Rephonic
Artwork for Design the Future
Living Building Challenge
Infrastructure Masons Climate Accord
Living Future Conference
Embodied Carbon
Data Centers
Biobased Materials
Arch Nexus
Seattle, United States
Design
Urban Design
Branchpattern
STV
Circularity and Reuse
Sustainability
Buildingease
Living Future
Air Quality
Sustainable Performance Institute
Equity
MEP 2040

Women are living, learning, and leading towards a sustainable future. Their stories can help us all accelerate toward that vision in the built environment. Design the Future is a podcast created to elevate and explore the voices of women driving sustainable practices in the built environment and related fields. Lindsay Baker, a sustainability and social impact leader, and Kira Gould, a writer and ... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes126Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for Design the Future

Latest Episodes

Lauren Alger is vice president and national director of sustainable design at STV, a multinational  company focused on the design, engineering, and planning of infrastructure at all scales. 

Lauren, a civil engineer by training, is dedicated to tran... more

At Living Future 26 in Seattle, Lindsay Baker’s address was interrupted by a fire alarm. It was a false alarm, but it also persisted for a while, so the entire community got to witness Lindsay’s humor and grace as she continued her remarks. 

We deci... more

For developer Jill Sherman, buildings are not just assets, they are support systems for a thriving future. Jill leads Edlen & Co.’s public-private partnerships and build-to-suit projects. Jill sources new deals and manages all aspects of the developm... more

Beth Heider is a thought leader at the intersection of high-performance buildings and sustainable design, global business strategy, and organizational leadership. 

As founder & CEO of Heider Sustainability Advisors, Beth supports businesses, organiz... more

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Recent Guests

Lauren Alger
Vice President and National Director of Sustainable Design at STV
STV
Episode: Lauren Alger on infrastructure as climate solution driver
Jill Sherman
Impact developer and Edlen & Co co-founder
Edlen & Co
Episode: Jill Sherman on developing buildings for a thriving future
Beth Heider
Founder and CEO of Heider Sustainability Advisors; former Chief Sustainability Officer at Skanska USA; Fellow of AIA/LEED/Living Building
Heider Sustainability Advisors; Skanska USA (former)
Episode: Beth Heider on a career in the movement
Miranda Gardiner
Executive Director of the iMasons Climate Accord, ICA
ICA / Infrastructure Masons Climate Accord
Episode: Miranda Gardner on decarbonizing digital infrastructure
Lara Kaufman
Design principal and Sustainability Lead at Studio Gang
Studio Gang
Episode: Lara Kaufman on embedding sustainability in design
Anjanette Green
Architect, founder of A Greener Space (AGS)
A Greener Space
Episode: Anjanette Green on being there and making change
Sarah Gudeman
Principal and engineering practice lead at BranchPattern
BranchPattern
Episode: Kristy Walson and Sarah Gudeman on collaboration and advancing decarbonization
Kristy Walson
Principal and building science practice lead at BranchPattern
BranchPattern
Episode: Kristy Walson and Sarah Gudeman on collaboration and advancing decarbonization
Julie Ju-Youn Kim
FAIA, William H. Harrison Professor and Chair of the School of Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology; founder of Flourishing Communities Collaborative; founder and partner at C2 Architecture Studio
Georgia Tech; Flourishing Communities Collaborative; C2 Architecture Studio
Episode: Julie Ju-Youn Kim on design impact and relationships

Hosts

Lindsay Baker
Host of Design the Future, with focus on sustainability leadership and design practice.
Kira Gould
Co-host, writer and interviewer guiding conversations with depth and context.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 57 ratings
  • A go-to podcast for me

    There are so many reasons that I keep this podcast at the top of my feed. I enjoy hearing the career journeys of the amazing women, I get inspired by their current work, and I’m reminded of the long evolution of sustainability in the built environment. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nadavbg
    United States3 years ago
  • Great conversations

    Two things make this a wonderful podcast: the guests and the hosts. The guests are some of the most inspiring and accomplished professionals, but they all come off as genuine people, deeply committed to what they do. The hosts are both respectful and warmly connected to their guests and are able to draw real inspiration from their work. Listening to an episode makes me feel like I’ve just spent time with friends.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AVL arch
    United States4 years ago
  • Uniquely incisive podcast series on climate & buildings/design

    So many these podcasts - dare I say the great majority of them - are REALLY GOOD. Great guests and great hosts. They ask the right questions and the guests provide imaginative, disarmingly honest, clear-eyed and empowering answers. One has the feeling with the focus on female leadership of a different approach to sharing. While highly progressive it also not ideologically constrained and it’s all about what has worked and why. I listened to an interview with one friend and hero of mine and then... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mr. Platt in Washington
    United States4 years ago
  • Women in sustainability this is your podcast

    If you are to transitioning into a sustainability career or are already working on this area this is the podcast for you. The hosts are warm, thoughtful and make you feel like you are chatting with friends who happen to work in sustainability. Their guests add different dimensions to the knowledge you already have and always share how they got into sustainability, which is great for those new to this area. Amazing work! Thank you so much! Also, I don’t work in building sustainability but busines... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Susana Vidal
    United States5 years ago
  • Great podcast! Wonderful hosts, topics, and guests!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    mhsjacoby
    5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience values genuine, respectful hosts and guests who share actionable insights and inspiration.
Positive reception for diverse women-led leadership and practical, future-focused conversations.
Listeners appreciate depth on climate and building design without heavy-handed activism.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#219
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#40
Ireland/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#150
Switzerland/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#199
Netherlands/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Barbra Batshalom on social psychology and systems change
Q: What is SPI and how did it lead to BuildingEase?
She outlines how Green Roundtable evolved into Sustainable Performance Institute to institutionalize sustainability and organizational excellence, and how BuildingEase grew from addressing workflow problems to becoming a scale engine that aligns the entire supply chain and data language for better decision-making.
Erica McBride on the care and feeding of Living Buildings
Q: What do you see as the pathway to a society with all buildings operating like living buildings?
Advancements require educating and training architects and contractors to understand the 'why' behind design decisions, aligning building codes with regenerative practices, and fostering a culture of open lessons learned to scale these approaches.
Erica McBride on the care and feeding of Living Buildings
Q: What does a typical day look like for you in this role?
Her day involves monitoring building systems, allocating resources like water and solar production, conducting tours, educating occupants, and coordinating a team to address issues as they arise, all while maintaining the building's integrity as an ecosystem.
Erica McBride on the care and feeding of Living Buildings
Q: Tell us about how you got started in this, how you got involved in the sustainable building industry.
Erica fell into it when her brother-in-law asked her to help start cleaning Arch Nexus's Sacramento office; she then learned about the Living Building Challenge and gradually took on managing the building's systems, turning an entry-level role into stewardship of two living buildings.
Jill Sherman on developing buildings for a thriving future
Q: How does Edlen & Co differ from conventional real estate organizations, and how do you approach financing for these projects?
She explains a small, mission-driven firm structured around collaborative public-private partnerships, a non-vertical integration approach, and a mix of traditional debt/equity and non-traditional capital stacks to balance returns with community objectives, including the Living Building at a reasonable premium.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Design the Future

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

This series centers on women who are shaping sustainable practices in the built environment, with deep dives into design, policy, and leadership. Episodes typically feature practitioners and leaders discussing embodied carbon, regenerative design, climate-focused infrastructure, and equity-driven projects, often paired with practical career guidance and industry collaboration. Notable strengths include a consistent focus on real-world impact, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a community that highlights diverse voices driving systemic change in architecture, construction, and urban design. The conversations tend to balance strategic vision with actionable steps, making it useful for listeners seeking both inspiration and practical under... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Design the Future?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Design the Future:

1. The Daily
2. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of Design the Future are there?

Design the Future launched 6 years ago and published 126 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Design the Future?

Recent guests on Design the Future include:

1. Lauren Alger
2. Jill Sherman
3. Beth Heider
4. Miranda Gardiner
5. Lara Kaufman
6. Anjanette Green
7. Sarah Gudeman
8. Kristy Walson

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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