Design Downtime

In the first episode of season 3, Karen VanHouten joins us to share her love of ’80s new wave music, a love that began in high school in the mid-1980s. She talks about discovering the music through friends, noting how it was "accessible enough, but different enough to make you feel a little special”. That juxtaposition of the dark and the beautiful in new wave music resonated with her, and made he...

It’s the season two finale and this week’s episode goes to eleven, as Joe Natoli joins us to talk about his lifelong passion for heavy metal music. From his earliest exposure to Black Sabbath’s Master of Reality at age ten, Joe reflects on the profound emotional connection and sense of identity metal gave him. He shares stories of scouring record stores, trading mixtapes with friends, and devourin...

Grab your fabric and pick your favourite stitch, as Elyse Holladay joins us to talk about her adventures with sewing. She recounts being inspired by her mother sewing and her own experiences running a personal style program, and how frustrations with ill-fitting off-the-rack clothing got her to take up the hobby. Elyse reflects on the highs and lows of learning the craft, from her initial overconf...

Things get muddy, as Cristina Lutcan joins us to talk about her love for obstacle course racing. She recounts how a military camp gifted by her parents introduced her to crawling in the mud and climbing ropes. Over the years, Cristina embraced both the Tough Mudder’s community-focused, non-competitive nature, where fun and teamwork are central, and Spartan races that push her limits and emphasize...

You won’t need a starter for this conversation, as Pavel Samsonov joins us to share his passion for baking sourdough bread. Like many others, he started experimenting with sourdough during the pandemic, but has continued baking since then, diving deep into the science. Pavel recounts some humorous missteps, including an overheated sourdough starter that caused a minor fire in his workspace. He als...

We’re going to a land down under, as Shannon Leahy joins us to talk about her love for Australia. She reflects on growing up as a dual citizen of the U.S. and Australia and how it has shaped her life, with childhood summers in Melbourne, the unique family traditions that anchored her to the country, and the value she finds in regular, “mundane” family gatherings. Through family stories, memories o...

Laura Worrick had a farm and on that farm she had a… well, you’ll have to listen to this episode to find out! Laura shares her journey from childhood farm work in rural Massachusetts to creating a backyard homestead in Austin, Texas. She talks about her evolving relationship with food, her and her partner's efforts to adapt to Texas's unique climate, and how her partner has come to embrace their h...

Grab your skates but don’t forget your helmet and knee pads, as Anna Cook joins us to talk about her newfound passion for roller derby. She explains how a friend’s invitation to watch a match sparked her interest, how having no prior skating experience made her first day challenging, and how the encouragement from fellow teammates and coaches gave her the support she needed. Anna provides insights...

Let’s take to the sky, as Ian Murchison flies us into the thrilling world of drone racing. He shares his background in racing remote control cars and how that competitive spirit led him to racing drones. Ian recounts his first race, the nerves he felt racing indoors, and how the drone racing community helps newcomers ease into the sport. He describes the complexities of controlling drones in 3D sp...

Let’s dive into the intersection of design, art, and craft, as Anne Hjortshøj joins us to talk about contemporary fine art, which she finds more abstract and intriguing than traditional figurative art. She explores the common misconceptions surrounding design as an art form, and explores the contextual nature of art. Anne touches on the role of museums, the evolution of art trends, and her persona...

It’s not just IKEA and fjords, as Katharina Koberdamm joins us to share her deep passion for Scandinavia. Her fascination began in her 20s with Swedish music, which inspired her to take her first solo trip through Sweden and Denmark. Looking at the cultural differences between Scandinavia and her home in Germany, Katharina highlights the minimalist design, the more uniform style, and the serene la...

Get into the groove, as Donnie D’Amato shares his journey into the world of dance, from dancing in the kitchen with his family to mimicking moves from video games. His passion for dance continued into high school, where he joined a breakdancing group, and an unexpected audition led him to his first paid job for a DJ company. Donnie touches on his unique journey in the dance world, including his ap...

Let’s travel into the third dimension with Amy Lee, as she shares about her journey of discovering 3D printing with an initial understanding of the technology as merely a tool to create figurines, and how it evolved, leading her to experiment with more complex items. She tells us of her fascination with the intricacies of 3D printing, including the steep learning curve, the challenges of designing...

Grab your longboard and join us on the beach, as Val Poon shares her unique journey from growing up in the urban environment of Hong Kong to becoming an avid surfer. Her first surfing experience in Hawaii, which she fondly remembers despite the challenges, set the stage for her lifelong passion. That passion has profoundly influenced her life, from her daily routines to her mental and emotional we...

Grab on to your character sheet and roll for initiative, as Chris Strahl shares about his lifelong love of Dungeons & Dragons. He reflects on his early experiences of storytelling and shares insights on his growth as a Dungeon Master, adapting to the unexpected decisions his players make. Chris also talks about his involvement in professional DM'ing, running public games and corporate events,...

Turn off the lights and enjoy the vibrant colours, as Soren Hamby joins us to talk about their love of glow art. They share their fascination with natural bioluminescence, and how a birthday party sparked a deeper passion for this medium, leading to participatory art projects and installations. Soren also reflects on the glow art community, and the notion that the value of art isn’t determined by...

In the first episode of season 2, Sara Wachter-Boettcher shares her journey with powerlifting, and how it helped her redefine her relationship with her body and cultivate a sense of strength and confidence both in and out of the gym. She talks about her early introduction to strength training, and how her interest in lifting evolved over the years. Sara reflects on the societal pressures women fac...

Season one of Design Downtime is ending on a high (musical) note, as Brad Frost joins us to talk about how much he loves making music. Brad recounts the early days of his musical journey, playing bass guitar in a family band, and his taste evolving from classic rock to punk and ska, and eventually embracing a wide musical spectrum. He talks about shedding the pressure to commercialize his music an...

Angelina Severino joins us to talk about her love of poster art. She discusses the evolution of the poster from a practical advertising tool to a recognized art form, and her personal project to celebrate poster graphic design, detached from its commercial use. The conversation gets quite philosophical as Angelina explores the intersection of design and art, and questions the traditional view that...

Grab your clay and join us as Amelia Marschall-Miller shares her journey with pottery, rekindled after a long hiatus since her childhood fascination with ceramics. She is self-taught and enjoys the creative and experimental process of wheel-throwing, where getting comfortable with unpredictability is the key to having fun. Amelia describes her artistic style and influences, and looks to deepen her...

Put on your bicycle helmet and join us in the bike lane, as Justin Godard talks about his lifelong passion of cycling. Justin reflects on the changing role the bike has played in his life, from childhood, through teenage years, to adulthood. He shares how the bike offers a balance of exploration and physical challenge, and how it fosters a bond with his daughter. Guest Bio Justin Godard (he/him) i...

Start your engines, as Julie Tait joins Design Downtime to share her passion for car racing. Julie tells us how she fell in love with the sport of autocross, and her journey from an enthusiastic fan to a seasoned driver. She highlights the lessons she learned along the way, being part of a community of racers, and her efforts to promote the sport, especially among women. Guest Bio Julie Tait (she/...

It’s story time on Design Downtime, as Laura Costantino joins us to talk about their lifelong love of stories. They take us all the way back to their childhood in southern Italy, to their father's folk tales, their grandmother's wartime stories, and their aunt's classical literature narratives. Laura tells us how that interest led them to study film and eventually curate film festivals, drawing pa...

Podcasting all-star Davy Fung joins us to talk about… podcasting?! He tells us how he went from being a listener to trying to create a podcast himself, and how it evolved into an ongoing creative outlet. Davy shares insights into the technical aspects of podcast creation, from equipment to editing, and reflects on how important authenticity is in building a successful podcast.
 Guest Bio Davy Fung...

Noelle Lansford enters stage right to tell us about her love of local theatre. She takes us through her journey, starting from her high school days up to her recent involvement in community theatre, and touching along the way on her love for musicals, memorable productions, and the challenges of balancing theatre with other commitments. Noelle shares her transition from acting to backstage roles,...