The DesignDash Podcast

If you’ve ever ended a day thinking, I made a hundred decisions today and I’m still not sure I made the right ones, this episode is for you.

We sat down with Lois Barth, executive coach, human development expert, and author of Courage to Sparkle for what is less an “interview” and more a real-time working session. Lois has coached and supported members of our team over the years, so this conversation goes straight past the surface ...

Your clients are not “behind.”

They are just living in a different timeline than the product world.

In this episode of DesignDash, we sit down with Stacy Garcia, a globally recognized designer, trend forecaster, and entrepreneur whose work quietly shapes what your clients will want next, often before they even know how to describe it.

And what I love about this conversation is that it’s not a “here are the trends, go copy them” kin...

Hiring your first team member can feel like this weird mix of excitement and panic.

Like… you want help. You need help. But you’re also thinking:

What if I don’t have enough work for them next month? What if they mess something up and it blows back on my reputation? What if I’m supposed to have SOPs, onboarding, and a whole “system” and it’s all… in my head?

Yeah. This episode is for that moment.

In this Design Dash episode, we get...

You can be “so busy”… and still not be moving forward.

If that line hits a little too close to home, you are not alone.

In today’s episode, we do something we have never done on Design Dash before. Instead of a polished, hindsight-style interview with someone who already has it all figured out, we pull back the curtain and do a real-time coaching session with Houston-based designer Alexandra “Sandy” Hartley of Alexandra Hartl...

We tried to start the year with a guest… and the tech gods said “absolutely not.” So instead, you get just us, and honestly? We’re coming in hot.

Welcome to our actual first episode of 2026 (call it episode 1.25 if you want). It’s a solo kickoff, and we’re talking candidly about what it really feels like to start a new year when you’re already knee-deep in the work. Real talk about planning, hiring, imposter syndrome, optimism (bor...

Happy New Year! Yes, we know… this episode was supposed to be our final one of 2025. And yes, you are listening to it after the New Year. Consider this our way of easing into January—no rushing, no panic, just one last look back because the conversation was too good not to share.

In this episode, we reflect on the year that was, what challenged us, what surprised us, and the people who genuinely shifted how we think about design, b...

What if everything you think you know about the art world is actually what’s keeping you out of it?

This week on the Design Dash Podcast, we sit down with the wildly insightful and refreshingly down-to-earth Elise Arnoult Miller, founder of Arnoult Fine Art, who’s celebrating 15 years of helping people connect with art in ways that feel personal, intentional, and totally un-intimidating. If you've ever felt like the art world is a ...

If you’ve ever reached December and felt torn between slowing down and catching up, this episode is exactly what you need.

The truth is, December quietly determines how strong your next year will be. Most people treat it like a soft landing. We treat it like the month that sets the entire tone for the next twelve. Not with hustle. Not with burnout. With clarity, intention and smart cleanup that creates space for real growth when Ja...

Every once in a while, you sit down with someone who doesn’t just talk about design… they embody it. And in this episode, Rebekah Zaveloff proves she’s one of those rare voices you don’t forget.

In this episode we sit down with Rebekah Zaveloff, co founder and creative director of Imparfait Design Studio. If you don’t know her yet, you’re about to understand why so many people in the design world consider her one of the sharpest mi...

What happens when life completely derails, and somehow lands you right where you were meant to be?

That’s exactly what today’s guest, Libby Langdon, discovered after one of the biggest pivots of her life. From actress and TV producer to one of the most recognizable names in design, Libby’s story is equal parts grit, humor, and pure creative drive.

In this episode of Design Dash, Melissa and Laura sit down with Libby to unpack how s...

What happens when “exquisitely livable luxury” meets real-world grit?

In this episode of Design Dash, Melissa and Laura sit down with South Africa–born designer Nikki Levy, who built her namesake Boca Raton studio from the edge of her bed, literally, and turned it into a thriving brand now shaping homes (and hearts) across the world.

You’ll hear how Nikki:

• Took her first leap from a kitchen-table startup to a luxury design po...

In this episode our guest is Brittny Button, founder of Button Atelier, an interior design studio in Los Angeles. Brittny has built a reputation for creating spaces that feel both calm and timeless, drawing inspiration from Spanish revival architecture, European details, and old Hollywood romance.

We talk about her unexpected path into design after leaving a modeling career, how renovating a Palm Springs home while pregnant became ...

What makes a project catch an editor’s eye?

Is it the styling? The story? The angle of the photo? Or is it something much less obvious?

This week on Design Dash, we sit down with Andrea Lillo, the Executive Editor of Designers Today. She’s the one shaping the stories and covers that end up defining the conversation in our industry. And she was generous enough to share exactly what goes into those decisions.

We covered a lot, but he...

In this episode we sit down with the dynamic duo Mike and Bryan Yates of Yates Desygn. If you know them, you already know you’re in for sharp wit, bold vision, and unapologetic honesty. If you don’t know them yet—trust me, you’ll want to.

We talk about the turning points that pushed them to expand, how they designed a workspace that actually sells their vision to clients, and why natural light and thoughtful details matter more tha...

In this episode of Design Dash, we sit down with the one and only Jane Dagmi—Managing Director of High Point by Design (HPxD) and former Editor-in-Chief of Designers Today. If you’re in the design world, chances are you already know Jane as a connector, a champion of creativity, and someone who has shaped the way we talk about design for decades.

We talk about the real power of storytelling in design and why the most relatable part...

In this episode, my guest is Tracee Murphy, CEO and Principal Designer of Trademark Interiors and founder of The Designer Launch. Tracee has built a multimillion-dollar design firm and now mentors other designers on everything from conflict management to selling luxury services.

We talk about how psychology plays a bigger role in design than most people realize, and why learning to read people is just as important as creating beaut...

I just got back from a 10-day vacation. Melissa’s about to head out on hers. And in the space between “leaving” and “coming back,” we realized something: burnout isn’t always obvious until it’s running the show.

In this episode, we get brutally honest about how burnout shows up in our lives, why “I’m so busy” is not a badge of honor, and how the wrong kind of hustle can quietly rob you of the joy that made you start your business i...

Ever left a client meeting thinking, “Is it me… or are they just an ahole?”** If yes, you’re not alone—and this episode is definitely for you.

In this episode we are pulling back the velvet curtain on the three personality types that show up in interior design projects: discerning, demanding, and downright disrespectful. The differences between them? Subtle… but game-changing.

We’re diving into:

• What separates a high-standard...

Let’s be honest—if you’ve ever found yourself drowning in invoicing, juggling a million tabs, or spending more time sourcing tile than actually designing the room, you’re not alone.

In this episode, we’re joined by Danae Branson, founder of Elite Design Assistants and creator of Niche Maven, two brilliant solutions helping interior designers ditch the overwhelm and build the kind of businesses they actually want to run.

Whether you...