I’m a huge podcast fan.
You see, if you live in a metropolitan area, where the entire city is spread out far and wide, and bumper-to-bumper traffic is always getting in your way, you spend a lot of time behind the wheel, wasting precious time, wishing it was being spent doing something more worthwhile.
Yeah, well, I’m happy to say that after years of mind-numbing motoring, I’ve finally figured out how I can transform all of those miles per hour into something that lifts me up instead of slows me down:
Podcasts.
More specifically: Podcasts about, and by, interior designers.
Yeah, I’ve done the whole audiobook and talk radio thing. And of course, there’s music.
But these days, I’m all about streaming interior design podcasts.
I first became aware of how great interior design podcasts are when interior designer Tammy Cody invited me to appear on her podcast, The Honest Home, back in 2015. As soon as she pitched me on the idea of being interviewed I instantly became fascinated by the medium.
Prior to the interview, I listened to some of her past interviews to get a feel for how mine would unfold. I found each of them to be really intriguing. I loved hearing fellow designers dish dirt on how they navigate their way through this tricky business we’re in.
Ever since my Honest Home interview went live, I’ve been indulging in as many interior design podcasts I can find.
So do you want to know what I’ve learned from all this listening I’ve been doing?
Do you want to learn what successful interior designer after successful interior designer is doing to make sure they never fall off the industry leader ladder?
Well I’ll tell you. That’s right, I’m going to share this wealth of information I’ve driven whoknowshowmanymiles to collect and bring back home to you.
And the trends—they read a little something like this:
◆ Each designer interviewed is doing business in a unique way. From larger firms that do big luxury projects to single designers who work out of their home designing only online, there seems to be about a thousand different ways to structure an interior design business model!
◆ Each designer has a different story about how they entered the business. Some came into the industry as second careers; others in a random, roundabout way; many entered with BFA degrees (which, btw, I find totally interesting; because I, too, came into the biz after earning my BFA degree! That’s right—I’ve thought it all along—Fine Art is exactly where colleges need to be cultivating our industry’s future designers! ;-)
◆ Many of the designers sell product that’s associated with their projects, but many are opting to go other directions. Sure, selling product associated with your project, like custom furnishings, is the tried and true way to make the best profits in a luxury design job. Many designers I have heard interviewed do prefer those projects. They want their name stamped on every stage of their projects.
Oh, and what do you need in order to afford such a professional luxury service? A large, luxury budget.
However, since design is becoming more and more popular and available, since the average consumer has proven to like good design and now can obtain more unique, design-focused products online and everywhere…..designers are searching for ways to serve this market better.
Like me, many have found the old model kind of a beast to deal with and are looking for ways to step outside the lines and try other methods.
This is where podcasts can come in handy, hearing all kinds of interesting stories about how designers are changing things up and finding new avenues for success.
And here’s one common thread I discovered among the designers I have listened to:
They’re all extremely passionate about what they do.
They love this business, as well as the people they meet and work with. They love design. They are all determined to make it, creatively!!! ;-)
Here are some of my fave podcasts below.
And have a listen to some of the interviews I’ve done with these amazing hosts.
They’ve all been done at various stages in my biz and each host chose to focus on different aspects of my business and what I have created online, so each interview is really different.
Wingnut Social w/ Darla Powell - Darla asks me about my blog and how I attract clients and opportunities with it. She asks…..”Is blogging dead?”
Real Talk Design w/ Michelle Binette - Michelle and I talk about how I use my blog and website to vet clients before they even contact me. We talk about transparency on your website.
A Well Designed Business w/ LuAnn Nigara - LuAnn and I discussed how I incorporated consultation-only clients into my business and how I am developing informational products for sale on my site.
Inside Design w/ Kandrac and Kole - I weighed in on some design trends I saw at Fall High Point Market with other designers, in this podcast with JoAnn and Kelly.
Design + Style Podcast w/ Rachel Moriarty and Dixie Willard - We talk about blogging and Pinterest and how driving traffic to your site with content is important these days.
What are some of your faves???