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Artwork for Landscape Architecture Podcast
ArtsDesignExplicit

Landscape Architecture Podcast

Michael Todoran

Mission Statement:

Our mission is to explore the hidden stories, innovations, and ideas that shape the landscapes around us. Through in-depth conversations with designers, planners, and visionaries, we delve into the art, science, and impact of landscape architecture. Each episode seeks to uncover how the spaces we design reflect our values, influence our lives, and transform our world.

With curiosity and nuance, we aim to make the invisible elements of landscape architecture visible—connecting listeners to the environments they move through every day and fostering a deeper appreciation for the intersection of nature, design, and human experience.

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  • 22 episodes
  • Avg 54 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • Saturday · 49 min

    Hadiza & Aaron Hinish

    https://www.hinishdc.com/ What does it mean to approach landscape design as a commissioned art? In this episode of The Landscape Architecture Podcast, Michael talks with Hadiza and Aaron Hinish, about the ideas and experiences that have shaped their work. They discuss making the most of a client's budget, building trust through transparency, and how their creative and practical roles have evolved over time. The conversation also explores Aaron's 3D-first design process, the connections between filmmaking and design, and a formative project they built by hand during the early days. With their young daughter alongside them on the job site, they took on the stonework, metalwork, and carpentry themselves. That experience helped shape the studio's design language and approach to making. Sponsored by: https://www.landfx.com/

  • September 11 · 27 min

    Darren Baldwin 2

    In this follow-up conversation, Michael Todoran sits down again with Darren Baldwin, President of Pikus 3D https://pikus3d.com/, to go deeper into how 3D-printed concrete is changing the way landscape architects design, collaborate, and solve problems. The conversation moves beyond the initial novelty of watching a massive 3D printer in action and into what the technology actually makes possible. Darren discusses how removing the traditional constraints of molds and formwork can give designers greater freedom, allowing an early sketch or idea to stay intact as it moves from concept into fabrication. Michael and Darren explore Pikus 3D's design-assist process, the use of physical miniatures to help designers and clients understand projects, working directly in 3D rather than relying solely on conventional shop drawings, and how architects are becoming increasingly comfortable specifying additive-manufactured concrete. Darren also shares real-world examples of the technology in action, including custom stepping stones developed to solve an unexpected water-flow problem, lightweight concrete elements for challenging structural conditions, and projects where rapid fabrication turned site constraints into design opportunities. As 3D-printed concrete moves from something new and experimental toward a more established part of the design process, the conversation raises a larger question for landscape architects: What becomes possible when the limitations we have associated with concrete begin to disappear? https://www.hapsagency.com/ and https://www.landfx.com/

  • August 31 · 46 min

    Torey Carter-Conneen ASLA CEO

    https://www.hapsagency.com/ PR for landscape architects Torey Carter-Conneen has served as Chief Executive Officer of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) since 2020, leading the 16,000-member organization through a period of significant change for both the association and the profession. In this conversation, Torey joins Michael Todoran to discuss what he has learned about landscape architecture after entering the profession from outside of design, and why curiosity has become central to the way he leads ASLA. Using ASLA's industry research as a starting point, they explore the business realities facing landscape architecture firms today: building and diversifying backlog, preparing for economic uncertainty, developing stronger relationships with architects and developers, and learning to communicate the economic value of landscape architecture in language clients understand. The conversation also moves beyond business into leadership itself. Torey and Michael discuss the value of asking questions, the problem with "fake it till you make it," imposter syndrome, and why even highly accomplished leaders continue to question themselves and their work. They also examine ASLA's role in advocating for licensure, communicating the profession's impact to the public, strengthening community engagement, and connecting landscape architecture to larger conversations around resilience, climate, public health, development, and the everyday places people inhabit. It is a wide-ranging conversation about leading a profession, running a practice, understanding your audience, and making a stronger case for why landscape architecture matters.

  • June 1 · 55 min

    Wendy Proud

    https://www.landfx.com In this episode, Michael sits down with Wendy Proud, founder of Kinship League, to discuss why landscape maintenance is one of the most overlooked forces shaping the life of a landscape. Wendy shares how better crew education, smarter timing, and a deeper respect for how plants naturally grow can protect design intent long after installation. From overplanting and shallow irrigation to constant shearing and unnatural forms, Wendy makes the case for a more thoughtful approach to care, one rooted in stewardship, patience, and helping landscapes thrive over time. https://kinshipleague.com

  • Oct 6, 2025 · 57 min

    Darren Baldwin

    https://hapsagency.com/ In this episode, Michael sits down with Darren Baldwin, President of Pikus 3D, to discuss how additive manufacturing is redefining architecture, fabrication, and the creative process itself. From lightweight structural design to the artistry of form, Darren shares how Pikus 3D is helping architects and landscape architects break free from traditional constraints — turning imagination into buildable reality. https://www.pikus3d.com/

  • Oct 5, 2025 · 57 min· Video

    Darren Baldwin

    https://hapsagency.com/ In this episode, Michael sits down with Darren Baldwin, President of Pikus 3D, to discuss how additive manufacturing is redefining architecture, fabrication, and the creative process itself. From lightweight structural design to the artistry of form, Darren shares how Pikus 3D is helping architects and landscape architects break free from traditional constraints — turning imagination into buildable reality. https://www.pikus3d.com/

  • Apr 4, 2025 · 58 min

    Kaitlin Hannig - Real Estate for the disillusioned

    https://www.larchitect.org/ https://www.instagram.com/realtorkaitlin What Architects Can Learn from a Real Estate Agent's Viral Social Media Strategy In this episode of The Landscape Architecture Podcast, host Michael Todoran interviews Salt Lake City real estate agent and Instagram personality Kaitlin Hannig, whose darkly funny "asshole home tours" have gained a massive following by breaking all the conventional marketing rules. This conversation is especially relevant for architects, landscape architects, and interior designers who are navigating how to present themselves online. Caitlin shares how she built a loyal audience not by showcasing perfection, but by leaning into flawed, human, and refreshingly honest content. We explore: Why traditional marketing tropes fall flat in today's digital culture How to create content that speaks to your audience instead of about yourself The power of humor, vulnerability, and storytelling in professional branding Why beauty alone doesn't engage—and what does How design professionals can stand out in a sea of aesthetic sameness Whether you run a small studio or work in a large firm, this episode will challenge how you think about digital presence, authenticity, and the kind of content that actually drives trust and engagement.

  • Jan 13, 2025 · 51 min

    Elisa Read Pappaterra

    https://www.studiopappaterra.com/ Today's episode feels especially timely with a heavy heart. As fires in the Palisades area of Los Angeles continue to devastate communities and landscapes, we are reminded of the growing urgency to design with resilience and sustainability at the forefront. Our guest today is Elisa Read Pappaterra, a landscape architect and founder of studio pappaterra. Elisa is renowned for her expertise in fire ecology and her dedication to designing landscapes that not only harmonize with the natural world but also mitigate the risks of living in fire-prone areas. Her work is as vital as it is inspiring, offering solutions that preserve life, property, and biodiversity. This conversation was recorded in Santa Barbara on October 5, 2024, following Elisa's keynote speech at San Marcos Growers' final event, "The Last Dance: A Celebration of 45 Years of Horticultural Legacy." Elisa shares her insights on the importance of understanding a site's cultural and ecological "soul," as well as her approach to creating firewise, ecologically sound, and artistically inspired landscapes. This episode is a reminder that how we design our landscapes today will shape the safety and resilience of tomorrow. Whether you're a designer, an advocate, or simply someone invested in the future of our environment, this is an important and compelling episode.

  • Sep 23, 2024 · 19 min

    Shawn Maestretti

    https://www.larchitect.org/ https://hapsagency.com/ Shawn Maestretti's work at Studio Petrichor https://studio-petrichor.com/ resonates deeply with the metaphor of the first rain experience that stirs something intrinsic in humans. The smell of the first rain, defined as "petrichor," evokes a sense of renewal, calm, and connection to nature. This sensory reaction is rooted in our survival instincts; rain signals life, growth, and sustenance. Throughout history, humans have been tied to the land and water. The arrival of rain often meant the end of drought, the rebirth of crops, and the revival of ecosystems. Thus, the first rain isn't just a sensory pleasure—it's a symbol of hope and balance, ensuring survival by replenishing resources vital for life. This same ethos drives Shawn's work at Studio Petrichor. His approach to landscape architecture, particularly as discussed in the podcast with Jason Wan https://www.hunterindustries.com/, reflects the harmony between human intuition and the natural world. Just as the first rain revives the earth, Shawn's designs aim to restore balance and sustainability to landscapes. By integrating water-smart technologies like rainwater harvesting and smart irrigation systems, Shawn helps create self-sustaining environments that support native ecosystems while conserving vital resources. What stands out to me in this podcast episode is its immersive, almost voyeuristic quality, driven by the reliance on the video component available on LAP's YouTube channel. This layered experience invites listeners to engage their imagination, much like reading a book that leaves room for personal interpretation of its visual elements. Whether you choose to dive into the full video or simply listen, the episode offers a rich narrative that allows your mind to fill in the sensory details, making it a versatile and enjoyable experience in either format.

  • Apr 29, 2024 · 56 min

    Robert Andrade 3

    https://www.larchitect.org/ https://www.bciburke.com/ Interested in typologies of the built environment - the artist and landscape designer explores the values and meaning embedded in structures and symbols using industrial materials and construction methods evocative of the urban space along with various landscapes. His artwork examines the relationship between humanity and the natural world, reflecting on how we intervene in the environment, imposing order and artifice, and how time will mark itself on the urban fabric. Andrade's open-ended practice includes the use of a variety of mediums, ranging from drawing, photography, digital fabrication to sound, and are shown in various formats, including installations, public interventions and collaborations. He is of Mexican-American heritage and is originally from National City, California.

  • Nov 20, 2023 · 41 min

    Cliff Garten

    this episode sponsored by: https://www.bciburke.com/ Cliff Garten Cliff Garten is an internationally recognized sculptor and founder of Cliff Garten Studio in Venice, California. By connecting people to places and infrastructure through sculptural material, social history and ecology, Garten's work locates the latent potential in every public place and situation to become more than the specific functions it appears to perform. Sculpture and landscape, function and form, like public and private experiences are never distinct, but exchange places throughout the day. Sculpture defines our interaction and movement by creating energy between things, generating interest in public activity, reframing our private lives and creating a sense of place within public and private realms. Garten received a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Master of Landscape Architecture with Distinction from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

  • Aug 28, 2023 · 42 min

    SEL West Coast Artists

    Sponsored by: https://www.bciburke.com/ SEL .nft https://opensea.io/assets/ethereum/0x495f947276749ce646f68ac8c248420045cb7b5e/68753288684922086608564403316877929801832631715139355806789553097587046744065 https://www.punkrockzen.com/ Marcel Blanco known by the street name SEL, is a Los Angeles based, multifaceted artist best recognized by his paintings and murals that evoke emotion and thought through his use of color, narrative imagery and movement. His foundation began in the early '80s when he started designing flyers and t-shirts for local punk/hardcore bands around Los Angeles. In his quest for new inspiration he discovered graffiti art and became part of the early L.A. graffiti scene which lead him to join the WCA (West Coast Artists) crew, one of seminal graffiti crews in Los Angeles. He then re-focused and aimed his creativity on computer graphics and art direction in the music and entertainment industries working on packaging and marketing material for indie and major record labels. Today his work expresses an introspective reflection that seems to touch people. His pieces are filled with emotion and a sense of individual wonder that easily grabs the eye of the audience creating a connection that goes beyond the aesthetics. Wether mural, painting, digital print, or installation the expression in his work is undeniable.

  • Jul 5, 2023 · 1 hr 7 min

    Sarah Lisiecki

    this episode sponsored by: https://www.bciburke.com/ Sarah Lisiecki combines a passion for play, the outdoors and movement with more than ten years in the play industry and hundreds of presentations given on topics from Inclusive Design, Musical Play and Trends in Play at Parks and Recreation Conferences, District Meetings, Landscape Architect Firms and Representative Trainings. She studied Communications and Political Science at University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI). As an advocate for play as a critical part of development, she serves on the Steering Committee of the US Play Coalition, on the Parks & Recreation Editorial Advisory Board, is part of the IPEMA Marketing Committee, is a member of multiple play research project teams, the Product Development Council and presents at a variety of conferences, Lunch and Learns, panels and events. She spends her spare time hiking, running, biking and climbing and with her rescue dogs.

  • May 14, 2023 · 31 min

    Billy Krimmel

    This episode is sponsored by https://www.bciburke.com/ BILLY KRIMMEL FOUNDER, ECOLOGIST Billy completed his PhD in Ecology at UC Davis where he focused his research on native plant-insect interactions. Billy also holds a Bachelor of Science from Brown University and serves on the board of directors for the California Native Grasslands Association. Billy founded https://www.miridae.com/ with the intention of creating a habitat for native species within human-occupied areas and engaging people with the species interactions occurring in these habitats. With each project, we come one step closer to creating a network of habitat gardens and migration corridors to support resilient populations of native species.

  • Apr 18, 2023 · 47 min

    Diane Lipovsky and Stacy Passmore

    Superbloom is an award-winning landscape architecture firm located in Denver, CO. Our practice of transformative design was founded on a commitment to crafting meaningful connections between people and the land.

  • Jan 22, 2023 · 1 hr 15 min

    Thomas Balsley

    Thomas Balsley is a renowned designer whose New York City-based practice is best known for its fusion of landscape and urbanism in public parks, waterfronts, and plazas throughout the US and abroad. For over 35 years, Tom's work has reshaped social and cultural spaces with robust sustainable landscapes that teem with public life. In New York City alone, he has completed more than 100 parks and plazas, including the 2014 ASLA Honor Award-winning Hunter's Point South Waterfront Park and Gantry Plaza Park, across the East River from the UN; Riverside Park South; Chelsea Waterside Park; Peggy Rockefeller Plaza; Capitol Plaza; and the recently completed 51 Astor Place plaza, across from Cooper Union. In an unprecedented gesture, a small park on 57th Street was named Balsley Park in recognition of his design contributions to the city. Spacemaker Press devoted a monograph to Thomas Balsley Associates' work: "Thomas Balsley: The Urban Landscape." In 2015, Mr. Balsley received ASLA's highest design honor, the Design Medal. ORO Editions has just released his firm's second monograph, "Thomas Balsley: Uncommon Ground," with foreword by James Corner and an essay by Ian Volner.

  • Oct 23, 2022 · 1 hr 13 min

    Signe Nielsen

    Signe is a Founding Principal of MNLA and has been practicing as a landscape architect and urban designer in New York since 1978. Her body of work has renewed the environmental integrity and transformed the quality of spaces for those who live, work, and play in the urban realm. A Fellow of the ASLA, she is the recipient of more than 100 national and local design awards for public open space projects and is published extensively nationally and internationally. Signe is a professor of urban design and landscape architecture at Pratt Institute in both the graduate and undergraduate Schools of Architecture and is the former President of the Public Design Commission of the City of New York. Born in Paris, Signe received a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Urban Planning from Smith College; a Bachelor of Arts in Landscape Architecture from City College of New York; and a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Pratt Institute.

  • Nov 21, 2021 · 1 hr 5 min

    Gilles Clement

    French gardener, garden designer, botanist, entomologist and writer Manifestos discussed during the interview (English translation): The Third Landscape http://www.gillesclement.com/cat-tierspaysage-tit-le-Tiers-Paysage The Planetary Garden http://www.gillesclement.com/cat-jardinplanetaire-tit-Le-Jardin-Planetaire The Garden in Motion http://www.gillesclement.com/cat-mouvement-tit-Le-Jardin-en-Mouvement Projects in Paris: Gardens at Quai Branly https://catharinehoward.co.uk/the-gardens-at-quai-branly-paris-by-gilles-clement Parc André-Citroën http://icity.ikcest.org/city/project/195

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