Design Untangled

Chris Mears and Carla Lindarte set out to cut through the jargon-filled world of UX design, and across 70 episodes they largely succeeded. Mears is a Director at UXr and Lindarte works at Google, so between them they bring perspectives from both the consultancy and big tech sides of the design world. The show's tagline, "a UX design podcast in plain English," isn't just marketing. They genuinely make an effort to explain concepts without hiding behind buzzwords. The format alternates between co-hosted discussion episodes and interviews with design leaders from across the industry. The conversational dynamic between Mears and Lindarte is the show's biggest strength. They're clearly friends who enjoy debating design topics, and their back-and-forth has a natural humor that makes even dry subjects like UX contracting or design system governance feel engaging. When they disagree, it's productive rather than performative. The podcast ran from 2017 to 2022, so the archive is finite. That's actually a plus if you're looking for a complete series you can work through rather than an endless backlog. Topics cover the practical realities of working as a designer: freelancing vs. in-house, managing stakeholders, dealing with imposter syndrome, building a portfolio, and navigating career transitions. They also featured conversations with designers at companies like Starling Bank, bringing in real-world case studies. The fortnightly release schedule gave each episode room to breathe. If you want honest, jargon-free UX discussion from two people who genuinely enjoy each other's company, this is a rewarding listen from start to finish.