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Archispeak

Archispeak

by Evan Troxel & Cormac Phalen

Latest episode
#397 - Drafting Was Never the Job

About this podcast

Archispeak is one of architecture's longest-running podcasts — 383 episodes of honest, unfiltered conversation about what it's actually like to work in the profession. Since 2012, architects Evan Troxel and Cormac Phalen have been exploring design, career, firm culture, tools, work/life balance, mentoring, generational differences, and job hunting — everything that comes with building a life in architecture.

This isn't a highlight reel. It's the conversation architects actually have — about the hard parts of practice, the moments that define a career, and the things no one tells you in architecture school.

Built for architecture students, emerging architects, and seasoned professionals who want honest perspective on the profession.

Topics include architecture career and job searching, design process and critique, firm culture, work/life balance in architecture, architecture tools and software, mentoring and professional development, generational differences in architecture firms, and candid interviews with architects and industry leaders.

375+ episodes. Since 2012.

Visit archispeakpodcast.com for more.

Episodes

The newest 50 of 396 episodes

  • #397 - Drafting Was Never the Job · 52 min · Season 13 Episode 397A look back at the '90s, from Nirvana and Napster to car stereos worth more than the car, turns into a look forward at what AI leaves for architects to do. Evan, back from…
  • #396 - Don't Judge Yourself by the Wrapper · 49 min · Season 13 Episode 396Evan and Cormac dig into how Lawrence Tech's architecture studio is evolving its comprehensive design curriculum in real time, and why buildability still beats a flashy final…
  • #395 - Thermal Reactive Umbrella · 48 min · Season 13 Episode 395Some weeks the conversation just goes where it goes. Evan and Cormac spend this one reading Wikipedia and AI overviews at each other in real time — the AIA convention…
  • #394 - Your Architecture Degree Isn't A Dead End · 51 min · Season 13 Episode 394What do you do when you finish six years of architecture school, land in the profession, and realize none of it speaks to you? Evan and Cormac start with a former student on a…
  • #393 - We Ceded This to the Contractors · 55 min · Season 13 Episode 393Evan and Cormac dig into why architects deliberately stop detailing at "design intent" instead of shop-drawing level, and how that decision has handed constructability over to…
  • #392 - Your Favorite Building Looks Like a Parking Garage · 1 h 35 min · Season 13 Episode 392Evan and Cormac catch up on Cormac's 6,800-mile road trip from Detroit to the AIA National Convention in San Diego with his daughter, built around a bucket list of architectural…
  • #391 - A Builder’s Life Done Well with David Prutting · 1 h 24 min · Season 13 Episode 391David Prutting joins Evan and Cormac to talk about what 50 years of building high-end contemporary homes has taught him about the relationship between architects, owners, and…
  • #390 - From Idea to Execution: Heliomorphism · 1 h 12 min · Season 13 Episode 390Sven Shockey, FAIA joins Evan and Cormac to talk about Virginia Tech Academic Building One — a 300,000-square-foot computer science and computer engineering building on a new…
  • #389 - I Want To See Tears · 36 min · Season 13 Episode 389A van conversion project that was supposed to take three days is now four months in and an eighth of the way done. Evan and Cormac dig into what actually happened and why an…
  • #388 - Frank Lloyd Wright Lemonade · 39 min · Season 13 Episode 388Cormac spent last week driving from Detroit to Baltimore for a punch review, then north to a factory two hours outside Toronto to inspect replacement vestibule glass — only to…
  • #387 - The Walmart Greeter of Architecture · 56 min · Season 13 Episode 387Five years into one project. Ten into another. Three principals retired before the second one wrapped. Evan and Cormac dig into what long-duration architecture projects reveal…
  • #386 - If not me, then who? · 33 min · Season 13 Episode 386Ten years into a $600M research laboratory project, Cormac reflects on what it actually means to see a complex build through to the end — the COVID-era redesign, the permit…
  • #385 - Why Architects Can't Say No · 38 min · Season 12 Episode 385Cormac spent twelve hours trying to send one email. Evan has seventeen apps open at all times. This week they trace the architecture of modern distraction — from "you're on mute"…
  • #384 - The AI and Expertise Paradox, with Chris Parsons · 1 h 19 min · Season 12 Episode 384Architecture firms are adopting AI faster than they're building the expertise to judge it. In this episode, we explore the AI and expertise paradox with Christopher Parsons…
  • #383 - Why We Still Love This Profession · 54 min · Season 12 Episode 383In this episode of Archispeak, we catch up after Evan’s trip to New York City and the AECtech conference, where he moderated a panel with design technology leaders who’ve climbed…
  • #382 - AI, Meetings, and the Architecture Grind · 53 min · Season 12 Episode 382In this episode of Archispeak, we pull back the curtain on what modern practice actually feels like when AI, meetings, and the architecture grind all collide. We talk about…
  • #381 - Anthony Laney on Craft, Clarity, and the Definition of Home · 54 min · Season 12 Episode 381In this episode of Archispeak, we sit down with architect Anthony Laney to explore the ideas behind his new book, Poetics of Home. We talk about what it really takes to design…
  • #380 - The Vibe · 52 min · Season 12 Episode 380In this episode of Archispeak, we talk about that elusive quality that aligns people with great art (and spaces)—but this time through the lens of a real-world architectural…
  • #379 - Step Back to Move the Work Forward · 55 min · Season 12 Episode 379In this episode we discuss how taking a step back from work leads to better architecture. We talk about concrete ways to break free from constant busyness, when to pause instead…
  • #378 - Misalignments of Rigor · 42 min · Season 12 Episode 378In this episode of Archispeak, we trade fresh field notes from Cormac’s latest midwestern architecture road trip and wrestle with the title theme: Misalignments of Rigor. Cormac…
  • #377 - The Disconnect Between Academia and Practice · 53 min · Season 12 Episode 377In this episode of Archispeak, we dive into the tough reality of how the architecture profession often fails its own. From the way firms accelerate project timelines while…
  • #376 - Across the Street from Genius: Yale’s A&A and Art Gallery · 56 min · Season 12 Episode 376In this episode of Archispeak, we walk across the street in New Haven—literally and figuratively—to explore two masterworks by Paul Rudolph and Louis Kahn. These buildings…
  • #375 - Yale Center for British Art by Louis Kahn · 1 h 6 min · Season 12 Episode 375In this episode of Archispeak, we walk through the Yale Center for British Art by Louis Kahn and reflect on what makes this building truly great. From its masterful use of…
  • #374 - 2025 Summer of Architecture, Part 1 · 1 h 21 min · Season 12 Episode 374In part 1 of our summer series centered on the 2025 AIA Conference on Architecture, we discuss Evan's first visit to Boston and share his and Cormac's impressions of the city…
  • #373 - ‘Slowing Down to Speed Up’, with Carla Johnson · 1 h 17 min · Season 12 Episode 373In this episode of Archispeak, we’re joined by Carla Johnson—author, speaker, and innovation strategist—for a conversation that’s both energizing and reflective. We dive into the…
  • #372 - AU - The Future of Home Automation · 1 h 2 min · Season 12 Episode 372In this episode of Archispeak, we explore the evolving frontier of home automation with Jeff Thomas of Control4 and Michael Smith of Bromic Heating. Together, we unpack the…
  • #371 - Genius Loci · 57 min · Season 12 Episode 371What makes architecture memorable? Why do some spaces hit you in the chest while others feel hollow? In this episode of Archispeak, we explore a concept that’s rarely taught but…
  • #370 - Rebuilding After The LA Fires · 39 min · Season 12 Episode 370In this episode of Archispeak, we’re joined by Jessica Orlando, Vice President and President-Elect of the AIA Pasadena Foothill chapter, to explore how architects are stepping up…
  • #369 - Salary Transparency in Architecture · 58 min · Season 12 Episode 369In this episode of Archispeak, we sit down with Robert Yuen, CEO and co-founder of Monograph, to dive into the findings from their latest Architecture and Engineering Salary and…
  • #368 - Architectural Ratchet Straps · 49 min · Season 12 Episode 368In this episode we explore the intersection of structural engineering, adaptive reuse, and creative problem-solving in architecture. From a lighthearted discussion about ratchet…
  • #367 - Level of Expected Standard of Care · 1 h 19 min · Season 12 Episode 367Join us for an engaging discussion with Chad Clary where we explore how architectural projects differ from movies and video games in terms of crediting contributors. We talk…
  • #366 - Why Architects MUST Question Everything to Create Memorable Spaces · 55 min · Season 12 Episode 366In this episode, we have a discussion about the value of sketching for idea development, the importance of questioning everything in architecture, the impact of architecture on…
  • #365 - Why Architects MUST Reimagine the Profession · 1 h 19 min · Season 12 Episode 365William Dodge joins the podcast to discuss his latest article the integration of AI in architecture, its impact on creativity, the evolving role of architects, and the shift…
  • #364 - AU - Outdoor Design Trends on Cruise Ships · 45 min · Season 12 Episode 364In this episode we welcome Helena Sawelin from Tillberg Design to explore the evolution of cruise ship design. Helena shares her company's impressive 60-year legacy and their…
  • #363 - The Ramifications of Decisions · 52 min · Season 12 Episode 363In this episode, we talk about design intent and construction tolerances. We examine how architectural designs intersect with construction realities, exploring the crucial…
  • #362 - A Brutal(ist) Review · 49 min · Season 12 Episode 362In this thought-provoking episode, Evan and Cormac engage in a spirited critique of "The Brutalist," with an in-depth analysis of cinema through an architect's lens. We explore…
  • #361 - ‘Does the Profession Value Specifiers?’, with Jeff Potter · 1 h 8 min · Season 12 Episode 361In this episode, we dive deep into the often overlooked role of architectural specifiers. Our special guest, Jeff Potter, shares his unconventional path to becoming a spec writer…
  • #360 - Guiding Without Influencing · 49 min · Season 12 Episode 360In this episode, we talk about early AEC exposure to high school students with a discussion of the ACE Mentorship Program. We share personal experiences and insights from…
  • #359 - Cormac’s Problem with Corbusier · 47 min · Season 12 Episode 359In this episode, we discuss Cormac’s excitement about the Detroit Lions making the playoffs and explore the significant transformation happening in Detroit. We examine how the…
  • #358 - AU - ‘Mastering Outdoor Space Design’, with Frank Cavanaugh · 51 min · Season 12 Episode 358In this episode, Frank Cavanaugh from the Aria Group joins us to share insights on designing outdoor spaces, focusing on essential considerations for architects. From the…
  • #357 - ‘The Value of Lifelong Learning in Architecture’, with Kevin Jones · 1 h 10 min · Season 12 Episode 357Today we welcome Kevin Jones who is an architect and professor of practice from Virginia Tech's School of Architecture. We talk about the importance and intricacies of continuing…
  • #356 - That ‘New Me’ Glow · 1 h 1 min · Season 12 Episode 356Join us as we discuss the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 which included Evan’s studio makeover (featuring a reveal if you’re watching on YouTube) while doing a water fast…
  • #355 - Full Flip Flop Mode · 1 h 4 min · Season 12 Episode 355Join us in our last episode of 2024 as we explore how to balance emotional energy while maintaining high service standards during the year-end rush. We also discuss effective…
  • #354 - Fighting Revit · 60 min · Season 12 Episode 354In this episode of 'Archispeak Theater,' we begin with some musical nostalgia and then transition into a detailed exploration of the complexities and challenges involved in…
  • #353 - Architecture Students are Screwed · 59 min · Season 12 Episode 353In this episode, we discuss a listener's concerns about the financial burden of architectural education. We explore various career paths and alternative routes to licensure…
  • #352 - ‘A 13-Year Architecture Project’, with Israel Peña · 1 h 15 min · Season 12 Episode 352In this episode, we talk with Israel Peña, who shares his incredible 13-year journey working on a historic elementary school modernization project in Beverly Hills. From the…
  • #351 - Frank Lloyd Garbage · 1 h 2 min · Season 12 Episode 351In this episode, we dive into Cormac’s hoarding tendencies (aka our mutual love for architectural collectibles) by unboxing a special edition set of Frank Lloyd Wright Blackwing…
  • #350 - Coffee, Hurricanes, and Leadership · 52 min · Season 12 Episode 350In this special Episode 350 of the Archispeak podcast, we discuss the celebration of our milestone with an unboxing of fresh beans from “Coffee Boy”. We also talk about Evan’s…
  • #349 - ’Experiencing Infratecture‘, with Slade Sheaffer · 1 h 11 min · Season 12 Episode 349Join us on a captivating exploration of cutting-edge architecture with insights from our special guest, Slade Sheaffer. In this episode we dive into Slade's travels across…
  • #348 - Witnessing the Birth of Passion · 45 min · Season 12 Episode 348In this episode, we kick off with discussions about favorite movies and documentaries, leading into the portrayal of architects in film, and eventually pivot to the intricate…

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