Design Of Podcast

The New York Times once wrote about David Baker, “What’s so compelling about Mr. Baker is that he’s an expert on being an expert”. This week’s guest, David Baker, is a well-known author of five books (so far), an international speaker, co-host of his podcast 2 Bobs, and advisor to over 900 firms. Enjoy this conversation about David’s start living among a remote Mayan community to becoming a leading authority on positioning, reinventing, and selling for firms in the creative and digital space.

You will hear people often debate what makes a legend, or the G.O.A.T. of a sport. Is it the record? Championships? Or is it how you respond to what life throws at you and how you turn that into the fuel to propel you? All of those incredible questions are a part of the life of the legendary wrestler and coach Dan Gable. As a wrestler, Dan compiled an unbelievable record of 181-1. He was undefeated in 64 prep matches and was 117-1 at Iowa State University. His only defeat came in the NCAA finals his senior year. Gable won a Gold Medal at the famed 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, without surrendering a single point. The Soviets came to the Olympics with only one goal in mind: to defeat Gable. They were unsuccessful. In Gable’s final 21 Olympic qualification and Olympic matches, he scored 12 falls and outscored his nine other opponents, 130-1. During his six matches at the Munich Olympics, he went unscored upon. As the University of Iowa’s all-time winningest coach from 1976 to 1997, Gable won 15 NCA

In an open letter to the public, Vernon Lockhart wrote the following: AS A BLACK MAN who grew up in one of the toughest areas of St. Louis, I didn’t think I would live to see 21. The neighborhood I grew up in wasn’t much different than the one many Black youths who live in impoverished urban neighborhoods in the U.S. are navigating. Even with everything I saw happening around me, I was still able to tap into the creativity within me. I have my Baby Girl “Mama” to thank for that. As a talented design hopeful herself, she encouraged me to explore my talent. She always told me, “Baby, you can be and do anything you want.” And I believed her. That belief is probably what saved my life. Fast forward to 2020. In a design career that has spanned decades, I consider myself fortunate. THIS LIFE LESSON TAUGHT ME THAT WE ALL HAVE THE HUMAN RIGHT TO BE CREATIVE! MORE THAN EVER WE NEED TO CREATE RESOURCES AND SPACES TO NURTURE OUR YOUTH! I challenge you—in your own community—to see how you can invest in ALL youth who ma

Some may think being a lineman in the NFL is a relatively simple position, one that doesn’t require much brain power. The reality is that offensive linemen are among the smartest players on the field. The various plays, blocking schemes, and last-second changes that need to be made makes their capacity to know almost everything that goes on the field critical to their success. Rudy Niswanger is an unassuming giant of a man who is both sharp in his wit and his perspective. He has won at every level on the football field and is now winning at life by running several companies and raising his amazing and growing family. Meet Rudy, a simple kid from Louisiana, who knows how to make the most of what life has to offer.

Christian Vande Velde is a former professional cyclist who now serves as a cycling analyst for NBC Sports. Christian is joining DesignOf for his second episode where we talk about life, the current state of cycling during a pandemic, and the hopeful return of the Tour De France. We hope you enjoy this conversation with a two-time Olympian turned pro cycling analyst.

Kathy Eldon's life has been and continues to be, one of reinvention and transformation. Hear the story of a woman that has lived a life of adventure and it's fair share of tragedy, but through it all, her commitment to making the world a better place has stayed in focus. In this episode, we talk about her midwest roots, her son Dan Eldon, and how she and her daughter Amy have created a world-changing organization, Creative Visions. Together, their organization has incubated 400 projects and productions on 5 continents impacting more that 100 million people. Kathy is also an accomplished author of 17 books, including, "In the Heart of Life," a memoir of her life journey to date. Kathy also continues to speak, write, and play an active role in Creative Visions located in the Dan Eldon Center for Creative Activism in Malibu.

“The time is now for uncomfortable conversations”- Nichole Carter In this episode of Design Of, meet Nichole Carter. A woman of many roles. Mother, wife, fighter, advocate, leader, and academic. Together, we have an open and honest conversation about race, #BlackLivesMatter, privilege, and what America feels like for people of color. Nichole is the Senior Program Director at Bright Star Community Outreach where they work to empower residents of Bronzeville and the greater Chicago area to share in the responsibility to build community through resource development and collaborative partnerships. Nichole is committed to making the streets of Chicago a safer place and lives by the mantra of, “Changing the world, one family at a time.”

Humans are designed to understand and process information through storytelling whether we are sharing our experiences or building a community. Dr. JJ Peterson has spent his lifetime exploring how to define stories and their impact. This episode shares that adventure. JJ is the Chief of Teaching and Facilitation at Storybrand(https://storybrand.com), a marketing company started by the New York Times best-selling author Donald Miller. Storybrand teaches companies how to clarify their message and connect with their customers through a proven methodology. Get ready to learn about JJ’s new book(Marketing Made Simple - https://amzn.to/2A8NjyR), his acting career in Hollywood, his teaching experience, and his impact on helping run one of the fastest-growing marketing companies in the industry. He also has a giggle that will brighten your day. Enjoy!

Bourbon. These days it seems to be the hottest spirit around, but do you ever wonder where it is made? Who are the actual bourbon makers? We did too — so much so that we produced a book about it (check out https://simplybourbon.com)! We did our research by going to the only place one should go to look for Bourbon Truth: Kentucky. Kentucky is synonymous with bourbon, for many reasons. It’s most like the birthplace of bourbon, and it’s certainly where bourbon made it’s mark. But it’s more than just historical reasons that bourbon is intimately tied to Kentucky. The truth is, there are few things left in American culture that are connected to place, people, and tradition. Bourbon is one of them. And so, for episode 31, we are fortunate to be able to sit down with Britt Kulsveen, the Chief Whiskey Officer of Willett Distillery (https://www.kentuckybourbonwhiskey.com), one of the oldest family-owned distilleries in Bardstown, the heart of Kentucky Bourbon making. Hear how Britt's family has been a part of that v

Do you create the space to have conversations with strangers or people who travel in different circles than you? How often do you consider others before yourself? In this episode, you'll meet someone who has spent the last several years doing just that. Sometimes the stars align and you get to meet someone who is incredibly brilliant, charming and has the ability to influence the way you see the world. Samantha Curley, an independent producer and creative entrepreneur, is one of those rare individuals. As the co-founder and executive director of Level Ground, a nonprofit arts collective, production incubator, and festival in Los Angeles, California, Sam has been an advocate for creating conversations in the LGBTQ+ community. In this episode you’ll hear how this truly special leader has just produced her first short, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival, and is now starting the feature-length version. Samantha will help you to have a deeper perspective on approaching conversations, people, and working

Do you ever wonder what it is like to be an Olympic athlete? Better yet, have you ever imagined what it is like to be an Olympic champion? To watch your flag raise to your anthem on that podium with hand over heart? Yeah us too :) Because of that for our 29th episode of Design Of we are featuring not only a five-time Olympian, but someone who works unbelievably hard day in and day out. Someone who cares deeply about her family, faith, and her sport. Kerri Walsh Jennings is a three-time gold medalist, and one-time Olympic bronze medalist. Kerri wants to live each and every moment of her life with passion and purpose. She believes in this so much that she is the co-founder of p1440, a digital platform focused on the sport and culture of beach volleyball. p1440 elevates the sport and inspires people to live all 1,440 minutes a day with intention. Kerri treats her athleticism as a gift and shares her story about how she’s gotten to where she is today. The foundation of Kerri’s beliefs are very similar to Rule29’

To say Hugh Weber is one of a kind is an understatement. From the age of 8, he was writing to leaders in congress and ended up becoming pen pals with none other than Rose Kennedy, President Kennedy’s mother. But when you hear Hugh’s story, you realize that it is no surprise this small-town kid went from a young political mercenary to leading an inauguration to a reformed community organizer, influencer and connector. Listen to this episode and hear the story of a humble, hardworking South Dakotan making a difference by chasing his dreams and choosing to see the possibilities

For 25 years, Larry Harper has been a beacon of hope for children, teens, and families within the Bay Area by providing them the chance to play, learn, and grow. Get ready to meet a man who believed in hard work and dreaming big. Listen to his journey and how three of his role models became good friends as they sought to give tens of thousands of kids the opportunity to dream bigger and brighter.

Charles Adler is an incredible mash-up of experiences and interests. He’s an East Coast kid who grew up digging street art, skateboarding, break dancing, and all the forms of music that aligned with those interests: punk, hip-hop, and electronic. He was also an Eagle Scout. He loves exploring the outdoors and cycling. Add his curiosity with technology and his skill as a designer, and you have a story about a college dropout who became one of the founders of the world's largest and most successful crowdfunding platform and an entrepreneur who continues to explore the juncture of creativity, community, and technology.

Marty Neumeier has lived a pretty amazing life. His brushes with fame, celebrity, and how a season of failure pushed him into becoming a bestselling author is a fascinating story. Marty’s mission is to bring the principles and processes of creativity to industry. He is a sought-after teacher, speaker, and one of the leading authors on creativity and business. His book Zag was named one of the “top 100 business books of all time,” and The Brand Gap is considered a the foundational text for modern brand-building. Marty has worked with top companies such as Apple, Netscape, HP, Adobe, and Google, but most impressively he is an engaging, caring, and exceptional person. Enjoy hearing the story of a truly great thought leader.

Bill Gardner is one of those people that you are just happy to be around. He is the creator of Logo Lounge in addition to being a natural entertainer, entrepreneur, creative, teacher, and author. He is extremely thoughtful and has even experienced a little magic in his life. Listen to this episode and hear the story of an authentic Kansan who followed his DNA-destined career as he lives each day with a spirit of humility and gratefulness.

Chris Harris (PCH) is a self-proclaimed son of the soil within the Bronzeville community, a historic neighborhood near the South Side of Chicago. Decades ago, Bronzeville was the destination for thousands of black southerners migrating North to find better employment, education, and living opportunities. Harris has spent his life living and working alongside the South Side community as they continue to tackle many of the social issues that plague low-income residents, including unemployment. As a leading community pastor, Harris has worked tirelessly to unite faith leaders in the community as well as starting a 501c3 named Bright Star Community Outreach. Don’t miss his dynamic story and the tellings of the realities many face everyday in the Bronzeville community https://www.brightstarcommunityoutreach.com/

Emily is articulate, passionate, and not afraid to tell it like it is. As an extremely successful consultant for leading design firms, Emily is a thought leader in the world of design and just a lot of fun to talk to. Emily was raised to be fearless when her father encouraged eight-year-old Emily to take the train from Long Island to New York City…by herself. That courageous spirit has more than benefitted her in throughout her adulthood and business pursuits. Whether you’re a designer, business leader, or just someone who enjoys good conversation, Emily’s captivating personality provides an engaging story that we are excited to share.

Kristin Ellison is an author, editor, content creator, and collaborator at LinkedIn Learning. She is a thoughtful and compassionate human being that is enthusiastic about the things she believes in. Some of our favorite characteristics about Kristen is that she has an adventurous drive to enjoy life, she is always there when you need her, and she is someone who has been on some amazing journeys. Get ready as we share a couple of those awesome stories with you in this episode.

Matthew Hoffman is a Chicago based artist & designer whose public works have been exhibited internationally. His ideas and work have been included in Good, the New York Times Magazine, and Ready Made. Justin and Wills visited Matthew in his studio to see some of his work firsthand, and to hear more about the man behind the message.