Wake Up Excited! | Brad Frost

I Feel Like I Have Lightning in My Fingertips with Ridd

Episode 25 · July 16, 2026 · 01:28:05

Ridd feels like he’s having more fun than ever as a designer because he can now code and close the gap using Claude to build features with full control over pixels, animations, and i...

Docs First, AI-Ready Design Systems with Afyia Smith

Episode 24 · July 9, 2026 · 01:02:54

Afyia Smith talks about her separation from Epic Games and choosing optimism by exploring the city and visiting new coffee shops, even amid anxiety and uncertainty. Afyia explains he...

Mountain Biking, Parenting, and AI’s Breakneck Evolution with Luke Wroblewski

Episode 23 · July 2, 2026 · 01:33:02

Luke Wroblewski talks about what’s waking him up excited these days and draws an analogy between trail building and product building, emphasizing prototyping and especially maintenan...

Creative Unblock, Ethical Tensions, and Pragmatism with Luke Murphy

Episode 22 · June 30, 2026 · 01:20:15

Luke and Brad discuss feeling newly unblocked by today’s tools which enable rapid experimentation, which must be done at a human level. Exploring nuance over binary positions, compar...

Incubating Ideas, Human Memory, and Designing for Humanity with Don Norman

Episode 21 · June 26, 2026 · 01:11:43

Don Norman discusses how his best ideas arrive through “incubation,” often waking him at 1–2 AM to write, and explains how he starts books by finding a guiding title and compelling t...

Homeschooling, Community Confidence, and Being Human at Work with Abby Covert

Episode 20 · June 23, 2026 · 01:32:03

Abby Covert shares what excites her now, leaving corporate life, reclaiming creativity through recovery work, sobriety, journaling, and disciplined writing, and how community builds ...

Design, Teaching, and Staying Human in the Age of AI with Dan Saffer

Episode 19 · June 18, 2026 · 01:06:12

Dan and Brad explore AI as a creative partner for drafting and ideation while requiring strong human direction, and compare today’s shift to the desktop-to-web and mobile transitions...

More Queue, Less Feed with Sacha Judd

Episode 18 · May 12, 2026 · 01:08:48

Sacha Judd discusses what excites her now: founding Lume Music, which aims to fix broken subscription-era music economics by launching a digital album format bundled with behind-the-...

The Revenge of the Real with Amber Case

Episode 17 · May 7, 2026 · 01:28:57

Amber Case reflects on where you live and how returning to a familiar place can help think clearer. Case discusses seeking authentic, small-scale community, work nights, recess-like ...

Adaptability, Curiosity, & Creative Breadth with Brendan Dawes

Episode 16 · May 5, 2026 · 01:13:49

Brendan Dawes is a multi-disciplinary artist, designer, and technologist. joins me to talk about creativity, curiosity, and what it actually means to thrive as a maker right now — wh...

Design, Creativity, Systems, and Potential in the Agentic Age with Jem Gold

Episode 15 · April 30, 2026 · 01:19:54

As we put our course together, I want to have conversations with people who are thinking about things deeply, creatively, and responsibly. That's why it was an absolute pleasure to c...

Georgia Lupi on Brain Retraining, and Visual Storytelling with Data

Episode 14 · April 28, 2026 · 58:57

Georgia Lupi shares what she’s excited to wake up for with us. She recounts getting COVID in 2020, developing worsening long COVID symptoms with reinfections, becoming house- and som...

Ben Callahan on Building Community, Your Values, and the Power of Connection

Episode 13 · April 21, 2026 · 01:03:14

Ben Callahan joins Brad to discuss what’s currently motivating him, from enjoying homemade ham and bean soup in Ohio to a deeper focus on connecting people through curiosity-led faci...

Gemma O’Brien on Neuroaesthetics, Flow States, and Trusting Creative Intuition

Episode 12 · March 11, 2026 · 01:16:11

Brad Frost welcomes Sydney-based artist and designer Gemma O’Brien to Wake Up Excited to discuss her work in murals, lettering, and calligraphy and her recent move to London to study...

Mike Rybachuk on Self-Honesty, Resilience, and Spreading Joy

Episode 11 · February 17, 2026 · 01:43:28

Brad Frost welcomes Mike Rybachuk, founder of Ukraine-based design education platform The Projector Institute, to discuss living a positive, fulfilling life while Russia’s war impact...

Designing a Life That Excites You with Christine Vallaure

Episode 10 · January 22, 2026 · 01:05:58

Brad sits down with Christine Vallaure, a renowned designer, speaker, and founder of Moon Learning. Christine shares insights into living a balanced and fulfilling life, drawing from...

Embracing Authenticity and Creativity with Marc Thiele

Episode 9 · December 10, 2025 · 01:13:58

Marc Thiele is the organizer of the Fantastic Beyond Tellerrand Conference that happens every year in Germany. I just got back from his event in Berlin, and I really feel like Beyond...

Working Towards Balance with Designer Cameron Moll

Episode 8 · November 26, 2025 · 01:26:35

I talk with Cameron Moll, a veteran web designer, leader, consultant, maker, and family man. Our wide-ranging conversation covers longevity in a fast-moving industry, diverse managem...

Crafting Joyful Experiences Through Music with Seth Casana

Episode 7 · November 14, 2025 · 01:22:42

I talk with Seth Casana, an entertainment consultant at BigWig Productions, DJ, and musician based in Fredericksburg, VA. At first glance, Seth appears unassuming, but his stage pres...

The Power of Exuberance with Rebecca Garza-Bortman

Episode 6 · October 22, 2025 · 01:12:58

Brad Frost sits down with the enthusiastic and ultra-talented Rebecca Garza Bortman. As a story designer, Rebecca is known for her contributions like the iconic red YouTube play butt...

Appears in 26 Episodes