shown so far come together in a slowed-down version of Misty’s Black Swan variation. You’ll see Misty’s proper alignment for jumps and turns.
Misty tells you why a dedication to mastering technique in the studio will help you create dynamic performances, and she motivates you to become a storyteller through movement on stage.
Watch as Misty and her dance partner, Calvin Royal III, perform the White Swan pas de deux. Sharing the story of Swan Lake, Misty emphasizes the importance of understanding both your role and your partner’s to create a compelling performance.
Calvin Royal III, a soloist for American Ballet Theatre, joins Misty as she explains her approach to working through choreography. Watch as Misty and Calvin collaborate and finesse a piece rarely performed by two Black dancers.
A strong stage presence is rooted in the connection you have with the audience. Misty guides you to focus on portraying roles with honesty and encourages you to stay in the moment on stage.
Misty introduces Kyle Abraham, a contemporary dance choreographer, and performs his piece Ash to show how she fuses modern and classical ballet styles.
Misty brings you into a rehearsal session with Kyle Abraham. Watch as Misty works with Kyle to discover the story behind the movement and execute the choreography in a way that feels natural to her and honors his vision.
From her formative years through her experiences at American Ballet Theatre, Misty opens up about working with different choreographers, including Debbie Allen, Alexei Ratmansky, and Twyla Tharp.
Misty shares how working with Prince was a life-changing moment for her as an artist, and she encourages you to step out of your comfort zone as a dancer and explore different genres.
Misty talks about mentorship, including the support she received from Raven Wilkinson, one of the first Black ballerinas with a major dance company. Calvin Royal III shares his story of being mentored by Misty.
Misty speaks to her hope for a legacy that fosters more inclusivity in ballet. She urges you to actively participate in the conversation around diversity to change the perception of what a ballet dancer should be.
Meet your new instructor: New York Times–bestselling author and humorist David Sedaris. David shares his thoughts on what you need to be a writer, how bad experiences become funny, and how everyone’s life is worth writing about.
David teaches you how to ask better questions, let stories land in your lap, and not ruin the moment when an idea for a story is unfolding before you.
Using examples from his own writing, David shows you how to take ideas from your diary and start expanding them into an essay.
The opening line is everything. David talks through multiple failed openings to his essay “Understanding Owls” and discusses how he landed on the final, published version.
David gives you tips for making yourself relatable as a protagonist in your essays. He also covers how to structure the humor and content of your writing so that audiences can find something to connect to.
How do you put the people you care about in your essays without hurting them? David discusses this challenge and brings in his sister Lisa, who’s appeared in many of his essays, for an intimate conversation.
Starting with a diary entry, David reads multiple drafts of the beginning of what eventually became his New Yorker essay “Active Shooter.”
Get a behind-the-scenes look at David’s workshop process while he’s touring and watch as he tries a piece for the first time at a public reading in Cleveland.
Humor isn’t memorable when it doesn’t mean something. David teaches you how to turn your essay from a purely comedic piece into writing with meaning.
David shares his approach to rewriting, with an eye toward digging deeper into your stories and making the most of your funny moments.
David talks about how to learn from live readings, conduct readings of your own, and behave when your work is published in the world.
David shares some of his favorite stories and writers and explains how to learn from them.
To end, David gives you heartfelt advice about writing every day, not confusing writing with publishing, and just how possible it is to become a writer.
Watch a complete onstage reading of David’s essay “The Spirit World.”
Meet your new instructor: former FBI lead international kidnapping negotiator Chris Voss. While many believe that negotiation is a battle, Chris sees successful negotiation as a collaboration rooted in empathy.
Mirroring is one of the most simple yet effective techniques in any negotiator’s repertoire. Through simple repetition, Chris demonstrates how you can gather vital information in a negotiation and put your counterpart at ease.
Learn how you can use labels—verbal observations of feelings—to neutralize negative emotions in a negotiation or reinforce positive ones to create a better deal.
How does a conversation about escape room games lead to deep insights into someone’s character? Chris demonstrates how by using two key negotiation techniques: mirroring and labeling.
The way you say something during a negotiation is as important as the words you choose. Chris explores how you can use tone and inflection to your advantage and shares his top tips for online communication.
In 1993, two men held three employees hostage at a Chase Manhattan Bank in Brooklyn. Hear Chris’s techniques in action as he shares for the first time the tape recordings of his phone calls with the kidnappers.
How people behave and how they say things can be much more insightful in a negotiation than what they say. This lesson is about looking beyond the surface and distinguishing truth from fiction.
Who has more control in a negotiation: the person who’s talking or the person who’s listening? Chris lets you in on the secret to gaining the upper hand in a negotiation and explains how you can shift the power dynamic to your advantage.
Chris plays the part of a father whose teenage daughter wants to spend the weekend with her boyfriend at his parents’ vacation home; he doesn’t trust the boyfriend. Chris demonstrates techniques to get his “daughter” on his side.
There are often a lot of feelings in the room when a negotiation starts. Chris teaches you how to use an accusations audit as a means of identifying these feelings and turning negatives into positives.
Most people think the most important word in a negotiation is “yes.” In fact, the opposite is true. Chris tells you why “no” can be the pivotal word that gets you to your desired outcome.
The hardest thing to reconcile in a negotiation is opposing views. Chris shows you how to handle competing agendas without alienating the other side.
A negotiation can succeed or fail depending on how you frame your case. Chris walks you through the subtle art of perspective and how to understand a counterpart’s key emotional drivers in order to make a compelling case.
Hard bargaining doesn’t have to mean taking a sledgehammer approach. Chris teaches you how to bargain with skill, diplomacy, and tact.
Chris demonstrates how to negotiate effectively for a pay increase. Learn why he doesn’t focus the conversation on money.
Black swans are game-changing pieces of information that you don’t know when entering a negotiation. Chris walks you through an FBI case where uncovering a black swan led to a breakthrough.
An armed bank robber is barricaded in a bank with one female hostage. He wants a car in “60 seconds or she dies.” Watch as Chris deals with this tense, high-stakes negotiation where one wrong move can lead to a deadly outcome.
Chris’s motivation for teaching negotiation is deeply personal. Discover why Chris believes negotiation is a powerful tool that can transform your life.
Meet your new instructor: world-renowned astrophysicist, Emmy-nominated host, author, and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson. Neil welcomes you and discusses the importance of scientific thinking and communication.
The frontier of science is a messy place. Neil takes you through the process of understanding the frontier’s landscape and explains the roles of hypothesis and theory in determining objective truths.
When we use the scientific method in the quest for objective truths, nature is the judge and jury. Neil shares some remarkable astrophysical examples of how this method plays out in real life and in our vast universe.
Asking questions is a tried-and-true component of scientific thinking. Neil talks about the processes behind informed skepticism as well as how to evaluate incoming scientific data.
If you are human, then you are susceptible to cognitive bias. Neil defines some of the most common cognitive biases and reveals how our need to feel special may be getting in the way of our search for objective truths.
Cultural biases and assumptions affect how we treat one another, but they may be harder to spot than we think. Neil provides examples of conscious and unconscious cultural biases and explains how to avoid them.
Every personal system of belief contains identifiable biases that impact the ability to think scientifically. Neil talks about two of these biases and how inner beliefs can have a significant societal and scientific impact.
Neil explores one of his favorite subjects: scientific measurement. He distinguishes precision from accuracy and offers examples to illuminate the approximations that are inherent in any measurement.
Communicating objective truths convincingly is just as important as using methods of scientific thinking to find them. Neil shares his personal reason for this belief and some of his favorite tools of communication.
To properly prepare for an audience, you need to get detailed information about whom you’re speaking to. Neil discusses how to consider demographics and how that influences his message.
Knowing what drives your audience can set you up for communication success. Neil reviews some of the key “tool belt items” he uses when speaking to groups.
Stoking curiosity is an essential component of effective communication. Neil demonstrates how to make the strategic delivery of information a powerful tool in your communication arsenal.
Neil has never shared how he prepares for public engagements—until now. He reveals the rigorous preparation he undertook for an appearance on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.
Meet your new instructor: internationally acclaimed chef and restaurateur Gabriela Cámara. Gabriela shares how she became a chef, the origin story of her famed restaurant Contramar in Mexico City, and her philosophy on food and hospitality.
It’s hard to overstate the historical, cultural, and nutritional importance of corn in Mexico. Gabriela gives an overview of this staple ingredient, its heirloom varietals, and the processes for nixtamalization and grinding to produce masa.
Using the masa she made in the previous lesson, Gabriela shows you how to make fresh tortillas while explaining her own personal history with tortilla making. Learn how to best store and reheat your tortillas.
Gabriela demonstrates how to prepare the two raw salsas found on every table at Contramar: salsa verde cruda, a vibrant tomatillo and avocado salsa, and salsa brava, a spicy mix of onions and habanero peppers.
Tacos al pastor are the signature street food of Mexico City. Gabriela teaches you how to prepare an at-home version, which includes how to make an adobo rub, marinate the meat, cook pineapple, and assemble (and eat) the tacos.
A favorite at Contramar, pescado a la talla is a whole, butterflied fish with an Italian-driven green sauce on one side and a spicier Mexican red sauce on the other. Learn how to re-create this dish, select fresh fish, and make refried beans.
Gabriela makes her favorite breakfast: huevos rancheros divorciados, with a red salsa on one side and a green salsa on the other. She incorporates fresh tortillas and refried beans from previous lessons.
Using a traditional Mexican molcajete (a mortar and pestle), Gabriela creates a rich, charred, red tomato–based salsa. She also discusses the concept of la milpa, the centuries-old symbiotic crop-growing system.
Often imitated, tostadas de atún is one of Contramar’s most popular dishes. While showing you how to make it, Gabriela tells you how she developed the tuna tostada and its fusion of Mexican, Italian, and Japanese influences.
Mexico City’s take on the quesadilla is usually cheeseless, masa-based, and fried. Gabriela demonstrates how to make quesadillas doradas and introduces you to huitlacoche, a kind of corn fungus that is sometimes referred to as the Mexican truffle.
Aguachile is an acidic, spicy appetizer of seafood cured in lime juice. This aguachile is made of shrimp, lime, quick-pickled red onions, and a chile-based sauce.
Using the masa made earlier in the class, Gabriela teaches you how to make dessert tamales with a guava filling.
Gabriela offers parting thoughts on the importance of hospitality in Mexican culture, how caring about every detail of a dish yields the best results, and why you should never compromise on quality ingredients.
Dustin's approach to acting is unique. In this lesson, he reveals the principles of his method and how to start implementing it.
Dustin has had famous on-screen chemistry with the likes of Robert Redford, Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep. Watch as he teaches two strangers to build an instant bond on set, and then asks you to try the same Jerry Maguire scene with a fellow student.
Relating to your character is crucial to a great performance. Dustin teaches you how to read through the lines to add emotion and depth to your role.
Every good actor gets nervous, even Dustin. Vulnerability is key to bringing depth to a performance. Here's how to use your fears to get deeper into character.
Uncover and access the deepest layers of your personality so you can stop pretending and start being your character.
Dustin is his own harshest critic, even when the director is happy and the audience loves him. Learn how he finds ways to question, critique and improve his performance.
Dustin learned from the most prominent acting teachers of his day, including Lee Strasberg -- hear the tips and stories that stuck with him.
Whether he’s studying women’s vocal patterns or sneaking into San Quentin prison—Dustin conducts detailed research to create memorable and believable characters.
The essence of Raymond Babbit came from an accidental vocal tick; Benjamin Braddock grew from Dustin's childhood memories. There's no one way to bring a new character to life, but these are some of the ways that have worked for Dustin.
Memorizing your lines is just the first step. Here's how Dustin approaches a new script to bring life to words on a page.
You can't always plan for the laugh. Dustin explains how to develop your comic instincts and use everyday life as your comedic inspiration.
When you leave the script behind and make things up as you go, the results can be inspiring, fun, or sometimes flat-out embarrassing. You have to be willing to fail to triumph as an actor.
For a play, you rehearse for weeks. On a film set, you might get ten minutes. As an actor who trained for the stage, Dustin shares how he changed his approach to the craft for the camera.
From college dropout to Oscar-winning actor, learn a little bit more about your teacher.
Learning to look beyond the script to what's not being said, and using that powerful subtext to reveal parts of yourself, is the essence of Dustin's approach to acting. Dustin applies this lesson to a scene from Good Will Hunting.
If the audience isn't seeing your secrets, you're doing it wrong. Pushing yourself to admit and accept your most painful and uncomfortable truths will help bring depth and honesty to the characters you play. See how brave you can learn to be.
Nobody's perfect - and audiences will love you for it. Watch a scene from Good Will Hunting come to life when Dustin directs two actors to draw upon their own insecurities.
Learn how to craft a timeless, relatable character that audiences will fall in love with.
Dustin never lets a script hold him back from giving what he believes is the right performance. Here's how to stay true to yourself without getting fired.
Get Dustin's insider tips on how to keep an open, creative environment on set, respect your fellow actors, and most importantly—relax.
Dustin has spent his career defying "leading man" stereotypes. Here's how to take the right risks to set yourself apart from the crowd and handle the rejection all actors face.
After painful rejections, how do you stop the candle inside you from burning out? Dustin sheds light on the difficult decisions involved in making acting your living.
It can be harder than you think to tell the difference between an accident and a stroke of genius. The most iconic scene in Midnight Cowboy was an on-set accident. Make every mistake an opportunity.
Dustin closes his MasterClass with one lesson he wants every actor to remember.
World-renowned interior designer Kelly Wearstler believes good design helps us live and feel better. She lays out what she will cover in the class, including how to confidently make creative choices for your home.
Design ideas are everywhere. To show you how to look for your own inspiration, Kelly shares how a bracelet became the basis for a sconce and a vintage dress informed the design of the Villon restaurant at the San Francisco Proper Hotel.
Kelly teaches you how to ask the right initial questions that will get you started on your new project.
Kelly reveals how to design your space like a boat, make a small space feel larger, and engage with existing architectural features to give your space a new spirit.
Go behind the scenes with Kelly as she walks you through the yet-to-open Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel. She shows you how she works with existing architectural features when starting a new design.
Wood, stone, tile, and metal are some of Kelly’s favorite materials. Discover how to create what she calls a “vibe tray” to play with materials and keep your project fluid.
According to Kelly, living without color is like living without love. Find out some easy, creative ways to invite colors into your home that make you feel good.
Kelly returns to the Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel to experiment with paint colors. You’ll learn how to apply paint and what to consider when testing colors.
See how texture adds dimension to your design as Kelly shows you how the multitextured elements in the Santa Monica Proper Hotel lobby work harmoniously together.
Pattern is one of Kelly’s favorite design vehicles. Learn how to work with pattern, how it adds energy to a room, and how to choose the right pattern for your home.
Lighting is everything. Kelly shares how to work with natural light, create a mood with dimmability, choose light bulbs, and add fun accents.
Kelly invites you into her living room and talks about her design choices. Learn how to work with balance and symmetry to create a comfortable living room, see your furniture as sculpture, and choose the right sofa.
Kelly encourages you to let your curiosity be your guide in collecting and displaying the objects that make you feel your best at home.
Kelly walks you through the various elements—color, texture, lighting, furnishing—that came together for the Santa Monica Proper Hotel.
Kelly discusses the designers who have influenced her work, including Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Josef Hoffmann, Pierre Cardin, and Ettore Sottsass.
Kelly talks about experiences that inspired her to become the designer she is today.
Kelly shares how she manages her time, how she faces challenges and deals with design failures, and where and how she shops when in a new city.
RuPaul introduces himself and gets you inspired for the personal journey you are about to take.
RuPaul breaks down his most essential advice: Find your frequency. He explains the concept and gives you step-by-step guidelines for finding your inner truth, including stillness, meditation, and taking a personal inventory.
With honesty and emotion, RuPaul talks about the pop culture icons—including David Bowie, Diana Ross, and Judge Judy—who have shaped his identity and style. He shows you how to identify the icons who speak to you.
How do you find the right people to support you on your journey? RuPaul discusses the importance of finding your “tribe,” identifying mentors, and paying it forward while he walks you through some pivotal early moments in his career.
RuPaul addresses the shame, trauma, and hard emotions that so many people carry with them by opening up about his own childhood wounds. He gives tender, therapeutic advice on how to acknowledge the pain and learn to move on.
Bullies and abusers are a fact of life for too many. RuPaul explains how to take them on as well as what to do about the negative voices inside.
Introverts, extroverts, and everyone in between will benefit from RuPaul’s secrets to owning a room and projecting confidence on stage.
According to RuPaul, failure is an essential part of self-discovery. He recounts when he pulled himself up from a low point and reignited his ambition, sharing how to conjure inspiration and passion.
RuPaul gives practical tips that anyone can use to present their best selves. He explains how to lean into your strengths, how to use your proportions to dress better, and how to present yourself with confidence.
RuPaul chats with Zaldy, his costume designer of 30 years. They discuss how RuPaul’s legendary gowns are constructed and designed for maximum impact on the runway.
To conclude, RuPaul focuses on the importance of finding your inner truth to live to your full potential. Fellow queen and RuPaul’s makeup artist Raven is revealed in full glamazon drag.
As he prepares his face for drag makeup, David Petruschin (better known as Raven) chats with RuPaul.
Raven does a foundation tutorial, explaining how to match, apply, and blend your foundation.
Raven builds her nose by contouring various planes of the face. She demonstrates how to properly contour, color, and highlight to create optical illusions.
Raven paints her signature eye look with liner, shadows, and lashes. She shares tips for creating the perfect dramatic eye.
Raven tries on different wigs and wardrobe options to see how they complete her look.
A leader in the New York City–based craft cocktail movement, Lynnette Marrero is the bar director at the Llama Inn in Brooklyn. Nicknamed “Mr Lyan,” Ryan Chetiyawardana has opened award-winning bars around the world. English
Lynnette shares the origins of the craft cocktail movement and how her experience working in the restaurant industry informs her drink-making style. She also discusses the importance of mentorship and empowering women in the industry.
Ryan believes cocktails can boost your mood by bringing people together. World class cocktails aren’t about obscure ingredients or fancy equipment, he says—they’re about the people and the occasions you’re making them for.
Lynnette and Ryan discuss the essentials for a home bar. Ryan encourages you to work with the spirits you love, Lynnette covers which spirits are the most versatile, and they agree that it’s best to make use of what you have.
Your individual palate should guide you in building cocktails that balance sour and sweet flavors. Lynnette and Ryan demonstrate their preferred lemonades and then add seasonal ingredients, resulting in perfectly balanced non-alcoholic drinks.
Ryan and Lynnette demonstrate some cocktails to relax with on your own after a long day.
Lynnette teaches you her riff on the Fancy Free, a quicker version of an Old Fashioned. Ryan demonstrates a more advanced version by infusing bourbon with beeswax and bottling it for a fun gift.
Sours are a favorite of Lynnette’s, and she explains what they involve and demonstrates three different drinks. Ryan shares his recipe for the often-misunderstood Cosmopolitan.
Egg whites make for silky-smooth sours. Lynnette and Ryan show you how to incorporate egg whites into drinks using citrus (which "cooks" the whites), with whiskey and pisco as base spirits.
Learn a new take on the vodka Martini from Ryan, who also demonstrates a classic gin Martini. Lynnette makes a Bond-style Vesper and a Martinez, a Manhattan/Martini hybrid that originated in the late 1800s.
Lynnette’s riff on the classic Negroni swaps gin for aged rum, resulting in a toffee-flavored cocktail. Ryan shows you how to use the microwave to infuse spirits with fresh herbs and fruit.
Ryan creates a savory spritz using basil and bell peppers. Lynnette explains her swizzle technique and how rum can be brightened up with mint and Angostura Bitters.
Lynnette creates an island party in a glass. Ryan teaches you how to keep guests entertained by batching a base and laying out garnishes and mixers so everyone can make their own custom highballs.
Impress a crowd with a champagne cocktail you can batch ahead of time with Ryan’s bottled fizz. Lynnette shares a recipe for a punch called the Llama del Rey, which includes a variation of a traditional Peruvian drink.
Ryan demonstrates his signature interpretation of a Bloody Mary. Learn which spices and flavors are ideal and why you shouldn’t overload the glass with garnishes.
Lynnette’s version of a Barracuda holds up against the savory meat and pungent cheese of a charcuterie board. Ryan’s Portland Calling is a refreshing complement to a light berry and custard tart served for dessert.
Lynnette and Ryan talk about what they’ve learned from each other and why they love collaboration. They encourage you to get creative, collaborate with friends at home, and concoct your own original drinks.
Meet Kevin, your new acting teacher. In this lesson, Kevin shares why he's excited to teach you the craft of acting, and what he hopes you will take away from his MasterClass.
Your choice of monologue can define your success. Through Kevin's insightful critique, learn how to choose a monologue wisely.
A monologue is more than just words. Your performance can connect you to the audience, and make your character memorable. Kevin's unique exercise in this lesson shows you why you have to be willing to let it hurt.
How you choose to carve out words not only affects their meaning, but also their impact. Watch as Kevin uses Shakespeare's Othello to teach a lesson on the proper use of emphasis.
Make it real. Learn how a task as mundane as packing a suitcase can breathe entirely new life into a scene.
"There's a difference between knowing the words and knowing how to say them." After this lesson, you'll know the difference.
Treat this as an exercise in restraint. Kevin teaches you how to hold it in and pull the audience to you.
In this powerful lesson, you will learn how to abandon predictability and vary your performance to give it a new life.
"The craft of acting is to step into someone else's shoes." Kevin challenges you to see how far you can go when you literally cannot see yourself. Experience the freedom that comes from masking yourself.
Sometimes taking a steep departure from who you think your character should be allows you to find out who they could be.
Learn to use the power of metamorphosis through mask and mirror work.
Get out of your own head. Use masks to make unexpected choices that bring your character to life.
Kevin shows you how grounding a monologue in an activity that may not be in the text focuses your intentions and centers your performance.
Kevin shows you how grounding a monologue in an activity that may not be in the text focuses your intentions and centers your performance.
Raising your energy level is not the same as raising the stakes. Kevin shows you different ways to apply this concept to capture your audience
Trust the words. Here Kevin will show you how to command presence by believing that the words alone are enough.
Watch how grounding a monologue in a domestic activity can reveal your character's motivation and make your performance more relatable.
Learn how to deliver a performance that allows the audience to see the character you're talking with—without having another actor on stage.
Kevin breaks down his approach to spot-on impressions. Learn his three key elements that go far beyond imitating someone's voice.
Learn how Kevin draws from his experiences acting on stage to create a compelling character arc on screen.
Theater is Kevin's first love. Learn how to rehearse with a company of actors, evolve your character on stage, and deliver a memorable performance night after night.
Kevin teaches you how to work with directors to develop character, serve the story, and always remain direct-able.
A key to every great actor's success is the ability to collaborate. Learn how to listen, react, and be generous to your fellow actors.
Learn how Kevin transforms into characters from some of his most memorable performances, including Lester Burnham in American Beauty.
Kevin continues to breakdown characters and discusses portraying historical figures like Richard Nixon in his upcoming film Elvis/Nixon.
Own the casting room. Kevin teaches you how to overcome nerves, take direction and create a lasting impression.
If you've done well in the business...it's your obligation to send the elevator back down. Kevin attributes much of his success to the incredible mentor-ship he received. Now he wants to offer you that same guidance.
Avoid becoming a waiting actor. Kevin talks about the opportunities he made for himself, making sure your agent is on your side, and how to fight for the roles that are right for you.
Reality check. Learn from Kevin how to push through the doubt and work when you are not working.
Community activist and self-proclaimed “Gangster Gardener” Ron Finley introduces himself, explains why we should all have reverence for nature, and reveals how growing your own food gives you freedom.
Ron talks about his personal story, the challenges of living in a food desert, the critical role of healthy food, and how you can use gardening to create community and rediscover what’s really important.
Ron offers tips for turning compacted, nutrient-poor soil into fertile ground for healthy plants, and he teaches you how to maintain a compost pile. He also gets into soil testing and how to use bioremediation to decrease soil toxicity.
Ron demonstrates how to upcycle common household items into beautiful containers and planters and then walks you through the essential tools that every gardener needs.
Learn how to grow two of Ron’s favorite vegetables: kale and sugar snap peas. Ron tells you how to plant them as well as how and when to harvest them.
Ron demonstrates how to plant sweet potatoes, discusses their resilience, and explains how to tell if they’re ready to harvest.
It’s inexpensive and easy to create your own herb garden. Ron shares which herbs are good for beginners, how to maintain a garden in a small space, and how to care for your herbs.
Ron created an oasis in an urban jungle—one that would have cost a fortune if he had bought every plant. Ron shows you how propagation can be used to multiply plants, including cacti, succulents, sugarcane, and citrus trees.
Can’t keep your plants alive? Learn how anyone can develop a green thumb as Ron covers proper plant maintenance and how to diagnose common issues, including root-bound plants and over- and under-watering.
Ron concludes by sharing his belief that everyone has a creative force within—and that gardens are the perfect place to unleash that creativity.
Emmy-winning “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts welcomes you to her class, where she will teach you about negotiating, effective public speaking, body language, and how to authentically connect with your audience.
Robin explains what “make your mess your message” means to her and how it can help you. She also tells deeply personal stories about her cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Robin believes that vulnerability is strength. With archival footage of some of her most raw moments on camera—including during Hurricane Katrina—Robin shows you the power of being vulnerable.
Connection starts with a genuine interest in people. Robin shares how going back to the basics, including good manners, helps you connect with people.
If you’re going to speak in public, Robin recommends that you know your audience, don’t rely on a script, and use some power poses.
Robin walks you through her strategies for getting the job you want, including bringing ideas, being sincere, and asking for advice.
How do you make the most out of your situation at work? Robin encourages you to know your worth, focus on standing out, find allies, and more.
Get an intimate look at the inner workings of “Good Morning America” as Robin shares a day on set.
Robin reveals her approach to communicating for TV, including focusing on storytelling, letting your authenticity shine, and choosing people over process.
Robin breaks down some of her most memorable interviews, including with Selma Blair, President Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle Obama.
Robin imparts some of her most poignant lessons about building optimism, how to change the way you feel, and how to enjoy the process.
Meet Tony Hawk, legendary skateboarder and your new instructor. Tony gives an overview of what you’ll learn in his class: basic, intermediate, and advanced skills in street, park, and vert taught by Riley Hawk, Lizzie Armanto, and Tony himself.
If you’ve never stepped on a skateboard before, then here’s where you start. Tony walks you through the fundamentals, including pushing, stopping, and turning.
The ollie is an essential trick in skateboarding. Tony goes deep into the nuances of the ollie to help you perfect it.
Get an intimate look at Tony’s journey from a scrawny, bullied kid to a skateboarding icon with a huge fan base.
At the peak of his success, Tony nearly loses it all when skateboarding tanks in popularity. Tony opens up about rebuilding his career and how he learned that his love of skateboarding means more to him than the money.
Tony teaches you some fundamental street skateboarding tricks: the backside pop shove-it and the frontside ollie 180.
Tony hands the class off to his son Riley Hawk, a top-level street skateboarder. Riley breaks down intermediate and advanced street tricks.
Sharing pointers about going to a skate park for the first time, Tony demonstrates the basics of carving and dropping in.
Lizzie Armanto, one of the world’s top park skaters, takes over from Tony and teaches you intermediate and advanced park tricks.
Tony takes you through the fundamentals of vert skateboarding, from simple moves like pumping on a vert ramp to how to do his signature trick, the Madonna.
Learn some of Tony’s advanced signature moves, including the 540 McTwist.
Tony tells the story of the night he landed the 900 at the X Games in 1999.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Tony’s first successful kickflip McTwist.
Tony shares his insider tips on how to stand out in competitive skateboarding and what it takes to win.
Find out how Tony created the iconic video game Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and how it changed skateboarding.
Skateboarding is no longer an outsider’s sport—now it’s going to the Olympics and changing lives for a new generation. Tony shares his final thoughts on what skateboarding has meant to him.
Groundbreaking drummer and percussionist Sheila E. welcomes you to her class and shares some of the defining moments from her upbringing that launched her career as a professional musician.
Sheila demonstrates how to find your rhythm by moving, clapping, and using household objects to make music.
Sheila introduces you to the drum set and demonstrates three essential warm-ups, also known as rudiments: singles, doubles, and paradiddles.
Sheila breaks down intermediate and advanced drumming techniques for different genres of music.
Learn about timekeeping, the relationship between drums and bass, and how to drive a song dynamically with a band.
Your drum solo can say a lot about you as a drummer. Sheila explains when to take a solo, how to improvise, and when to show restraint.
Sheila talks about what it takes to be a great bandleader and shows you how important it is for a band to prepare, rehearse, and communicate. Watch as she directs her band and they jam together.
Sheila discusses the importance of conditioning your body as a drummer and how it can make you a better performer. You’ll also get a glimpse into Sheila’s preshow rituals.
Sheila brings together the knowledge and skills covered so far by identifying key drum sections from one of her collaborations with Prince, “A Love Bizarre.”
Sheila shares personal stories and lessons from her years collaborating with Prince.
Whether you want to be a professional drummer or you just love playing music, Sheila has some words of wisdom for you.
Sheila’s musical journey started with the congas. Learn the fundamentals of playing this Latin percussion instrument, from basic setup and sounds to soloing and playing with a band.
Sheila is one of the first musicians in popular music to front a band on the timbales. From stick grip techniques to playing on cowbells, Sheila shows you how to play timbales as a solo artist or with a band.
Sheila walks you through her custom kit and encourages you to get creative and have fun setting up a kit that fits your budget and style.
Sheila, Pete, Peter Michael, and Juan Escovedo welcome you into their family and reflect on their musical legacy.
Brandon McMillan is a master animal trainer and the Emmy-winning host of “Lucky Dog.” In his MasterClass, he’ll show you his simplified training system that will build trust and increase obedience and control with your dog.
Brandon discusses the key variables that make your dog unique: breed, age, history, and imprinted DNA. You’ll learn how to make important decisions based on your particular dog’s factors.
Brandon believes that trust is foundational. Discover how exercise, socialization, and leadership (rather than dominance) also set the stage for a healthy relationship with your dog.
Brandon introduces the 7 Common Commands and explains the simple principles you need to bring to each training session: mental preparation for yourself and control-train-treat for your dog.
Find out why you should pair verbal commands with hand signals and which commands use them. Learn basic leash and grip techniques.
Sit is the most basic and vital skill for any dog—and the cornerstone of control.
Teach your dog down, the ultimate form of control.
Stay is a skill that saves lives and is worth every moment spent teaching it.
No is the most common command. It ensures safety on walks and in the kitchen, enforces basic manners and respect, and stops unwanted behavior.
Off comes in handy every day to keep your dog from jumping on people and furniture.
Also known as recall, come is an important skill that teaches a dog how to return to you from any distance.
Walks should be fun, not a tug-of-war. Learn heel and teach any dog to walk beside you and match your pace without pulling, racing, or lagging.
Housebreaking can be learned in a week or two with this simple training.
Learn how to prevent door dashing, a potentially dangerous behavioral issue.
Brandon shows you how to overcome the common issues of digging, chewing, and barking.
The ʻukulele virtuoso mixes rhythmic, melodic, and dynamic explorations to create new and reimagined music.
Learn how to pronounce, select, and tune your ʻukulele.
Jake demonstrates the proper way to hold your ʻukulele.
Jake introduces you to fretboard navigation with his “elevator and floor” analogy, which he’ll reference throughout this class.
Discover strumming techniques and how to get the best sound out of your ʻukulele.
Jake introduces you to chord grouping. You’ll learn how to play one-finger chords, two-finger chords, three-finger chords, and stair chords.
Jake teaches you advanced chord groupings, barre chords, the E-major chord, and higher-level techniques.
Learn about melody, rhythm, and dynamics in ʻukulele playing.
Jake shares tools and techniques for developing your personal sound.
Find out Jake’s techniques for playing vibrato.
Learn more advanced strumming techniques and how to achieve tremolo picking.
Watch as Jake performs “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”
Jake demonstrates how to learn a song by breaking it down with one of his signature covers, “Hallelujah.”
Watch as Jake performs “Hallelujah.”
Explore Jake’s techniques for capturing harmonics.
Watch as Jake performs “Dragon.”
To help you learn how to arrange your favorite songs, Jake walks you through his arrangement of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Watch as Jake performs “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Jake creates an original song, in real time, just for this class. He takes you on a song creation journey from start to finish, showing his process, tricks, and inspiration.
Jake explains the meaning of this Japanese saying and encourages you to share what you’ve learned with others.
Tan France is an internationally celebrated stylist, designer, and cohost of Queer Eye and Next in Fashion. In his MasterClass, Tan teaches you how to find your personal style and build a wardrobe that fits your life.
Tan reveals the simple but critical rules for great style, including why style is for everyone, why you should know your proportions, and when to let go of the rules.
Tan walks you through capsule wardrobes for women, men, and nonbinary folks, showing you how to mix and match classic items.
Find out how you can get many looks from a single dress or suit.
Learn where to find inspiration, why style is more important than fashion, how to use mood boards, and how to dress for work.
Tan helps you understand proportions, tailoring, and how to achieve flattering cuts in pants and shirts.
Discover the colors that work for you, why some “rules” about color should be ignored, and how to power clash.
Tan discusses prints and textures, mixing and matching, and playing with the classics.
Tan shares how to use a mood board, how to shop in a store and online, the benefits of department stores, how to buy jeans, and how to go vintage shopping.
Tan invites you behind the scenes of Queer Eye to show you how he styles the heroes and how you can “Queer Eye” yourself.
Learn how to tend to your style, navigate trends, and make “mistakes.”
Tan encourages you to express your individual style through confidence and body language and shares his parting words.
Annie Clark, who performs under the name St. Vincent, welcomes you to her class. She shares an overview of what she’ll teach you, including songwriting, guitar and performance tips, and how to approach the world as a creative person.
Annie shows you how joy and discipline can converge in your creative practice.
Learn how Annie creates emotional journeys in songwriting. She also explores songs by Nirvana and Leonard Cohen that have been important to her.
Annie shows you the setup she uses to write and record most of her music before she enters a professional recording studio.
Annie introduces you to the earliest version of her song “Savior,” which she wrote in her bedroom when she was 16. Over the next lessons, she’ll take you through each step of the songwriting process.
Annie walks you through the chord progressions of “Savior” and explains what she means by “proof of concept.”
Find out the question Annie asks herself while editing, and see how she expands her sound with collaborators and embraces counter-melodies.
Watch Annie in the control room, where she puts all the pieces together using studio tools and shows you how the track became what it is today.
Annie shares her strategies for engaging the world as a creative. Learn how to embrace fear and metabolize shame in order to do your best work.
Annie reveals her influences and evolution as an artist, touching on key moments like learning about the music business while touring with her Uncle Tuck and Aunt Patti.
Annie breaks down the film and the song “The Nowhere Inn” while in the recording studio. Hear how she created the theme song for her new film, from original concept to the effects she used in the studio.
Annie believes that musicians can engage with different modes of expression, including fashion, art, dance, and design. Learn how to be open to the world around you and draw inspiration from unlikely places.
Annie talks about how good tone is good technique and how tone works in her songs “Surgeon” and “Rattlesnake.”
Annie shares her approach to tuning and creating memorable textures for the guitar.
Learn how to deliver an unforgettable live performance. Get concrete tips, including when to eat before performing and why you should be gracious on stage.
Annie wraps up her class with parting words of advice and some thoughts on the gift of music.
Yotam Ottolenghi is a celebrated chef, bestselling cookbook author, and restaurateur. Yotam shares some childhood stories, his passion for layered dishes with bold flavors and colorful ingredients, and his influences from across the Middle East.
Yotam introduces you to mezze: small plates with big flavors, shared informally. Learn how to make muhammara, a pepper- and tomato-based salad.
Learn how to prepare a smoky feta condiment, a pea-based mezze, and how to display them together beautifully.
Find joy in the kitchen and at the table as Yotam shares the most recognizable mezze: hummus. Learn how to make two more condiments and how to prepare before gathering so you can spend more time with your guests.
Breakfast can easily turn into lunch if you do it right. Yotam introduces you to the first piece of his brunch spread, a simple display of tomato, cheese, and bread.
Simple foods can showcase surprising contrasts. Find out how to heighten flavors as Yotam prepares pulverized berries, orange-infused oil, and labneh. Learn the art of presentation as Yotam creates this signature platter.
The best dishes come from the crossroads. Yotam shows you a Persian spin on a North African classic, shakshuka: a dish of braised eggs in a flavorful sauce. Yotam shares some favorite ingredients, such as fenugreek, dried limes, and harissa.
The first bite is with the eye. Yotam demonstrates the appeal of an abundant display with this eggplant salad recipe. He also prepares two more delicious condiments, preserved lemon paste and pickled chilies.
Discover an old standard of shawarma shops: sumac onions. Learn how to make this simple but versatile condiment, which complements the cucumber salad recipe. Don’t be afraid to play with your vegetables!
The combination of abundance and informality creates a memorable dining experience. In this lesson, Yotam transforms the humble carrot into an artistic display and prepares dukkah, a dry blend of spices and nuts.
Yotam shares an old Middle Eastern favorite as he combines yogurt, butternut squash, and pasta in this dish. You’ll also learn how to prepare shatta, a spicy Palestinian chili paste, perfect for topping a variety of dishes.
Cauliflower is a humble vegetable capable of an intense sweetness and depth. Yotam prepares another spicy condiment, harissa, then shows you how to get the most flavor possible into and out of your cauliflower.
In one of two non-vegetarian dishes, Yotam recommends salmon as a sustainable choice and a way to impress your guests. Learn how to prepare a celebration dish, served directly from oven to table.
Rice can be humble, but it can also be the emperor of the feast. In this lesson, Yotam starts by braising lamb, then dressing his rice in stock, spices, and dried fruits to create a layered and flavorful platter
Yotam offers his practical tips on easing the pressure and enjoying the process of hosting. Learn how to balance your efforts in the kitchen for successful hosting.
Each of these condiments comes out of recipes you will have seen. Yotam has gathered them together here to encourage you to come back to these powerful, effective flavor bombs. Many keep for days or sometimes weeks at a time for future dishes.
Learn how to make a smoky feta infused with lemon, garlic, and chili.
Learn how to make a confit garlic oil that’s perfect for drizzling.
Learn how to make super-creamy, spreadable, and delicious labneh.
Learn how to make this magical condiment with just three ingredients: lemons, lemon juice, and salt.
A little jar of pickled chili in your fridge goes a long way. Learn how to make it.
Learn how to make this Egyptian spice mix that adds flavor and crunch to dishes.
Learn how to make this sharp, acidic condiment that pairs perfectly with rich or starchy dishes.
Learn how to make and customize this quintessential Middle Eastern condiment to your own taste.
Learn how to make this renowned Tunisian chili paste.
Learn how to make a tahini sauce you’ll want to add to everything.
Dan introduces himself, the class, what you will learn, and explains why it’s critical for everyone to learn how to persuade effectively and authentically.
Sales has changed more in the last 10 years than in the previous 100. Learn the most important developments and how they affect your ability to persuade.
To persuade effectively, you need to get inside the head of your counterpart and understand their perspective. Learn how to attune yourself to their state of mind and cultivate a meaningful connection.
Daniel teaches you how putting a purposeful, personal touch on your persuasive encounters can make all the difference.
Daniel shares his favorite trick for identifying the best point of influence in a group dynamic.
Learn how strategic communication can mean the difference between success and failure in an information-saturated era.
The key to getting someone to do something is to make them think it was their idea. Learn about the dangers of coercion and how to persuade others by finding common ground instead.
Humans are natural mimickers. If you’re aware of how this tendency can connect you to someone else, then you can deploy it strategically.
Discover how taking advantage of innate glitches in the human mind can help you craft your messages for maximum efficacy.
Daniel explains why the elevator pitch is a thing of the past and shares a variety of pitches you can use to sell an idea, a product, or even yourself.
Working with a counterpart in a real-time demonstration, Daniel shows you the best way to manage subordinates and how to get that raise you’ve been hoping for.
Learn how to remain afloat in a sea of rejection as Daniel shares some of his favorite tips for staying positive.
Despite what you might think, extroverts are not the best salespeople. Discover what personality type actually sells best and how to cultivate that optimal mentality.
Learn what it takes to persuade yourself.
We often focus on what we need to accomplish and how to get everything done—but Daniel explains why we also need to focus on the “when” of these decisions. Rate this lesson Class Workbook
Different stages of work require us to behave differently. Understanding more about those behavioral differences allows us to perform better.
World-renowned choreographer Parris Goebel introduces herself and gives an overview of what she’ll teach you. She shares her story, her history as a choreographer, and how she became a global phenomenon.
Parris reveals her secrets to building self-confidence. She shares stories from her childhood and her early career when she was full of doubt, and she explains the tools she has used to evolve into a confident leader and a master of her craft.
Parris helps you discover how to let your spirit go free and find your own unique voice. She describes the creative being who lives inside of her and shares how she invites her to come out and play.
Parris explains her process for selecting music and how she forms a connection with it that inspires her choreography.
Parris demonstrates how she comes up with her signature style of choreography. She shares her creative process, from filming herself and her dancers freestyling to layering moves she loves until an entire routine has been choreographed.
Parris demonstrates how she comes up with basic formations that dictate where her dancers should stand and walks you through how she uses shapes and symmetry to inspire her.
Parris shows how her choreography goes from basic to amazing. She breaks down some key special effects she uses that are now world-famous: the Curtain Effect, the Surprise Effect, and the Mirror Effect.
Parris shares the importance of polishing a performance by showing how she tweaks and perfects her choreography. She explains why you should assign leaders to small dance groups and provides tips for giving constructive feedback.
Parris reviews her championship-winning performance from the 2015 World of Dance. She points out all of the techniques and lessons she has discussed so far to demonstrate how her process comes to life.
Parris breaks down how she prepares for music video direction. She walks you through her process of designing a visual treatment, casting dancers, and working with artists who may not have a background in dance.
Parris reveals the nuts and bolts of directing a music video, from figuring out the perfect camera angles and getting the best performances out of her dancers to managing all of the little details on her own.
Parris shares one of the most important parts of being a great choreographer and director: being a great leader. She explains how she is able to inspire respect and run a successful set.
Parris reviews one of her most famous pieces of work, Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” music video. She breaks down how she created such an iconic piece of work, from the aesthetics to the choreography.
Parris gives a behind-the-scenes account of her work on Ciara’s “Level Up.” She shares how she came up with unique camera moves, how she dealt with scheduling restraints, and how she got her dancers to give dramatic performances for the camera.
Discover Parris’s process for building a brand that’s unique, authentic, and relevant. Parris shares concrete ways to tap into an inner voice and lessons about the importance of breaking all the rules.
Parris leaves you with the philosophy that she lives by: never settle. She imparts how crucial it is to always strive for greatness and offers steps to make that a reality in your own life.
Get to know sex educator and Sex With Emily podcast host Emily Morse and her mission to open the conversation around sex. She offers an overview of what you can expect to learn and invites you to think differently about sex.
Emily offers strategies that make talking about sex easy and fun. From expressing desires and turn-ons to sharing feedback and fantasies, learn why honest communication is essential to a healthy sex life.
Learn how to think differently about pleasure. Emily offers insights into how to enhance and intensify orgasms through exploring anatomy, and explains the various ways people experience arousal and desire.
Mindful masturbation is a way to reach new heights of sexual pleasure. Emily teaches you how self-pleasure can help you cultivate body confidence and self-love.
Learn about the connection between chemistry and attraction and how to keep the desire alive by adding variety to your sex life.
Learn how to practice consent and be a better lover to yourself and others.
Learn how to refresh your sex life by experimenting with sex positions, toys, oral sex, anal play, and kink.
Alicia introduces herself and invites you to join her in the spaces where she pursues her artistry.
Learn the who, what, where, and why of Alicia’s inspiration.
Alicia shares her methods and styles for developing lyrics.
Alicia talks about journaling, writing poetry, and drawing from your life to create.
Alicia explains how “Fallin' ” came together and the intricacies of the songwriting process.
Discover Alicia’s approach to using connection as a way to hone your creative voice.
Alicia demonstrates how she uses empathy to create powerful music.
Take a look inside Alicia’s sound booth as she discusses the roles she takes on to produce her distinct sound.
Alicia walks you through the strength in specific vocal arrangements.
Alicia opens up about how she has developed physical, mental, and emotional practices to take care of herself and her art.
Alicia shares her thoughts on what makes a song an anthem, and talks about the theme and tone of the “sad triumph.”
Alicia explains how various influences have helped her develop her incredible sound.
Learn how Alicia explores her creativity through sonics and instruments in the control room.
Discover Alicia’s favorite instruments and her methods for achieving her unique musical sounds.
Alicia talks about the importance of collaboration and the role it can play in her creative process.
Alicia discusses discrepancies in the music industry for women and her efforts to create space at the table for voices that are silenced.
Alicia offers advice to a young artist from her music organization, She Is the Music.
Discover Alicia’s personal philosophy of setting boundaries and listening to your body and intuition.
Alicia shares her thoughts on living a creative life and why evolution is the only constant.
Get to know critically acclaimed author Walter Mosley as he teaches you how to rethink genres, push boundaries in fiction, and get to work on your novel.
Rule number one: Write every day. Walter explains why this rule is nonnegotiable.
Easy Rawlins is a legend. Learn what it takes to create a strong character using Walter’s most famous protagonist.
Learn the key differences between story and plot and how to create a compelling plot to drive the reader forward.
Every story has multiple sides. Learn the various narrative voices, what is best for your story, and the importance of dialogue.
Good writing comes alive in the reader’s mind. Walter teaches you how to use imagery, metaphors, similes, and more to create a vivid world.
Explore how poetry can aid in understanding language through three poems Walter has chosen.
Representation in fiction is a reflection of our culture. Walter explains the importance of existing in literature and what inspired him to create his most famous protagonist: Easy Rawlins.
Rethink genres and their limitations with Walter as he discusses the possibilities of pushing the boundaries.
The publishing industry can be daunting. Walter provides tips on how to get the most out of your connections, face the prejudices, and come out on top.
Fiction can be a means for self-discovery. Walter teaches you how to write from your heart.
Making a deep commitment to the creative life doesn’t have to serve others. Walter explains why it’s important to create for yourself.
Walter shares his most important takeaway.
Recounting the story of the bakery started by her grandfather in 1932 and expanded by her father before taking the reins, Apollonia introduces herself and her revered Parisian bakery and explains what you’ll learn in the class.
Learn some of Apollonia’s core baking philosophies—including using all of one’s senses—as well as practical guidelines for ingredients and equipment.
Apollonia demonstrates her French at-home starter, demystifying how to build and maintain a leaven and explaining the richness it lends to loaves.
Using the sourdough starter made in the previous lesson, Apollonia shares the secrets to mastering Poilâne’s crown jewel—its world-famous country-style wheat loaf—from mixing to proofing and shaping.
Apollonia puts the finishing touches on her wheat loaf—including baking and a scoring tutorial—and walks you through a side-by-side loaf analysis of common baking issues.
Apollonia introduces you to the Poilâne approach to rye: a rich, floral loaf leavened by the same starter used for the wheat loaf.
Pain de mie literally translates to “bread of crumb.” With this first yeast-based recipe, Apollonia demonstrates how using a delicate hand results in a loaf with an irresistible, cloud-like texture.
Apollonia demonstrates the way to achieve the quintessential airy texture and perfectly domed tops of this French favorite while reflecting on time spent honing her brioche technique as a young apprentice in the bakehouse at Poilâne.
An Apollonia original, this corn flour bread is a recipe she spent a decade refining. She shares her process for making the gluten-free and vegan loaf, originally inspired by college dinners at Harvard.
Demonstrating an all-time favorite from Poilâne’s sister café, Apollonia shares the recipe for her open-faced ham-and-cheese sandwich and her hack for perfectly toasted slices of bread.
Apollonia shares her savory approach to using dry bread in this tomato-and-curry-studded French toast, a departure from the typically sweet version.
Swapping oats for dried bread, Apollonia introduces an innovative riff on granola, a great use for loaves that are no longer fresh.
Apollonia demonstrates two techniques for turning stale bread into delicious croutons: one oven-baked, the other pan-fried.
Apollonia shares her reimagined version of a Caesar salad featuring richly marinated brioche croutons that become the star of the show.
Apollonia replaces cheese and pine nuts with breadcrumbs and walnuts in this at once creative and surprisingly true-to-form take on pesto.
Poilâne has a rich history of collaboration with artists, including Apollonia’s father’s friendship with Dalí. Apollonia reflects on the relationship between bread and art, and shows you how to embellish loaves with leaves, roses, and letters.
In this concluding lesson, Apollonia shows you how to make Poilâne’s popular grain-based cookies, affectionately named punitions, or punishments, because you can’t eat just one.
Salman introduces himself and shares his hopes to teach you the shortcuts and lessons he’s learned through decades of writing.
Salman explains his philosophy: A big story should drive your writing. Learn the essential questions he asks himself about a new story before sitting down to write.
Build the framework of your story through a well-planned plot with Salman’s techniques to help you avoid setbacks.
Salman discusses the unique value of opening sentences and shares successful examples from literature as well as his own work.
Explore influential forms of traditional storytelling, including the “Frame Story” represented in Arabian Nights, global mythology, and India’s rich history of oral storytelling.
Salman discusses the “write what you know” dictum in relation to character and encourages you to embrace characters whose realities differ from your own.
Think of your characters as real, dynamic people and work to understand the internal motivations that drive them.
Learn the elements that help you reveal more about your characters than adjectives alone can.
Learn how to approach place with the same depth and description as you would for any of your characters.
Examine your personal perspective, values, and experience to understand one of your strongest assets as a writer: your unmistakably unique worldview.
Salman shares practical tips for observing sights and soundscapes to gather material for rich descriptions.
Salman teaches techniques to translate your personal voice into your own unique style of prose.
Salman encourages you to take advantage of surrealism as a device and “let the carpet fly.”
Go beyond the internet when conducting research for fiction. Salman shares ideas for where and how to look.
Discover Salman’s approaches to rewriting and learn how his work habits have changed over time.
Get practical advice for working with an editor and discover the power of working past your inhibitions to receive feedback from an objective person.
Salman discusses his approach to finding motivation, the value of experimentation, and his tips for working through writer’s block.
Salman makes the case for a new global canon and discusses works of fiction that have inspired him personally.
Take away seven practical tips for becoming a stronger writer.
Jeff Koons is one of the most successful and influential American artists of the 21st century. In his MasterClass, Jeff reveals the influences behind his most famous works and guides you through creating art that helps you communicate with the world.
Learn about the tradition of the readymade and how to turn an everyday object into something extraordinary.
From getting started with an idea to overcoming judgment, Jeff shares his advice for developing the confidence to follow your interests and create your work of art.
Jeff discusses how to use your personal iconography—the images, objects, and symbols that have meaning in your life—to communicate your point of view.
Jeff breaks down how he views a painting and explores his Gazing Ball series to illustrate the concept of the “beholder’s share”—that the narrative of a work of art is completed by the viewer.
Jeff explores a variety of the technological tools he uses to create some of his favorite pieces.
Jeff invites you into his stone-working facility, Antiquity Stone, to share his latest sculpture, the inspiration behind it, and the innovative technology that makes it possible.
Learn how the transformation of scale can change the meaning of an object or piece of art.
Learn how to use color as a tool for communicating with others.
Using the construction of his iconic Balloon Dog as an example, Jeff illustrates how form can contain meaning.
Learn how textures—physical or implied—can enhance the meaning of a work of art.
The venue in which your work is seen—whether in a gallery setting or as part of an exhibition—can contribute to the conversation you’re having with your audience.
Jeff reflects on his career and gives you advice on how to pursue an artistic life.
Get to know Nancy Cartwright as she narrates an animated version of her own life story and shares what she’ll be teaching you in her class.
Nancy demonstrates vocal techniques to adapt and change the sound of your voice. She also talks about how she developed the voice for Bart Simpson.
Nancy reveals the benefits of identifying your vocal niches and strengths, and she shares how you can discover and identify yours.
Nancy advises you on how to begin a career in voice acting. She shares stories of her mentor, Daws Butler, and talks about the role a mentor can play in developing your vocal skill set. You’ll also learn how to create an effective demo reel.
Nancy teaches you how to develop original characters by creating voices—in real time—for our original series called No-Effort Girl. She also teaches you how to find clues for developing your own characters.
With examples from My Little Pony and The Simpsons, Nancy discusses how to voice multiple characters at once and how she manages to keep her stable of characters separate and distinct.
Nancy shows you her process for preparing for a recording session. She gives examples of how she notates a script and how doing so makes challenges like recording in other languages easier to tackle.
Nancy walks you through techniques and situations to be aware of during your first time in the recording booth. You’ll learn how to prepare and care for your voice before, after, and during sessions.
With an original script, Nancy demonstrates how to keep a character’s voice consistent through different vocal hurdles.
Nancy teaches you how to navigate scenes in which a character experiences a wide range of emotions. She then demonstrates with an original script and reveals the benefits of ad-libbing with a story from The Simpsons.
In a culmination of the techniques she’s taught so far, Nancy records an original script with multiple characters. She also shows you how to work with a director. You’ll get to see the full animated scene from No-Effort Girl.
Nancy introduces you to the cast of characters you will find along the way in this industry, and she shares tips on how to find representation. She also talks about how to handle auditions, rejection, and the business side of your career.
With stories from her time on The Simpsons, working with Meryl Streep, and developing the voice of Chuckie on Rugrats, Nancy reflects on what she’s learned from her life as a voice actor and how it can be applied to any career.
Nancy shows you how you can use your voice to make change and bring joy to others.
Neuroscientist and sleep researcher Matthew Walker takes you through the history of sleep and what he'll be teaching in his class.
Learn the basics of sleep, including what REM and NREM are, and what your brain is doing during these sleep periods.
Matthew helps you identify your 24-hour “master clock” and how to understand it.
Do you love the mornings or thrive at night? Matthew breaks down how this natural rhythm is determined and interpreted.
Matthew explains how these two substances affect your sleep and offers tips on how to manage your sleep if you choose to imbibe.
Learn what sleep debt is, how it occurs, and how best to combat it.
Learn how a good night’s sleep affects your ability to learn, solve problems, and harness creativity—and how those skills are affected when you don’t get sufficient sleep.
Sleep evolves as we age. Explore how sleep is affected by the changes we experience and how better sleep can help prevent disease.
Sleep has a profound effect on our mental and emotional health. Matthew explains why.
Ever wonder what your brain is doing when you’re dreaming? Matthew explains why dreams can benefit our waking selves.
Matthew explains how we can learn to boost our immunity and reduce health risks by sleeping better.
What you eat affects how well you sleep and vice versa. Learn how sleep influences your eating habits.
Matthew talks about the importance of sleep for optimal physical and mental performance.
Matthew compiles a list of essential tips on how to set yourself up for sleep success.
Learn why we as a society should embrace the importance of sleep.
With her web series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl and her HBO TV show Insecure, Issa Rae tells authentic stories with realistic characters. She shares how she broke into Hollywood by following her own path.
Your unique voice is essential for storytelling. Issa teaches you how to create what you want to see by getting inspiration from your favorite shows and bringing underrepresented stories to a larger audience.
Issa walks you through the ingredients that every story needs and explains how to test your stories with new audiences.
Learn what makes a strong pilot episode and, in particular, Issa’s strategy for creating the pilot for Insecure.
Issa continues her breakdown of the Insecure pilot so you can learn how to construct conflict and set up the rest of your series.
Issa shows you the best ways to start developing characters and dialogue that are relatable and realistic.
Awkward Black Girl and Insecure have something key in common: strong and specific characters. Issa delves into some of the most notable characters from her series and the growth they’ve experienced over time.
Discover how to present your vision to others, get the most from critical feedback, and find the right partners for your project.
Issa’s journey proves that distribution doesn’t have to include Hollywood execs. Hear her thoughts on how to get your stories in front of an audience without a TV network.
Learn how to develop a writing schedule, embrace imperfection, and find resources in unexpected places.
Issa suggests ways to lean on the expertise of creatives around you, particularly in a writers' room full of diverse voices and ideas.
Issa shares personal stories of times when she’s had to trust her gut, feel confident in her voice, and help other creatives gain opportunities in the entertainment industry.
As one of the leading multi-hyphenates today, Issa doesn’t believe that it always makes sense to “stay in your lane.” Discover why it’s crucial to expand your skills.
We all need a pep talk once in a while. Issa reveals why a resilient mentality is a must.
Roxane Gay is a professor, New York Times columnist, and the bestselling author of Bad Feminist. She opens with some of her history and what she’ll be teaching you in her class.
Roxane shares her perspective as a Black feminist, explaning how her identity has informed her work and desire to make change. She also speaks about the influence of Audre Lorde, the celebrated writer and activist, on her thinking and writing.
Roxane’s work has challenged a wide variety of audiences to see things differently. In this lesson, she reveals her approach by walking you through some of her most famous pieces that speak truth to power.
Getting started is one of the most challenging parts of writing. Roxane gives you the right questions to ask yourself so you can begin your work.
Roxane breaks down her writing process and gives you guidance on how to develop your own process. She also covers writer’s block and flexibility.
Roxane offers bite-sized tricks that will help make your writing more persuasive and engaging.
Can research be sexy? Maybe! Roxane teaches you how vital research is to the writing process and how you can best approach research in your writing.
Get a deep dive into the processes of revising, editing, and proofreading. Roxane discusses how to edit yourself, what you should look for in feedback from others, and how you know when a piece is finished.
Roxane frames much of her feminism and social commentary through the lens of culture. She explores the practical aspects of approaching cultural criticism and takes a look at some renowned essays from her book Bad Feminist.
Learn how to write about trauma with care and courage. Roxane offers excerpts from her book Hunger and the short story “La Negra Blanca” from Difficult Women as examples.
In this writing workshop, Roxane speaks to Rose, a writer working to explore a pervasive societal issue in essay form.
In this writing workshop, Roxane works with Chanel, a writer working on an essay connecting two seemingly unrelated life experiences to speak to a deeper cultural issue.
In this writing workshop, Roxane gives feedback to Andi, a writer looking to get a piece of short fiction to the next stage of revision after a long period of being on the shelf.
Roxane has been called “the best thing to happen to Twitter.” She discusses the why and how of engaging with an audience through social media.
Roxane talks about how having a day job can take the pressure off the art-making and create the space necessary to make great work.
Find out how to get your work into the world, step by step.
Finding literary representation can be one of the most critical and daunting parts of a writing career. Roxane emphasizes the importance of protecting your intellectual property and how an agent can help.
Learn the specifics of getting a book published and why becoming familiar with the business side of things will put you in a position to get the most out of publishing your work.
Roxane talks about the value of paying it forward. She aims to instill in you a sense of duty to the literary community.
Roxane encourages you to get your work on the page and put your dreams out into the world.
Meet Questlove, the four-time Grammy Award–winning musician, DJ, drummer for the Roots, and late-night TV star. He shares what he’ll be teaching you in his class.
Find out about Questlove’s DJ setup and his equipment preferences.
Deepen your music appreciation by learning how Questlove listens to and absorbs music.
Learn how to increase your artistry with Questlove’s favorite technology.
Questlove teaches you the fundamental skills of DJing.
Questlove explains the value of failure and encourages you to take chances as a DJ.
Explore Questlove’s approach to curating a playlist and building a musical experience for an audience.
Questlove shows you how to listen to and search for music to find remarkable moments.
Learn Questlove’s more advanced techniques for DJing.
Expand your catalog and explore different music with tips from Questlove.
Questlove pays tribute to pioneer DJs and highlights their unique techniques.
Watch as Questlove breaks down the music in his playlist and explains the intricacy of his transitions.
Watch as Questlove performs his exclusive MasterClass playlist in an unedited DJ set.
Chef Niki Nakayama fuses Japanese tradition with Californian ingredients to redefine kaiseki cuisine. In her first lesson, Niki will share the challenges and victories she encountered on the road to two Michelin stars.
Kaiseki originated from the multicourse style of dining practiced by Zen monks in medieval Japan. Similar to a tea ceremony, this elaborate meal is designed to slow the mind and attune the senses. Niki shares her modern spin on kaiseki.
In order to prepare great Japanese food, you will need authentic ingredients. Niki shares tips for sourcing and selecting traditional Japanese ingredients.
Learn how to make dashi, the deceptively simple broth that is a staple of Japanese cooking and the base for many dishes in this class.
For many of the techniques you’ll learn in this class, you’ll need some specialized tools. Niki gives you an overview of the essentials and shares some of her favorites.
Learn to handle a whole fish with confidence as Niki shares a few professional tricks and demonstrates key knife skills.
The order and composition of your dishes are key elements of the dining experience. Niki explains how to create balance in your meals.
Niki introduces Western ingredients to Japanese technique as she demonstrates how to prepare, cure, and slice rockfish for this sashimi dish.
Learn how to create a delicious soup with no-waste cooking techniques. Niki shares her secrets for a perfect broth, as well as how to plate a bowl of soup.
In Japan, tuna is prized for its bright red color and eaten at celebratory occasions. Learn how to identify parts of the tuna, how to section the meat, and where to find ethically sourced fish.
Improve your knife skills as Niki demonstrates professional techniques for slicing fish and making beautiful vegetable garnishes.
When grilling, your choice of fuel will impact the final flavor. Learn the slow, subtle method of grilling over binchotan, a special charcoal used in Japanese cooking.
A light, steamed dish offers a heartwarming lift in the middle of a meal. Niki prepares steamed rockfish with potato purée and ankake sauce.
Master the art of tempura frying, from selecting the right flour to keeping your batter cold. Niki offers suggestions for which vegetables and mushrooms are best for tempura.
Niki prepares a simple marinade for tuna in this dry-fried preparation. Learn when to fry fish and when to save it for sashimi.
Niki introduces the donabe, a traditional clay pot, and demonstrates how to use it as she shares the significance of rice to Japanese culture.
In kaiseki, the last course is often a simple bowl of rice with pickles. Learn how to prepare the perfect bowl of rice and how to reuse dashi for a pickle brine.
Cooking is about inviting people in, appreciating a shared moment, and enjoying each other’s company. Niki shares her personal philosophy for hospitality and encourages you to explore your own inspirations for cooking.
Donna introduces herself, shares why she practices yoga, and gives an overview of what students can expect to learn in her class.
Donna shares her understanding of what yoga is and explains how the physical practice of yoga can be used.
Donna teaches the importance of proper breath and shares exercises to help students breathe more effectively.
Employ effective warm-up practices and techniques to ensure the body is prepared for more intense movements.
Donna demonstrates fundamental movement principles that underlie the safe and easeful practice of yoga
Donna teaches you how to move fluidly from the core of your body to the periphery.
Find the variation that is most appropriate for you: Donna teaches this essential sequence and demonstrates progressive points of entry.
Donna shares techniques to center your body.
Explore safe backbend variations as Donna discusses the importance of learning how to stabilize what is naturally mobile and mobilize what is naturally stable.
Learn steps to restore the natural balance of your body and your mind.
N. K. Jemisin—Nora Keita Jemisin—is the three-time Hugo Award–winning author of The Broken Earth Trilogy. She opens by talking about genres of science fiction and fantasy, her personal journey, and what you’ll learn in her class.
Nora shares her methodology and framework for building a rich and believable world.
To build your world, start by creating the physical environment where your culture and story will take place, from the planetary level to a specific location. Then add the “Element X” that will affect everything.
Nora continues to break down worldbuilding by discussing how to create a new, believable, and engrossing structure of humanity.
Learn how to create a believable structure by thinking about who has the power in your society, how different people adopt specific roles, and how to avoid inappropriate cultural appropriation.
Nora challenges the definitions of science fiction and fantasy and gives you the tools to create plausible, otherworldly science and magic.
Learn how to live life as a writer, absorbing and interpreting the world for your audience. Nora also shares how to incorporate research.
Nora teaches you about her immersion pyramid and how to choose a point of view to allow your reader to learn your world.
Nora draws on her education in psychology to help you rethink your ideas about people and human behavior.
Find out how to give yourself freedom in the kind of stories you tell and create characters that reflect the world you live in.
Adapting Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Nora teaches you how to create a believable character.
Nora continues the discussion of character development by adapting the classic story arc structure to create externally driven and internally driven character arcs.
Nora gives you an overview of the publishing process, dispels common myths, and gives you best practices for finding an agent and a publisher.
Get a deep dive into the agent-author relationship, how to find and pitch to the right agent, and how they will help you find a publisher.
Nora reveals why you should continue to write after getting published and shares some of her best tips for handling rejection.
Nora opens up about the difficulties she encounters—and overcomes—as a Black woman who writes science fiction and fantasy.
David Carson is a groundbreaking, award-winning graphic designer. In his first lesson, you’ll get to know David’s creative, prolific work and how this class aims to challenge predictable design.
David introduces some of his guiding principles. He encourages you to rely on intuition, push yourself to take risks, and develop a mentality that keeps you attuned to unpredictable moments that can make your work better.
David shows you how he uses innovative typography to reinforce the message he wants to send. He shares why he believes that every decision about font choice, spacing, color, and layout has the potential to deepen the impression a layout makes.
David is best known for his typography, but his bold photography treatments are essential to his designs. He explains how his approach to photography was forged at Transworld Skateboarding magazine, where he got creative with amateur photos.
In the first of three sessions he holds with a small group of designers, David reviews work from the first assignment: using only the letters of your first name and black and white to communicate your personality.
David talks through what makes logos successful and demonstrates how he iterates on different logo directions from his home studio.
David offers big-picture advice for designers, ranging from where to base yourself to the merits of working for free.
In the second group session, David reviews the next assignment: introducing color into your work and creating a design that reflects how your week is going.
David often incorporates found materials into dynamic collages. In this lesson, he creates several collages in real time, talking through his source materials, design decisions, and how to follow your gut.
While David’s best-known work is often his most irreverent, he also works with more traditional clients. He shares his process, starting with reading the brief through collaborating with clients to achieve the most compelling results possible.
David breaks down the editorial work he pioneered at different magazines that established him as an unpredictable and polarizing figure in the field of graphic design.
David reviews the last assignment, which allowed participants to break free of any constraints to show what kind of future they imagine for themselves.
In his closing lesson, David shares a simple yet powerful exercise to inspire you to think about your future, what you want to accomplish, and what you are doing to make that happen.
“The Great One” shares the foundation behind his mindset and provides an overview of the class.
Wayne’s family’s love of sports provided the perfect environment to dream big dreams and learn valuable life lessons.
Learning to do something doesn’t necessarily require expensive equipment. Wayne’s father got creative with homemade methods to teach his son the fundamentals of hockey, which fueled Wayne’s love for the sport.
It’s important to find the person or people who inspire you and not only watch what they do but also learn how hard they worked to get to their level.
Wayne was six when he joined his first organized team, which was full of 10-year-olds. He continued playing with older age groups until turning pro at age 17. He says that competing against advanced players made him better.
Wayne believes that the freedom of an unstructured style of play on the ice and playing multiple sports in his youth gave him the advantages of creativity and versatility.
Sometimes, in order to do what’s best for your career, it’s necessary to make tough decisions that take you well out of your comfort zone. For Wayne, that meant moving away from his hometown at age 14 and living with families in other cities.
It’s nice to dream big, but to make those dreams come true you have to set realistic goals and achieve them one by one.
When you are hired to do a job, you have to be a professional, and you have a responsibility to meet the expectations of your employer and your teammates. Hockey is a game, but—especially at the pro level—it’s also a business.
Because everybody is working with different levels of talent and skill, it’s important to make honest assessments of what you are good at and what you are not.
In his second year in the NHL, Wayne acted on the advice of his dad and coaches, who spent years encouraging him to shoot more. He scored 50 goals in the first 39 games—an NHL record that most experts agree will likely never be broken.
The Oilers’ coach developed a creative style of play based on the unique talents of Wayne and his teammates, and it resulted in a completely different style of hockey and one of the most exciting teams in the league.
In losing their first chance at the Stanley Cup, the Oilers learned a valuable lesson in preparation and dedication: If you want to become the best, develop consistent habits and practice with a purpose.
A champion’s mindset means that success is not defined by a single victory. After winning their first Stanley Cup, Wayne and his teammates worked even harder the next year—and it resulted in three more championships.
Life is full of changes, so it’s important to be prepared for anything that is thrown your way. After winning four Stanley Cups in the span of five years in Toronto, a Canadian city known for hockey, Wayne was traded to Los Angeles.
Accomplished players hold a unique position and have a responsibility to step up as leaders, but they should always make it a priority to earn the respect of their teammates.
You have to be present to win, and maintaining your physical and mental health allows you to be at your best for as long as possible.
Wayne holds more records than anyone in the history of the NHL and is widely known as the best hockey player who’s ever lived, but rather than talk about it, he is a big believer in leading by example and letting hard work speak for itself.
From growing up in sports to becoming a pro hockey player and the father of five kids, Wayne has a unique perspective on the way people handle youth sports. He believes it should be all about the fun.
Whether shooting the cover of Vogue or capturing scenes at a skate park, Tyler Mitchell makes images with effortless beauty and thoughtful commentary on race in America. Tyler opens up about his art and the elements that go into making photos.
Learn how to use photography to tell personal and emotional stories through Tyler’s examples and instructions.
Tyler teaches the fundamentals of lighting, how to create moods through light, and how to shape and control indoor and natural light. Discover how lighting impacts composition and Tyler’s approach to creating strong frames for your photographs.
By getting creative with household items—think sheets and shower curtains—a photographer can adapt to any lighting condition. Tyler demonstrates how to manipulate natural light and make professional portraits using only a smartphone.
When shooting outside, a photographer is subject to changes in weather and the movement of the sun. Tyler shows you how he works with changing light quality and explains how it affects his images.
Tyler shares his method for selecting and processing his images.
Tyler breaks down how to take photos with a film camera and explains why he considers himself part of the “post-DSLR” generation.
Using a film camera, Tyler lights and shoots a pair of subjects in a professional studio.
Colors, props, and locations can help you express your story. Tyler breaks down the elements of art direction that infuse story, self, and symbolism into his work.
Finding a creative community online was crucial to Tyler’s early success. He shares advice on how to harness the internet to get feedback, showcase your portfolio, and get your work published.
Tyler details strategies for working through self-doubt—and staying inspired and productive as an artist.
Robert Reffkin is the founder and CEO of Compass, an American real estate company. He shares how he started Compass and why he believes finding a home is meaningful. He also gives you an overview of what you’ll learn in his MasterClass.
Robert walks you through the most important considerations you should weigh before buying.
What makes a great location? Robert explains what to look for in making a smart real estate investment: job growth, culture, public transport, and a diverse community.
Robert helps you get to know one of your most valuable resources: your agent. Find out how an agent makes a difference in your search and what kind of insights they can share with you.
When should you buy real estate? Gain a deeper understanding of how to time your purchase by taking into account seasonal markets, mortgage rates, supply and demand, and the ups and downs of the housing market at large.
Robert decodes a real estate listing and teaches you the key terms you should know. He also shares tips on how to read between the lines of descriptions and photos.
Learn how to make the most of open houses. Robert offers a guide for how to find the “80% perfect” home, with valuable insights into what compromises to make and how to use your own values as a guide to your home-buying journey.
There is an art to the negotiation process. Learn how to make an offer that stands out, build trust with a seller, and avoid losing out on a home you love.
Robert guides you through the costs that come with closing on a home and explains the inspection and appraisal processes.
Robert outlines the four key areas—and the questions you should ask yourself—that will have the biggest impact on maximizing your sale price and having a positive experience throughout.
Learn how to hire a seller’s agent, stage your home, which improvements make the biggest impact on your selling price, as well as how to determine your goals, assess your timing, and how to price your home.
Robert shares his own experience as a case study in the benefits of buying a house. He explains how to build wealth and equity and offers guidelines for how to think about the return on your investment.
Robert offers an introduction and career tips for those interested in working in the real estate industry as an entrepreneur or a real estate agent.
Robert talks about his personal journey and his path to finding a place to call home.
Robert shares the life lessons that have guided his work as an entrepreneur and have been integral to the success of his real estate technology company, Compass.
Robert reveals his strategies for building a strong team, keeping meetings focused, and learning from failure.
James shares why he’s teaching a class, rooted in his belief that every filmmaker stands on the shoulders of those who came before.
James discusses how to identify the idea that won’t go away and how to harness the power of your dreams to develop a story authentically.
James teaches you how to build and hold tension—and tells you why audiences love it.
James breaks down the club scene from The Terminator, walking through, shot by shot, how he built relentless tension.
James talks through how he captured the feeling from his dream of a room covered in wasps through a scene in Aliens.
With Newt’s introduction scene in Aliens, James breaks down how he elicits different physiological responses from audiences, switching from suspense to curiosity.
Learn how integral preparation and inventing tricks are to low-budget filmmaking.
James shares the low-budget tricks he developed to create realistic moments when the Terminator performs surgery on himself.
Few directors have created set pieces as memorable as James’s. Learn how he approaches the art of creating set pieces, even on a low budget.
James breaks down the iconic future world set piece from The Terminator, showing how he created a set piece on a limited budget.
James talks through creating the perfect sketch of your characters, making them relatable, and introducing them to audiences.
In just a few shots, Rose is almost fully revealed to us. Learn how James thought about introducing Rose and what he wanted to convey.
The Terminator and the Alien Queen have stuck in our psyches as some of the most dreadful adversaries ever created. Learn how James thinks about adversaries and how to create them.
The performance-capture technology used to create the Na’avi in Avatar changed the landscape of cinema forever. Learn how James developed the technology.
James discusses his “creativity law of thermodynamics,” leadership lessons that he’s learned as a director over the years, and how to live life as an artist, preparing as much as possible to see the magic.
LeVar Burton, the star of Roots and Emmy-winning host of Reading Rainbow, invites you to discover the power of storytelling. He shares how storytelling is an integral part of humanity and why it’s a critical tool of connectivity.
LeVar gives an overview of his life as a storyteller and explains why self-knowledge is key to telling any story.
Storytelling depends on a connection with your audience. In this lesson, LeVar shares techniques for engaging with a wide range of audiences.
The miniseries Roots was a revolutionary television event that changed the conversation around chattel slavery in America. LeVar discusses the empathetic impact of the miniseries and how narrative perspective is a powerful tool for change.
Oral storytelling is our legacy as humans. In this lesson, LeVar explores the significance of oral storytelling and its relationship to how we communicate today.
LeVar believes that what we imagine, we create. In this lesson, LeVar connects storytelling to the ability to imagine a better world.
LeVar reads an excerpt from his children’s book, The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm, and shares techniques for connecting with young audiences through character voices, eyeline, visual cues, and prompts.
Public speaking can create anxiety, even for the most seasoned professional. LeVar breaks down the warm-up techniques and grounding exercises that help him prepare for a performance.
LeVar demonstrates specific techniques to help you communicate confidently with an adult audience.
Understanding storytelling can improve the way we communicate in everyday life. Learn how to clarify your message, set an intention, and use rhythm, pacing, and pause.
Similar to the radio plays of old, podcasting has reignited an interest in audio storytelling. LeVar performs a narrative reading and offers some technical pointers on how to start a podcast.
Carrying on the work of our mentors preserves their legacy. LeVar introduces a few of his storytelling heroes and speaks about how authenticity and integrity are essential to being a natural storyteller.
In his concluding lesson, LeVar emphasizes the importance of representation in storytelling, including how stories can help you connect and empathize with others—and how boldly sharing your own truth makes the world better.
In her first lesson, Robin Arzón will tell you her life story, including the harrowing incident that led her to start running as a means of healing. She’ll also give you the rundown of her class and how it’s built to fuel your self-love journey.
What does it mean to be a hustler in the journey to your personal finish line? Robin shares how being courageous, turning pain into power, losing the excuses, and embracing failure are vital when creating the ultimate hustler mindset.
In this lesson, Robin talks about why the mind-body connection is everything when it comes to harnessing your power, and how movement is the foundation to everything we do in life—particularly when trying to unlock our true potential.
Swagger is basically another word for your self-worth. In this lesson, Robin breaks down how each of us can develop and finesse our own swagger, and how to channel that feeling of pride to unleash our true potential.
You may not know it, but what you eat and drink directly affects the mind-body connection. In this lesson, Robin shares a few of her favorite recipes—all designed to help you fuel for greatness—and discusses ways to transform your eating habits.
In this lesson, Robin discusses ways to identify and measure moments of happiness and illumination in your daily life and talks about why finding and maintaining that joy is key to recognizing your dreams and potential.
You’re never too young to reinvent your story. In this lesson, Robin guides you on the art of personal reinvention as a way to feel stronger and dream bigger.
Finding your purpose is essential when reinventing your ever-changing story. Robin walks you through various techniques such as creating mantras, journaling, and vision boarding to help you achieve your mission and level up.
Superheroes can be inspiring and motivating. In this lesson, Robin shares a few of the superheroes who propel her to be better and encourages you to bask in your own superheroes’ greatness.
The path to discovering your greatness starts with examining your own potential. Robin shares how embracing jealousy, channeling creativity, and leveraging your differences are the keys to unlocking your passion and forging your own clear path.
There’s nothing more empowering than sharing your power with others. Robin wraps up her class by revealing why paying it forward has given her life meaning, and how sharing one’s story can impact others in pursuit of their own dreams.
Jessie Krebs is a former U.S. Air Force SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) specialist who believes that skills combined with preparation allow for deeper connection and play in the wilderness and world.
Jessie explains why mental fortitude and focus are necessary to survive. You’ll learn how to balance different mindsets in order to enter the wilderness prepared for any scenario.
Jessie introduces the five basic needs of a survivor and talks about how to consider those needs before leaving home.
Learn how to signal for help and effectively aid rescuers in your recovery.
Jessie walks through what to consider when choosing a knife—the ultimate survival tool. Learn how to care for your knife and improvise when you don’t have one.
You can make almost anything with a simple rope. Jessie teaches you some basic knots you can use when you find yourself in a bind.
Should you move or stay put in an emergency situation? Jessie explains how to weigh your options and how to always know where you are.
Learn the basics of using a map and compass to understand where you are in relation to the land around you.
Discover practical ways to prepare this potentially life-saving element for consumption.
Jessie teaches you how to make practical decisions around rationing food and foraging, and she introduces you to a surprising source of protein.
Protecting your body from the elements is essential to survival. Learn how to work with your clothing to stay thermally regulated.
Jessie shows you where and how to build an emergency shelter using a tarp and rope.
Learn how to gather and prepare the essential elements of a successful fire.
Jessie demonstrates starting techniques, lay designs, and steps to maintain your fire.
Find out how to build a survival kit and adapt it for any situation.
Jessie shares the unexpected gifts that the wilderness provides when we connect with it.
Elaine Welteroth is a journalist, writer, activist, and more—in other words, the ultimate multi-hyphenate. She shares how she built her dream career and how you can map out your own.
Elaine teaches you how to draw from your early childhood interests to unearth the passions, talents, skills, and values that will form the foundation of a limitless career.
Elaine offers a three-step framework to build the career of your dreams.
Relationships are everything. Elaine describes the mentors, friends, and family members who have guided her through her career and offers advice on how to build your own “board of advisers.”
“Always be side-hustling.” That’s Elaine’s motto both in and outside of work. In this lesson, she teaches you how to carve out opportunities, even when you can’t quit your day job just yet.
What are the questions you should ask yourself before venturing out on your own? This lesson is for creative entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and mid-career pivoters who are ready to take the leap.
This lesson won’t teach you to build a traditional business plan. Instead, you will learn to harness your creative instincts when thinking about your finances and walk away feeling financially empowered.
Burnout is real. Elaine admits that she may not always be a master in self-care, but she offers the tricks that have worked for her.
Need help getting dressed for the job you want? Elaine’s got you.
In this lesson on marketing yourself, Elaine offers her tips and advice for building a vibrant presence on social media and beyond.
In this lesson on team building, Elaine teaches you to break the traditional mold when hiring, firing, and leading your team.
Elaine teaches you how to defeat writer’s block and find your voice.
Everyone feels like an imposter sometimes. Elaine teaches you how to build your confidence and prevent the voices around you—and inside you—from discouraging your dreams.
If you’re making boundary-breaking content, there’s a good chance you’re going to get canceled. Elaine describes the time she was dragged and how she bounced back.
Believe in the unbelievable. Elaine shares the reason you should dream bigger: Sooner than you think, it really will come true.
Es welcomes students, explains the intent of her class, and gives an overview of the lessons students will learn.
Es sheds light on one of the most important elements of creating art: the audience and the power of the audience’s physiological responses as a collective body. Es walks you through the audience’s experience at the Adele World Tour.
Es breaks down the genesis of her ideas and explains that for her every project begins with research. She also demonstrates the power of sketching and making a connection between the mind and the hand to see what worlds begin to emerge.
Es explains how three-dimensional modeling has inspired her since she was a child, and how models can help a worldbuilder play with the idea of scale and perspective. She also demonstrates how she takes sketches and shapes them into 3D models.
Es delves deeper into the conversation around scale, one of her key components. She shows how she practices with scale in her studio and reveals how you can play with the scale of objects to elicit a sense of surprise, overwhelm, and delight.
Es demonstrates how students can tell a story and evoke emotion through a simple line of light. She explains that ideas have an architecture to them and how both the presence of light and the absence of it can create a narrative arc.
Es invites you to look for systems in nature and architecture as sources of inspiration for your art. Gain an understanding of the symbiotic relationship between art and science and expand your ability to build worlds using patterns in nature.
Es explores her love of the cube and explains how and why she uses it so frequently. She shows students how the cube can become a toy box of apertures, creating entries into unexpected worlds and tapping into the rush of discovery.
Es reveals her approach to creative collaboration, both with her team and the artists who have commissioned her work. She teaches you the kind of leadership that takes place at all phases of a project, from early meetings to building a successful team.
Es selects one of her favorite live concert performances with The Weeknd—from his Legend of the Fall Tour—and breaks down how she and her collaborators translated a flight path literally into an origami folding aircraft above the audience’s heads.
Es breaks down the inspiration, execution, and notable details of Memory Palace: a vast chronological landscape and 18-meter-wide sculpture mapping some of history’s most transformational moments over the past 73,000 years.
Es discusses one of her most beloved theater sets—for The Lehman Trilogy—a rotating glass box masquerading as the archetypal modern office. Learn how this skeletal structure became a dynamic force that drives the characters, action, and plot.
Es breaks down some of her creations and explains that the works she makes normally emerge out of a worldbuilding process. Sometimes these worlds exist already, as the words in a script. At other times, they need to be constructed from scratch.
In this lesson, Es underscores the need for sustainable art and the importance of using art to communicate imperative truths. She talks about some of the many ways she is starting to incorporate sustainability into her work.
Es reflects on lessons she has learned from her career and advises you to realize that each job you have is only an iteration. She shares practical takeaways for making a career out of set design and her process for overcoming self-doubt.
Corey explores his design influences in Detroit and his accomplishments as a designer. He outlines what he will teach and teases the living room set designed specifically for this class.
The key to developing as a designer is to discover your own personal style. Corey teaches you how to look to the fashion world to inspire your design and then how to incorporate fashion concepts into a visionary mood board for your projects.
Corey believes spaces should perform well in terms of function while also being satisfying and beautiful to look at. In this lesson, Corey provides a guide for approaching every room with a high level of respect, dignity, and seriousness.
Corey introduces his bold, signature approach for using powerful, jubilant color in unexpected ways, and he demonstrates his process for the next step in his design process: a color board.
In this lesson, Corey demystifies the process of mixing and matching patterns and demonstrates how to create visual balance with a bin full of fabrics.
Using shades and drapery from his own projects, Corey breaks down the main types of window treatments and gives students his five steps for choosing the best window treatment for each space.
The right combination of lighting can make or break your space. Corey breaks down the three categories of lighting in any space and also brings out some of his favorite statement pieces: sconces.
Corey shares his best practices for designing for every kind of space—no matter your budget—by prioritizing your spending and identifying the pieces worth splurging on.17
It’s time to break out the floor plans as Corey and his senior designer Heather take you behind the curtain into their process of arranging furniture and fabrics—first on the workspace table and then in an interactive photoshop demonstration.
Corey takes members on a field trip to tour the living room space designed specifically for this class. He walks you through many examples in the room of his signature design style, called “Eclectic Exuberance.”
Corey reflects on the significance of his journey as a man of color in interior design, and invites students to use the process of discovery to build confidence in themselves.
Corey lays out his road map for building an interior design brand successfully and with distinction, no matter your goals.
James Beard Award–winning chef Mashama Bailey shares her story and the story of The Grey, the restaurant she co-owns in Savannah, Georgia, and how it fits into the legacy of the American South. She also describes what she is about to teach.
Mashama describes the origins of succotash and explains why the inclusion of tomatoes truly makes it a Southern dish, as does the okra, a by-product of the slave trade. She demonstrates how the vegetables are cooked and integrated on the plate.
Mashama details the importance of hogs to the Southern communal experience and how cooking techniques developed to use every part of the animal. She shows you how to brine and braise pork shanks and how to smoke and sauté collard greens.
Mashama shares the significance of water in the African American experience. She explains the dish’s origins, then teaches you how to make seafood broth and middlins and how to prepare the shrimp and fish for final plating.
Mashama describes how her grandmother would fry fish that her grandfather caught. She explains the difference between white and yellow grits and prepares the white variety with her Creole sauce. She also shows you how fish is readied for frying.
Mashama explains the importance of beef liver and grits to the American South and the origins of her use of foie gras in the dish from her time studying in France. She demonstrates the preparation of foie gras, grits, and gravy.
Mashama describes her family traditions around the holidays and suggests serving quail instead of turkey. She then demonstrates the preparation of her cornbread dressing, followed by the making of watermelon molasses, which she uses as a glaze.
Mashama explains the importance of pickling in Georgia and the significance of the McIntosh oyster in the Savannah economy. She then demonstrates how to create brining liquid and shuck and pickle an oyster before plating and presenting the dish.
Mashama describes the deep connection between the people of Savannah and the water, and shares options for hand pie fillings. She details ingredients in the crust and steps to make the dough, then she shows you how to cook and fill the pies.
Mashama introduces you to the importance of gumbo and to Leah Chase, who popularized this preparation in New Orleans during Lent. She then demonstrates how the dish is cooked, including her methods of making a dark gumbo roux and charring okra.
Geno relates the ideals of leading his basketball teams to leading teams at work, at church, and even family at home, and he explains how the teamwork and leadership lessons in this class extend to all aspects of life.
Geno shares how a leader can build resiliency by having courage to take the hits for their team and preparing themselves and team members to withstand challenges together.
Geno explains why everyone is on a team, whether they know it or not, and how mastering the fundamentals of teamwork shapes the rest of your life. Learn why being a great leader begins with being a great teammate—and how rewarding both can be.
This lesson teaches how trust, honesty, common goals, and connection are keys to building the strong foundation necessary to lead a team successfully.
Geno explains the importance of a leader’s management team and how to hire and empower them to be partners in leadership rather than subordinates.
The focus of this lesson is evaluating, recruiting, and retaining the quality of people you need to do the actual work—and how that may vary depending on the needs of your own team.
Geno talks about working with team members to set and achieve goals, both individual and team-focused.
Geno shares the level of hard work necessary to break through perceived barriers and teaches some of his strategies for getting more effort out of his players and teams than they even knew they had to give.
This lesson is about testing and expanding your team members’ abilities. Learn how Geno applies extreme amounts of pressure in practice situations to predict team members’ performance and prepare them for when the real pressure is on.
Geno has always been known for his brutal honesty, but this lesson illustrates how it is necessary to first build trust so you can create a safe space for direct communication, confrontation, and critical feedback.
In this call with Geno, his former player Renee Montgomery discusses the influence of Geno’s philosophies on her journey: from shy high school student to team leader to WNBA star, social activist, and partial team owner of the Atlanta Dream.
Geno teaches the importance of standing up for equality and positive change—and the responsibility of men and people in power to do the right thing.
This story highlights an instance when Geno went out of his way to help an injured player and ultimately shows how the loyalty and respect that leaders demand from their teams must be reciprocated.
In this lesson, Geno shares ways that leaders can work on enjoying the journey, whether the outcome is a win or a loss.
Geno offers parting advice and a touching final takeaway for leaders.
In their first lesson, Alex and Tommy welcome members to their class and give an overview of how the course is structured, why they’re teaching it, and what they hope you’ll take away from it.
Every community has its own unique set of rules. In this lesson, Alex and Tommy cover etiquette and details on the different types of rock climbing.
Learn the ropes of partnering up, top-roping, and lead climbing safely.
Alex and Tommy have accomplished two of the most challenging climbs ever done on El Capitan. In this lesson, they’ll give insight into how they overcame and redefined the perceived limitations.
Learn the most important element of rock climbing as Tommy defines and demonstrates various footwork techniques.
In climbing, your hands and arms keep you balanced over your feet. In this lesson, Alex defines and demonstrates hand grips and arm techniques.
Learn various balance techniques for moving more efficiently.
Crack climbing is an essential technique for most outdoor climbing. In this lesson, Alex defines and demonstrates various crack climbing techniques for cracks of all shapes and sizes.
In this lesson, you’ll learn about flow state and how it helped Alex and Tommy break the Nose speed record.
Alex and Tommy teach members how to bring the skills they’ve learned indoors into an outdoor environment, starting with bouldering tips and techniques.
Alex and Tommy share stories of their experience climbing the Fitz Traverse, including the physical and emotional challenges they faced and how they overcame the adversity.
Tommy gives an overview and demonstration on sport climbing, including strategy, gripping, balance, and more.
Learn the basics of traditional climbing as Alex demonstrates an outdoor route and details planning, foot and hand placement, and the equipment you’ll need.
Alex and Tommy discuss the importance of responsible climbing and preserving the environment.
Madhur Jaffrey is the leading authority on Indian food in the West. Having written more than 30 cookbooks, Madhur’s expertise is undeniable. Here, you get to see how Madhur got to 30 cookbooks and what you’ll gain from that expertise.
Madhur explains how spices can be altered to create depth, the same way a painter uses paints. A simple action like roasting or combining spices can completely transform them, giving you different “shades” of a spice.
In this lesson, Madhur teaches students the infinite possibilities of spices and demonstrates four ways to use them to transform simple boiled potatoes into something truly special.
This lesson dispels myths around what curry means. Madhur demonstrates a delicious shrimp dish and shares three more dishes that would generally be classified as curry: a Keralan fish dish, a mixed-vegetable kurma, and a classic butter chicken.
South Asian food encompasses more than just Indian cuisine. In this lesson, Madhur demonstrates a Pakistani Aloo Gosht and shows you her famous lemony chicken with cilantro, plus her own take on baked lamb kebabs.
Indian vegetarian food is among the best in the world. Here, Madhur shares a hearty cauliflower dish with cumin and asafetida. Using an okra dish and an eggplant bharta, she walks you through the various types of vegetables in Indian cuisine.
Rice is an ancient staple of Indian cuisine and culture. This lesson covers the simplest cooking method and traditional presentation of basmati rice alongside a showstopping dish, lamb biryani.
There are hundreds of Indian breads and pancakes. To get started, Madhur shows you how to make a classic chapati to eat with other dishes in her class. Madhur also speaks to the variety of Indian breads—from lentil pancakes to stuffed paratha.
The humble yet mighty lentil is a cornerstone of the Indian plate. Madhur shows you how you can take two simple types of dried lentils and turn them into a delicious and comforting dal dish. She also shares a recipe for a chickpea dish.
An Indian meal is not complete without embellishments. Madhur shows you how to turn a block of dried tamarind into a delectable tamarind chutney. She also shows you how to make cauliflower pickle, chili pickle, and classic cucumber raita.
Chaat, the word for street food in India, comes from a word that means “to lick”—and street food is one of the most exciting parts of Indian cuisine. Madhur shares how to make Aloo Puri Chaat, a perfect party appetizer to get the flavor flowing.
In India, nothing comes between flesh and food. Here, Madhur dives into the connections between touch, texture, aroma, and flavor. She demonstrates how to eat with your hands and shares sample menus using the dishes taught in her class.
Discover Nas’s life story and how writing lyrics and making music became a way for him to channel his thoughts and served as a form of therapy. Learn Nas’s take on the importance of ambition and drive in pursuing your dreams.
Nas takes you through a case study of how he wrote “N.Y. State of Mind,” one of his most iconic songs, and breaks down the importance of details and why describing the way an experience made you feel is the key to writing powerful lyrics.
Nas explains the concepts of beat, timing, and rhythmic patterns and shares how he challenges himself and breaks a pattern. He also explains how you can experiment with unexpected words and rhymes to make your raps more interesting.
Get a firsthand, real-time view of Nas’s writing process, with takeaway tips on how to formulate ideas to a beat.
Witness Nas’s genius in action as he records an original song. Nas also breaks down one of his techniques: spitting lyrics spontaneously and then going back and fixing the parts that didn’t work in real time.
Nas explains the value of using poetic techniques in lyrics: wordplay, analogies, metaphors, figurative language, slang, and cultural references. He shares examples from his own lyrics and shows you how using these techniques can improve yours.
Nas breaks down his song “Rewind,” in which he decided to tell a story backward, to explain how thinking outside the box through writing challenges can help you improve your skills, move the genre forward, and do something no one has done before.
This lesson covers how listening to music legends influences your art and can inspire you on your own musical journey. Nas talks about his music idols, the growth of Hip-Hop, and the lasting impact of Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur.
Nas uses case studies of his songs “One Love” and “Ultra Black” to emphasize the importance of writing songs that make a statement or communicate societal ills, and how artists have a responsibility to talk about topics that can make a difference.
Nas talks about how he evolved and matured as an artist and the importance of growing and changing. He analyzes two of his songs from different points in his career to show you how his style and music have shifted.
Nas talks about the current state of the music business and how it’s changed. He encourages you to think about being business-minded and eventually owning your music so you are in control of your own destiny.
Nas sums up the global influence of Hip-Hop and how it has changed the world for the better. He reflects on his career and how the genre has evolved to include messages about success and achievement, and he shares some final words of wisdom.
Yo-Yo performs Bach and shares insight that sets the tone for the class. While he once reached for perfection, it did not fulfill him. This realization changed his trajectory; he began focusing on human connection instead of human perfection.
Sound is energy. It sparks ideas and memories. This lesson explores the role of music and how it connects to humanity. Yo-Yo shares his philosophy and his belief that your interpretation of music is as unique as your fingerprint.
Yo-Yo highlights the importance of three core values in music and ultimately everything we do: seeking truth, building trust, and being of service. This lesson reminds us to bring these intentions and awareness into everything we do.
Creatives are the scouts for society. Yo-Yo emphasizes the need to think about the bigger picture to expand yourself as an artist. Learn how to break the boundaries of tradition and blend the old with the new.
Yo-Yo performs J.S. Bach’s Suite no. 5, "Sarabande", from the depth of his own human connection and expression.
Yo-Yo dives into the impact of live performance and how to prepare yourself for a performance, whether you are a musician or not.
In a collaboration with two other cellists, Titi Ayangade and Ethan Philbrick, Yo-Yo presents the practices and intentions behind everything he has shared so far. They perform and express their interpretations of Bach’s Suite no. 3, "Sarabande".
This lesson focuses on Titi’s performance. The collaborators discuss how Titi personalizes the piece with her unique emotional imagination, and how conscious and subconscious communication can be accessed through music.
This lesson highlights how our senses are connected to our creative imaginations and their essential role in our ability to express ourselves. Both Titi and Ethan perform “The Swan” and discuss their emotional imagination.
Yo-Yo, Titi, and Ethan collaborate through performance and create an original piece of music. They discuss the key elements of a successful collaboration and how nonverbal communication guides us through the improvisational process.
Highlighting the importance of artists and scientists, Yo-Yo uses this lesson to articulate the interconnectedness of art, science, and philosophy.
Yo-Yo shares parting advice, reminding us that we are the creators of our narratives. At all times, we have the power of choice: “...the one thing you can always change is your attitude towards life.”
Explore what it takes to thrive creatively and professionally as a band with rock pioneers Metallica. Your instructors—James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo—share what it takes to be a band that lasts.
Learn to create music as a band with insights into how a Metallica song is built—from collecting guitar riffs and writing intros to using the jam to generate ideas and build tension in your songs
Delve deeper into the mechanics of songwriting with one of Metallica’s most beloved songs, “Enter Sandman.” The band breaks down the riffs of the song to reveal how the song was made and to unlock the key to its success.
Learn how to set up a communication style that is conducive to creative collaboration. Members will walk away with practical tips for giving constructive criticism and managing conflict in the service of doing what’s best for the project.
As the writer of most of Metallica’s lyrics, James Hetfield has developed a unique method of letting the lyrics follow the music. Learn how to use the voice as a percussive instrument, keep track of ideas, and write lyrics inspired by life.
Metallica’s members break down their iconic song “Master of Puppets” and explore what makes their sound “heavy”—from chord choice to techniques like downpicking. Band members also discuss their influences, and how they created their signature sound.
Learn how to write a guitar solo by drawing inspiration from simple scales and blues chords. Get inspired to start improvising on your guitar with tips and tricks from Metallica’s lead guitarist, Kirk Hammett.
Metallica reflects on the making of the song “One”: the inspiration for the song, its structure, and its accompanying video—the band’s first foray into making music videos.
The audience-performer relationship is complex. Learn how to perform at your best while creating intimacy with your audience. Boost your confidence on stage with strategies honed by Metallica over four decades of playing live stadium shows.
Bass guitar virtuoso Robert Trujillo explores the vast possibilities of his instrument. Learn how to construct the right sound for every situation and find your place within the song.
Metallica sees fans as the fifth member of the band. In this lesson, the band teaches how to connect with fans, and shares tips for elements such as stage design and ticket pricing to help develop and nurture a lifelong relationship with them.
Metallica teaches the nuts and bolts of making an album, including how to sequence songs to create balance, and the process for moving multiple songs forward at the same time.
Musicians often feel tempted to give their work away for free. In this lesson, Metallica shares inspiring guidance for how to value your work and time as an artist and how to support your band.
Metallica gives parting advice on how to embrace the challenge in your journey, harness collaborative energy, and take risks as you keep an eye on the possibilities just around the corner.
Now that you’ve had a firsthand look at Metallica’s creative process, see it all come together with an exclusive, members-only performance to close out the class.
Pharrell Williams introduces you to the class and the co-instructors who will discuss the importance of empathy in their lives and their careers.
In this lesson, Pharrell Williams takes you on a journey from his childhood to his successful days as an artist and the ways he found empathy along the way by using music to connect with others.
Cornel West talks about the origins of empathy—its relationship to sympathy and how religion and empathy are interconnected. He also discusses writers Edith Stein, George Eliot, and Toni Morrison and how they tackle empathy in their work.
Roxane Gay delves into how writing has the potential to create meaningful change in society by generating empathy in readers and Walter Mosley talks about how reading builds empathy by expanding our worldview
Pharrell Williams talks about putting yourself in others’ shoes to see the bigger picture of how their lives and perspectives differ from your own. He also walks you through an exercise to help you open up to others’ feelings and experiences.
Gloria Steinem discusses the importance of empathy to the human experience. She delves deep into the history of Talking Circles and how they are the maximum expression of empathy and the basis for movements and creating change in the world.
Cornel West talks about the connection between poverty and empathy and the legacy of Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty” and Martin Luther King’s “Poor People’s Campaign.”
Pharrell Williams explores the ways he applies empathy to his creative process and his collaborations with other artists, while Robert Reffkin discusses how empathetic leadership can foster a more successful workplace.
Robin Arzón talks about the correlation between athletes and empathy, the ways community helps us feel more empowered and connected, and how empathy is the best way to heal from loss.
In this lesson, Pharrell Williams talks about the potential in all of us to build a truly equal society using empathy to fuel action, and the importance of keeping the conversation around empathy alive.
Gloria shares the personal journey that brought her to the women’s movement and introduces her co-instructors.
Gloria emphasizes the importance of intersectional feminism and dispels the notion that the movement is mostly white.
Gloria discusses the history of sexual harassment, the strides that have been made with it, and what you can do if you experience it in the workplace.
Tina and Gloria examine how perceptions of caregiving and domestic labor impact people’s lives and offer advice on how to advocate for caregivers and paid leave policies.
Gloria offers historical context for reproductive justice and shares how women have spoken out against a culture of silence.
adrienne maree brown joins Gloria for a discussion on how to bring pleasure into activism and why it is crucial to achieving liberation.
Amanda Nguyen shares her experience with sexual assault and how she and other survivors were able to achieve justice by turning their trauma into civil rights legislation.
Amanda and Gloria discuss the role of anger in social movement building, as well as how you can begin to pen your own legislation and inspire others by speaking out.
Gloria examines violence as a function of hierarchy and speaks to the importance of democratizing families in order to achieve democracy at large.
Tina and Gloria discuss the value of work as the wage gap persists more than 50 years after the Equal Pay Act.
adrienne and Gloria examine the power of empathy and the punitive nature of cancel culture.
In this lesson, adrienne and Gloria share methods for conversation, mediation, and conflict resolution.
adrienne celebrates the erasure of constructs, offers advice for members looking to live beyond binary systems, and describes her hope for where feminism will lead us.
Gloria, adrienne, Amanda, and Tina share their philosophies of activism, as well as the deep sense of joy, community, and transformation that social movements can inspire.
Cornel West is an acclaimed academic and activist who believes philosophy is about raising questions where there are no clear answers. In this lesson, he establishes the fundamental ideas for the class that will open doors to new ideas and heighten meaning in your everyday life.
Cornel walks you through his personal philosophy, explaining how applying critical thinking can help you navigate your everyday interactions and become a deeper thinker.
To understand humanity, you must first understand yourself. In this lesson, Cornel shares how to embark on a candid journey within and discover a better understanding of self.
In this lesson, Cornel explains how compassion is a form of love that is cultivated by ridding yourself of egoism.
Cornel provides techniques for connecting deeper with the human condition so you can move from being a spectator to a participant in your everyday interactions.
In this lesson, Cornel explains how philosophy is a counterweight against forms of dogma, and looking at humanity through a philosophical lens allows for members to better understand their own egotistical proclivities, resulting in becoming the best versions of themselves.
There are various forms of love that each of us is able to give and receive. In this lesson, Cornel explains what they are, how human beings are impacted by them, and the sacrifices required to achieve a love that allows you to become the best versions of yourself.
In this lesson, Cornel unsettles the mind and empowers the soul by illuminating the delicate interplay between hope, optimism, and despair.
Cornel shares a personal account of how the supernatural love he received from his mom and dad allowed him to define himself in spite of catastrophic circumstances.
In this lesson, Cornel explores how having a jazz-like conception of philosophy allows you to understand how music transfigures suffering, pain, and hurt into an expression that connects to humanity at large.
Cornel expands on how the intersection of music and philosophy fosters relationships in a way that allows us to transcend all the pettiness that gets in the way of building healthy communities.
In this lesson, Cornel explains how human beings can use music to process grief and how doing so can enable us to move forward.
Cornel discusses the importance of communal practices, customs, and mores in providing us with the resources to understand and shape ourselves as distinct individuals.
Honesty is the key to living a wise and courageous life. In this lesson, Cornel unpacks how to own your sense of self and the key to understanding the difference between individuality within community and isolated individualism.
Learn how to apply philosophy to everyday life as Cornel reminds us that the quest to be the best versions of ourselves is a continuous journey.
Ringo tells the origin story of his entry into the world of drumming, and shares insights that will help you find your own creative voice.
Listening to a wide variety of music as a youth helped inform Ringo’s sound and direction, as did playing in many different bands. He advises you to listen widely and play as much as possible. You’ll also get his take on rock’s evolution.
From his time in The Beatles and beyond, Ringo talks about using drums to frame and elevate other musicians and singers. He also emphasizes the special energy of the first take, and trusting your first, if imperfect, approach to songs and fills.
Ringo explains the roles of the kit’s different drums and cymbals, emphasizing being creative with the drums you have, rather than building a giant kit. He also introduces members to other percussion instruments, like tambourine and cowbell.
Through anecdotes, Ringo shares how he found his own sound and modified his kit with tea towels to get just the right feel, encouraging you to trust your ear and never be afraid to customize your kit or your approach.
For new and seasoned drummers alike, this lesson lays out technique-oriented suggestions, such as how to sit, different footwork patterns, effectively using and quieting cymbals, and ways to approach rhythm.
Ringo talks about the elusive quality of “feel” in drumming—the sense of personal rhythm and style that comes from absorbing the music as you play. To achieve it, he advises members to let the body lead, hit rhythms on the backbeat, and more.
Discussing his songwriting contributions as a Beatle and in solo work, Ringo cites the lyrical origin of “Octopus’s Garden,” “Back Off Boogaloo,” and other songs. You’ll learn about songwriting, from concept or phrase to fully realized song.
In this lesson, Ringo lays out his philosophy of performing, of loving and appreciating the audience and gathering energy from them. He also talks about stage fright, which he still deals with, and advises you on how to ground yourself..
Legendary drummers Jim Keltner and Gregg Bissonette join Ringo and share how Ringo’s early career influenced theirs. The three demonstrate their different styles, showcasing different paths open to members pursuing the profession.
Here Ringo talks about creative pursuits outside of drumming—particularly painting—and how they help him see the world with fresh eyes. He also discusses giving back through charitable work, and the peace-and-love philosophy that guides him.
Let’s rock! Ringo treats you to a jam session with six of the finest musicians working today: Jim Cox, keyboard; Nathan East, bass; Joe Walsh, guitar; Steve Lukather, guitar; Gregg Bissonette, drums; and Jim Keltner, drums.
Meet Malala, the world’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and girls’ education activist from Pakistan who has been fighting for children’s rights for more than a decade.
You don’t have to be a global icon to start advocating for causes you care about. Malala highlights small actions you can take that will contribute to your cause in impactful ways.
You know in your heart what you stand for—you just have to find it. Learn how Malala looks to both her heritage and her future aspirations to inform the values she holds true.
Malala shares the skills that have strengthened her advocacy work. Learn how to use talents you already have to gain more traction in your own advocacy. She also walks you through the four-stage framework she used to carry out her campaigns.
Malala talks with Lewis Iwu, her advocacy adviser and cofounder of Purpose Union, about the importance of research. They also teach you the Problem Tree exercise to get to the root of your problem—the first stage in Malala’s advocacy cycle.
In a follow-up conversation, Malala and Lewis expand on how you can set actionable goals, using the research you’ve done, with the SMART Goals exercise.
For the next stage of Malala’s advocacy cycle, she and Lewis break down what a strong strategy looks like and show you how to build an effective plan to carry out your mission using the Critical Path exercise.
In their final conversation, Malala and Lewis discuss the importance of a strong argument and why it’s necessary to have multiple arguments prepared for various audiences you may be addressing.
Malala is inspired by the voices of the past that have made change happen. Hear how speeches play an important role in her work and why you should always consider the audience receiving your message.
If you’re advocating for a cause that affects your community, you should reflect the views of your community. Malala shares ways to connect with those experiencing an issue firsthand and how a personal perspective can influence decision-makers.
Building up to the third stage of Malala’s advocacy cycle, meet Amika George as she and Malala talk about the #FreePeriods campaign that Amika led successfully. Learn how to get your mission moving through petitions, protests, and legislation.
Every action leads to impact—but you must think critically to assess the difference you’re making. Malala and Amika talk about the impact of the #FreePeriods campaign and what you need to consider when it comes to tracking your own progress.
In the final conversation with Amika, Malala discusses the collaborative partnerships and types of messages that Amika used to achieve her campaign goals.
Advocating on behalf of others is motivating work, but it’s still important to consider your own needs. Learn how Malala remains confident and deals with burnout, so that you can keep your advocacy work and personal life in a sustainable balance.
Peace is Malala’s ultimate goal, and hope is what keeps her going. She encourages you to be inspired about the future and keep going to make your advocacy dreams a reality—for yourself and for future generations.
Bill introduces himself and explains what members can expect from this class and how science can be used not only in our everyday lives, but also to solve big problems like climate change.
Discover how science gives you a new perspective, helps solve problems, and offers a more optimistic outlook on the future. Bill shares a story from his high school physics class and uses an augmented reality hologram to illustrate his point.
Bill details the importance of seemingly trivial information and how small things can lead to big ideas. He explains how a bee sting changed his life, the idea of learning objectives, and how discrepant events are opportunities for exploration.
Learn about the importance of evaluating claims with filters, testing hypotheses, and using critical thinking as Bill shares a ghost story and performs a surprising demonstration using different colors of light.
Bill explains how fear affects our thinking and how we can overcome it. He also covers xenophobia, reveals how politicians use scare tactics to control us, and shares a childhood story of a time he channeled his fear successfully.
Learn the value of being willing to seek out experts and being open to changing your mind. Bill explains the importance of words, and shares a device he helped design in his youth, which wouldn’t have been possible without help from machinists.
Using critical thinking skills, Bill breaks down the evidence of climate change and explains the science behind it. He talks about ice cores, greenhouse gases, and how the fossil fuel industry tries to downplay the danger.
Gain a handy mental tool that Bill uses to turn “nerd ideas into nerd action.” Go through each stage of the “Upside-Down Pyramid of Design” with Bill and learn how to make environmentally conscious choices along the way.
Embracing constraints can help you discover creative solutions. Bill walks you through a holographic box puzzle, explains the difference between the redundant safeties on a 747 and the Texas power grid, and performs a fun demonstration.
Bill takes on the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, explaining how each economic sector could improve. He covers transportation, electricity generation, industry, and agriculture—and even shares improvements members can implement at home.
Explore some of Bill’s big ideas (like carbon fees) for fighting climate change and creating a fairer, more science-minded society. Bill also talks about fighting inequality, and offers his idea of a mandatory national service requirement.
Recounting a personal tale about how his father’s love of sundials led to an achievement on Mars, Bill urges you to look to our planetary neighbors both as cautionary tales and as inspiration for the next generation of innovators.
In this bonus lesson, Bill teaches you how to tie five ancient knots, explaining why they are the perfect example of using science to improve your everyday life.
In this introduction to Part I of a three-part class, seven Black scholars invite you to learn history not taught in U.S. schools. Examining white supremacy and its antithesis—Black love—this class will challenge how you view race in America.
Professor Cornel West explains the significance of Black love in all its forms—art, culture, family, community, and dignity—and why, despite trauma, Black Americans continue to create freedom fighters to spread Black joy and win liberty for all.
Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the 1619 Project, shares how Black American resistance has historically been a major democratizing force in America, and offers insight on the complicated relationship between Black citizens and patriotism.
Nikole Hannah-Jones exposes the true foundation of American capitalism—the chattel slavery of Black people in the South—and how those roots continue to inform much of our modern-day economic systems.
Black Liberation Movement icon Angela Davis speaks to the importance of thinking about enslaved people as people much like us—and not objectifying them strictly as victims of a violent, inhumane economic system.
Linguist John McWhorter shares the origins of Black English. Often dismissed as slang, Black English is a uniquely sophisticated form of communication with its own nuances and complexities.
Angela Davis describes slavery’s lasting impact on Black women—from emancipation to the Moynihan Report and beyond. She focuses on the lasting significance of Black matriarchy and how Black women were at the crux of two great struggles.
Nikole Hannah-Jones unravels the truth about what happened after emancipation, beginning with the Great Nadir. Black codes were introduced, Black businesses were destroyed, and Black Americans were terrorized by the practice of lynching.
Civil Rights lawyer and NAACP Legal Defense Fund President Sherrilyn Ifill explains the 14th Amendment and how in making emancipated people full citizens, it also allowed for birthright citizenship and the “nation of immigrants” narrative.
Constitutional law expert Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw explains the Reconstruction Amendments, and how white supremacists successfully resisted reform through the Supreme Court.
Kimberlé Williams Crewnshaw offers the real story of how the promise of the 14th was thwarted, almost before the ink was dry, by white supremacists. See how the legacy of the Redeemer Constitution continues to bleed through into politics today.
Nikole Hannah-Jones juxtaposes the need for universal healthcare with the fact that Black people have one of the lowest life expectancies in America and have historically been underserved by a medical system that does not treat them equitably.
Angela Davis discusses what life was like for Black women after the end of slavery, and the unique experience of Black women in blues music.
Discover how Black children were educated before the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, from the creation of common schools to the impact of school desegregation on Black children who were never intended to be assimilated into public schools.
Writer and journalism professor Jelani Cobb discusses the importance of historically Black colleges and universities and the role they have played since before the Civil War, educating Black luminaries like Thurgood Marshall and many others.
Explore the achievements of three exemplars of Black intellectualism and cultural leadership: legendary scholar W. E. B. Du Bois, activist Booker T. Washington, and intrepid investigative reporter Ida B. Wells.
Jelani Cobb reveals the direct relationship between African Americans in the South and voter suppression efforts after the Civil War. Black Americans did not achieve all the rights of full citizenship until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Sherrilyn Ifill explains how Black Americans’ civil rights were curtailed through white supremacists’ reactions to the 14th Amendment. The Civil Rights Acts unraveled gains made during Reconstruction, and Jim Crow laws were enacted in the South.
In this introduction to Part II of a three-part class, seven preeminent Black scholars continue their journey through the history you thought you knew, considering white supremacy and Black love from the turn of the century to the present day.
Jelani Cobb continues a discussion of extraordinary Black voices established in Part I, John McWhorter explores the roots of his own “heterodox” thinking, and Cornel West examines revolutionary Christianity and seminal, divergent Black thinkers.
Sherrilyn Ifill unpacks the shameful history of lynching in America, exploring how forces of law and order were often deployed to terrorize Black citizens, such as George Armwood, whose murderers were never prosecuted or held responsible.
John McWhorter explains how our grandfathers accomplished amazing feats despite systemic racism. Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, “The Black Metropolis,” is one example of a thriving Black community built from Black love and resourcefulness.
Nikole Hannah-Jones demonstrates how the legacy of slavery and forces of white supremacy have continued to impact the quality of healthcare received by all citizens well into the 21st century.
Nikole Hannah-Jones discusses how municipalities and the federal government responded to the influx of Black families during the Great Migration. Black citizens were denied the leg up that white citizens received, from the G.I. Bill to redlining.
Sherrilyn Ifill shares the legacy of Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court Justice. Discover how he created a strategy for tearing down racial apartheid through equal access to education, the key to Black citizenship.
Sherrilyn Ifill and Nikole Hannah-Jones deconstruct the Supreme Court case that may be the most consequential of the last century—Brown v. Board of Education—and the story you haven’t heard about the highest calling of education: democracy.
Nikole Hannah-Jones lays out the North’s version of racial apartheid: housing segregation. After the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and urban uprisings in 100 cities, the federal government passes the mostly unenforceable Fair Housing Act.
Jelani Cobb digs deeper into the most important government study you’ve never heard of, the Kerner Commission Report. Why do its findings matter? Why were they ignored? And what can we learn from the report now, more than a half-century later?
Angela Davis reflects on how she came to be an icon of civil rights activism and Black feminism, and the joy she found in supporting the Black Liberation movement and its efforts to amplify power, love, joy, and community for all Black people.
Jelani Cobb explores the aftermath of the Voting Rights Act of 1965: While it enfranchised millions of African Americans, a backlash followed. Learn about dog-whistle politics, the Southern Strategy, and other efforts to undermine civil rights.
Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw explains intersectionality, the term she coined for the intersection of gender, race, and culture. The case study of DeGraffenreid v. General Motors illustrates missed opportunities to equally protect Black women.
As counsel to Anita Hill at the Clarence Thomas Senate Judiciary Hearings, Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw witnessed one of the most significant cultural events of the late 20th century, an example of intersectionality that she deconstructs for you.
Jelani Cobb and Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw explore how urban uprisings almost always stem from failed police interactions. They also cover the origins of qualified immunity, the dangers of driving while Black, and the “Say Her Name” movement.
Angela Davis shares how her experience in jail impacted her and examines how America’s criminal justice system is shaped by the forces of white supremacy, from the origins of the death penalty to the prison-industrial complex.
Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw breaks down critical race theory’s origin, from Harvard Law School and the pioneering work of legal scholar Derrick Bell to today. Learn how it offers a lens to identify opportunities for change in law and society.
John McWhorter discusses the terms racism, prejudice, and white supremacy, and how their meaning has shifted over time. He also offers his own assessment of the three waves of the anti-racism movement and their influence and legacy.
Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw explores the myth of colorblindness and debunks the idea that America became a “post-racial” society with the election of its first Black president.
Cornel West uses the election of the first Black president to examine what he believes is one of the highest embodiments of Black love: Black people speaking critical truths to Black people.
Seven Black thought leaders continue to illuminate Black American experiences. As they look toward the future, they offer clear-eyed discussion to challenge how you think about race and racism in America—and where we go from here.
Philosopher and theologian Cornel West explores the concept of white supremacy and 400 years of American history that reinforced it. He also covers how Black people created countervailing forces to affirm their dignity and worth.
History, law, and culture are stories. Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw emphasizes the importance of owning the narrative and telling the story of Black Americans in order to fight racial amnesia.
Veteran journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones argues that the time for reparations has finally arrived. Find out why investing in reparations is an investment in America’s future as much as it is a recompensation for the wrongs of the past.
Jelani Cobb reflects on a personal story that made him realize that people who seek to dehumanize you cannot do so without your consent. John McWhorter deconstructs the N-word—how it evolved and why he believes we shouldn’t give it power.
Nikole Hannah-Jones shares her reasoning for sending her own daughter to an all-Black, high-poverty school. She challenges all parents to embrace real equality and live their values when choosing how to educate their children.
Sherrilyn Ifill explains why Americans are ill-prepared to have a truly healing conversation about race. She challenges us to commit to creating common ground for that discussion by memorializing the painful truths of the past.
John McWhorter shares why he sees reparations as impractical. From affirmative action to sending checks to Black organizations, reparations have, he notes, existed in some form or another for generations with varying degrees of success.
Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw explains why advocates of anti-racism need to operate using an inclusive, intersectional framework—and why that approach is the only way to fight white supremacy.
Cornel West discusses why we cannot ignore or deny Black nihilism. He also highlights esteemed Harvard Law professor Derrick Bell, who believed racism was a permanent feature of the American experience but also dedicated his life to fighting it.
Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw speaks to how the American system of governance cannot be divorced from its origins in white supremacy. She also calls for a new “constitutional imaginary” to shape a better future.
Sherrilyn Ifill examines lessons learned in the 2020 presidential election and the insurgency that followed it. She considers how they are connected to historical realities in America and why Black people cannot leave power on the table.
True greatness requires service, sacrifice, and humility. Cornel West encourages young Black Americans to look beyond financial gain and publicity when seeking success.
Nikole Hannah-Jones reminds us of what history demonstrates: Black people have never been the problem; they have always been the solution for America.
In this multi-instructor lesson, John McWhorter, Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, and Sherrilyn Ifill share what they believe is the right way forward.
Angela Davis, Cornel West, and Jelani Cobb discuss how to live your commitment to liberation and justice through Black Love. Share your skills and talents, engage in honest self-critique, and remember that you are called to service.
Meet Lewis Hamilton, a cultural icon and the most successful driver—and the first and only Black driver—in the history of Formula 1 racing. He shares what he will be teaching in this class and how you can use it to reach your fullest potential.
Learn how to harness your power and lay a foundation for achievement. In this lesson, Lewis teaches how to access and develop your natural abilities, build resilience and determination, and foster a mindset that leads to winning in all you do.
Lewis shares lessons from those who have inspired and mentored him from early in his career. He discusses finding mentors for different purposes, and how they played a part in his motivation, career path, practical skills, and overall success.
Lewis puts you in the seat of his car and describes what it feels like to be an F1 driver, emphasizing the importance of his connection with the car and his team to reach peak performance.
While Lewis has won more races than anyone in F1 history, he has learned valuable lessons from losses along the way. Learn how to deal with adversity and failure, and how to use those experiences to help you improve and get stronger.
Lewis recognizes that the performance of his team members begins and ends with him. In this lesson, he teaches strategies for promoting teamwork in your everyday life, including communication, trust-building, and leadership techniques.
Lewis’s success requires an extreme level of control on and off the track, from his physical actions and work ethic to his impulses and emotions. In this lesson, you’ll learn methods for exercising control and self-discipline for your own positive results.
Lewis shares how his training as an F1 driver can help you improve your own physical condition. Learn about his diet and exercise habits and how to find what works best for you in reaching the level of fitness necessary to achieve your goals.
Lewis shares how keeping calm and focused in the car begins well before the race starts. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to mentally prepare for and keep your mind in the right place to withstand any challenge.
In a sport where people eat, sleep, and breathe racing, Lewis says doing other things actually makes him better on the track. In this lesson, you’ll learn the benefits of exploring diverse interests to enhance your various skill sets.
In this lesson, Lewis will talk about the significance of having the courage to speak out on important issues and standing up for others.
Lewis shares ways members can effect change in their own communities and features the work he does to benefit others by opening doors that were closed to him when he first began his career.
Hillary Rodham Clinton shares why she’s teaching a class on resilience, and describes the foundational experiences that set her on the path to where she is today.
In this lesson, Hillary shares the roots of her value system and how she connected those values to a mission of advocacy, showing you how to create your own values-driven mission statement.
Working hard is not a new concept. But in this lesson, Hillary offers a framework for how you can work smarter by being a workhorse, not a show horse, constantly evaluating your prioritization, sweating the details, and always showing up.
Hillary understands what it means to live with a chaotic and jam-packed schedule. In this lesson, she walks you through a briefing binder, an organizational tool that has helped her be successful throughout her career.
Persuasion and communication are important skills to master in our personal and professional lives. Hillary breaks down how she organizes her speeches to maximize effectiveness.
Hillary walks through techniques that she’s observed from three persuasive and effective speakers: Barbara Jordan, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton.
As you work on becoming a better public speaker, learn the importance of embracing your unique strengths, knowing how to pivot, and seeking trusted guidance.
Throughout her career, Hillary has participated in critical dealmaking and many high-stakes negotiations. Here, she shares some of the key fundamentals that have helped her prepare, stay focused, and succeed.
In this lesson, learn how Hillary factors her core values and mission statement into her decisions on which battles she chooses to fight, and which she looks to compromise on.
Whether you’re in the public or private arena, whether you’re facing family, work, or political challenges, you will encounter criticism. Learn how to filter outside voices and opinions so that you can efficiently take in constructive feedback.
In this lesson, Hillary shares the key takeaways she’s learned from navigating decades of stereotypes and gender-based limitations imposed on her, and how she’s prevailed despite their constant looming presence.
Hillary walks through some of the lessons that come with making mistakes, falling short of your goals, and having to pick yourself back up after you’ve been knocked down.
It can be easy to talk yourself out of trying new or uncomfortable things, but Hillary shares why it’s important to let go of the “perfectionist gene” and work through your fears.
Hillary and her current chief of staff, Huma Abedin, have worked together for 25 years. Together, they discuss mentorship and what it looks like to have resilience in the workplace.
For the first time ever, Hillary presents the speech that she would have given if she had won the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Hillary brings the class full circle back to the idea of developing a strong sense of resilience. She encourages you to keep going through the inevitable setbacks and disappointments of life, and to continue chasing your dreams.
Reflecting on his time at the Oval Office, President Clinton welcomes you to his class, provides his personal definition of leadership, and outlines all the tools you’ll learn.
To lead anyone from one place to another, one must first understand where they’re starting from. Learn how developing a framework can help you make sense of the world.
Hear how President Clinton navigates tough decisions in uncertain situations—and how you can accomplish your goals and address crises as they arise.
Any truly great undertaking is going to require changing some minds. Discover how to work with people you don’t agree with and hear how President Clinton once enlisted a very unlikely tool in a tense situation.
President Clinton explains how he facilitates the peaceful resolution of conflict between bitterly opposed factions. He also explains how the tactics he uses can be applied in your daily life.
President Clinton reveals his approach to helping people see the value of your proposal, and he emphasizes the importance of knowing when to take a stand.
Hear the fascinating behind-the-scenes story of how President Clinton helped free two U.S. citizens from North Korea and learn the role that nuance plays in tense negotiations.
Few people can inspire a crowd like President Bill Clinton. Discover the importance of delivery, how structure affects the way a speech is received, and how to tell stories that inspire action.
It doesn’t always have to be lonely at the top. Discover the mindset President Clinton developed to excel in one of the most scrutinized leadership positions in human history.
President Clinton shares tips for identifying the best people for the job and teaches you how to harness the power of diverse individuals and opinions.
Finding the right talent is just the beginning. Learn how to earn the respect of the individuals you lead and how to unite them toward a common goal.
President Clinton reveals how a lesson he learned in his eighth-grade science class shaped his philosophy on leadership—and how that lesson can help you cultivate authentic relationships with those around you.
Leadership can be largely determined by how you keep score. Learn how to develop your own method of measuring success in your personal and professional life.
President Clinton reveals how pragmatic optimism can help you overcome challenges and setbacks, and he shares a letter to a future president of the United States.
When Joy was named the 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate, she was the first Native American poet to hold the title. But long before that, she was actively raising awareness about the lack of Native representation in the “American book of poetry”—because it contradicts the mythic storyline of America.
For many people, writing is what happens when you sit down and put pen to paper. But before we hastily jump into writing, we need to remember to listen. How can you create space for listening and inspiration before embarking upon writing? Joy shows you how to reach new levels of listening by opening up to the whole of human experience.
Artists and creators feel intimidated by all kinds of blocks. In this lesson, Joy shares her belief that knowledge is endless and shares ways to access that knowledge, such as learning to draw from your dream world to find meaning. She teaches the necessity of undoing beliefs that hold you back. Drawing on these principles will fortify you to work from an endless abundance of creativity.
Writing a poem of witness is an event in and of itself aside from the event that is being written about. In reading several types of poems, Joy shares how she views poetry of witness as essential to her political activism, the transformative power of telling the truth, and how releasing the bad can lead to a deeper understanding.
If traditional forms of poetry don’t resonate with you, explore other ways to tell your stories. In this lesson, Joy pushes you to free yourself from existing structures and make up your own by using figurative language and forms that reflect who you are.
Joy moves fluidly on and off the page—from poetry and memoir to song and music. She shares what inspires her to land on one form over another, her sense of discovery, and how she always takes time to play.
Everybody confronts similar questions: What are we doing here? How did we get here? What’s going to happen next? The mystery of not knowing often brings us to poetry as a way to help us navigate those big questions and craft our origin stories. Joy teaches us to take a breath and honor our unique identities and memories by story gathering and using objects to tap into our personal mythology.
In this lesson, Joy encourages you to look at your favorite poems to determine your “poetry ancestors” and see how relationships to past poets emerge in your writing. Discover how everyone fits into the poetic tradition, and that there is an extensive web that includes all of us.
Joy talks about her work as the U.S. Poet Laureate on the Living Nations, Living Words project, a digital mapping of contemporary Native poets located at the Library of Congress. She discusses how we use poetry for the most important rituals of our lives and urges you to use poetry to map your own soul.
Joy shares a story from her childhood and the reason she learned to play the saxophone at age 40. In this bonus lesson, Joy takes us on a journey with her musical partner Larry Mitchell to turn a poem into a song.
Decorated marathoner Joan Benoit Samuelson welcomes you to her class, tells you what it covers, and shares her inspiring story of how she went from dark horse to gold medalist in the first women’s Olympic Games marathon.
Joan helps you identify your motivation for running and how to harness it. She also provides tips for how and where to purchase the proper pair of shoes and discusses the benefits of logging minutes as opposed to miles as a marker of success.
This lesson is about the 1972 Title IX legislation, which was signed into law while Joan was in high school. She shares the personal stories that took her—a natural and passionate runner—from rural New England roads all the way to the Olympics.
Joan explains her personal goal-setting framework, outlining how setting a “pie in the sky” goal, breaking it down into short-term goals, and then using micro goals can help you achieve anything.
Joan outlines the importance of, and techniques for, finding balance in your life. She talks about overcoming self-doubt and negative thoughts, and empowers you to listen to your own body in deciding when to take time off.
Joan highlights the accessibility of running: All you need is a pair of shoes. She discusses equipment selection and breaks down all types of running environments and how they can impact a run.
In this lesson, Joan shows you how to identify and embrace your natural running style. She discusses breathing techniques, maximizing your stride, and getting the most from your arm movement.
Joan demonstrates a set of stretches and strengthening exercises, and then walks you through the steps to creating your own routine.
In this lesson, Joan gives guidance on implementing a three-month training schedule to prepare for your first marathon while demystifying race day, from when to check in to where to stand in the pack.
Joan teaches her personal method for navigating injury, shares stories of her own injuries, and proposes ways to continue advancing as a runner despite injury through a cross-training program.
To close the class, Joan reflects on how her career as a runner has changed, and perhaps more important, how it hasn’t. She inspires members to share their love of running with their families and pay it forward in the running community.
George describes the skills he’s perfected as a TV journalist and political commentator. Learn how mastering communication will improve your effectiveness in conversations and support authentic relationships, both personal and professional.
George breaks down the art of communicating under pressure. Discover strategies for successfully navigating stressful situations and for coping with nerves and emotions. George teaches how he handled challenging moments from past interviews.
Get to know George’s research process. Find out how, as a broadcaster, he got ready for high-profile interviews with presidents and his conversation with former FBI Director James Comey. Learn how to prepare for navigating unexpected situations.
From election drama to natural disasters, there are some situations for which one cannot be fully prepared. George teaches how to respond to intense or tragic situations intelligently and constructively for maximum effectiveness.
Get the details on how George prepared for and conducted his interview with President Trump. He describes the intense preparation required to challenge the president on falsehoods and how he had to be ready to ask tough questions at any moment.
Questions are key to almost any communication. George shares his strategy for prompting revealing conversations, teaches students the power of yes/no questions, and outlines the importance of prioritizing your most important questions.
A journalist’s job is to ask tough questions. George teaches how to hold others accountable for their words or actions. He shares techniques for challenging them directly and respectfully, and explains how disagreements can be extra revealing.
“No one remembers the question you didn’t ask.” George outlines how he prioritizes his communications when he has limited time, and how time constraints can give you the freedom to ask more direct and powerful questions.
Knowing how to actively listen and read body language is essential to building respect and increasing understanding in your communications. George teaches you how to spot cues and read faces to steer your own conversations.
George talks about how empathy helps him navigate challenging conversations during unexpected crises and on-air tragedies. Learn how sharing your personal story is a disarming technique that can allow for meaningful conversations.
Storytelling is one of the most impactful ways to communicate. George will look back on some of his most compelling interviews and outline his techniques for drawing out people’s emotions by listening and artfully employing follow-up questions.
Sometimes the most profound communication happens when you aren’t saying anything. In this lesson, George talks about what is being expressed in the silent moments. Learn how to use silence to prompt your subject to talk more.
Being perceived as one who can embrace humor and spontaneity helps make you a more relatable communicator. George talks about how pushing your boundaries can help you improve your communication in interactions both planned and spontaneous.
In the closing lesson, George sums up his thoughts on the future of communication and concludes with some inspirational thoughts.
Terence Tao invites you to see math the way he does—as a beautiful piece of art—and encourages you to open yourself to a new understanding of mathematics as an accessible and exciting opportunity for exploration.
Looking back, Terence can’t remember life before math. He was always drawn to it and naturally loved it. In this lesson, he shares the inner workings of a mathematical life and the difference between mathematical competitions and research.
Terence explains that the outlook on math in education used to be that it was impractical; it was like learning complicated magic just to pass a test. He also emphasizes that anyone can lean into an innate ability to think like a mathematician.
Not every problem requires a formula or mathematical training to find a solution. Terence shows you how you can apply math in everyday situations, such as wine measuring, and offers suggestions for enjoying the process of learning.
Terence challenges you to choose problems just outside your range and shares a case study in which he applies math to make airports more efficient. This example illustrates how asking questions in a different way can help you make progress.
Using the analogy of a detective solving a mystery, Terence explains how curiosity and storytelling offer a creative approach to problem-solving. The process of elimination, building narratives, and asking questions are key to moving forward.
Visualization, thinking about a problem in a different way—sometimes even in a physical way—may help lead you to solutions. This process of transforming your thinking can help you move beyond the limitations of intuition and preconceived ideas.
Terence has always been drawn to imaginary scenarios that operate within a set of guidelines or rules. He demonstrates a puzzle and how it can actually provide a life-saving solution, and he converts a math puzzle into tic-tac-toe.
Forget the intense pressure of giving the correct answer on a school math test. Terence shares a personal life lesson to teach you that there is a benefit to failing: There may be clues in your failed process that lead to breakthroughs later.
As you pursue your understanding of math, you will likely encounter roadblocks in solving problems. Terence offers tips for unlocking clues and shares how gaining knowledge by directing your attention to other problems can bring you full circle.
Math has evolved into a team activity, and being open to input from others is key to success. Terence explains how he leans on research from fellow mathematicians—and how students and peers interact with him in the same way through blogs.
We are all part of a larger math story. Terence is one of many mathematical figures who influences our understanding of the world, and there will be many after him. The human tendency to ask questions means math and science are ever-evolving.
Meet Laura and Fernando as they highlight their careers in fashion design and share what inspires them. Discover what you can expect to learn, like insights into building a brand and how to forge and maintain a thriving creative partnership.
Receive personal insights into the challenges that come with creative collaboration when launching a brand. Your instructors teach you how to resolve conflicts and maintain a thriving business relationship without compromising your vision.
Every fashion collection tells a story, so being clear on your creative perspective is crucial. Learn how to storyboard, find aesthetic inspiration, and master the ins and outs of crafting a compelling narrative for whomever you are designing.
Fernando showcases his artistic mastery by demonstrating how he “looks” for a collection by sketching. Learn what inspires him and how he re-creates his inspirations on paper.
Laura demonstrates how to turn a piece of fabric into a bespoke design for a collection. Learn how to drape and fit a garment onto a form, then get it runway-ready by making final edits once it’s on a model.
Your instructors walk you through the steps of bringing a cohesive fashion collection to the world’s view. Learn how they merge their aesthetics to create signature looks for Oscar de la Renta and their label, MONSE.
Explore world-renowned fashion label Oscar de la Renta with Laura and Fernando as they share details behind what inspired their designs and what techniques went into creating two sensational dresses.
In this lesson, your instructors take you from inspiration to showcase by highlighting an item from their MONSE Resort '22 collection. Learn how they brought this look to the runway and overcame obstacles through a creative pivot.
Go behind the runway to learn what it takes to pull off a successful show. Learn how to ideate and plan, including how to cast the right models for your collection, select appropriate music, and decide who to invite (and where to seat them).
Laura and Fernando launched their fashion line, MONSE, in 2016. They share how they came up with the aesthetic for their brand and teach you to be proactive and strategic and stay on top of trends when designing your own brand.
When it comes to running a fashion house, it takes a village. Learn how Laura and Fernando built their MONSE team, and what it takes to be a respected and successful leader. They also share team-building tips they learned from Oscar.
Laura teaches you how to build a strategic and robust business model and how to create realistic budgets when launching your new business.
Laura and Fernando tell stories about their enduring friendship and ongoing collaboration. They share secrets to a healthy professional 'marriage,' how to keep your partner in check, and the importance of creating a solid work-life balance.
Two-time James Beard award–winning author Michael W. Twitty introduces his book The Cooking Gene, the importance of preserving and promoting family food history, and why everyone should tell their food story.
Michael breaks down his process for engaging with family in the kitchen in an effort to chronicle family foodways, or food pathways. He teaches what to do and what not to do when it comes to learning in the kitchen.
Michael gives an eye-opening overview of the migratory patterns that have given rise to contemporary Southern food. He shows how anyone can learn about their food history with one look inside their pantry.
Get a glimpse of Michael’s process for discovering his culinary roots with a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of his book The Cooking Gene.
Dive deeper into African American culinary history as Michael uncovers a hidden narrative that took place during the period of the transatlantic slave trade between the late 13th century and early 19th century.
Michael pulls from his experience as a historical interpreter and historian to teach about life in the antebellum South as it relates to food.
Learn about the rise of contemporary soul food in the United States and the migratory patterns that contributed to the proliferation of Southern cuisine.
Michael introduces two critical figures in African American cuisine: Edna Lewis and James Hemings. He shows how Lewis and Hemings laid the foundation for the popularity of a cuisine with staple ingredients rooted in African foodways.
Many typical dishes from countries all over the world have roots in Africa. Michael traces back a few well-known dishes to Africa and talks about the cultural roots of what is commonly referred to as “Southern hospitality.”
Hear how Michael has come to terms with his own DNA story as he delves into the importance of speculative and genetic genealogy when researching his family history and ancestral “foodsteps.”
Addressing the African American community, Michael gives an unfiltered view of the pros and cons of DNA testing. He explores the intersection of history and genealogy to guide and point out the shortcomings of researching African American family history.
Michael divulges his step-by-step process on food writing, going beyond the palate and into the deep meaning and history behind a dish or ingredient.
Showing how anyone can use their own purpose to find their voice, Michael breaks down his blog, “Afroculinaria,” and dives into reframing society’s perspective of African American cuisine.
Researching family foodways requires facing a complex past that is often rooted in pain. Michael explores how he’s been able to tackle the pain that comes with confronting the past with vulnerability and shows how you can too.
Michael tackles the topics of cultural appropriation and environmental racism by exploring a system that denies African Americans credit for their own culinary impact.
Michael whips up what he likes to call an Okra, Corn, and Tomato “Stewp,” shares best practices for cooking okra, demonstrates traditional techniques for taste testing food, and delves into why vegetables are so prevalent in Southern cuisine.
Michael makes what he calls “West Africa’s answer to falafel” while dissecting the roots and cultural significance of black-eyed peas. He shows how to cook based on “feeling” as the ancestors did in the past.
Understand how the traditions and foodways that are passed down to all of us intersect, and how we can use that commonality to open a positive dialogue. Michael shows how recording and preserving food experiences can help you craft your own food legacy.
Chef Crenn shares her deep connection to food and how her passion evolved into a celebrated career that showcases vegetables as the main attraction. She also shares an overview of the class lessons, which are structured as a tasting menu.
Explore Chef Crenn’s kitchen tools and special equipment for making modern vegetarian meals. Discover the pantry ingredients she always has on hand, including herbs and flowers.
In the first of three tomato lessons, learn how to dehydrate tomatoes by blanching them. Then turn the skins into powder.
Building on your blanching techniques, learn how to confit peeled tomatoes. You can also add the tomato petals you’ve already made to create a more intricate dish that can stand on its own or be incorporated into a recipe in the next tomato lesson.
Learn how to marinate tomatoes and make tomato water that you can turn into a gel. Then bring all of your new tomato techniques together in an elaborate dish.
Chef Crenn shows you how to check a melon for ripeness. Then she walks you through how to cut it, marinate it, and make it into ribbons.
Learn how to grill, roast, or cold smoke melon with Chef Crenn.
Continue exploring the many forms melon can take. Turn melon balls into surprising shapes, make melon water that you can transform into gel, try out marinating and grilling your melon, and wrap up with an elevated fruit salad.
Chef Crenn teaches you how to clean, confit, and roast leeks, and shows you the steps to make a warm vinaigrette. Prepare a béarnaise sauce to top it all off in an elegantly plated dish.
Learn how to make a mushroom stock that will serve as a base, along with vegetables, confit, and smoked egg yolks. Make mushroom foam, and slice and season mushrooms to incorporate into a beautiful dish.
Discover how delicious asparagus can be in three approaches: poached in vegetable stock, then grilled; peeled with a mandolin; and blanched and grilled to serve with crème fraîche.
Chef Crenn shows you how to make a classic French comfort food, parmentier, using zucchini, onions, and carrots instead of meat. Prepare a smooth potato puree to use in the dish and top it with cheese in individual ramekins or a larger serving dish.
Often overlooked, cabbage is incredibly versatile. Learn how to sear and roast cabbage wedges, ferment sauerkraut, pickle mustard seeds, and make a potent parsley oil to create a delicious dish.
In France, cheese and salad are served toward the end of a meal to cleanse the palate. For your final exercise, make a cheese mousse to be served in stylistically cut lettuce.
With 19 No. 1 records and five Grammy Awards, your new instructor is Billboard’s “Greatest Female Artist of All Time.” Mariah welcomes you to her class and gives you a first look at her newest project, the Butterfly Lounge.
Learn how Mariah makes music: by using her voice, communicating with melody, and collaborating with other musicians. Mariah begins to reimagine “The Roof” with a string quartet.
Like any good storyteller, songwriters can use their personal experiences as inspiration. In this lesson, Mariah delves into song studies and reveals the origins behind two of her most personal songs: “Outside” and “Sunflowers for Alfred Roy.”
Mariah’s work is the blueprint for today’s pop music. In this lesson, learn how she uses samples as building blocks for original songs. She also shares how Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones, Part II” inspired her writing of “The Roof.”
Mariah shares her love for the underappreciated art of background vocals and revisits the backgrounds for “The Roof” with Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter Brandy in the Butterfly Lounge.
Mariah breaks down key elements of her process as she continues her recording session with Brandy. Then she combines the new background vocals with the string quartet session.
Lyrics aren’t the only way to communicate with listeners. Working with the string ensemble, Mariah demonstrates how instrumentation can express emotion—in this case, love and longing, or “the misery,” as she calls it.
As an instrument, the voice needs to be maintained and can be strengthened over time. Mariah covers mental preparation, humidity, and vocal rest. She also shares how vocal nodules helped her reach the whistle register.
Mariah reflects on her journey as a musical artist, and she provides tips for navigating the industry and maintaining creative control. She also reveals the full version of “The Roof,” created during her class.
An introduction to poet Amanda Gorman, beyond her iconic reading of “The Hill We Climb” at the 2021 inauguration. Amanda is the first National Youth Poet Laureate and has written three bestselling books.
Amanda broadens the concept of who can be a poet and what topics poetry can cover.
This lesson emphasizes the importance of reading to formulate your own poetic voice and build a reservoir of references.
Amanda offers an example of how to use the practice of close reading in poetry.
This lesson includes tips and tools to overcome obstacles so that you can begin the writing process.
Amanda teaches the fundamentals of how to approach and conduct research for poetry writing.
This in-depth lesson uses Amanda’s personal journals to show how she brainstormed portions of her newly published book, Call Us What We Carry.
Amanda teaches you some of the key rhetorical tools that lead to powerful poetic writing.
Amanda defines what a poetic voice is, how to find your own, and how it works as the “calling card” of a poet.
Amanda goes through the step-by-step process of poetry revision and completion.
In this in-depth lesson, Amanda demonstrates poetry editing and revision with an on-set revision of a student’s poem.
Amanda discusses her performance role models—people like Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Day-Lewis and Beyoncé—and how inspiration from others’ performances can be applied to your own.
Amanda teaches various tools to bring out your best poetic performance.
Amanda gives an in-depth lesson on poetry performance with a guided walk-through performance of a student’s poem.
Amanda gives advice on how you can help build a community of poets and find ways to grow your career—no matter where you live.
Amanda breaks down the behind-the-scenes elements of her famous performance at the 2021 presidential inauguration.
Matt and Ross Duffer share highlights from their journey to creating the hit TV series "Stranger Things" and provide an overview of their class.
The idea is everything. Matt and Ross share their process for coming up with one you’ll love: Seek inspiration, brainstorm, and embrace the importance of a “core drive.”
In this case study, Matt and Ross walk you through the first brainstorming documents from the concept that would become the hit TV series "Stranger Things."
Get an exclusive look into how Matt and Ross collaborate as they conceive a logline for a fake "Stranger Things" spin-off.
It’s important to develop good writing habits as you begin to flesh out your series idea. The brothers share their tips for holding themselves accountable, staying disciplined, and finishing their scripts.
Using never-before-seen documents from the "Stranger Things" concept development, Matt and Ross walk you through their “blue-skying” process for building out and improving ideas.
Matt and Ross teach you how to develop ideas for characters and how to introduce the most essential character arcs in your pilot script.
The world of "Stranger Things" is one of its most engaging aspects. Matt and Ross discuss how they developed the setting for the series by drawing inspiration from films, games, and their own childhood.
fter you have settled on a series idea, an important next step is building a season arc. Matt and Ross share how they ideated an arc for "Stranger Things" and how the character arcs converge into the overarching story.
Outlining is a sacred step for Matt and Ross. In this lesson, explore the brothers’ two-step outlining process—and see how they used that process to build the "Stranger Things" pilot. Plus, learn how they approach opening hooks and story beats.
Once your first outline is ready, your “scaffolding” is in place. Learn how to build on your previous work to create a final outline for a pilot that skillfully integrates storylines and conflict.
In this lesson, learn to convert your final outline into a pilot script and get an inside look at how Matt and Ross built the "Stranger Things" pilot, originally called “Montauk.”
Using the screenplay for the film "Panic Room" as a case study, plus examples from their own work, Matt and Ross unpack the key elements of a script: description, action, and dialogue. They also address scene transitions and character voices.
Continuing their imaginary Steve and Dustin spin-off concept, Matt and Ross demonstrate how they write an opening hook, and showcase their process for brainstorming, outlining, and scriptwriting under extreme time constraints.
The brothers discuss how they initially navigated the pitching process without Hollywood connections. Learn tips for finding representation and getting your script noticed.
Using materials they created when they pitched "Stranger Things," Matt and Ross cover the most important components to include in a pitch and share advice on how to practice.
Matt and Ross share what they learned from developing "Stranger Things" after it was greenlit, including how they worked in writers’ rooms and created multiple seasons.
In their class send-off, Matt and Ross offer an inside look at what it was like to develop Season 4 of the hit TV series in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kris Jenner opens up about her branding journey, starting with her family’s reality show, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” and discusses how to apply what she’s learned toward building your personal brand.
Your branding journey starts with a solid narrative. Kris discusses how to create your personal branding story by figuring out what you want to say, how you want to present yourself, and how you’ll project your brand to the rest of the world.
Learn about Kris’s childhood and why she felt she was always destined to become a mom—and a brand icon. Kris also shares her early branding inspirations and the spark that led her to pursue entrepreneurship.
Get an inside look at how Kris launched her family’s reality TV show. Kris talks about how it all came to be, how they learned the reality TV ropes, and how she and her family embraced the show’s success.
The next step in your branding journey is figuring out the audience you want to attract. Kris gives insight into how to find your followers, and shares why connecting with them is key to your brand’s growth.
Kris and her family are experts when it comes to harnessing the power of social media. She offers tips on what you should bring into focus—and what to avoid—when creating your personal brand’s online presence.
Visual storytelling is an essential step in creating visibility and awareness. Learn how to make your personal brand seen and heard using tools such as memorable visual messaging, attention-grabbing hashtags, and impactful logos.
Once you establish a successful personal brand, you may want to cash in on it. Kris talks about ways you can make your brand profitable: doing sponsored posts, forming brand collaborations, or creating a product that represents your brand.
Kris walks you through how she and her family created individual product brands. She also offers guidance on launching your own ventures by staying true to your core values and creating spin-offs that authentically represent you.
Becoming instant celebrities forced Kris and her family to quickly learn how to handle fame—and its challenges. Kris’s daughter Khloé joins her to discuss how they navigated stardom and share ideas for staying grounded and focused.
Kris wraps up her class by sharing her own road map, which led to a life of joy and gratitude. If you’re feeling hesitant or unsure of whether to take the leap into personal branding, Kris shares words of encouragement to get you started.
In this live Q and A, Kris builds on many of the key themes and insights she shared in the class. Alongside Chief Brand Officer of Kylie Cosmetics, Jennifer Cohan, Kris answers questions submitted by MasterClass members.
President George W. Bush opens up about his leadership philosophy and introduces his class. Meet Mrs. Laura Bush and visit their family home in Maine to get a feel for life after the presidency.
Listening to and learning about people takes effort, but empathy is essential to becoming a leader people want to follow. Learn how President Bush develops and maintains relationships by encouraging others to open up.
President Bush defines what a leader’s job is—and what it is not. In this lesson, he outlines his view that a leader sets the vision and leaves implementation to trusted team members.
Building a productive team that encourages disparate viewpoints is essential to successful leadership. That requires knowing your own weaknesses and strengths, listening to those around you, and recognizing when it’s time to make a change.
Tough decisions are inevitable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for them. President Bush outlines the values and principles he uses to make decisions—large or small.
When developing a plan, leaders need to create outcomes that are measurable, and the right people need accountability. Learn how President Bush develops clear goals and achieves results.
President Bush faced the unimaginable during his time in office. Learn how he dealt with crises that defined his presidency.
President Bush covers the importance of communication. He addresses his “Bushisms,” discusses the power of a heartfelt message, and shares how he structures speeches.
Gain a big-picture view of President Bush’s career. Discover the lessons he learned on his journey to becoming commander in chief.
Learn what it takes to become an elected official, from fundraising and campaigning to working at the White House. Explore the extreme highs and lows of working in public office.
Driving home his philosophy, President Bush shares how having a key set of values can help you set clear expectations and stay balanced.
Join President Bush in his personal art studio in Maine. The former president concludes his class by sharing why he decided to start painting and how he views learning as a lifelong pursuit.
John Legend, the 12-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter welcomes you to his class and shares what you’ll learn: his process for writing songs that capture a moment—or speak to a movement.
Without a great melody, your song can fall flat. Learn how John uses mumble tracks to spark melodic ideas as he shares how he wrote “All of Me,” “Again,” and “Dope.”
Song structure plays a critical role in your music. John explains how you can use structure to tell a musical and lyrical story through your songs.
Whether you want to write soaring love ballads like “Ordinary People” or capture a moment, subject matter is a key part of your identity as a songwriter. Learn how John finds inspiration in his life and the world around him every day.
Learn how to write through a lens that reflects your unique musical point of view, and turn your experiences into songs that resonate with your audience.
John deconstructs his process for writing “Glory,” the Oscar-winning closing song for the film Selma.
Learn about John’s upbringing in gospel music and how it influences his style. Opening up about his experience covering Stevie Wonder’s “Love’s in Need of Love Today,” he demonstrates how other artists’ songs can help you find your own voice.
The first step to writing lyrics is knowing what you want to say. In this lesson, John walks you through how he wrote “Free” in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
John shows you how to use lyrical motifs and themes in your songwriting to make an impact on your listener.
Learn to use rhyme schemes, word choice, and your personal experiences to write songs that are unique to you.
ohn calls himself a “promiscuous collaborator” because he loves to write songs with other artists. Learn how to be a songwriter others want to work with.
John shares how blending genres can help you create your own distinct sound.
ohn takes you into the recording booth to lay down the lead vocals for “Free.” Learn his techniques and follow along by recording your own demo.
With the lead vocal tracks recorded, John turns to composing and recording the background vocals for “Free.” Learn how to create the dynamic sound of a choir as John layers his vocals.
Learn John’s tricks for vocal arrangement—and how chord progressions can guide your composition.
How do you make a good song great? John brings “Free” into the control room to demonstrate his process for vocal comping and other editing techniques that can elevate your songs.
John shares tips for powering up your live performances, and he welcomes a gospel choir to perform “Free” together for the first time.
John shares his final thoughts on being a professional singer-songwriter, and encourages you to keep writing until you discover greatness.
Psychotherapist and bestselling author Esther Perel introduces herself and her work. She outlines how, through the class, members will learn to develop relational intelligence and improve their personal and professional relationships.
Self-awareness is the foundation of relational intelligence. In this lesson, Esther asks members five questions that reveal how their histories shape their relationships.
Esther defines empathy and uses a clip from her podcast “How’s Work?” to show how a lack of empathy, as well as three common traps, can make understanding others difficult.
Boundaries define our relationships. Esther describes the different types of boundaries and how to identify and negotiate them in both your personal and professional lives.
Power dynamics are intrinsic to all relationships. In this lesson, Esther reframes “power” and gives members the tools to identify its various forms.
Esther reveals how roles inform our relationship dynamics and how to identify the roles we play in our lives, whether wittingly or unwittingly.
Difficult conversations will always be difficult, but there are tools that can help you navigate them more effectively. Esther outlines some common difficult conversations and describes what makes them so challenging.
Learn conflict management by discovering the three most common conflict dynamics. Esther reframes the idea of conflict, showing you how to better understand and defuse conflictual situations.
Active listening is the root of effective communication. In this lesson, Esther teaches how to use the script of reflective listening to communicate better and explains the difference between dialogue and debate.
Miscommunication happens. Esther teaches how to use your communication skills to pave the way forward and how to avoid miscommunication in the future.
Building trust involves taking risks. In this lesson, Esther encourages members to take micro-risks as a way to cultivate trust and discusses the realities of betrayal.
Erotic energy is not just for the bedroom. In this lesson, Esther reframes eroticism so it applies to all relationships and shows how curiosity can deepen intimacy in all areas of your life.
Indra introduces herself, offers a glimpse into her journey as CEO of PepsiCo, and provides an overview of what she will cover in the class.
Indra shares an overview of her leadership formula—the “7 Cs”—and provides a lesson on the first three Cs of this philosophy: Competence, Creativity, and Courage.
In this lesson, Indra provides insight into how to be a great communicator—as well as how communication provides a pathway for successful mentorship and relationships with coworkers.
Indra takes you through her final two Cs—Compass (aka integrity) and Citizenship—and shares her thoughts on how to build and nurture community.
Learn how a personal stake in every interaction can drive great first impressions.
Indra demonstrates how you can ensure every meeting leads to action by effectively engaging with participants and listening to every voice in the room.
Learn what innovation means to Indra as she shares her philosophy of zooming in and out when exploring big ideas.
Using her experiences, from the top level of a global corporation to riding on truck routes with her delivery team, Indra stresses the importance of engaging with your front-end workers when strategizing for your business.
In this lesson, Indra breaks down the differences between a customer and a consumer, and introduces important terminology and strategies, including trading area analyses and capitalizing on big holidays.
Indra shares her approach on using competition to better your own business. She provides a case study of the process she followed at PepsiCo to launch Bubly, a billion-dollar sparkling-water brand.
In this lesson, Indra shares her approach for long-term strategic thinking, designed to challenge assumptions and breed innovation.
During her time at PepsiCo, Indra used megatrends to develop “Performance With Purpose,” PepsiCo’s guiding strategy. She’ll take you through the data and the trends, and how they led her team to develop a new strategic direction.
In this lesson, Indra shares her “outside-in” approach to developing a blueprint for a business, and explores how you can use megatrends to guide your own strategy.
In this lesson, Indra discusses how she sold “Performance With Purpose” to her team and her skeptics, and kept the company on track through the global launch.
Indra provides a lesson on resource segmentation, shares her advice on how to allocate resources, and highlights the importance of effectively delegating responsibility on a project.
In this chapter, Indra demonstrates how you can use her 7 Cs of Communication and Coaching to be a great manager, and encourage your direct reports to achieve their full potential.
Indra strongly believes that purpose-driven goals are as important as financial goals. She shares how she worked with her team to become a positive transformational force in the communities in which they operated.
In this lesson, Indra assesses the successes and failures of "Performance With Purpose" to demonstrate how she exercised her 7 Cs. She also discusses the resulting transformation, supply chain changes, and environmental sustainability achieved.
Organizational changes are part and parcel of building a business. In this lesson, Indra shares her process of working through growing pains and transitioning to new organizational structures.
ndra discusses the megatrends she sees today and analyzes their impact on society. She challenges members to find the opportunities presented by these trends in their own field.
Indra provides insight into crisis management at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she was brought on board a task force to reopen the state of Connecticut and strike a careful balance between saving businesses and keeping everyone safe.
Former FBI Special Agent John Douglas introduces himself and his journey in becoming the first criminal profiler. He discusses how he became interested in the idea that behavior is predictable, which led to the FBI’s first criminal profiling program. You’ll get a glimpse into how these methods are valuable in everyday life.
In this lesson, we learn how John’s career took a turn to interviewing serial killers. We hear the backstory to the Ed Kemper case, when he decided to break FBI protocol to interview Kemper in prison. John shows you what it was like when 6'9" Kemper first entered the interview room.
John shares never-before-heard clips with Ed Kemper, known as the “Coed Killer,” who murdered college students, along with his mother. John’s interviews with Kemper set him on a path to understanding that all criminal minds exemplify three personality traits: manipulation, domination, and control. John challenges you to identify these traits in people you know to avoid being manipulated.
Charles Manson led a cult in the 1960s that ended with the infamous Tate–LaBianca murders. After detailing the crimes, John explains how we may know similar people in our own lives—not necessarily cult leaders, but people who share the same characteristics of a sociopathic personality.
John Wayne Gacy was a notorious liar—as well as a serial killer who raped, tortured, and murdered at least 33 young men and boys. In this lesson, John deep dives into Gacy’s compulsive mendacity, and lays out ways to read someone’s behavior to determine if they’re being untruthful.
David Berkowitz, a.k.a. the Son of Sam, terrorized New York in the late 1970s. When John interviewed him, he drilled down on the “why,” asking questions—a lot of them. He shares how catching serial killers comes down to a simple equation: why + how = who. With this as the foundation for asking the right questions, John provides guidance for understanding the motives of people in our own lives.
In the case of Robert Hansen, we learn that he hunted his victims for sport in the Alaskan wilderness. John uses his interviews with Hansen to present the building blocks of criminal profiling, which can be summed up in three words: behavior reflects personality.
David Carpenter, a.k.a. the Trailside Killer, was known for stalking and murdering victims on hiking trails near San Francisco. John shows us how he used empathy to analyze the offender and victims—a process that led to Carpenter’s capture. He discusses why empathy is an important tool in analyzing others.
John gives us an inside look at the case of convicted rapist and child murderer Darrell Gene Devier. He notes that we all have vulnerabilities—but if you can learn how to identify them in others, you can use them to predict behavior. By understanding Devier’s vulnerabilities, John was able to coax a confession out of him.
Ever feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up? That’s your intuition, and you should listen to it. In this lesson, John provides examples of cases in which intuition potentially saved lives—and walks us through ways we can develop our own intuition.
John discusses the BTK Strangler, a serial killer who sent taunting letters to the police and media. In this lesson, John explains the differences between MO and signature so we can determine whether others are interfering in our lives.
In this lesson, John explores the importance of taking calculated risks through analysis of convicted murderer Wayne Williams. He’ll challenge you to take calculated risks—even if that means making the same mistake twice. Fear of making decisions can stand in the way of doing groundbreaking work.
Some cases cut to John’s core—such as the abduction of Shari Faye Smith by Larry Gene Bell. As horrifying as this case was, it provided John an opportunity to develop concrete, lifesaving lessons for everyday life.
In this final lesson, John discusses the importance of profiling ourselves. By understanding who we are, we can better understand others. In addition, John shares how his demanding schedule affected his health, and the importance of work-life balance.
Bestselling author and award-winning journalist Michael Pollan shares where his fascination with food chains began, and celebrates the start of the class with a surprise.
Michael describes the Western diet, the American paradox, and the values you can express through what you eat. He also teaches members how to plant seeds—literally and metaphorically.
Michael demystifies intentional eating. He also walks you through how systemic injustices invade our food systems and why they need to be addressed through government policies.
Learn how to navigate the four food chains—industrial, big organic, regenerative, and first-person—and explore the values each one represents.
Join Michael for a visit to a regenerative farm and listen in as he talks with farmers about their permaculture practices. Learn how their approach affects animals and plants on the farm, as well as the surrounding neighborhood.
Michael uncovers the truth of the meat industry, including the disturbing realities for animals and workers. He also offers insight on how meat-eating can be more ethical and provides a look at viable meat alternatives.
Set yourself up for success, and good health. Michael teaches you why diets don’t work and offers his own simple food rules as a more sustainable option.
Michael explains why you should avoid ultraprocessed foods and how to distinguish real food from food-like substances. Learn how to smartly navigate a supermarket—then embark on a scavenger hunt.
It’s not just the food you eat, but the amount. Michael opens your eyes to the psychological tricks corporations employ to get you to eat more, and shows you how to avoid their traps.
Michael walks you through the many benefits that a primarily plant-based diet has to offer. He also offers his take on the controversial topic of GMOs.
Michael explores the unique history of coffee and sugar. Learn how these substances affect your body and mind—and manage your consumption to fit your needs.
Cooking is the most important skill you can hone to eat intentionally. Michael shows you how to rediscover the joy of preparing your own food.
Michael shares his view on the power of communal meals, and he urges you to embrace the ways eating can bring people together.
Supermodel and icon Naomi Campbell shares highlights from her career and the famous Black models who helped pave the way.
Naomi gives an overview of the modeling industry and shares tips on how to get an agent, handle contracts, pull together a model bag, and more.
Naomi reflects on some of her most memorable fashion spreads and touts the importance of being a chameleon when building your portfolio and your career.
Before Naomi knew how to pose for pictures, she used her dance training to tell a story with her body. In this lesson, Naomi teaches you how to look good in pictures and boost your confidence by overcoming your fear of posing.
Student models demonstrate their posing skills in a session with Naomi and photographer Joseph Degbadjo
In this lesson, Naomi breaks down the runway and how she developed her own signature walk. Plus, she gives tips for how to keep going no matter what.
Naomi watches aspiring models walk the runway and provides constructive feedback on how they can improve their technique.
Naomi has made it a personal mission to create space for diversity and inclusion in the modeling industry. In this bonus lesson, she gives guidance to four up-and-coming models trying to launch their careers in fashion.
With instructors at the front end of crypto and economics, this class reveals the inner workings of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Meet your new board of advisers: Emilie Choi, Chris Dixon, Paul Krugman, and Changpeng “CZ” Zhao.
Changpeng “CZ” Zhao deconstructs the true origins of crypto and how the mysterious figure known as “Satoshi Nakamoto” introduced it to the world. Then, Chris Dixon shares why cryptocurrency and Web3 are in a golden age.
The instructors outline why cryptocurrency and blockchain technology may be the answer to many of the problems facing the world today.
Professor Paul Krugman shares the reasons behind his skepticism of cryptocurrency and blockchains, including what he sees as their misleading and unreliable value.
In a MasterClass first, CZ and Professor Paul Krugman engage in a debate covering several of crypto’s most polarizing topics, including the greatest challenges for digital currency.
In this lesson, Emilie Choi and Chris Dixon detail the futuristic world of Web 3—powered by blockchain technology and cryptocurrency—and the prospects of the “new internet.”
Emilie Choi, Chris Dixon, and CZ discuss some of the drawbacks of on-chain technology and the innovations necessary to propel blockchains and cryptocurrency into the future.
Emilie Choi shares executive insight into how entrepreneurs can best interact amid the excitement of cryptocurrency. CZ and Chris Dixon dive into how blockchain could help solve some of the traditional challenges that entrepreneurs face.
Groups operating in cryptocurrency are exploring the communal potential of DAOs, “decentralized autonomous organizations.” Chris Dixon examines why DAOs were created and how they are experiments in democracy.
NFTs may be the buzziest acronym in cryptocurrency. One by one, Chris Dixon deconstructs the types of NFTs and their potential applications. He also shares how these tokens allow for participation and ownership for everyone involved.
There is a proliferation of tokens in the cryptocurrency space—but they don’t all hold real value. Chris Dixon unpacks the tokens that exist in the market and shares tips on what to consider before buying into something new.
Stablecoins may have at least two sides. Emilie Choi discusses different types of stablecoins and their potential, while Professor Paul Krugman argues that this type of cryptocurrency is an example of an old banking problem.
Continuing their cryptocurrency debate, Professor Paul Krugman and CZ cover the contentious topic of Stablecoins.
The cryptocurrency market has had its share of ups and downs. Professor Paul Krugman draws economic parallels between traditional and decentralized finance. Then, Emilie Choi and CZ state their case for the importance of volatility.
The crypto ecosystem is seen by some as a world of innovation and by others as a world of scams. Professor Paul Krugman and CZ cover the dangers present in the cryptocurrency landscape and offer ways to protect yourself.
Wrapping up their debate, Professor Paul Krugman and CZ scrutinize the consumer market for crypto and blockchains and their visions for the technology’s future.
Professor Paul Krugman details the history of financial regulation, including how it works and who it serves, and he discusses why he believes cryptocurrency shouldn’t be exempt from legal oversight.
The instructors share their views on how cryptocurrency and blockchain will continue to evolve.
Emilie Choi breaks down the basics of blockchain technology in this quick, animated lesson and explains how it can create a more open, accessible financial model.
Legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski—best known as Coach K—teaches values-driven leadership. With five national championships and three olympic gold medals, the winningest coach in NCAA history helps you develop a personalized path to success.
Define the core principles of your organization: Learn how Coach K aligned his personal objectives with those of his teams through an impromptu “values meeting.”
Coach K shares how to develop team culture by building trust and setting standards—not rules. Create collective responsibility for every member of your team to work toward a common goal.
Coach K takes a time-out with one of his former captains, NBA champion Shane Battier, to discuss the qualities of the Duke basketball team and Team USA that contributed to their success.
Learn what legendary Coach Bobby Knight called the “motion offense” by making game-time decisions on and off the court.
Hear Coach K’s experience working with Kevin Durant on using body language as a powerful form of nonverbal communication.
In this lesson, Coach K and Shane Battier discuss the process of making the critical decisions that led their team to the national championship.
In this lesson, Coach K breaks down the elements of effective communication, including ways to maximize messaging and run an effective meeting.
Learn when it’s appropriate to use emotions—and when it’s not. In this lesson, Coach K introduces the concept of “next play” and how it motivated Duke players to keep moving forward.
Taking leadership lessons from the court to the conference room, Coach K and Shane Battier discuss how to navigate moments of transition in your life and career.
Coach K shares his approach to recruitment and retention for the Duke basketball organization. Learn how to appeal to candidates by considering their priorities as whole people.
Learn how to improve the skills of the best people on your team and inspire them to become even better. With individual growth opportunities, self-critique, and humility, your team can achieve collective improvement.
In this lesson, learn how to give feedback and recognition, and navigate difficult conversations that can determine the success of your team.
Establish a tiered approach to your organization’s structure that supports early leaders and accommodates upward mobility.
Coach K reflects on the environment that gave Shane Battier the confidence to step up as a leader of the Duke basketball team.
Learn how to use tone, time, place, and emotion to elevate your team’s performance. Coach K shares his memory of preparing Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and the other members of Team USA to compete at the 2008 Olympic games.
Seize the moment. In this final lesson, Coach K shares how suffering a loss can teach you more than getting a win.
Roz introduces herself by sharing her powerful journey from research scientist to innovation leader across five different industries. She also runs you through everything she will cover in her class.
The only constant is change. Roz provides a look into her decision-making process when she transformed Walgreens from a retail store into a healthcare company. She highlights the ongoing impact for the company’s employees and community.
In this lesson, Roz breaks down one of her most valuable skills—active listening. She explains how active listening can foster an environment of innovation. Then she hears pitches from three interns from Walgreens’ summer internship program.
Roz talks through a time in which she was at a crossroads as CEO of Sam’s Club. She shows you how she leveraged critical data to build insights and make decisions that would help expand the overall customer base of the business.
For every problem there is a solution—if you know where to look. Roz explains how she made difficult decisions at Kimberly-Clark, where she had to choose which facilities to close. She explains how staying agile can help you make tough calls.
Disruption leads to growth, which is why Roz continues to highlight the importance of technology for innovation. She discusses how the inception of the Starbucks app significantly impacted the success of the business during her tenure.
In this lesson, Roz talks about what she looks for when putting together teams and how she challenges those teams to do their best work. She explains how she encourages her teams to come up with the most innovative, out-of-the-box solutions.
Instilling a learning culture within your organization is vital for innovation. Roz encourages you to stay curious and shares examples from her time as a STEAM student at Spelman College. She discusses how transformative decisions at Walmart helped shape her growth mindset.
As one of only two Black women to ever run a Fortune 500 company, Roz knows what it takes to transcend adversity. Now she shares how she has navigated predominantly White, male-dominated industries by building a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A crisis can transform a learner into a leader. In this lesson, Roz shines a light on how some of her most challenging moments were also some of her greatest learning experiences. She reminds leaders—present and future—of the steps they can take during any hard time.
To lead a team through innovation, you must first gain the trust and buy-in of your employees. Roz discusses the importance of integrating your values into your leadership style to ensure you are prioritizing what’s important to you.
Without mentorship, Roz would not be where she is today. In this lesson, she pays it forward with three bright, young Spelman College students. Then she offers advice on the best ways to mentor your own team.
Roz summarizes all that she’s covered in her class and shares her final thoughts on leadership, innovation, and growth.
Karla introduces herself, her work, and the key takeaways of her class—including how style has the ability to reflect one’s personal story and put spark out into the world.
Clothes can make you feel powerful. Karla shares how important styling can be when used as a tool to put your best foot forward. She reminds us that like anything else, how we approach getting dressed is a habit—and habits take practice.
Karla gives an inside view into all that goes into her styling process, from working with a new client to creating a red carpet statement, breaking down step-by-step how she creates iconic looks for her A-list clients.
In this lesson, Karla offers practical tips for breaking into the styling industry. She dives into the functional aspects of her work by detailing an average day and how the culmination of years of experience allows for swift problem-solving.
Learn how Karla used her profession not only to start multiple businesses but also to give back through brand partnerships. She explains how she filled access gaps with the Wishi styling app, the Period Company, and more.
In this lesson, Karla helps you discover your own personal style by conducting research, creating a visual library, getting thrifty, taking risks, and—most importantly—just wearing it already.
Through her own personal wardrobe staples, Karla helps you understand how a few strong, organized pieces can make fashion less daunting. She also walks you through how to curate a capsule wardrobe of your own.
Karla details working with Tracee Ellis Ross and Justin Bieber, and takes you through the history and cultural relevance of one of her staple looks: Le Smoking Suit.
It’s never too late to pivot. When Alexis Ohanian left Reddit in 2020, he wanted to work with companies that were more aligned with his personal values. Now he’s sharing strategies to carve your own path and build a successful startup.
Alexis has a unique perspective as both an entrepreneur and a founder. He talks about his process for identifying business ideas, nailing execution, and streamlining workflow. The only thing you need? The confidence to try.
The word “entrepreneur” gets a lot of flack. Alexis explains that being an entrepreneur is a mindset as much as a practice. In this lesson, he shares the perspective needed to devise new ideas, scale your business—and change the world.
Fundamentally, a good founder solves everyday problems. The challenge isn’t coming up with a million-dollar idea. It’s executing it. Alexis recommends carrying a notebook (a hard copy or digital app) to capture your ideas at a moment’s notice.
Online communities are as real as offline ones. Alexis introduces you to the new wave of online art and the value of NFTs with an anecdote about the theft of the Mona Lisa a century ago.
Great ideas are worthless without execution. Alexis instructs you on how to test your idea in the simplest way possible before launching. Excessive delays or over-perfecting may indicate problems with your idea.
Let’s get down to brass tacks. Alexis describes the essential every entrepreneur needs to master: how to pitch your ideas to investors, including selling yourself (in addition to your concept). Find out why simpler pitches are often more appealing.
Alexis explains why surrounding yourself with reliable people is more important to your business than having perfect ideas. Learn how to hire wisely, fire quickly, and invest in people who give a damn.
Learn from Alexis how to ignore your omnipresent distraction: competitors. Avoid obsessing over the competition and focus on your goal. Rather than replicating and reacting, be an innovator who moves forward instead.
Whether they’ve grown dramatically or hit a subtle plateau, most new companies look different a year after launch. Alexis shares insights from advising hundreds of successful startups about evaluating progress and identifying the right moment for change.
Few entrepreneurs achieve success by themselves. Alexis instructs you to seek feedback from the people around you—beginning with family, from whom you can draw inspiration, support, and a reliable sounding board.
Alexis helps you understand media coverage, recommending that you read your press, good or bad—and then discard it. Ultimately, you should be focused on the future of your business, rather than what someone said about it yesterday.
Learn how to align your business with customers’ values. Alexis describes why caring about details and the way you communicate to your customers matters.
Nothing will work unless you do. Alexis explains the importance of creating a healthy work-life balance and saving some of yourself…for you.
Alexis teaches how to use the internet for more than personal gain: Beyond business, it can be leveraged for philanthropy, campaigning, and activism. You don't need to ask permission to make the world a better place.
Sometimes it just feels right to do something dramatic. Alexis shares the message he hoped to send when he resigned from Reddit. He talks about his new VC firm, Seven Seven Six, whose purpose is to support founders who are changing the world.
Mellody Hobson is the current president and co-CEO of Ariel Investments, America’s first Black-owned mutual fund firm, founded by John Rogers in 1983. In this class, Mellody will teach you how you can apply strategic thinking to any circumstance, no matter what highs or lows you might be facing in your everyday life. Using the case study method of teaching, she will evaluate two pivotal decisions she made as a business leader and will put you in the position to consider what you would do at that moment.
Strategic thinking is an essential skill when navigating adverse circumstances. Mellody shares the guiding principles that she relies on, as well as her toolkit for leading her teams through difficult periods.
Mellody discusses the circumstances that led to a key decision she made at Ariel Investments in 2008 when she was the company’s president. She explains the business and why it became necessary to make a critical decision about the firm’s survival. Then she prompts you to consider what you would do in her shoes.
Mellody breaks down the tough decisions that she made around Ariel’s head count strategy. She will share how she handled internal and external communications around this issue, and what she did to keep morale and confidence up during this challenging time.
Mellody reveals another obstacle that Ariel Investments faced during her tenure. She elaborates on the operational changes proposed to address industry research, portfolio and client diversification, and stock analysis. She will then ask you to consider how you would handle the challenge as a leader.
In this last portion of the lesson, Mellody discusses the various outcomes that improved Ariel Investment’s operations and portfolio management decisions. She concludes the case by providing students with her key takeaways and thoughts regarding the accumulation of knowledge and how it leads to better decision-making outcomes.
Mellody introduces you to the next case study about her time at DreamWorks Animation. She explains the structure of the company, the role of the board, and the trajectory of the entertainment giant during this critical period.
Mellody unpacks the two options that presented themselves at DreamWorks and explains the challenging decision that the board needed to make. Although both options involved selling the company, the outcomes would be far from the same. She prompts you to consider how you would navigate the situation.
Mellody shares what she and the DreamWorks board ultimately decided, and what happened as a result. She highlights the key takeaways and learnings from the case and inspires you to think big when it comes to acquisitions.
Mellody shares her final thoughts with students and what she hopes they have taken away from this class. She will encourage students to use this new information to guide them in their decision-making and hopes this adds value to their career development and journey.
As the author of more than 150 books and one of the most cited scholars ever, Noam Chomsky is an iconoclastic linguist who’s been speaking out against illegitimate uses of power since the 1960s. He won’t hand you any answers—but he will help you discover the truth for yourself.
Noam Chomsky shares his views on the impact of social media on society. Get Noam’s cutting insights and learn about the responsibility of the individual to challenge mainstream narratives.
Noam Chomsky shares his theory of “Manufacturing Consent,” which exposes the power of the media to influence, control, and shape public perception. Learn how to use Noam’s five filters to think more critically about what you consume.
Stop doomscrolling and start thinking for yourself. Noam Chomsky rallies each of us to engage proactively in creating a better future, one that is driven by justice, equality, and sustainability. Noam won’t tell you whom to listen to or how to act—but he will help you discover the truth for yourself.
Noam Chomsky’s groundbreaking work in linguistics shines a light on the ways that language influences society and our place within it. According to Noam, it is through understanding language that we can question existing power structures and challenge the prevailing wisdom.
Find out how Navy SEAL veteran Jocko Willink—recipient of the Silver Star for valor in combat—defines true leadership, and why it’s the most important element of success on the battlefield, in business, and in life.
The stronger your relationships, the stronger your team will be. Learn how to build rapport, establish trust, and listen like a battle-proven leader. Increase your influence and earn respect with Jocko’s insight.
Jocko walks you through his five steps of success for new leaders. Learn how to be confident—not arrogant—so you can lead and execute effectively. Jocko also shares an invaluable tool for keeping your team motivated and engaged.
Join Jocko for Operation Team-Building. Jocko workshops issues with an executive who wants to build a better connection with his employees. Find out how to push yourself to improve, deal with underperformers, and provide more meaningful support.
Jocko opens up about one of the most difficult moments in his career as a military leader, and teaches you how to cultivate a culture of accountability. Learn to build trust by taking ownership of everything going on in your world.
The first law of combat leadership stems from the battlefield tactic “cover and move.” This approach emphasizes the importance of each team member’s contribution to the mission. Learn to get teams to work together, address burnout, and more.
Fight the urge to overcomplicate, even if your organization is working with thousands of moving pieces. Learn how to break down objectives into actionable steps so your teams can execute plans seamlessly with Jocko’s second law of leadership.
Jocko shares his tools for making better decisions under pressure. Learn to prioritize, navigate crises, and keep your teams moving forward. He also teaches his steps for de-escalating difficult situations—at work and at home.
In the most effective teams, everybody leads. Learn how this principle from the front lines applies to the business world and how to create teams that are empowered to operate with freedom, integrity, and accountability.
Discover why the most powerful leadership skills are sometimes counterintuitive. Jocko shares his perspective on the dichotomy of leadership and highlights the most critical tools for fulfilling your potential personally and professionally.
Dream big, execute small. Find out how the secrets of elite performance can help you reach any goal with Atomic Habits author James Clear, the behavior change expert whose framework is trusted by the NFL, NBA, and more.
Find out why focusing on goals can trip you up—and how to build a smarter system for success. James walks you through building a collection of habits that help you make progress toward your goals every day.
Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you want to become. Identify and evaluate the stories you tell yourself through your daily actions. Then design habits that help you live up to the most successful version of you.
Dive into the science of habit formation and behavior change. Find out how feedback loops train you to repeat certain behaviors—and use those same patterns to make intentional choices about the actions you take.
James shares the eye-opening first step of behavior change: self-awareness. Learn how your automatic behaviors influence your life and how to spark immediate change with James’s “implementation intention” assignment.
Learn to use “mindset reframes” and other tools to reprogram how you think about good habits so that you’re much more likely to follow through on your new strategy for success.
James walks you through the most critical element of building habits that pay off. Discover the difference between motion and action. Start creating habits that stick with the two-minute rule.
Behaviors that are rewarded get repeated, and behaviors that are punished get avoided. James shows you how to apply this simple principle to your advantage. Create “signals of progress” to help you build momentum and become unstoppable.
James applies the updated Atomic Habits framework to common goals, from being more productive to saving money. He also explains how to use the inverse of the four behavior laws to help you effectively break bad habits, like smoking.
Discover tools for today’s challenges, from navigating remote work to minimizing mindless scrolling. James also teaches you to optimize your nonworking hours and shares some parting advice to help you get started on the new you right away.
Martha Stewart is one of the most iconic and enduring business moguls around. Spend the day with her and learn how hard work, evolution, and collaboration are her recipe for success. Dive deeper with Martha in Part 2.
Now that you’ve spent a day in the life of Martha Stewart, sit down with her in Part 2 as she dives even deeper into how she approaches life at home and at work.
Award-winning writer-director Ava DuVernay invites you behind the scenes of her newest feature film, ORIGIN, to share how you can identify, develop, and execute your vision to achieve successful outcomes—and direct the life you want.
Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban shares his method for succeeding in business. Maximize your time, grow your profits, and outshark all of your competition. Complete his class and submit your pitch for your chance to win a meeting with Mark.
Learn proven techniques from three former CIA intelligence officers to spot red flags, assess bias, and make better decisions so you can get exactly what you want, at work and at home.
Get insider access to three former CIA intelligence officers as they reveal never-before-told stories and the lessons they learned about leadership, perfecting your pitch and the path to a career at the CIA.
Master Sommelier Emily Wines debunks wine myths, ditches snobbery, and helps make wine easy to enjoy. Learn to pick, pair, and pour like a pro.
Self-taught design legend and founder of Magnolia Joanna Gaines shares her design process. Cut through the confusion, discover your design North Star, and bring your dream home to life—no matter where you live.
Discover menopause essentials with Halle Berry and top experts. Learn how hormones impact your physical, emotional, and mental health, and gain insights to better understand this transformative life stage.
Get insider tips from pros who’ve made millions betting on sports. In this class, you'll learn how to find the edges, manage your bankroll, and avoid rookie mistakes.
Mindy Kaling teaches you how to own your voice, turn setbacks into wins, and create your own success story.
Our instructors explain why a growth mindset is so powerful and how you can adopt it in three simple steps. You’ll also learn how to use stress and setbacks as creative fuel, and how to be an impactful mentor at work, at home, and beyond.
Whether having fun or forging a deep emotional relationship, sex is a powerful way to get in touch with yourself and connect with others. In Part 1, bestselling author and sexologist Shan Boodram shares how to discover your turn-on triggers, explore solo play, and have better, hotter, more passionate sex.
In Part 2, Shan teaches how to cultivate intimacy and deepen connections. Whether you’re single, married, or somewhere in between, discover the art of flirting, the science of seduction, and how to have deeper intimacy without inhibitions.
Discover the vast ecosystem of beneficial bacteria, a.k.a. microbes, living in your gut, how it helps the brain and body function better, as well as easy recipes that help nurture this tiny universe—with the world’s leading experts on gut health.
Learn how today’s industrialized food system has damaged the community of beneficial bacteria living inside you. Also, get your gut under control with the recipes and foods that can help you rebuild your microbiome back to good health. Share Bookmark m Gut Health With Leading Experts View Recipes All Episodes My Notes All Episodes Your gut is the gateway to great health. The world’s leading gut health experts teach how to boost well-being, starting with what’s inside you. 3 episodes • 1 hr 20 min Episode queue Play next video: 25:28 Duration: 25 minutes, 28 seconds. 1. The Microbes Among Us . David Zilber, Dr. Emeran Mayer, and Erica Sonnenburg & Justin Sonnenburg .Progress: 1%. 26:51 Duration: 26 minutes, 51 seconds.Now playing, 2. The Modern Gut Dilemma . David Zilber, Dr. Emeran Mayer, and Erica Sonnenburg & Justin Sonnenburg . Play next video: 28:31 Duration: 28 minutes, 31 seconds. 3. Rebuilding the Biome, Mind, & Body . David Zilber, Dr. Emeran Mayer, and Erica Sonnenb
A way to help your gut you might not know? A dog licking your face. Some other ways to encounter different bacteria: not being TOO sanitary or through easy fermentation recipes. Fostering diversity in the gut is a great route to good health.
