Kirk and Andy sit down with marketing and brand strategist Joshua David for a conversation that starts with a joke about his very long bio and quickly goes somewhere much more honest.

Josh traces his path from working hotel front desks (including a stint in London that convinced him he was in the wrong industry) to community management, influencer marketing in New York, and eventually running social for Ebony, where he grew the platform from 200,000 to nearly a million organic followers before he turned 25. Along the way he crossed paths with a who's who of names, but the real story is what he learned about himself in those rooms.

Mostly, this is a candid talk about being real in spaces that reward performance. The guys get into authenticity versus code-switching, what it costs to be the only person of color in the room, why Josh leaves a job before they start to hate him, and the price of doing the one thing you don't want to do just to reach the next rung. There's a lot on the tension between caring too much and protecting your own peace, plus a hard look at how companies say they want you to shake the table right up until you actually do.

Funny, blunt, and occasionally uncomfortable in the best way. Come for the industry stories, stay for the truth-telling.

The Kirk and Kurtts Design Podcast. Kirk Visola, founder and creative director of Mind the Font, and Andy Kurtts, founder and creative director of Buttermilk Creative.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

About Kirk and Andy.

Kirk Visola is the Creative Director and Founder of MIND THE FONT™. He brings over 20 years of CPG experience to the packaging and branding design space, and understands how shelf aesthetics can make an impact for established and emerging brands. Check out their work http://www.mindthefont.com.

Andy Kurts is the Creative Director and Founder of Buttermilk Creative. He loves a good coffee in the morning and a good bourbon at night. When he’s not working on packaging design he’s running in the backyard with his family. Check out Buttermilk's work http://www.buttermilkcreative.com.

Music for Kirk & Kurtts intro & outro: Better by Super Fantastics

Show a little love. Share the podcast with those who may benefit. Or, send us a coffee:
Support the show

"A sparkly rainbow that defies category." That's how this week's guest describes themselves, and honestly, it fits. For the first time, Kirk and Andy sit down with someone who isn't a designer or a founder: Mika Okimura, an educator and learning professional with over a decade of experience building inclusive, student-centered classrooms across the Bay Area, from UC Berkeley to Merritt College to San Francisco State, plus years at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Mika opens up about growing up queer and Japanese American in a conservative pocket of California, the long road to claiming their they/them identity at almost 40, and how tiring it is to code-switch before you finally decide to just be yourself. They talk about teaching as the art of connection, the meditation teacher who told them they have "infinite wellbeing," and a little ramen otter that explains everything about why they love this work.

There's also real talk on boundaries in the classroom, self-care and neurodivergence (including a three-hour nail routine), the "Learning to Pretty" Instagram, and a closing message you won't forget: fuck the model minority.

Funny, heartfelt, and a little sweary. Follow The Kirk + Kurtts Design Podcast so you never miss an episode, and learn more about Mika's work as Your Academic Advocate in the show notes.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

About Kirk and Andy.

Kirk Visola is the Creative Director and Founder of MIND THE FONT™. He brings over 20 years of CPG experience to the packaging and branding design space, and understands how shelf aesthetics can make an impact for established and emerging brands. Check out their work http://www.mindthefont.com.

Andy Kurts is the Creative Director and Founder of Buttermilk Creative. He loves a good coffee in the morning and a good bourbon at night. When he’s not working on packaging design he’s running in the backyard with his family. Check out Buttermilk's work http://www.buttermilkcreative.com.

Music for Kirk & Kurtts intro & outro: Better by Super Fantastics

Show a little love. Share the podcast with those who may benefit. Or, send us a coffee:
Support the show

Many times when we have folks on the show there is an immediate and fun conversation that happens before we even do the introductions.

Well, this was one time where we caught our guest in all their marvelous candor, and join in. Well, Kirk joined in with the "back in my day" conversation about moving up the ranks in regards to stewardship of design roles.

Kirk and Madison sit in their rocking chairs sipping tea and complaining while Andy cautiously interjects and adds a much fresher and inspired insight.

This clip ends with the introduction of Madison's podcast, and if you haven't heard it, you can listen to the full podcast here.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

About Kirk and Andy.

Kirk Visola is the Creative Director and Founder of MIND THE FONT™. He brings over 20 years of CPG experience to the packaging and branding design space, and understands how shelf aesthetics can make an impact for established and emerging brands. Check out their work http://www.mindthefont.com.

Andy Kurts is the Creative Director and Founder of Buttermilk Creative. He loves a good coffee in the morning and a good bourbon at night. When he’s not working on packaging design he’s running in the backyard with his family. Check out Buttermilk's work http://www.buttermilkcreative.com.

Music for Kirk & Kurtts intro & outro: Better by Super Fantastics

Show a little love. Share the podcast with those who may benefit. Or, send us a coffee:
Support the show