Trade Tales

Epizode

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  Ask Us Anything: Dane Austin on taking design presentations to the next level [Rebroadcast] 22.07.2026 47min

  Dane Austin on bringing a theatrical edge to big-picture design planning, a strategy for physically packaging ideas that invokes the world of luxury shopping, and the value of refining the decision-making process through three levels of presentations.
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  Why Mandy Cheng won't delegate her firm's finances [Rebroadcast] 15.07.2026 59min

  Mandy Cheng on why she’s not delegating the firm’s finances, the best methods for decoding a client’s taste, and the client education document that’s transformed the way she vets potential new projects.
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  Ask Us Anything: Melissa Oholendt’s go-to interview questions for new hires [Rebroadcast] 08.07.2026 40min

  Melissa Oholendt of Minnesota- and Colorado-based firm Oho Interiors on how to reveal a candidate’s true ambitions, evaluating skillset through a key question, and knowing when to call for backup.
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  Why Ali Budd wants to do design TV differently [Rebroadcast] 01.07.2026 53min

  Ali Budd on how she sets her firm apart in the competition for clients, what it takes to create a safe space for employees and finding the sweet spot where she can play a role in every project.
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  Ask Us Anything: Blair Moore on protecting your firm from shipping issues 24.06.2026 29min

  New York and Rhode Island-based interior designer Blair Moore on reckoning with a decline in shipping quality, how thorough channels of communication can help catch issues before they arise, and—when all else fails—establishing your own in-house receiving operation.
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  How Angela Harris put wellness front and center in her business 17.06.2026 59min

  Angela Harris on what it takes to fully inhabit the role of design visionary, how overhauling her firm’s infrastructure helped the team claw back creative time, why she’s pursuing a PhD centered on the concept of design as an ethical imperative.
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  Ask Us Anything: Lucy O’Brien on designing around order minimums 10.06.2026 24min

  Philadelphia-based interior designer Lucy O’Brien of Tartan & Toile on finding a second life for extra material, the value in troubleshooting with sales reps, and being transparent with clients about unexpected fees during the procurement process.
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  Rayana Schmitz on tapping outside experts to transform her firm 03.06.2026 48min

  Rayana Schmitz on the showhouse experience that pushed her creative boundaries, how a fractional CFO saved her firm’s finances and why she maintains strict hours of communication with clients.
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  Ask Us Anything: Lauren Caron’s process-driven approach to far-away projects 27.05.2026 51min

  Seattle-based interior designer Lauren Caron on billing clients for travel time, how she maximizes site visits before the transition to remote work, and the value in an exhaustive scope of work document.
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  How Audrey Scheck established her firm’s C-suite 20.05.2026 1h 4min

  Audrey Scheck on her growth mindset as she expanded her team, how a bandwidth tracker helps the firm determine whether it's time to take on new business, and the questions that help clients step outside their comfort zone.
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  Ask Us Anything: Zoë Feldman on how to measure an employee’s design skills 13.05.2026 37min

  Washington, D.C.–based Zoë Feldman on how to hire for aesthetic alignment, the metrics she uses to measure an employee’s progress at the firm, and how a team member with their own style can sometimes save the firm from adopting a formulaic look.
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  How Hema Persad built ‘the smallest, most efficient’ team 06.05.2026 57min

  Los Angeles–based designer Hema Persad on how managing a team shifted her perspective on business growth, why she’s been a fast adopter of AI tools, and what to expect from celebrity clients.
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  Ask Us Anything: Christine Vroom on how to pivot when your pipeline falls apart 29.04.2026 38min

  Los Angeles–based Christine Vroom on the importance of taking inventory of the hypothetical situations that could impact a design business, why her firm implements a “restart fee” for clients who need to push pause, and how to mentally prepare for the ebb and flow characteristic of a designer’s workload.
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  Why Hanna Li’s design proposals include a sustainability fee 22.04.2026 53min

  Los Angeles–based designer Hanna Li on how she’s measuring the carbon footprint of every project, why she produced short films about her firm’s work, and the reason every role she hires for comes with a five-year plan.
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  Ask Us Anything: Melissa Oholendt’s go-to interview questions for new hires 15.04.2026 34min

  Melissa Oholendt of Minnesota- and Colorado-based firm Oho Interiors on how to reveal a candidate’s true ambitions, evaluating skillset through a key question, and knowing when to call for backup.
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  Kobel & Co.’s radical take on the client questionnaire 08.04.2026 1h 17min

  Elizabeth Bennett and Mallory Robins of Kansas City, Missouri–based firm Kobel & Co. share why they no longer use a client questionnaire, how they maintain a single brand voice at every touchpoint, and why a willingness to go all-in is their new criteria for incoming projects.
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  Ask Us Anything: Alison Giese on how to streamline your design presentation 01.04.2026 42min

  San Antonio, Texas–based designer Alison Giese on the value of providing clients with curated choices, how to hone powers of observation during the intake process, and why whole-home presentations help convey continuity—and give designers a chance to build confidence and salesmanship skills.
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  Jess Ebert on why delegation is the key to longevity 25.03.2026 47min

  Jess Ebert on how she communicates her entire team’s value to clients, the many ways hiring a PR firm is helping her navigate the changing social media landscape and why taking Wednesdays off represents a pivotal moment in her entrepreneurial journey.
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  Ask Us Anything: Chloe Redmond Warner on establishing processes that fit your firm 18.03.2026 34min

  Oakland, California–based designer Chloe Redmond Warner on why an unstructured design process might miss out on the value-engineering phase, how to find the sweet spot between client responsiveness and total control, and why issuing a project schedule from the outset can help establish a firm’s sense of authority.
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  Melissa Oholendt on how to become the creative director of your design firm 11.03.2026 1h 2min

  Melissa Oholendt of Minnesota and Colorado-based firm Oho Interiors on the business partner who helped her firm set its sights higher, the strategy behind identifying an Instagram audience, and how she stays above the emotional fray when it comes to discussing finances with clients.