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.

#209 – ”Changes” ”Happened”

Topic

We discuss what happened between the original and actual submittal dates for Cormac's project, how to more successfully communicate design intent with owners in VR versus 2d drawings, and the correct number of design options to show clients.

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#208 – Reinventing the Wheel

Topic

We compare the size, scope, and purpose of a set of modern drawings to historical examples, how architects are seemingly happy reinventing the wheel, and who is to blame when something goes wrong.

Links

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#207 – I Had A NordicTrack

Topic

We discuss the newly released renderings of Amazon's proposed headquarters in Virginia & the resemblance to certain emoji, Tatlin's tower, that we should be paying attention to architects in the middle of the US (not just the coasts), & a McSweeney's article featuring some choice archispeak.

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#206 – It's Not You, It's Me

Topic

We discuss the relationships and emotional connections between humans and animals, and draw a connection to architects and their projects; and how most people don't understand the latter.

Comment Rules: Be cool like the Fonz. Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, we’ll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation!
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#205 – Potential Levels of Dysfunction

Topic

We discuss the distinction between comments and communications, what to do with staff during project down-time, the problem with data silos, and there's a little more to add to Cormac's Zoom shenanigans.

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#204 – Cooking with Cormac

Topic

We discuss Cormac's open Zoom room and somehow the timing worked out just right to prank a teammate while recording the episode.

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#203 – Fingers Crossed

Topic

We discuss the architecture reality show we'd want to watch, some buildings by architect William Pereira, and some hopefulness on inauguration day for 46.

Links

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#202 – Surviving 2021

Topic

Forget goals and resolutions... in this episode, we share how we plan on just staying alive. And there's some new pretty exciting collaboration software we're looking at too, so check the link in the show notes.

Links

  • Huddle's Teamflow platform for online communication and collaboration with spatial aspects

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#201 – More Potent, More Purposeful

Topic

We discuss the two things that architects hate, and about intentionally (re)setting boundaries in our day-to-day to increase our potency.

Links

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#200 – The Dumpster Fire Episode

Topic

2 architects. ~20 minutes. 200 episodes. 2020: The Dumpster Fire. Join us in this podcasting milestone episode—the last one of the year—as we discuss what 8 years of podcasting has been like.

Links

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#199 – A 'Problem' Problem

Topic

We discuss promotions, wicked and tame design problems, shell games, and what happens in the sub-sub basement of Cormac's project.

Links

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#198 – Gifts for Architects 2020

Topic

Looking to find a gift for your favorite architect? Look no further. Here are Archispeak’s top architectural gift picks for the 2020 holiday giving season.

This year, there’s also a video version of this episode. Why? Because we wanted to be able to show you what we were talking about. Click here to watch it on YouTube.

Check out all the links below!

Links

Note: We may make a small commission when you use these links that do not affect the pricing of the selections in any way. And by doing so you're helping support the show. Thanks!

Evan’s picks:

Cormac’s picks:

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#197 – Mis-reading it Wrong

Topic

We discuss expectations and boundaries around our always-on communication options, and how fragmented and difficult to manage this has all become due to the multitude of options.

Links

The hosts of the Archispeak + Life of an Architect podcasts at virtual happy hour

The hosts of the Archispeak + Life of an Architect podcasts at virtual happy hour

Comment Rules: Be cool like the Fonz. Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, we’ll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation!
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#196 – Foot In Mouth Disease

Topic

What delightful information comes to light when a project team member — hypothetically — thinks they've hung up from a call, but they actually haven't*?

* not a hypothetical

Links

Comment Rules: Be cool like the Fonz. Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, we’ll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation!
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#195 – Wordsmithing the Process

Topic

Being that it's Veteran's Day in the USA, we discuss war stories from the trenches... both from Cormac's time serving in the Army and from architectural practice. Oh, and don't forget the off-the-shelf, range-extending missile parts.

Links

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#194 – Ad Nauseam

Topic

We discuss current 2d project delivery challenges and opportunities, how application templates aren't one-size-fits-all, reincorporating lessons learned on projects into standards, and how architects are really damn good at dealing with levels of abstraction.

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#193 – Extra Helping of Cheddar

Topic

We discuss how brick and mortar-based architecture firms are dealing with the changing landscape of remote work due to COVID-19 and all the nuance that comes along with it. And Cormac breaks the news that Sean Connery died, so we talk about Bond movies, of course.

Links

Comment Rules: Be cool like the Fonz. Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, we’ll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation!
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#192 – Awards Season

Topic

Following the last episode's topic of professional 'conference season,' we transition into the topic of architectural 'awards season' to discuss the positives and also how they could be so much better.

Links

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#191 – Looking Beyond Property Lines

Topic

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.

Links

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#190 – Understanding The Grimaces

Topic

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

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