In this new episode, Jason Dressel hosts Susan Morrison, author of “Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live,” on “The History Factory Podcast.” Morrison discusses Lorne Michaels’ leadership style, emphasizing his intuitive management, remote presence and minimal praise. She highlights Michaels’ ability to maintain SNL’s format while evolving its content, as well as his strategic approach to managing conflicts. Dressel and Morrison discuss Michaels’ influence on American culture and his unique ability to balance work and life. Morrison also shares insights from her extensive research into subjects including Michaels’ decision-making processes and his impact on SNL’s longevity and succession planning.

SNL 50: Leadership Lessons from Lorne

In this podcast episode, we talk with Halley Knigge, REI’s divisional vice president of communications, and Will Dunn, Co-op Living Archive and impact communications program manager, on the creation of REI’s Living Archive and the impact of the collection. The archives includes artifacts from the 1880s to the present day, serving as a portal for business units across the company to access historic gear, oral histories and revolutionary product items. Since its launch in 2024, the archives has fostered employee engagement and inspired product design. Tune in to learn more about how the REI team aims to expand the internal reach and impact of the Living Archive.

The Launch of REI’s Living Archives

Utah State University (USU) owns the Outdoor Recreation Archive, a living archives documenting the history of outdoor gear. Since its inception, it has been accessed by some of the world’s most recognizable brands, including REI, Nike, Columbia and others. Host Erin Narloch sits down with Chase Anderson, industry relations manager for outdoor product design and development and the Outdoor Recreation Archive at USU, and Clint Pumphrey, manuscript curator and program chair for archives outreach and instruction at USU, the duo behind the archives, to discuss what began as a donation of outdoor gear catalogs and has since become a globally recognized resource for students, scholars and leading outdoor brands.

Preserve. Inspire. Repeat: The Archives Fueling Outdoor Brands

What goes into the 75-year legacy of one of the world’s most iconic footwear brands? Erin Narloch interviews Sandra Trapp, senior manager of history management and adidas global brands brand partnerships, on the adidas archival collection, its history and its role in the company. Founded in 2009, the collection holds around 40,000 catalog pieces, including footwear, apparel and file storage equivalent to three kilometers. Erin and Sandra discuss how the archives supported adidas’ 75th anniversary and how pulling out historical assets for the momentous occasion was more than just a blast from the past—it was also a global movement. Tune in to learn more about Sandra and her work at adidas.

Three Stripes, 75 Years: Tales From the adidas Archives

In this episode, History Factory’s Erin Narloch interviews longtime employees of the Dickies archives Ann Richardson, director of trend development, and Corinna Wright, senior design manager. Ann and Corinna, who have been with Dickies for 50 and 28 years respectively, discuss their roles in merchandising, product development and the creation of the archives. 

From Merchandising to Memory Keepers: The Dickies Archivists' Tale

History Versus Heritage: Demystifying Brand Storytelling

Nina Thomas, director of exhibits and public programs at the Delta Flight Museum, joins host Jason Dressel for an insider’s look at how Delta Air Lines is celebrating 100 years of flight.

The Delta Difference: A Century of People and Progress

Host Erin Narloch sits down with Tara McRae, the new president and managing director of PUMA North America, to unravel the intricate dance between a brand’s storied past and its vibrant future. McRae, a veteran of iconic brands including Bose and Clarks, champions “true authenticity” as the bedrock of a successful brand.

Fueling the Future: How PUMA Harnesses Brand DNA

Brewing Up History: A Chat With Dogfish Head Founder Sam Calagione

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape how organizations access and apply information, many companies are overlooking one of their most powerful resources: corporate archives. Chris Juhasz, senior director of archives at History Factory, explains how archival collections—when properly digitized, structured and made accessible—can serve as a trusted foundation for AI tools and enterprise-wide knowledge systems. These records hold critical context, institutional memory and source-verified data that large language models often lack.

The AI Data Gap: Why Historical Assets Matter More Than Ever

Join us on the digital airwaves with The History Factory Podcast, which takes a refreshing look at the rich and sometimes provocative heritage of major U.S. and global organizations. Host Jason Dressel, Managing Director at History Factory, and his guests explore current events and other topics related to business heritage. Company history comes alive in this engaging, thought-provoking show.

SNL 50: Leadership Lessons from Lorne

The History Factory Podcast

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