Roxane Gay Instagram – Twenty years ago today, Debbie Millman started her podcast Design Matters. Week after week, for the next twenty years, she sat in conversation with the world’s most interesting creative people. In each episode, Debbie explores the arc of someone’s creative life. She asks well-researched, probing questions and inevitably, because of the rigor of her research, guests ask, “How did you know that?” They marvel at a question she’s posed that they’ve never been asked before. That takes talent. When you are regularly interviewed, you develop a script. You go on autopilot and, frankly, you are asked the same questions over and over again. Debbie endeavors to break up that script and get authentic answers from her guests.
Over 20 years, Debbie has spoken to more than 600 guests. Her body of work is a masterclass on what it takes to succeed, to learn from failure, to experiment, to navigate the challenges and pleasures of success, and most importantly, to be audaciously creative. She works alongside the amazing producer Curtis Fox, but I must tell you Debbie does most of the pre-production herself. She does her own research, crafts her own questions, and books her guests. It’s remarkable. Each week, I watch her work so hard on Design Matters, putting her whole heart and the ferocity of her intellect into the endeavor. The show is not just a labor of love. It is one of the most central labors of her life.
And Debbie, herself, is audaciously creative. She is an artist, and a designer, and a preeminent brand strategist. She is a dynamic educator and dedicates much of her time, these days, to working with nonprofit organizations that fight LGBTQIA discrimination, work to end gender-based and sexual violence, and otherwise strive to make the world a better place. I don’t know how much longer she will make Design Matters, but my goodness, what a magnificent show she has created.
TWENTY YEARS! I don’t know that anyone has been doing it longer or better. Congratulations @debbiemillman. I could not be prouder of you and the show you’ve created. (Also, guys, when she is doing the podcast her voice register falls into what I call “podcast voice.” It’s hella sexy.) | Posted on 05/Feb/2025 01:35:56
