From arthouse cinema to Tokyo storyboards, this two-part premiere of Speak Easy with Amar Shah and Kaylee Chicoski explores how two global storytelling engines — A24 and Manga — have turned creativity into culture.

A24 built a $3.5 billion studio by making film feel rebellious again. Shonen Jump built a billion-dollar ecosystem by listening to fans and turning feedback into franchises. Together, they reveal a simple truth: when you put community first, your audience builds your world for you.

🎯 We talk about:

• How A24 replaced Miramax as the modern rebel studio
• Turning controversy and creativity into community
• Why A24’s fanbase treats a movie logo like a luxury brand
• How Weekly Shonen Jump turns reader surveys into global IP
• The creative ecosystem behind One Piece, Naruto, and Dragon Ball
• Lessons for brands on collaboration, content flywheels, and fan trust

Show Notes

Part 1 – A24: The Indie Studio That Became a Brand
00:00 – Cold Open: Rebel DNA and the birth of A24
01:16 – The A24 aesthetic and why audiences trust the logo
03:30 – Marketing magic: grassroots campaigns and viral activations
05:49 – Building a fanbase around a production house
08:04 – Scaling up without losing soul: AI, blockbuster stars, and creative risk
10:23 – The business of community: A24 as a case study in fandom

Part 2 – Manga: The World’s Most Engaged Storytelling Ecosystem
15:49 – Inside Weekly Shonen Jump: audience-first creativity
17:51 – The editor–artist relationship as creative production model
19:47 – Fan feedback loops and why weekly manga never sleeps
23:07 – How digital distribution globalized manga and anime
24:56 – From Webtoon to Netflix: the new creative pipeline
27:09 – The content flywheel every brand should study
30:43 – The power of niche communities and fandom culture

New Yorker articles:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/09/01/a24s-empire-of-auteurs

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/09/01/how-weekly-shonen-jump-became-the-worlds-most-popular-manga-factory

Official Show Description

Speak Easy with Amar Shah and Kaylee Chicoski is where storytelling meets strategy and fandom becomes community.

Hosted by Emmy-winning storyteller Amar Shah and Shorty Award-winning strategist Kaylee Chicoski, the show explores how fan engagement drives culture, connection, and business growth.

From Taylor Swift to the Super Bowl, each episode, produced by West Egg Ventures, dives into how brands, creators, and fans build lasting loyalty through emotion, authenticity, and shared story.

Our Mission
We help sports, lifestyle, and culture-driven brands grow through fan-first strategy, creator-led content, and cultural activations that turn engagement into loyalty.

Learn more at WestEggVentures.com

📩 info@westeggventures.com

🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@WestEggVentures

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/west-egg-ventures