The Costa Mesa Pod welcomes the person behind the Instagram account @926oc and talked about the latest additions coming to Costa Mesa, including:
☀️@lalaland
☀️@erewhon
☀️@themetcostamesa
…and more!

Give her a follow for the latest updates around Orange County, CA - she has the hottest updates on new businesses and developments. This is often critical and insightful information for residents when deciding where to live too.

Holly McDonald,

Realtor at Compass

DRE 01892567

📧 Email: RealtorHollyMcDonald@gmail.com

📞 Call/Text: +1 714-928-4682

What if your home could be designed around the way you actually live, instead of simply following the latest design trends?

On this episode of The Costa Mesa Pod, Holly McDonald sits down with Daniela, interior designer and founder of DCondo Design, to talk about her incredible journey from Calabria, Italy, to London and now Orange County.

Daniela shares how she built her design career from the ground up, why she believes in timeless design over trends, and what it really means to be a “lifestyle designer.”

They also talk about:

✨ Designing around your everyday routines and personality
🏡 Why you should talk to a designer before starting a renovation
🔨 Moving walls, reconfiguring layouts, and the importance of interior architecture
💰 Design considerations for flips and investment properties
🏠 Working with buyers before they even purchase a home
🌎 Designing for clients from different cultures and backgrounds
🎨 Her unforgettable “Alice in Wonderland” townhouse project in London
📍 Daniela’s move from London to Orange County and starting her business again from scratch

Atlas College Prep: A New Free Public Charter School in Orange County

A new free public charter school is opening in the Tustin/Santa Ana area for Fall 2026 — and in this episode of the Costa Mesa Pod, we talk with Alex from Atlas College Prep to learn what families can expect.

Part of the Ednovate network, Atlas will begin with a founding class of approximately 50–60 ninth-grade students and a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio.
Alex explains Atlas’ personalized, family-style approach to education, including its “whole child” report card, which looks at academics as well as self-regulation, critical thinking and social-emotional development.

We also discuss college preparation, athletics and extracurriculars, family involvement, the school’s focus on first-generation college-bound students, and Alex’s own journey from Brazil to a 15-year career in charter school education.
In this episode:

• What makes Atlas a public charter school
• The 10:1 student-to-teacher model
• The “whole child” approach
• College preparation and outcomes
• Athletics, clubs and student life
• Family and parent involvement
• Who can apply
• What families should know about the founding class

Atlas College Prep is opening in Fall 2026, with its first day scheduled for August 4.
Learn more: Ednovate.org/enroll
Instagram: @ednovate_atlascollegeprep

Affordable housing has become one of the biggest challenges facing communities across the country—and Southern California is no exception.
In this episode, Holly McDonald sits down with Tony from PadSplit to explore how the company is creating a new model for affordable housing through thoughtfully designed shared living spaces.
Together they discuss:
• What PadSplit is and how it works
• Why shared housing is becoming more popular
• The opportunities for real estate investors
• PadSplit’s expansion into Orange County and beyond
• How this model helps both property owners and residents
Whether you’re a real estate investor, homeowner, or simply curious about the future of housing, this episode offers an insightful look at one of today’s most talked-about housing solutions.