
The Second Studio Design and Architecture Show
The Second Studio is an explicit podcast about design, architecture, and the everyday. Hosted by Architects David Lee and Marina Bourderonnet, the show covers a wide array of subjects with humor and honesty and features a variety of creative professionals in unscripted and more personal conversations.
Latest episodes

Nov 22, 2022 • 29min
#313 - 7 Tips for Selecting the Right Contractor
This week David Lee and Marina Bourderonnet, Founders of FAME Architecture & Design discuss 7 tips for selecting the right contractor and the qualities to look for in a good one: 1. Willing to innovate 2. Trustworthy 3. Knowledgeable 4. Keeps their cool 5. Values design 6. Works well with the architect 7. Organized This episode is supported by Brizo • Monograph • Sky-Frame • Miele • Graphisoft SUBSCRIBE • Apple Podcasts • YouTube • Spotify CONNECT • Website: www.secondstudiopod.com • Instagram • Facebook • Call or text questions to 213-222-6950 SUPPORT Leave a review :) EPISODE CATEGORIES • Interviews: Interviews with industry leaders. • Project Companion: Informative talks for clients. • Fellow Designer: Tips for designers. • After Hours (AH): Casual conversations about everyday life. • Design Reviews: Reviews of creative projects and buildings.

Nov 15, 2022 • 1h 30min
#312 - Victor Mezhvinsky, President and Founder of FORMA Construction
This week Victor Mezhvinsky, President and Founder of FORMA Construction joins David and Marina of FAME Architecture & Design to discuss his story of working for his father’s company; the impact his father had on his career; developing projects; the risks and struggles of starting a construction company; the importance of working with architects as a contractor; and more. This episode is supported by Sky-Frame • Brizo • Monograph • Miele • Graphisoft SUBSCRIBE • Apple Podcasts • YouTube • Spotify CONNECT • Website: www.secondstudiopod.com • Instagram • Facebook • Twitter • Call or text questions to 213-222-6950 SUPPORT Leave a review :) EPISODE CATEGORIES • Interviews: Interviews with industry leaders. • Design Companion: Informative talks for clients. • After Hours (AH): Casual conversations about everyday life. • Design Reviews: Reviews of creative projects and buildings. • Fellow Designer: Tips for designers.

Nov 8, 2022 • 28min
#311 - Project Companion: 5 Things to Know Before Starting a New Home or Remodel
This week David and Marina partners at FAME Architecture and Interior Design discuss 5 things clients should know before starting a new home or remodel project: 1. Understanding the process of a project 2. Hiring the right team 3. Expecting the unexpected 4. Asking questions along the way 5. Not aligning construction completion with life events. This episode is supported by Brizo • Monograph • Miele • Graphisoft SUBSCRIBE • Apple Podcasts • YouTube • Spotify CONNECT • Website: www.secondstudiopod.com • Instagram • Facebook • Twitter • Call or text questions to 213-222-6950 SUPPORT Leave a review :) EPISODE CATEGORIES • Interviews: Interviews with industry leaders. • Design Companion: Informative talks for clients. • After Hours (AH): Casual conversations about everyday life. • Design Reviews: Reviews of creative projects and buildings. • Fellow Designer: Tips for designers.

Nov 1, 2022 • 1h 32min
#310 - Tommy Zung, Principal of Studio Zung
This week David and Marina are joined by Tommy Zung, Principal of Studio Zung to discuss collaborating with Brizo; Brizo’s Modern Goddess campaign; the importance of self-expression in projects; his approach to working with clients; his journey from fashion, hospitality management to architecture and interior design; his relationship with Buckminster Fuller; and more. This episode is supported by Brizo • Monograph • Miele • Graphisoft SUBSCRIBE • Apple Podcasts • YouTube • Spotify CONNECT • Website: www.secondstudiopod.com • Instagram • Facebook • Twitter • Call or text questions to 213-222-6950 SUPPORT Leave a review :) EPISODE CATEGORIES • Interviews: Interviews with industry leaders. • Design Companion: Informative talks for clients. • After Hours (AH): Casual conversations about everyday life. • Design Reviews: Reviews of creative projects and buildings. • Fellow Designer: Tips for designers.

Oct 25, 2022 • 1h 18min
#309 - After Hours: Should Designers Have An Ego? & Dental Braces
This week David and Marina have a casual chat about Marina's dental braces and the best pastry shop in San Francisco. The two also answer a listener's question about how designers should deal with their ego (42:20). Is it good to be an egoless designer? This episode is supported by Brizo • Monograph • Miele • Graphisoft SUBSCRIBE • Apple Podcasts • YouTube • Spotify CONNECT • Website: www.secondstudiopod.com • Instagram • Facebook • Twitter • Call or text questions to 213-222-6950 SUPPORT Leave a review :) EPISODE CATEGORIES • Interviews: Interviews with industry leaders. • Design Companion: Informative talks for clients. • After Hours (AH): Casual conversations about everyday life. • Design Reviews: Reviews of creative projects and buildings. • Fellow Designer: Tips for designers.

Oct 18, 2022 • 1h 43min
#308 - Greg Faulkner, Founder & Director of Faulkner Architects
This week Architect Greg Faulkner, founder & director of Faulkner Architects joins David and Marina of FAME Architecture & Design to discuss his background as a design engineer in the aircraft industry; his tools and process; working with the site; his design philosophies and architectural truths; running and maintaining a small-sized practice; collaborating with Tom Kundig to design his house; and more. This episode is supported by Brizo • Monograph • Miele • Graphisoft SUBSCRIBE • Apple Podcasts • YouTube • Spotify CONNECT • Website: www.secondstudiopod.com • Instagram • Facebook • Twitter • Call or text questions to 213-222-6950 SUPPORT Leave a review :) EPISODE CATEGORIES • Interviews: Interviews with industry leaders. • Design Companion: Informative talks for clients. • After Hours (AH): Casual conversations about everyday life. • Design Reviews: Reviews of creative projects and buildings. • Fellow Designer: Tips for designers.

Oct 11, 2022 • 1h 34min
#307 - Overcoming Failure in Architecture School + Is Architecture Hard and Stressful?
This week David and Marina answer two questions from listeners: How to cope with the feeling of failure in architecture school and whether or not architecture is hard and stressful. The two cover why freshmen often have false expectations of success, embracing failure, not seeking approval from teachers or clients, dealing with ‘dumb’ design assignments, overcoming paralysis, the main reasons why being an architect is challenging, and more! This episode is supported by Brizo • Monograph • Miele • Graphisoft SUBSCRIBE • Apple Podcasts • YouTube • Spotify CONNECT • Website: www.secondstudiopod.com • Instagram • Facebook • Twitter • Call or text questions to 213-222-6950 SUPPORT Leave a review :) EPISODE CATEGORIES • Interviews: Interviews with industry leaders. • Design Companion: Informative talks for clients. • After Hours (AH): Casual conversations about everyday life. • Design Reviews: Reviews of creative projects and buildings. • Fellow Designer: Tips for designers.

Oct 4, 2022 • 1h 47min
#306 - Michael Bohn, Senior Principal for Studio One Eleven
This week David and Marina are joined by Architect Michael Bohn, Senior Principal for Studio One Eleven to discuss his background; befriending case study architect Edward Killingsworth; moving to India; the mission of Studio One Eleven; their approach to community-oriented projects; integrating urban research, analysis and studies to projects; the impact of public policy on architecture and urban projects; and more. This episode is supported by Brizo • Monograph • Miele • Graphisoft SUBSCRIBE • Apple Podcasts • YouTube • Spotify CONNECT • Website: www.secondstudiopod.com • Instagram • Facebook • Twitter • Call or text questions to 213-222-6950 SUPPORT Leave a review :) EPISODE CATEGORIES • Interviews: Interviews with industry leaders. • Design Companion: Informative talks for clients. • After Hours (AH): Casual conversations about everyday life. • Design Reviews: Reviews of creative projects and buildings. • Fellow Designer: Tips for designers.

Sep 27, 2022 • 1h 20min
#305 - After Hours: Renzo Piano's Academy Museum of Motion Pictures & Architecture Books
This week David and Marina share their thoughts on Renzo Piano's Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles and Pompidou Center, the relationship between beauty and structure, and architecture books that are important to them. Francoise Choay's Urbanism, Utopias, and Realities Gombrich's The Story of Art Francis Ching Gaston Bachelard's Poetry of Space Gaston Bachelard's Highrise Michael Sorkin's 20 minutes in Manhattan Kevin Lynch's Image of the City Christopher Alexander's Pattern Language Robert Venturi's Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture, Adrian Forty's Words and Buildings Jane Jacobs' Death and Life of Great American Cities Nick Crosley's Key Concepts in Critical Social Theory Henri Lefebvre's Everyday Life Homi K. Bhabha This episode is supported by Brizo • Monograph • Miele • Graphisoft SUBSCRIBE • Apple Podcasts • YouTube • Spotify CONNECT • Website: www.secondstudiopod.com • Instagram • Facebook • Twitter • Call or text questions to 213-222-6950 SUPPORT Leave a review :) EPISODE CATEGORIES • Interviews: Interviews with industry leaders. • Design Companion: Informative talks for clients. • After Hours (AH): Casual conversations about everyday life. • Design Reviews: Reviews of creative projects and buildings. • Fellow Designer: Tips for designers.

Sep 20, 2022 • 1h 57min
#304 - Robert Yuen, Co-founder and CEO of Monograph
This week David and Marina are joined by Robert Yuen, Co-founder and CEO of Monograph to discuss his long term vision to help the industry; the growth of the company over the last year; the importance of tracking data in an architecture office; new key features; the similarities and differences between running a tech company and architecture practice; the success of Monograph’s Section Cut seminars; and more. This episode is supported by Brizo • Monograph • Miele • Graphisoft SUBSCRIBE • Apple Podcasts • YouTube • Spotify CONNECT • Website: www.secondstudiopod.com • Instagram • Facebook • Twitter • Call or text questions to 213-222-6950 SUPPORT Leave a review :) EPISODE CATEGORIES • Interviews: Interviews with industry leaders. • Design Companion: Informative talks for clients. • After Hours (AH): Casual conversations about everyday life. • Design Reviews: Reviews of creative projects and buildings. • Fellow Designer: Tips for designers.