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.

#216 – The Two Things Architects Hate

Topic

We discuss some comments that have been made about Evan moving to a new job and how some of the fundamental problems in our industry aren't attractive but still need to be solved.

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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#215 – A Forced Release

Topic

In this episode Evan and Cormac discuss a bit of nostalgia and how it can shape the future of our workplace.

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#214 – It Was At A Zoo

Topic

We reminisce about the first concerts we attended and link those experiences back to architecture, space, and how they have the ability to affect people.

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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#213 – Ch-Ch-Changes

Topic

Special guest Bob Habian joins Evan and Cormac in this marathon episode to talk about a new venture poised as a fantastic solution for the AEC industry, and reveal Evan's latest news.

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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#212 – Detail Suppository

Topic

We discuss consultant coordination issues, some benefits and trappings of BIM, and raise the question of who is going to get us out of our own purgatory.

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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#211 – The Way You're Wired

Topic

We discuss Evan’s new mountain biking YouTube channel and why having something creative to do that’s non-architectural in your life is important. Everyone go subscribe to the channel and follow along on the adventures!

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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#210 – ‘Architect to Builder‘ with Lance Cayko and Alex Gore

Topic

The founders of F9 Productions and the Inside the Firm podcast join Archispeak to talk about their practice in Colorado, transitioning to developer/builders, and their new course to help architects make the transition.

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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#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.

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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#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.

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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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#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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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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#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.

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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#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.

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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#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

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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#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

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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#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

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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#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.

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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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#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

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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#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:

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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#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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