Best Design Critique Podcasts (2025)

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Quackcast 759 - Copcast 1:00:59

Play Pause

6d ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Police themed stuff is a popular genre! It's full of tropes and stylised aspects and generally very different from the reality, both from the actual police perspective and the perspective of those that deal with them, and I think I prefer it that way because the reality is usually pretty sad and ugly for all involved. So today we're talking about p…

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Subtly Command Respect in Business Meetings: A Guide to Executive Presence through sound and respect-queues 15:00

10d ago15:00

15:00

Read paired article on Xue Mei Rhodin's SubStack here What I would do as a young business owner or executive in 2026, who wanted to gain subtle but effective respect before even entering a meeting. What lipstick, sound and note-taking have incommon to impact the impression you leave. Visit My Virtual Townhouse here: xuemeirhodin.substack.com. This …

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Quackcast 758 - Confidence is Key 59:42

13d ago59:42

59:42

Confidence is key! Confidence can make very attractive protagonists and villains and it can make almost any character sexy because confidence is compelling. Main characters and villains never have to be confident, but if you want your audience to be drawn to them it's a great technique. To make a sexy, compelling character confidence works was bett…

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Quackcast 757 - Memento Mori 58:02

20d ago58:02

58:02

Mortality is a heavy, heavy subject. It was brought up in the forums a while ago so we're chatting about it now. We talk about death in popculture, how we treat death in our comics and our growing awareness of mortality as adults. You become increasingly aware of mortality as you age, mainly because you witness more and more of it in action; pets, …

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Quackcast 756 - Not dumb, layered 55:22

27d ago55:22

55:22

Today we're chatting about things that are ostensibly superficially straightforward, but are actually quite clever and layered in many ways. The two prime examples are Paul Verhoven's Robocop and Starship Troopers. They can both be taken as simply dumb, hyper-violent action films, but both are also good, solid, basic satirical critiques of society.…

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Quackcast 755 - My ending is not your ending 59:26

1M ago59:26

59:26

What happens if an author makes a massively popular story but takes ages and ages to finish that last part of it, and people are waiting breathlessly for years and years for them to end it? Would you support the idea of others taking it off their hands and finishing it FOR them? After all if the IP is popular enough and they've already sold it for …

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Quackcast 754 - The role of dialogue! 1:00:15

1M ago1:00:15

1:00:15

Dialogue is used for more than just simple speech, it moves the story forward, it indicates what characters want, what they feel, what they want others to feel and more. But it's used a bit differently across different media. Comics have their own particular ways of doing things and it's quite interesting! We thank Banes for coming up with this top…

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Quackcast 753 - driven by internal struggles 1:02:29

2M ago1:02:29

1:02:29

Banes was the brains behind the Quackcast this week! His idea is that a character's internal struggle and how that conflicts with the realities they face can be a great driver for a story. -cribbed from listening to Vince Gilligan of Breaking Bad fame. Banes is a much better story writer than me so I can't explain it as well, but a good example is …

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Quackcast 752 - Censor 3, how it works on DD 1:00:31

2M ago1:00:31

1:00:31

This is the 3rd and final part of our censorship trilogy, you'll be glad to know! We tackled censorship past in the first one, then censorship present in the second, and now it's time for censorship future… as it applies to us, sticking our money where our mouth is. How do we tackle “censorship” on our comic hosting site? Spammers get their account…

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Quackcast 751 - An internet FULL of censorship! 1:03:27

2M ago1:03:27

1:03:27

Last time we talked about old fashioned censorship, NOW we're talking about how it's used these days! Back in the day there were limited pathways for you to disseminate information: newspapers, radio, TV, public speaking, posters, books, film, pamphlets, ads… They were all easy for governments to shut down in various ways. But then along came the i…

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A Critique of Microsoft Word’s Feedback Survey 12:44

2M ago12:44

12:44

In this episode, I talk about a survey I didn’t plan to analyze—one that popped up the moment I opened Microsoft Word. Microsoft asked for feedback, and well… I had some. I break down the flaws in their opening question, including directional bias, vague wording, and unlabeled scale points. I also reflect on how these design choices impact data qua…

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Quackcast 750 - Censorshipping 45:28

2M ago45:28

45:28

Hey ho! We thought we'd address the topic of censorship again on the Quackcast! Today we're covering the topic in a rather general sense: The need for censorship; how it can be wrongly used; free speech and its limits; how free speech isn't equal around the world; slander and defamation; how censorship used to be applied to media and how that has c…

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Quackcast 749 - Chasin' trends 59:20

3M ago59:20

59:20

This week our cast is about the folly of following fashion! It could be with clothes, hair, interior design, architecture, music, OR creation! Things like plot styles, story structure, art, lettering, fonts, jokes, twists etc, all are subject to fashions of the day. And we are driven to participate in it, not because we're fashionable creatures who…

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Toolbox: Raymond Loewy & the MAYA Principle 50:28

3M ago50:28

50:28

Ernest & Joachim go deep on Raymond Loewy’s MAYA Principle: what it is & why it matters, with real world examples of MAYA in action, and what can happen when product teams fail to take the principle to heart. FOLLOW-UPS – 01:00 Toolbox: How “Jobs To Be Done” Can Help You Make, Better Fortis Marinemaster A BRIEF INTRO TO RAYMOND LOEWY – 06:04 MoMA o…

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Quackcast 748 - The Months 57:20

3M ago57:20

57:20

Tantz Aerine showcased LGBTQ+ comics and creators for Pride month in June with the help of Skyangel, Mainly on Bluesky. It went to so well that she came up with the amazing idea of doing more monthly features for other themes. She doesn't want to dictate to us what those theme should be though, she wants input into the idea so we can all come up wi…

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Quackcast 747 - Novels 1:00:38

3M ago1:00:38

1:00:38

Novels are basically long stories. They tend to have a lot of different plots and things all happening at once, unlike short stories. When writing a novel you have a lot of freedom to tell really BIG stories, stories that spanning worlds and centuries if you feel like it. In this Quackcast Banes chats to Tantz about the art of novel writing and wha…

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Quackcast 746 - It's never too late 54:26

3M ago54:26

54:26

There's always time to start learning something new! If you think you're bad at art and people told you you lacked talent back in the day and that if you didn't start as a child then you have no chance to be good, please know that all of that is false- you can become an amazing artist whenever you start. In-born magical “Talent” is absolutely not r…

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Quackcast 745 - I was there 1:00:30

3M ago1:00:30

1:00:30

History is something big that happens in the past that you look back on and wonder about… ofttimes we only know about it from the pages of a book, old video footage, relics in a museum, or something like that, but there are also living resources for history in the memories of older people and indeed in your OWN head. This Quackcast was inspired by …

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Off-the-Cuff Smörgåsbord 1:23:15

3M ago1:23:15

1:23:15

E & J return from a spring hiatus to discuss a range of topics, from WWDC 2025 to the Era of the Business Idiot, and more. WATCHES & WONDERS – 04:09 Don DeLillo: Cosmopolis IWC Presents A Plethora Of New Ingenieur Watches How The Pursuit Of Status Shapes Our Aesthetics The Nomos Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer NOMOS Lounge, New York City TAG Heuer F…

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Quackcast 744 - Over Qualified and Overplayed 58:40

4M ago58:40

58:40

Professions in fiction are usually always portrayed in very exaggerated, super fantastical expert versions of themselves. Like if it's a psychologist they generally know exactly what a person is thinking, why they're thinking a certain way, what all their issues are, why they have them and how to fix them. They can tell if a person is lying and the…

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An Interview with Jon Krosnick on Survey Design, Public Opinion, and Scientific Rigor 58:24

4M ago58:24

58:24

In this episode of Total Survey Design, Dr. Azdren Coma and Dr. Seon Yup Lee interview Dr. Jon Krosnick, a leading expert on political behavior, survey methodology, and public opinion. Dr. Krosnick is a professor at Stanford University who has advised the U.S. Census Bureau, led national studies on voting behavior and climate change, and published …

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Quackcast 743 - Lore vs reality 1:00:08

4M ago1:00:08

1:00:08

This is a weird one to encapsulate, but it was based on an idea I had while re-watching Star Trek the Next Generation and I had to explore it with my fellow Quackcasters, Banes and Tantz. I believe it's generally better to enjoy something in the order it was created rather than the chronological order of the story because you'll understand it so mu…

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Quackcast 742 - ex-special forces! 1:03:13

4M ago1:03:13

1:03:13

It seems like every single “badass” in TV, Movies, books and comics is “ex-special forces” or something like it these days. It's become a meaningless cliche. Writers use it as a shortcut to show a person is super tough and competent, able to handle ANY situation and also have a dark past. We chat about how silly it is to overdo the cliche and why “…

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Quackcast 741 - Hooks 1:00:02

4M ago1:00:02

1:00:02

Sometimes you get hooked into things, you become a fan and you wonder how you got there. A while ago you were laughing at those dorky, obsessed fans over there and now suddenly you're one of them! That's what we're talking about in this cast, the things that hook you in and our own stories about what we were unexpectedly hooked into. The idea came …

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Kill – Violence as Storytelling & Fight Choreography Bible 4:06

4M ago4:06

4:06

Tray Epps dissects Kill—the train-bound action film that weaponizes violence as narrative. We explore how evolving fight choreography, crushing foley work, and immersive camerawork turn every bruise and heartbeat into story. Drawing connections to The Raid, Oldboy, and RRR, this episode shows filmmakers how to harness rhythm, emotion, and consequen…

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Bottoms – Queer Chaos & Fight-Scene Storytelling 5:08

5M ago5:08

5:08

Tray Epps dissects Bottoms, Emma Seligman’s razor-sharp, bloodiest teen satire. We unpack how heightened absurdity, messy queer protagonists, and raw fight choreography carry emotional weight without a single set-piece feeling gratuitous. Learn how this film walks the tightrope between meta-comedy and genuine stakes, and why it’s a must-study for a…

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The King of Comedy – Parasocial Horror & Fame Satire 8:01

5M ago8:01

8:01

Tray Epps explores Martin Scorsese’s cult classic The King of Comedy—the original parasocial horror story. We discuss Rupert Pupkin’s delusional quest for fame, Jerry Lewis’s poignant straight-man role, and how this film foresaw our current influencer culture. Episode Highlights: – Scorsese’s use of silence and dread to build tension – Robert De Ni…

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Quackcast 740 - DD Radio play 4 planning! 53:52

5M ago53:52

53:52

Do you like acting? Do you like being part of collabs or community projects? Do you like radio plays? If you answered yes to any of that the DD radio play is for you! Way back in 2011 we did our very first Drunk Duck Radio Play and NOW we're reviving the idea! We have a brand new DD Radio Play and we need YOU to be a part of it! In 2011 when we did…

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Quackcast 739 - Deferring to Experts 1:00:46

5M ago1:00:46

1:00:46

Artwork from Key of Dreams When you're working on a project with other people, a comic collaboration for example, it's usually best to decide on different roles for everyone according to what they're best at (writer, artist, layout design, pencils, inks, colour, backgrounds lettering etc), and let them handle it. You don't micromanage and make deci…

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Quackcast 738 - Ensemble casts 1:00:47

5M ago1:00:47

1:00:47

Ensemble casts is the topic for today! But what do we mean by that? The way I'm defining it for THIS Quackcast is that you have a group of main characters where any of them can function in a chief protagonist role for part of the story, they're all on the same side and they can work together in smaller groups or in one big group. This is a common s…

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Rush Hour: Buddy Cop Dynamics and Cultural Exchange 4:09

5M ago4:09

4:09

This episode explores why 'Rush Hour' endures as a beloved film 25 years after its release, dissecting the dynamic partnership between Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. The video delves into how the film combines action and comedy, the smart pacing, and its respectful handling of cultural differences. It discusses the director's role in creating a movi…

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Quackcast 737 - Why take over the world? 1:01:44

5M ago1:01:44

1:01:44

People in stories, especially bad guys in stories usually want to take over the world, but why? What's really to gain? Even in reality it's a complex question. That's what we're talking about here. What's the real reason to want to be the boss of everything? Money isn't the objective because when you become the leader of everything money is irrelev…

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Quackcast 736 - Resurrection 59:15

6M ago59:15

59:15

Happy Easter! Well that was Sunday, but happy Easter anyway. In honour of that yearly and ancient ritual holiday that has its roots in the rebirth of spring in the northern hemisphere our Quackcast is on the theme of resurrection! The idea that people can come back to life in realty is pure fantasy but it is an essential part of all different kinds…

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Robert Downey Jr. Returns to the MCU — But At What Cost? 9:53

6M ago9:53

9:53

This isn’t about Iron Man. It’s about what happens when the biggest film franchise in the world chooses nostalgia over risk, legacy over originality, and comfort over challenge. In this raw and personal episode, Tray Epps breaks down what RDJ’s return to the MCU really signals: Disney’s ongoing shift away from originality toward safer, proven IP Th…

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Ek Tha Tiger: Bollywood’s Bold Blueprint for Spy Cinema 6:26

6M ago6:26

6:26

What happens when you take a classic spy thriller and remix it with Bollywood flair? In this episode, Tray Epps explores how Ek Tha Tiger redefines espionage cinema through a uniquely Indian lens. From high-octane action and political undertones to an emotionally layered romance, Ek Tha Tiger is more than just a blockbuster—it’s the foundation of t…

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Speed (1994): The Blueprint for Modern Action Thrillers 6:36

6M ago6:36

6:36

Speed has one of the cleanest high-concept premises in movie history: A bomb on a bus that can’t drop below 50 MPH. And somehow, that one idea gave us 116 minutes of nonstop tension, character chemistry, and genre-defining moments. In this episode, Tray Epps breaks down why Speed is more than a 90s action movie — it’s required watching for anyone l…

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Pather Panchali: The Greatest Debut in Film History? 6:52

6M ago6:52

6:52

No budget. No experience. No film school. Just vision. In this episode, Tray Epps explores Pather Panchali, Satyajit Ray’s quiet epic that became a landmark of world cinema. We unpack: Why Pather Panchali is essential for filmmakers The deeply human story of Apu and his family How natural lighting and real locations created visual poetry Mumblecore…

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Quackcast 735 - Anime 1:03:50

6M ago1:03:50

1:03:50

Welcome to another DD Quackcast! We were going to discuss Ad Hoc rationalisations and also “what happens AFTER you take over the world” but both topics were waaaay too trumpish and we didn't feel like getting negative and ranty about that fellow's foolishness so we thought we'd talk anime instead! But what is anime? At its simplest it's just cartoo…

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Godzilla Minus One: Grief, Guilt & The Most Human Kaiju Ever 6:08

6M ago6:08

6:08

What if Godzilla wasn’t just a monster—but a metaphor? In this episode of Required Watching, Tray Epps breaks down Godzilla Minus One and its black-and-white Minus Color version to explore why this movie hits harder than most modern monster films. This isn’t your dad’s Godzilla. We talk about: Why Minus One is a return to emotional, allegorical fil…

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Quackcast 734 - When love turns to hate 59:09

6M ago59:09

59:09

When love turns to hate… It's a common trope in fiction: partners split up and their once loving relationship turns to one of bitter acrimony! We see hate turning to love frequently too, that's another common trope, I saw both when I watched Willow again last night. Mad Martigan and Sorsha went from hate to love to hate to love again, and Sorsha an…

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Quackcast 733 - Watch again: Rediscovering 57:17

6M ago57:17

57:17

Watching, reading, and listening to things a second, third or even a million times can offer you a whole new experience. Why do we pick up the same thing to enjoy again? It could be nostalgia, it could be the need for comfort in the familiar, maybe it's research, or maybe you're rewatching the early episodes of a series so you can get more enjoymen…

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Quackcast 732 - Meet the Parodians 54:53

7M ago54:53

54:53

Parody and satire are a certain kind of humour. They're VERY easy to do because you just base them off real, already existing things, then you twist it a bit to add humour and make it ridiculous. But that's where it gets tricky! Satire is a parody of a real situation rather than fictional, it tends to have a harder edge. Where it usually goes wrong…

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An Interview with Thom Allen 1:00:51

7M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

In this episode I sat down with Thom to talk about surveys. We talked about his time at the Social and Economic Sciences Research Center, working with Don Dillman on various projects including the 2000 U.S. Census, some of his favorite projects, my dissertation survey, the application of the Tailored Design Method on a wide variety of cultures, and…

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Off-the-Cuff: AI Nonsense & More! 43:40

7M ago43:40

43:40

We return from hibernation to talk AI nonsense, critique the review industrial complex, promote a return to RSS, and share a raft of recommendations! JOACHIM ON AI NONSENSE – 01:52 Previous Discussion of Humane AI (starts at 18:34) Humane Set to Brick $700 ‘AI Pins’ I outsourced my memory to an AI pin and all I got was fanfiction Ben Thompson: Deep…

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Quackcast 731 - Contrariancast 55:48

7M ago55:48

55:48

By Ozoneocean

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Quackcast 730 - Lighting by The Doodler 1:01:11

7M ago1:01:11

1:01:11

Today we have on a super special guest, The Doodler! This is another on our technical series about art making and this time we're talking about lighting. Tantz suggested we interview The Doodler for this because she's Tantz's go-to person for lighting issues in scenes. It was great to chat with The Doodler about her lighting techniques and the diff…

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Quackcast 729 - The Feather report 1:00:40

7M ago1:00:40

1:00:40

The 3rd in our technical art-making series, we're talking hair, feathers, and fur today. How do you draw those highly complicated, textured things? Well the complicated, difficult way is to draw every single strand of hair, every follicle of fur, and every filament of feather… But that has a lot of disadvantages! So how else do you approach it? The…

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Quackcast 728 - Skinship 1:06:19

7M ago1:06:19

1:06:19

Today we're going into another aspect of creating artwork for webcomics! This time it's painting skin, a topic that Tantz suggested. How do you render skin? It's a super common thing in comics and there are many, many ways to do it! We're not experts on all the methods so we just cover what WE do. We all have different approaches and you'll have to…

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Quackcast 727 - Painting Series: Sky and Sea 1:01:55

8M ago1:01:55

1:01:55

We haven't done anything about actual art-making for a while so we thought we'd start a series on technical stuff. Starting out we tackle painting sea and sky! These are key general background elements, they're the two biggest simple background features you can get, you don't always need them but it's good to understand these big features for outdo…

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Quackcast 726 - Ego!? 1:09:31

8M ago1:09:31

1:09:31

Do you have a big ego? Do you know someone who has? This Quackcast is about utilising egos for comic characters for comedic purposes, to humanise character, or to make villains more unlikeable and or funny. Big egos are a sign of poor self esteem, people inflate their egos to cope with feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. For examples of that we…