Join Gary Crossey as he kicks off 2026 with a deep dive into Better World With Design's new direction. This episode explores the decision to center marginalized voices through the Voices from the Margins series, examining why representation matters, how design shapes justice, and what it means to build with intentionality. Discover the year's content strategy, thematic focus areas, and the personal journey that led to this shift in purpose.

In this episode of Better World with Design, host Gary Crossey explores Sara Ahmed's groundbreaking work Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others. This dense but rewarding philosophical text challenges us to rethink how we orient ourselves in the world, and how people design spaces around normative assumptions.

Gary shares his honest experience wrestling with Ahmed's challenging ideas, from her insights into lesbian networks and queer women's experiences to her analysis of how heteronormativity functions as a spatial arrangement rather than just a sexual orientation.

Key Topics Covered:

• Understanding orientation as both spatial and sexual
• Designers make assumptions about whose bodies belong when designing spaces.
• The concept of "straightening devices" in design and systems
• Applications to disability studies, critical race theory, and trans studies
• Contemporary relevance to AI, algorithms, and digital spaces
• Climate crisis and ecological reorientation
• Design implications for creating more just and inclusive spaces

Whether you're a designer, architect, technologist, or anyone interested in creating more equitable systems and spaces, this episode offers essential frameworks for understanding how design choices become orientation devices that shape whose movements are easy and whose require constant navigation.

Join us for a fascinating deep dive into the life and legacy of Willem de Kooning, the Dutch-American painter who redefined Abstract Expressionism and broke all the rules. This episode explores his contradictions as an artist, the infamous $160 million art heist of his painting "Woman-Ochre," and the philosophical questions raised by his work during the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Discover the untold story of how a stolen masterpiece ended up in a bathroom in rural New Mexico, and what it all means for our understanding of art, possession, and creative genius.

🎧 Listen now on the Better World with Design podcast!

🌐 Visit our website for show notes, resources, and more: www.betterworldwithdesign.com

When a giant walls off his garden, winter settles in for good—until one small act of welcome changes everything. In this immersive reading of Oscar Wilde’s “The Selfish Giant,” you’ll hear gentle sound design, a faithful performance of the text, and a warm reflection on why this simple fairy tale still melts hearts today. We connect this story to our earlier Oscar Wilde episode, The Canterville Ghost, showing how Wilde pairs wit with compassion and why his work matters now more than ever.

Why Wilde? Born in Dublin and beloved for his dazzling language and humane insights, Wilde championed beauty, kindness, and the dignity of outsiders. That’s why I keep returning to him—and why I love this tale in particular: it’s a parable you can feel, where generosity opens the gate and spring follows.

If this story brings a bit of spring to your day, follow the show, share the episode with a friend, and queue up The Canterville Ghost next for Wilde’s humor and heart in full glow.

In this episode of Better World with Design, host Gary Crossey takes you on an in-depth journey through Porridge Radio's 2024 album "Clouds in the Sky They Will Always Be There for Me." This isn't your typical music review—it's an honest, unvarnished conversation about what makes this record work, where it falls short, and why emotional authenticity matters more than sonic innovation.

We explore Dana Margolin's raw vocal performances, the album's refusal to romanticize mental health struggles, and its treatment of recovery as ongoing work rather than a triumphant destination. From the isolation captured in "Anybody" to the vulnerable peak of "Wednesday," we examine how Porridge Radio documents depression and the choice to move forward with uncomfortable honesty.

This episode is for listeners who value emotional directness in their indie rock, who want to hear difficult feelings articulated without euphemism, and who appreciate art that refuses to lie about how hard it is to be human. Whether you're already a fan or discovering Porridge Radio for the first time, this deep dive offers fresh perspective on contemporary indie rock's relationship with mental health, vulnerability, and the messy work of choosing to love life again.

Rating: 7.5/10 - A solid, emotionally honest record that succeeds through directness and commitment to feeling, even when the sonic palette feels overly familiar.

In this episode, Gary Crossey examines Norman Ohler's "Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich," which reveals the widespread drug use in Nazi Germany during World War II. The book explores how methamphetamine, cocaine, and opioids were used by soldiers, leaders, and civilians to fuel the German war machine. Particular attention is given to the transformation of substances from "miracle medicines" to dangerous drugs, and the troubling parallels with modern pharmaceutical and enhancement cultures.

This episode of "Better World with Design" examines Bruce Goldfarb's "18 Tiny Deaths" and reveals how Frances Glessner Lee's innovative dioramas revolutionized crime scene investigation. We explore how her unique approach combined craft skills with scientific methodology to transform an entire field, creating lasting impact through thoughtful design interventions.

Join Gary Crossey for a complete reading of Oscar Wilde's beloved supernatural comedy "The Canterville Ghost." This episode features:

• Opening Commentary - Personal reflections on discovering Wilde's works along Florida railway tracks and connections to Northern Ireland
• Complete Reading - The full unabridged text of "The Canterville Ghost"
• Closing Thoughts - Analysis of Wilde's brilliant blend of humor, heart, and cultural satire

First published in 1887, "The Canterville Ghost" tells the story of an American family who moves into a haunted English country house. When the pragmatic Americans refuse to be frightened by the centuries-old ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville finds himself increasingly frustrated by their modern attitudes and practical solutions to his supernatural antics. What begins as a witty satire on American and British culture evolves into a moving tale of redemption through love and courage.

This reading captures both the comedic elements and the deeper themes of forgiveness and cultural understanding that make Wilde's story timeless. Whether you're a longtime fan of Wilde or discovering his work for the first time, this complete audio experience brings "The Canterville Ghost" vividly to life.

Listen time: Approximately 90 minutes

Content note: Suitable for all audiences, contains mild supernatural themes.