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.

#195 – Wordsmithing the Process

Topic

Being that it's Veteran's Day in the USA, we discuss war stories from the trenches... both from Cormac's time serving in the Army and from architectural practice. Oh, and don't forget the off-the-shelf, range-extending missile parts.

Links

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#194 – Ad Nauseam

Topic

We discuss current 2d project delivery challenges and opportunities, how application templates aren't one-size-fits-all, reincorporating lessons learned on projects into standards, and how architects are really damn good at dealing with levels of abstraction.

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#193 – Extra Helping of Cheddar

Topic

We discuss how brick and mortar-based architecture firms are dealing with the changing landscape of remote work due to COVID-19 and all the nuance that comes along with it. And Cormac breaks the news that Sean Connery died, so we talk about Bond movies, of course.

Links

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#192 – Awards Season

Topic

Following the last episode's topic of professional 'conference season,' we transition into the topic of architectural 'awards season' to discuss the positives and also how they could be so much better.

Links

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#191 – Looking Beyond Property Lines

Topic

We discuss the October architectural conference flurry—including one that Evan is speaking at—and recap architect Jeanne Gang's keynote presentation at the 2020 Architectural Record Innovation Conference.

Links

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#190 – Understanding The Grimaces

Topic

We discuss the new world of communication and physical barriers that many people are adapting to, and many who are not.

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#189 – Pull The Motor

Topic

We follow-up on Cormac's double-jointed, shadetree mechanic adventure and wax nostalgic on Haynes manuals. And then, somehow, bring it back to architecture.

Links

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#188 – We Keep Forgetting That's An Option

Topic

We discuss taking ideas from other industries — like auto manufacturing — and applying them to architecture.

Links

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#187 – V.E. is Neither

Topic

We discuss ways to deal with last-minute changes on projects, which is something that never really happens. 

Links

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#186 – Why I'm Likely Leaving

Topic

We discuss a recent Twitter thread about structural engineering career angst and parallel issues we have observed in the architectural profession.

Links

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#185 - Architectural Levels of Pain

Topic

Cormac tells us a story of superstitious happenings, and we discuss the true meaning of three seemingly innocuous words that show up on so many drawing sets: Protect In Place.

And be sure to check out the latest announcement from Gābl Media!

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#184 - Are You A Worker?

Topic

Cormac and Evan discuss the sentiments expressed in the recently posted 'Letter to a Young Architect' by critic Kate Wager in Architecture Review.

Links

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#183 - How To Take Notes

Topic

Evan and Cormac talk about having too many digital input devices to maintain clarity while working.

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#182 - I Saw People Sketching

We discuss the new format for Archispeak, and Cormac pays a visit to the office.

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#181 - I Don't Know if This is Depressing

Evan and Cormac talk about the effort that is required to design the future of our beloved profession of architecture. It's time to take responsibility fellow architects!

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#180 - We Chose Witches

Evan and Cormac start the episode all over the place but eventually bring it back to architecture, work/life juggling, and the evolving work schedules and behaviors we've found now that school is starting up in households around the world.

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#179 - Guerilla Architecture Redux

Summer break is here, and this is a redux of a previous episode where we discussed the movie Citizen Architect with a very special guest, architect Steve Hoffman.

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#178 - Putting the Guidelines Aside

Cormac and Evan talk about the consequences of breaking the BIM when deadlines are looming, how the design process is time travel, and the need for a vacation.

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#177 - A Boat-Shaped Cubicle

Cormac and Evan talk about what they are doing instead of vacationing this summer, the importance of knowing how things go together, some of their favorite construction tools, conducting Zoom calls on water, and more.

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#176 - Field Observation Report – June 2020

Architects are anthropologists and psychologists too, right? Join us for a conversation about some behaviors we are observing during Covid-19 — along with everything else that's going on in the world right now — and how they might relate to architecture and design.

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