Behind the scenes of my new Netflix series
I've always thought of myself as a student trying to get to the bottom of things. A good day for me is one where I go to sleep with just a little bit more knowledge than I had when I woke up in the morning. So, when I am deciding how to spend my time these days, I usually ask myself three questions: Will I have fun? Will I make a difference? And will I learn something?
My new Netflix Series, What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates, is out. And when I think back on the process of working on it over the last two years, the answer to all three questions is a resounding “yes.”
Working on the Series
I had an amazing time working with the super talented director, Morgan Neville. As you might guess from the title, What’s Next? is a show about the future. I’m very fortunate to get to work on a number of interesting problems. I feel extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from some truly incredible people during the making of this show.
Each episode focuses on a different challenge: artificial intelligence, climate change, misinformation, disease eradication, and income inequality. I sat down with some of the big thinkers and innovators who are pushing for progress. It was an eye-opening experience.
Memorable Conversations
I got to have conversations on camera with familiar faces like Dr. Anthony Fauci, Open A.I. co-founder Greg Brockman, and the groundbreaking director James Cameron. There also were dozens of people who participated in the series with standalone interviews, like my friend Bono and the brilliant Mark Cuban—each of whom brings an inspiring and grounded view of the challenges we’re facing.
Three conversations will always stand out in my memory: the ones with Lady Gaga, Senator Bernie Sanders, and my younger daughter, Phoebe.
Conversation with Lady Gaga
On the day of our Netflix conversation, I had been filming earlier with my two sisters, Kristi and Libby. Lady Gaga had a great perspective on the intersection of information and entertainment, and on the need to bring humanity back into personal interactions in the internet age. I’ve always enjoyed Gaga’s music, but I came to appreciate her thoughtfulness as an artist. She has such interesting and insightful things to say about her art, her audience, and the ways she can make a difference. I’m grateful I was able to spend time with her.
Meeting Senator Bernie Sanders
When I emailed Senator Bernie Sanders to ask if he would sit down with me for the episode on income inequality, I was surprised and delighted to get a note back from him right away. Our meeting for the series took place in a nondescript Washington, DC rowhouse. It was a great discussion.
