Behind The Mic: Get To Know The Hosts Of ‘Break Some Dishes’

The SURROUND Podcast Network is home to the leading shows from design’s greatest storytellers. Two of those storytellers, Verda Alexander and Jon Strassner, are co-hosts of Break Some Dishes. We spoke to Verda and Jon about why podcasting is so relevant to our industry, inspiring guests, and where they find unexpected inspiration.

Verda Alexander and Jon Strassner Talk Podcasting And Design Innovation

Jon Strassner.

Verda Alexander.

SURROUND: Can you share the story behind Break Some Dishes?

Verda Alexander: Jon and I were chatting over coffee in New York City in 2019 when we realized we both wanted to do something about climate change and plastic pollution. We wanted to inspire designers to see these issues as solvable challenges. Design is about problem-solving, and we believed that if we could get designers excited about these issues, we could create a ripple effect of people tackling society’s most pressing problems. Also, we launched Break Some Dishes during the pandemic, at the time it was our way to stay connected with the world.

Jon Strassner: We had a moment when we both realized we were impassioned by the same things, but were looking at it through different lenses. We decided at that breakfast to create a series of in-person events where we would introduce a climate topic, along with a subject matter expert, and we would find moments in that conversation to inspire, inform and motivate change. And of course, COVID hit and we had to cancel our in-person events. We decided to pivot into podcasting. Having never podcasted before, we literally had to Google “How To Podcast.” I came up with the title Break Some Dishes because sometimes to get people’s attention, you have to get in the kitchen and break some dishes. It was crazy, but we were completely naive and fearless about what it would take. Now we’re about to start our sixth season, and we never saw that coming!

SURROUND: Who is your show for?

J.S.: Our show is for anyone who is thinking about our planet and its current state. We have never seen ourselves as this “global presence”, but more of an industry facing conversation. We hope that designers, architects, dealers, end users and manufacturers can all find inspiration by breaking some dishes with us. I want listeners to walk away hopeful, skeptical and aware that each of us has a role to play. Sometimes we are thrown into it and other times we have to look a little bit harder. But within these stories are examples of everyday people who did extraordinary things to save their ecosystem.

V.A.: Our show is for designers, but it’s also for anyone who wants to make a positive impact in the world. We want to inspire action by spotlighting the unusual, the unsung, the irreverent, the visionary, and even the accidental champions of change.

Want to learn more about the latest design and climate change narratives? Listen to Break Some Dishes podcast.

SURROUND: What’s something new you’ve learned through your podcast?

J.S.: I learned how to embrace my fear of failure. Starting this podcast was the first time I really put myself out there for people to like or dislike. I decided to speak my mind, share my thoughts and opinions without worrying if people will agree with me or like me. In one of our earliest podcasts, Russel Greenberg, the founder of Stickbulb told us “Don’t wait until you’re right to speak up. If you wait until you know you’re right, you’ll never have a voice.” That resonated with me and gave me the courage to speak my mind and put myself out there. I believe it’s that mentality that gave me the courage to start my own business as well. We just have to ask ourselves “What is the worst thing that can happen if we fail?” I love asking  “What would you do, if you knew you could not fail?” That’s an interesting question….

V.A.: I’ve learned a lot! Personally, I’ve improved at speaking concisely and not saying filler words like “umm” as much. It’s been a fun challenge to ask better questions and guide conversations. On a deeper level, each guest and the research for each episode have taught me invaluable lessons.

SURROUND: Can you tell us about a guest or topic that inspired you?

J.S.: We were fortunate enough to have Porter Fox [author and skier who noted disappearing snow and glaciers on assignment for Powder Magazine] join us for an episode… He has managed to write these incredible stories about his adventures while including sobering testimony on the effects of climate change. I think Porter’s ability to lift his head above his passion—skiing—to see how the world is changing is so admirable. He takes his reader from dogsledding on the North Pole to analyzing an ice core with a scientist who eventually lost his life in a crevice. Porter inspired me to pick my head up and look around once in a while.

V.A.: There are so many!  I’m going to choose Brian Kelly from season two. It was one of our more philosophical episodes. Brian photographs old and ancient trees. There are some trees right here in California that are over 3000 years old, older than civilization as we know it.  Thinking about these ancient living beings and the brief time humans have existed on Earth offers a profound perspective on life and our place on this planet.

ARTIS Ventures’ San Francisco office designed by Studio O+A.

SURROUND: Where do you find ideas for new episodes?

J.S.: Everywhere. I never stop looking, or listening for our next great episode. I try to attend events outside our industry, listen to other podcasts and check social media content all the time. I have found, over the years, that I’m not shy about asking people to join us. Most of the time, people are happy to join the conversation but occasionally we get one that’s tough to hook. That usually motivates me to try that much harder. We had Cara Buckley, the climate beat reporter from the New York Times on an episode and we asked her that same question about her articles. She said she uses Instagram all the time to get in touch with people.

V.A.: Jon and I are constantly researching and tagging stories that resonate with us. Sometimes inspiration strikes from someone we meet at a conference or through a colleague. Each season has a general theme, and we dive into research to shape the episodes. Our passion for the topics usually makes finding inspiration easy.

SURROUND: What is your top tip for an aspiring podcaster?

J.S.: My number one tip would be to prepare.  Do not try to fly by the seat of your pants. Don’t think you’re cool enough to have a “normal” conversation that will keep people interested. We often think podcasting is just sitting around shooting the shit with someone, but it’s more. We try to have an ebb and flow. We want to take our listeners on a journey with us. We want to start at point A and finish at point B. That takes organization. We have to agree on our course and be mindful of each other and what we hope to peel away from each episode. And know your shit. Research, research and research.

V.A.: Invest in quality sound equipment. It makes all the difference.

A converted food truck by Verda Alexander.

SURROUND: We know Break Some Dishes is one part of your current work—what else are you up to? 

J.S.: I started a consulting business about a year and a half ago. I work with manufacturers to help them figure out their impact on this planet. What are we doing right, what do we need to do better, how can we measure for results, create a progressive sustainability program that leads to organizational efficiencies and, most importantly, how do we broadcast that work so people know who we are? It can seem like a lot, but it’s a unique journey for everyone and I love to help people take that first step.

I also have a substack! It’s called “Why Am I So Hot?” This gives me a creative outlet to all my climate musings. I have written about everything from developing sustainability programs to growing up in rural West Virginia. My writing is not perfect, but I know that the more I write, the better I’ll get and I love that I don’t care how many people follow my posts, like my posts or agree with my thoughts. Again, just putting myself out there.

V.A.:  As Editor at Large for Metropolis, I help plan and design the Sustainability Lab at NeoCon and run programs focused on raising awareness about the designer’s role in addressing climate challenges.

Break Some Dishes in conversation at Greenbuild in 2022.

SURROUND: Name an unexpected source of design inspiration and how you translate that spark into your work.

J.S.: I’m not an interior designer, but I think we all should be turning to design in everything we do. When I was growing up in West Virginia, I spent a lot of time with this great uncle of mine. His name was Uncle Wilson. Uncle Wilson was a moonshiner. He lived in a battered old farm house in the woods. He showed me how to roll cigarettes and he showed me his still. Uncle Wilson may not have had any talent with the interiors of his old house, but that still….it was a remarkable piece of work. Designed close to a creek for fresh water, nestled into the landscape so you could walk right past it….If we can’t design for nature, if we can’t bring nature into our dialogue, we’re missing something critical. I think Uncle Wilson knew that.

V.A.: Our podcast is all about unexpected sources of inspiration. I love to look outside of design for creative inspiration. Domingo Morales, a guest this season learned how to compost and through compositing is helping to transform lives and enrich his community. Stories like these inspire my work.