Here With Laura

Laura Williams
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Here With Laura is a podcast by Laura Williams, founder of Living Oak Interior Design. Each week, she sits down with inspiring creatives, business owners, and dreamers to have honest conversations about building a life with intention. From slow mornings to the chaos of growing a business or raising a family, this is a space for all the messy, magical moments in between.

  1. 15/12/2025

    Dr. Jessica Tranchina: Wellness That Works

    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 why helping people reconnect to their bodies has become her life’s work. Dr. Jess and Laura dive into everything from cold plunges and lymphatic health to the role of home environment, energy exchange, and daily rituals that regulate the mind and body. With humor, honesty, and deep experience, Dr. Jess shares what it really takes to build a purposeful, aligned life. Topics Discussed - Growing up between cultures and discovering her calling at age 12 - Training as a PT across every specialty to become a more complete practitioner - Why she created Generator Athlete Lab and what makes it unique - Cold plunges, vibration therapy, lymphatics, and why these modalities work - Building a grounded life and business while raising three children - Energy exchange, boundary setting, and rituals that support wellbeing - Launching Experts in Wellness and stepping into her intuitive gifts Resources and Links Generator Athlete Lab: @generatorathletelab https://www.generatorathletelab.com/ Experts in Wellness: @expertsinwellness Dr. Jess: @dr_jesst Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.com Learn More About Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

    50 min

  2. 04/12/2025

    Miranda Cullen: Inside Stories Leads to Profitability and Scalability

    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 how she is turning a missed business opportunity into a national franchise model built to support designers who want to grow with confidence. Miranda also reflects on motherhood, entrepreneurship, and the moment she realized she was ready for her next chapter. Topics Discussed - How a single high school class launched Miranda into a thirty year career in interior design - The evolution of Inside Stories and celebrating its ten year anniversary - What micro interior design is and why small projects often make the biggest impact - How the micro and residential divisions keep the business both profitable and steady - The inspiration behind franchising Inside Stories and building a toolkit for designers who are not ready to leap out on their own - Structuring a team for growth, hiring intentionally, and creating a company designers want to work for - Goal planning, expansion, and why Austin is a key market for the next franchise launch - The shift from designer to entrepreneur and finding purpose in the second half of life Resources and Links Inside Stories: https://www.insidestories.com Follow Miranda on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mirandascullen Inside Stories Design: https://www.instagram.com/insidestories_design Stories Franchise: https://www.instagram.com/insidestoriesfranchise Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.com Learn More About Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

    57 min

  3. 02/12/2025

    Karen Zabarsky Blashek: Building A Community of Creatives within Austin Home

    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 storytelling in Austin. Karen also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Austin Home Awards and what readers can expect from the years ahead as the city continues to evolve. Topics Discussed - How Karen’s background in architecture, art history, and creative direction prepared her for her role at Austin Home - Building Ground Up and learning the power of community-driven storytelling - The path to Editor in Chief of Austin Home and redefining what local design media can be - How slow journalism, deeper reporting, and community engagement are shaping the magazine’s future - Karen’s mindset shift stepping into motherhood, balancing two roles, and redefining what modern motherhood looks like - Her approach to connection, authenticity, and building real community rather than traditional networking - What is ahead for Austin Home, including the 2026 editorial calendar and expanded city-focused coverage Resources and Links Austin Home Magazine: austinhomemag.com Follow Karen on Instagram: http://instagram.com/kzblashek Ground Up: https://www.groundupideas.com/about Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.com Learn More About Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

    53 min

  4. 20/11/2025

    Janine Starr: Leading a Construction Team with Heart and Grit

    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 before launching her own firm.Janine shares what it’s really like to build a business with your name on it, why she intentionally keeps her team small and tight knit, and how her background in people management has shaped her leadership style. From navigating a male dominated industry to building long term client relationships to balancing a busy project load with a new empty nester season of life, Janine offers thoughtful, grounded insight into the realities of residential construction today.Whether you’re a designer, a builder, a homeowner gearing up for a remodel, or someone considering a career pivot, this conversation is packed with wisdom about trust, communication, process, and controlling the controllables.Key Takeaways- Your past experience always shows up. Janine’s HR background informs everything from team development, client communication, and navigating tough conversations across trades.- You can’t hire too early or too late. Growth requires intention: hiring based on revenue, pipeline, and leaving enough time for proper training.- Relationships drive construction. Whether with clients, trades, or designers, long term success comes from collaboration and consistent communication.- Bring designers in early. Starting together ensures alignment, smoother decision-making, and fewer delays especially on remodels with unknowns.- Control what you can. Remodels always come with surprises; expectations, transparency, and documented processes help mitigate stress.- High-end clients still want value. Janine focuses on ROI, honest guidance, and thoughtful value engineering, not simply choosing the least expensive option.- Living through a remodel is tough. Timeliness and trust matter deeply, and most people benefit from moving out during messy phases.Resources and LinksLearn More About J9 HOMES: https://j9homes.com/Follow J9 on Instagram: http://instagram.com/j9_homes/Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.comLearn More About Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

    47 min

  5. 07/11/2025

    Jesse Parker Stowell: The Power of Authenticity in PR and Life

    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 and relationship building. We also talk about the lessons he’s brought from New York to Austin, why he keeps his agency intentionally small, and how authenticity and believing in your clients’ missions drive real success. Beyond PR, Jesse talks up about renovating his historic Austin home, embracing the local community, and finding joy in everyday rituals that keep him grounded. Topics Discussed How Jesse got his start in PR and the pivotal moment that shaped his career Transitioning from corporate fashion PR in NYC and LA to boutique PR in Austin Lessons learned from working with global brands and high-profile events The importance of authenticity and believing in your clients’ mission Why Austin’s “play nice in the sandbox” culture makes it special Renovating a historic home and creating a space that feels personal Resources and Links: Parker Phoenix Public Relations: https://www.parkerphoenixpr.com/about Follow Jesse on Instagram:http://instagram.com/parkerphoenixpr Learn more about the Andy Roddick Foundation Gala: https://www.arfoundation.org Learn more about the Farrah Fawcett Foundation: https://thefarrahfawcettfoundation.org Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.com Learn More About Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

    1hr 1min

  6. 31/10/2025

    Zach Bitter: Training the Mind and Body for 100 Miles

    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, nutrition, and longevity in running.Topics Discussed- Zach’s early exposure to endurance sports and development as a runner- Transition from teaching to professional ultra running and starting a coaching business- Training approaches: mileage, pacing, mental preparation, and injury management- Running with his wife Nicole and balancing personal life with training- Coaching clients of all levels and building an online training community-Advances in running technology, nutrition, and the evolving popularity of ultra runningResources and Links:Zach Bitter’s coaching and online programs: https://zachbitter.comFollow Zach on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachbitterShop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.comLearn More About Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

    57 min

  7. 18/10/2025

    Jessica Vessels & Kenneth Huerta: Designing with Heart at Four Hands

    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 spaces that feel like home.Kenneth and Jessica also talk about their shared love of Round Top, finding those perfectly imperfect pieces, and how their dogs (six between them!) help keep life grounded and joyful.Topics Discussed:- Four Hands as the premiere sponsor for Design For A Cause- The importance of curated, timeless homes- Jessica’s journey from wardrobe styling and nursing into million-dollar sales months at Four Hands- Kenneth’s creative process behind floor styling and visual merchandising- How Austin influences the Four Hands aesthetic- Four Hands company culture, philanthropy, and fostering communityResources and Links:Four Hands Home: https://fourhands.com/Design For A Cause: https://www.livingoak.com/eventsThe Children’s Therapy Spot: https://www.thechildrenstherapyspot.com/Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.comLearn More About Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

    39 min

  8. 10/10/2025

    Katie Nadji: The Art and Construction of the Perfect Closet

    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 balances motherhood, entrepreneurship, and craftsmanship. From giving yourself grace to managing client expectations, this conversation is full of thoughtful insights for balancing both a growing business and family life. Key Takeaways Done is better than perfect. Sometimes getting a project to the finish line is more important than obsessing over every detail. Set boundaries early. Katie makes family time a priority and does not respond to work messages before 9 a.m., showing that balance starts with communication and discipline. Closets are construction. Treating closet design as a true build ensures proper planning, budgeting, and expectations for clients. Start the budget conversation early. Katie emphasizes that most clients don’t know what a closet costs, so transparency upfront saves time and helps align expectations. Space planning is everything. Before worrying about aesthetics, focus on how clients use their space. Every drawer, shelf, and hanging rod should have a clear purpose. Resources and Links Website: swannclosetdesign.com Instagram: @swannclosetdesign Recommended Organizers: The Considered Home: https://www.instagram.com/considered.atx/ Hannah Goetz Organizing: https://www.hgorganizing.com/ Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.comLearn More About Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

    42 min
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About

Here With Laura is a podcast by Laura Williams, founder of Living Oak Interior Design. Each week, she sits down with inspiring creatives, business owners, and dreamers to have honest conversations about building a life with intention. From slow mornings to the chaos of growing a business or raising a family, this is a space for all the messy, magical moments in between.

Information

  • Creator
    Laura Williams
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Laura Williams
  • Show Website
    Here With Laura