Episodes

  • S11 Episode 79: Jon Houghton - The Design Of Leadership Beyond Yourself

    S11 Episode 79: Jon Houghton - The Design Of Leadership Beyond Yourself
    Jul 31 2026
    What if leadership isn't about producing results, but helping people become who they're capable of becoming? Jon Houghton has spent much of his life helping people grow. For more than twenty years, he served in leadership roles with Young Life, developing leaders, building teams, and helping others discover their gifts and purpose. Then, after a successful career doing work he deeply loved, Jon made a surprising decision. He left. Not because something was broken. Not because he was unhappy. But because he felt called to explore a new challenge and discover what another chapter might hold. Today, Jon serves as CEO of Holy Post Media, a company creating thoughtful conversations around faith, culture, leadership, and life in an increasingly polarized world. Through Holy Post, Chicago Fellowship, and countless conversations with leaders, Jon continues to ask questions that matter. Questions about identity. Questions about purpose. Questions about what it means to grow. In this episode of Design Of, Jon shares the lessons he's learned about leadership, feedback, community, faith, and personal transformation. Along the way, he reflects on mentors who shaped him, the risks of staying too long, the challenges of starting over, and why some of the most important work leaders do has nothing to do with performance metrics. Jon shared a question that has quietly followed him throughout much of his life: "Am I lovable if I'm not impressive?" It's a deeply human question. And it opens the door to a conversation about ambition, achievement, identity, and the freedom that comes when we stop trying to prove ourselves and start helping others flourish. This conversation isn't really about leadership. It's about becoming. And helping others do the same. In This Episode, We Explore: • Why Jon chose to leave a successful twenty-year career and start a new chapter • The transition from nonprofit leadership to leading a growing media company • How healthy leadership begins with self-awareness • The difference between helping people perform and helping people grow • Why feedback feels threatening and how to receive it differently • The role faith plays in leadership, relationships, and community • Building meaningful connections in a culture that often lacks depth • How mentors help us see things in ourselves we cannot yet see Key Takeaways: • Great leadership starts with personal health and self-awareness. • You cannot help others grow if you are unwilling to grow yourself. • Feedback becomes less threatening when your identity is rooted in something deeper than performance. • Meaningful community requires intentional effort and vulnerability. • Growth often begins when we leave something comfortable and familiar. • The best leaders help people become more fully who they were created to be. About Jon Jon Houghton is the CEO of Holy Post Media, a media company focused on thoughtful conversations about faith, culture, leadership, and public life. He also leads Chicago Fellowship, a community that brings together nonprofit and marketplace leaders seeking to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually. Prior to Holy Post, Jon spent more than two decades with Young Life, helping develop leaders and organizations across the country. His work today centers on creating meaningful conversations, building healthy communities, and helping people become who they're capable of becoming.
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    59 mins
  • S11 Episode 78: Dena Blevins - The Design Of Making Things That Matter

    S11 Episode 78: Dena Blevins - The Design Of Making Things That Matter
    Jun 24 2026
    After helping lead creative and innovation efforts for global brands including Starbucks and Hydro Flask, Dena Blevins found herself asking a different question: What happens when you stop building for some of the world's most recognized brands and start building something that feels deeply personal? In this episode of Design Of, Dena shares her journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship and the launch of Frank, a company inspired by the messy, funny, difficult, and beautiful realities of everyday life. At Frank, the mission is simple: create products inspired by what life throws at us and what's happening in the world around us. Sometimes that means diving into difficult topics. Sometimes it means finding humor in uncomfortable moments. And sometimes it means offering a proud middle finger and an undeniably frank point of view. Through a growing collection of bandanas, scarves, cocktail napkins, and thoughtful products, Frank gives people a way to wear, share, celebrate, mourn, laugh, support, and express what they're feeling. Or not. The choice is theirs. What makes this conversation compelling isn't the products. It's the story behind them. "I love that I can put something out there that hopefully resonates with others as well." — Dena Blevins After years helping shape stories for global brands, Dena found herself building a company rooted in that belief. We explore how leadership evolves over time, how personal experiences often become the foundation for meaningful businesses, and why some of the most impactful ideas begin not with a market opportunity but with a human one. Along the way, we talk about entrepreneurship, reinvention, grief, humor, purpose, storytelling, and what it means to create work that reflects who you are, not just what you do. And perhaps the biggest takeaway is this: The most meaningful businesses don't just create products. They create connection. In This Episode, We Explore • Dena's journey from global creative leadership at Starbucks and Hydro Flask to entrepreneurship • The story behind Frank and why she started it • Building a business rooted in honesty, humor, and humanity • How personal experiences can become meaningful products and opportunities • Why storytelling remains one of the most powerful business tools • The relationship between purpose, creativity, and entrepreneurship • What it means to redefine success in a new chapter of life Key Takeaways • Experience often reveals what matters most • Great businesses begin with real human needs • Stories create connection when they are relatable, honest, and human • Humor can help people navigate difficult conversations • Purpose and business can strengthen one another • New chapters require courage, curiosity, and conviction About Dena Dena Blevins is an entrepreneur, storyteller, and former global creative leader whose career includes leadership roles with Starbucks and Hydro Flask. She is the founder of Frank, a brand that creates bold, honest products inspired by real life and the world around us. Through bandanas, scarves, cocktail napkins, and storytelling, Frank helps people express themselves with humor, humanity, and an unapologetically frank point of view.
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    39 mins
  • S11 Episode 77: Nancy O'Connor - The Design Of Figuring It Out on Stage

    S11 Episode 77: Nancy O'Connor - The Design Of Figuring It Out on Stage
    May 16 2026
    Nancy O’Connor is building a comedy career the old-fashioned way. By bombing, writing, trying again, living with her 91-year-old great aunt, and realizing almost everything in life can become material if you are paying attention. In this episode of Design Of, Nancy talks about growing up in a big Irish Catholic family where getting heard at the dinner table was basically a competitive sport. She shares how her dad’s full-body laugh shaped her sense of humor, why open mics are both terrifying and useful, and how living with her great aunt has become part roommate story, part sitcom, part writing lab. It’s funny, but there’s something real underneath it. Nancy is not pretending the path is clear. She is working it out in real time. Corporate jobs, comedy classes, silent open mics, family stories, dating in New York, and a 90+ year-old roommate who may or may not be the best unpaid writing partner in Brooklyn. And if nothing else, here’s your takeaway: + Pay attention to your life. That’s the material. + Even the weird parts. Especially the weird parts. + Because if Nancy can turn living with a 91-year-old roommate and arguing at the dinner table into a comedy career… you’re probably sitting on something too. + You just have to be willing to write it down. In This Episode, We Explore + What it takes to build a stand-up career one open mic at a time + How growing up in a big family teaches you timing, volume, and survival + Why bombing is awful, helpful, and somehow part of the job + How Nancy’s dad became both comedy influence and recurring material + Why the best stories usually come from real life, not perfect conditions + How to keep going when the room is silent and karaoke is apparently next Key Takeaways + A loud dinner table can be better training than a classroom + Sometimes the safest career path is the one that feels least alive + Your family may be your first audience and your most dangerous source material + Good comedy starts with paying attention + Bombing does not mean stop. It means rewrite About Nancy: Nancy O’Connor is a New York City-based stand-up comedian who is building her career through writing, performing, producing shows, and finding material in the everyday moments most people miss. Her comedy draws from family, dating, Catholic guilt, corporate life, and the strange gift of living with her 91-year-old great aunt. She has also been featured in Artists of New York in an episode titled “Comedy Over Corporate.”
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    47 mins
  • S11 Episode 76: Rhyon Nicole Brown - The Design Of Who Gets to Tell the Story

    S11 Episode 76: Rhyon Nicole Brown - The Design Of Who Gets to Tell the Story
    Apr 30 2026
    What happens when a triple threat talent decides it’s not enough to perform in the system, and starts building a new one? In this episode of Design Of, I sit down with Rhyon, an actor, singer, and entrepreneur who is stepping into a new role. Not just as a performer, but as a creator and builder through her company, Rhume. Rhyon has spent years in the entertainment industry, building a career across film, television, and music. She knows what it takes to show up, deliver, and succeed in spaces that are competitive and often limiting. But success inside the system raised a bigger question for her. What if the system itself needs to change? Through Rhume, Rhyon is working to rethink how media is created and shared. Not just more content, but better ownership. More intentional storytelling. More opportunity for voices that don’t always get a seat at the table. This conversation is about that shift. From being cast to creating. From performing to producing. From participating to building. It’s about what it takes to carry multiple identities. The pressure of being known for one thing while feeling called to something more. And the discipline required to actually build it. Because building your own platform sounds exciting. Until you realize you’re responsible for everything. Why You Should Listen + If you’ve ever felt like you’ve outgrown the role you’re in, this episode will hit. + If you’re navigating multiple paths and trying to make them make sense, this will feel familiar. + And if you care about where media is going, and who gets to shape it, this conversation matters. Rhyon isn’t waiting for permission anymore. She’s building something new with Rhume. In This Episode, We Explore + What it really means to be a triple threat in today’s world + The shift from performer to entrepreneur and builder + Why Rhume exists and what it aims to change in media + The limitations of traditional entertainment systems + How to move from being selected to self-directed + The tension of evolving your identity in public + What it takes to build something from the ground up + The responsibility that comes with owning your voice Key Takeaways + Talent gets you in the room. Ownership changes the room + You can succeed in a system and still decide to outgrow it + Building something new requires clarity, not just ambition + Multi-dimensional careers are harder, but more honest + Media is shifting toward creators who own their platforms + The future belongs to those willing to rethink the structure, not just the output Whether you’re building something new, refining what already exists, or simply paying closer attention to where you are… this conversation is for you. Take a few minutes and sit with it. About Rhyon: Rhyon is an actor, singer, and entrepreneur whose work spans film, television, and music. Starting her career at a young age, she built a strong foundation in performance before expanding into business and media. She is the founder of Rhume, a company focused on rethinking how stories are created, shared, and owned.
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    43 mins
  • S11 Episode 75: John Pobojewski- The Design Of Across Disciplines

    S11 Episode 75: John Pobojewski- The Design Of Across Disciplines
    Apr 9 2026
    What happens when a creative leader realizes that style alone isn’t enough, and decides to build something rooted in idea, intention, and longevity instead? In this episode of Design Of, I sit down with John Pobojewski to explore the tension between style and substance, and what it really takes to create work that lasts. This is a conversation about design, yes—but more importantly, it’s about leadership, conviction, and the responsibility that comes with shaping brands in a world that moves fast but forgets even faster. John has spent his career helping organizations think more clearly about who they are and why they exist. Along the way, he’s seen what happens when brands chase trends, confuse motion with progress, or mistake aesthetic for meaning. His perspective is simple, but not easy: without a real idea, design becomes decoration, and decoration doesn’t endure. This episode is not about making things look better. It’s about making them matter. Key Takeaways “If there’s no idea behind it, it’s just style. And style doesn’t last.” Strong brands are built on clear ideas, not visual trends Design without meaning creates noise, not impact The best creative work simplifies, not complicates Longevity comes from conviction, not reaction Clients don’t need more options, they need clearer direction John’s perspective is a reminder that great design is not about decoration. It’s about decision-making. It’s about knowing what matters, and having the discipline to build around it. If you care about building a brand that lasts, not just one that looks good today, this conversation will stay with you. Listen now and rethink what your brand is really built on.
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    44 mins
  • S11 Episode 74: Nathan Thornburgh - The Design Of Roads & Kingdoms

    S11 Episode 74: Nathan Thornburgh - The Design Of Roads & Kingdoms
    Feb 25 2026
    What happens when a foreign correspondent watches legacy media shrink, and decides to build something more human instead? In this Season 11 opener of Design Of, Justin Ahrens sits down with Nathan Thornburgh, former Time Magazine foreign correspondent and co-founder of Roads & Kingdoms, to explore journalism, leadership, American identity, and the future of immersive storytelling. Nathan spent nearly a decade reporting from Moscow and across Europe during a period of global change. As foreign bureaus closed and media shifted toward digital scale, he saw the rise of compassion fatigue — the growing distance between audiences and the people in the story. Roads & Kingdoms became his response. Built at the intersection of food, geopolitics, and culture, the company became a creative partner to Anthony Bourdain and a home for long-form journalism rooted in shared humanity. Today, it has evolved into a print magazine, curated travel experiences, and a membership community built around real-world connection. This episode explores: • The myth of journalistic neutrality • Why humility matters in global reporting • How food unlocks difficult cultural conversations • Leadership after loss • Designing a brand around depth instead of scale • Why community and in-person experiences are a strategic advantage For founders, marketers, and cultural leaders, this conversation is a powerful case study in values-driven brand building. If you care about storytelling, media, travel, culture, or building something that lasts in an automated world — this episode is for you. Listen now and discover what it means to design human-sized stories.
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    55 mins
  • S10 Episode 73: Sarah Kissko Hersh - The Design Of Getting Unstuck

    S10 Episode 73: Sarah Kissko Hersh - The Design Of Getting Unstuck
    Dec 18 2025
    What if great communication isn’t about saying more, but saying what actually matters? Sarah Kissko Hersh has spent more than two decades inside agencies, brands, and leadership rooms where words carry weight. She grew up in Indiana, built her career in Chicago and New York, and learned early that clarity, not polish, is what moves people forward. Along the way, she worked across architecture, design, travel, luxury, and global firms, often stepping into messy moments where teams felt stuck and leaders felt unsure of what to say next. What started as a traditional PR career slowly evolved into something deeper. Sarah saw how often people were promoted into leadership without being taught how to manage. How communication broke down not because of bad intentions, but because of fear, burnout, and lack of direction. And how simple, honest language could reset entire teams. Today, Sarah is the founder of Type A, a communications and leadership consultancy based outside New York City. Her work focuses on helping people get unstuck, communicate directly without losing kindness, and lead with clarity in moments that matter. In this conversation, Sarah and Justin talk about what PR really is and what it is not. Why simple stories still win. How bad managers can teach you just as much as good ones. Why constraints often unlock better ideas. And how platforms like LinkedIn are less about self-promotion and more about learning to name what you already know. For leaders, creatives, and communicators, this episode is about making work feel lighter without making it shallow. About learning while you laugh. And about remembering that the most effective communication is deeply human. What You’ll Learn + Clarity beats complexity. Simple, honest language builds trust faster than polished noise. + PR is about truth, not spin. Good communication starts with what’s real. + Leadership is learned. Managing people requires skills most of us were never taught. + Fear keeps teams stuck. Naming it is often the first step forward. + Constraints spark creativity. Less can actually lead to better ideas. Why It Matters Sarah’s perspective reminds us that communication is not a soft skill. It is leadership in action. Whether you manage a team, tell stories for a living, or simply want to be understood at work, this episode shows how clarity, humor, and care can change the way people listen and respond. Listen Now If this conversation made you laugh, think, or see your work a little differently, share it with someone who leads, writes, or communicates for a living. Follow Design Of wherever you listen, and keep building work that helps people understand what truly matters.
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    49 mins
  • S10 Episode 72: Gordon Kaye - The Design Of Legacy and Clarity

    S10 Episode 72: Gordon Kaye - The Design Of Legacy and Clarity
    Nov 30 2025
    What if the most powerful kind of creativity isn’t about making things beautiful, but making them clear? Gordon Kaye never planned to work in design. He studied law, built a career in New York, and handled media and trademark cases before joining NBC as counsel, reviewing everything from late-night jokes to broadcast standards. But when his father’s health declined, he stepped away from law to take over the family publication, Graphic Design USA (GDUSA), a magazine his father had launched in the 1960s to celebrate the people behind design, not just the work itself. What began as a rescue mission became a lifelong calling. Gordon brought his legal mind and curiosity for communication to a creative field that thrives on clarity. Over the decades, he’s evolved GDUSA into more than a design magazine, it’s a respected voice for how ideas move through business, marketing, and culture. In our conversation, Gordon and Justin talk about what design can teach every leader: how to communicate simply, lead with empathy, and build trust through the way we share information. They discuss how his outsider’s view helped him see design not as decoration, but as direction. And how clarity, when done well, can turn creative thinking into real influence. For business and marketing leaders, this episode is about more than design. It’s about the responsibility of communication. About how we help people see what matters. And how legacy, when guided by purpose, can evolve without losing its truth. What You’ll Learn + Clarity earns influence. The best ideas don’t need to shout—they need to be understood. + Every message is designed. The way you shape words, visuals, or decisions defines how people respond. + Legacy means evolution. True leadership honors the past while adapting to what’s next. + Trust is the real deliverable. In every field, communication rooted in honesty connects. + Purpose over polish. Simplicity, empathy, and meaning will always outperform noise. Why It Matters Gordon’s journey, from NBC’s legal floors to the heart of the design community, proves that communication is leadership. You don’t have to be a designer to think like one. You just have to care about how people understand you. Listen Now If this episode helps you think differently about how you lead, share it with someone who shapes communication where you work. Follow Design Of wherever you listen, and keep building teams, messages, and brands that people can trust.
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    44 mins