The Clayton Vance Podcast
The Clayton Vance Podcast
Clayton Vance
Exploring the art and soul of architecture answering questions why the world looks the way it does and what we can do about it.
Design, Legacy, and the Soul of Architecture — A Conversation with Roger Jackson
Roger Jackson has shaped skylines, restored sacred places, and quietly mentored a generation of architects. In this special episode, Clayton sits down with the former president of FFKR Architects—Utah’s largest architectural firm—for a deeply personal and profound conversation about a life in architecture.From childhood memories of blueprint ammonia to the award-winning restoration of the Salt Lake Temple, Roger shares stories from his 40-year career: design philosophy, the evolution of drafting, the soul of classical architecture, and why the real power of architecture lies not in novelty—but in meaning, beauty, and human connection.You’ll hear:How architects rediscovered classical treatises and brought timeless design back to lifeThe spiritual power of good design, and what happens when you get it rightHow Roger helped restore the Salt Lake Temple, the Provo City Center Temple - and design the Philadelphia TempleWhy the buildings that last aren’t always the biggest—but the most lovedWhether you’re an architect, a student, or simply someone who wants to live in a more beautiful world, this episode will change the way you see the built environment around you.
Jul 18, 2025
2 hr 11 min
The Kudzu Effect — When Good Answers Lead to Bad Places
Questions shape everything—cities, policies, lives. But what happens when we’re chasing the wrong question, even if we’ve found the right answer?In this premiere episode, architect Clayton Vance dives into a powerful metaphor: the Kudzu effect—how a well-intentioned answer to a crisis in the American South spiraled into ecological disaster. From there, he traces how that same principle explains much of our modern world: soulless suburbs, lifeless freeways, and neighborhoods that feel like nowhere.Through personal stories—from lonely hotel stays in Syracuse to pedestrian joy in Palm Springs, car chaos in L.A., and a quiet corner of Chicago—Clayton begins a journey toward discovering the right questions that lead to better places, real community, and timeless design.This is more than architecture. It’s about rediscovering what makes places human—and why it matters more than ever.
Jul 18, 2025
18 min