ArtsDesignHistory

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar

Evergreen Podcasts

Pop culture inspires some serious fun.

Join hosts Todd Coats and Elliot Strunk, two creatively curious pals living between the bookends of grand museums and dive bars, the sweet spot where highbrow and lowbrow become drinking buddies. They talk influential work and uncover stories of how the familiar became iconic. Think Behind the Music for the stuff we love.

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Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/ for images, links, episode extras and more.

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Two Designers Walk Into a Bar is part of the Evergreen Podcasts network.

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20 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 42 min
English

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S14 · E140
August 26 · 32 min
Episode 140: Dogs Playing Poker, Ernest P. Worrell and Pitchmen Going Pop (Classic Episode)
We're still on summer vacation, so we’re revisiting one of our classic episodes. Hey, Vern. In this episode we discuss how artwork advertising cigars became a cornerstone for kitsch and a character promoting local businesses became a movie star. What is the deal with dogs playing poker, anyway? And how did Ernest P. Worrell go from plugging local car lots in Nashville to saving Christmas in movie theaters across the country? We answer these questions and introduce you to what may be the coolest
S14 · E139
August 12 · 33 min
Episode 139: The Origin Story of Psychedelia (Classic Episode)
With news of Ken Kesey’s bus Further returning to San Francisco, we’re revisiting one of our classic episodes. We return to our series kickoff on psychedelia by discussing its origins, the impact on a generation of pop culture and its lasting effects. Psychedelia’s origins are messy, fascinating, and full of odd little historical crosscurrents. We discuss science, bicycle rides and the first official album of psychedelic music.
S14 · E138
July 29 · 47 min
Episode 138: Signs of the Times - Barber Poles and Pawn Broker Balls
There are signs that have symbolized professions for so long that their origin stories are unknown to the very customers served by them. Today we're discussing two of those symbols: barber poles and pawnbroker balls. Unless you’re truly in the middle of nowhere, you can find within minutes of where you live, work or both.
S14 · E137
July 15 · 46 min
Episode 137: Pop Culture Products - Wonka Bars and Duff Beer
Today we’ve brought a couple of interesting products with us to the bar that were originally created for movies and television, and later made the leap into the real world once they became household names. We’re having dessert first as we sample a Wonka Bar and then we're wetting our whistles with a couple of Duff Beers.
S14 · E136
July 1 · 42 min
Episode 136: KISS, The Bicentennial and the Year 1976 (Classic Episode)
In honor of the nation’s 250th birthday, we’re revisiting one of our classic episodes. In 1976, our nation turned 200, KISS released “Rock and Roll Over” with Michael Doret’s amazing album art and the timeless bicentennial star logo from designer Bruce Blackburn was everywhere from postage stamps to NASA equipment.
S14 · E135
June 17 · 44 min
Episode 135: Cult Products - TaB Soda and McDonald's Fried Apple Pie
Today we’re digging around in the backs of our minds and the pits of our stomachs to remember a couple of beloved food products that have cult followings who lament these products’ eventual demise. We’re talking about the origins of TaB Soda from Coke and the fried Apple Pie from McDonald’s.
S13 · E134
June 3 · 47 min
Episode 134: Iconic Pop Culture Cars (Classic Episode)
We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes. Buckle up as we travel back in time to discuss what are arguably the two most popular cars in pop culture: the original 1960s Batmobile and the Delorean from Back to the Future. Sometimes they worked, oftentimes they didn't. If you smell some burning rubber, it's not from us thinking—at least not this week. Instead, it's a high-octane topic coupled with some Golden Cadillacs from our bartender. Enjoy.
S13 · E133
May 20 · 52 min
Episode 133: Visual Alphabets - Nautical Flags and American Sign Language
Today we’re going to be talking about a couple of colorful visual alphabets. Not typefaces, but the kinds of alphabets that are their own languages. Created to solve specific problems, one works face-to-face (American Sign Language) and the other (nautical flags) from a distance.
S13 · E132
April 29 · 1 hr 5 min
Episode 132: Game Show Logos for The Gong Show and the Dating Game (Classic Episode)
We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes about game show logos – the good, the bad and the ugly — and how sometimes all of those qualities could be found in a single piece of artwork. We’re zeroing in on a couple that are loud, busy and colorful, just like the era they were created in and the sets they were created for: The Gong Show and Match Game.
S13 · E131
April 15 · 52 min
Episode 131: Fabric Patterns and the Stories Behind Camouflage and Paisley
There are some new tablecloths here in the bar, which has gotten us thinking about fabric patterns. Today we’re going to be talking about a couple of patterns that, if you don’t personally have them in your wardrobe, you likely know someone who does. We’ve brought in the funky character known as paisley and the shady character known as camouflage.
S13 · E130
April 1 · 35 min
Episode 130: Cups, Plates and Trophy Design
We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes. Today we’re talking about two of the most iconic—and oddly shaped—trophies in the world: Wimbledon’s Venus Rosewater Dish and the Stanley Cup. If you’ve ever stared at a silver plate and thought, “That’s what victory looks like?” then this is the episode for you. We’re digging into the curious history of why some of the biggest wins come with even stranger hardware.
S13 · E129
March 18 · 40 min
Episode 129: Punk Meets Tech and New Wave is Born (Classic)
We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes. If New Wave was a style and attitude, then music was the delivery device. In this episode we discuss the political climate, creative activity and DIY attitudes that led to the formation and rise of one of pop culture’s signature eras.
S13 · E128
March 4 · 49 min
Episode 128: Homage Designs - A Poster for Swatch and an Orgy for Disney
Everyone says that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But if that were true, copyright law wouldn’t need to exist. We’re discussing a couple of items that could be called homages…or could be called unfair (or even unauthorized) use (but we’ll leave that up to you). Today we’re talking about a Swatch poster from the ‘80s and The Disneyland Memorial Orgy from the '60s, two projects with colorful artwork and equally colorful backstories.
S13 · E127
February 18 · 33 min
Episode 127: Psychedelia Comes Down, Hangs Around and Gets Reinvented
For one last time, we’re delving into the depths of our expanded minds to talk about the impact of psychedelia on popular culture. We may have been at the bar a bit too long getting our minds…expanded. We have a lot to talk about today as we discuss what happened with psychedelia after The Summer of Love and Woodstock.
S13 · E126
February 4 · 33 min
Episode 126: The 1960s and the Era of Peak Psychedelia
Today we dive into the era of peak psychedelia: the mid ‘60s. We talk about the design and music inspired by this—ahem—experimentation and how that informed pop culture for a generation. Stanley Mouse, Robert Crumb and a host of other artists make an appearance.
S13 · E125
January 21 · 33 min
Episode 125: The Origin Story of Psychedelia
We’re kicking off our series on psychedelia with its origins, the impact on a generation of pop culture and its lasting effects. Psychedelia’s origins are messy, fascinating, and full of odd little historical crosscurrents. We discuss science, bicycle rides and the first official album of psychedelic music.
S12 · E124
January 7 · 32 min
Episode 124: Talking Food Mascots with Kirk + Kurtts (Classic)
We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes. What do Betty Crocker, Charlie Tuna, Tony the Tiger and the oddball characters from Off Limits Cereal have in common? Along with fellow creatives Kirk Visola and Andy Kurtts of the “Kirk and Kurtts” design podcast, they were all our drinking buddies one evening!
S12 · E123
Dec 24, 2025 · 33 min
Episode 123: The Origin Story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
We have one more Christmas gift for our listeners! Today we’re going to be talking about a holiday icon that began as a marketing stunt: everyone’s favorite red-nosed reindeer, Rudolph, and his origin story from a retail store’s marketing department to being the guide at the front of Santa’s sleigh.
S12 · E122
Dec 10, 2025 · 50 min
Episode 122: Trailblazing Toys - Hot Wheels Cars and Mego Action Figures
Just in time for Christmas, we've brought some classic toys with us that have become iconic collectibles. Grab your seat belt and buckle-up as we talk the fast-paced glitz of Hot Wheels cars, and then we fight for truth and justice as we get our hands on some highly collectible Mego superhero action figures.
S12 · E121
Nov 26, 2025 · 37 min
Episode 121: Giving Thanks for Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms
Today we’re giving thanks by spotlighting Norman Rockwell's four freedoms—Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Fear and Freedom from Want—and how he created what is arguably the most iconic Thanksgiving image of all time.

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