How To Start A Podcast
Work With Us
FeaturesPricingLog InSign Up

The bCast Blog

‍How to build a profitable podcast.

Best Podcasts

The 15 Best Human-Centred Design Podcasts For Innovators

Design With Empathy: Best Human-Centred Design Podcasts

Oliver Bugarin
July 3, 2025

Learn how design leaders build products, services, and systems rooted in empathy, usability, and real human needs.

Design With Empathy: The 15 Best Human-Centred Design Podcasts For Innovators

Let's go!

1. The Art of Designing with Intention with Michelle Carr

What if workplace design could transform both company culture and employee well-being? In this episode of Space by Stansons, host Guy Stanley sits down with Michelle Carr, Creative Director at Habit Action, to explore the need for a shift in workspace design - from the purely aesthetic to being deeply human-centred. Michelle shines a light on the most memorable projects from her 26-year journey - Sky TV and Atlas CopCo to name a few, the pivotal moments that challenged her personal philosophies as a designer and the power of strong personal relationships in being a better designer. Tune in to discover how intentionality can change the way we work - in design and in reality.

Check out their latest episode here:

Subscribe here:

  • Fame
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • YouTube

2. Transforming Workplaces Design and Strategy with Monika Passey

In this episode of Space by Stansons, host Guy Stanley sits down with Monika Passey, Design and Strategy Director at Oktra, a leading workplace design and build company dedicated to crafting exceptional spaces that empower people to thrive. Monika shares her journey from architecture to workplace design, discusses her groundbreaking projects, and explains the importance of aligning workplace strategy with business goals. She also highlights how Oktra’s new Evolve team integrates real estate and workplace strategy to deliver transformational client outcomes. Monika’s journey is packed with insights on leadership, workplace culture, and the transformative power of aligning design and strategy to create meaningful impact.

Check out their latest episodes here:

Subscribe here:

  • Fame
  • ‍Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

3. Space by Stansons

Welcome to Space by Stansons. Listen to raw, thought-provoking conversations with key players in the interiors industry, as we challenge conventional thinking towards aesthetics and sustainability. Most importantly our objective is to inspire designers to think holistically, creating spaces where people of today and the future, truly flourish.

Check out their latest episode here:

Subscribe here:

  • Fame
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

4. How Port Moody Turns Employee Feedback Into Real Culture Change - with Marta Taylor

Welcome to a brand new episode of Voice Activated: Tuning Employee Insights At Work. Our host Sean Fitzpatrick is joined by Marta Taylor, Manager of Strategic Initiatives at the City of Port Moody, to explore successful employee feedback programs in municipal organizations and how to turn survey results into actionable improvements. Marta shares how a small city launched a ground-up cultural transformation using employee voice as the catalyst. From candid focus groups to executive-level engagement, Marta walks us through a practical, replicable model that puts staff feedback at the center of organizational change.

Check here for their latest episode:

Subscribe here:

  • Fame‍
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • YouTube

5. Voice Activated: Tuning Employee Insights At Work

Great leadership starts with truly listening to your people. Join Sean Fitzpatrick, founder and CEO of TalentMap, to hear insights and strategies that can help you do just that. In each episode of Voice Activated: Tuning Employee Insights At Work, we’ll dive into real stories of how leaders have transformed their employee experience. Explore topics like: innovative ways to build leadership skills by focusing how to ask the right questions of your people, learning how to listen and understand what they are really saying and, most importantly, strategies to involve them in change you want to make.

Check here for their latest episode:

Subscribe here:

  • Fame‍
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • YouTube

6. The Happiness Quotient: Giving Employees Opportunities to Craft Their Own Work Wellbeing Journeys

Author of Career Self-Care Minda Zetlin joins us this week to explain how organizations and their employees can double down on genuine wellbeing for all by refocusing on what matters most and stepping back from toxic competitive tendencies. Minda’s approach centers the principles of hard work while forcing us to reconsider platitudes like work-life balance, pursuing one’s passion, and even the nature of hard work itself.

Check out their latest episodes here:

Subscribe here:

  • ‍Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

7. Talk Time with MaxContact

Welcome to Talk Time with MaxContact, the podcast where we talk about the latest contact center and customer experience industry news and insights. Join us as we welcome industry experts, discuss actionable strategies you can apply to your business and help professionals like you on your path to long term career progression and success.

Check out their latest episodes here:

Subscribe here:

  • ‍Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

8. Let's Talk About CEX! The Customer and Employee Experience

All Audacious, Outrageous, and Legendary Customer Experience (CX) begins with the Employee Experience (EX). Maxine Shapiro and her guests will reveal why and how this process is relevant and a highly effective way to approach your Customer or Guest Experience as well as your culture and mission. Maxine’s passion and expertise for Audacious and Authentic CX and EX came from her years as a financial commentator on NPR’s “Marketplace” and hosting of two financial radio shows and 20 years of speaking, facilitating, and coaching on Collaborcate! Collaborate, Communicate and Create ResultsExecs of businesses from all sectors, from hospitality to retail to B2B, will share the ups and downs in their quest to be Legendary. These organizations realized how they treated their employees directly influenced how the customer and guests were cared for. She’ll go into every nook and cranny. This is an exhilarating journey for all involved, and we want you to be inspired to discover your own Audacious and Legendary CX. Whether you’re already reaping the benefits of this paradigm or you know you need to, this podcast will fire your imagination! Click Subscribe now – your customers will be glad you did.

Check out their latest episodes here:

Subscribe here:

  • ‍Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

9. Workplace Stories by RedThread Research

At RedThread, we love our data, but we know that what you remember is stories. So we spend time listening to thinkers, writers, leaders, and practitioners as they tell their stories about what works in the workplace, what they’ve learned, and what they hope to see in the future. We hope you find it inspirational, motivational, and a touch irreverent.

Check out their latest episodes here:

Subscribe here:

  • ‍Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

10. Relationships at Work - The Leadership Guide to Creating a Workplace We Love

Relationships at Work - the leadership guide to creating a workplace we love.

A relatable and honest show on leadership development, focusing on improving  employee engagement and company culture to entice people to apply, stay and thrive. Because no one wants a toxic environment at work, nor should they.Host and communications leader Russel Lolacher discusses the workplace topics that matter with global experts in their fields to help with the success of our organizations (regardless of industry). This show will give you the information, education, strategies and tips you need to better connect with all levels of your organization. From leadership training to employee satisfaction to diversity, inclusivity, equity and belonging to engagement... there are so many aspects to building great relationships at work and preventing a toxic environment at work.This is THE place to start your journey and create an amazing workplace.

Check out their latest episodes here:

Subscribe here:

  • ‍Apple Podcasts

11. Workplace Innovator Podcast | Enhancing Your Employee Experience | Facility Management | CRE | Digital Workplace Technology

The Workplace Innovator Podcast, hosted by speaker, entrepreneur and answer-man Mike Petrusky, offers real-world insights from top facility management & workplace leaders on how to use tech, talent and tenacity to create the best workplaces on earth. Powered by iOFFICE, the #1 employee experience IWMS platform, The Workplace Innovator helps corporate real estate, facility management, IT, and HR leaders design incredible “friction-free” workplace experiences that fuel employee productivity, tech innovation and optimal space utilization, today, and tomorrow. Tune in now!

Check out their latest episodes here:

Subscribe here:

  • ‍Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

12. The Employee Experience in Education Podcast

Educators stay in organizations when they feel heard, supported, and valued. In this podcast, you will learn how educational leaders prevent teacher burnout, improve the employee experience, and keep more teachers in their classrooms.

Check out their latest episodes here:

Subscribe here:

  • ‍Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

13. Engaging People Podcast

Engaging People Podcast by DecisionWise is the premiere business, organizational change, and human resources podcast on the web. Listen to real life case studies and interviews with organizational change and human resources experts. Listen as they share best practices on how to increase employee engagement, how to give feedback, practical advice on how to be a leader, how to develop a thriving company culture, tips on management and team building, and real life business stories from years of practical work experience.

Check out their latest episodes here:

Subscribe here:

  • ‍Apple Podcasts

14. Digital Workplace Deep Dive

Interviews with the leaders influencing the future of the digital workplace

Check out their latest episodes here:

Subscribe here:

  • ‍Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

15. The DEX Show: A Show for IT Change Makers

The DEX Show (Digital Employee Experience): A Show for IT Change Makers is dedicated to IT professionals looking to advance the industry by leaps and bounds. IT is changing—you know it, and so do we—and without a healthy dose of curiosity about how the future of IT will affect employee experience of entire companies, traditional workers will be left behind.

If you see IT as more than the basement-dwelling, plumber cliche it’s so often portrayed as, this is the podcast for you.

Each episode will feature topics such as digital employee experience, IT infrastructure, end user experience management (EUEM), IT analytics, virtualization, the future of work, and more.

Check out their latest episodes here:

Subscribe here:

  • ‍Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

That's it...

The 15 Best Human-Centred Design Podcasts For Innovators

Information Tips: How to Get the Most from These Podcasts

  1. Listen for case studies: Real-world examples of HCD in healthcare, education, fintech, and government reveal the impact of user-first design.
  2. Note research techniques: Learn about journey mapping, ethnographic interviews, and user testing methods to enhance your own practice.
  3. Bookmark inclusive design episodes: Accessibility and equity are key to modern HCD—look for conversations around these principles.
  4. Share with cross-functional teams: These podcasts are great for product managers, engineers, and marketers to align around user needs.
  5. Turn ideas into action: Apply podcast takeaways to design critiques, sprint planning, or user research sessions.

Conclusion

Human-centred design is more than a framework—it’s a mindset that puts empathy at the heart of innovation. These podcasts offer a behind-the-scenes look at how great designers and teams create solutions that truly matter to people. By tuning in, you’ll stay connected to the values, strategies, and stories that drive thoughtful, inclusive design. Whether you're building the next app, redesigning a service, or improving internal systems, these HCD podcasts will keep you grounded in what matters most: the human experience.

Subscribe to the ones that interest you, and send us an email at grow@fame.so f you know of any great human-centred design podcasts that we've missed!

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Get Started

Related content

The 12 Best Climate Tech Companies Podcasts On Clean Innovation

The 15 Best Leadership Practices Podcasts On Leading Effectively

The 16 Best Systematic Listening Podcasts For Leaders And Teams

Guides

how to Start A Podcasthow to Launch A Podcasthow to Promote A Podcast

Where you learn how to start and grow a profitable podcast.

AboutBlogTermsPrivacy
Contact
grow@fame.so