Evan Troxel, Cormac Phalen

Archispeak Podcast

Design EN ↓ 390 episodes

What’s it really like to work in architecture? The hosts of Archispeak know, and they’re here to share real-life experiences. Since 2012 architects Evan Troxel and Cormac Phalen have been podcasting their brand of real talk on everything from design, tools, and work/life balance to generational differences, mentoring, job hunting, and more. Probing questions, revelatory interviews, and unique insights have grown their audience and become a weekly ritual for students and seasoned professionals alike.

Author

Evan Troxel, Cormac Phalen

Category

Design

Podcast website

www.archispeakpodcast.com

Latest episode

Jun 5, 2026

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Episodes

#191 – Looking Beyond Property Lines 29.10.2020

We discuss the October architectural conference flurry—including one that Evan is speaking at—and recap architect Jeanne Gang's keynote presentation at the 2020 Architectural Record Innovation Conference.

#190 – Understanding The Grimaces 26.10.2020

We discuss the new world of communication and physical barriers that many people are adapting to, and many who are not.

#189 – Pull The Motor 22.10.2020

We follow-up on Cormac's double-jointed, shadetree mechanic adventure and wax nostalgic on Haynes manuals. And then, somehow, bring it back to architecture.

#188 – We Keep Forgetting That's An Option 19.10.2020

We discuss taking ideas from other industries — like auto manufacturing — and applying them to architecture.

#187 – V.E. is Neither 16.10.2020

We discuss ways to deal with last-minute changes on projects, which is something that never really happens.

#186 – Why I'm Likely Leaving 12.10.2020

We discuss a recent Twitter thread about structural engineering career angst and parallel issues we have observed in the architectural profession.

#185 - Architectural Levels of Pain 08.10.2020

Cormac tells us a story of superstitious happenings, and we discuss the true meaning of three seemingly innocuous words that show up on so many drawing sets: Protect In Place.

#184 - Are You A Worker? 05.10.2020

Cormac and Evan discuss the sentiments expressed in the recently posted 'Letter to a Young Architect' by critic Kate Wager in Architecture Review.

#183 - How To Take Notes 01.10.2020

Evan and Cormac talk about having too many digital input devices to maintain clarity while working.

#182 - I Saw People Sketching 28.09.2020

We discuss the new format for Archispeak, and Cormac pays a visit to the office.

#181 - I Don't Know if This is Depressing 14.09.2020

Evan and Cormac talk about the effort that is required to design the future of our beloved profession of architecture. It's time to take responsibility fellow architects!

#180 - We Chose Witches 31.08.2020

Evan and Cormac start the episode all over the place but eventually bring it back to architecture, work/life juggling, and the evolving work schedules and behaviors we've found now that school is starting up in households around the world.

#179 - Guerilla Architecture Redux 17.08.2020

Summer break is here, and this is a redux of a previous episode where we discussed the movie Citizen Architect with a very special guest, architect Steve Hoffman. We also welcome a special guest, Cormac's longtime-friend from architecture school Steven Hoffman, who was not only in the movie about the Rural Studio but was also a student and instructor there.

#178 - Putting the Guidelines Aside 03.08.2020

Cormac and Evan talk about the consequences of breaking the BIM when deadlines are looming, how the design process is time travel, and the need for a vacation.

#177 - A Boat-Shaped Cubicle 20.07.2020

Cormac and Evan talk about what they are doing instead of vacationing this summer, the importance of knowing how things go together, some of their favorite construction tools, conducting Zoom calls on water, and more.

#176 - Field Observation Report – June 2020 06.07.2020

Architects are anthropologists and psychologists too, right? Join us for a conversation about some behaviors we are observing during Covid-19 — along with everything else that's going on in the world right now — and how they might relate to architecture and design.

#175 - Hoarding at the Highest Level 22.06.2020

Evan and Cormac continue to nerd-out and do a deep dive into three buildings. Come along on the journey of experiencing capital "A" architecture during a time when it's practically impossible to do so.

#174 - Nerding-Out on Architecture 08.06.2020

Evan and Cormac nerd-out and go through a laundry list of great architecture that they've visited, hoping to narrow it down to do a deep dive into one building each in the next episode. Come along on the journey of experiencing capital "A" architecture during a time when it's practically impossible to do so.

#173 - #blackouttuesday 03.06.2020

#blackouttuesday

#172 - The Design of Art 25.05.2020

Evan and Cormac discuss an episode of Netflix's docuseries Abstract: The Art of Design that focused on Olafur Eliasson's philosophy, process, and work, and relate that to what we do in architecture.

#171 - Resting Architect Face 11.05.2020

Picking up from some cues in the last episode, we talk about the Eames' movie The Powers of Ten, a design studio Cormac is participating in at Auburn, good communication skills, the power of the diagram, putting construction on display, and more.

#170 - Guerilla Architecture 28.04.2020

In this episode, we follow up on the homework assignment and watch the Citizen Architect movie... because, what else do you have to do? We also welcome a special guest, Cormac's longtime-friend from architecture school Steven Hoffman, who was not only in the movie about the Rural Studio but was also a student and instructor there.

#169 - Quality Quarantine Content 13.04.2020

As the world continues to quarantine, Archispeak continues their conversation about the "new normal" of working from home (WfH) and tries to devise ways of finding positivity in a sea of negative news. Plus, there will be homework.

#168 - Quarantennials 30.03.2020

Sheltering-in-(work)place, WFH, technology, weird occurrences as people get used to online conference calls, virtual happy hour, cooking, grocery stores, entertainment, and more.

#167 - Technology Series Finale and the USC BIM BOP 15.07.2019

Archispeak wraps up the technology series with a discussion of the BIM BOP Conference, held June 28, 2019 on the University of Southern California (USC) campus.

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