The Type Pod

This episode we talk about Transport, which is not a typeface. We know this for sure because designer Margaret Calvert said so in an email to us. If you have ever driven anywhere you will know the (not a) typeface Transport, as it was purposefully designed for roads. What you may not know is that the typeface is just one part of an extensive information system designed to help us all get where we want to go. Hopefully without hitting deers or pedestrians along the way. In this episode A...

Originally Anitra thought this typeface was designed by a woman, and because she is the only person authorized to speak about typefaces designed by a woman Anitra did the research for this episode. Sure, Jason is in touch with his feminine side, but not enough to be brave enough to speak (and he is too young and pretty to be canceled). Turns out Anitra was almost completely wrong, this typeface was created by a bunch of women — maybe. Although kind of no one designed this typeface too? ...

Our book Back to Font is finally out! You can buy it in bookstores and everything! If you are in the UK you can get a 20% discount by going to laurenceking.com and entering the code TYPEPOD20. In the grand tradition of this podcast we messed up the original "producer produced" version of this into, so we did it again using finger puppets and bits of string, without the ThesisWhisperer. (She would want us to say the sound quality is not her fault, which is true it isn't.) Tune in to learn abou...

Inger gathered the team for an emergency pod about Balto the 2013 typeface chosen for the Harris Waltz campaign. After one failed attempt – which tested Inger’s patience about kerning — we nailed it (although we may inadvertently start some new political conspiracy theories by talking about the adventures of a plucky Disney dog also named Balto, not to mention the problematic choice of Perpetua for Obama’s first campaign). Anitra talks too much about columns and typeface rubbings ...

After a long delay (we blame the state of the world, frankly - exhausting) it's finally the end of season one of The Type Pod! In this episode we finally tackle our least favourite typeface: Goudy. We learn about the designer, Frederic (no K) Goudy and speculate on his rumoured penchant for women and fast cars. We dive into his improbably large output... of typefaces and publications. We wonder if part of the reason he designed and cut over 100 typefaces might be his very talented wife...

In this episode we talk about Baskerville, which is the most trustworthy typeface (as proven by Science.) Anitra has Feminist Thoughts about designer John Baskerville and thought it would be inappropriate for Jason to mansplain this particular typeface to her… but she found out some things about JB and, well, this episode takes a turn. We learn about how designer John Baskerville pissed off the establishment enough to be turned into a famous book character and perhaps inspired a...

In this episode, David joins us again as we examine the history of that most ubiquitous of typefaces, Times New Roman, which is much more interesting than Times New Roman itself - honest. Anitra volunteered to do the typeface history for this episode so she can then bore for Australia on printing technology. Jason and David will try to stay awake. Follow David on Instagram You can find the show notes and transcript set in Times New Roman at https://www.anitraland...

After a longer than intended - “we’re out of lockdown and we have a social life again!” - pause The Type Pod is back. In this episode we deep dive into Bodoni, that typeface most beloved by designers of fashion magazines. Ace designer, type teacher David joins Jason and Anitra all the way from Washington D.C. to discuss why designers have, for more than two centuries, stuck with Bodoni… through thick and thin. We learn all about designer Giovanni Battista, who once made Napoleon come to h...

Catch up with your favourite typography nerds, Anitra and Jason, as they unravel the mysteriously wonderful world of typefaces - and the people who make them. Each episode is a deep dive into one type face (not a font!), who designed it, what it's good for and how we feel about it.

Content warning: this pod contains details of historical sexual abuse. Due to technical issues during recording, we skip our advertised feature on Times New Roman; although fear not, we will return to Times New Roman in the future. Instead we focus on Gill Sans, and Eric Gill, type designer and religious artist... with a sideline in erotic woodcuts. Jason warns that luxuriant facial hair combined with smock-wearing are a red flag for, and Anitra confesses some disturbing revelations about E...

In this first episode, Anitra and Jason talk about Futura, that most versatile of modernist typefaces and its designer Paul Renner, OG Anti-fa. Anitra tells Jason why the Nazis hated Latin typefaces. We argue about the merits of mathematical proportions and discuss why Futura is probably not classified as a “fun” typeface. Jason unfairly compares Type Designer Mathew Carter to a character from Game of Thrones. Anitra chose to do the history for this episode thinking that she knows all a...