Artwork for Design Matters with Debbie Millman

Design Matters with Debbie Millman

Design Matters Media

Design Matters with Debbie Millman is one of the world’s very first podcasts. Broadcasting independently for over 15 years, the show is about how incredibly creative people design the arc of their lives.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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684 episodes
Updated Monday

Episodes684

Oct 20, 2025 · 49 min
20th Anniversary celebration with iconic musicians Kaki King, David Lee Roth, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Michael Stipe, and the Indigo Girls
In honor of 20 years of Design Matters, Debbie Millman revisits unforgettable moments from her conversations with iconic musicians Kaki King, David Lee Roth, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Michael Stipe, and the Indigo Girls. Through their stories and songs, this special episode reflects on the meaning of a creative life and the artists who have shaped the sound of our time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 13, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min
Neil deGrasse Tyson at On Air Presents
Neil deGrasse Tyson—world-renowned astrophysicist, Emmy-nominated host, science communicator, and author—is one of the most influential voices in modern science. In this live conversation, recorded at On Air Presents, he joins Debbie Millman to explore the role of science education and why defending science has never been more vital. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 6, 2025 · 35 min
Surprising First Questions
In celebration of 20 years of Design Matters, Debbie Millman revisits one of the show’s most endearing traditions—the very first question. For years, she’s opened each conversation with a playful, deeply researched inquiry: something personal, unexpected, and revealing. In this special anniversary episode, listeners will hear some of Debbie’s favorite first questions and the illuminating answers they inspired. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 29, 2025 · 54 min
20th Anniversary celebration with memoirists Elissa Altman, Thomas Page McBee, Ashley C. Ford, Josh Brolin, and Isaac Fitzgerald
In honor of 20 years of Design Matters, Debbie Millman revisits memorable conversations with memoirists Elissa Altman, Thomas Page McBee, Ashley C. Ford, Josh Brolin, and Isaac Fitzgerald. This anniversary collection reflects on the candor, resilience, and storytelling power of five voices who have turned personal experience into unforgettable art. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 22, 2025 · 46 min
20th Anniversary celebration with legendary artists Bisa Butler, Deborah Kass, Marilyn Minter, Amy Sherald, and Ai Weiwei
To celebrate 20 years of Design Matters, Debbie Millman revisits highlights from her conversations with groundbreaking artists Bisa Butler, Deborah Kass, Marilyn Minter, Amy Sherald, and Ai Weiwei. This anniversary collection brings together the voices of five visionaries whose work challenges conventions, sparks dialogue, and redefines the role of art in our culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 15, 2025 · 1 hr 25 min
Stephen J. Dubner
Stephen J. Dubner is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and co-creator of Freakonomics—the cultural phenomenon that, over the past 20 years, has grown into a global franchise, changing how millions think, revealing the hidden side of everything, and challenging us to question what we know. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 8, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
Suzanne Vega
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega reflects on her pioneering career, the artistry behind her storytelling, and the lasting cultural impact of songs like “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner.” She joins to discuss her new album, Flying with Angels, which poignantly captures the struggles and resilience of our time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 2, 2025 · 49 min
20th Anniversary celebration with non-fiction writers Lisa Taddeo, Malcolm Gladwell, Anne Lamott, Maria Konnikova, and Alain de Botton
To mark 20 years of Design Matters, Debbie Millman revisits some of her most memorable conversations with acclaimed non-fiction writers Lisa Taddeo, Malcolm Gladwell, Anne Lamott, Maria Konnikova, and Alain de Botton. This anniversary collection captures the insight, candor, and wisdom of five extraordinary thinkers whose work continues to shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 25, 2025 · 40 min
20th Anniversary celebration with graphic novelists Chris Ware, Alison Bechdel, Roz Chast, Seth and Lynda Barry
In honor of 20 years of Design Matters, Debbie Millman revisits standout moments from her conversations with some of the most celebrated voices in graphic storytelling—Chris Ware, Alison Bechdel, Roz Chast, Seth, and Lynda Barry. This special retrospective highlights the artistry, humor, and humanity of five groundbreaking creators whose work has transformed the world of comics and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 18, 2025 · 40 min
20th Anniversary celebration with design legends Massimo Vignelli, Michael Bierut, Paula Scher, Chip Kidd and Louise Fili
To celebrate 20 years of Design Matters, Debbie Millman revisits some of her most memorable conversations with design legends Massimo Vignelli, Michael Bierut, Paula Scher, Chip Kidd, and Louise Fili—icons whose voices and vision have shaped the field. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 11, 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
Betty Buckley
Betty Buckley—Tony-winning Broadway legend, Olivier nominee, and beloved “Voice of Broadway”—has spent nearly six decades in theater, film, television, and music. Best known for Cats and Sunset Boulevard, she is an American Theater Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the American Songbook Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She joins to discuss her remarkable career, enduring artistry, and the stories behind her most memorable roles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 4, 2025 · 1 hr 24 min
Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss is a five-time New York Times bestselling author, a legendary podcaster with over a billion downloads, a prolific angel investor, and a relentless experimenter. During his fourth visit to Design Matters, he shares the story behind Coyote, a new card game he’s quietly been crafting—and the mindset that brought it to life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 28, 2025 · 51 min
Best of Design Matters: David Cay Johnston
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Cay Johnston has spent his career exposing corruption in business and government. A relentless muckraker, he’s written The Making of Donald Trump and It’s Even Worse Than You Think, offering a searing look at the Trump administration’s impact on America. This archival episode with David Cay Johnston first aired in 2018, during Donald Trump’s first term. The conversation remains just as urgent and relevant today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 21, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min
Lulu Miller
Lulu Miller is a Peabody Award–winning journalist, co-host of Radiolab, founder of the podcast Terrestrials, and author of the acclaimed book Why Fish Don’t Exist. She joins to discuss her career at the intersection of science, philosophy, and storytelling, inviting us to question how we understand the world and our place within it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 14, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Dr. Joy Buolamwini
Dr. Joy Buolamwini is a computer scientist and a poet of code who uses art and research to illuminate the social implications of artificial intelligence. She joins to discuss her career as the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, her best-selling book Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What is Human in a World of Machines, and her featured role in the acclaimed Netflix documentary Coded Bias. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 7, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
Jennifer Pastiloff
Jennifer Pastiloff is a bestselling author of the memoir On Being Human and travels the world with her workshop, blending writing, yoga, and radical honesty. She joins to discuss turning pain into purpose, the power of vulnerability, and her new book, Proof of Life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 30, 2025 · 43 min
Pride 2025 with Carol Leifer, Sonya Passi, Paul Tazewell, Leisha Hailey, and Kate Moennig
In celebration of Pride Month, we’re revisiting conversations with accomplished LGBTQ+ guests—Carol Leifer, Paul Tazewell, Sonya Passi, Leisha Hailey, and Kate Moennig—about the journeys that led them to fulfilling professional lives and the influences that shaped who they are today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 23, 2025 · 42 min
James Dyson
James Dyson is a visionary inventor, designer, educator and founder of Dyson, a global company transforming ordinary household appliances into design and engineering marvels. He joins to discuss his iconic career, the role of failure in the creative process, and how good design can reshape the way we live. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 16, 2025 · 54 min
Craig Federighi and Alan Dye
Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, and Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of Human Interface Design, are two of the most influential creative and technological leaders shaping how we experience the digital world. Together, they represent the rare combination of engineering and design at its highest level, shaping how Apple products feel and behave. They join live at the Apple Headquarters to discuss the much anticipated launch of iOS 26. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 9, 2025 · 52 min
Dane Laffrey
Dane Laffrey is a Tony-winning scenic and costume designer known for his bold, emotionally resonant work on productions like Parade, Once On This Island, and Spring Awakening. He joins to discuss his two decade career and recent set design for Maybe Happy Ending, a true tour de force and one of the most extraordinary stages on Broadway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.