

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

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.

Jun 11, 2025 • 1h 2min
Lee Mindel: Speaking From Experience
New York architect Lee Mindel, of firm SheltonMindel, is one of those designers who seems to have done it all, and in style. On this episode, Dan speaks with the award-winning designer about his residential projects for the world's well-heeled, what it was like getting his start in the heyday of Manhattan’s nightlife scene, opening his design gallery called Galerie56, his time studying at Harvard, and his own impressive collection of covetable objects. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 4, 2025 • 53min
Robert Wilson: “Do I Have Time to Dream?”
One of the most consequential theatrical directors ever, American artist Robert Wilson has helped to revolutionize the medium. On this episode, Dan speaks with the Texas-born talent about the hyper-conservative world in which he was raised; how he studied architecture as a young man in New York; how contemporary Broadway and opera rubbed him the wrong way; one of his latest works, Mary Said What She Said, which stars French actress Isabelle Huppert; his lauded Watermill Center and what it means to him; and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 28, 2025 • 54min
Jeanne Gang: Understanding the Power of Architecture
For decades, the Chicago-based architect Jeanne Gang has captured the imaginations of critics and the public alike with her environmentally aware projects. Her latest, an expansion of New York’s American Museum of Natural History, has turned heads and inspired leagues of visitors. On this episode, Dan speaks with the visionary talent on her upbringing in the American Midwest, studying abroad in Paris and how those experiences helped shape her career, what actionable idealism is, why she loves birding, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.