An Invitation to Listen Differently
When people ask me what Design Minded is about, I usually pause before answering. Not because it is complicated, but because it is layered. On the surface, it is a podcast about design in Indianapolis and Indiana. At a deeper level, it is about how our surroundings shape our daily lives in ways we rarely stop to notice.
I am writing this to invite you to listen. Not as a designer or expert, but as someone who moves through this city every day and wants to understand it better.
What You Will Hear on Design Minded
Each episode of Design Minded is a conversation. I co-host the show with Steve Mannheimer, and together we sit down with people who care deeply about how things are made and how they function in the real world.
Our guests include architects, designers, planners, artists, and community leaders. Some work behind the scenes. Others are shaping projects you may already know. What they share is a belief that design matters and that it carries responsibility.
You will hear honest stories about projects that worked and projects that did not. You will hear about tradeoffs, constraints, and lessons learned. These are not polished sales pitches. They are real conversations.
Why This Podcast Exists
I started Design Minded because I wanted a place to slow things down. Most conversations about cities and design are rushed or reduced to sound bites. That does not leave room for context or reflection.
This show gives us time. Time to ask why a decision was made. Time to talk about who benefited and who did not. Time to explore how design choices affect quality of life.
If you have ever wondered why a place feels welcoming or frustrating, this podcast is for you.
You Do Not Need a Design Background
One of the biggest misconceptions about Design Minded is that you need to be a designer to enjoy it. That is not true. The show is built for anyone who lives, works, or spends time in Indianapolis and Indiana.
We use plain language. We avoid jargon. We focus on stories and experiences rather than theory. If you have ever sat in traffic, walked through a public space, or noticed a building that made you stop and look, you already understand design at a human level.
I believe that good design is not about aesthetics but about functionality, inclusivity and the impact it has on people.
This podcast simply gives words to those experiences.
Indianapolis and Indiana at the Center
Indianapolis is more than a backdrop for Design Minded. It is the subject. Every episode connects back to this city and the people shaping it.
By keeping the focus local, the conversations stay grounded. You might hear a street name you recognize or a neighborhood you love. Suddenly, design feels personal.
That connection is powerful. It turns listening into awareness, and awareness into curiosity.
From Radio Waves to Your Headphones
Design Minded began as a radio show on WQRT 99.1 FM, and it still carries that spirit. We record in a studio. We value thoughtful dialogue. We respect the listener’s time.
Each episode is also released as a podcast, so you can listen when it works for you. Whether you are commuting, walking, or taking a break, the conversations are there when you want them.
We have produced more than fifty-five episodes over the past five years, and each one adds to a growing archive of local voices and ideas.
What Listeners Tell Me
Some listeners tell me the podcast helps them see the city differently. Others say it gives them language to talk about things they already felt but could not quite explain.
That feedback means everything to me. It tells me the show is doing what it was meant to do. It is creating connection through conversation.
Where and How to Listen
Listening to Design Minded is simple, and you can choose the format that works best for you.
Podcast and Episode Archives
Each episode is recorded in studio and published online so you can listen on your own schedule.
MixCloud
https://www.mixcloud.com/designminded/
WQRT Show Page
https://www.wqrt.org/shows
Follow Along on Social Media
We share updates, episode announcements, and clips from past conversations on Instagram.
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designmindedindiana/?hl=en
Why Your Listening Matters
Listening is not passive. When you listen to these conversations, you are participating in a broader dialogue about how Indianapolis and Indiana grows and changes.
Every download supports independent media. Every shared episode helps amplify local voices. Every listener helps keep these conversations alive.
A Simple Ask
If you care about this city, and its people, about how it looks, feels, and functions, I invite you to listen to Design Minded. Start with one episode and see where it takes you.
Design is already shaping your life. This podcast simply helps you notice it.