The Second Studio
Two practicing architects critique buildings, discuss industry trends, and interview peers from the worlds of construction and development.
A hybrid professional podcast that alternates between several distinct formats. Some episodes are long-form interviews with builders, developers, and other architects, exploring their career paths and philosophies. Others are unscripted "After Hours" conversations between the two hosts about industry news and trends. The show also features detailed "Design Reviews" where the hosts critique specific, often famous, buildings based on site visits and their professional experience.
“The hosts are practicing architects, giving their critiques and interviews a "from the trenches" credibility that sets them apart from journalist-led shows. The explicit rating and casual, peer-to-peer conversational style create an unvarnished feel, as if listening in on a private conversation between colleagues.”
Who hosts this show
The Second Studio is hosted by David Bruce Lee and Marina Bouderonnet, the co-founders of FAME Architecture and Design, an office specializing in custom contemporary homes. David is a registered architect in California and New York with a Master of Urban Design, and Marina is a French-educated architect registered in New York with a background in sculpture and art. Together, they bring over a decade of professional experience to their unscripted, and often explicit, conversations about the realities of the architecture profession.
Credentials & credits
- Co-Founders, FAME Architecture and Design
- David Lee: Registered Architect (CA, NY, NV, FL)
- David Lee: Master of Urban Design, City College of New York
- David Lee: Bachelor of Architecture, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
- Marina Bourderonnet: Registered Architect (NY)
- Marina Bourderonnet: Bachelor of Architecture, l'Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Paris Val-de-Seine
Other ventures
- FAME Architecture and Design
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01#506 - Design Review LACMA by Peter ZumthorJun 24, 2026 · 59 min
- 02Historic building & globalisation juxtaposition 🤨Jun 23, 2026 · 31s
- 03#505 - Daniel Green, Founder of Blackbriar DevelopmentJun 16, 2026 · 2h 05m
- 04#505 - Daniel Green, Founder of Blackbriar DevelopmentJun 16, 2026 · 2h 01m
- 05
- 06#503 - David Prutting, Founder and Owner of Prutting & CoJun 2, 2026 · 1h 31m
- 07#503 - David Prutting, Founder and Owner of Prutting & CoJun 2, 2026 · 1h 27m
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01#506 - Design Review LACMA by Peter Zumthor
A representative example of the 'Design Review' format, where the hosts provide a detailed, on-the-ground critique of a major new architectural work.
- 02#503 - David Prutting, Founder and Owner of Prutting & Co
Exemplifies the show's interview style, featuring a long-form, peer-to-peer conversation with a veteran custom home builder about his 50-year career.
- 03#504 - After Hours: Recent Starchitect Projects and Architecture Trends in School
Showcases the 'After Hours' format, with a casual, unscripted conversation between the hosts about industry news and their own experiences in architecture school.
What you'll be asked on this show
David typically leads the interviews in a relaxed, conversational style that feels more like a peer-to-peer chat than a formal Q&A. He comes prepared, often referencing a guest's specific projects or even books they've written to ground the conversation. Questions are designed to elicit detailed stories about a guest's career path, professional philosophy, and on-the-ground experiences. The goal is to explore a fellow professional's journey and mindset, with follow-up questions that build on their answers rather than pushing back or creating debate.
The show is built on the dynamic between its co-hosts, David Lee and Marina Bouderonnet, and alternates between three primary formats: guest interviews, dual-host "After Hours" chats, and building-specific "Design Reviews". The tone is unscripted, humorous, and often explicit, aiming for honesty over a polished, PG-rated presentation. Episodes frequently reference on-screen visuals, as the show is also published on YouTube.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
9 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.
origin
2- Q.01
“Can you give us a quick introduction to you and your firm?”
This is a standard opening to establish the guest's background and area of expertise for the audience.
- Q.02
“What was your career path? Did you always plan to get into this field?”
The host often asks this to explore the non-linear or unexpected journeys that lead people to their current roles.
personal
2- Q.01
“What would have been the career you expected for yourself?”
A follow-up used when a guest reveals their career was unplanned, aiming to uncover their original aspirations.
- Q.02
“What is your favorite building?”
This is a signature closing question, ending the interview on a personal and inspirational note.
craft
2- Q.01
“What was the most challenging project you've taken on?”
This question serves as a prompt for the guest to share a detailed story about a significant and difficult project.
- Q.02
“Do you find modern design is more difficult to build than traditional?”
Aimed at builders and architects, this question compares the craftsmanship and precision required for different styles.
mindset
1- Q.01
“How does your interest in [another field, like writing] inform your success as a [professional]?”
The host asks this to connect a guest's different skills and explore how they influence each other.
process
1- Q.01
“What's your perspective on working with [incomplete/lightweight] construction documents?”
This question is directed at builders to get their perspective on the architect-builder relationship and its challenges.
future
1- Q.01
“What would be an ideal project for you?”
This question seeks to understand a guest's professional and creative aspirations for the future.
Signature segments
- · After Hours (casual chat format)
- · Design Reviews (building critiques)
- · Closing Question: "What is your favorite building?"
- · Explicit rating and humor
- · Hotline for listener questions
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically founders, principals, and seasoned professionals from fields adjacent to the hosts' own, such as high-end custom home building and property development. They are treated as peers in a collaborative, long-form conversation rather than subjects of a formal interview.
- Daniel Green, Founder of Blackbriar Developmenton #505 - Daniel Green, Founder of Blackbriar Development
- David Prutting, Founder and Owner of Prutting & Coon #503 - David Prutting, Founder and Owner of Prutting & Co
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Sponsors include professional software for architects and designers (e.g., Programa, Chaos, Autodesk Forma) and continuing education providers (Future London Academy). This indicates an audience of practicing creative professionals who use these tools in their daily work.
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.
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of The Second Studio?
- The show is hosted by David Bruce Lee and Marina Bouderonnet, the co-founders of the architecture and interior design firm FAME.
- What are the hosts' credentials?
- Both are practicing architects. David Lee holds a Master of Urban Design and is registered in CA and NY. Marina Bourderonnet is a French-educated architect registered in NY.
- What is the format of the podcast?
- The show uses multiple formats, including interviews with industry professionals, 'Design Reviews' of specific buildings, and casual 'After Hours' conversations between the hosts.
- Is this podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast releases episodes regularly, typically on a weekly basis.
- Where can I listen to The Second Studio?
- The podcast is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast directories.
- What was the podcast's previous name?
- The podcast was formerly known as "The Midnight Charette".
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 Websitesecondstudiopod.com
- [02]FAME Architecture & Design (Founders' Firm)famearchitects.com
- [03]About The Second Studiosecondstudiopod.com
- [04]Founders' Bio - FAME Architecture & Designfamearchitects.com
- [05]David Bruce Lee Faculty Bio - SF Urbansfurban.org
- [06]Apple Podcasts Pagepodcasts.apple.com
- [07]TALKdesign Podcast Guest Biotalkdesign.show
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