NeoConversations

In a special NeoCon edition episode of Barriers to Entry on the NeoConversations feed, hosts Bobby and Andrew are joined by tech and design leader Chris Barton, founder of the renowned music app Shazam and one of this year's keynote speakers at NeoCon. The trio dives into insights, stories, and observations from Chris’s impressive career in tech, which includes founding Shazam “in the 1900s” nearly a decade before the App Store existed, followed by roles at pre-IPO Google and Dropbox.

Alongside a series of fascinating anecdotes and a few teasers (not spoilers!) for Chris’s Wednesday keynote, they also explore thoughts on the future of AI and education, the challenges of designing a user-first experience when no comparable product exists, and how that initial spark of an idea evolves over time.

This season of NeoConversations is sponsored by Material Bank, Pallas Textiles, and Turf.

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What does it take to bring bold ideas to life at one of the design world’s biggest stages? Faraz Shah, Brand Director at Turf, takes us on a creative journey from sparks of inspiration to the final showroom reveal at NeoCon 2025. Along the way, he chats with Rob Perri, President of Turf and VP at Armstrong, about the magic (and madness) behind the scenes. But first, he kicks things off with Rob Schulte, Senior Producer at the SURROUND Podcast Network, to dive into why NeoCon isn’t just a trade show, it’s where design dreams take center stage.

This season of NeoConversations is sponsored by Material Bank, Pallas Textiles, and Turf.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Enjoy Sense of Space by Turf now available on all podcast platforms.

An architect and designer are on a journey to help their community understand the nuances of designing for the built environment. Join Ella Hazard and Faraz Shah through questions and conversations while they explore all the stuff we interact with as designers, architects, and people.

Please enjoy the following episode: What are the elements of a vibe?

Is “vibe” something we can curate, or is it best when it occurs organically? Faraz and Ella unpack some SAT words to describe how our bodies respond to spaces and ways to design for all senses. By better understanding ourselves and our senses, can we learn how to integrate this approach into the creation of a “vibe”?

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What did we learn during NeoCon 2024? In the final episode of this year’s NeoConversations series, SURROUND producer Hannah Viti turns the tables on this year’s host, inviting Rajagopal to share his top takeaways from NeoCon—and what they mean for the future of interior design. You'll also hear from Gia Kieu, the winner of SnapCab's Be You Pod Design Contest. You don’t want to miss this recap episode.

NeoConversations is produced by the SURROUND Podcast Network in partnership with Turf. This episode was recorded in the NeoCon Podcast Studio, Powered by SURROUND and Sponsored by SnapCab.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How can we create a better future through inclusive design? In his episode of NeoConversations, host, and editor-in-chief of METROPOLIS Avi Rajagopal sits down with design powerhouses and speakers at this year’s NeoCon—Cheryl Durst, executive vice president and CEO of IIDA, and Jason Pugh, principal design manager and global director of diversity equity and inclusion at Gensler—to discuss the importance of diverse perspectives in interior design. Listen as Durst and Pugh share their journeys to their various leadership roles, the values and methods at the core of their work, the missed opportunities for diversity they see in the design professions, and the concepts and ideas they are most excited about today.

NeoConversations is produced by the SURROUND Podcast Network in partnership with Turf. This episode was recorded in the NeoCon Podcast Studio, Powered by SURROUND and Sponsored by SnapCab.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How can we engage touch, smell, sound, and sight for more meaningful design? In this episode, host and editor-in-chief of METROPOLIS Avi Rajagopal sits down with Faraz Shah, senior manager of brand marketing and communications for Turf; Ella Hazard, managing director of Arktura Ventures; and Carolyn Noble, principal and director of design at Ames Design Collective, to discuss the power of our senses in Interior design. Listen as Shah, Hazard, and Noble share their thoughts on the importance of a more holistic sensory approach to design, breakthrough research and innovations in the area, the relationship between sensory design and wellness, and more. You’ll also hear a very special announcement about an upcoming podcast in the works! 

NeoConversations is produced by the SURROUND Podcast Network in partnership with Turf. This episode was recorded in the NeoCon Podcast Studio, Powered by SURROUND and Sponsored by SnapCab.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The former president of Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob Weis, knows a thing or two about narratives and design. In the kick-off episode of this year’s NeoConversations series, host and editor-in-chief of METROPOLIS, Avi Rajagopal, sits down with Weis, one of this year’s NeoCon keynote speakers, to discuss the power of storytelling in interiors. Currently the global entertainment leader at Gensler, Weis has a truly bird’s-eye perspective on cities, spaces, and experiences. Listen as he and Rajagopal discuss the big opportunities for storytelling in the built environment, how architects and designers can leverage storytelling in their creative process, and how we can make our buildings, communities, and cities vibrant again.

NeoConversations is produced by the SURROUND Podcast Network in partnership with Turf. This episode was recorded in the NeoCon Podcast Studio, Powered by SURROUND and Sponsored by SnapCab.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.