Best DesignThinkers Podcasts (2025)

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The Story of Leo Chan - Belonging and Redefining Creativity 1:39:21

16h ago1:39:21

1:39:21

The Power of Human Creativity in a Time of AI Reflections from a conversation with Leo Chan In a rich and personal conversation on the Radio Future Skills Academy podcast, Leo Chan joined Arne van Oosterom and Morgan Duta to talk about creativity, imposter syndrome, the importance of psychological safety, and the impact of AI. What unfolded was mor…

1
Cassie McDaniel: How Medium eliminated its PM function and started moving faster 28:08

24h ago28:08

28:08

This is a preview of a premium episode. Visit our Substack to get access to the full episode: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/cassie-mcdaniel Cassie McDaniel, Medium’s head of design, is someone with a clear vision for how a design team should work. She believes team members should have a breadth of skills, craft should be the foundation of produ…

1
071. How Trauma Informed Lawyering Helps Avoid Burnout with Dr. Colin James 59:05

4d ago59:05

59:05

The impact of trauma in legal practice extends far beyond individual client interactions. From law school through retirement, lawyers face unique psychological challenges that can fundamentally alter their personalities, relationships, and effectiveness as advocates. Dr. Colin James, author of "Vicarious Trauma and Burnout in Law," brings decades o…

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The Roundup: AI creative workflow, vibe coding, ethics, agents, and more 48:49

10d ago48:49

48:49

Find bonus content and more on our Substack: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/the-roundup-ai-creative-workflow Rarely do we get the chance to pause and reflect on the conversations we’ve been having—and to spot the red threads that run through them. But that’s exactly what we’re doing today. We’re trying out a new format—we’re calling it The Round…

1
Operational Excellence in Design + Leadership + Design Ops with John Fukuda — DT101 E144 46:22

11d ago46:22

46:22

Jon said that when he first discovered the design operations community at the 2019 Design Ops Summit in Brooklyn, it felt like coming home. Here was this entire tribe of people who cared about the same things he’d been passionate about for years—creating systems that help designers do their best work. In this episode, I'm talking with Jon Fukuda, c…

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070. Profit First for Lawyers: A Conversation with RJon Robins 52:34

11d ago52:34

52:34

Is your law practice truly profitable? Not just cash-flow positive, but actually generating the kind of profit that allows you to serve your clients well, take care of your team, and live the life you want? In this episode, I dive deep into the critical topic of law firm profitability with RJon Robins, founder of How to Manage a Small Law Firm and …

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Annika Madejska on Facilitating Evil 17:13

12d ago17:13

17:13

In this episode of The Naked Facilitator, we talk with Annika Madejska about her provocative workshop “Facilitating Evil.” What happens when we flip the script and explore how technology can be misused with good intentions gone wrong? Anika shares how speculative design, worldbuilding, and playful discomfort can trigger deep ethical reflection—and …

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161. Pierre Jeanneret and the Chandigarh Vernacular with Manu Sobti 1:12:05

16d ago1:12:05

1:12:05

Today, we are joined by Manu Sobti who is a senior lecturer at the University of Brisbane in Australia. We talk to Sobti today about his research on Pierre Jeanneret and Aditya Prakash, what he found, and the role of these two people in the making of modern India and modern architecture

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Bonus Episode: Amy Lokey, Chief Experience Officer at ServiceNow, live in SF for UserTesting's THiS Connect Tour 31:40

18d ago31:40

31:40

This interview was recorded live on May 1st for UserTesting’s ThiS Connect City Tour. Interested in joining us for our next live show? We’re joining an incredible lineup at #THiSConnect in NYC (including former Design Better guest Seth Godin), where we’ll talk about customer experience, innovation, and the real impact of AI. 📍 Catch us in New York …

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069. Document Automation Secrets for Small Law Firms with Quinten Steenhuis 47:08

18d ago47:08

47:08

If you've ever tried to turn one of your documents or templates into something repeatable, you probably already know it is harder than it looks. Whether you're looking to streamline routine documents or create client-facing tools, this week's conversation will help you find the most effective and straightforward solution for your needs. I'm joined …

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Video Rewind: John Cleese: A cheerful guide to creativity 37:22

24d ago37:22

37:22

Hi everyone! We recently surveyed our audience and learned that many of you would like to see more video. So, we’re kicking off a new run of video episodes, beginning with our interview featuring John Cleese—actor, writer, comedian, and author of Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide. You can watch the interview on our Substack, or on Youtube. Enj…

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068. Adaptability by Design: Building Law Practices That Respond to Change 29:42

25d ago29:42

29:42

It’s easy to say lawyers need to “be more adaptable” in today’s shifting tech and economic climate, but real adaptability isn’t about working harder or reacting faster. It’s about responding intelligently to change by staying grounded in your mission, your goals, and the strategies that support them. In this episode, I break down what intentional a…

1
The Story of Jesse Poe - Music, Neurodivergence and a new start 1:29:37

1M ago1:29:37

1:29:37

Behind the Glass Wall “Sometimes, I feel like I’m behind a glass wall.” Morgan described this feeling during our conversation with Jesse Poe. She spoke about observing the world, people, conversations, systems, all unfolding just beyond an invisible barrier. You’re present, yet not truly part of it. That image resonated deeply with me. It brought t…

1
Marco Suarez: From designer to coffee entrepreneur ☕ 49:32

1M ago49:32

49:32

A special sponsored episode of the Design Better Podcast It’s a tough job market out there right now for designers and other creative technologists. Many of us are wondering if there are other ways we might be able to use our skills, and some of us are considering an entrepreneurial path. Our guest today has done just that. Marco Suarez has had an …

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067. AI & Legal Writing: How to Use It Effectively with Jonah Perlin 45:54

1M ago45:54

45:54

What makes legal writing truly effective? It's not just about knowing the law—it's about knowing how to communicate it. In this episode, I'm joined by Professor Jonah Perlin from Georgetown Law School, where he teaches first-year legal practice and advanced legal writing courses. We explore how the process of putting ideas into words -wrestling wit…

1
Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross: Your Brain on Art 49:31

1M ago49:31

49:31

Visit our Substack for bonus content and more: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/susan-magsamen-and-ivy-ross In school, art is often positioned in curricula as an enrichment subject, not a core skill like math or language arts. But those of us who pursue the arts instinctually recognize that there is something in creative expression that is foundat…

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066. Build a Law Practice that Reflects Your Values, with Carolyn Elefant 50:06

1M ago50:06

50:06

There has never been a better time in the history of lawyers to start your own law practice. The tools, know-how, and access to support are better than ever before, and they keep improving every day. Whether you're facing job uncertainty, working at a firm with values that don't align with yours, or simply tired of working for someone else, going s…

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160. Modernism’s Magic Hat with Ijlal Muzzafar 1:00:05

1M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

Today, we are joined by Ijlal Muzzafar who is a professor at RISD and author of Modernism’s Magic Hat: Architecture and the Illusion of Development without Capital. The book is M’s thesis on how modernists in the post-war era invoked and worked with the concept of development to produce a re-imaging of development as a process of self-actualization…

1
Rewind: OK Go: Making the impossible possible 57:35

2M ago57:35

57:35

Visit our Substack for bonus content: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/rewind-ok-go Aarron and Eli are traveling with their families for Spring Break, so we’re bringing back one of our favorite episodes from 2023 with the band OK Go. In the time since we recorded the interview, they’ve come out with a new album, and with several new music videos, …

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065. Scale Your Practice with a Mesh Management Approach 23:46

2M ago23:46

23:46

Most law firms start by building support structures around the expert (you), but eventually hit a ceiling where growth becomes limited by your personal capacity. No matter how efficient your team becomes at supporting you, the system can only move as fast as you can. In this episode, I explore how to transform your practice from an expert-dependent…

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The Story of Alwin Put - Why Holding Space is Exhausting (and Beautiful) 1:41:27

2M ago1:41:27

1:41:27

The Hidden Life of a Facilitator By Arne van Oosterom Facilitation often looks easy from the outside. A room full of people, energy, sticky notes, good vibes, some structure, and someone calmly guiding the process. But what most people don’t see is the part that happens afterwards. When the room is empty again. When you’re back in the car. Or alone…

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Jordan Mechner: Pioneering game designer on creating Prince of Persia, Karateka, and a new graphic novel memoir 25:22

2M ago25:22

25:22

Visit our Substack for bonus content and more: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/jordan-mechner As a kid in the 80’s, Eli fell in love with games on computers like the Apple II, Commodore 64, and later the Amiga and Macintosh. One of the very first games he played was called Karateka, which was inspiring for the realistic movements of its digital k…

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064. The Dental Chair Theory of Lawyering 30:18

2M ago30:18

30:18

Ever feel like you're constantly juggling multiple client matters at once, switching between tasks, and never fully focusing on any single piece of work? This scattered way of working is more detrimental to your practice than you realize. One incredibly effective solution to this problem is understanding what call The Dental Chair Theory of Lawyeri…

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Brad Frost: Design systems are about human relationships 1:12:48

2M ago1:12:48

1:12:48

Visit our Substack for bonus content and more: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/brad-frost Design systems are the foundation of nearly every piece of software we use. No one has had a greater influence on the philosophy and tactics of building design systems than Brad Frost, author of Atomic Design. After helping countless companies craft design s…

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COLUMN - by Arne van Oosterom - AI and the Human Experience 6:45

2M ago6:45

6:45

Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of Future Skills Academy Podcast with a Column by Arne van oosterom: I’m really excited to share something that’s been on my mind for a while. We’ve all heard how technology—and more specifically AI—seems to be creeping into every corner of our lives. I mean, it’s not just about writing blog posts or crunchi…

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063. Legal Automation Pitfalls: Are You Meeting Client Needs? 34:12

2M ago34:12

34:12

Is your law practice suffering from too much automation? Today, I'm sharing how to recognize when automation is hurting rather than helping your practice. I'll explain why efficiency should never be your primary goal, how to avoid the "transactional trap" that alienates clients, and most importantly, how to design automations that enhance rather th…

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The Story of Annika Madejska - Ethical Debt, AI and Neurodiversity 1:28:53

2M ago1:28:53

1:28:53

Wired Differently: A Conversation with Annika Madejska on AI, Neurodiversity, and Ethical Debt When we spoke with Annika Madejska for our podcast, it was one of those conversations that lingered long after we hit stop on the recording. Thoughtful, sharp, and honest—Annika shared stories and insights that connected the personal and the professional …

1
Heidi Trost: Human Centered Security 35:23

2M ago35:23

35:23

Visit our Substack for bonus content and more: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/heidi-trost Designing a good security experience is hard. Every time we run into one of those security captchas that requires you to “identify all the motorcycles” in the tiled images, we want to give up and surrender to our robot overlords…or throw our laptop out the …

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062. Delegation Pitfalls: When Legal Work Goes Too Deep or Too Wide 28:29

2M ago28:29

28:29

Have you ever delegated legal work to a colleague, only to get back something that completely misses the mark? Maybe they dove way too deep into the weeds, or perhaps they barely scratched the surface of what you needed. As a lawyer, calibrating expectations when delegating tasks can be a constant challenge. In this episode, I tackle a listener que…

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159. Devising Theater with Jeffrey Fracé 55:37

2M ago55:37

55:37

Today, we are joined by Jeffrey Fracé who is the chair of acting at the University of Washington. Fracé discusses his background of the arts through Shakespeare, improvisational theater, the different modalities of theater, and the difference between producing theater and producing architecture.

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The Brief: Afraid of losing your job? Become irreplaceable 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

Becoming an irreplaceable designer By Aarron Walter The software industry is in a tough contraction phase. Teams are downsizing, and companies are prioritizing efficiency. It’s a stressful time for many. But it’s also an opportunity—to reflect on your work, your skills, and the unique value you bring as a designer. What could you do to make yoursel…

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Trenton Doyle Hancock: An artist’s process for creating order from chaos 26:58

2M ago26:58

26:58

Visit our Substack for bonus content and more: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/trenton-doyle-hancock Aarron’s friend Trenton Doyle Hancock did something remarkable when they were both in the graduate Painting and Drawing program at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia—he had work in the Whitney Biennial. It was a bit like winning an Oscar whil…

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061. Delivering Your Legal Work: Direct Flight or Long Layover? 20:35

2M ago20:35

20:35

Does your firm have legal matters that are endlessly dragging on, frustrating both you and your clients? It may seem like investing in the latest AI tools is the obvious next step to speed up your firm's delivery, but the real solution lies in managing the flow of work across your entire system. This week, I share three powerful strategies for redu…

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Dan Harden: Form follows emotion—industrial design lessons from George Nelson to Steve Jobs 1:08:36

3M ago1:08:36

1:08:36

Visit our Substack for bonus content and more:https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/dan-harden If you were mapping out the most amazing career in industrial design, you might dream of working with George Nelson, Henry Dreyfuss, Steve Jobs, and influential companies like Frog design in the early days. It seems impossible that one person could have such …

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Kristen Berman: Behavioral economics expert on designing products that change behavior 28:16

3M ago28:16

28:16

Visit our Substack for bonus content and more: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/kristen-berman Many of the most successful products launched in Silicon Valley lean heavily on behavioral design to increase engagement. Former Design Better guest Nir Eyal talks about this in his books Hooked and Indistractable, and today we have another expert in thi…

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060. Practical Uses for Legal AI - No Hype, No Fear with Damien Riehl 48:25

3M ago48:25

48:25

Have you been wondering how AI can help your law practice today? In this episode, I talk with Damien Riehl, a lawyer and legal technologist who has been at the forefront of AI in law for years. We skip past the usual AI ethics debates to focus on the most important question: how can small and mid-sized firms use AI right now to improve client servi…

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