He says it like it is. I’ve learned a lot from his podcast!

Stephen’s podcasts are a great source of inspiration and guidance for me as a designer. He covers a wide range of topics that are relevant and helpful for my career. I especially love his episodes on how to articulate design for business stakeholders. His presentation style is clear and engaging, and he always provides useful tips and examples. Thank you, Stephen, for sharing your knowledge and experience with us! You are the best!

I used to listen to this show when I commuted everyday. Tuned in after a long while and BOOM once again the episode spoke to me authentically in a timely manner. I enjoy listening to this podcast. It can apply to anyone—creative or not. Every episode has something you can take away and include in your work routine. Steven—thank you for producing this podcast.

Thank you Stephen Gates for such inspiring, empowering and tough love design and creativity advice.

As a career changer enrolled in a UX & UI bootcamp I’m inundated with learning resources (which is a good thing). This is the most helpful resource I’ve found when it comes to understanding how to navigate the career transition and what it looks like to work in the design industry. Stephen consistently delivers honest, insightful, helpful and specific advice based on experience from working at top levels in the design industry, all in a conversational tone.

I’m so blown away by this guy. I found his Podcast during my research on creative leadership since I’ll be transitioning into a new journey in my career. His Podcasts are thought provoking and makes you really think about how we create, why we create, issues we face as creatives both in the workplace and with clients, etc. One of my favorite episodes is when he talked about his father who has shaped him into being the creative director he is today. This episode is heart wrenching and you feel his pain but also experience his gratitude of the relationship that he has with his father. I encourage anyone to follow this Podcast whether you’re in business, a creative designer of all levels, etc.

I get something useful in every single episode.

What a great podcast that is helping to mentor designers. Everyone’s job description tells them what to do, none tell them how to do it. Stephen provides that initial how if you have no idea where else to look. A great resource that draws from a wide variety of source material to make design accessible and understandable.

Stephen puts his heart, soul, experience, and network into this program. I appreciate how much effort goes into each episode.

Episode 119 is full of logical, actionable pointers on how to facilitate great meetings/workshops. Plus the show notes are an added bonus. Thank you, Stephen!

Love Stephen’s advice and insight of a life spent in this industry. The changes over the years need to be addressed and he is doing just that. It’s almost as if he’s a fly on the wall at every place I’ve worked. Maybe because this isn’t just a design thing, but a human thing. And as designers, we want to capitalize on and improve upon that human experience as a whole. It’s a big task but listen to him and your time will be well spent. He’s insightful, and he’s also saying things that are true (and honestly, that’s rare these days). He’s saying the things that are difficult to hear and that require introspection. Not many others out there verbalizing that level of truth, so his insight is even that much more powerful.

Great content, fun to listen to the remote team activities episode.

So glad I stumbled upon this podcast — hope there will be more episodes soon! @schulmanArt host of The Inspiration Place podcast

Thank you for sharing your amazing insights on the creative process and how it can be applied in the business world. This podcast should be mandatory for all designers and creatives in school and in the field. Keep up the great work it really is inspiring. P.S. - this is the first review I have ever written. Thanks again, Dean

Stephen is awesome at exploring the multiple avenues of creativity! I appreciate his approach and the genuineness he brings forward in each episode.

Stephen is refreshingly honest and open in all his discussions on design. Whenever he talks about working in the field, discusses career progression for designers or anything else for that matter, he brings tremendous value, gives actionable advice and tells you things straight - he REALLY helps - not just rambles about this theory or that theory like so many. I’m grateful that he spends his time doing this for the design community and that I found this podcast - I’m learning so much!! Thank you Stephen!

I’ve found this podcast really helpful in reframing professional challenges, inspiring me to make a change, and also a source of ideas and perspectives that I wouldn’t have thought of myself. It’s really a great resource and I highly recommend it to any person connected to the field.

This podcast is an open and honest conversation about how to navigate the creative industry. Stephen shares his wealth of knowledge and experience to help anyone wanting to advance their career or feeling stuck in a rut. Many times I've felt discouraged and frustrated with my career. Listening to this podcast always helps me come up with concrete steps I can take to make my career what I want it to be. Thank you for this podcast!

This podcast is exactly what I've needed to overcome my career challenges, and reorient myself. A special thanks to David Gates for passing his wisdom on to Stephen. I owe the both of you a debt of gratitude.

Thank you for the relevant and worthwhile information you continue to provide. This show is a must follow if you are a creative person trying to navigate your career.

With so many different ways to express design and creativity it’s not often you find a voice that is inspiring, actionable, and easy for everyone to understand. Aside from sharing a wealth of knowledge as a true designer and leader, Stephen captivates with stories that deliver fascinating insight, relatable advice and raw authenticity on creativity and life.

Thank you for all you do, Stephen!

This podcast is highly relevant if you do anything with your days and want to be more effective or satisfied. Some of the subjects Stephen discusses seem to come out of left field to me, and I’m often left thinking about his words later in the week. Not just empty words though, I feel like I’m more thoughtful about what drives my career and happiness.

This is a long over due review. It’s hard to think of another podcast/book/anything that has been more influential on my career than the “crazy one podcast”. My first listen was the personal brand from Adobe Max and after that, this podcast become my “bible”. I’m super thankful for all it’s done it showed me the light, that it was ok to be myself and not only ok it was actually advantageous. Today I know who I am and what I can bring to the table regardless of never having a “proper” education. It’s been long due ( being listening and kinda of a big fan for almost 3 years now ) so Thank you and pleaaaase keep up the amazing work you’ve helped so many people including myself and many other I have recommended the podcast and many still thank me for introducing them to the “crazy one”

I listen to a ton of podcasts and I never write reviews, probably because I’m lazy. However, this podcast has changed my life for the better. Stephen’s tough love approach is refreshing and relatable. There’s no other way to say it but thanks for doing this Stephen. You are an inspiration.

Stephen is an awesome host and speaks candidly on human centered design thinking. I love how humble he is and have learned a lot about design leadership. He is very charismatic and truly envisions a better world where designed as a proponent for transformation 🔥

I’ve been listening to this podcast for a few months now and I have to say that hands down it’s the most interesting and engaging “non-interview style” podcast I’ve listened to. Stephen’s thoughts and insights are grounded in research, fact and just thoughtful lived experiences. Even though I’m not in the design world, I find this to be a deeply interesting show and because he covers a range of real life topics, I find every episode to be of value. It doesn’t hurt that he’s so giving and does so without ego. I’m telling a bunch of folks about this podcast and will continue to be a faithful listener. Bravo!

Stephen Gates is the definition of servant leader. Not only does he have incredible insight but he freely shares that with the design community at large and asks for nothing in return. This is what leadership looks like folks. Thank you Stephen, for you countless and selfless contributions to the design community. You’re the man!

This podcast has inspired me to take a serious look at how I’m branding and positioning myself to get the kind of work I want.

This is a practical, meaningful podcast that addresses all aspects of being a designer, not just the output. Stephen is thoughtful and honest - and the topics he addresses are always incredibly relevant because they are drawn from real experience.

The Crazy One podcast is my favorite design podcast! It’s therapy, education, and straight up mentorship all in one. I listen to episodes more than once, there is so much take away from each one. A small example of what I’ve gotten through listening: Validity while struggling with expectations from company leadership. Hope while suffering from burn out and imposter syndrome. Incredible insight to the experience I don’t yet have. And creative actionable steps while navigating the design-life.

Just great genuine advice. Highly recommend. Thanks Stephen.

But seriously, I find this podcast very insightful, Mr Gates always delivers intelligent and thought provoking content backed by experience. Love “The Crazy one” podcast. Keep up the great work.

This great podcast helps to build a strategy on how to grow as a designer, leader, professional; build personal brand, be an effective collaborator, be creative. Go go Stephen! Thank you!

I want to take a moment and thanks to Stephen for the passion and profession he put on this podcast. I listened to episode 61 and it led me to subscribe and keep listening. Thank you, Stephen. I can’t thanks enough someone with experience and understanding of the field like you who shares whatever he learned with others.

Growing up in Africa, it’s easy to be boxed in a circle of thoughts, but after I discovered podcasts and also as a creative, I have found Stephen Gate’s to be very articulative and precise with his thoughts about all range of creative topics. Thank you Stephen, you have no idea how inspiring your content is for me.

Thought-provoking content that is a must-listen for any creatives; particularly in-house designers.

I learnt more about creativity and the design process from Stephen than what I learnt in art school. Every time I approached Stephen with questions or asked for his feedback he took the time to look into it and replied with a long answer. He is brilliant but down to earth and human, which makes it easier to learn from him and relate to him. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us.

Pure gold! Discovering Stephen’s podcast has been therapeutic and enlightening. Not only does he cover the frustrations most of feel in our jobs or roles, he then provides ways to start digging yourself out. Haven’t felt this energetic to make a difference in a long time. Please keep the shows coming!!

Every episode is like a warm hug for creatives! It's a boost of confidence, reassurance that you're not alone, and reminder to keep pushing forward. Thank you for being honest and taking time to share your thoughts!

When it comes to creativity, innovation and design, I’m the outsider. Always wanting to dance and play in this world, except I lacked the raw talent, education and vocabulary. I’ve rediscovered my crazy. Every episode gives me the courage to tap into my creativity as a professional and human. Thank you Stephen for sharing your experience and advice here. Truly, life-changing.

Long time listener but the episode that put me over the top to leave a review was Gates’ dissection of trust being the key differentiator in creative teams. He breaks down what’s truly needed for teams to trust each other and how it’s the only real factor that leads to breakthrough teams and breakthrough work. It’s a great snackable or bingeable podcast for anyone in creativity. Highly recommended 5/5.

I love podcasts that provide relative insights into other peoples careers in the creative industry. Stephen provides many of those nuggets of information that I tend to look for.

Stephen is a straight-shooter who provides the honest truth of what it takes to be a real success. I appreciate how dedicated he is to helping people through his own experience. The only reason I didn’t give him 5 stars is that all the episodes are solo-casts. I’d love to see him getting into great discussions with guests on some of these topics. It would feel more dynamic to me with that added dimension of some occasional guests bringing some more depth to these topics with their viewpoint.

This isn’t a podcast for only designers and creatives. It’s a great podcast for anyone who wants to develop as a better leader and human being. So glad I stumbled across this!

This podcast has been the extra nudge I’ve needed and the voice that puts everything in perspective. Thank you for all of your time and energy spreading these important messages!

I was a person who absolutely hated podcasts. Until I was on a long drive and was like what the heck, why not. I tuned into Stephen Gates on the Business of Design Design of Business and became HOOKED. After learning that he had his own podcast, I kept looking. This podcast now has me hooked on podcasts. The Crazy1 is full of insights for anyone who wants to be a better person, a better designer, a better thinker... overall a better person. Within the two episodes I’ve listened to so far, I’ve already been able to implement change in myself and really think about how I do things, then lead my work team in that same direction. It was actually a hidden surprise... I finally feel like I’m getting the professional growth that none of my superiors really are able to give me; Thanks so much, Stephen.

Thanks so much for sharing all of your amazing insights on the podcast! I would love to hear a podcast focused on "successfully working with and communicating with people in stressful situations". Tips and tricks for being heard and understood, handling fallout from negative interactions and strategies for how to effectively communicate with difficult people or in stressful situations.

The Crazy One podcast is so packed with great information and insights, you can't just listen once. Give it a listen in your car, then get to wherever you do your creative work, play it again, and get ready to take action. Listen to learn how to do things right, not how to make things easy. Success takes hard work!

I just discovered Stephen's podcast and it's amazing. Some of the most value I've ever gotten out of a single podcast. The podcast notes are invaluable, too. Thanks Stephen. Please keep going and stay crazy!