Free Daily Podcast Summary
Design Talk (dot IE): Daily Summaries Delivered
by Allen Higgins
Design Talk. A podcast for learning about the business of technology design and management. Listen to stories, panels, interviews and discussions about technology and design in-the-wild: the good, the beautiful, and the useful. Whether you've got one big idea, you think of yourself as an organisation designer, product designer, creator, or entrepreneur. Each episode offers a take on how people design, strategise, organise, and develop technology. We want to dig into the essence of design, discover the backstory to technologies, and unpack the design attitude. We started this podcast for you, because you are interested in tinkering, in making, and how ideas become 'things', and because we are all, in some way, involved in designing.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 2 weeks ago52 min
0278 - Toward Responsible AI/ML with Dolores Romero Morales
Our first guest for this new seminar series is Dr Dolores Romero Morales (Copenhagen Business School) talking about an Operations Research approach aimed at making AI/ML based algorithmic results more transparent and therefore more responsible.AbstractState-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms have become ubiquitous across industries due to their high predictive performance. However, despite their widespread deployment, these models are often criticized for their lack of transparency and accountability. Their black-box nature obscures the reasoning behind decisions, limiting trust and hindering their integration into critical, data-driven decision-making processes. Moreover, algorithmic decisions can perpetuate or even amplify societal biases, leading to unfair and discriminatory outcomes. This concern is especially pressing in high-stakes domains such as healthcare, criminal justice, and credit scoring, where unfair model behavior can significantly impact individuals' lives.In this presentation, we show how Operations Research can play a central role in moving from accurate predictions to responsible data-driven decisions. In particular, we will illustrate how Operations Research can contribute to more responsible ML by enabling the training of models that balance predictive accuracy, transparency, and fairness.BioDolores Romero Morales is a Professor in Operations Research at Copenhagen Business School. Her areas of expertise include Data Science, Supply Chain Optimization and Revenue Management. In Data Science she investigates explainability/interpretability, fairness and visualization matters. In Supply Chain Optimization she works on environmental issues and robustness. In Revenue Management she works on large-scale network models. Her work has appeared in a variety of leading scholarly journals, including European Journal of Operational Research, Management Science, Mathematical Programming and Operations Research. Dolores has received research funding from the European Commission and national research councils. She has received various distinctions, such as the SEIO Medal for an outstanding contribution to the Operations Research discipline, and since January 2026, she is President-Elect of EURO - The Association of European Operational Research Societies.Dolores joined Copenhagen Business School in 2014. Prior to coming to Copenhagen Business School, she was a Full Professor at University of Oxford (2003-2014) and an Assistant Professor at Maastricht University (2000-2003). She has a BSc and an MSc in Mathematics from Universidad de Sevilla and a PhD in Operations Research from Erasmus University Rotterdam.AcknowledgementsMusic Title: First TakeArtist: Debajyoti Biswas and Michael O'NeillSource: mis.aup3License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0Cover Art Title: Near O’Reilly HallArtist: Photo credit: Allen Higgins. Used with permission.Source: Dolores_pod.pptxLicense: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0Podcast LicenseDesign Talk (dot IE) CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 The license can be viewed at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0By taking part, you give permission for your voice to be recorded, for the recording to be edited, and for it to be posted and published as a podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Jul 12, 202646 min
0276 - The 4Rs of Research with Pamela Abbott
In this episode I talk with Pamela Abbott from the University of Sheffield about a paper she coauthored with Salihu Dasuki and Andrea Jimenez and published by the Information Systems Journal in 2025. The paper is titled "The 4Rs: A collective reflexive methodology for realising critical self-transformation in ICT4D research practice." This part of the talk focuses upon being "in between", a concept she and her colleagues have developed to better understand the role and experience of being a researcher studying and developing complex infrastructure initiatives involving and impacting people from the Global South. I also ask Pamela what was the best research environment she has encountered thus far and what made it so good?Notes, extra questions, and further reading:Abbott, P. Y., Dasuki, S., & Jimenez, A. (2025). The 4Rs: A collective reflexive methodology for realising critical self-transformation in ICT4D research practice. Information Systems Journal, 35(3), 855–906. https://doi.org/10.1111/isj.12561Disclosure: this project benefited from seed-funding grant that Paul Dylan-Ennis and Allen Higgins received under the Research Culture Local Actions Initiatives and Measures (ReCLAIM) initiative at UCD and supported by the Wellcome Trust.AcknowledgementsMusic Title: Earl GreyArtist: Benjimanji (2016)Source: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Benjimanji/Benjimanji/01_Earl_Grey/License: CC-BY - an Attribution License.Cover Art Title: Selfie in the University ClubArtist: Allen HigginsSource: Pamela_pod.pptxLicense: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0Podcast LicenseDesign Talk (dot IE) CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 The license can be viewed at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0By taking part you give permission for your voice to be recorded, for the recording to be edited, and for it to be posted and published as a podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Jun 30, 202634 min
0275 - Talking about reading groups with Adam Kelly
In this episode I talk with Adam Kelly about ACADEMIC reading groups, which I think we’ll DISCOVER, are a whole lot different to book clubs.Adam is an Associate Professor of English in UCD’s School of English, Drama and Film.He has written books himself and published special editions and edited collections and proceedings, (which, for our audience, are books too), and written numerous journal articles, conference papers and reviews (publications that are a bit like books but shorter).OBVIOUSLY you know a thing or two about WRITING (we might talk about that in depth some time)…But, what about this other THING, READING, you must also be very good at it too?Have reading groups had much of an IMPACT on your academic intellectual DEVELOPMENT?We’re talking about READING groups. But when the group meets, you don’t sit around READING do you? Why don’t we call them TALKING groups? So, what is a reading group? What’s it good for? How does the thing you’re reading impact the way you organize the gathering? (monograph, selected chapters, collection of articles, scripts, interpreting artefacts like designs, cases)Must you decide all the readings in advance? (you invited members to offer readings, gave them agency, value of doing it this way?)Where does the audience come from? Relatedly, what about the angle of disciplinary versus inter-disciplinary? Room for both?Thoughts on pace? (weekly, fortnightly, monthly)Are deliverables or traces important? (artefacts like blogs, pods, websites). I know some people hope that each topic would be written up. Is that too much to expect?Reading group lifetime - what to do when they run out of steam?AcknowledgementsMusic Title: Menehune Dance Artist: James PantsSource: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/James_Pants/Bonus_Beat_Blast_2011/39_james_pants-menehune_dance/License: CC-BY. Creative Commons Attribution License. Cover Art Title: Meitheal Machnaimh 275Artist: Allen HigginsSource: AdamKelly_pod.pptxLicense: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0Podcast LicenseDesign Talk (dot IE) CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 The license can be viewed at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0By taking part you give permission for your voice to be recorded, for the recording to be edited, and for it to be posted and published as a podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- May 14, 20261h 28m
0274 - Techno-colonization with Simeon Vidolov and Stefan Klein
Professor Stefan Klein and Dr. Simeon Vidolov present their paper, "Techno-colonization of scholarly communication: A call to reclaim control". This paper contributes to wider research into how extractive publishing systems have colonized scholarly communication to gain not only infrastructural control but increasingly epistemic control as well. For far too long, big publishing companies have trapped academics in a vicious circle of parasitic business models employing monopolistic pricing and arbitrary gate-keeping where researchers provide the labour, only for corporate giants to end up owning the published element of scientific intellectual property (often publicly funded) and consequently, control the visibility of research outputs. These companies have moved beyond publishing; they are now providers of critical, AI and data-analytics enabled research infrastructures. They are reshaping scientific knowledge production, academic values and increasingly claim epistemic authority.That such a system can be used to publish research so critical of its inherent structure is both ironic and potentially positive. The authors call for each of us to reject the role of passive participant in our own exploitation. They conclude by calling for us to devise ways to dismantle these corporate infrastructures and reclaim the autonomy of the scientific community. Whether you are a student, a researcher, or a faculty member, join us to discuss how we can build a future for academia that prioritises collective knowledge over commercial surveillance.The underlying paper(s) are both Open Access, links below:· Vidolov, S., & Klein, S. (2026). Techno-colonization of scholarly communication: A call to reclaim control. Organization, Article 13505084261416192. https://doi.org/10.1177/13505084261416192· Ngwenyama, O., Klein, S., & Rowe, F. (2026). Platform Capture of Scientific Knowledge Production: Publishers’ Dominance, Generative AI and Subsumption of Academic Labor. European Journal of Information Systems (EJIS). https://doi.org/10.1080/0960085X.2026.2642660 BiographiesSimeon Vidolov is a Faculty Member in the J.E. Cairnes School of Business at the University of Galway. His research examines how digital technologies transform ways of working and organizing, with a focus on embodied and affective experiences. His work challenges dominant narratives of technological progress and interrogates the harmful and often normalized consequences of contemporary digital infrastructures for individuals, organizations, and society.Stefan Klein is Professor emeritus for Interorganizational Systems at the School of Business and Economics, University of Münster, Germany. His main research areas are information infrastructures, the transformation of work, risks of digitalization, and digital capitalism. He studies practices of technology use and organizational transformation from an individual to an industry level.The event was held on 6 May 2026 in University College Dublin, Ireland.AcknowledgementsMusic Title: StoryArtist: MeydänSource: https://bit.ly/2P5CSCvLicense: CC BYCover Art Title: Smurfit-ZartisArtist: Photo credit: Allen Higgins. Used with permission.Source: SimeonStefan-seminar.pptxLicense: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0Podcast LicenseDesign Talk (dot IE) CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 The license can be viewed at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0By taking part, you give permission for your voice to be recorded, for the recording to be edited, and for it to be posted and published as a podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- May 11, 202649 min
0273 - The Sanctuary Hypothesis by Jean-Fabrice Lebraty
CITO Seminar: The Sanctuary Hypothesis in Information Systems — Blockchain and AI as Strategic Havens for Non-Dominant OrganisationsGuest: Jean-Fabrice Lebraty Host: Donncha Kavanagh Recorded on Tuesday, September 23, 4:00 - 5:00pm in Q2.33 Lochlann Quinn School of Business, UCD Belfield Campus.Abstract This talk introduces a theory of dominant vs non-dominant organisations in digital ecosystems. Dominant actors shape standards, data flows, and platform rules; non-dominant actors operate under asymmetric dependency and limited control over technological stacks. I argue that, for the non-dominant, the core IS problem is not efficiency but survivability—the capacity to endure adverse, shifting, or hostile digital environments. Survivability requires a digital sanctuary: an infrastructure and set of practices that preserve critical informational assets beyond the reach of dominant gatekeepers. I then present two sanctuary technologies. First, blockchain, leveraging immutability, persistence, and verifiable anchoring to secure records and proofs against unilateral alteration. Second, AI via model-level embedding, where strategic data placement in training corpora and model fine-tunes creates durable informational traces and capabilities resilient to upstream platform changes. I conclude with design principles and governance implications for building and stewarding such sanctuaries. Keywords: digital sanctuary; survivability; blockchain; AI/model embedding BioJean-Fabrice LEBRATY is a Full Time Professor of Management Sciences at iaelyon School of Management (Jean Moulin University Lyon 3). He specialises in information systems management. His research focuses on decision-making in extreme contexts, crowdsourcing, social networks, and innovative technologies such as blockchain or AI. Since April 2023, he is in charge of the Magellan research laboratory, which comprises 80 researchers and 50 doctoral candidates.Notes:Jean-Fabrice Lebraty (at Jean Moulin University Lyon 3) https://iae.univ-lyon3.fr/lebraty-jean-fabriceA cross-pod release with CITO Conversations (on the web, Spotify or Apple Podcasts)AcknowledgementsMusic Title: Moody Break 01Artist: Allen HigginsSource: a-Wed10Oct2024License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Includes samples from Ableton Live by Ableton AG and by KORG Inc.Cover Art Title: Room Q233Photo credit: Allen Higgins.Source: Jean-Fabrice-seminar.pptxLicense: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0Podcast LicenseDesign Talk (dot IE) CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 The license can be viewed at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0By taking part, you give permission for your voice to be recorded, for the recording to be edited, and for it to be posted and published as a podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- May 11, 202647 min
0272 - Beyond Compliance with Liam Brady and Thomas Hamill
Hosted by Sean Lynch and Akshara Jonna. In this episode, the Design Thinking class talk with Liam Brady and Thomas Hamill from the UCD Estate Services team about the complexities of modern campus design, focusing on accessibility features that go "beyond compliance" and how these lessons are applied to the wider campus day-to-day.We take a look inside the design process for the new O’Connor Centre for Learning on UCD’s Belfield campus, from the preliminary brief to the final commissioning.· On to the subject for today, the new O’Connor Centre for Learning. Can you walk us through the story of this building ‘as a project’, the "Before, During, After"?· Would you say that buildings like the Moore Centre (where we are right now) and the O’Connor are high-tech buildings? In what way? How?· Going Beyond Part M: You’ve talked about how building regulations (Part M) provide a baseline for accessibility. How did you move from simple compliance to a design that truly fosters "belonging" for all users?· You mentioned a distinction between "features" and "design elements". How do we ensure accessibility is baked into the architecture rather than just bolted on as an afterthought?· Does user feedback from the wider campus influence the "Fixes" and "Audits" of new projects?· The Logistics of Mobility (MOB): From toilets and doors to steps and lighting - what are the small details that make the biggest difference in a student's daily experience?· In class we have heard that designers should focus on the "smile" (the U-shaped curve) rather than the "sad face" (the standard bell curve). In the context of the O’Connor Centre, how did you practically shift the team's focus toward the extremes of the population rather than just the "average" student?· The Paradox of Safety: A significant portion of your work involves "features we hope are never used," like fire refuge points, emergency intercoms, and smoke-filled space lighting. How can we ensure these features work, are intuitive and accessible during a high-stress emergency?· Curb cutouts and retrofitting the "Smile": It’s one thing to build the O’Connor Centre from scratch with these curves in mind, but how do you apply the "smile curve" logic to the "day-to-day" maintenance and "fixes" of older, more "complicated" UCD buildings?· Audit to Action: Can you talk about how "Audits" can be used as productive levers to rebalance our design focus?· Any questions from the audience?Thank you both for taking the time to talk with us today.Notes:UCD Estate Services project page - https://www.ucd.ie/estates/operations/ucdoconnorcentreforlearning/RKD profile page for the UCD O’Connor Centre for Learning - https://rkd.ie/work/ucd-centre-for-future-learning/From the Government of Ireland, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage - Building Regulations Part M: Access and Use requirementsOHAC - O’Herlihy Access Consultancy - https://www.accessconsultancy.ie AcknowledgementsMusic Title: StoryArtist: MeydänSource: https://bit.ly/2P5CSCvLicense: CC BY Cover Art Title: Teleport into O’ConnorArtist: Allen Higgins. Photos prompt merged with Gemini. Classroom in sharp focus overlaid into the O’Connor atrium space in bokeh effect.Source: TomLiam-seminar.pptxLicense: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0Podcast LicenseDesign Talk (dot IE) CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 The license can be viewed at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0By taking part, you give permission for your voice to be recorded, for the recording to be edited, and for it to be posted and published as a podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info
- Apr 24, 20261h 14m
0271 - Agentic Transformation with Killian and Albena
Welcome to Design Talk. In this episode Killian O'Connor and Albena Krasteva from Zartis were in to talk to Masters students at the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business. Killian and Albena presented a candid behind-the-scenes analysis of Zartis' initial struggles adopting AI within their own organisation. They went on to explain how their experience has led to insights that shape Zartis's AI deployment strategies and use cases for clients. Zartis is a technology services company headquartered in Cork, Ireland and is an official Anthropic partner, supporting organisations that are building with Claude and Claude Code.Notes:Zartis – https://www.zartis.comAnthropic – https://www.anthropic.comUCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business – https://www.smurfitschool.ieAcknowledgementsMusic Title: Calculated Awakening - "Genetic Algorithms Evolution," in the style of a Bytebeat, anchored by a base guitar.Artist: Allen Higgins Source: https://bit.ly/2QkBzvILicense: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Includes samples by KORG Inc. and Lyria 3 via Gemini.Cover Art Title: Smurfit-ZartisArtist: Allen Higgins. Photo credits: Yu Su, Denis Buleiko and Allen Higgins. Used with permission.Source: Zartis-seminar.pptxLicense: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0Podcast LicenseDesign Talk (dot IE) CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 The license can be viewed at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0By taking part, you give permission for your voice to be recorded, for the recording to be edited, and for it to be posted and published as a podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Feb 16, 20267 min
0270 - Creative Community with Maya Gaul
In this, our first episode on ‘research design’ and ‘research designing’ I talk with Maya Gaul and Dunk Murphy from the Creative Futures Academy at UCD. Maya is completing a BA in Creative & Cultural Industries. Her final year project combines research with performance. The subject is Creative Community; an exploration of Irish Arts organisations and how they produce ‘belonging’. Maya talked about her plan for the production - to include elements of documentary, performance and interaction culminating in an event that digs into what arts and inclusion means for practitioners and audience.Notes:The Creative Futures Academy - https://creativefuturesacademy.ieUCD’s BA Major In Creative & Cultural Industries - https://www.ucd.ie/artshumanities/newsandevents/ucdlaunchesnewbaincreativeculturalindustries/AcknowledgementsMusic Title: DeparturesArtist: PortrayalSource: https://bit.ly/2QkBzvILicense: CC BY 4.0Cover Art Title: In the Think LabArtist: Allen Higgins. Photo credits: Dunk Murphy. Used with permission.Source: MayaGaul.pptxLicense: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0Podcast LicenseDesign Talk (dot IE) CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 The license can be viewed at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0By taking part, you give permission for your voice to be recorded, for the recording to be edited, and for it to be posted and published as a podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get Design Talk (dot IE) summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
The iDesign Lab Podcast
Explores how intentional design in business, culture, and creativity shapes human behavior, industries, and the way we live.
Design Matters with Debbie Millman
Creative people discuss how they shape their lives and careers through design, art, and personal philosophy.
TED Tech
Experts examine how technology reshapes society, science, design, and business through TED Talks hosted by Sherrell Dorsey.
The Honest Designers Show
A candid look at building a successful creative career, covering client work, personal style, branding, and fulfillment in design.
UI Breakfast: UI/UX Design and Product Strategy
Discussions with UI/UX and product strategy experts on applying practical insights to design and SaaS businesses.
The Cal Newport Show
Explores strategies for thriving mentally and professionally in a world saturated with digital technology.
Thrive In Design
Thrive In Design
The Peterman Pod
Career stories from a former Instagram Staff engineer to help software developers grow.
Possible with Reid Hoffman
Explores optimistic, realistic futures through in-depth conversations with innovators in AI, science, health, and global affairs.
User Defenders – UX Design & Personal Growth
A podcast for UX designers focused on personal growth, purpose, and the human side of design to create deeper impact.
The Talk Show With John Gruber
Discusses Apple, technology, design, movies, and other topics in long-form digressions.
The Second Studio Design and Architecture Show
Architects discuss design, architecture, and everyday life with creative professionals in unscripted conversations.
About Design Talk (dot IE)
Design Talk. A podcast for learning about the business of technology design and management. Listen to stories, panels, interviews and discussions about technology and design in-the-wild: the good, the beautiful, and the useful. Whether you've got one big idea, you think of yourself as an organisation designer, product designer, creator, or entrepreneur. Each episode offers a take on how people design, strategise, organise, and develop technology. We want to dig into the essence of design, discover the backstory to technologies, and unpack the design attitude. We started this podcast for you, because you are interested in tinkering, in making, and how ideas become 'things', and because we are all, in some way, involved in designing.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Design Talk (dot IE) in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Design Talk (dot IE) daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Design Talk (dot IE) as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Design Talk (dot IE) podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Design Talk (dot IE) product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Allen Higgins.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Design Talk (dot IE) release new episodes?
Design Talk (dot IE) publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Design Talk (dot IE) cover?
Design Talk (dot IE) covers topics including Technology, Education, Business, Entrepreneurship. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Design Talk (dot IE) summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.