Singer, rapper, and writer Dessa has made a career of bucking genres and defying expectations. Her résumé as a musician includes performances at Lollapalooza and Glastonbury, co-compositions for 100 Voices Choir, performances with the Minnesota Orchestra, and Top 200 entries on the Billboard charts. She contributed to the number-one album The Hamilton Mixtape and the RBG documentary; her track “Congratulations” has notched over 20 million streams.

As a writer, she’s been published by the New York Times and National Geographic Traveler, broadcast by Minnesota Public Radio, and published a memoir-in-essays (My Own Devices, 2018) in addition to two literary collections. As a speaker, Dessa has delivered keynote speeches and presentations on art, science, and entrepreneurship; guest lectures at universities and colleges across the United States; and a TED Talk about her science experiment on how to fall out of love.  She’s also the host of Deeply Human, a podcast created by the BBC and American Public Media. Dessa has been covered by Pitchfork, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and more. The LA Times says she “sounds like no one else.” NPR’s All Songs Considered calls her “a national treasure.” On the stage and on the page, Dessa’s style is defined by ferocity, wit, tenderness, and candor. For more go to: https://www.dessawander.com/

S8 Episode 51: Dessa - The Design Of a Unique Sound, Approach, and Style

The Design Of isn’t a podcast about graphic design. It’s about the intentional design of how we live, lead, create—and pursue what matters most.

Hosted by brand strategist and storyteller Justin Ahrens, The Design Of explores the moments, decisions, and values that shape how people find purpose, navigate change, and create meaningful impact in their lives and work.

Through powerful, human-centered conversations with startup founders, bestselling authors, artists, teachers, business leaders, everyday innovators, and even Olympic medalists and an Oscar winner—each episode reveals what it really takes to build a life (and legacy) with intention.

Whether you’re leading a business, building a brand, making art, or simply trying to live more intentionally, The Design Of invites you to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters.

Brought to you—intentionally and with purpose—by Rule29 and O’Neil Printing.

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S8 Episode 51: Dessa - The Design Of a Unique Sound, Approach, and Style

Design Of Podcast