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.

#250 - Outside the Vacuum

Topic

We discuss how the grass is always greener wherever someone looks like they are loving their career, ping pong ball shooters and old-timey drum brakes, formative TV shows and books on making things, problem-solving including the interpretation of the building code, and more.

Links

Sponsor

Enscape is a real-time rendering and VR tool for the AEC market. It empowers design workflows by plugging into building modeling software and turning the models into immersive 3D experiences. Visit https://enscape3d.com/archispeak to sign up for a free 14-day trial.

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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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#249 - The Benefits of Hindsight

Topic

A follow-up conversation (with the occasional digression) to a recent presentation at the AIAS FORUM | CONVERGE 2022 conference for architecture students.

Links

Sponsor

Enscape is a real-time rendering and VR tool for the AEC market. It empowers design workflows by plugging into building modeling software and turning the models into immersive 3D experiences. Visit https://enscape3d.com/archispeak to sign up for a free 14-day trial.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#248 - Fresh Perspectives

Topic

It’s 2022 and we didn’t even notice, Cormac doesn’t like “resolutions”, work ethics and work habits, attracting and retaining talent, the profession’s struggle with profit and devalued labor to create it, scheduling quality productive time, and setting boundaries with Focus modes.

Sponsor

Enscape is a real-time rendering and VR tool for the AEC market. It empowers design workflows by plugging into building modeling software and turning the models into immersive 3D experiences. Visit enscape3d.com/archispeak to sign up for a free 14-day trial.

Infratech outdoor comfort heating systems combine eco-friendly, ambient warmth with
unparalleled design versatility, to add year-round comfort to the world’s most prestigious
commercial and residential spaces. To learn more visit Infratech-USA.com/podcast.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#247 - Bondo Artistry

Topic

In this conversation we talk about the fluff and non-fluff in architectural drawings, the Disney-esque nature of Cormac's project, the architect's avoidance of "means and methods", the benefits of bringing other parties in to collaborate early on projects, and finally, Dale Carnegie's quote: "Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday."

Links

Sponsor

Enscape is a real-time rendering and VR tool for the AEC market. It empowers design workflows by plugging into building modeling software and turning the models into immersive 3D experiences. Visit enscape3d.com/archispeak to sign up for a free 14-day trial.

Infratech outdoor comfort heating systems combine eco-friendly, ambient warmth with unparalleled design versatility, to add year-round comfort to the world’s most prestigious commercial and residential spaces. To learn more visit Infratech-USA.com/podcast.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#246 - Burnout 2021

Topic

Burnout is real. We discuss a recent report on the subject within the architectural profession over the past year with some shocking results, our observations and experiences on the matter, and more.

Links

Sponsors

Enscape is a real-time rendering and VR tool for the AEC market. It empowers design workflows by plugging into building modeling software and turning the models into immersive 3D experiences. Visit enscape3d.com/archispeak to sign up for a free 14-day trial.

Infratech outdoor comfort heating systems combine eco-friendly, ambient warmth with unparalleled design versatility, to add year-round comfort to the world’s most prestigious commercial and residential spaces. To learn more visit Infratech-USA.com/podcast.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#245 - Code Minimum Architect

Topic

We discuss impostor syndrome, NCARB's IPAL Programs and different paths to becoming an architect, ego and ability, a call to action for the profession, doing theory vs grunt work, and window shopping at auto auctions.

Links

Sponsors

Enscape is a real-time rendering and VR tool for the AEC market. It empowers design workflows by plugging into building modeling software and turning the models into immersive 3D experiences. Visit enscape3d.com/archispeak to sign up for a free 14-day trial.

Infratech outdoor comfort heating systems combine eco-friendly, ambient warmth with unparalleled design versatility, to add year-round comfort to the world’s most prestigious commercial and residential spaces. To learn more visit Infratech-USA.com/podcast.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#244 - Experiencing Galaxy's Edge

Topic

A visit to Disneyland, exploring various layers of an example of the ultimate architectural experience at Galaxy's Edge, and more.

Links

Sponsor

Enscape is a real-time rendering and VR tool for the AEC market. It empowers design workflows by plugging into building modeling software and turning the models into immersive 3D experiences. Visit enscape3d.com/archispeak to sign up for a free 14-day trial.

Infratech outdoor comfort heating systems combine eco-friendly, ambient warmth with unparalleled design versatility, to add year-round comfort to the world’s most prestigious commercial and residential spaces. To learn more visit Infratech-USA.com/podcast.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#243 - Crappy Game of Telephone

Topic

The downsides of hyperrealism during design presentations, when it's time to stop designing, emotional experiences in architecture, and a mini-review of the masterpiece that is Dune.

Links

Sponsor

Enscape is a real-time rendering and VR tool for the AEC market. It empowers design workflows by plugging into building modeling software and turning the models into immersive 3D experiences. Visit enscape3d.com/archispeak to sign up for a free 14-day trial.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#242 - Aloha and As-salam alaykom

Topic

Coming to you from remote locations on opposite sides the world (no, it's not flat—but it does have "sides" 🤣), we have a discussion about the true value of in-person meetings after a year and a half of virtual calls.

Sponsor

Enscape is a real-time rendering and VR tool for the AEC market. It empowers design workflows by plugging into building modeling software and turning the models into immersive 3D experiences. Visit enscape3d.com/archispeak to sign up for a free 14-day trial.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#241 - Future-proofing Architecture

Topic

Architectural representation and its roles in cinema, world-building, alternative realities, the Metaverse, the concept of "future-proofing" space, and more.

Links

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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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#240 - The Process

Topic

How does the architectural design process work? Is it linear—or is it something else entirely—and why?

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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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#239 - Reality to Virtual

Topic

Do you ever feel like you're being watched—or experimented on—when shopping online? A/B testing is a standard practice companies use not only for marketing purposes, but in user interface design and user experience as well. Adjustments are then made over time to suit the preferences of users making use of the data gleaned from the testing. Can/should/do architects do this? What kinds of modifications have you done in environments you have agency over to better suit your experience of space?

Links

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#238 – Wax the Carpets

Topic

Post-justified puns, green roof details, not knowing what we don't know, continuing education and building product selection, educating (and selling!) design concepts and building products to clients with the right information for them to make informed decisions, bad alliances and throwing teammates under the bus, and more.

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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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#237 – Unspoken-spoken Rule

Topic

In this episode we’re talking about corporate-sponsored productivity-enhancing drugs. Cormac jumps back on the wagon after an 8-month hiatus so we discuss our favorite morning ritual.

Links

Sponsor

Thanks to our sponsor for helping make this episode possible:

Twinmotion

Twinmotion is a real-time rendering solution used by architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to create high-quality imagery, client presentations, and interactive experiences that help communicate your BIM data and design ideas, fast. Visit twinmotion.link/archispeak
and try Twinmotion for free.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#236 – Flanking the Camel Crowd

Topic

We discuss Cormac's recent trip to Saudi Arabia and the extraordinary humbling feeling he experienced during his adventure.

Links

Sponsor

Thanks to our sponsor for helping make this episode possible:

Twinmotion

Twinmotion is a real-time rendering solution used by architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to create high-quality imagery, client presentations, and interactive experiences that help communicate your BIM data and design ideas, fast. Visit twinmotion.link/archispeak and try Twinmotion for free.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#235 – Zigzag Patterns of Thought

Topic

This conversation is a continuation of our previous episode topic regarding documenting knowledge and includes some deeper theoretical discussion inspired by a recent article on Substack.

Links

Sponsor

Thanks to our sponsor for helping make this episode possible:

Twinmotion

Twinmotion is a real-time rendering solution used by architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to create high-quality imagery, client presentations, and interactive experiences that help communicate your BIM data and design ideas, fast. Visit twinmotion.link/archispeak and try Twinmotion for free.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#234 – Moving Past Your Past

Topic

We discuss leadership acting as roadblocks and the need for capturing knowledge, teaching, and learning within our practices so we can all participate in leveling up the profession.

Links

Sponsors

This sponsor is helping make this episode possible:

Twinmotion

Twinmotion is a real-time rendering solution used by architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to create high-quality imagery, client presentations, and interactive experiences that help communicate your BIM data and design ideas, fast. Visit twinmotion.link/archispeak and try Twinmotion for free.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#233 – Snout House

Topic

A conversation about architects designing automobiles and some future-casting about the built environment where cars drive themselves. Will we be a part of it?

Links

Sponsors

This sponsor is helping make this episode possible:

Twinmotion

Twinmotion is a real-time rendering solution used by architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to create high-quality imagery, client presentations, and interactive experiences that help communicate your BIM data and design ideas, fast. Visit twinmotion.link/archispeak and try Twinmotion for free.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#232 – More Holes than SpongeBob

Topic

Letting 'good' get in the way of 'great': a story about a slow process of perfectionism versus the instant gratification of good enough.

Sponsors

This sponsor is helping make this episode possible:

Twinmotion

Twinmotion is a real-time rendering solution used by architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to create high-quality imagery, client presentations, and interactive experiences that help communicate your BIM data and design ideas, fast. Visit twinmotion.link/archispeak and try Twinmotion for free.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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#231 – A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

Topic

If a tree falls in a rainstorm and rips the electrical connection from your house and you don't see it, does it make a sound? Disaster strikes in Cormac's neighborhood, leading to another sidetrack conversation.

Links

The wind tunnel effect

The wind tunnel effect

A near miss

A near miss

A direct hit

A direct hit

Oh my poor tree

Oh my poor tree

Sponsors

This sponsor is helping make this episode possible:

Twinmotion

Twinmotion is a real-time rendering solution used by architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to create high-quality imagery, client presentations, and interactive experiences that help communicate your BIM data and design ideas, fast. Visit twinmotion.link/archispeak and try Twinmotion for free.

Listen and Subscribe to Archispeak

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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