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Pod Sessions is an internal podcast concept designed to foster authentic storytelling and stronger connections across teams. Built around the idea that podcasts are intimate, flexible, and human, the series created space for team members to share their experiences in their own words through casual, unscripted conversations.
The format was intentionally lightweight and repeatable. Rather than following a rigid interview structure, each episode encouraged genuine dialogue, allowing every participant’s personality and perspective to shape the conversation. To extend engagement beyond the episode, each guest contributed a portrait and social profile, making it easy for colleagues to connect after listening.
Designed as a scalable communication framework, Pod Sessions could be adopted by any team or organization, providing a consistent yet flexible platform for knowledge sharing, relationship building, and community.
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Work & Process: How do you work?
What research do you do?
How has your understanding of design changed over time?
Identity & Place: Where is home for you?
What role do you feel your work has in society?
Moments & Memories: What is one of your most seminal experiences?
What’s your scariest or most embarrassing moment?
What jobs have you held besides being an artist?
Inspiration & Influence: What art period do you most identify with and why?
What food, drink, or song inspires you?
What’s the most inspirational place you’ve ever traveled to?
Life & Outlook: What’s your outlook on life?
Why art? What’s one thing many people don’t know about life as an artist?
Work & Play: Outside of Nike, what do you most enjoy doing in your spare time
What do you like or dislike about your work or the design world?
Vision & Dreams: What’s your superpower, and when did you realize it?
What would be your dream project?
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
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Global teams often struggle with connection. Remote work, fast-paced deadlines, and siloed disciplines can leave people feeling like strangers, even when they collaborate daily. I wanted to create a lightweight format that encouraged genuine connection without adding more “meetings.”
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At Nike, I designed and launched Pod Sessions as a new way to build team culture through storytelling. Twice a week, teammates received an internal podcast episode, 30 to 60 minutes of candid conversation with a colleague. The goal was simple: move beyond job titles and projects to discover the people behind the work.
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Nike Pod Sessions wasn’t just about recording audio. It was about designing a system where culture could emerge naturally through conversation. It proved that sometimes the most effective design isn’t a product or a campaign, it’s creating space for people to truly know one another.
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Built stronger bonds across functions by highlighting the human stories often left out of work. Inspired laughter, vulnerability, and fresh perspectives, teammates discovered shared passions and surprising overlaps. Established a new model for culture-building that could extend across Nike and beyond.
Nike Pod Sessions w/ James Buford
Juan Antonio Ávalos
Juan is Nike’s Apparel Design Director, leading innovation across performance uniforms for global sports. From football to the NBA, his work blends technical craft with cultural storytelling. In this session, you’ll get to know the person behind the designs — his journey, passions, and what keeps him inspired at Nike.
Pete Fong
Pete is a Nike Senior Designer and the creative force behind its 4D digital design initiatives. With a background in graphic design from Oregon State University, he’s shaped performance textiles and visual systems at brands like Under Armour, Lululemon, Adidas, and Columbia before bringing his craft to Nike in 2018. In this episode, hear Pete’s journey, his creative vision for 4D design, and how he keeps pushing the future of performance apparel.
Charlotte Harris
Charlotte is an Expert Knitwear Designer at Nike, bringing nearly a decade of innovation across global apparel. From football kits to women’s advanced concepts, her work bridges craft and performance at the highest level. Trained at the Royal College of Art and Ravensbourne, Charlotte brings a sharp eye for textiles and a love for knitwear that runs deep. In this episode, you’ll hear her journey through design, the inspirations behind her work, and what fuels her creativity outside the studio.
Elizabeth Guise
Elizabeth is a Senior Manager of Nike’s Apparel, Graphic, and Digital Design Studio. Over nearly two decades at Nike, she’s shaped everything from basketball uniforms to advanced chassis innovation, and now leads a team at the intersection of apparel, graphics, and digital storytelling. In this session, she opens up about her journey, design philosophy, and what inspires her work every day.
Jessica (neé Thornton) Byle
Jessica is an Expert Digital Apparel Designer at Nike, specializing in apparel excellence and 3D design. With nearly a decade at Nike, she’s helped push innovation in digital tools like Clo3D and Style3D. A Savannah College of Art and Design alum with a menswear focus, Jessica brings both craft and digital vision to her work. In this session, you’ll hear her journey and the inspirations that fuel her creativity.
Cyrus Coleman (Bonus Episode)
Cyrus is a Senior Product Graphic Designer at Nike, where he creates the visual identity for NBA uniforms. Over nearly a decade at Nike, he’s designed across basketball apparel and performance graphics, helping shape what athletes wear on the world stage. A graduate of the University of North Texas, Cyrus brings a sharp eye for storytelling and a passion for elevating the game visually.
Scott Hutsenpiller
Scott is a Senior Manager in Nike’s Global Apparel Design team, leading innovation and sustainability across sport. With over two decades of experience spanning Nike ACG, Basketball, and Golf, plus leadership at Eddie Bauer and Tommy Hilfiger, Scott’s built a career at the intersection of performance, innovation, and storytelling. In this session, hear his path, his leadership approach, and how sustainability shapes his vision for the future of apparel.
Ellery Esajas
Ellery is a Senior Product Manager at Nike, leading innovation across Global Football Apparel through consumer insight and strategy. He’s guided teams and managed 50+ SKUs per season, turning data into design that defines how athletes perform on the pitch. In this session, Ellery shares how he transforms insights into innovation, his leadership style, and his vision for the future of football apparel.