

The Grand Tourist with Dan Rubinstein
Dan Rubinstein
Design journalist Dan Rubinstein introduces listeners to the leading tastemakers of the creative world, from master chefs to experimental architects. Join Dan on a virtual journey through the worlds of fashion, interior design, art, food, and travel—all the elements of a well-lived life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

16 snips
Oct 15, 2025 • 58min
Tom Kundig: Making Memories With Architecture
Tom Kundig, a renowned American architect and principal of Olson Kundig, shares his insights into the world of kinetic architecture. He discusses the unique 'gizmos' in his designs that blend raw materials with nature, making buildings move and engage occupants. Kundig reflects on his upbringing influenced by his modernist father and his journey from geophysics to architecture. He emphasizes the emotional experience of balancing refuge and prospect in home design and previews exciting upcoming projects, including his latest book.

Oct 8, 2025 • 49min
The Grand Tourist Returns: The Assoulines
In the world of publishing, the name Assouline is synonymous with glamour. Run from New York by French couple Prosper and Martine Assouline, along with their son Alexandre, the company has produced thousands of coveted books on everything from fashion and travel to fine art and design. On this popular episode from 2022, Dan speaks with this trendsetting trio on how their business began, why money has nothing to do with style, and whether the metaverse might be the next hot destination for the fashionable set. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 1, 2025 • 57min
Bunny Williams: American Decorating Dynamo
For more than 40 years, Bunny Williams has helped define the look of the American home through a thriving interior design business, a successful and longstanding furnishings collection, as well as eight bestselling books to her name. On this episode, Dan speaks with the living legend about learning her craft from the late icons Sister Parish and Albert Hadley, how she likes to plan a room, her advice for the next generation of designers, how she met her husband the lauded antiques dealer John Rosselli, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 24, 2025 • 53min
Anna Sui: Designing the Nineties
From grunge style to the preppy look, one fashion designer helped define the wildly creative 1990s, New York’s Anna Sui. In her latest book “The Nineties x Anna Sui” (Rizzoli), the beloved designer catalogs this momentous decade in her life and career through photographs, memories, and runway-fabulous illustrations. On this episode, she speaks to Dan about growing up as a music-obsessed teen in the Midwest, getting her start as an ambitious creative in Manhattan, meeting and working with a young Marc Jacobs, how the world of vintage shopping impacted her process, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 17, 2025 • 48min
Francois Halard: Design’s Beloved Photographer
If you have a friend who loves interior design, then you’ve likely seen a coffee table book by a certain photographer in their personal collection. On this episode, Dan meets a beloved photographer known for his keen eye and unparalleled access: Francois Halard. The pairs speak about how he got his start in the world of magazines, including his many years at various Condé Nast, the success of his eponymous first three books with Rizzoli, and his latest, “Francois Halard: Art & Flowers” that moves his art from the photographic documentation of spaces to unique works of fine art. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 10, 2025 • 1h 4min
Annie Lennox: “I Don’t Buy Into the Game”
Singer, activist, pop legend. Annie Lennox has left an indelible mark on music and visual culture for decades. In her new book “Annie Lennox: Retrospective” (Rizzoli), she takes a trip down memory lane from a photographic and image-making perspective. On this Season 14 premiere, Dan speaks with Lennox about the origins of her musical talents, the story behind the genesis of Eurythmics, how a trip to a pawn shop spurred an era of iconic visual creations, the time she performed live with David Bowie, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 snips
Jul 16, 2025 • 60min
Shohei Shigematsu: Defining Radicality in Architecture
Shohei Shigematsu, Partner at OMA and director of the firm's New York office, shares his journey from growing up in 1980s Japan to shaping cultural landscapes in the U.S. He reveals how his passion for filmmaking fueled his architectural ambitions and highlights his impressive interview with Rem Koolhaas. Shigematsu discusses his innovative expansion of Manhattan's New Museum, emphasizing the transformation of museums into community hubs and the importance of engaging design. His insights reflect a unique blend of heritage, creativity, and societal impact.

Jul 2, 2025 • 39min
Aerin Lauder: Style in Full Bloom
Through her books and products, this 21st-century domestic goddess is truly a part of the classic American style firmament. On this episode, Dan speaks with Lauder about growing up with her grandmother, the beauty revolutionary Estée Lauder, what she learned about the industry from her years in the business, the launch of her own lifestyle brand Aerin, her latest book Aerin Lauder: Living with Flowers, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 25, 2025 • 58min
A Family Affair: Sophie Ashby and Charlie Casely-Hayford
The two brilliant halves of this London-based creative couple are examples of how one family can shine greater than the sum of its parts. On this episode, Dan speaks with interior designer Sophie Ashby and her husband, menswear designer Charlie Casely-Hayford, about their unique and booming businesses, Ashby’s involvement in the nonprofit United in Design, Casely-Hayford’s own lineage in impactful British culture, how the two met, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 18, 2025 • 49min
Pierre-Yves Rochon: “You Don’t Design for Yourself”
This master of luxurious, classical interiors has created some of the best hotels around the world, including the St. Regis in Rome, The Savoy in London, and the Four Seasons George V in Paris. On this episode, Dan speaks with Rochon about his global upbringing, how the cinema inspired him as a child, his latest work restoring New York’s Waldorf Astoria, his installation extolling classic design at this year’s Salone del Mobile in Milan, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.