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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes677Founded17 years ago
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Artwork for Design Matters

Latest Episodes

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

Michael Arden is a Tony Award–winning director and actor whose productions, including Parade, Maybe Happy Ending, and Spring Awakening, blend intimacy, spectacle, and extraordinary humanity. Across film, television, and theater, his work returns agai... more

YouTube

Julia Sweeney is a writer, performer, and actor whose work spans Saturday Night Live, acclaimed television roles, and a groundbreaking body of one-woman shows that blend wit, humor, intelligence, and inquiry to redefine personal storytelling. She joi... more

YouTube

Bobby Hundreds is a designer, writer, and co-founder of the pioneering streetwear brand The Hundreds, and currently serves as Global Creative Director at Disney Consumer Products. Recorded live at Canva Create in Los Angeles, he joins for a conversat... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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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.

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Recent Guests

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
Cy Gavin
Painter
Independent artist
Episode: Cy Gavin
Pum Lefebure
Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Design Army
Design Army
Episode: Pum Lefebure
Santiago Carrasquilla
Designer and director, founder of Art Camp
Art Camp
Episode: Santiago Carrasquilla
Timothy Snyder
Historian of Eastern Europe, the Holocaust and political conflict
Yale University (historian); author of On Tyranny, On Freedom
Episode: Timothy Snyder

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 States2 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 States6 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 Statesa year 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
#7
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#143
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#4
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#5
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#86
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#124
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Manoush Zomorodi
Q: What was the original idea for the show and how did you come to bring this to life?
The original concept was to frame technology and its effects on behavior, work, and relationships as a business and cultural story, evolving from New Tech City into a more intimate, thesis-driven format that reflects the host's perspective as a woman, mother, and child of immigrants.
Mauro Porcini
Q: What advice would you give to leaders aiming to build a creative culture post-crisis?
Treat crisis as an opportunity, analyze societal changes accelerated by the crisis, invest in future-focused capabilities (technology, sustainability, health), and show how design can help the company emerge stronger while maintaining a human-centric approach.
Mauro Porcini
Q: How did you approach introducing design as a strategic capability within large, decentralized corporations?
He describes finding co-conspirators in key regions, embedding design within the global strategy, proving value with quick, ROI-focused projects, and exposing leadership to external best practices to foster broad organizational buy-in.
Mauro Porcini
Q: What is your first memory of being creative?
He recalls drawing lessons from his father, discovering pyrography, and the moment when his early creative activity also revealed a nascent sense for business by selling leather drawings to friends, which he saw as an early form of entrepreneurship.
Cy Gavin
Q: How did your experience with access to museums shape your current practice?
Early access through sneaking into museums and later serving on museum boards reframed Gavin's understanding of access, curation, and responsibility, influencing how he considers audience and public institutions in his work.

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. People I (Mostly) Admire
3. Worklife with Molly Graham
4. On Being with Krista Tippett
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Design Matters are there?

Design Matters launched 17 years ago and published 677 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?

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What guests have appeared on Design Matters?

Recent guests on Design Matters include:

1. Julia Sweeney
2. Bobby Hundreds
3. Manoush Zomorodi
4. Mauro Porcini
5. Jodi Kantor
6. Cy Gavin
7. Pum Lefebure
8. Santiago Carrasquilla

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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