Episodes

What happens when a furniture marketing exec gets hired for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and spends the next eight years designing over 120 homes from the ground up? For Kim Lewis, it launched her extraordinary career in interior design. Laura sits down with Kim Lewis, founder of Kim Lewis Designs, to trace her journey from Four Hands marketing to lead designer on one of television's most beloved home renovation shows, to building a thriving seven team design firm in Austin. Kim opens up abou...

Laura sits down with Jane Ko, the powerhouse creator behind A Taste of Koko and the force driving Howdy Homes, Austin's newest collection of design forward residences. From building one of Austin's most beloved lifestyle platforms to stepping into interior design and real estate development, Jane shares the decade plus journey of consistency, reinvention, and trusting her instincts.She opens up about the pivot from corporate life to full time content creation, the evolution of social media from ...

Laura sits down with Dr. Jessica Tranchina, DPT, Co-Founder of Generator Athlete Lab and Founder of Experts in Wellness. From growing up as a first-generation American to becoming one of Austin’s most trusted integrative wellness experts, Dr. Jess shares her journey of science-meets-intuition, entrepreneurship, healing, motherhood, and the power of listening to your body. She shares the path that led her to physical therapy, how she built Generator Athlete Lab which was ahead of its time, and wh...

Laura sits down with Miranda Cullen, Founder and CEO of Inside Stories and the visionary behind the Inside Stories Franchise. From taking a high school interior design class that changed her life to building a thriving multi division design firm in Denver, Miranda shares how her creative curiosity, resilience, and love for mentoring others shaped her thirty year career. She dives into the launch of micro interior design, why quick hit projects can be more impactful than full scale remodels, and...

Laura sits down with Karen Zabarsky Blashek, Editor in Chief of Austin Home and founder of Ground Up. From her beginnings in New York architecture studios to shaping major real estate developments and leading Austin Home which is Austin’s preeminent design publication, Karen shares her multidisciplinary journey and the creative thread that connects it all. She shares the power of building community, navigating big life transitions, embracing motherhood, and raising the standard for design story...

This week on Here With Laura, we’re joined by Janine Starr, founder J9 HOMES a boutique remodeling firm in Austin, TX. She sits down to talk about how she built a respected, relationship-driven construction business from the ground up. After a long career in HR and consulting, Janine made a bold pivot at 40,. With a leap of faith and the support of her husband she stepped into the world of construction. What started with joining a remodel division turned into eight years of hands on experience b...

In this episode, I sit down with Jesse Parker Stowell of Parker Phoenix Public Relations, a seasoned publicist whose career spans from the fast-paced world of New York and Los Angeles fashion PR to building a more balanced life and boutique firm here in Austin. Jesse shares how his early start in communications led him to work with major brands like Revlon and Victoria’s Secret and how he learned to navigate high-stakes events, celebrity campaigns, and business ownership through equal parts grit...

In this episode, I sit down with Zach Bitter, one of the most accomplished ultra marathon runners in the United States. Zach shares his journey from middle school endurance sports to breaking American records in ultra marathons. He opens up about training, balancing life and sport, injury recovery, and coaching runners of all levels through his online programs. Zach also shares insights into the mental resilience required to compete in ultra-distance events and how he approaches pacing, nutritio...

Laura sits down with Jessica Vessels and Kenneth Huerta from Four Hands, the premiere sponsor of this year’s Design For A Cause benefit. Jessica and Kenneth share their stories of how they found their way into the design world, the behind-the-scenes of running Four Hands’ Austin flagship, and how the city’s creative pulse influences everything they do. From million-dollar sales months to four full floor flips a year, this episode celebrates passion, community, and the art of creating beautiful s...

This week on Here With Laura, we’re joined by Katie Nadji, founder of Swann Closet Design, to talk about how she built a thriving business creating beautifully functional closet spaces. Katie shares her journey from the fast-paced world of advertising to design and construction, first in New York City and now back home in Austin. She opens up about what it was like to pivot careers, the lessons she learned working with a wide range of clients in New York, and how she’s built a life that balance...

Laura sits down with Marcus Neal, speech-language pathologist and owner of the Children’s Therapy Spot, to talk about his journey from engineering student to passionate advocate for children’s therapy. Marcus shares how his brother with down syndrome inspired his career path, how a leap of faith led him to buy his first clinic, and the importance of love, patience, and perspective in both business and therapy. From growing during the pandemic to creating a collaborative, integrative approach acr...

Dr. Lahana Vigliano, functional nutritionist and founder of Nuvitru Wellness joins Laura for a great discussion. Dr. Lahana shares her journey including her beginnings in med school to creating a successful holistic practice, her path to entrepreneurship, motherhood, and building resilience as a teen mom turned business owner. She opens up about lessons learned in leading with intuition, balancing family and career, and why nutrition, hormones, and gut health are essential to living well. Packed...

Laura sits down with Anastasia Casey, founder of IDCO, Kwin, and co-creator of Design Camp. From her beginnings in marketing to building a multimillion dollar creative agency for interior designers, Anastasia shares her journey of resilience, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and motherhood. She opens up about lessons learned along the way, how she’s grown her team, and what’s next as she continues shaping the interior design industry through education, branding, and community. Topics Discussed - ...

Samm Hammel, founder of Post Script Styling and part of the Etch Design Group team, sits down with Laura to talk about her journey from visual merchandising to high end event planning and, ultimately, styling homes. Samm shares the risks she took along the way, including a move to London, building her business during the pandemic, and the support she found from Austin’s creative community. She opens up about motherhood, balance, and the girlfriends who keep her grounded, while also swapping fun...

Laura sits down with journalist, editor, and PR powerhouse Jennifer Birn to trace her fascinating journey from cocktail waitress to national editor and author. Jennifer shares how a chance encounter with the Gin Blossoms launched her writing career, the bold leap that took her from Arizona to New York, and the winding path that eventually led her to Los Angeles and Austin. With candor and humor, she talks about freelancing, publishing her long-awaited book, finding optimism through challenges, ...

Laura sits down with Madeline Harper, a photographer specializing in branding, interiors, and lifestyle storytelling. From starting with weddings to capturing influencers and then being known for her beautiful photos of interior spaces, Madeline shares how she blends creativity, faith, and relationships to create meaningful work. She also opens up about building a business that aligns with her values, navigating new motherhood, and finding joy in the little things both in and out of work.Topics ...

Laura talks with Jyoti Lohman, founder of the beauty way, a skincare line rooted in intention, mantras, and self-love. From getting her first facial at age 6 to developing heart-centered products and rituals, Jyoti shares the story behind the brand and the balance of motherhood, healing, and entrepreneurship. Topics Discussed The inspiration behind the beauty way and the product development process Finding harmony over balance in motherhood and business Daily rituals for grounding and intenti...

Laura sits down with Caroline Pinkston, founder of Caroline Pinkston PR, a boutique public relations firm specializing in interior design. They talk about how we first met at Design Camp, her path to launching her own firm, and the power of PR in shaping a designer’s brand and visibility. Caroline opens up about motherhood, growing a business, and finding joy in the small things. Topics Discussed How PR plays a vital role in the design world The value of niching down and building real relatio...

Laura sits down with Barb Welke, founder of Be Driven Accountability who helps individuals reconnect with themselves through movement, mindset, and small but powerful changes. They talk about the challenges of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, Barb’s approach to lasting transformation, and why it's okay for it to feel hard sometimes. Barb reminds us that self-care isn’t a luxury, it's a lifeline.