On Ep. 158, our latest “site-specific” recording, we join the legendary French chef Jacques Pépin at his long-time home in Madison, Connecticut, to discuss the 50th anniversary of his landmark 1976 book, “La Technique”; how he’s developed his “taste memory”; and the extraordinary role of chance throughout his life.
Sep 16
Iris van Herpen on Visualizing the Invisible Through Haute Couture
Iris van Herpen’s boundary-defying, otherworldly work exists somewhere between couture, sculpture, science, technology, architecture, and nature. For nearly two decades, the Dutch fashion designer has radically expanded the possibilities of what forms haute couture can take, comb ... Show More
1h 19m
Jun 2026
Dries Van Noten on the Meaning Found in Making
Dries Van Noten’s lifelong fascination with craft and making runs deep. He grew up in a multigenerational family of retailers and tailors in Antwerp, and in the 1980s, he was part of the famed avant-garde Antwerp Six group of Belgian fashion designers. From 1986 to 2024, across 3 ... Show More
59m 22s
Oct 2021
Emilien Crespo on the Beauty of Embracing the Unexpected
Entrepreneur and writer Emilien Crespo, founder of the publishing company Ordinary Flame, talks with us about the importance of getting out of one’s comfort zone, how an increasingly digital culture can intensify real-life experiences, and an adventure in Tokyo he went on with th ... Show More
53m 14s
Feb 2022
Samuel Ross on Designing Objects That Record and Reflect on the World
British designer, creative director, and artist Samuel Ross, founder of the fashion label A-Cold-Wall, speaks with us about his reverence and respect for materials; essentialism as a response to excess; and why art, at its best, provokes questions. Episode sponsored by Grand Seik ... Show More
48 m
Oct 2023
Yves Béhar: Design’s Purpose-Driven Visionary
Gadgets, accessories, furniture, computers, and even robots: In recent memory, the language of good design has been shaped and driven by Yves Béhar, founder of Fuseproject. On this episode, Dan speaks with the Swiss-born impresario on his early career with Frog Design, what motiv ... Show More
1h 6m
May 2024
Yabu Pushelberg: Building a Better Life
Designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg of firm Yabu Pushelberg have helped define luxury interiors for decades, especially hotels. On this episode, the Toronto- and New York–based duo—who are partners in life as well as work—speak with Dan about how they got started, how thei ... Show More
1h 4m
Oct 2024
The Grand Tourist Introduces: Charlap Hyman & Herrero, Sophie Lou Jacobsen, BoND
On this special episode sponsored by Lumens, Dan speaks with three emerging design studios: Charlap Hyman & Herrero, a bicoastal firm that brings a curatorial eye to a variety of spaces; Sophie Lou Jacobsen, a product designer who taps a sense of nostalgia for her works in glass ... Show More
1h 24m