Debbie Millman is a writer, designer, educator, artist, brand consultant and host of the podcast Design Matters.Design Matters is one of the world’s very first podcasts. Broadcasting independently for 19 years, the show is about how the world’s most creative people design the arc of their lives. On top of it all, she has authored 6 books, her latest one called Love Letter To a Garden comes out in April and is a definite shift from her previous works. Which is no surprise to me because Debbie is the very definition of evolution, constantly learning, changing, growing and all the while, having a blast.

Debbie recounts her journey as a OG podcaster and explains her process of preparing deeply researched interviews that uncover her guests' stories with authenticity and depth, emphasizing the importance of respect and engagement in meaningful conversations. Debbie also opens up about her latest book, Love Letter to a Garden, a visual and personal exploration of her quest to cultivate greenery in her life. She discusses how gardening became a source of connection and creativity during the pandemic and how this new venture has inspired her future projects.

We also talk about what makes New York City kids so unique, why we’re both glad we didn’t peak in high school, how she designed her high school prom, and why she is still keen to keep walking up the mountain.

• A Love Letter to Gardening: Debbie introduces her latest book + She shares how the project began during the pandemic and how it combines illustrations, photographs, and stories (2:53)
• The Mental Health Benefits of Nature: The therapeutic value of gardening + practical advice for beginners + how gardening has enriched Debbie’s creative process and daily routine (5:56)
• The Origins and Evolution of Design Matters: Debbie recounts the early days of Design Matters and describes its growth over 20 years + chapters of the podcast’s evolution (9:29)
• The Art of Interview: Debbie shares her approach to conducting meaningful interviews + She reveals the challenges of navigating interviews with unengaged guests and maintaining authenticity (12:27)
• Advice for Aspiring Podcasters: Debbie offers candid advice for podcasters, emphasizing the importance of passion, preparation, and perseverance + she advises maintaining a day job to sustain creative freedom and avoiding the pressure of chasing trends or chart (20:45)
• Debbie’s Creative Roots and New York City Upbringing: Reflecting on her childhood in New York City + how her high school and college experiences shaped her career path (24:39)
• Living a Creative Life Without Peaking: Debbie’s reflections on her ever-evolving career and her aspiration to continue climbing her creative "mountain." (38:36)
• Rapid Fast Round: (39:13)

Connect with Debbie Millman:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• X
• The Design Matters Podcast!
• Get Debbie’s books!

Let’s talk Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.

Nasreen Shahi is a well-known fashion and lifestyle influencer, celebrated for her vibrant online presence and a community of over half a million followers on social media. Through her platform, Hey Nasreen, she shares style inspiration, wellness tips, and personal insights, offering her audience an authentic look into her life.

Beyond her role as an influencer, Nasreen is a resilient advocate for breast cancer awareness. Diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer at 40, she has courageously shared her journey, empowering women by speaking openly about her health battles and challenging the cultural stigmas that often surround such diagnoses in South Asian communities.

In this episode, Nasreen speaks candidly about the emotional and physical toll her diagnosis has taken and describes her initial shock, especially given her healthy lifestyle before the diagnosis. She talks about her ongoing treatments, the challenges of choosing between different therapies, and the side effects she endures. Nasreen shares her perspective on the need for a more proactive approach to women’s health and highlights the lack of open discussion about breast cancer. She recounts stories of South Asian women who keep their diagnoses private due to cultural stigma, hoping to inspire others to speak openly and seek support. Nasreen also touches on the joys of motherhood and how her journey has led her to a more present and intentional life. Despite the challenges, she has continued her work as an influencer, driven by her desire to help others through her openness and authenticity.

• Living with a Metastatic Diagnosis: Nasreen describes the unexpectedness of her diagnosis + the early stages of treatment + living with metastatic breast cancer means being on indefinite therapy + importance of early detection + Nasreen opens up about the difficult side effects + the difficult choices patients face between various treatment options and the unpredictable effects of each therapy (2:56)
• A Proactive vs. Reactive Healthcare Approach: Contrasting the two approaches + how societal expectations often cause women to self-blame after a health diagnosis (8:00)
• Cultural Stigma in the South Asian Community: The cultural stigma surrounding breast cancer in the South Asian community + anecdotes of women who keep their diagnoses private out of fear + Nasreen urges more open conversations to break these stigmas + setting an example for the younger generation (10:52)
• The Things Cancer Can Teach: Nasreen reflects on how her experience has changed her perspective on life and motherhood (15:28)
• Navigating Work as an Influencer with Cancer: Explaining the flexibility needed to accommodate treatments + the support Nasreen receives from her audience and brands + emphasizing the importance of authenticity in her journey + Nasreen discusses moments of joy she has experienced + gratitude for the support network she has gained through sharing her journey (20:32)
• Rapid Fast Round (24:25)
• Final Reflections and Advice: Nasreen offers advice to listeners, encouraging them to let go of others’ judgments + the importance of breaking free from cultural shame (26:00)

Connect with Nasreen Shahi:

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok

Let’s talk Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.

Davy Gardner started his career as an audio writer and creator whose work can be found on networks like Radiotopia, Wondery, and Audible, among others. He has won multiple awards and honors valuing his work as a writer in various genres such as comedy and audio drama. He was a playwright and performer for six years at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City.

For over two years now, Gardner has been the Head of Tribeca Audio and Curator of Audio Storytelling at Tribeca Enterprise. He made a great contribution to taking the “Film” out of the Tribeca Festival and pushing it further towards a multimedia festival that it has been for a while.

In this episode, Davy discusses the evolution of the Tribeca Festival into a multimedia event and emphasizes the importance of audio storytelling. He highlights the challenges independent podcasters face, such as discoverability, and the role of curatorial entities like Tribeca in promoting innovative content. He also shares his journey from writing for the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater to his current role, stressing the need for creative risks and the value of public recognition. Finally, reflects on personal experiences, including the impact of his mother's death and the importance of recognizing and managing feelings of being "tuckered out."

“I Don't Have A Billboard On Times Square”: The challenges that independent podcasters face + audio storytelling as an emerging genre parallel to what comes to everyone’s mind when podcasting is mentioned + the disproportionate recognition the audio art form gets in the public eye and ways entities such as Tribeca can play a role in this. (04:49)

Getting Audio On The Red Carpet: Emphasizing the importance of recognizing audio creators + getting the first Getty Image and the word out there about one’s podcast (14:12)

Improv Guided My Life: Davy explains how he got into performing after being on the writing side + how improv comedy got him out of depression after his mother’s passing + the way performing and improv can support a writer’s journey (17:45)

State of Podcasting and Independent Creators: Discussing the challenges of audio as a whole is going through for decades now + the importance of creative risk-taking while not being ruled by the money tap + Davey encourages independent creators to focus on their artistry and not get discouraged by financial difficulties (22:01)

Growing Up in New York City: Davy tells about his upbringing and experiences being a high schooler in NYC + NYC as a melting pot of people from diverse backgrounds + not ending up dead as a teenager and rubbing elbows with the Ivy League kids (28:39)

Attending The Happiest College: The challenges of adjusting to the new environment both literally and figuratively + forming career-defining connections throughout the years in college (35:55)

Being “tuckered out”: The way to sustain anything is if it brings you joy + no shame in being in and out of feeling “tuckered out” when there is a constant pressure of getting back to happy + Davy shares his experiences with grief and how they shaped his perspective on life (39:00)

Concert Highlights: Davy Gardner shares his experience seeing Arcade Fire and the impact it had on his career + having a complete concert experience while watching the live recording of LCD Soundsystem's "Dance Yourself Clean" (48:42)

Connect with Davy Gardner:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Official website

Let’s talk Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.