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

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

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

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

Laura sits down with Marcus Neal, speech-language pathologist and owner of the Children’s Therapy Spot, to talk about his journey from engineering student to passionate advocate for children’s therapy. Marcus shares how his brother with down syndrome inspired his career path, how a leap of faith led him to buy his first clinic, and the importance of love, patience, and perspective in both business and therapy. From growing during the pandemic to creating a collaborative, integrative approach across speech, occupational, and physical therapy, Marcus opens up about the challenges of healthcare, the burden of cost on families, and the heart that drives his work every day.

Marcus also discusses the impact of Design For A Cause, an annual fundraiser hosted by Living Oak that has provided nearly 1,200 therapy visits for children in need. With the support of sponsors like Four Hands, this event helps make life-changing therapy accessible to families who otherwise might not be able to afford it.

Topics Discussed

• Marcus’s unexpected path from engineering to speech therapy

• The role of his younger brother with down syndrome in shaping his purpose

• The integrative approach to speech, occupational, and physical therapy

• The financial realities of healthcare and why therapy is often inaccessible

• The impact of Design For A Cause in funding children’s therapy

• The influence of mentors, patience, and family on his career

  
  

Resources and Links

Children’s Therapy Spot: https://www.thechildrenstherapyspot.com/

MLee Therapy: https://www.mleeslp.com/

Register for Design For A Cause: https://luma.com/designforacause

7 Habits of Highly effective people: https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Powerful/dp/0743269519

Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.com
Learn More About Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about

Dr. Lahana Vigliano, functional nutritionist and founder of Nuvitru Wellness joins Laura for a great discussion. Dr. Lahana shares her journey including her beginnings in med school to creating a successful holistic practice, her path to entrepreneurship, motherhood, and building resilience as a teen mom turned business owner. She opens up about lessons learned in leading with intuition, balancing family and career, and why nutrition, hormones, and gut health are essential to living well. Packed with practical insights, this episode dives into how testing, not guessing, can help women better understand their bodies and thrive through every season of life.

Topics Discussed

• Shifting from med school to functional nutrition and founding Nuvitru Wellness

• Why testing is critical for hormones, gut health, and perimenopause

• Fitness and nutrition: strength training, walking, and eating whole foods

• Thoughts on GLP1, stubborn weight, stress, and the risks of undereating

• Leading with intuition when building a team and growing a business

• Daily rituals: matcha, red light therapy, digital planning, and intentional movement

  
  

  Resources and Links

  Nuvitru Wellness: https://nuvitruwellness.com

  Functional Nutrition Radio: Listen on Spotify

  Power Women’s Health Podcast: https://nuvitruwellness.com/podcast

  Follow Dr. Lahana: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlahana

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nuvitruwellness

  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NuvitruWellness

  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nuvitruwellness

  
  

  Shop Living Oak: https://livingoakhome.com

  Learn More About Living Oak Interior Design: https://www.livingoak.com/about