Matters of Experience
Episodes
“Nobody Has a Good Idea at First” — Inside the Messy Truth of Creativity
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to turn a blank space into an unforgettable experience? In this episode, Carl Rhodes—Creative Director and exhibit design veteran—...
Art, Science, and Time at the Exploratorium
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a museum treats its floor like a laboratory? In this episode of Matters of Experience, we sit down with Allyson Feeney, Senior Proje...
Where Ideas Come Alive
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever ridden an elevator, zipped a jacket, watched IMAX, or tapped a touchscreen, you’ve experienced the legacy of a World’s Fair—whe...
The Invisible Music of Museums
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Designer and creative leader Lucy Holmes traces a life shaped by letters and by people. From hand drawing alphabets at RISD to orchestrating typograph...
From Clay to Code: Rethinking Experience Design
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Creative designer and AI educator Marlena Emig reveals how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the exhibition design process, not by replacing ...
Every Light a Paintbrush
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Light carves stories from darkness, transforming spaces into emotional journeys that transcend mere illumination. Abigail Honor and Brenda Cowan explo...
Truth, Repair and the Role of the Museum
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to transform a colonial institution into one that centers healing, justice, and shared humanity? In this episode of Matters of Exper...
The Architecture of Play
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Spencer Luckey doesn’t just build playgrounds—he sculpts experiences that invite curiosity, joy, and exploration. In this episode of Matters of Ex...
Where Stories Becomes Spaces
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Design can do more than communicate—it can captivate, transport, and transform. In this episode of Matters of Experience, Abigail Honor and Brenda C...
What If It Doesn't Work? (And What If It Does?)
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to design for dialogue—not just display? In this episode of Matters of Experience, Abigail Honor and Brenda Cowan sit down with Jo...
Creativity and Courage with Murilo Melo
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do creativity and courage shape the future of design? In this episode of Matters of Experience, Abigail Honor and Brenda Cowan sit down with Muril...
Experience as a Catalyst for Connection with Monica Herman
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Matters of Experience, Abigail Honor and Brenda Cowan sit down with Monica Herman, a seasoned experiential design strategist, to ex...
The Crossroads of Media, Architecture, and Technology with Brandon Harp
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can digital technology transform our everyday spaces into memorable experiences? In this episode of Matters of Experience, Abigail Honor and Brend...
Emotional Intelligence and Problem-Solving in Design with Zorana Pringle
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What role do emotions play in creativity, and how can emotional intelligence transform the way we innovate? In this episode of Matters of Experience, ...
Color is a Language with Laura Guido-Clark
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What if the colors around us could change the way we feel, think, and connect? In this episode of Matters of Experience, we dive into the transformati...
How Do We Decolonize Design? with Dori Tunstall
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Matters of Experience, we speak with Dr. Dori Tunstall, a visionary leader in the design world and the first Black female dean of a...
Small Museums, Big Impact with Alli Schell
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to lead and innovate in a small museum setting? In this episode of Matters of Experience, hosts Abigail Honor and Brenda Cowan sit d...
Universal Design in Cultural Institutions with Beth Redmond-Jones
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can museums and cultural institutions become more inclusive and welcoming for all visitors? Join us as we explore this vital question with Beth Re...
Science Meets Storytelling with Elisabeth Ramm
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week we discuss the fascinating debate on the role of immersive spaces in science museums with Elisabeth Ramm, an associate partner at ATELIER BR...
Taste, Touch, and Tech with Emilie Baltz
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Take a bite out of the world of multi-sensory design with Emilie Baltz, an immersive experience director known for her innovative approach to combinin...
The Muse in Museum
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Celebrating our 50th episode!Join us for a special milestone as we celebrate 50 episodes of Matters of Experience! Abby and Brenda dive into the heart...
Breakdowns and Breakthroughs with Eli Kuslansky
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest has a theory that you must have a breakdown before getting a breakthrough. Tune into this week’s episode to discover how Eli Kus...
Creating with Nature with Melissa McGill
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can art truly connect with a place and its community? Join Abby and Brenda on Matters of Experience as they dive into this question with artist Me...
What is an Experience? with Tim McNeil
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tim McNeil is a Professor of Design at the University of California Davis and Director/Chief Curator of the UC Davis Design Museum. He believes that e...
Creating an Audience-Centered Experience with Jamie Lawyer
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As museums evolve from traditional repositories of art and artifacts to dynamic spaces that reflect their visitors’ diverse voices and experiences, ...
Textiles and Technology with Nicole Yi Messier
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What do textiles and technology have in common? Independently, each medium can be used as a form of artistic expression. Together, they can combine to...
Being Successful While Balancing it All with Trent Oliver
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, discover the transformative power of mentorship, visitor-centered design, and innovative storytelling with Trent Oliver, the Principa...
The Transformative Power of Play with Anne Fullenkamp
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Remember the excitement of exploring new worlds as a child? What if you could step back into that sense of wonder and curiosity? Join us as we journey...
Flourishing through Museums in a Changing World with Dr. Kiersten F. Latham
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Matters of Experience, Abby and Brenda engage in a dynamic conversation with Dr. Kiersten F. Latham, co-author of Flourishing in Mu...
Museums of the Future with Sundar Raman
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest believes that the future is not for us to await, but rather to create, and that every idea exists for us to envision and then mani...
Evoking Emotional Responses with Ed Purver
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why accept the rules of reality when you can explore the power of possibility? How can immersive experiences invite people to embrace the present mome...
Hope and Healing with Jan Seidler Ramirez
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Matters of Experience, explore the intricacies of curating stories that breathe life into artifacts, revealing raw emotions and unt...
Demystifying AI with Chris Cooper
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
/imagine two podcast hosts, Abby and Brenda, speaking to a guest, Chris Cooper, at a recording studio in New York City about utilizing artificial inte...
How Might We Do It Better? with Bosco Hernandez
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are you curious to discover what an abundance mindset, JEDI meeting, or radical hospitality is? In this episode, we’ll talk about these topics and m...
Humor & Absurdity with Neil Mendoza
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Neil Mendoza is a leading figure in new media, experimental art, and technology who challenges preconceived notions and offers fresh perspectives on f...
Espionage and Engaging Exhibits with Kathryn Keane
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered how a museum turns the secret world of spies into an exciting experience? Join Abby and Brenda in a captivating conversation wi...
Breaking the Silos with Gretchen Coss
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Gretchen Coss is a passionate educator and industry luminary who has been a driving force in cultivating and supporting students and emerging professi...
Crafting Emotions in Experience Design
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dive into a rollercoaster of emotions with our latest podcast episode and join Abby and Brenda as they explore the fascinating interplay of emotions i...
Live at the Gilder Center
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Coming to you live from the American Museum of Natural History, Abby and Brenda provide their unique perspective on museum design as they explore the ...
The Climate Crisis is Simple with Tom Bowman
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s guest genuinely believes that solutions to the world’s most challenging problems, including climate change, are well within our reach....
Thinking in Moments with Victor Torregroza
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine being a kid again - that's what this week's guest, Victor Torregroza, challenges designers to do as they create experiences. Victor, the Event...
Event Strategy and Storytelling with Liz Nacron
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When people think of the event industry, they don’t necessarily think about them as designed experiences. However, industry events and trade shows p...
Special Episode: Live from the 2023 SEGD Conference
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Live from SEGD’s 50th Anniversary Conference in Washington, DC, join Abby and Brenda for a special episode that captures the essence of design excel...
Human-Centered Design with Andrea Hadley-Johnson
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This enlightening episode explores the intersection of art, design, empathy, and societal transformation with creative producer and curator Andrea Had...
Technology and the Human Experience with Brian Allen
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In a rapidly evolving technological landscape within designed experiences, where does the human element fit in? Join Abby and Brenda in a captivating ...
Cultivating Future Design and Industry Leaders with Cybelle Jones
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this inspiring episode, Abby and Brenda sit with the brilliant Cybelle Jones, CEO of the Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD), to explore...
Reclaiming Heritage Through Repatriation with Terry Snowball
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who truly owns historical objects? And what happens when Indigenous cultural artifacts are returned to their rightful communities? Join Abby and Brend...
Informal Learning and Instinctive Design with Ed Rodley
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Abby and Brenda invite Ed Rodley, an award-winning experience designer and co-founder of Experience Alchemists, to discuss the creati...
Multi-sensory Design, Psychology, and Perception with Ellen Lupton
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Emotion. Surprise. Beauty. These elements of sensation are what make design compelling in immersive experiences. This week’s guest is Ellen Lupton, ...
Unsung Heroes with Mike McCarthy
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Behind the scenes of every immersive experience, an unsung hero is translating the visions and ideas of designers into tangible realities. This week’...
Feelings aren't Facts with Joe Federbush
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Matters of Experience, we chat KPIs to ROIs in a way that won’t make you ZZZ. Metrics maestro, Joe Federbush, President & Chief Str...
Mob Museum Mentality with Jonathan Ullman
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Las Vegas, the Entertainment Capital of the World, known for its bright lights and big casinos, isn’t necessarily the city that comes to mind when y...
An American Immigrant and Migrant Experience with Annie Polland
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The American story is an immigrant story, and in the Lower East Side of New York City, the Tenement Museum provides a voice for immigrants who have of...
Data-Driven Designed Experiences with Cathy Sigmond
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder who museums and cultural organizations call to learn how to better connect with their audiences and visitors? It’s this week’s special...
The Object of it All
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do a pajama case and a horse’s head have in common? Nothing to most of us, but they are both objects with significant meaning to each of our ho...
The Art of Storytelling with Yan Vizinberg
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is a story? Do experiences have to tell a story? Does storytelling exist in museums? In this week’s episode, we’ll dissect what a story is an...
Empathy in Design with Elif Gokcigdem
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week's guest is Elif Gokcigdem, a leading voice in the field of empathy and the founding president of ONE, a non-profit organization dedicated to...
The Spectacular with Chris Wangro
08 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we explore the sensational and spectacular with one-time circus ringmaster, former Director of Special Events for the City of New York, and...
Museums & War with Jasminko Halilovic
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“It all started when I put online a simple question: What does childhood in war mean for you?” - Jasminko HalilovicIn a world affected by tension,...
Storytelling in Experience Design
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In experience design, the stories we tell must touch the visitor in a very personal way and help them connect with the world around them and inspire t...
Taming of the Wild Beast with Rob Cohen
28 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Business mogul Rob Cohen, Vice President and General Counsel of Display Supply & Lighting, Inc., switched lanes from being a lawyer to becoming an...
Art and Experience in the Metaverse with Raina Mehler
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As the Media Arts Director at Pace Gallery, Raina Mehler is devoted to exhibiting artists and interdisciplinary groups pioneering in the emerging fiel...
Reinventing the Retail Experience with Giovanni Zaccariello
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The way we consume is changing. It started with technology helping us buy whatever we want, wherever we are, with a simple click of a button. And it’...
Where's the Bathroom? with Alex Bitus
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Architect Alex Bitus believes that the bathroom is the most important room in a building. Can a lavatory really have the potential to be an indicator ...
Satisfaction as Ultimate Experience with John Falk
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Abby and Brenda talk with John Falk, social scientist, educator, and author, on the meaningfulness of museums, their role in our well...
Follow the Crowd with Joy Bailey-Bryant
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Joy Bailey-Bryant is the President of the U.S. office of Lord Cultural Resources. She joins Abby and Brenda to explore what DE&I means to cultural...
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Museums with Monica O. Montgomery
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Abby and Brenda discuss Monica O. Montgomery’s decades-long journey from unpaid intern to director of Community Engagement and Prog...
There's No I in Team
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Abby and Brenda shine a spotlight on the creative team: people, processes, war stories and success stories, as we explore the questio...
Behind the Glass with Sina Bahram
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly 2 billion people worldwide have a disability. So, how do we incorporate inclusive design and sustainable practices into our work to ensure we c...
Exhibition Versus Experience
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Abby and Brenda respond to the current influx of questions about the differences between what industries deem to be “exhibitions”...