What Designers Need to Learn About Power, Politics & Influence w/ James Hsu | Ep 20

What Designers Need to Learn About Power, Politics & Influence w/ James Hsu | Ep 20

James Hsu spent years watching talented designers get ignored while less talented people moved ahead simply because they understood visibility, influence, and business. In this episode, the Dark UX Academy founder breaks down the hidden side of design leadership: office politics, business acumen, negotiation, AI, and why “good work speaks for itself” is one of the biggest lies creatives believe. This isn’t just a design conversation. It’s about power, communication, survival, and learning how to actually get a seat at the table. ⁠https://www.darkuxacademy.com [https://www.darkuxacademy.com/] Support Swurl [https://www.swurl.io/] Swurl is building a new kind of networking platform focused on real connections, not self-promotion.   [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/swurl/swurl-a-networking-space-without-marketing] "Music by Vlvt. If you are working on a podcast, get your Swurl Radio discount code and save 20% on anything at Vlvt.fm [https://vlvt.fm/swurlradio?utm_source=swurlradio&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=partner_referral&utm_content=cdep]"

The Hardest Pivot: Walking Away from Something That Works w/ Dan Mall | Ep 19

Dan Mall built SuperFriendly into a successful agency, working with brands like Google and scaling a network of 700+ freelancers. Then he walked away, not because it failed, but because it no longer aligned with the life he wanted. This episode goes deeper than business. Dan opens up about leadership mistakes, letting people down, navigating tough decisions, identity, and what it really means to build and walk away from something meaningful. Support Swurl [https://www.swurl.io/] Swurl is building a new kind of networking platform focused on real connections, not self-promotion.   [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/swurl/swurl-a-networking-space-without-marketing] "Music by Vlvt. If you are working on a podcast, get your Swurl Radio discount code and save 20% on anything at Vlvt.fm [https://vlvt.fm/swurlradio?utm_source=swurlradio&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=partner_referral&utm_content=cdep]"

Identity Shifts, Failure, and Pricing Your Worth w/ Jonathan Stark| Ep 18

Jonathan Stark didn’t start as a pricing expert—he started as a musician chasing a dream, then pivoted into software, and eventually rebuilt his entire career around one idea: hourly billing is broken. In this episode, he shares the real journey behind that transformation—identity shifts, failed projects, career pivots, and the moment he realized businesses reward value, not effort. This is a conversation about unlearning, reinvention, and building a career that actually works. Support Swurl [https://www.swurl.io/] Swurl is building a new kind of networking platform focused on real connections, not self-promotion.   [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/swurl/swurl-a-networking-space-without-marketing] "Music by Vlvt. If you are working on a podcast, get your Swurl Radio discount code and save 20% on anything at Vlvt.fm [https://vlvt.fm/swurlradio?utm_source=swurlradio&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=partner_referral&utm_content=cdep]"

From Building a Computer From Scratch to Scaling a Business w/ Maestro Stevens | Ep 17

Maestro Stevens, founder of Iconic Expressions, shares how he went from failed ventures to building a scalable business. This episode breaks down branding vs marketing, using AI to automate workflows, choosing the right clients, and the real sacrifices behind entrepreneurship. Support Swurl [https://www.swurl.io/] Swurl is building a new kind of networking platform focused on real connections, not self-promotion.   [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/swurl/swurl-a-networking-space-without-marketing] "Music by Vlvt. If you are working on a podcast, get your Swurl Radio discount code and save 20% on anything at Vlvt.fm [https://vlvt.fm/swurlradio?utm_source=swurlradio&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=partner_referral&utm_content=cdep]"

Building a Business From Scratch: Storytelling, Burnout, and Side Hustles That Scale w/ Melody Beuzelin | Ep 16

Melody Beuzelin joins Swurl Radio to talk about building a career from scratch storytelling, startup lessons, burnout, and when a side hustle deserves your full attention. We get into identity, resilience, client boundaries, and why “failure” is just data. Support Swurl [https://www.swurl.io/] Swurl is building a new kind of networking platform focused on real connections, not self-promotion.   [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/swurl/swurl-a-networking-space-without-marketing] "Music by Vlvt. If you are working on a podcast, get your Swurl Radio discount code and save 20% on anything at Vlvt.fm [https://vlvt.fm/swurlradio?utm_source=swurlradio&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=partner_referral&utm_content=cdep]"