In this episode, I will present "The Bowler Hat", a quietly powerful story set in Belfast during the Troubles. When a young man buys a bowler hat from a second-hand shop, he embarks on an unexpected journey through a divided city. Neither protest nor performance, his daily walks in the hat become something else entirely: a small, stubborn act of bridging.

Through precise, poetic prose, this story captures the careful grammar of a place where kerbs keep their colors and streets answer to two names. It's about the weight of symbols, the courage of small gestures, and what it means to wear history on your head while trying to write a different future.

A meditation on identity, belonging, and the quiet spaces between communities, "The Bowler Hat" asks: what happens when you refuse to stay on your side of the line?

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!

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Welcome back to Better World with Design. I'm Gary Crossey, and this is perhaps the hardest story I've shared in this Northern Irish short story series.

"The Living Room Violence" recounts a brutal night in the 80s Belfast, marked by flying eggs, sleeplessness, and a child's realization that normalcy inflicted lasting harm.

I drew this story from journal entries I kept during my early years in Belfast. Every detail—the brown curtains, the eggs, the 1:45 AM phone call—happened exactly as described. These are fictional narratives in form, but rooted in the emotional truth of those recorded moments.

This episode includes a direct message for anyone currently living with domestic violence: no one deserves violence in their home. The show notes also include resources and support information.

Part of a 15-story collection exploring themes of family dysfunction, survival, and the weight of growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Thank you for listening and thank you for witnessing this story with me.

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.

Join Gary Crossey for a deep dive into Truman Capote's luminous autobiographical story, "A Christmas Memory." This episode explores far more than fruitcakes and friendship—it's a journey into a vanished America, examining Southern hospitality, the lingering effects of Prohibition in 1930s Alabama, and the profound loss of trust that separates our modern world from Capote's childhood.

Discover how Prohibition shaped the story's context, why homemade fruitcakes were once treasured gifts but would be met with suspicion today, and what we've sacrificed in the name of safety and regulation. Through Capote's beautiful, heartbreaking narrative, we examine themes of marginalization, ritual, generosity, and the radical hospitality that once made simple acts of baking an expression of love rather than a legal liability.

This episode invites reflection on what rituals we might reclaim, what strangers we might befriend, and how we might restore authentic connection in our increasingly isolated, hyper-regulated world.

In "The Unclaimed Sum," the fifth story in The Belfasters series, Ciarán navigates the emotional complexity of saying goodbye to Elder, a departing missionary whose church obligation has defined relationship with him rather than a genuine connection. When confusion arises over a forty-pound debt—neither can remember who loaned money to whom—the unresolved sum becomes a metaphor for the impermanence and transactional nature of missionary relationships. This story, set against the backdrop of Belfast's Europa Hotel, which survived repeated bombings during the Troubles, explores the structural loneliness of faith communities built on temporary bonds, the exhaustion of performing belief while privately doubting, and honestly acknowledges that some goodbyes cannot be neatly resolved. The forty pounds left unclaimed on a hotel table represents not carelessness, but the only truthful ending to a relationship that was always designed to be temporary.

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.