The Grand Tourist with Dan Rubinstein

It’s the city so well-designed, they named it twice: New York, New York. On this special episode sponsored by Ann Sacks, Dan speaks with four leading figures in his hometown’s design scene to explore the trends, movements, hotspots, and personalities that make Gotham the beating heart of the design world, including Alexandra Cunningham Cameron, a curator at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; Oren and Tal Alexander, co-founders of real estate firm Official; David Alhadeff, founder of powerhouse gallery The Future Perfect; and Michael Diaz-Griffith, executive director of the Design Leadership Network.

There’s a new generation of jewelry designers that is bringing back artistry, narrative, and a sublime sense of luxury. On this episode (with some guidance from Levi Higgs, influencer and Head of Archives and Brand Heritage at David Webb), Dan speaks with two emerging talents: Emmanuel Tarpin, a French wunderkind known for turning his love of nature into one-of-a-kind, high jewelry pieces; and New Yorker Jean Prounis, whose eponymous line Prounis creates fine jewelry inspired by the natural world and her own family’s unique story.

Modernistic floating cubes placed in deconsecrated churches, marble stools shaped like plastic ones, and storage spaces retrofitted into stunning galleries: The creations of designer Massimiliano Locatelli are the epitome of Italian cool. On this episode, Dan speaks with the sharp-tongued architect about his stunning portfolio, and his new line of furniture created from a lifetime of wild experiences and extravagant clients.

On this special episode sponsored by Lumens, Dan meets three extraordinary studios in the field of design: British upstart Tom Massey uses radical materials and a sustainable approach to his gardens; Brooklyn and Athens–based duo Eleni Petaloti and Leonidas Trampoukis of Objects of Common Interest create spaces and objects that defy convention (but don’t call them “Instagrammable”); and Venice-based Lucia Massari produces wild, ultra-contemporary examples of Murano glass.

A towering figure in postmodern dance, Lucinda Childs has injected an elegant spirit of collaboration, artistry, and whimsy to the artform. On this episode, Dan speaks with the legendary choreographer on her days learning from the likes of Tanaquil Le Clercq and Merce Cunningham, creating her groundbreaking performances with Philip Glass and Sol LeWitt, and the time a severe injury almost ended her incredible career.

Gadgets, accessories, furniture, computers, and even robots: In recent memory, the language of good design has been shaped and driven by Yves Béhar, founder of Fuseproject. On this episode, Dan speaks with the Swiss-born impresario on his early career with Frog Design, what motivated some of his most famous projects like One Laptop Per Child, what he thinks about A.I. and the housing crisis, and his latest endeavor, the all-electric TELO Truck.

Country homes squeezed into wedges, cars that look like they’ve been inflated like a balloon, and sculptures created by ordinary people interacting with quotidian objects—the works of Austrian artist Erwin Wurm defy expectations. On this episode, Dan speaks with the smartly subversive talent about his famed One Minute Sculptures, how the Red Hot Chili Peppers were inspired by his oeuvre, and how a period of tragedy in his life marked a turning point in his career.

A household name in food and fine dining, Eric Ripert has elevated seafood to new heights with his legendary New York restaurant Le Bernardin. On this episode, Dan and the maestro speak about his upbringing in the tiny principality of Andorra, how he cut his teeth in the demanding kitchen of Joël Robuchon, his fond memories of Anthony Bourdain, how his Buddhist faith keeps him grounded, his latest must-own book  “Seafood Simple,” and more.

This artistic icon is something of a graphic design daredevil. Or perhaps a prophet. Through his wildly inventive works, he challenges conventions and communicates ideas that can alter the way we perceive society. On this episode, Dan speaks with the legendary creative on his latest book, “Now Is Better,” why he’s much happier than his documentary, “The Happy Film,” suggested he is, and reflects on his successes and admiration for book publisher Phaidon that is celebrating its 100th anniversary.