Conversations Worth Having: My Podcast Guest Appearances
One of my favorite things about being in this space is the conversations. Real, unscripted exchanges with hosts who care about the same things I do: building better products, leading smarter teams, and making quality a strategic advantage instead of an afterthought.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of being a guest on podcasts that span quality engineering, reliability, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, public speaking, and leadership. Each conversation explored a different angle of my work and the ideas behind Pierce the Design Fog.
If you’re curious about my perspective on product development, cross-functional teams, or what it means to integrate quality thinking early. Here’s where to start listening.
Engineering, Quality & Reliability
Speaking of Reliability (Co-Host)
With Fred Schenkelberg · Accendo Reliability
I’m a regular co-host on Speaking of Reliability, where Fred and I (and other cohosts) dig into topics that reliability and quality engineers deal with every day. Topics range from design reviews and data challenges to what reliability engineers actually do. These are candid, peer-to-peer conversations grounded in real experience.
Selected episodes include discussions on independent design review, quality management systems, customer service and AI, and whether we ever really have “enough data.”
🎧 Listen on Accendo Reliability
Critical Talks with Gabor Szabo
Episode: “What Is the Future of Quality?”
Gabor and I unpacked a question I’d been writing about: where is the quality profession headed? We explored how quality thinking is shifting from reactive inspection to a strategic, design-stage discipline — and what that means for engineers and leaders.
Manufacturers Make Strides
With Martin Griffiths · Metis Automation Episode: “Why Good Designs Fail”
Martin and I talked about a dynamic nearly every engineer recognizes: design throws it over the wall, and manufacturing has to figure it out. We discussed why siloed working persists, what happens when design and production teams are measured against different metrics, and how early collaboration changes outcomes on the shop floor and in product development.
🎧 Listen and read more at Metis Automation
Entrepreneurship & Business
The Thoughtful Entrepreneur
With Josh Elledge · UpMyInfluence Episode: “Navigating Innovation: How to Pierce the Design Fog”
Josh and I discussed how entrepreneurs and engineering teams fall into the “solution jumping” trap — rushing to build before truly understanding the problem. We covered the Benefit Impact and System Impact models, the ADEPT Team Framework, and how early-stage quality tools actually accelerate the path to market.
The Antifragility Reframe
With Dr. Frank L. Douglas · Safe Haven Dialogues
Dr. Douglas and I explored how innovation doesn’t begin with a brilliant idea — it begins with courageous conversations. I shared my journey from the production floor to the design room and how I discovered that the real obstacle to innovation isn’t technical skill, but unaddressed uncertainty. We talked about using structured dialogue, customer-focused thinking, and intentional conflict to move from confusion to clarity.
Public Speaking & Thought Leadership
Speaking Your Brand
With Carol Cox
I appeared on Speaking Your Brand twice:
Episode 287: “The ROI of Investing in a Speaking Coach” — I shared why I decided to invest in a speaking coach, the tangible results I’ve seen both personally and professionally, and what surprised me about adding storytelling to my technical presentations.
Episode 298: Women in STEM Panel — I joined a panel of women in STEM to discuss how we use our voices to advocate for change and build thought leadership.
Teach the Geek Podcast
With Neil Thompson Episode 382: “A Coach of Quality”
Neil and I talked about the path from the plant floor to founding Deeney Enterprises, writing Pierce the Design Fog, and how becoming an effective communicator has transformed my work with engineering teams.
Leadership & Innovation
The SAFE Leader
With Mark McBride-Wright
Mark and I explored the leadership and diversity story behind my work — how the principles of sharing, acting, feeling, and empowering shape how I approach product teams and innovation.
The Iferia Techcast
With Ezekiel Iferia
Ezekiel and I had a wide-ranging conversation about what it’s really like to work at the intersection of engineering, quality, and innovation — the breakthroughs, the breakdowns, and the lessons learned along the way.
Live Presentations & Panels
Beyond podcasts, I’ve delivered track presentations, panel discussions, and webinars for organizations including:
- ASQ Reliability & Risk Division: Reliability, Maintenance & Managing Risk Conference (4 presentations across 2 years, plus a panel discussion)
- ASQ Medical Device Division — Dallas/Fort Worth Discussion Group (webinar)
- ASQ Philadelphia Section WIQ Symposium (presentation)
- IEEE Women in Engineering Forum USA East 2024 (2 years, live presentation)
- IEEE Technical Communication Society (webinar)
Other Conversations
I also appreciate being a guest because it’s the other side of the mic! I’ve interviewed many people that work in industrial manufacturing and business about topics that affect Quality during Design. I’m proud to be able to elevate others’ voices and bring their perspectives to my listeners.
All of my interviews are Season 3 of the Quality during Design Podcast and have “A Chat with Cross-Functional Experts” in their title. You can filter by Season 3 on Apple Podcasts, or just search “chat” to find them all. You can easily find the episodes on my blog search.
Let’s Have a Conversation
I’m always open to new podcast conversations, keynotes, and panel discussions. If you’re looking for a guest who brings practical, no-fluff perspective on product development, cross-functional teamwork, and building quality into design from the start — let’s talk.
👉 Book Dianna | Download Speaker One-Sheet (PDF)
Dianna Deeney is the founder of Deeney Enterprises, author of Pierce the Design Fog, and host of the Quality during Design podcast. She helps product teams integrate quality and reliability thinking early — when it’s cheap and easy — instead of late when it’s expensive and painful.