Podcast
Life of an Architect
Hosted by Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins · EN
A gifted storyteller communicating the role and value of architecture to a new audience, host Bob Borson uses the experiences acquired over a 25-year career to inform his podcast. A small firm owner, architect, and college design instructor, co-host Andrew Hawkins brings his insight from his 20 years in various roles within the profession. It responds to the public curiosity and common misunderstanding about what architects do and how it is relevant to people’s lives, engaging a wide demographic of people in a meaningful way without requiring an understanding of the jargon or knowledge of the history of the profession. With a creative mix of humor and practicality, Borson’s stories are informative, engaging, and approachable, using first-person narratives and anecdotes that have introduced transparency into what it really means to be a practicing architect. To learn more about Bob, Andrew, and what life is like as an architect, please visit Lifeofanarchitect.com
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep 204: Character Development Revisited
6d ago01:00:11Tap to summarizeIn episode 204, “Character Development - Revisited,” we go back to the beginning and revisit the very first Life of an Architect podcast episode. Episode 001 was mostly an introduction: who we were, why the podcast existed, and what we thought it might become. At the time, the website had grown beyond the casual creative outlet it was intended to be, and the podcast seemed like a way to return to the original idea - talking honestly about architecture, practice, and the profession in a more immediate way. More than 200 episodes later, that first conversation feels different. The show has changed, the co-host dynamic has changed, and we have changed. What started as an experiment has become a long-running record of how our thinking has evolved over time. In this episode, we talk about what the podcast was trying to do at the beginning, what Andrew thought the show was before he joined, what changed once the conversation became the two of us, and what we misunderstood about podcasting, audience, editing, preparation, rhythm, and chemistry. We also look at why the podcast still feels worth recording after all this time. The title still fits, probably better now than it did then. Character is not established in the introduction. It gets revealed through the work.
Transcribe →Ep 203: Ten Museums to Visit Before You Die
3w ago01:01:41Tap to summarizeEpisode 203 explores ten museums worth seeing not for the collections alone, but for the buildings themselves. From quiet rooms shaped by light to dramatic structures carved from old industrial spaces, this episode looks at museums where architecture changes the way we move, look, and remember the visit.
Transcribe →Ep 202: From Practice to Professor
May 3100:55:44Tap to summarizeSo you are thinking about teaching architecture. You’ve got some years of experience under your belt and you want to share your knowledge with the next generation. Or you’ve always felt a calling to teach the next generation of the profession? Maybe you just want to try something different and it seems like an easy transition? Well today Bob and I are breaking this topic wide open and revealing some of the elements involved in going from working in a firm to teaching in academia.
Transcribe →Ep 201: The Middle of Middle Management
May 1701:04:26Tap to summarizeMiddle management is not usually the part of a career anyone dreams about, which is probably fair since most dreams do not involve inheriting more responsibility while time and authority stand nearby pretending they were not invited. Still, there is something important that happens in that space if you are paying attention. You start to see how decisions move through a firm, how unclear expectations become someone else’s burden, and how much leadership depends on remembering what pressure felt like before you had the ability to pass it along.
Transcribe →Ep 200: Hate to Love You
May 301:06:22Tap to summarizeEp 200: Hate to Love You looks back at favorite episodes, hard lessons, great guests, and the conversations that made this podcast worth your time from day one.
Transcribe →Episode 199: Conflict Resolution
Apr 1901:05:40Tap to summarizeEp 199: Conflict Resolution explores how architects manage tension, stay useful under pressure, and move hard conversations toward better outcomes.
Transcribe →Ep 198: The Creative Process
Apr 501:00:25Tap to summarizeEp 198: The Creative Process | Why creativity in architecture depends on process, judgment, and knowing which ideas are worth pursuing
Transcribe →Episode 197: The Knowledge Gap
Mar 2201:01:04Tap to summarizeEp197: The Knowledge Gap: As veteran architects retire, the profession risks losing hard-won knowledge, mentorship, and judgment no handbook can replace.
Transcribe →Ep 196: Do Architects Retire
Mar 800:58:45Tap to summarizeEp 196: Do Architects Retire explores why architects work longer, what comes next, identity shifts, and how money choices that shape retirement options.
Transcribe →Ep 195: Designing Your Own House
Feb 2201:03:36Tap to summarizeDesigning Your Own House explores why architects hesitate to design their own homes: pressure, endless choices, ego vs livability, money, and what it reveals.
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