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Design Matters with Debbie Millman

TED Audio Collective

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.

Location:

Tempe, AZ

Description:

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.

Language:

English


Episodes
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20th Anniversary celebration with legendary artists Bisa Butler, Deborah Kass, Marilyn Minter, Amy Sherald, and Ai Weiwei

9/22/2025
To celebrate 20 years of Design Matters, Debbie Millman revisits highlights from her conversations with groundbreaking artists Bisa Butler, Deborah Kass, Marilyn Minter, Amy Sherald, and Ai Weiwei. This anniversary collection brings together the voices of five visionaries whose work challenges conventions, sparks dialogue, and redefines the role of art in our culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:46:24

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Stephen J. Dubner

9/15/2025
Stephen J. Dubner is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and co-creator of Freakonomics—the cultural phenomenon that, over the past 20 years, has grown into a global franchise, changing how millions think, revealing the hidden side of everything, and challenging us to question what we know. For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:25:02

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Suzanne Vega

9/8/2025
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 poignantly captures the struggles and resilience of our time. For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:01:20

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20th Anniversary celebration with non-fiction writers Lisa Taddeo, Malcolm Gladwell, Anne Lamott, Maria Konnikova, and Alain de Botton

9/2/2025
To mark 20 years of Design Matters, Debbie Millman revisits some of her most memorable conversations with acclaimed non-fiction writers Lisa Taddeo, Malcolm Gladwell, Anne Lamott, Maria Konnikova, and Alain de Botton. This anniversary collection captures the insight, candor, and wisdom of five extraordinary thinkers whose work continues to shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:49:37

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20th Anniversary celebration with graphic novelists Chris Ware, Alison Bechdel, Roz Chast, Seth and Lynda Barry

8/25/2025
In honor of 20 years of Design Matters, Debbie Millman revisits standout moments from her conversations with some of the most celebrated voices in graphic storytelling—Chris Ware, Alison Bechdel, Roz Chast, Seth, and Lynda Barry. This special retrospective highlights the artistry, humor, and humanity of five groundbreaking creators whose work has transformed the world of comics and beyond. For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:40:16

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20th Anniversary celebration with design legends Massimo Vignelli, Michael Bierut, Paula Scher, Chip Kidd and Louise Fili

8/18/2025
To celebrate 20 years of Design Matters, Debbie Millman revisits some of her most memorable conversations with design legends Massimo Vignelli, Michael Bierut, Paula Scher, Chip Kidd, and Louise Fili—icons whose voices and vision have shaped the field. For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:40:09

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Betty Buckley

8/11/2025
Betty Buckley—Tony-winning Broadway legend, Olivier nominee, and beloved “Voice of Broadway”—has spent nearly six decades in theater, film, television, and music. Best known for Cats and Sunset Boulevard, she is an American Theater Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the American Songbook Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She joins to discuss her remarkable career, enduring artistry, and the stories behind her most memorable roles. For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:14:21

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Tim Ferriss

8/4/2025
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, a new card game he’s quietly been crafting—and the mindset that brought it to life. For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:24:38

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Best of Design Matters: David Cay Johnston

7/28/2025
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Cay Johnston has spent his career exposing corruption in business and government. A relentless muckraker, he’s written The Making of Donald Trump and It’s Even Worse Than You Think, offering a searing look at the Trump administration’s impact on America. This archival episode with David Cay Johnston first aired in 2018, during Donald Trump’s first term. The conversation remains just as urgent and relevant today. For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:51:11

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Lulu Miller

7/21/2025
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 storytelling, inviting us to question how we understand the world and our place within it. For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:22:11

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Dr. Joy Buolamwini

7/14/2025
Dr. Joy Buolamwini is a computer scientist and a poet of code who uses art and research to illuminate the social implications of artificial intelligence. She joins to discuss her career as the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, her best-selling book Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What is Human in a World of Machines, and her featured role in the acclaimed Netflix documentary Coded Bias. Want to help shape TED's shows going forward? Fill out our survey! For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:02:58

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Jennifer Pastiloff

7/7/2025
Jennifer Pastiloff is a bestselling author of the memoir On Being Human and travels the world with her workshop, blending writing, yoga, and radical honesty. She joins to discuss turning pain into purpose, the power of vulnerability, and her new book, Proof of Life. Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey! For the Idea Search application, go to ted.com/ideasearch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:04:07

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Pride 2025 with Carol Leifer, Sonya Passi, Paul Tazewell, Leisha Hailey, and Kate Moennig

6/30/2025
In celebration of Pride Month, we’re revisiting conversations with accomplished LGBTQ+ guests—Carol Leifer, Paul Tazewell, Sonya Passi, Leisha Hailey, and Kate Moennig—about the journeys that led them to fulfilling professional lives and the influences that shaped who they are today. Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:43:30

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James Dyson

6/23/2025
James Dyson is a visionary inventor, designer, educator and founder of Dyson, a global company transforming ordinary household appliances into design and engineering marvels. He joins to discuss his iconic career, the role of failure in the creative process, and how good design can reshape the way we live. Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:42:42

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Craig Federighi and Alan Dye

6/16/2025
Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, and Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of Human Interface Design, are two of the most influential creative and technological leaders shaping how we experience the digital world. Together, they represent the rare combination of engineering and design at its highest level, shaping how Apple products feel and behave. They join live at the Apple Headquarters to discuss the much anticipated launch of iOS 26. Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:54:45

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Dane Laffrey

6/9/2025
Dane Laffrey is a Tony-winning scenic and costume designer known for his bold, emotionally resonant work on productions like Parade, Once On This Island, and Spring Awakening. He joins to discuss his two decade career and recent set design for Maybe Happy Ending, a true tour de force and one of the most extraordinary stages on Broadway. Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:52:33

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Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig

6/2/2025
Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig—actresses known for their iconic roles as Shane and Alice on The L Word, the reboot The L Word: Generation Q and co-hosts of the beloved podcast PANTS—join to discuss queer representation, their creative collaborations, and navigating the business of show business. Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:06:35

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Best of Design Matters: Olafur Eliasson

5/26/2025
The works of artist Olafur Eliasson explore the relevance of art in the world at large. He joins to discuss his three-decade career creating sculptures, installations, paintings, photographs, and film utilizing natural elements—light, color, water, and movement—to alter viewers’ sensory perceptions. Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:03:34

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Best of Design Matters: Carson Ellis

5/19/2025
Carson Ellis is the author and illustrator of the bestselling picture books “Home” and “Du Iz Tak?”. She joins to talk about her life living on a farm in Oregon and her remarkable career illustrating numerous award-winning books for children. Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:07:11

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Best of Design Matters: David Kwong

5/12/2025
With his expertise in enigmas and illusions, David Kwong delights and challenges audiences around the world with his intellectual brand of magic. He joins to discuss his one-man show, The Enigmatist, and his career as a magician, crossword puzzle constructor, and writer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:00:26