The Bespoke Careers Podcast brings you the career stories and insights from the people shaping architecture and design today. Tune in every two weeks for fresh conversations with designers, architects, and creatives from around the world, sharing insights, experiences, and the realities behind their professional journeys.
What Hosting Grand Designs Taught Peter Maddison About Architecture
Peter Maddison is the founding director of Maddison Architects and for 108 episodes was the host of Grand Designs Australia. He’s been called Australia’s most recognisable architect.
He’s a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, a winner of the Institute’s National President’s Prize, and his practice has completed more than 300 projects, from family homes to some of Melbourne’s best-known bars.
This conversation covers Robin Boyd and The Australian Ugliness, the brick Peter pulled from a demolition site, failing Year 12 and getting into architecture the hard way, designing his first house for his mum, what twelve years on Grand Designs did to his practice, why only 5% of Australian homes involve an architect, and what makes a great architect.
Hosted by Rosie Morley, Principal at Hassell and the new Australian host of the Bespoke Careers Podcast.
Recorded at the Stylecraft showroom, 379 Collins Street, Melbourne.
The Bespoke Careers Podcast Australia is brought to you by Bespoke Careers, specialist recruiters for architecture and design and the Australian Institute of Architects.
12 Oct 2026
The Architect's Playbook in 57 Minutes
We’ve wrapped season one of the Bespoke Careers Podcast. 42 episodes, from architecture students right up to institute presidents.Here is a compilation of advice that stuck with us. Seven guests, seven ideas worth hearing, and 196 years of experience.Featured in this episode:Sabrina Klor, CEO of 10Design, on why a well-run business matters as much as the design. She moved from running projects to the commercial side and now leads a 400-person practice.Chris Williamson, co-founder of Weston Williamson + Partners and RIBA President, on why architects are losing influence and why young architects should pick up the phone.Keir Regan-Alexander, formerly of Morris+Company, on becoming essential in a profession AI is about to change.Simon Allford, co-founder of AHMM and past RIBA President, on why the profession needs to look after its people properly.Kathryn Gustafson, landscape architect, on starting small, trading skills and the mentors who shaped her career. She started out in fashion.Thomas Rowntree, architecture content creator, on using social media to get noticed before the interview.Forth Bagley, design principal at KPF, on delayed gratification and taking charge of your own career.
22 Sept 2026
Lessons From 10 Years Building an Australian Lighting Company - James Zagari
James Zagari is the co-founder of EST Lighting, an Australian lighting company he established in 2016 after a career that began almost by accident with a sales role at Philips Lighting.
In this episode, James talks about the unexpected path that led him into lighting, why lighting can be difficult to explain until you experience it, and what gets lost when it is brought into a project too late. He also shares what it was like moving from employee to founder, building EST with former colleagues, growing a team, and creating a showroom designed as an experience rather than simply a place to display products.
We explore the relationship between lighting, architecture and interiors, the role of procurement and relationships in bringing projects to life, Australian-made lighting, the impact of AI on the industry, and the career lessons James has picked up over 10 years of running EST.
Who has been a guest on Bespoke Careers Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Qutaibah Al-Atafi
Forth Bagley
Nimi Attanayake
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
82,220
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
4.2 / 5
13 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
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