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 26 Creativity: Have better ideas with better insights and a creative palette
In this exciting continuation of Episode 1, “Lightbulbs are Bullsh*t,” Stephen Gates takes you deeper into your creative journey. This episode focuses on enhancing your creative palette—an essential …
Ep 25 Design: What are Atomic Design Systems and why are they the future?
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates delves into the fascinating world of Atomic Design, a powerful mental model that enables us to view user interfaces as both a unified whole and a colle…
Ep 24 Methodologies: How to make agile methodologies work with your design process
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates tackles the challenge of integrating design with agile methodologies. While agile excels in iterative processes, it often falls short when it comes to …
Ep 23 Conference talk: My talk with Scott Morrison at the 2016 Fifteen Seconds Festival
In this episode of The Crazy One, we revisit an insightful conversation with Scott Morrison, the former head of marketing at iconic brands like Levi’s, Activision, and Diesel. Recorded live at the Fi…
Ep 22 Teamwork: 5 Ways to build rapport with your clients
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates dives into the essential art of building rapport with clients—an absolute necessity for fostering trust and ensuring your ideas come to life. Discover …
Ep 21 Conference talk: 'Success is a choice' from Adobe MAX 2016
In this episode of The Crazy One, we revisit my sold-out session from Adobe MAX 2016, titled “Success is a Choice.” Join me as I guide you through the essential steps to cultivate a culture that nurt…
Ep 20 Creativity: Insights from chef Thomas Keller on creativity and culture
In this captivating episode of The Crazy One, I share insights from an unforgettable dinner with two titans of their industries: luxury retail developer Ken Himmel, known for iconic projects like Hud…
Ep 19 Design: The 4 trends that will define the future of UI / UX design
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates tackles the challenge of creating standout digital experiences in an ever-evolving technological landscape. Discover the four emerging trends that can …
Ep 18 Creativity: 7 rules for running a better brainstorm
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates addresses a common challenge teams face: making brainstorming sessions truly effective. Why do so many of these sessions end up feeling like a waste of…
Ep 17 Hiring: How do you find and hire better creatives?!?
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates dives into the critical process of finding and hiring top talent for your team. With competition for skilled professionals at an all-time high, what sh…
Ep 16 In-house design: The secrets to becoming a successful in-house designer
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates delves into the unique challenges faced by in-house design teams, from navigating office politics and tight budgets to earning the respect they deserve…
Ep 15 Creativity: Insights from my conversation with Ferran Adria, the world’s greatest chef
In this captivating episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates takes you inside the creative genius of Ferran Adrià, often hailed as the world’s greatest chef for his groundbreaking work at ElBulli, the…
Ep 14 Public speaking: Understanding your audience, the aftermath and keeping it sold
In this insightful episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates continues the journey from episodes 12 and 13, diving deeper into the art of presenting your work to clients effectively. Discover proven st…
Ep 13 Public speaking: Building, setting up and giving a great presentation
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates builds on the foundational skills covered in Episode 12, taking your public speaking to the next level by focusing on crafting powerful presentations. …
Ep 12 Public speaking: Understanding your presentation style and becoming a better storyteller
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates delves into the art of selling your ideas and making them shine. Great ideas deserve to be seen, but they only come to life if you can effectively pres…
Ep 11 Design: Innovative fashion, technology and shoes that might change everything
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates dives into the fascinating world of trendspotting as a catalyst for innovation. Discover how identifying emerging trends at the crossroads of fashion a…
Ep 10 Creativity: How to build a product or creative strategy
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates delves into the crucial role of strategy in the creative process. Discover the eight essential questions that every creative leader must answer to lay …
Ep 9 Hiring: The biggest design portfolio opportunities, secrets and mistakes
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates unveils the secrets to crafting an attention-grabbing design portfolio that will help you land your dream job. Drawing from his extensive experience in…
Ep 8 Hiring: The lost art of the job interview
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates dives deep into the world of job interviews, addressing the frustrating lack of feedback that often follows a rejection. If you’ve ever wondered why yo…
Ep 7 Career: How to build your personal brand ecosystem
In this episode of The Crazy One, Stephen Gates takes you on a journey to transform your unique brand identity into a vibrant and cohesive personal brand ecosystem. Once you’ve identified what sets y…