Design Matters with Debbie Millman

Isaac Fitzgerald has been a firefighter, worked on a boat, and was once given a sword by a king. He is also the New York Times bestselling author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts, a coming of age memoir recounting his early years in Boston, an ongoing search for forgiveness, and a more expansive definition of family and self.

Digital visionary, bestselling author, founder of the popular Cool Tools website, and Co-Founder and Senior Maverick of Wired magazine—Kevin Kelly joins to talk about his career, his new book, and his radical optimism about the future of our world and humanity.

For over sixty years, Gloria Steinem has been at the center of American culture and political life, where she has been instrumental in shaping our ideas about feminism, humanity, and equal rights for all people. She joins to talk about her legendary career as an award-winning journalist, New York Times best-selling author, co-founder of one of the most significant magazines of the 21st century, and an activist whose work has impacted the place women and girls now have in the world.

Carrie Brownstein, Megan Rapinoe, Lucy Sante, Kara Swisher, and Kirsten Vangsness reflect on their journeys and careers in this special Pride episode of Design Matters.

Scott Dadich is a designer, magazine editor, and filmmaker. Formerly the Editor-in-Chief of WIRED Magazine, he now runs Godfrey Dadich Partners, a brand strategy and design company, where he is the Co-Founder and CEO. He joins to discuss his illustrious career and the multi-Emmy nominated series he created and produced, Abstract: The Art of Design.

During her often tumultuous, challenging, and sometimes controversial career, Judy Chicago pioneered Feminist art and art education. She joins to talk about her memoir Judy Chicago: Revelations, a radical retelling of human history in the form of an illuminated manuscript.

Principal Designer at Adobe, speaker, and champion for artists, Brooke Hopper’s passion is designing better experiences for some of the most talented people in the world. She joins live at SXSW to discuss the role of machine intelligence and new technologies in creativity.

Anne Morriss and Frances Frei are best-selling authors and among the world’s most influential thinkers, speakers, and advisors. Their clients range from Fortune 10 companies to tech founders to political leaders working to build national competitiveness. They join to talk about their new book, Move Fast and Fix Things, outlining a practical process leaders can implement to drive change.

Punk singer, artist, and the front-woman of the bands Bikini Kill and Le Tigre, Kathleen Hanna has spent the last three decades as a trailblazer in the punk feminist movement. She joins guest host Roxane Gay to talk about her new memoir and storied career making art and music. 

Adam Moss is widely known as one of the great magazine editors of his generation, remaking and reshaping The New York Times and New York magazine into the most significant print and digital publications of our time. He joins to discuss his illustrious career as an author, editor, and artist.

Named one of TIME magazine’s “100 Innovators for the Next New Wave,” Suzan-Lori Parks is the first African American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Topdog/Underdog. She joins to discuss her long and illustrious career as a playwright, musician, and novelist.

New York Times bestselling, award-winning author and educator Emily Nagoski is one of the most exceptional minds at work today on the science of sexual connection, intimacy, and arousal. She joins to discuss her remarkable career and new book, “Come Together.”

Writer Amy Lin deconstructs grief in her new memoir ‘Here After,’ a beautifully visceral and emotionally intimate depiction of young widowhood. She joins to discuss the science of grief and how she coped in the wake of her inexplicable loss.

Throughout her prolific writing career, Nell Irvin Painter has published works on such luminaries as Sojourner Truth, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Malcolm X. Her unique vantage on American history pushes the boundaries of personal narrative and academic authorship and asks readers to reconsider ideas of race, politics, and identity. She joins to discuss her legendary career as a distinguished historian, award-winning author, and artist.

Since 1998, David Remnick has been the editor of The New Yorker and has written hundreds of pieces for the magazine, including reporting from Russia, the Middle East, and Europe and Profiles of Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Katharine Graham, Mike Tyson, Bruce Springsteen and more. He also hosts the magazine’s national radio program and podcast, “The New Yorker Radio Hour.” He joins live at the On Air Fest to talk about his legendary life and career.

Renowned writer, cultural critic, and scholar of the demimonde Lucy Sante joins to discuss her career and a new memoir, “I Heard Her Call My Name,” reflecting on her transition and self-actualization in her sixties.

David Bryne views life through many lenses. He’s a musician, author, filmmaker, curator, conservationist, digital music theorist, bicycle advocate, visual artist... the list goes on. But through his many trajectories – from co-founding the acclaimed band Talking Heads to his later solo career, moving into theater and beyond, David is always trying to capture the indescribable. In this episode of The TED Interview, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, David shares how he meshes art, technology, and point of view to tell one-of-a-kind stories, move audiences, and invoke all of us to create masterpieces of our own.

From acclaimed pop spectacles to Super Bowl halftime shows to the Closing Ceremony for the London Olympics, artist and stage designer Es Devlin has transformed large-scale performative sculptures and environments transporting audiences. She joins to discuss two decades of design spanning opera, theatre, and stadium extravaganzas.

Impostor syndrome is one of many therapy-speak words that have gone mainstream in the past few years — but what is it, really? Aparna Nancherla knows all about it. Aparna is a comedian and the author of "Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Impostor Syndrome.” Despite her success as a performer, she isn’t immune to self-doubt. In this episode from another TED Audio Collective podcast, How to Be a Better Human, Aparna talks about the ways she’s learned to deal with impostor syndrome: like creating a resume listing all her failures, or making up words at parties to gauge other people’s reactions. She also shares how she learned to put less stock in success and what to do when your mind isn’t telling you the truth. Find more How to Be a Better Human wherever you get your podcasts.

The Critic's Daughter is an exquisitely rendered portrait of a unique father-daughter relationship and a moving revelation of family and identity. Author Priscilla Gilman joins to talk about her memoir, a candid account of loss and grief, forgiveness, and love.

Celebrated musician, comedian, writer, and director Carrie Brownstein joins to talk about her remarkable career as the co-founder, guitarist, and vocalist of the legendary punk band Sleater-Kinney, her role in the iconic TV series Portlandia, and her new memoir.

New York Times bestselling author and journalist Suleika Jaouad began writing her Emmy Award-winning column, “Life, Interrupted,” from her hospital room, chronicling her experiences as a young adult with cancer. She joins to discuss her remarkable life, career, and bestselling memoir, Between Two Kingdoms.

Aminatou Sow discusses her extraordinary journey that took her from Africa to Texas, from a job in a toy store to Google to co-host of one of today’s most brilliant podcasts, Call Your Girlfriend.

Across 50 years in the art scene, Futura has undergone a brilliant evolution from graffiti prodigy to design master.

As a child, Thelma Golden dreamt of a life in art museums—and that’s exactly the path she followed, breaking brilliant and historic new ground along the way.

The daughter of folk-music royalty, singer-songwriter Lucy Wainwright Roche joins to talk about her life, family, and multi-decade career in the music industry.

James Clear has been writing about habits, decision making, and continuous improvement for over a decade. Author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits, he joins to talk about his career and how we can stop sabotaging our efforts with insurmountable goals.

Shaped by music and activism, Toshi Reagon reflects on her upbringing and remarkable career writing, playing, singing, and producing music.

Iconic graphic designer, typographer, author, and educator Stefan Sagmeister joins live on the CreativeMornings stage to talk about his multi-decade, ever-evolving career and his newest book, Now is Better, transforming facts about the state of our world into abstract data visualizations.

Working in painting, bookmaking, illustration, collage, performance, and sculpture, Oliver Jeffers joins to talk about his career making art and telling stories. His new book, Begin Again, explores humankind’s impact on itself and our planet, asking the big question: Where do we go from here?

On this special episode of Design Matters, we take a look back at the collective brilliance of filmmakers interviewed in 2023. Best of Design Matters 2023 with Siân Heder, Sarah Polley, and Kyra Sedgwick is live!

On this special episode of Design Matters, we take a look back at the collective brilliance of writers interviewed in 2023. Best of Design Matters 2023 with Alexandra Horowitz, Rick Rubin, and Kevin Kelly is live!

Roy Wood Jr. is an Emmy-nominated comedian, writer, producer, actor, radio personality, and podcaster known for his stand-up comedy and work as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. He joins the Design Matters Live Tour to discuss his career, entertaining millions across the stage, television, and radio.

The legendary Audie Cornish—anchor, correspondent, journalist, host, and interviewer—joins live from the Design Matters Tour to talk about her career in journalism, covering national, political, and breaking news for over two decades.

For decades, Rosanne Cash has soared through the ranks of music with her powerhouse poetic skills and wistful reflections on her past. She has released 15 albums, won four Grammys, and authored four books, including a best-selling memoir. She joins to talk about her life and legendary career as a singer, songwriter, and author.

Isaac Fitzgerald has been a firefighter, worked on a boat, and was once given a sword by a king. He is also the New York Times bestselling author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts, a coming of age memoir recounting his early years in Boston, an ongoing search for forgiveness, and a more expansive definition of family and self.

One of the most influential art directors, design thinkers, and cultural critics of our time, Steven Heller, and his son Nicolas Heller, an acclaimed commercial director and documentarian, better known to his social media followers as New York Nico, join live at the AIGA Conference to talk about their remarkable careers and shared love for New York City.

Neville Brody is one of the most celebrated graphic designers of his generation—a leading typographer and internationally recognized art director and brand strategist. He joins to discuss his third monograph, which showcases projects from the last thirty years of his illustrious career.

Former Editor-in-Chief and President of New York Magazine’s The Cut and current Styles Editor of The New York Times—Stella Bugbee joins to discuss her remarkable career in the media industry, covering fashion, beauty, and culture as a journalist, editor, and creative director.

Kip Thorne, Nobel Prize winning theoretical physicist known for his pioneering work in astrophysics, and Lia Halloran, multi-award-winning artist and photographer, join to talk about their cosmic collaboration—a book of poetry and paintings called “The Warped Side of Our Universe: An Odyssey through Black Holes, Wormholes, Time Travel, and Gravitational Waves.”

Celeste Ng—New York Times bestselling author of three novels, Everything I Never Told You, Little Fires Everywhere, and Our Missing Hearts—joins a live audience to talk about her illustrious career exploring complex family dynamics and themes of identity, race, and culture.

Tech journalist, opinion leader, and disruptor—Kara Swisher has hosted hundreds of newsmaking interviews tracking tech and media's changing power dynamics, often going head-to-head with the most prominent figures in the technology industry. She joins a live studio audience to talk about her inimitable career covering the ever-evolving world of technology.

MacArthur Fellow, Peabody Award winner, iconic public radio host and creator of one of the most successful shows, Radiolab—Jad Abumrad joins a studio audience in New York for the Design Matters live tour.

From pop stars to sports legends to rock gods, Mary Ellen Matthews has been crafting iconic images as an entertainment portrait photographer for over two decades. She joins to talk about her career as the chief photographer for Saturday Night Live and how she’s created the distinctive look for the show’s images since 1999.

Design royalty Paula Scher, Emily Oberman and Michael Bierut join this special live episode to celebrate and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the legendary, multi-disciplinary, independently owned design studio, Pentagram with a new, two-volume book, PENTAGRAM AT 50: LIVING BY DESIGN.

Digital visionary, bestselling author, founder of the popular Cool Tools website, and Co-Founder and Senior Maverick of Wired magazine—Kevin Kelly joins to talk about his career, his new book, and his radical optimism about the future of our world and humanity.

For over sixty years, Gloria Steinem has been at the center of American culture and political life, where she has been instrumental in shaping our ideas about feminism, humanity, and equal rights for all people. She joins to talk about her legendary career as an award-winning journalist, New York Times best-selling author, co-founder of one of the most significant magazines of the 21st century, and an activist whose work has impacted the place women and girls now have in the world.

Jessica Nordell—science and cultural journalist—explores ways of changing pernicious thought patterns to eliminate unconscious bias for a more just world.

Steven Heller—legendary writer and author—joins to discuss his new book “Growing Up Underground,” an entertaining and humorous coming-of-age story at the center of New York’s youth culture in the 1960s and 1970s.

Author of the bestselling book “Queenie”—Candice Carty-Williams joins a very special guest host, Roxane Gay, to talk about her latest novel “People Person” which follows the Pennington family, a cadre of five half-siblings forced together in the wake of a dramatic event.

Rising to the top of tennis stardom, Chris Evert talks about her groundbreaking career as a legendary athlete and recent creative endeavor in jewelry design.

Chip Kidd—award-winning designer, musician, author, and all around rock star—joins for his fifth time to talk about his recent projects and so much more.

Joan Wasser shares her musical journey from a classically trained violinist to a solo singer, songwriter, and rock star known as Joan As Police Woman.

A love for craftsmanship, design, and baseball brings music legend Jack White and design entrepreneur Ben Jenkins together. In 2016, Jack White became an investor in Ben Jenkins's sporting goods brand, Warstic. Today the company does so much more than manufacture artisan baseball bats.

As Vice President of Human Interface Design at Apple, Alan Dye has spent much of his career working for a company that has done perhaps more than any other to make design sexy, essential, and highly coveted. He joins to discuss his lustrous creative path working with Ogilvy’s Brand Integration Group, Kate Spade, Apple and the brand new, highly anticipated Apple Vision Pro.

The author of the award-winning novels “Pachinko” and “Free Food for Millionaires,” Min Jin Lee, discusses her remarkable career and the long journey and intention behind her Korean diaspora novels.

Over the course of his storied career as a designer and educator, Dr. D’Wayne Edwards has created more than 500 footwear styles for premier entertainers such as Tupac, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, and Notorious B.I.G. His designs have been worn in six Olympics and graced all MLB, NFL, and NBA stadiums. He joins to talk about his remarkable career and current role as President of Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design.

Known for her elaborate paintings composed of rhinestones, acrylic, and enamel, Mickalene Thomas draws on art history and popular culture to create a contemporary vision of female sexuality, beauty, and power.

Best-selling author, scientist, and trailblazer in autism research, Dr. Temple Grandin’s new book “Visual Thinking” draws on cutting-edge research and her own lived experience to reframe the conversation on neurodiversity and different types of thinkers.

Best known for her controversial novels featuring extreme situations and characters, A.M. Homes discusses her most recent book, The Unfolding, and her remarkable career authoring thirteen extraordinarily original books.

Jason Reynolds—award-winning author and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature—discusses his prolific writing career that inspires young readers to discover their own stories.

Described as a darkly funny meditation on creativity and family, Brad Listi joins to talk about his new book, “Be Brief and Tell Them Everything.”

Amy Ray and Emily Saliers talk about their extraordinary 30-year creative collaboration as the music duo, Indigo Girls.

With her blog, Dooce, Heather Armstrong ushered in a new genre of confessional writing online, inspiring millions of readers and creators. To honor her legacy, we are replaying the episode from 2011. Among many things, we talked about suicide and depression, so please be forewarned.

Best known for her Emmy and Golden Globe-winning role as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson on the TNT crime drama The Closer, Kyra Sedgwick joins to discuss her remarkable acting career and new directorial debut, Space Oddity.

Singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright joins to discuss her latest album and new memoir about growing up in a family of rock ‘n’ roll royalty and her experiences with love, loss, motherhood, divorce, and the music industry.

Best known for her role as Bond girl Pam Bouvier in the James Bond movie License to Kill and ADA Jamie Ross in the television series Law & Order, Carey Lowell joins to discuss her career as a model, actress, and ceramicist.

Neil deGrasse Tyson—world-renowned astrophysicist, Emmy-nominated host, and author—is one of the most popular and influential figures in modern science. He joins to discuss his cosmic career and new book, “Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization.”

Peter Arnell has built an unparalleled reputation creating groundbreaking, boundary-averse work for many of the world’s most celebrated brands. He joins to discuss his new book and storied career as a designer, branding executive, photographer, founder, and CEO.

A founding member of the Bangles, a solo artist, and a collaborator, Susanna Hoffs boasts one of pop music’s most striking and beloved voices. She joins to talk about her prolific music career and her new book, “This Bird Has Flown.”

American actress and playwright Kirsten Vangsness joins to discuss her role as bespectacled tech kitten Penelope Garcia on the long-running CBS crime drama Criminal Minds.

Don Norman, the Godfather of UX Design and Cognitive Science’s foremost pioneer, joins to discuss his new book “Design for a Better World” and how human behavior can save the world from its dire predicament.

Today we’re sharing a preview of A Slight Change of Plans, from Pushkin Industries. Cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar blends compassionate storytelling with the science of human behavior to help us understand who we are and who we become in the face of a big change. Maya sits down with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves. Kacey has never been willing to change herself or her music for anyone else. But a psychedelic trip allowed her to change on her own terms and inspired her albums Golden Hour and Star-Crossed. Hear more from A Slight Change of Plans at
https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/scps7?sid=design.

Exploring Rick Rubin’s production discography is like taking a tour through the commanding heights of American music over the past few decades. From Run-DMC to Jay-Z to Adele, the record producer joins to talk about his legendary career making classic songs with the best musicians in the world.

Best known for writing and directing the Academy Award-Winning film CODA and her work on the television series Orange Is the New Black—Siân Heder joins to talk about her remarkable career as a writer, producer, and filmmaker.

Lynn Goldsmith has documented over five decades of American culture, photographing stars from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to David Bowie and Iggy Pop. She joins to talk about her legendary career behind the camera and new book, “Music in the ‘80s.”

Oscar-nominated screenwriter, director, actor, and author Sarah Polley, who began her career as a childhood actress more than three decades ago, joins to talk about her life’s work and newest film, “Women Talking.”

Sitting at the nexus of art, fashion and academia, Dario Calmese is an artist, urbanist, director and brand consultant. He shares his thoughts on photography and the design of the world around us on this very special live episode.

Having won an Olympic gold medal and two Women’s World Cups, Megan Rapinoe is among the most decorated and world famous athletes of our time. She joins to talk about her legendary soccer career, activism, and New York Times Best-Selling book.

Delivering soulful vocals over warm, atmospheric synth productions, young music prodigy King Princess joins to talk about their career and the double-edged nature of early success in the music business.

Alexandra Horowitz—a canine psychologist and authority on how dogs perceive the world—joins to talk about her latest book, ‘The Year of the Puppy,’ and share her knowledge about the relationship between humans and our canine friends.

Will Guidara—an elite New York restauranteur and author—talks about his storied career as a leader in modern luxury dining, delivering service that transforms a meal into a magical experience.

Guy Kawasaki—author, educator, and Chief Evangelist of Canva—talks about his career in Silicon Valley and his experience working for Steve Jobs as Chief Evangelist of Apple.

On this special episode of Design Matters, we look back at the collective brilliance of the musicians and performers interviewed in 2022. Best of Design Matters 2022 with Jack White, Indigo Girls, Joan As Police Woman, Dylan Marron, and Chris Evert is live!

On this special episode of Design Matters, we take a look back at the collective brilliance of fiction writers interviewed in 2022. Best of Design Matters 2022 with Brad Listi, Jason Reynolds, A.M. Homes, Candice Carty-Williams, and Min Jin Lee is live!

Best known for starring in the film “The Hobbyist,” Daniel Mitura discusses his multi-hyphenated career as an actor, writer, producer, and playwright and his new science-fiction short film “Launch at Paradise.”

The author of the award-winning novels “Pachinko” and “Free Food for Millionaires,” Min Jin Lee, discusses her remarkable career and the long journey and intention behind her Korean diaspora novels.

Over the course of his storied career as a designer and educator, Dr. D’Wayne Edwards has created more than 500 footwear styles for premier entertainers such as Tupac, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, and Notorious B.I.G. His designs have been worn in six Olympics and graced all MLB, NFL, and NBA stadiums. He joins to talk about his remarkable career and current role as President of Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design.

James Clear has been writing about habits, decision making, and continuous improvement for over a decade. Author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits, he joins to talk about his career and how we can stop sabotaging our efforts with insurmountable goals.

Known for her elaborate paintings composed of rhinestones, acrylic, and enamel, Mickalene Thomas draws on art history and popular culture to create a contemporary vision of female sexuality, beauty, and power.

Monica Khemsurov and Jill Singer are the co-founders of Sight Unseen, an online magazine where designers and tastemakers go to find what’s new and next in design and the visual arts. They join to share insights and secrets unveiled in their new book, “How to Live With Objects: A Guide to More Meaningful Interiors.”

Hailed the “Father of Modern Branding,” David Aaker has received numerous awards for his contributions to the science of marketing and authored some of the most influential books in business. He joins to talk about his new book, “The Future of Purpose-Driven Branding,” and his legendary career.

PepsiCo’s award-winning Chief Design Officer, Mauro Porcini, reveals the secret to creating life-changing innovation in his new book, a manifesto for a genuine, authentic, and deeply humanistic approach to design.

As founder of the Rockwell Group, an award winning, cross-disciplinary architecture and design practice, David Rockwell has designed countless visual and spatial heartstoppers ranging from restaurants, hotels, airport terminals, and hospitals, to festivals, museum exhibitions, and Broadway sets. He joins to talk about his remarkable life and upcoming projects.

Michael Kimmelman has been the architecture critic of The New York Times since 2011, writing about cities, public space, infrastructure, community development, public housing, equity, and the environment. He joins to talk about his extraordinary career in journalism and his new book, “The Intimate City: Walking New York.”

Best-selling author, scientist, and trailblazer in autism research, Dr. Temple Grandin’s new book “Visual Thinking” draws on cutting-edge research and her own lived experience to reframe the conversation on neurodiversity and different types of thinkers.

Steven Heller—legendary writer and author—joins to discuss his new book “Growing Up Underground,” an entertaining and humorous coming-of-age story at the center of New York’s youth culture in the 1960s and 1970s.

Author of the Sunday Times bestselling Queenie—Candice Carty-Williams joins a very special guest host, Roxane Gay, to talk about her latest novel People Person which follows the Pennington family, a cadre of five half-siblings forced together in the wake of a dramatic event.

Best known for her controversial novels featuring extreme situations and characters, A.M. Homes discusses her most recent book, The Unfolding, and her remarkable career authoring thirteen extraordinarily original books.

Thirty years ago, Anita Hill became a household name when she told the world about her experience with sexual harassment in the workplace. Today, she joins to talk about her extraordinary life and new book, “Believing: Our Thirty-Year Journey to End Gender Violence.”

Reflecting on his remarkable life and career, Nick Offerman shares his insights on acting, marriage and the current state of the world.

Michael Stipe joins to talk about his remarkable life, photography practice, and career as the lead singer and lyricist for the band R.E.M.

Rising to the top of tennis stardom, Chris Evert talks about her groundbreaking career as a legendary athlete.

Jessica Nordell—science and cultural journalist—explores ways of changing pernicious thought patterns to eliminate unconscious bias for a more just world.

Long a believer in the impossible, Rickie Lee Jones has lived an extraordinary life of song. Here, she reflects on five decades of making music.

At 8 years old, Catherine Opie realized “that history is made within an image culture”—and here, she discusses her incredible life as a photographer driven by culture.

Writer, editor, and curator Antwaun Sargent joins to talk about his remarkable career, positioned at the center of the explosion of interest in art made by Black Americans.

Jason Reynolds—award-winning author and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature—discusses his prolific writing career that inspires young readers to discover their own stories.

Chip Kidd—award-winning designer, musician, author, and all around rock star—joins for his fifth time to talk about his recent projects and so much more.

One of the master artists of our time, Richard Tuttle joins to talk about his 60+ year career that has revolutionized the landscape of temporary art.

It’s 1988, and Somalis are fleeing the city of Hargeisa. People are trying to get out, trying to save their families and sometimes their things. But in the city’s radio station, staff are packing cassettes and reel to reel recordings into a secret underground bunker. What's on them? A slice of the country’s musical heritage, to remain for years in an underground room—until now. Listen to songs from the episode on this special playlist on Spotify: https://tedtalks.social/3yct0Mj

This story was produced in collaboration with Kerning Cultures, a podcast telling stories from the Middle East and North Africa, and the spaces in between. You can find the podcast wherever you're listening to this.

This is an episode of Far Flung with Saleem Reshamwala, another podcast in the TED Audio Collective. If you want to hear more episodes exploring ideas in Caracas, Barcelona, Puerto Rico, the world of dreams and beyond, follow Far Flung with Saleem Reshamwala wherever you're listening to this.

Described as a darkly funny meditation on creativity and family, Brad Listi joins to talk about his new book, “Be Brief and Tell Them Everything.”

Catherine Opie, Adam J. Kurtz, Robyn Kanner, Michael Stipe, and the Indigo Girls reflect on their journeys in this special Pride episode of Design Matters.

#1 New York Times best-selling author Susan Cain shares how a bittersweet, melancholic outlook makes emotional room for beauty, creativity, and love.

Joan Wasser shares her musical journey from a classically trained violinist to a solo singer, songwriter, and rock star known as Joan As Police Woman.

Writer and producer Starlee Kine joins LIVE at the 2022 On Air Fest to talk about her remarkable career and hit podcast Mystery Show.

Writer, comedian, and podcast host, Dylan Marron, shares how hate on the internet fueled his podcast and new book, “Conversations with People Who Hate Me.”

The effortlessly cool fashion designers Carol Lim and Humberto Leon join to talk about two decades of creative partnership and professional collaborations running their fashion brand, Opening Ceremony.

Amy Ray and Emily Saliers talk about their extraordinary 30-year creative collaboration as the music duo, Indigo Girls.

A love for craftsmanship, design, and baseball brings music legend Jack White and design entrepreneur Ben Jenkins together. In 2016, Jack White became an investor in Ben Jenkins's sporting goods brand, Warstic. Today the company does so much more than manufacture artisan baseball bats.

Costar and co-creator of the groundbreaking TV show Broad City, Abbi Jacobson, joins guest host, Dylan Marron, LIVE on the TED Conference stage.

Today, I’m sharing an episode from a new podcast I’ve been enjoying, Well-Read Black Girl, from Pushkin Industries. Glory Edim, author and founder of the Well-Read Black Girl community, sits in deep, honest and close conversation with authors like Tarana Burke, Anita Hill, Gabrielle Union, Brit Bennett and more. You’ll also meet literacy advocates and Black booksellers to hear what they’re reading and what it means to be well-read. In this episode, Glory talks with Korean American author and teacher Min Jin Lee. Min talks about what she learned about resistance from bell hooks, how the work she does on and off the page challenges society, and how she’s mentoring a new generation of writers of color. You can hear more of Well-Read Black Girl at https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/wrbgdesign.

From the profound experience of making “Dead Poets Society” to the “Before” trilogy and his new book, Ethan Hawke discusses a life spent celebrating creativity in its many forms.

Chef and writer Gabrielle Hamilton talks dueling artistic passions—and how she has found balance and focus in her creative journey.

Cheryl Strayed battled through remarkable adversity—and the most intense of hikes—to emerge as one of the best American writers working today.

Bobbi Brown had a revolutionary idea: to create a natural-look makeup line that would make people feel like the best version of themselves. She launched it from her home to overnight success, and today is back with her blockbuster clean DTC brand, Jones Road.

Nick Cave and Bob Faust discuss the incredible life of creativity, courageousness and community they have built together.

In her inspiring creative journey, author Jacqueline Woodson went from struggling with words as a child to mastering them today.

In an illuminating and cerebral discussion, Adam Grant discusses his new book “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know”—and the value of checking in and checking up on yourself.

Karen Finley reflects on her legendary performance pieces, censorship and decades of groundbreaking work—and the sheer joy in creating art.

Soccer star Abby Wambach and author Glennon Doyle discuss their striking first meeting, falling in love as pen pals, addiction and sobriety, and the art of speaking out and speaking up.

Fiber artist Bisa Butler discusses the AfriCOBRA tradition, the artistic breakthrough that led to her finding her voice, and the process behind her amazing life-size works. 

From The Last Days of Heath Ledger to Lebron James to the title characters of THREE WOMEN, writer Lisa Taddeo’s words have captured her subjects in extraordinary and enlightening ways. 

Sarah Kay thrives in poetry on and off the stage—and here, she discusses the immense power of the craft.

After a lifetime on stage, musician Shirley Manson reflects on the extraordinary ways she sees the world today. 

Pete Souza has taken photographs for National Geographic, Life Magazine, and other dream outlets, leading to his ultimate subject as Chief Official White House Photographer, Barack Obama.

Priya Parker discusses the art of gatherings—and how we can truly take the events that punctuate our lives to the next level.

A master at creating interactive, immersive experiences—Edwin Schlossberg joins to talk about his artwork and the 40th anniversary of his firm, ESI Design.

Rolling Stones has called Kaki King a genre unto herself—she joins to talk about her career path and even plays a song or two.

Making information understandable both for himself and others—TED founder and author of numerous books, Richard Saul Wurman, joins to talk about education.

Artist Deborah Kass joins to talk about her extraordinary career, examining the interactions of politics, pop culture, art history, and identity within a Pop art sensibility. 

Known for her multi-character, one-person Broadway hit Bridge & Tunnel—Sarah Jones joins to talk about identity, community, social justice, and her relationship with her characters.

Brian Koppelman joins to talk about his remarkable life, sharing why he became a writer after years of working as a record promoter and producer.

Roz Chast joins to talk about her remarkable life and how she earned a coveted spot as a cartoonist for The New Yorker.

Debbie Millman talks with Krista Tippett about her religious orientation, her struggle with depression, and why it's so hard to understand our historical moment.

“To see your team achieve more than they thought they were capable of, that they will advance the organization further than you even imagined—because they believe, and they are grateful, and they’re inspired—it’s all worth it. All the sacrifices. It always is.” —Simon Sinek

On this special episode of Design Matters, we take a look back at 2021, revel in the collective brilliance of Catherine Opie, Ethan Hawke, Randa Jarrar, Nick Offerman, and Susan Orlean.

Illustrator and author duo Wendy MacNaughton and Caroline Paul join to talk about their book, “Lost Cat: A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology.”

From practicing on his first piano—drawn on a piece of paper—to recording albums and launching the podcast and Netflix show “Song Exploder,” Hrishikesh Hirway has lived a marvelous life of music.

Named “one of the five women changing the world” by Forbes—Amy Webb advises CEOs of the world’s most-admired companies, three-star admirals and generals, and the senior leadership of central banks and intergovernmental organizations, helping them prepare for complex futures.

Thirty years ago, Anita Hill became a household name and a hero for many women when she told the world about how Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas sexually harassed her at work. Today, she joins to talk about her extraordinary life and her new book, “Believing: Our Thirty-Year Journey to End Gender Violence.”

Founded in 1998, kottke.org is one of the oldest blogs on the web. It’s written and produced by Jason Kottke and covers the essential people, inventions, performances, and ideas that increase the collective adjacent possible of humanity. 

Michael Stipe joins to talk about his remarkable life, photography practice, and career as the lead singer and lyricist for the band R.E.M.

Roman Mars is the host and creator of 99% Invisible, a sound-rich, narrative podcast about the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world.

A playwright, poet, actor, director, and producer—Keenan Scott II joins to discuss his powerful and captivating Broadway play “Thoughts of a Colored Man.”

Dr. Dori Tunstall joined OCAD University in 2016 as Dean of Design. She is a design anthropologist, public intellectual, and design advocate who works at the intersections of critical theory, culture, and design. She leads the Cultures-Based Innovation Initiative focused on using old ways of knowing to drive innovation processes that directly benefit communities.

Ai Weiwei joins to discuss his new memoir “1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows,” depicting a century-long epic tale of China told through a story of his family.

Rob Walker discusses his interest in death and how our digital records remain online, being shy and how this influenced his decision to become a journalist, writing about the sleeved blanket known as the snuggie, and the wish to brand the idea of "be happy for what you have."

Ashley C. Ford joins to discuss her memoir “Somebody’s Daughter,” capturing a complex childhood shaped by family secrets, incarceration, and resilience.

Legendary graphic designer Massimo Vignelli, best-known for creating the iconic New York City subway map, discusses intellectual elegance, education, love, the pitfalls of marketing, and his long career in design.

Shaped by music and activism, Toshi Reagon reflects on her upbringing and remarkable career writing, playing, singing, and producing music.

Reflecting on his remarkable life and career, Nick Offerman shares his insights on acting, marriage and the current state of the world.

Alisa Cohn—named Top Startup Coach in the World—shares her secrets, insights and strategies from nearly 20 years of turning startup founders into world-class CEOs.

Adam J. Kurtz delves into the human experience and explores the duality of time—everything changes, yet tomorrow isn’t promised—in his new book, “You Are Here (For Now).”

Amy Koppelman penned A Mouthful of Air, a powerful novel years ahead of its time—and now, 20 years on, she discusses the film version of it she directed that hits theaters this month. 

Long a believer in the impossible, Rickie Lee Jones has lived an extraordinary life of song. Here, she reflects on five decades of making music.

What makes you feel most alive? Jonathan Fields is here to help you figure it out—and infuse it into your career in truly transformative ways.

In our short-term world, Dorie Clark is proof positive that there’s incredible power in long-term strategy—and here she riffs on her new book, “The Long Game.”

At 8 years old, Catherine Opie realized “that history is made within an image culture”—and here, she discusses her incredible life as a photographer driven by culture.

After surviving intense abuse as a child, V grew up to pen powerful prose and plays—and today fights for women suffering around the world.

In his third Design Matters interview, writer Seth Godin riffs on his 20th book—“The Practice”—a milestone text exploring creativity and the sheer power of doing the work and putting it out into the world.

From the Groundlings and “Chelsea Lately” to fashion illustration, textile work and beyond, Carly Kuhn—aka The Cartorialist—may not have set out to become an artist, but she became a brilliant one.

After dreaming of becoming a musician, Quiara Alegría Hudes found her true future on the page—and in such works as “My Broken Language” and “In the Heights.” Here, the Pulitzer winner meditates on the many muses that were instrumental in her becoming the creative she is today.

Forging on past failure, Suneel Gupta began to ask wildly successful people about their less-successful moments—and that laid the foundation for his own career highs, not to mention his new book that helps anyone with a great idea become Backable. 

Bobbi Brown had a revolutionary idea: to create a natural-look makeup line that would make people feel like the best version of themselves. She launched it from her home to overnight success, and today is back with her blockbuster clean DTC brand, Jones Road.

At 10, she announced that money or no money, she would be true to her art—and there was no plan B. And, well, actress Claire Danes stuck to it.

Fiber artist Bisa Butler discusses the AfriCOBRA tradition, the artistic breakthrough that led to her finding her voice, and the process behind her amazing life-size works.

Writer, director and actress Miranda July discusses the surreality of releasing a surreal movie in an even more surreal time—and the eternal magic of kissing, cakes and clothes.


Debbie talks to performance poet Sarah Kay about teaching people to write.


On this pre-pandemic archive episode, Debbie talks to Priya Parker about meetings and gatherings and why so many of them don’t work.

On this archive episode cartoonist Lynda Barry talks to Debbie about learning how to draw, and the damaging effects of one’s own opinion.

On this episode, Jacqueline Novogratz talks about her long career fighting poverty around the world.

On this episode Claire Danes talks to Debbie about her long career, and what she learned about spies from playing one.

On this episode, artist Bisa Butler talks to Debbie about her career, and about how making a quilted portrait of her grandmother led to an artistic breakthrough.

On this episode, Debbie talks to Michael R. Jackson about his latest musical, which is about a gay man trying to write a musical.

Debbie talks to Fanny Singer about her career writing about art and food, and about cooking in the time of Coronavirus.

On this episode, Debbie talks with Maurice Cherry about his education and career, and about why the profession of graphic design has been so slow to acknowledge Black designers.

On this episode Debbie talks to Gabrielle Hamilton about her career as a chef, and as a late-blooming writer.

Debbie talks to Mauro Porcini, Chief Design Officer at Pepsico, about his childhood and his corporate work.

Debbie talks with V (formerly known as Eve Ensler) about her abusive father and how feminism has shaped her career.

Debbie talks to Katherine Gehl and Michael Porter about their program for redesigning our politics.

Debbie talks with Kathryn Gallager about her young career as an actor/singer/songwriter and about trauma on and off the stage.

Debbie talks to the design duo of Alex Bec and Will Hudson of It’s Nice That about their close friendship, long collaboration, and about what they’ve learned along the way.

Debbie talks to Ina Mayhew about her career designing for movies and tv
shows, and about how the virus may change the very nature of her profession.

Debbie talks to author Cheryl Strayed about her childhood, her career, and about the value of taking a very long hike.

Debbie talks with Tea Uglow about experimental digital projects that are pushing the boundaries of tech and art.

Debbie talks with writer Lisa Taddeo about sex and desire.

Last week Barry Blitt was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in journalism for editorial cartooning. Debbie to him about where his ideas come from.

Walking is a form of creative trespassing, like tourism for the psyche.

Debbie talks with artist Marilyn Minter about bringing her skills to the political arena, the ups and downs of her career, and the use of sexual imagery in her work.

Debbie talks to therapist and author Esther Perel about marriage, polyamory, and adultery.

David Cay Johnston talks to Debbie about the fun of investigative journalism.

Debbie talks to Elizabeth about the journey of her extraordinary life and about how death makes us think about what we truly value.

On this episode Debbie talks to Robert Wong, the executive creative director of Google Creative Lab.

This episode of Design Matters with Debbie Millman was recorded live at WNYC's Green Space as part of a celebration of 15 years of the podcast.

A live conversation at WNYC’s Green Space with actor and poet Amber Tamblyn.

A conversation with Lucy Wainwright Roche about her musical family, her career as a singer-songwriter, and her musical tastes.

A conversation with Chanel Miller about rape culture.

A conversation with designer Tosh Hall about how to work with established brands.

On this episode: a conversation with Chani Nicholas about her life in astrology.

On this episode Debbie talks to two designers about the history of user-friendly design and the importance of designing for feedback.

On this episode, Debbie talks to journalist Tatiana Schlossberg about what we can do, as individuals, about climate change.

A conversation with Jessica Hische about her career, especially after having kids.

On this episode, a conversation with Lawrence Azerrad about the design of the Concorde.

On this episode, some coming of age stories Debbie had during 2019.

On this episode Debbie talks to Thomas Page McBee about masculinity, from the point of view of a trans man.

On this episode Debbie talks to Tiffany Shlain about how cell phones have taken over our lives.

On this episode Debbie talks to music impresario and restaurateur Michael Dorf.

On this episode, a conversation with artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon about getting started creatively.

On this epsiode, a conversation with poet Saeed Jones about his memoir and about memory.

On this episode a conversation with Malcolm Gladwell about why it is so easy to be fooled by dishonest people.

On this episode, a conversation with Steven Heller, about the long and troubled history of the swastika.

On this episode Debbie talks to designer Chip Kidd and his good friend, graphic novelist Chris Ware.

On this episode cartoonist Lynda Barry talks about learning how to draw, and the damaging effects of one’s own opinion.

Writer, artist, and designer Warren Lehrer talks to Debbie about the intersection of images and letters and about the future of books.

On this episode Elissa Altman talks to Debbie about life, food, love, and the new book she wrote on the difficult relationship she has with her mother.

Debbie talks to Derren Brown about his risky stage performances as a mentalist and illusionist.

Debbie talks with writer Lisa Taddeo about sex and desire.

Debbie talks to illustrator Brian Rea about the Grim Reaper.

Debbie talks to Simon Doonan about his unlikely career and his formula for creative window displays.

Debbie talks to portrait painter Amy Sherald about her emotionally evocative work.

Debbie Millman talks with Pete Souza about his years as the Obama administration official photographer.

Debbie talks to illustrator Christoph Niemann about his singular career as an artistic superhero.

Debbie talks to David Lee Roth about his childhood, about his long career and his new skincare business, and about how he has avoided crashing, like so many other rock stars.

Debbie talks with Austin Kleon, who describes himself as ‘a writer who draws’.

Debbie talks to writer and activist Zoe Mendelson about the importance of sexual knowledge for women.

Debbie talks with author and therapist Lori Gottlieb about the importance of emotional awareness.

Debbie talks with designer Stephen Gates about why it’s important for a brand not to be liked by everybody.

Debbie talks with Seth, the artist behind the book Palookaville, about why his generation of cartoonists broke away from fantasy.

Debbie talks with Tea Uglow about experimental digital projects that are pushing the boundaries of tech and art.

Debbie talks with Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love about the love of her life and her latest book City of Girls.

Debbie talks with artist Shantell Martin about her unorthodox career, her collaborations, and about the business of making art.

Debbie talks to calligrapher and type designer Kris Holmes, the co-creator of the Lucida typeface family.

Debbie talks to writer Roxane Gay about loneliness, social media, and self-exposure.

Debbie talks to Cey Adams about how his days writing graffiti led to a major career as a designer for hip hop acts and as an artist.

Debbie Millman talks to journalist Anand Giridharadas about his career, about a divided America, and about tech monopolies.

Debbie talks to author and researcher Brené Brown about belonging, courage, and vulnerability.

Debbie talks with pastry chef and Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi about her career and long apprenticeship.

Debbie talks with writer Anne Lamott about her life and her long career.

Debbie talks with designer Jamie Myrold about great problems to solve.

On this episode of Design Matters with Debbie Millman designer James Victore talks about leading a creative life.

Debbie talks to designer and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee about joy.

Debbie talks to Dustin Yellin about his busy life making art, while also running a non-profit cultural center.

Debbie talks to designer, illustrator, and art director Kate Moross about her early success, her projects, and the importance of over-delivering.

Debbie talks to Chase Jarvis about his career as a photographer and entrepreneur.

Debbie talks to Bo Burnham about his film Eighth Grade, and the young star of that movie, Elsie Fisher.

Debbie talks to Scott Belsky about why creative conflict can lead to good decision making.

Novelist and memoirist Dani Shapiro talks to Debbie Millman about her surprising genetic inheritance.

Jocelyn K. Glei talks to Debbie about how the internet can lead to burnout.

Josh Higgins talks to Debbie Millman about how to design software products that become popular with users.

Debbie talks to Alice Rawsthorn about the growing status of design.

Debbie talks to performance poet Sarah Kay about teaching people to write.

Debbie talks to illustrator Christoph Niemann about his singular career as an artistic superhero.

Debbie talks to singer-songwriter Shirley Manson about her career, her music, and the long road that got her where she is today.

Debbie talks with pastry chef and Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi about her career and long apprenticeship.

Debbie talks with famed photographer Albert Watson about his career and about the importance of preparing conceptually for a shoot.

Debbie talks to museum director Thelma Golden about the power of curation.

Debbie talks with writer Anne Lamott about her life and her long career.

Debbie Millman talks with Pete Sousza about his years as the Obama administration official photographer.

Debbie talks to designer Paul Sahre about the power of saying no to clients, and about a meeting with Steely Dan that went off the rails.

Debbie talks to Patricia Cronin about art and politics.

Debbie talks to Michael Ovitz about his long and controversial career as a Hollywood power broker.

Debbie talks to Beth Comstock about her career at General Electric and how big companies can innovate.

Debbie talks to artist Deborah Kass about her long and extraordinary career.

Debbie talks for Aaron Draplin about setting up his own shop, and about making money as a designer.

Debbie talks to therapist and author Esther Perel about marriage, polyamory, and adultry.

Debbie talks to optimist, ethnographer, and author Simon Sinek about the fruits of good leadership.

Debbie talks to Hamilton director Thomas Kail about his career and about the joys of collaboration.

Debbie talks to Cindy Gallop about her career in advertising and about the trouble people have communicating about sex.

Debbie talks to New Yorker celebrated cover artist Barry Blitt about where his ideas come from.

On this episode, Debbie brings the great English designer, typographer, and art director Neville Brody to the stage.

“...The thing about your fifties is you have power...all those people you grew up with, they’re in their fifties too and they’ve got power, so they can actually give you some decent work.”

Debbie talks to author and art director Steven Heller live on stage.

Debbie talks to the great type designer Matthew Carter live on stage.

Debbie Millman brings artist Laurie Anderson live on stage to discuss her career, art, life, and politics.

Debbie talks to portrait painter Amy Sherald about her emotionally evocative work.

On this episode Debbie talks to Lewis Lapham about his long career in journalism and the media landscape today.

Debbie talks to writer Carmen Maria Machado about her writing, life, career, and the importance of ego.

Debbie talks to Aminatou Sow about her podcast and her career in tech.

Debbie talks to muscian, playwright, and activist Erin McKeown about the ups and downs in her career, and about writing a musical for the first time.

Debbie talks to author and conflict resolution mediator Priya Parker about meetings and gatherings and why so many of them don’t work.

Debbie talks to performance artist and dancer Jack Ferver about his career in dance theater and the politics in his work.