SURROUND Presents

About SURROUND Presents

SURROUND Presents explores the untold stories and unique innovations within the design world, offering a fresh perspective for designers, architects, and built environment specialists. Each episode presents diverse themes, giving a platform to showcase best-of and new voices from the SURROUND family, plus opportunities for custom content from industry partners.

Publisher

SURROUND Network

Category

arts · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Nov 2024

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

17 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Design for Impact: SVA to Real-World Change

   METROPOLIS Editor in Chief Avi Rajagopal speaks with Souvik Paul, founder of Aurie, and Sinclair Smith of SVA’s MFA Products of Design about what it takes to turn design into meaningful change. From developing a reusable catheter system to rethinking how designers are taught entrepreneurship, they explore human-centered problem solving, the realities of bringing new ideas to market, and why today’s designers increasingly need the skills to build the systems around their work—not just the products themselves.This episode of SURROUND Presents is made possible by SVA. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2. 

   25 Sept 2026

   Ideas of Order — Antoni Porowski

   Find more episodes of Ideas of Order at SURROUNDpodcasts.comThe objects we choose to keep often tell the story of who we are. Antoni Porowski joins Jeremiah for a conversation about memory, identity and the rituals that make a house feel like home. From treasured everyday items and evolving design obsessions to the experience of furnishing a country house, Antoni reflects on the personal meaning behind the spaces we create and the things we surround ourselves with. He shares stories from his multicultural upbringing in Montreal, his move to New York and the winding path that led him from psychology and acting to food, television and global recognition through Queer Eye. Together, they explore the challenges of learning to trust your instincts and building a life rooted in connection, stewardship and the people who matter most.Ideas of Order, the California Closets podcast, is produced by Rob Schulte at SANDOW DESIGN GROUP and is part of the SURROUND Podcast Network. Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com.Follow California Closets on Instagram @caclosets See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

3. 

   28 Aug 2026

   Design Fuel — Jonathan Moody: Legacy + Leadership

   Find more episodes of Design Fuel at SURROUNDpodcasts.comHost David Polzin connects with Moody Nolan CEO Jonathan Moody in the latest episode of Design Fuel.The conversations navigates important topics around investing in underserved communities, the impact of legacy and continuity in community development and why Jonathan advocates for solutions that are diverse by design. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

4. 

   31 Jul 2026

   NeoConversations — Are We Designing Workplaces for Creativity or Just Attendance?

   Find more episodes of NeoConversations at SURROUNDpodcasts.comIn this episode of NeoConversations, host Nubia Henderson sits down with polymath David Shing, known as Shingy, for a conversation on what it means to design for creativity in a culture shaped by constant consumption.Recorded during NeoCon, the conversation explores how workplaces, learning environments, and digital spaces can better support active creation, human connection, and more expansive ways of thinking. From tactile tools like doodling and LEGO’s to post-COVID workplace expectations, Shingy challenges us to rethink the environments we build and ask whether they truly help people create, collaborate, and bring their full selves to work.This episode was recorded in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND. Thank you to our Lounge sponsor, Unika Vaev, and partners: B+N, DARRAN, Framery, Momentum, and UpSpring. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5. 

   12 Jun 2026

   Unika Vaev: What Endures in Design

   What makes good design endure in an era of constant change? Recorded live at NeoCon 2026, AJ Paron sits down with Wick Wolfe, president of Unica Vaev, to discuss the principles that outlast trends. From the evolution of NeoCon to the growing importance of acoustics and sustainability, Wolfe shares how thoughtful, user-centered design remains relevant in a rapidly changing industry. This episode is presented by Unika Vaev and was recorded in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND. Thank you to our Lounge sponsor, Unika Vaev, and partners: B+N, DARRAN, Framery, Momentum, and UpSpring. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

6. 

   27 May 2026

   Deep Green — Reseat’s Office Furniture Rescue

   Find more episodes of Deep Green at SURROUNDpodcasts.com Listeners of Deep Green know that we have a big problem with office furniture. In 2018, an estimated 12 million tons of furniture went to landfills in the United States alone, and eight million tons of that was office furniture. Not cheap e-commerce or flat-pack couches or low-quality furniture. These were desks, workstations, and ergonomic chairs that probably had many more years of life left in them. Now, if we could divert those pieces to new projects and give them a second life, it could mean some money for the original owners, savings for the new owners, and a whole lot of good for the planet. That's where Reseat comes in. In this episode, created in partnership with Reseat, host Avinash Rajagopal sits down with the company’s founder and CEO, Brandi Susewitz. Building on Susewitz’s deep knowledge of the furniture industry, Reseat is making an increasingly big impact through furniture reuse every year. Listen to learn about what's new with the Reseat platform, how the challenges and opportunities around circularity and design have changed, and why furniture is still a key lever in our transition to a circular built environment. Resources: Reseat’s Mission See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7. 

   27 Apr 2026

   Design Nerds Anonymous — Why Fixing Work Fixes Everything

   Listen to every episode of Design Nerds Anonymous at SURROUNDpodcasts.com In the Season 10 premiere of Design Nerds Anonymous, host Amanda Schneider kicks off a season built around the ideas inside her upcoming book, Work for What’s Next, with a guest who lives at the intersection of innovation, risk, and human potential: Deb Golden, Deloitte’s US Chief Innovation Officer. Together, they unpack a core tension shaping work right now: companies keep trying to fix a software problem (culture, trust, systems) with hardware (office mandates). The result is a conversation about the trust gap, unlearning outdated rules, and what it takes to design workplaces that become magnets—not mandates. Links Mentioned: Grab your copy of Work for What's Next. Sign up for ThinkLab’s Newsletter to keep up with industry trends.  Follow Amanda on LinkedIn for more workplace insights. Book Amanda to speak See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

8. 

   30 Mar 2026

   Barriers to Entry — Matthias Hollwich, Founder, HWKN Architecture

   Find more episodes of Barriers to Entry at surroundpodcasts.com/barriers-to-entry Architecture as a Startup Season 4 opens with a milestone moment: Andrew Lane’s first solo episode as host. With a little encouragement from Producer Rob, Andrew welcomes back friend of the show Matthias Hollwich, founder of HWKN Architecture, for a conversation about why the architecture industry may need to reinvent itself entirely. Matthias argues that today every architecture firm needs to think like a startup. With AI transforming design tools and workflows at breakneck speed, his studio has embraced rapid experimentation—running internal AI sprints, rewriting their design process every few months, and using generative tools to explore entirely new forms of architecture. Andrew and Matthias discuss how AI is reshaping everything from design research to client collaboration, how new technologies can unlock more emotional and human-centered architecture, and why this moment may allow architects to reclaim influence over the future of the built environment. Connect with our host, Andrew Lane, on LinkedIn Follow Matthias Hollwich on LinkedIn References and resources HWKN Architecture See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9. 

   13 Aug 2025

   Break Some Dishes — The House By The Sea, Eileen Gray and Other Women History Forgot

   Host Kyle Bergman interviews guests about the film "House by the Sea," revealing overlooked women in design history and their impact on the built environment.

10. 

    16 Jul 2025

    Live from NeoCon: Helene Oberman with Neel Bradham of Parador

    Helene Oberman interviews Neel Bradham about Parador's innovative approach to flooring and surface design, revealing key trends from NeoCon.

11. 

    12 Jun 2025

    Live from NeoCon: Cindy Allen with Ryan Smith of 3form + LightArt in DesignScene

    Cindy Allen interviews Ryan Smith of 3form + LightArt about their NeoCon installation, exploring the creative process and the significance of their partnership.

12. 

    9 May 2025

    Architecture 5 10 20 — Sustainability Milestones LIVE: Circularity in the Built Environment

    You can find every episode of Architecture 5 10 20 at SurroundPodcasts.com. Welcome back to Architecture 5 10 20! I’m your host, Guy Geier, Managing Partner of FXCollaborative Architects in New York. My guests for this podcast are pioneers and visionaries shaping the future of the built environment across various disciplines. Join me in exploring their remarkable journeys, discovering how they reach their current heights, and envisioning what lies ahead in the next 5, 10, and 20 years. Join me for this special episode as I have a great conversation with Avi Rajagopal, editor-in-chief of Metropolis magazine and host of the Deep Green podcast, to discuss connections between sustainability and design. Recorded at FX Collaborative’s Brooklyn office during Green April, our conversation touches upon how sustainability has evolved in the built environment and how media plays an important part in pushing the conversation forward. Avi, whose career has been shaped by his commitment to sustainable design, shares his journey from product design to leading sustainability projects at Metropolis, and we talk about some of the challenges facing the architecture and design industries such as the carbon emissions tied to interior design and the importance of thinking about materials as long-term investments. Avi provides some insights into how we can shift our mindset to reduce waste and adopt a more circular approach to design. Avi also goes into how design practices differ across sectors, from corporate offices to healthcare facilities, and how we can rethink how buildings change over time. We discuss the role of reuse in sustainability and the shifts that we are going to need to actually elevate this practice. Focusing on practical and actionable steps, we consider how designers can model circularity, from reusing materials to rethinking aesthetic choices. Avi even answers a few questions from a few of my FXCollaborative colleagues here in the studio with me! This episode of the show is full of forward-thinking ideas on how we can design better, more sustainable spaces, so whether you are an architect, a designer, and/or a sustainability advocate, this conversation offers valuable insights from Avi that will surely challenge and inspire! Time stamps: [02:34] - Avi reflects on how his interest in sustainability developed over time, from design studies to Metropolis' focus on it. [05:59] - The media connects architecture to the public, advancing professional conversations around sustainability. [08:08] - Avi reveals that Metropolis has explored how interior design contributes to carbon emissions. [11:03] - Focusing on building life-cycle emissions led to creating the Climate Toolkit for Interior Design to reduce waste. [13:33] - Proposals for circularity in design have led to ideas for new professions and assessing the quality of reused materials. [15:03] - Avi argues that avoiding new materials is the best way to reduce rising carbon emissions. [17:54] - Aesthetics and sustainability are not inherently linked, and global practices embrace broader, more sustainable design values. [20:29] - Avi explains how different building types age uniquely, which requires customized strategies and approaches. [22:58] - As an optimist, Avi points out how retrofits, natural materials, and holistic thinking suggest a shift in sustainable practices. [25:04] - FXCollaborative’s work highlights how urban design increasingly considers the impact on all life on Earth, not just humans. [27:21] - Adaptive reuse, Avi asserts, should prioritize flexibility and longevity, not just destroying and rebuilding existing structures. [30:51] - Can reuse alone satisfy future infrastructure and housing needs? [31:53] - It's important for new construction to be assessed for whether it serves the public good. [34:39] - Rethinking building use and shared responsibility is important for maximizing environmental and social value. [37:20] - FXCollaborative draws ongoing inspiration from Avi's vision for a circular, sustainable architectural future! Links / Resources: Guy Geier Instagram | Twitter Avinash Rajagopal on Instagram Metropolis Climate Toolkit for Interior Design Deep Green Ezra Klein - Abundance See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13. 

    18 Mar 2025

    Clever — Designing Belonging: Alma Jimenez Lopez on Art, Heritage, and Home

    Alma Jimenez Lopez is a creative force — a designer, artist, and curator who builds bridges between cultures and communities. In this episode, she shares how growing up as a first-generation Mexican American shaped her superpower: empathy. From honing her skills as an interior designer and building bridges across sectors of the design industry, to curation and community-building with the co-founding Of Threads, which celebrates the richness of Mexican American stories through art, design, and fashion, Alma’s journey is one of vision, healing, and unstoppable drive. This conversation is bold, heartfelt, and full of light. You can find more episodes of Clever and the entire SURROUND library at SURROUNDpodcasts.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14. 

    13 Feb 2025

    Design Tangents - Teo Yang: Interior designer, aesthete, collector and entrepreneur

    Some are born with good taste, and Teo Yang is one of them. Among South Korea’s most interesting designers and collectors, he consistently studies the country’s past to find inspiration and connection to its present and future. His interior design practice creates private, public and corporate spaces, often filled with an eclectic mix that includes furniture and furnishings that he’s designed. Evan and Josh spent time with Teo in Seoul and more recently caught up with him while he was passing through NYC on his first visit in many years. They spoke with the gifted entrepreneur about how he weaves his vision across multiple businesses, including skin care, fragrances and science fiction. TeoYangStudio.com en.Eastern-Edition.com Instagram.com/TeoYang CoolHunting.com/TeoYang en.EathLibrary.com Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

15. 

    23 Jan 2025

    Sense of Space — Do buildings have souls?

    Have you ever walked into a space and immediately sensed it had a rich history? Faraz and Ella explore the idea of iteration from a musical context and how this occurs in the built environment through thoughtful preservation and adaptive reuse. What makes up the soul of a building or place? Does it start with the architecture or with the people and activities that bring a space to life? Notes / Links: Want to learn more about the things we’ve mentioned in this episode? Please find links to additional content below.Faraz’s YouTube Rabbit HoleWho we spoke with: Preservation ChicagoBook Recommendation: Stewart Brand | How Buildings LearnBook Recommendation: Jane M. Jacobs and Stephen Cairns | Buildings Must DiePodcast Recommendation: Alie Ward | Ologies: Domicology EpisodeArticle: Wax Trax building gets preliminary landmark designation | Urbanize Chicago! As always, if you have something you want to share with us, please don’t hesitate to reach out via our socials. We want to know what’s important to you! Turf | Facebook https://www.instagram.com/turf.design/ https://linkedin.com/company/turf-design-acoustics-/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16. 

    15 Jan 2025

    Barriers to Entry — Kelly Knapp: Creative Director, Experiential — Ex-Sphere

    It finally happened. After months of name dropping, Bobby and Andrew finally visited the Sphere and they brought along a new friend to talk about it. Kelly Knapp has been at the forefront of immersive experiences for much of her career and she joins the pod to talk about the process of creating projects like Sphere, where she was a pre-launch creative lead, as well as a host of other exciting work she’s been a part of around the world. From planning experiences no one has ever experienced before, to the search for talent and even (of course) some hot takes on the role of AI in the creative process, this conversation has it all. Discover more episodes of Barriers to Entry at surroundpodcasts.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

17. 

    19 Nov 2024

    SURROUND PRESENTS

    Surround Presents showcases our favorite episodes on the Surround network as well as narratives, interviews, and innovations shaping design today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100

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47

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