Archispeak Episode #350 - "Coffee, Hurricanes, and Leadership" (Nov 4, 2024)

Hosts: Evan Troxel & Cormac Phalen
Main Theme:
An insightful, freewheeling conversation on the realities of practicing architecture, blending stories about professional development, weathering literal and figurative storms (hurricanes and leadership transition), personal connections, and the unique flavor of Florida.

Overview

This landmark 350th episode marks a reflective and humorous dialogue between long-time hosts Evan and Cormac. The discussion ranges from lighthearted podcast milestones and inside jokes (like the saga of “Coffee Boy”) to deeply personal stories about hurricane experiences, family, and the unpredictable path of leadership in architecture. Along the way, listeners are treated to fresh perspectives on professional growth, mentorship, and rare glimpses into the hosts’ personal lives—including Evan’s first trip to Florida, hurricane aftermaths, and the quirks of rural living.

Key Discussion Points

1. Podcast Milestone & Coffee Boy Mythos (00:08–03:41)

• Celebrating 350 Episodes:
  The hosts open with self-deprecating humor about their "stealth mode" podcasting and the sizable back catalog.

• Unboxing Segment:
  A playful unboxing of coffee sent by Kurt from the Coffee Sketch podcast, arriving 50 episodes after it was promised.

• “Coffee Boy” to Kurt:
  Running inside joke about Cormac referring to Kurt as "Coffee Boy" until he earns his name on the Archispeak airwaves.

  Quote:
  "The only reason Coffee showed up at my house was so that we would stop calling Kurt Coffee Boy." — Evan (02:25)

2. Continuing Education (CEU) Excess (03:58–05:20)

• Cormac's Impressive Numbers:
  Cormac shares his ongoing accumulation of CEUs, now exceeding 70 (well above required thresholds).

• Anecdote:
  Attending a seminar on "innovative storage solutions for higher education"—proving that “what’s new” often just means “new to you.”

  Quote:
  "If you've never used them before, they're innovative to you. That's most building products." — Evan (05:09)

3. Hurricane Stories & Personal Impact (05:20–14:02)

• Living Through Storms:
  Cormac recounts hurricanes while growing up in St. Petersburg, FL (four hurricanes in six weeks), and recent storms affecting family.

• Resilience and Architecture:
  Architecture’s role in disaster resilience—how Florida’s building codes were transformed post-Andrew.

• The Stress of Remote Concern:
  The tension of watching loved ones weather storms from afar; stories about water levels rising, family homes, and the emotional toll.

  Quote:
  "Some people actually want to pay attention to these hurricanes and make sure that people are okay..." — Cormac (08:53)

4. Acoustics Leadership Retreat: Florida, Unconferences & the Burden of Leadership (14:11–34:35)

• Evan’s First Visit to Florida:
  Immediate impressions (humidity, wildlife, and everything feeling “a certain state of disrepair”) and attending the AEC Acoustics Leadership Retreat.

• Contrast With Traditional Conferences:
  The “unconference” ethos: no flashy tech, focus on quiet reflection and deep conversations, only 16 participants, and nature-centric venue.

• Exploring Leadership:
  The struggle architects face when transitioning from technical to leadership roles—letting go of creative control, becoming a mentor, and cultivating teams.

• Nature of Leadership:
  Leadership vs. management, positive leadership, vulnerability, and the importance of learning from mistakes.

  Quotes:

  • "The AEC Acoustics event is very much...a conference about the conversations after the presentations rather than having presentations." — Evan (16:44)
  • “Leader is not a title. Leader is, it’s a skillset.” — Evan (24:39)
  • "You can lead from any position... It's 360 degree leadership." — Evan (25:46)
  • "Leadership is positive steps forward in this undefinable thing." — Cormac (26:28)
  • "Through my studies of leadership... It's not a position that people actually want. It is actually referred to as the burden of leadership." — Evan (28:54)

5. Leadership Lessons and Mentorship in Practice (21:00–34:35)

• Reluctance & Realization:
  Both hosts share their own hesitations, struggles, and realizations about the evolving nature of their roles.

• Mentoring the Next Generation:
  The importance of creating environments where emerging architects can learn and thrive, and the tension between drawing and leading.

  Quotes:

  • “...one of the things that I thrive in is educating, mentoring… Well, that’s kind of like the first step in leadership, right?” — Cormac (22:14)
  • "A lot of times, you're doing the things, and nobody has officially ordained you as such." — Evan (25:45)
  • "If you were failed by your leaders, they're not leaders. They're bad managers." — Cormac (27:07)

6. Florida Wildlife, Gators, and Gumbo Culture (34:35–48:34)

• Evan’s Wildlife Encounters:
  First-hand tales of seeing gators, Spanish moss, spring-fed lakes, learning to e-foil (electric hydrofoil surfboard), and the rustic beauty of rural Florida.

• The Florida Room & Regional Weirdness:
  Debating the odd concept of a "Florida room" and quirky habits of locals; the “gumbo” blend of northern and southern cultures in the state.

• Gator Safety:
  Advice on not “shining” lights into swamps (it attracts gators), and adventures (or near-misadventures) in the Florida wilderness.

  Quotes:

  • "My only traffic was when there were gators in the middle of the road, sunning themselves and cars couldn’t get by." — Cormac (36:35)
  • “Florida is pretty much a human gumbo.” — Cormac (48:19)
  • “I’d go to the Everglades. Although the next time you go, we should go together and camp in Big Cypress.” — Cormac (49:28)

7. Reflections & Recommendations (48:34–end)

• Unplugging and Real Connection:
  The value of disconnecting from tech, making space for real conversation and introspection while surrounded by nature.

• Conference Recommendation:
  Evan highly recommends the Acoustics Leadership Retreat to anyone contemplating the journey from technical expert to leader.

  Quote:
  "Well, it was a cool place to unplug and to detox and have some real talk." — Evan (48:34)

Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On Podcasting Milestones & Coffee:
  “This was his hope all along. The only reason Coffee showed up at my house was so that we would stop calling Kurt Coffee Boy.” — Evan (02:25)
• On Continuing Education:
  “It’s in the mid-60s...” — Cormac (04:28)
• On Hurricane Damage & Home:
  “Family with six feet of water damage in their house…” — Cormac (06:41)
• On Building Codes:
  “The Florida building code as it stands now came out of…Hurricane Andrew.” — Cormac (12:47)
• Leadership Is Not a Title:
  “Leader is not a title. Leader is, it’s a skillset.” — Evan (24:39)
• Burden of Leadership:
  “It is actually referred to as the burden of leadership. It’s a very difficult thing.” — Evan (28:54)
• Hesitation Toward Management:
  “Doesn’t sound appealing to me.” — Cormac (21:19)
• On Rural Florida:
  “Everything is in a certain state of disrepair… and that wasn’t because of a hurricane.” — Evan (38:51)
• Gators as Traffic:
  “My only traffic was when there were gators in the middle of the road, sunning themselves.” — Cormac (36:35)
• On Florida’s Cultural Mix:
  “Florida is pretty much a human gumbo.” — Cormac (48:19)
• On Unplugged Conferences:
  “It was a cool place to unplug and to detox and have some real talk.” — Evan (48:34)

Important Timestamps

• 00:08 – Episode open, 350th milestone, Coffee Boy/Kurt running gag
• 03:58 – Continuing Education Units updates and industry seminars
• 06:04–10:31 – Cormac’s hurricane experiences and personal impact
• 14:11–16:44 – Evan’s first Florida visit and the concept of an “unconference”
• 19:45–26:44 – Transition from technical expert to leadership: internal challenges, expectations, reluctance
• 27:07–32:54 – Defining “leadership,” positive/negative leadership, and mentorship
• 34:35–41:02 – E-foiling, wildlife stories, and impressions of rural Florida
• 48:34–49:43 – Takeaways from the retreat, unplugged deep talks, and a final recommendation

In Summary

Episode 350 is both an homage to architectural practice—with all its stress, satisfaction, and surprises—and a warm meditation on growth, connection, and letting go. Through humor, vulnerability, and vivid storytelling, Evan and Cormac explore what it really means to weather storms (literal and metaphorical), why leadership is as much about teaching as it is about titles, and how sometimes, for an architect, it's not about the building, but about the people and stories inside. Highly recommended listening for architects, leaders, and anyone navigating the changing seasons of creative work.