A PLACE TO TALK

Our podcast series, A Place to Talk, is a series of conversations that take us to new places. With the aim of creating honest, relaxed conversations, De La Espada founder Luis De Oliveira sits down with a wide range of people representing different points of view within the design world. Going with the flow and creating honest dialogues, we invite a breath of fresh air, some humour, and enriching ideas.

Listen here or on iTunes, SoundCloud and Spotify.


Ep.15 - DAVID HARRY STEWART
Episode Fifteen: Luis meets David Harry Stewart who travelled from LA to meet us in the neighbourhood of Santos in Lisbon. David is the founder of media company AGEIST, which addresses the modern 50+ lifestyle. He shared anecdotes of how society overlooks this group of people, and how AGEIST reframes later life. 
Ep.14 - MANUEL AIRES MATEUS
Episode Fourteen: At his atelier in the Principe Real neighbourhood of Lisbon, Portuguese architect Manuel Aires Mateus sits down with Luis to discuss urban planning in the context of his hometown, a city that has changed greatly over the past few years and continues to evolve.
Ep.13 - JOANA ASTOLFI
Episode Thirteen: Luis sits down with Lisbon-based artist, architect and designer, Joana Astolfi. Together with her team at Studio Astolfi, Joana was the creative force behind Let's Pretend This Never Happened, the acclaimed dramatic performance that brought De La Espada furniture to life at special events in Stockholm and Lisbon. Joana discusses her childhood and early professional experience as she sought her unique creative voice.
Ep.12 - FREDRIK CARLSTRÖM
Episode Twelve: Luis visits Alma, a member's club in the Östermalm neighbourhood of Stockholm, to meet Fredrik Carlström, its co-founder and creative director. They discuss how hard work and taking risks pays off, and how Fredrik's experience in the film industry led him to other ventures.
 
Ep.11 - KARIN WICKBERG
Episode Eleven: Karin Wickberg, chief marketing officer of rug manufacturer Kasthall, speaks to Luis about the struggle for brands to stay relevant today and how marketing should never rest on its laurels.
Ep.10 - ANNICA EKLUND
Episode Ten: Luis meets Annica Eklund, chief creative officer of Swedish brand Bolon. They look at how Annica and her sister Marie reinvented a struggling family business and made vinyl flooring relevant and exciting.
Ep.09 - HANNA NOVA BEATRICE
Episode Nine: Luis meets Hanna Nova Beatrice, editor-in-chief of Residence magazine. They look at the changes affecting the world of publishing, and the issues that surround the tide of new products flooding the market.
Ep.08 - FREDRIK SWEGER
Episode Eight: At his studio in Vasastan, Stockholm, photographer Fredrik Sweger speaks with Luis about his work, and how focusing on the niche of interior photography has helped further his career.
Ep.07 - MAGNUS WÄSTBERG
Episode Seven: Luis sits down with Magnus Wästberg, founder of Swedish lighting company Wästberg. They discuss the importance of finding balance between the technical and the human, and being driven by ideas.
Ep.06 - MORGWN RIMEL
Episode Six: Luis visits the London home of creative entrepreneur Morgwn Rimel. Having spent 7 years as director of The School of Life, Morgwn has dedicated much of her time to exploring themes related to life and the human experience. Her discussion with Luis considers the importance of empathy and the roles of emotional intelligence and self-examination in finding common ground with those with opposing views.
Ep.05 - OLI STRATFORD
Episode Five: Oli Stratford, Editor-in-Chief of Disegno magazine, speaks with Luis about the danger in glorifying the past, the way history informs the present, and the limits to design's ability to solve the world's larger problems.
Ep.04 - DEBORAH SPENCER
Episode Four: Deborah Spencer, founder of designjunction, a curated design show with a presence in London, Milan, and New York, discusses with Luis how designjunction disrupted the traditional trade show format, the importance of making connections, and how dyslexia can help with project management.
Ep.03 - BRIAN WOULFE
Episode Three: Brian Woulfe of interior design firm Designed by Woulfe sits down with Luis in one of his latest projects in London's St John's Wood neighbourhood. He explains how his design process is like a journey he goes on with his clients where he investigates how to deliver a solution tailored to them, and how clients with a Pinterest vision stunt the possibilities.
Ep.02 - MATTHEW HILTON
Episode Two: Luis visits the studio of British industrial designer Matthew Hilton in Crystal Palace, south London. Matthew and his team, Dave Britton and Harry Hasson, discuss the benefits of having worked together for nearly a decade, explore the idea of honesty in design, and describe how they view their role as designers.
Ep.01 - STEPHEN BRIARS
Episode One: Luis visits The Conran Shop, London's leading lifestyle retailer, to speak with its creative director, Stephen Briars. Stephen has a background in the world of fashion working for Paul Smith, Louis Vuitton and Urban Outfitters; together he and Luis spent some time looking at how two very different industries can learn from one another.