The Runway Society
A podcast documenting the visionaries shaping the future of fashion, framed as a 'cultural archive' for the industry.
This is a long-form interview show positioned as a 'cultural archive' of the voices shaping the future of fashion. Host Michaela Leitz engages in deep, philosophical conversations with founders, technologists, and strategists, focusing on systemic shifts like sustainability, AI, and legacy thinking. The show deliberately avoids fleeting trends in favor of exploring the strategic and intellectual underpinnings of the modern fashion industry.
“Its 'cultural archive' framing and explicit focus on 'visionaries' over 'trendsetters' sets it apart. Unlike many fashion podcasts, it prioritizes conversations about technology, venture capital, and systemic change, treating fashion as a complex industry rather than just an aesthetic pursuit.”
Who hosts this show
The Runway Society is hosted by Michaela Leitz, a size-inclusive fashion stylist and image consultant based in Frankfurt, Germany. Her work focuses on advancing size inclusion within the fashion industry and has been featured in publications like InStyle and the Huffington Post. She created the podcast to document the voices of designers, founders, and cultural disruptors who are creating a legacy in fashion.
Credentials & credits
- Size-Inclusive Fashion Stylist
- Image Consultant
- Personal Shopper
- Contributor to InStyle, Huffington Post, USA Today
Other ventures
- Confidence-Style.com (Styling Service)
- WeDress Collective (Community Member)
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02
- 03The Runway Society – Official Trailer | A Podcast by Michaela LeitzMay 25, 2025 · 48s
Notable episodes
- 01Architecting Fashion’s Future: A Parisian Conversation with Peter Jeun Ho Tsang, CEO of Beyond Form
A deep dive into the venture capital and startup ecosystem that is reshaping the fashion industry from behind the scenes.
- 02Decoding Fashion’s Future - Barbara Maiocchi on Data-Driven Trend Forecasting & Cultural Insight
Explores the critical tension between data-driven forecasting and human intuition in the creative process of fashion.
- 03The Runway Society – Official Trailer | A Podcast by Michaela Leitz
Clearly articulates the podcast's unique mission as a 'cultural archive' for fashion visionaries in under one minute.
What you'll be asked on this show
Michaela Leitz begins interviews with a broad, philosophical question to establish the guest's core worldview, such as asking what a concept like 'regeneration' means to them personally. She probes deeper by building on the guest's answers, often providing long, detailed context before posing multi-layered questions that connect abstract ideas with industry practice (e.g., 'How do you navigate the space between intuition and AI predictions?'). Her style is highly affirming and complimentary, designed to celebrate the guest's expertise. A recurring theme is asking guests to identify the uncomfortable questions the industry avoids or to bet on a future-proof model or mindset.
The format is a one-on-one seated conversation, filmed in fashion capitals like Paris. Host Michaela Leitz provides long, laudatory guest introductions and asks multi-layered, philosophical questions. The show's recurring tagline is, "The voices of today. The legacy of tomorrow."
Questions the host keeps coming back to
12 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
mindset
3- Q.01
“What do you sense is rising underneath the current trends?”
A typical opening question to gauge the guest's high-level view of the industry's emotional or strategic climate.
- Q.02
“What does a concept like 'regeneration' mean to you as a designer, builder, and human?”
An opening question used to establish the guest's core philosophy from a personal and professional perspective.
- Q.03
“Are there noticeable patterns in the soul of founders, beyond just strategy?”
A philosophical question looking for the deeper, common motivations that drive entrepreneurs.
controversy
2- Q.01
“What invisible habits or assumptions are holding the fashion industry back?”
Used to probe for industry-wide challenges and points of inertia that the guest is trying to solve.
- Q.02
“What sustainability question is the fashion industry still not brave enough to ask?”
A provocative question designed to uncover uncomfortable truths beyond surface-level sustainability talk.
process
1- Q.01
“How do you navigate the space between intuition and AI predictions?”
Asks guests to reconcile the value of human creativity with the rise of technological tools in fashion.
advice
2- Q.01
“How can we frame AI tools in an empowering way for designers who feel threatened?”
Seeks practical advice for overcoming cultural resistance to new technology within the industry.
- Q.02
“What model or mindset shift would you back right now with full confidence?”
A closing-style question that asks the guest to make a definitive strategic bet on fashion's future.
future
2- Q.01
“What technology are legacy fashion houses still lacking?”
Pushes for specific examples of technological gaps in major, established brands.
- Q.02
“How do you envision technology reshaping the industry?”
A forward-looking question that asks for the guest's high-level predictions on technology's impact.
personal
1- Q.01
“Where do you feel most challenged or most alive in your work?”
A personal question intended to understand the guest's emotional connection to their profession.
origin
1- Q.01
“What inspired you to write your book or start your company?”
A standard question used to uncover the origin story of a guest's key venture or project.
Signature segments
- · Tagline: "The voices of today. The legacy of tomorrow."
- · Framing the podcast as a 'cultural archive'
- · Long, laudatory guest introductions
- · Filmed in fashion capitals like Paris, Milan, and New York
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically founders, CEOs, authors, and strategists working on the future of fashion through technology, sustainability, or innovative business models. They are presented as 'visionaries' and 'quiet revolutionaries' rather than mainstream celebrity designers.
- Peter Jeun Ho Tsangon Architecting Fashion’s Future: A Parisian Conversation with Peter Jeun Ho Tsang, CEO of Beyond Form
- Barbara Maiocchion Decoding Fashion’s Future - Barbara Maiocchi on Data-Driven Trend Forecasting & Cultural Insight
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Estimated: No sponsors or advertisements were detected in the episodes. The podcast appears to be a self-funded project by the host, likely to build her personal brand and network within the industry.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch this show
People also ask
- Who is the host of The Runway Society?
- The podcast is created and hosted by Michaela Leitz, a German fashion stylist and image consultant specializing in size-inclusivity.
- What is the podcast's format?
- It is a one-on-one video interview show featuring conversations with founders, designers, and strategists in the fashion industry.
- Is The Runway Society still producing new episodes?
- The most recent episodes were published in mid-2025. Public metadata has tagged the channel as potentially dormant.
- What kind of topics are discussed?
- Conversations focus on the future of fashion, including technology, AI, sustainability, venture capital, and brand strategy, rather than seasonal trends.
- How can I pitch a guest for the show?
- The show's official website has a guest application form and provides a public email for contact.
- Where can I watch or listen to the podcast?
- The video podcast episodes are available on the official YouTube channel.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Official Websitetherunwaysociety.com
- [02]The Runway Society - YouTube Channelyoutube.com
- [03]Host's LinkedIn Profilelinkedin.com
- [04]Michaela Leitz Bio - Sylvia Piechullasylviapiechulla.com
- [05]Michaela Leitz Bio - WeDress Collectivewedresscollective.com
- [06]Legal Notices - The Runway Societytherunwaysociety.com
Podcasts like The Runway Society
Silicon Valley Girl
Silicon Valley Girl
An entrepreneur interviews the founders and scientists building the next wave of AI to uncover practical strategies for career and business growth.
The Arena
The Arena
A daily sports debate show where 3-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas and a panel of former pros give unfiltered takes on basketball news.
Backstage with Millionaires
Pankaj Chauhan
A weekly news show and documentary-style channel breaking down the biggest stories and trends in the Indian startup and venture capital ecosystem.
Thomas Brush
Thomas Brush
A podcast for aspiring indie game developers, hosted by a solo dev who interviews peers about the practical and emotional journey of making games.
The Founder's Dream | Abhishek vyas
The Founder
A Hindi-language business podcast featuring long-form interviews with Indian startup founders about their real-world journeys and industries.
Rusty Quill Podcasts
Rusty Quill Podcasts
A network feed from a London-based production house specializing in full-cast speculative fiction and horror audio dramas.
HAHA Podcast
Three Korean-American sisters and YouTubers bring their chaotic, unfiltered group chat to a weekly video podcast.
Sports Yaari
Sports Yaari
A high-cadence Indian sports media channel delivering daily news, reactive analysis, and passionate opinions primarily focused on the Indian national cricket team.