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

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

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