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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes680Founded17 years ago
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ArtsDesign

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Artwork for Design Matters

Latest Episodes

Piera Gelardi is a creative entrepreneur, writer, New York Times bestselling author, and co-founder of Refinery29, the media company that helped redefine digital media for a generation of women. She joins to discuss her new book, The Playful Way, whi... more

Maria Popova is the creator of The Marginalian, where for two decades she has traced the connections between science and poetry, astronomy and love, nature and consciousness, all while building a body of work animated by wonder and rigor. She joins t... more

YouTube

Ann Patchett is the bestselling author of ten novels, including Bel Canto, Commonwealth, The Dutch House, and Tom Lake, the co-owner of Parnassus Books, and the recipient of numerous literary honors. She joins live at the TED Conference to discuss th... more

YouTube

Spencer Bailey is a writer, editor, and cultural journalist whose work explores the intersections of design, architecture, memory, and human experience. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Slowdown, host of Time Sensitive, and former editor-... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

Design Better
Design BetterThe Curiosity Department
The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
The Interview
The InterviewThe New York Times

Recent Guests

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
Michael Arden
Director and actor known for Spring Awakening, Parade, The Lost Boys, etc.
Theater Director/Actor
Episode: Michael Arden
Julia Sweeney
Writer, performer, and actor known for SNL and one-woman shows
Episode: Julia Sweeney
Bobby Hundreds
Designer, writer, co-founder of The Hundreds; later Disney Global Creative Director for products
The Hundreds; Disney
Episode: Bobby Hundreds
Manoush Zomorodi
Journalist, author, and long-time audio storyteller; host of NPR's TED Radio Hour
New York, NY; NPR TED Radio Hour
Episode: Manoush Zomorodi
Mauro Porcini
Chief Design Officer, PepsiCo
PepsiCo
Episode: Mauro Porcini
Jodi Kantor
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist
The New York Times
Episode: Jodi Kantor

Host

Debbie Millman
Host of Design Matters

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 States3 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 States7 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.

Guests consistently highlight diverse, fascinating guests and meaningful conversations.
The show is a go-to source of design inspiration and career guidance for many listeners.
Listeners praise deep, thoughtful questions and warm hosting.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#4
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#56
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#2
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#5
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#75
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#129
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Maria Popova
Q: When did you start to see poetry as a doorway to science and philosophy?
She explains how poetry entered her life via a friend who educated her in poetry, leading to deepening engagement with both science and poetry.
Maria Popova
Q: You've written so beautifully about wonder; what first astonished you as a child?
Popova describes wonder as elemental and universal, noting she didn't have the word for it until later and recalls early moments of peace and surprise in nature.

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?

A long-running interview series centered on creative lives, design, and the broader contexts that shape makers and thinkers. Conversations frequently explore how personal history, craft, and culture inform professional practice, from design leadership and branding to writing, journalism, and art. Guests span designers, artists, authors, journalists, and cultural curators, with recurring emphasis on process, resilience, mentorship, and the social impact of creativity. The show often blends intimate storytelling with practical insights for listeners pursuing ambitious creative or leadership paths, making it valuable for designers, educators, and brand builders seeking bigger-picture inspiration and actionable takeaways.

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. Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
3. The New Yorker Radio Hour
4. Fresh Air
5. The Interview

How many episodes of Design Matters are there?

Design Matters launched 17 years ago and published 680 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. Maria Popova
2. Ann Patchett
3. Spencer Bailey
4. Michael Arden
5. Julia Sweeney
6. Bobby Hundreds
7. Manoush Zomorodi
8. Mauro Porcini

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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