Design With Purpose Design With Purpose

Welcome to Our Podcast!
Design With Purpose is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to provide healing environments to families and kids in need by transforming the interior space of their homes or rooms at no cost to them. This podcast is an extension of our non-profit family and a means for us to talk about all things design.

The Design With Purpose podcast is created by designers and is intended for anyone who is seeking guidance in the complex world of design. The intention of our show is to explore the ins-and-out of design through personal experience, credible research and professional guests. Here you will learn about the current trends and history behind certain design styles as well as the psychology of well designed spaces. We will touch on subjects like: Color Theory, Design Principles and Elements, Architectural Awareness, Design-Build Process, Trauma Informed Design and much more. With a wide variety of topics and guests, we hope to cover the spectrum of design information, providing something for everyone interested in learning more about design.

Please find us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Join us today as we talk with Anders Lasater of Anders Lasater Architects.

In 2005, after nearly 10 years as the managing associate for Mark Singer Architects in Laguna Beach, Anders opened the doors to his own firm and has continued his focus on innovative designs for not only residential projects, but also restaurant, retail, and hotel projects.

Anders holds a Master of Architecture degree from UCLA and a Bachelor of Architecture degree, cum laude, from Cal Poly Pomona. He is a licensed architect in the states of California, Texas, and Hawaii, and a Certified Green Building Professional. Additionally, Anders currently serves as the professional architect advisor to the Monarch Bay Architectural Committee and served as architectural advisor to The Strands at Headlands in Dana Point for 5 years.

In his free time you might find Anders working out together with his wife and two sons, or actively working on visiting all 50 United States. With only a few more to go the pressure is on to complete the goal soon! However, having been born and raised here in Southern California, it remains his favorite state to date.

Join us today as we chat with luxury designer, Lynda Murray.

Lynda Murray was born in Los Angeles and grew up surrounded by the creativity and talent that is found there. As a child she enjoyed selecting fabrics for her bedding, artwork for her walls, and was continually rearranging her furniture. Realizing her lifelong passion for interiors, Murray decided to pursue her dream and study Interior Design at the UCLA Interior and Environmental Design program.

"I got really lucky early on in my career, designing for people that were really successful and at the top of their fields worldwide. This taught me not only about running my own business, but also about living up to unbelievably high expectations," Murray says.

Murray's powerful clients push her to think outside the box, creating spaces that are uniquely their own. "I always tell my clients, ‘I am not living here, you are.’ It’s a collaboration where listening to my client’s needs is a key component in designing. I feel strongly that the home needs to be their sanctuary and therefore with my guidance, should reflect their taste and personal needs.”

Designing at a high level for many years has helped Murray garner relationships with some of the world's best vendors, artisans and contractors. "It is one thing to design and draw something exceptionable, it's an entirely different task to understand how to build it and have it be fully functional. I take great pride in pulling together different craftsmen and specialists in order to engineer my designs and bring them to life," says Murray.

Murray's undeniable passion for her work and fierce loyalty to her clients is what keeps so many of them coming back. This strong work ethic was learned from Murray’s father who ran a successful trucking business for over 40 years and though a far different field, the guiding value is the same: customers come first. "I value the relationships that I have developed over the course of my career more than I can describe in words. I care deeply, not only about the projects but for the people that will be living in the homes I build."

Join us as we continue the Purified Home discussion with Zack Pelzel.

In 2008, Zack Pelzel set off on a 200-mile, 19-day trek in the Sierra Nevada backcountry. Record-breaking snowfall and freezing weather made for a grueling trip, exacerbated by inadequate supplies and finding himself occasionally lost in the wilderness. Rising despair would eventually give way to calm well-being by connecting with nature’s cadence—the sunset/sunrise sleep/wake cycle, drinking fresh mountain stream water, breathing tree- purified air, and grounded in the earth’s natural electrical energy....

Pelzel’s experience in the Sierra wilderness ultimately underscores The Purified Home’s four pillar philosophy—the harmonizing health benefits of clean air, fresh water, balanced light, and a natural electrical environment. As Founder and driving force behind the groundbreaking company, Pelzel is uniquely qualified to command the home purification process, leveraging extensive experience in the building industry, a career as a professional athlete, and five years of research and clinical practice towards a Master’s degree in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine. His fully integrated approach to home health is key for identifying issues that compromise our well-being and for aligning ancient holistic principles and modern science to offer healthy solutions.

“The Purified Home is fueled by our passion for living a more healthful happy life, says Pelzel. “Our mission is to provide the best opportunity for the optimal health of our clients by bringing their living environments into harmony with nature.”

Join us as we discuss the Purified Home Process with Zack Pelzel.

In 2008, Zack Pelzel set off on a 200-mile, 19-day trek in the Sierra Nevada backcountry. Record-breaking snowfall and freezing weather made for a grueling trip, exacerbated by inadequate supplies and finding himself occasionally lost in the wilderness. Rising despair would eventually give way to calm well-being by connecting with nature’s cadence—the sunset/sunrise sleep/wake cycle, drinking fresh mountain stream water, breathing tree- purified air, and grounded in the earth’s natural electrical energy....

Pelzel’s experience in the Sierra wilderness ultimately underscores The Purified Home’s four pillar philosophy—the harmonizing health benefits of clean air, fresh water, balanced light, and a natural electrical environment. As Founder and driving force behind the groundbreaking company, Pelzel is uniquely qualified to command the home purification process, leveraging extensive experience in the building industry, a career as a professional athlete, and five years of research and clinical practice towards a Master’s degree in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine. His fully integrated approach to home health is key for identifying issues that compromise our well-being and for aligning ancient holistic principles and modern science to offer healthy solutions.

“The Purified Home is fueled by our passion for living a more healthful happy life, says Pelzel. “Our mission is to provide the best opportunity for the optimal health of our clients by bringing their living environments into harmony with nature.”

Join us as we discuss Healing Spaces with Susan Shepardson.

Susan Shepardson has worked in the field of child development and education for 40 years. For the past 20 years of her career, she has merged education with space design. Her interest and passion in educational design was initially sparked by a tour of a Reggio Emilia inspired school in San Francisco. Since then, she has been curating environmental research, training educators and designing classrooms, children’s bedrooms, playrooms, teacher lounges, and student wellness centers.

In 1997, Susan started selling educational furnishings for a national corporation. She assisted clients with classroom and playground design, product selection, and trained adults on how to optimize learning spaces. Since this time, Susan has designed numerous indoor and outdoor learning environments and trained thousands of adults. In 2008 she started her own design firm and called herself The Play Architect ™. From 2010 until 2015, Susan volunteered for Make a Wish designing children’s bedrooms and playrooms.

As an educator, Susan is passionate about teaching and training adults. For over a decade she has taught part time at several colleges and universities. Her areas of expertise include: child development, developmental screening, social-emotional learning, play, trauma informed practices, mental health, wellness and curriculum planning and implementation.

Susan strongly believes in being a good steward of the earth and tries to practice slow consumerism. She loves to reduce, reuse and repurpose items. About 3 years ago, she embarked on yet another business venture and became a vintage retailer. She has a shop in Old Towne Orange, CA. and also sources vintage goods for interior designers and retail stores.

Susan holds a B.S. degree in Social Science from Chapman University, a M.S. degree in Child Development from the University of La Verne, and a Career and Technical Education Credential from Orange County Department of Education. She recently completed a year-long apprenticeship with the Center for Optimal Brain Integration on Trauma-Responsive and Resilience-Building Practices.

In her spare time, she loves to travel, be in the company of family and friends, create art and explore nature – she has a strong sense of wonder and curiosity, an attribute she’s had since childhood.