Mexican and American artist/designer/maker/activist Tanya Aguiñiga shares what it was like growing up in Tijuana and crossing the US border every day to attend school in the US, how an accidental haircut during her troubled teenage years got her kicked out of the house, and how a dedicated mentor gave her the encouragement she needed to become an artist. She also recounts a few crazy stories featuring a clown, a bull and an eagle.

Lighting, furnishing, and toy designer David Weeks chats with us about growing up in the South, making it in NYC, and being driven by curiosity, liberation and the importance of tactility in an increasingly virtual world. Along the way he slips in tales of smashing cars, badgering local acid trippers, and utilizing a technique called formal reduction.

UK-based product and interior designer Lee Broom doesn't just design products or interiors. He puts on a production. In this episode, he entertains us with stories of being a child actor in a Shakespeare company, winning a fashion design competition that led to working with Vivienne Westwood, and designing the most expensive lightbulb you’ll ever buy. His flair for theatre makes an appearance in everything he does, from dramatic light fixtures to design week stunts he always puts on a gorgeous show.

Designer and CEO of Loll Designs, Greg Benson, is living the good life in Duluth, MN. He shares with us his trajectory from building skate parks all over the world as a founder of TrueRide, to growing the trifecta of design, manufacturing, and distribution sister companies currently in the Loll family. A dedicated steward of the planet, he knows his way around the great outdoors, a well-crafted IPA, and the art of modern lollygagging - yeah, so what IS that anyway?! Tune in to find out:

Australian letterer, illustrator and typographer Gemma O’Brien is a fascinating person - from the unique way she got her big break to her passion for the double meaning behind words and phrases, she won us over with more than just her charming accent. From blogs to instagram to exhibitions to global lectures, listen to her path and where she's headed next:

Robert Brunner, co-founder of Ammunition in San Francisco, is kind of a big deal. You might not immediately recognize his name if you're not entrenched in the product design scene, but you definitely know at least one if not more of his designs. Maybe you've heard of Beats by Dre headphones? Yeah, we thought so. 

In this episode, Terry recounts his adventures in furniture design, including the genesis of his new design label Amen & Amen, cofounded with fashion designer Nana Boateng (see pics below). In the process, he slings some serious wisdom and infects us with his super-contagious lust for life. His high-octane enthusiasm and charisma is like jet fuel for your brain.

JONATHAN ADLER! YAY! We were so excited to talk to the potter and home decor mogul about life, love, and (irreverent) luxury.

In this episode, he reveals how he found refuge from a tortured adolescence in clay and the potter’s wheel, and how getting out from behind the wheel engendered a personal creative explosion. Plus, he drops some serious knowledge bombs on us!

We talk to design mogul Rebecca Finell of Finell about her unusual path from medicine to modern design, balancing business with babies, and standing out in a sea of sameness. 

Rebecca talks about designing her first hit product while still in school, transitioning from pre-med to industrial design, and her love of Austin, Texas. We also learn how good partnerships were a key to her success.

Los Angeles-based lighting and furniture designer Brendan Ravenhill is leading an interesting life. From a youth in West Africa, to running a growing studio in Los Angeles, he's made stops along the way that involve lobstering, boat-building, academia and a Schindler house. 

In this episode, Brendan reveals how profound grief led him to find solace in making things with his hands. While he's got a rigorous work-ethic, play tops his list of to-dos. He shares with us the story of his unusual courtship with his now-wife, and melts us like buerre with his French.