From the Honeycomb

In the first episode of the Women in Architecture series, Katerina is joined by Shadia Jaramillo, a project architect and co-founder of AIA Florida Northwest Women in Architecture. Their conversation explores how architects can create balance between professional responsibilities and personal well-being. 

Shadia shares her journey of career growth, the joy she finds in her work, and why gratitude is such an important daily practice...

In this special anniversary episode of From the Honeycomb, join Katerina as she reflects on four years of podcasting—the whirlwind journey, lessons learned, and the creative outlet the podcast has become. She shares her gratitude for her business and listeners around the world, highlights the top five episodes, and looks back at the standout conversations that shaped this past year.

Katerina also opens up about shifting from a str...

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Katerina is joined by her husband Jesse for a behind-the-scenes look at life as an architect-contractor duo. Together, they reflect on recent growth in their businesses, express gratitude for personal and professional milestones, and answer listener questions.

From discussing job stress and team expansion to sharing laughs during a light-hearted Q&A, Katerina and Jesse explore how their...

In this insightful conversation, Katerina is joined by structural engineer Amy Maskal, known for her humorous perspective on the engineering profession. Together, they explore how humor can be a powerful connector in the workplace and on social media—especially in a field that often takes itself seriously.

Amy shares her unique journey into engineering and how she carved a niche in bleacher and grandstand design. The conversation d...

On this week's episode, Katerina sits down with Diane Gatza, founder of California Maternity Leave Consulting, who shares her inspiring journey from civil engineer to passionate advocate for women navigating the complex world of maternity leave. Diane opens up about the health challenges that shaped her path, her transition into motherhood, and how those experiences ignited her mission to empower women with the knowledge they need ...

In this inspiring conversation, architect and entrepreneur Phephe Rose shares her architectural journey and the bold moves that led her to launch her business, Brush Up Your Space. From a childhood love of drawing to navigating the challenges of architecture school, Phephe reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her path. 

She opens up about the realities of managing multiple ventures, the lessons she’s learned from property ma...

In this episode, Katerina returns from a brief hiatus to share reflections on her evolving entrepreneurial journey. She opens up about recent shifts in the podcast, the current challenges within the architecture industry, and the personal growth that has come from stepping back. From navigating the economic slowdown in Q1 of 2025 to making difficult decisions in her business, Katerina shares a transparent look at what’s been happen...

In this episode, Katerina sits down with Erin Fantozz, a designer whose expertise is shaped by her dual degrees in interior design and architecture. Erin shares the story of her journey in the design industry, from an early passion for creating spaces to the pivotal moments that led her to establish her own business. She reflects on the challenges she faced balancing the demands of a growing career with motherhood, shedding light o...

On this week's episode, Katerina welcomes Jodie Snyder, a registered Ayurvedic lifestyle and wellness coach, to share her inspiring journey into Ayurveda and the creation of Hina Hale, a tranquil sanctuary on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Jodie reveals her path to self-healing, the value of structured routines, and the powerful role nature plays in the healing process.

The conversation explores the deep connection between personal we...

In this week's episode, Katerina sits down with Amy Edwards, founder of Markedly, to explore the art of marketing for architects and designers. Amy offers advice on marketing effectively on a budget, building trust through valuable content, and setting clear business goals to guide your strategy.

She highlights the importance of focusing on strategy over tactics, committing to long-term success, and creating meaningful content to e...

In this reflective episode, host Katerina opens up about the challenges she faced in 2024 and her journey toward slowing down in 2025. After experiencing burnout, Katerina shares her decision to take a hiatus from the podcast, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing mental health and self-care.

With her word for the year, slow down, she explores how setting boundaries and focusing on personal growth have shaped her goals for th...

In the final episode of 2024, Jesse and Katerina look back on their entrepreneurial journeys over the past year. With Jesse’s word of the year, “build,” and Katerina’s, “create,” as guiding themes, they share how these intentions shaped their professional growth.

Together they dive into why they both feel rooted in residential construction, highlighting the unique challenges and rewards of the field. Jesse opens up about the demand...

In this candid solo episode, Katerina takes you behind the scenes to reflect on the final stretch of the year and share her journey through Q4. With no script and plenty to vent about, she opens up about unexpected twists in her business and personal life, offering an honest look at the lessons learned going into her second year as a business owner—lessons that have been even more eye-opening than the first.

Katerina revisits her w...

In this entrepreneurial episode, Katerina is joined by architect and firm owner Kelsey Ahumada, founder of Portica Architecture, as she takes us through her inspiring path from aspiring architect to successful business owner. Kelsey shares how her love for both sketching and technical details led her to architecture and how she was fortunate to gain invaluable early experience in a supportive firm that encouraged her to get license...

In this week's episode Katerina is joined by I'm joined by Lizi Raar, Jessica Rogers, and Norgerie Rivas, the hosts of the She Builds Podcast. Together, they dive into the stories and inspiration behind their podcast, where they highlight the legacy and contributions of women in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC). The trio shares the joy and impact of creating content that motivates and connects with listeners while ...

In this week's episode, licensed therapist and coach Katy Bandy returns as a guest to share reflections from her first year as an entrepreneur. She discusses her journey from a 9-to-5 role to building a business where she empowers high-achieving women through her coaching programs.

Katy opens up about the risks she took, health challenges she faced, and a shift in her approach to social media, all within her first year of entrepren...

In the fourth and final episode of the Women in Architecture series, Katerina sits down with architect Annette Wu, whose passion for the field was sparked early on through creativity in graphic design and hands-on projects. Annette reflects on her journey, including a pivotal moment during her second semester of architecture school that reignited her determination to continue pursuing her dreams

Reflecting on the evolution of archi...

In the third episode of our Women in Architecture series, Katerina is joined by Meg Coffee, a California-based landscape architect with over 20 years of experience and an instructor at UCLA Extension. Meg’s journey as a landscape architect is an inspiring tale of career pivots, perseverance, and leadership.

Meg shares how her early passion for architecture evolved after she discovered the world of landscape architecture, this disco...

In the second episode of our Women in Architecture series, Katerina sits down with architect Bryn Young—ARE coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Mind Over ARE (MOA). Bryn is passionate about guiding the next generation of architects toward licensure and she shares the personal challenges that inspired her to create a community for those struggling with the exams.

Bryn opens up about her own failures with the ARE and how those experi...