The Crazy One
The Crazy One is an award-winning podcast for creatives, leaders, and anyone who refuses to settle. Hosted by renowned designer and global design leader Stephen Gates, this show delivers unfiltered honesty, actionable insights, and hard-won wisdom to help you grow your creativity, lead with confidence, and build a meaningful career.
With over two decades leading world-class design teams at companies like InVision, Citi, Starwood Hotels, WW, and McCann Erickson, Stephen has built brands and digital experiences for clients including Disney, American Airlines, W Hotels, Verizon, Acura, and more — work that’s earned over 150 international awards and has been featured by Apple in 10 keynotes, 4 commercials, and the Human Interface Guidelines.
Now as the founder of CRZY, an independent strategy and design studio, he’s helping companies find bold new visions for their brands, experiences, and creative futures. Through The Crazy One, he shares everything he’s learned along the way — from integrating behavioral science with human-centered design to navigating imposter syndrome to building a career and creative life on your own terms.
With over 100 episodes and a loyal global audience, The Crazy One has been named:
• Webby Award Honoree for Best Technology Podcast
• #1 Podcast by Inside Design, HOW Design Live, and Springboard
• 5-star rated across every iTunes Store worldwide
This is more than a design podcast. It’s a wake-up call. A masterclass. A real-talk guide for finding your voice, owning your crazy, and changing the game.
No BS. No buzzwords. Just real insights from someone who’s been there.
- Update frequency
- every 17 days
- Average duration
- 39 minutes
- Episodes
- 147
- Years Active
- 2016 - 2025
Ep 46 Leadership: Why people quit and what you can do about it
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates dives into the unique challenges of leading creative teams and why people often quit bosses, not jobs. Learn what drives creatives to leave, how leader…
Ep 45 Leadership: Become a better leader with the 10/80/10 ratio
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates explores the art of leading a creative team by finding the ideal balance between giving your team creative freedom and maintaining your own influence a…
Ep 44 Your career: Luck has nothing to do with success or creativity
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates debunks the myth that success is about luck, revealing the real factors that create opportunities and drive achievement. Dive into what people actually…
Ep 43 Creativity: Understanding and breaking through creative slumps
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates tackles the challenge of creative slumps—those frustrating times when ideas seem out of reach, and inspiration feels lost. Discover the different types…
Ep 42 Design: How to design a great mobile app
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates uncovers common pitfalls teams face when designing apps and shares invaluable lessons from his extensive experience in creating successful iOS and Andr…
Ep 41 Emotional intelligence: Understanding and embracing insecurity
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates delves into the complex emotions that shape the creative process, focusing on the impact of insecurity and frustration on your success. Discover the va…
Ep 40 In-house design: Who owns creativity: In-house or agency teams?
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates explores the evolving landscape of creative collaboration as in-house teams experience significant growth, altering the dynamics between companies and …
Ep 39 Mentoring: How to find or become a mentor
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates dives into the essential art of mentorship—exploring how to find a mentor, become an effective one, and foster a successful mentor-mentee relationship.…
Ep 38 Teamwork: Building stronger relationships with your clients (even the difficult ones)
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates delves into the crucial relationship between creatives and their clients, emphasizing the importance of trust in the creative process. Learn how to est…
Ep 37 Creativity: How to stop executive interference in your creative process
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates addresses a common hurdle in the creative process: when executives propose ideas without fully grasping the underlying problems. Explore the frequent s…
Ep 36 Listener questions: When do you ask for a raise, making remote teams work and valuing creative talent
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates tackles listener questions on key career advancement topics. Discover the optimal timing for requesting a raise or promotion, learn effective negotiati…
Ep 35 Methodologies: Design Thinking P3 - Implementation phase and how build it into your culture
In this episode of The Crazy One, the final installment of our three-part series on Design Thinking, Stephen Gates dives into the crucial phase of implementation. Discover how to transform insights a…
Ep 34 Methodologies: Design Thinking P2 - Ideation phase
In the second episode of our three-part crash course on Design Thinking, Stephen Gates guides you through the exciting transition from insights to innovation. Learn how to effectively brainstorm idea…
Ep 33 Methodologies: Design Thinking P1 - Overview and Inspiration phase
In the first episode of our three-part series on Design Thinking, Stephen Gates shares key insights from his journey as an IDEO-certified Design Thinking trainer. Get ready for an engaging overview o…
Ep 32 Creativity: How to see opportunities and insights before anyone else
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates emphasizes the importance of recognizing change as a catalyst for disruptive ideas in our ever-evolving world. Discover invaluable lessons in non-tradi…
Ep 31 Listener questions: Setting your salary and showing the value of an in-house team
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates addresses pressing listener questions about navigating salary negotiations and demonstrating the value of an in-house creative team. Learn effective st…
Ep 30 In-house design: How to fix broken and dysfunctional in-house creative teams
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates explores the paradox of today’s business landscape: while companies crave creativity more than ever, many internal creative teams lack the empowerment …
Ep 29 Speaking: How to become a great public speaker
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates dives into the art of public speaking, highlighting the key differences between presenting to your team and captivating an audience of strangers. Drawi…
Ep 28 Career: The 6 most important lessons I've learned in my career
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates reflects on his journey through the highs and lows of his career, sharing invaluable lessons learned along the way. With the aim of helping you avoid c…
Ep 27 Emotional intelligence: The relationship between happiness and creativity
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates poses a thought-provoking question: “Do you know what you need to be happy?” Surprisingly, many struggle to find an answer. Join Stephen as he explores…