Let's Make Mistakes

Tom Coates and Anna Rascouët-Paz join Mike and Leah to discuss diversity in the tech industry. It’s a fucking good episode, people!

Mike and Leah ring in the New Year with their resolution for 2013: getting past obstacles. And how to stop confusing them for dead ends.

Mike and Leah wrap up the year by answering listeners email. This episode actually contains, you know, design stuff. So shut up.

Mike and Leah talk about the design of dog poop bags. We discuss the idea of designing a solution for a problem that may not even exist. We also say goodbye to the old podcasting studio.

Mike and Leah go over job interview mishaps of the past, including their own, and give you tips for how to interview like you already have the job. Which you will.

In today's episode, Leah is wrong, and Mike is right. So how do you recover when you make a mistake, forget something and get confused, or make a public gaffe? Is it really a big deal if you do? Plus, what we're both looking forward to this Thanksgiving: Going to the movies.

Mike and Leah discuss what makes a designer want to be socially responsible. We debate the merits of the words "consumer" and "content". We also talk about Mike's dad's chickens, Berkeley's famous naked guy, the Food Orgy, and human stew.

Mike and Leah sit down with Karen McGrane on the eve of her book’s publication. We discuss why Content Strategy For Mobile is awesome, why you should buy it, how you’ll be a better person for having read it, and why restaurant websites suck.

Mike and Leah discuss culture in the workplace and then come up with an episode title to trick you into listening.

Mike and Leah sit down with Andrea to find out about her new podcast, what's wrong with Washington and swap stories about Ira Glass and Anderson Cooper. Also, how to write a misleading sentence that makes it sound like Ira Glass and Anderson Cooper might be a thing.

Mike and Leah discuss why clients freak out and what they're really doing when they get panicked. We talk about the ways clients tend to get stressed, and how you can make these situations better by not freaking out alongside them.

Mike and Leah talk about what happens when designers get stuck in a rut. We discuss strategies for getting out of it, and more importantly strategies for not digging yourself into a hole to begin with.

A million years ago, when men and dinosaurs and Jesus walked the Earth together, an enterprising young man named Bob started rubbing two sticks together out of boredom. Bob rubbed the sticks faster and faster and they eventually started to smoke, until his brother Nate walked up to him and screamed “Fail!”. This upset Bob, who walked away in anger and never attempted to rub two sticks together again.

Mike and Leah are joined in the studio by Derek Powazek, who squares off against Leah about mansplaining. He also tells us about his new dogfighting site.

Mike and Leah discuss shame drawers and why Leah has a hard time letting go of things with sentimental value. At some point a design question gets asked and answered. Also the word “erect” is used more than once.