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Two Designers Walk Into a Bar

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar

A podcast about iconic design and popular culture.

Evergreen Podcasts · Todd Coats and Elliot Strunk

150 episodesEN

Show overview

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar has been publishing since 2020, and across the 6 years since has built a catalogue of 150 episodes, alongside 27 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 95 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence, with the show now in its 13th season.

Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 33 min and 47 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Arts show.

The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed yesterday, with 20 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2024, with 34 episodes published. Published by Todd Coats and Elliot Strunk.

Episodes
150
Running
2020–2026 · 6y
Median length
41 min
Cadence
Fortnightly

From the publisher

Pop culture inspires some serious fun. Join hosts Todd Coats and Elliot Strunk, two creatively curious pals living between the bookends of grand museums and dive bars, the sweet spot where highbrow and lowbrow become drinking buddies. They talk influential work and uncover stories of how the familiar became iconic. Think Behind the Music for the stuff we love. ----- Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/ for images, links, episode extras and more. ----- Two Designers Walk Into a Bar is part of the Evergreen Podcasts network.

Latest Episodes

View all 150 episodes

Episode 143: Comfort Food Personalities - Chef Boyardee and Orville Redenbacher

Oct 7, 202644 min

Episode 142: Comfort Food Personalities - Bob Evans and Nathan Handwerker

Sep 23, 202643 min

Episode 141: Greetings from Two Designers - Postcards for Ham Radio and Our Nation's Landmarks

Sep 9, 202657 min

Episode 140: Dogs Playing Poker, Ernest P. Worrell and Pitchmen Going Pop (Classic Episode)

Aug 26, 202632 min

Episode 138: The Origin Story of Psychedelia (Classic Episode)

Aug 12, 202633 min

Episode 138: Signs of the Times - Barber Poles and Pawn Broker Balls

Jul 29, 202647 min

Episode 137: Pop Culture Products - Wonka Bars and Duff Beer

Jul 15, 202646 min

Episode 136: KISS, The Bicentennial and the Year 1976 (Classic Episode)

Jul 1, 202642 min

Episode 135: Cult Products - TaB Soda and McDonald's Fried Apple Pie

Jun 17, 202644 min

Episode 134: Iconic Pop Culture Cars (Classic Episode)

Jun 3, 202647 min

Episode 133: Visual Alphabets - Nautical Flags and American Sign Language

May 20, 202652 min

Episode 132: Game Show Logos for The Gong Show and the Dating Game (Classic Episode)

Apr 29, 20261h 5m

Episode 131: Fabric Patterns and the Stories Behind Camouflage and Paisley

Apr 15, 202652 min

S13 Ep 130Episode 130: Cups, Plates and Trophy Design

With March Madness wrapping-up and spring break calling, we’re revisiting one of our classic episodes. If you wander into any school, bar or thrift store, you're bound to see a collection of trophies. Have you ever wondered why they often look like cups, plates and other objects you wouldn't think about grabbing after a robust game of tennis or an intense hockey match? We did, and we’ve got a couple of amazing examples we’re talking about today: Wimbledon's Venus Rosewater Dish for women's tennis and The Stanley Cup for men's hockey. We’re digging into the curious history of why some of the biggest wins come with even stranger hardware. It’s time to grab a couple flutes of champagne to help us toast our latest episode, right here in the bar. - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more! https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episode-130-trophy-design-classic - - - - - Mentioned in this episode: Wimbledon's Venus Rosewater Dish The Stanley Cup - - - - - Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess. - - - - - Visit our merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 1, 202635 min

S13 Ep 129Episode 129: Punk Meets Tech and New Wave is Born (Classic)

We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes. Bold colors. Funky haircuts. The Cold War and the Cola Wars. Video games and MTV. Japanese electronics and European fashion. Iconic music and movies... If New Wave was a style and attitude, then music was the delivery device. In this episode we discuss the political climate, creative activity and DIY attitudes that led to the formation and rise of one of pop culture’s signature eras. So place your order for a couple of 'Synth Wave cocktails, because we’ve got new haircuts and we're gonna be poppin' and lockin' back here in the bar. - - - - - Mentioned in this episode: “New Wave Graphics Are the Most Influential Designs You’ve Probably Ignored” https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/why-new-wave-graphics-are-the-most-influential-designs-youve-probably-ignored/ “The History and Bands of New Wave Music” https://www.masterclass.com/articles/new-wave-music-guide “Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die: Punk Graphic Design” and “Reversing Into the Future: New Wave Graphic Design” https://www.emmanuelgallery.org/punk-and-new-wave “My Frame is True: New Wave Posters - in Pictures” https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2021/oct/02/punk-and-new-wave-posters-reversing-into-the-future-in-pictures Reversing Into the Future, a book from Andrew Krivine https://www.printmag.com/daily-heller/the-daily-heller-and-the-beast-goes-on/ - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more! https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-129-punk-meets-tech - - - - - Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess. - - - - - Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/merch to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon [ https://patreon.com/twodesignerswalkintoabar?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink ] for subscriber-only extras. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 18, 202640 min

S13 Ep 128Episode 128: Homage Designs - A Poster for Swatch and an Orgy for Disney

Everyone says that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But if that were true, copyright law wouldn’t need to exist. We’re discussing a couple of items that could be called homages…or could be called unfair (or even unauthorized) use (but we’ll leave that up to you): a Swatch poster from the ‘80s and The Disneyland Memorial Orgy from the '60s, two projects with colorful artwork and equally colorful backstories. So place your order for a Rainbow Paradise, because we’re drawing unwanted attention once again here in the bar. - - - - - Mentioned in this episode: Paula Scher Swatch The Disneyland Memorial Orgy The Realist Paul Krassner Wally Wood - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more! https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-128-homage-designs - - - - - Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess. - - - - - Visit our Merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 4, 202649 min

S13 Ep 127Episode 127: Psychedelia Comes Down, Hangs Around and Gets Reinvented

For one last time, we’re delving into the depths of our expanded minds to talk about the impact of psychedelia on popular culture. We may have been at the bar a bit too long getting our minds…expanded. We have a lot to talk about today as we discuss what happened with psychedelia after The Summer of Love and Woodstock. (Spoiler alert: Nothing like going mainstream to kill a counterculture style.) So help us out by grabbing a couple of Flaming Unicorns as we come back down to earth, right here in the bar. - - - - - Mentioned in this episode: Psychedelic Era Psychedelic Fashion John Alcorn Roger Dean McDonald’s TV Commercial Kai’s Power Tools - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more! https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-127-psychedelia-part-3 - - - - - Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess. - - - - - Visit our merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 18, 202633 min

S13 Ep 126Episode 126: The 1960s and the Era of Peak Psychedelia

In our last episode we talked about the origins of psychedelia and learned about Bicycle Day celebrated every April. (Hint: it involved a lot of science and experimentation along with maybe a little bit of balance.) Today we dive into the era of peak psychedelia: the mid ‘60s. We talk about the design and music inspired by this—ahem—experimentation and how that informed pop culture for a generation. So, ask the bartender for some Magic Mushroom cocktails and join us as we trip our way back into the bar. - - - - - Mentioned in this episode: Psychedelia Human Be-In Wes Wilson Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely Robert Crumb Rick Griffin Victor Moscoso Alton Kelley Stanley Mouse - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more! https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-126-psychedelia-part-2 - - - - - Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess. - - - - - Visit our Merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 4, 202633 min

S13 Ep 125Episode 125: The Origin Story of Psychedelia

Today we’re taking a trip through the looking glass. We’re kicking off our series on psychedelia with its origins, the impact on a generation of pop culture and its lasting effects. Psychedelia’s origins are messy, fascinating, and full of odd little historical crosscurrents. We discuss science, bicycle rides and the first official album of psychedelic music. So, ask the bartender for a couple of Psychedelic Frogs—and to see if they can stop the walls from dripping rainbow colors—as we chase the white rabbit through the window and back into the bar. - - - - - Mentioned in this episode: Psychedelia Albert Hofmann Aldous Huxley Timothy Leary Ken Kesey The 13th Floor Elevators - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more! https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/episodes/episode-125-psychedelia-part-1 - - - - - Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess. - - - - - Visit our Merch page to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on Patreon for subscriber-only extras. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 21, 202633 min

S12 Ep 124Episode 124: Talking Food Mascots with Kirk + Kurtts (Classic)

We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes. What do Betty Crocker, Charlie Tuna, Tony the Tiger and the oddball characters from Off Limits Cereal have in common? Along with fellow creatives Kirk Visola and Andy Kurtts of the “Kirk and Kurtts” design podcast, they were all our drinking buddies one evening! We chewed the fat with Kirk and Andy about some classic characters and their impact on pop culture (and snacking), and why these same techniques invented decades ago still work today. Order a Bedrock Fizz for yourself (and maybe a few for all of us). It’s time to join four designers back in the bar. - - - - - ⁠Watch the full conversation⁠ on our YouTube channel and ⁠visit our full episode page⁠ for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and more! - - - - - Mentioned in this episode: ⁠Betty Crocker⁠ ⁠Charlie the Tuna⁠ ⁠Tony the Tiger⁠ ⁠Off Limits Cereal⁠ ⁠Aura Bora Water⁠ - - - - - Have a question or idea for Todd and Elliot? Send a note to [email protected] and we promise to read it. After that it’s anyone’s guess. - - - - - Visit ⁠our merch page⁠ to have a look at stuff we’ve made for listeners just like you and support us on ⁠Patreon⁠ for subscriber-only extras. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 7, 202632 min
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