Room to Think

Lyssia Katan
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  • Design

Room to Think explores how the spaces we live and work in shape how we think, feel, and function.Hosted by Lyssia Katan, Head of Brand at LiLi Tile, the podcast features conversations with world-class architects, designers, neuroscientists, psychologists, and cultural thinkers. Together, they unpack how light, layout, materials, sound, and spatial decisions influence stress, focus, creativity, and wellbeing, and share practical insights you can apply in your own home or workspace.New episodes drop on Tuesdays. Follow Room to Think on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

  1. Materials, Mood, and Heatproof Living

    5 days ago

    Materials, Mood, and Heatproof Living

    In this episode, Lyssia sits down with Tim Sperry, a material scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur rethinking how the built environment affects the way we live. From developing the first air purifying paint to creating heat reflective coatings through his company CoolCoated, Tim has spent his career asking a question most people in the industry never think to ask: what if the materials around us are doing more harm than we realize? The conversation breaks down why heat is one of the most overlooked forces shaping how we feel at home and in public spaces, how the colors and materials on the outside of a building quietly affect the temperature inside, and why so much of what we build is designed for aesthetics rather than human comfort. They explore the urban heat island effect and why cities are often far hotter than the weather suggests, how cool roofs went from a niche idea to a $20 billion industry almost overnight, what the average homeowner can actually do to make their space cooler and more livable, and why the conversation around wellness has never properly included the thermal experience of a space. Tim also shares what years of researching passive cooling technologies has taught him about the relationship between heat, behavior, and the way we connect with the people and places around us, and the one change he would make to how we build if he could start over. By the end of this episode, you may realize that a lot of what you have written off as the weather, your mood, or just the way things are, is actually a design problem — and one that is more solvable than you think. Not because the technology is out of reach, but because nobody ever told you it existed. More Room to Think: Tim Sperry / CoolCoated Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coolcoated.co/ Room to Think https://roomtothinkpodcast.com/ Loved this episode? Let us know! Subscribe to Room to Think If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who would appreciate a more thoughtful approach to their space. New episodes every week. Build a better life by design. Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Instagram

    54 min
  2. Beautiful On A Budget

    16 Jun

    Beautiful On A Budget

    In this episode, Lyssia sits down with Alyssa Martin, the creator behind Alyssa Martin Home, whose content has helped thousands of people design spaces they actually love without spending more than they need to. After years of watching people feel stuck, overwhelmed, or convinced they needed a bigger budget to fix what was bothering them about their home, Alyssa became focused on a question most of us never think to ask: what if the problem was never money to begin with? The conversation breaks down why so many people feel paralyzed when it comes to designing their home, and how the constant stream of trends can quietly pull you further from your own style without you ever realizing it. They explore why a beautiful home has far less to do with perfection and far more to do with intention, how thrifting and layering can do what expensive purchases never could, what to actually splurge on versus what to stop wasting money on, and why the smallest shifts in a space often make the biggest difference. Alyssa also shares what years of helping people transform their homes has taught her about what we all instinctively want from the spaces we live in, and the one shift in thinking she would give anyone who feels like their home just isn't working. By the end of this episode, you may realize that the home you have always wanted is a lot closer than you think. Not because you need more money, but because you finally know how to see what is already in front of you. More Room to Think: Alyssa Martin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssamartinhome/ Room to Think: https://roomtothinkpodcast.com/ Loved this episode? Let us know! Subscribe to Room to Think If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who would appreciate a more thoughtful approach to their space. New episodes every week. Build a better life by design. Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Instagram

    58 min
  3. The Streets We Stopped Walking

    9 Jun

    The Streets We Stopped Walking

    In this episode, Lyssia sits down with Paul Stout, the creator behind Talking Cities, whose content has helped millions of people understand why some places feel alive and others feel completely soulless. Growing up in Los Angeles and experiencing walkable city life for the first time in Salzburg, Austria, Paul became obsessed with one question most of us never think to ask: why do some cities feel good to move through, and others make you want to leave as soon as possible? The conversation breaks down why car-centric design has quietly shaped the way we think, feel, and connect with the world around us in ways most people never notice. They explore why American cities used to be far more walkable than they are today, how something as simple as the width of a street or the scale of a building can completely change your experience of a place, and why the cities that feel most alive all share one thing in common. They were designed for people first, not cars. Paul also shares what years of studying urban design has taught him about what we all instinctively want from the places we live, and the one shift in thinking he would give anyone who wants to start seeing their city differently. By the end of this episode, you may start to move through your city in a completely new way. Not as a passenger, but as someone who finally understands what they are feeling and why. More Room to Think: Paul Stout Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulwillstout/ Room to Think: https://roomtothinkpodcast.com/ Loved this episode? Let us know! Subscribe to Room to Think If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who would appreciate a more thoughtful approach to their space. New episodes every week. Build a better life by design. Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Instagram

    53 min
  4. Your Home Has A Personality

    2 Jun

    Your Home Has A Personality

    In this episode, Lyssia sits down with Kimberly Gallagher, founder of The Feng Shui Flow, host of the Calm and Happy Home podcast, and author of The Calm and Happy Home. After leaving her career as a teacher, Kimberly rebuilt her life around one idea most of us never really consider. Your home isn't just where you live, it's something you have a relationship with. The conversation breaks down why the energy in your space shapes the way you think, feel, and move through your day in ways you've probably never noticed. They explore why most people approach feng shui from a place of fear and get it completely wrong, how small intentional shifts can change your experience of a space far more than any renovation, and why the homes that truly support you all share one thing in common. They were treated like a living relationship, not just a backdrop. Kimberly also shares what years of helping people transform their spaces has taught her about what we all truly need from our homes, and the one thing she would tell anyone to do first if they want their home to feel better without spending a dollar. By the end of this episode, you may start to see your home differently. Not just as a place you live, but as something you live with, something that has a personality, an energy, and maybe even a spicy side. More Room to Think: Kimberly Gallagher Website: www.thefengshuiflow.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefengshuiflow/ Room to Think: https://roomtothinkpodcast.com/ Loved this episode? Let us know! Subscribe to Room to Think If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who would appreciate a more thoughtful approach to their space. New episodes every week. Build a better life by design. Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Instagram

    1hr 4min
  5. The Eye That Shaped a Skyline

    26 May

    The Eye That Shaped a Skyline

    In this episode, Lyssia sits down with Kobi Karp, a legendary Miami-based architect whose firm has designed over $36 billion in buildings across the world, from luxury resorts and residential towers to affordable housing and historic restorations. With more than 30 years of shaping the Miami skyline and beyond, Kobi brings a perspective on architecture that goes far deeper than what any building looks like on the outside. The conversation breaks down why the way a building sits on its land, orients itself to light, and moves you through its spaces matters more than any finish, material, or aesthetic choice. They explore why most people focus on the wrong things when designing or renovating a home, how natural light does something for your psychology that no renovation can replicate, and why the buildings that last hundreds of years all share one thing in common, they were designed for how life actually feels, not just how it looks. Kobi also shares what decades of designing across six continents has taught him about what people everywhere truly want from their spaces, and the one thing he would tell anyone to do first if they want their home to feel better without spending a dollar. By the end of this episode, you may start to see every building differently, not just as something that was constructed, but as something that was felt first. More Room to Think: Kobi Karp Website: www.kobikarp.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kobikarp/ Room to Think: https://roomtothinkpodcast.com/ Loved this episode? Let us know! Subscribe to Room to Think If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who would appreciate a more thoughtful approach to their space. New episodes every week. Build a better life by design. Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Instagram

    58 min
  6. Building Behind the Scenes

    19 May

    Building Behind the Scenes

    In this episode, Lyssia sits down with Gregg Sulkin, an actor known for his work on screen who has quietly spent the last decade building a real estate portfolio rooted in long-term thinking, renovation, and understanding what actually makes a home work. Coming from an industry defined by uncertainty, Gregg shares how real estate became a way to create stability, structure, and something tangible to build on beyond the spotlight. The conversation breaks down the difference between designing a home for how it looks versus how it functions over time, and why so many people underestimate the decisions that truly shape a space. They explore how small, overlooked details like drainage, electrical, layout, and material choices can have the biggest impact, why choosing the cheapest option often leads to more expensive problems, and how the “unseen” parts of a home are what ultimately determine whether it supports your life or works against it. Gregg also shares practical insights from his own projects, from navigating thousands of renovation decisions to learning how to think long-term, build the right team, and avoid costly mistakes. By the end of this episode, you may start to think differently about your home, not just as something you decorate, but as something you build… one decision at a time, often behind the scenes. More Room to Think: Gregg Sulkin IMDb: Gregg Sulkin IMDb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greggsulkin/ LiLi Tile https://lilitile.com Room to Think https://roomtothinkpodcast.com/ Loved this episode? Let us know! Subscribe to Room to Think If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who would appreciate a more thoughtful approach to their space. New episodes every week. Build a better life by design. Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Instagram

    56 min
  7. A Home That Feels Like You

    12 May

    A Home That Feels Like You

    In this episode, Lyssia sits down with Emily Campbell, founder and principal designer of Emily Jane Interior Design, to explore why the most meaningful homes are not just designed to look beautiful, but to feel deeply personal and restorative. Drawing inspiration from nature, memory, and emotional connection, Emily shares how her background in fashion, entrepreneurship, and design led her to create spaces that help people feel more grounded, calm, and connected to themselves.  The conversation breaks down the difference between designing for aesthetics versus designing for feeling, and why so many people unknowingly create homes based on trends instead of the way they actually want to live. They explore how meaningful places from our past shape the environments we crave, why natural materials like wood, stone, wool, and linen affect us differently than synthetic ones, and how craftsmanship and handmade objects bring a sense of warmth and authenticity into a home. Emily also shares practical insights on creating calmer spaces, from reducing clutter and choosing tactile materials to designing around lifestyle, emotional needs, and the realities of everyday life. By the end of this episode, you may start to think differently about your home, not just as a collection of furniture and finishes, but as a space that quietly shapes how you feel, function, and show up in the world. More Room to Think: Emily Campbell Emily Jean Interior Design: https://www.emilyjeaninteriordesign.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyjeaninteriordesign LiLi Tile https://lilitile.com Room to Think https://roomtothinkpodcast.com/ Loved this episode? Let us know! Subscribe to Room to Think If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who would appreciate a more thoughtful approach to their space. New episodes every week. Build a better life by design. Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Instagram

    58 min
  8. What Lingers in a Space

    5 May

    What Lingers in a Space

    In this episode, Lyssia sits down with Tami Sharp, co-founder of Law Enforcement Coaching and a specialist in mental, emotional, and energetic well-being, to explore the invisible forces inside our spaces and how they shape the way we think, feel, and move through life. Working at the intersection of high-stress environments and personal healing, Tami shares how her experience with law enforcement professionals led her to a deeper understanding of energy, intuition, and the unseen impact of our surroundings. The conversation breaks down what “energy in a space” really means beyond the abstract, and why your environment may be affecting you more than you realize. They explore how clutter reflects your internal state, how emotional and psychological “residue” can build up over time, and why boundaries matter not just with people, but within your space. Tami shares practical ways to reset your environment, from small physical shifts to mindset changes, and explains how your home can either support your well-being or quietly drain it. By the end of this episode, you may start to see your space differently, not just as something you design, but as something that holds, reflects, and influences your energy every day. More Room to Think: Tami Sharp Law Enforcement Coaching: https://lawenforcementcoaching.com/team/tami-sharp/ Something Wellness Podcast: https://lawenforcementcoaching.com/something-wellness/ LiLi Tile https://lilitile.com Room to Think https://roomtothinkpodcast.com/ Loved this episode? Let us know! Subscribe to Room to Think If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who would appreciate a more thoughtful approach to their space. New episodes every week. Build a better life by design. Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Instagram

    1hr 6min
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About

Room to Think explores how the spaces we live and work in shape how we think, feel, and function.Hosted by Lyssia Katan, Head of Brand at LiLi Tile, the podcast features conversations with world-class architects, designers, neuroscientists, psychologists, and cultural thinkers. Together, they unpack how light, layout, materials, sound, and spatial decisions influence stress, focus, creativity, and wellbeing, and share practical insights you can apply in your own home or workspace.New episodes drop on Tuesdays. Follow Room to Think on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Information

  • Creator
    Lyssia Katan
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Room to Think
  • Show Website
    Room to Think

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