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Design Matters with Debbie Millman

Design Matters Media
Design
Creativity
Design Matters
New York City
Art
Comedy
Mental Health
Cancer
Artificial Intelligence
Writing
Leadership
Organizational Transformation
Entrepreneurship
Graphic Design
Education
Social Media
Fashion
Dog Cognition
Identity
Social Justice

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes689Founded17 years ago
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Latest Episodes

C. Thi Nguyen—philosopher, professor, and author of Games: Agency as Art—joins to discuss his new book, The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else’s Game, and how metrics, from grades to likes, quietly reshape what we value and who we become. Toget... more

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 po... more

YouTube

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 storyt... more

YouTube

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,... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Design BetterThe Curiosity Department
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The InterviewThe New York Times

Recent Guests

Tim Ferriss
Author, podcaster, investor; creator of the card game Coyote
Author and entrepreneur
Episode: Best of Design Matters: Tim Ferriss
Quiara Alegría Hudes
Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright, composer, and novelist; co-creator of In the Heights
Author of The White Hot
Episode: Best of Design Matters: Quiara Alegría Hudes
Sir James Dyson
British inventor, designer, entrepreneur, educator and philanthropist
Dyson
Episode: Best of Design Matters: James Dyson
Laverne Cox
Emmy-winning actor, producer, advocate; author of Transcendent
Transgender rights advocacy
Episode: Laverne Cox
Craig Mod
Writer, photographer, publisher, designer, and long-distance walker
Writer and creator of Roden, Ridgeline, Things Become Other Things
Episode: Craig Mod
Piera Gelardi
Creative entrepreneur, writer, co-founder of Refinery29
Refinery29 / The Playful Way / Numa Luma
Episode: Piera Gelardi
Maria Popova
Writer and founder of Brain Pickings / The Marginalian
The Marginalian (Brain Pickings)
Episode: Maria Popova
Ann Patchett
Novelist and bookstore owner, TED Trailblazer Award recipient
Author, Bel Canto; The Dutch House; Patchett Books
Episode: Ann Patchett
Spencer Bailey
Writer, editor, and cultural journalist; founder of The Slowdown and host of Time Sensitive
The Slowdown / Time Sensitive
Episode: Spencer Bailey

Host

Debbie Millman
Host of Design Matters, a long-running interviewer of designers, artists, and thinkers.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 2.3k ratings
  • Disappointed

    There were a few good ones, but turned lackluster at best in my opinion. Very left sided and not very engaging or deep.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Benji K G
    United States5 months ago
  • Not engaging

    Initially was excited to follow this show. But after several tries, had to abandon the effort. Guests seemed intriguing, but missed opportunities by the host to be engaging. It felt like listening to paint dry.

    Unfollowed.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SheSheOak
    United States9 months ago
  • Listen while I ride

    I’m a long-time listener and absolutely love your show. My husband and I take long motorcycle rides, and getting to binge your podcast along the way is such a treat. I always learn something new—it’s informative, engaging, and full of fresh perspectives. Thank you for all the time and effort you and your team put into making it so consistently great. I’m truly grateful for what you do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Uslover2001
    United Statesa year ago
  • The best podcast out there!

    This is the single podcast I consistently listen to. Debbie does such a great job of researching and asking great and sometime hard questions. She talks to perfect amount. I’d listen to anyone if Debbie was leading the way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Suzeet
    United States2 years ago
  • A treasure

    The Design Matters podcast is an absolute treasure for anyone who loves creativity and storytelling! Debbie Millman’s conversations with artists, designers, and thinkers are so insightful and beautifully crafted. Every episode feels like an intimate look into the minds of some of the most inspiring and innovative people, covering not only their creative journeys but also the philosophies and personal stories that drive their work. Debbie’s interviewing style is warm, thoughtful, and truly brings... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    savvy_entrepreneur
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host's preparation and thoughtful questioning.
Guests and topics are diverse and deeply insightful.
Shows are consistently high-quality with meaningful, actionable takeaways.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#5
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#56
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#4
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#6
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#119
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#131
Canada/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Piera Gelardi
Q: Piera, you then decided to ask the universe for a sign. My two questions are, why did you do that and what happened next?
She was at a crossroads about dedicating the next chapter of her life to play; a friend's suggestion to seek a sign led her to Cologne where a bottle with a message from a child confirmed her intuition, guiding her toward embracing play as a central life practice.
Piera Gelardi
Q: And who was the letter written to?
It was a letter in a bottle written by a seven-year-old boy named Eliano, who talked about his love of Spielen (play) and his project with his mom to connect people through creativity; the discovery aligned with Gelardi's aim of exploring play and creativity as a social connective tissue.
Maria Popova
Q: How has researching figures like Whitman and Mary Shelley changed your own thinking?
Extended, biographically informed engagement with minds from the past shapes perception, empathy, and the ability to see as others did, influencing present work.
Maria Popova
Q: What role do omens play in your worldview and writing?
Popova distinguishes omens as internally generated patterns that help orient life, while insisting they have no scientific causal power but meaningful personal value.
Maria Popova
Q: Why did you rename Brain Pickings to The Marginalian?
She felt the term Marginalia captured the spirit of her ongoing exploration and the lives within margins, reframing meaning as something created rather than sold.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Design Matters

What is Design Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Design Matters hosts long-form conversations with a rotating roster of leading designers, writers, artists, and thinkers who shape culture through creativity, storytelling, and design thinking. Episodes center on guests' creative journeys, craft, and the philosophies that guide their work, often blending memoir, process, and practical insights for a creative audience. Notable is the host's reputation for deep, thoughtful questions and for attracting high-profile guests across art, design, technology, and culture, making it a go-to for listeners seeking nuanced, human-centered conversations about making work and living creatively.

Where can I find podcast stats for Design Matters?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Design Matters. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Design Matters and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Design Matters get?

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What are the audience demographics for Design Matters?

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How many subscribers and views does Design Matters have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Design Matters has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Design Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Design Matters:

1. Design Better
2. Fresh Air
3. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
4. The New Yorker Radio Hour
5. The Interview

How many episodes of Design Matters are there?

Design Matters launched 17 years ago and published 689 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Design Matters?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Design Matters?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Design Matters from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Design Matters?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Design Matters. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Design Matters?

Recent guests on Design Matters include:

1. Tim Ferriss
2. Quiara Alegría Hudes
3. Sir James Dyson
4. Laverne Cox
5. Craig Mod
6. Piera Gelardi
7. Maria Popova
8. Ann Patchett

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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