What do fashion tariffs, Blake Lively’s alleged text-message nuclear codes, and Instagram’s sneaky Discover feed have in common? They all escalated—fast.

Welcome to the inaugural “Well, That Escalated…”—the once-a-month segment where I drag my favorite opinion-sharpshooter Laura Max Rose out of our group-chat bunker and into the studio. It's basically the audio version of us texting “WAIT, DID YOU SEE THIS?” at 1 a.m.

This round we unpack:

• Why my “Made in America” dream factory sometimes feels like DIY textile purgatory.

• The Blake-vs-Baldoni legal soap opera and Taylor Swift’s strategic sphinx routine (recorded before any surprise masters-deal plot twists—guess we'll need another debrief).

• The single rogue tap that turned Laura’s IG into a pyramid-scheme carnival—and the one-button fix.

• My love affair with long-form YouTube (because dopamine-scroll fatigue is real).

Connect & Subscribe

• Watch the video version on YouTube → youtube.com/@itsdavidpeck

• Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

• Follow Laura on IG @lauramaxrose and me @itsdavidpeck

• #WellThatEscalated #InsideTheDesignStudio #DesignYourLife

In this solo episode of Inside the Design Studio, I get into a question that’s more political than it might seem: Do Americans really want things to be made in America?

It sounds good on paper—and even better on a campaign trail—but the reality is messier. As someone who has spent the past 15 years making clothes in Houston, I’m here to tell you: wanting the label is not the same as supporting the labor.

From rising tariffs and raw material costs to the disappearance of skilled workers, we’re at a crossroads. Everyone talks about “bringing manufacturing back,” but almost no one talks about what that actually requires—or who’s willing to do the work.

This episode is part personal story, part policy rant, and part open question. Consider it a love letter (and a warning) to anyone who still believes that “Made in the USA” is as simple as stitching a tag.

Chapters

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend, Travis Paul Martin, who went from aspiring actor to fashion PR powerhouse. We met over 20 years ago at Parsons Paris—back when we were young, stylish, and slightly delusional about how the industry worked. Now, after working with brands like Gucci, Barneys, and Rothy’s at top agencies like KCD and BPCM, Travis has built his own firm, TPM Consulting, helping brands craft stories that truly make an impact.

We talk about:
✨ The unexpected twists that led him from theater to fashion PR
✨ Surviving (and thriving) in an ever-changing industry
✨ What it really takes to break into fashion without generational wealth
✨ The importance of designing a life that works for you

This is a must-listen if you’ve ever wondered how to pivot, hustle, and build a meaningful career in a competitive field.

📌 Follow Travis: www.travispaulmartin.com Instagram
📌 Follow David Peck: @shopdavidpeck | @itsdavidpeck (Instagram)

Chapters:

00:00 From Parsons to PR Powerhouse
01:38 From Theater Dreams to Fashion Aspirations
09:13 Navigating Fashion Education and Career Choices
17:22 The Journey Back to New York
22:47 Breaking into Fashion PR and Marketing
33:43 Navigating the Fashion Industry's Challenges
38:25 The Impact of Personal Loss on Career Choices
44:55 Transitioning from Agency Life to Independent Consulting
49:46 Evolving Perspectives on PR and Brand Storytelling
58:58 Future Aspirations and Work-Life Balance

Katharine Quinn never set out to run Broadway’s most innovative social media campaigns (have you SEEN "The Great Gatsby" on Instagram and TicTok?), but here she is—shaping the future of theater marketing, one viral moment at a time. In this episode, we dive into her fascinating journey from performer to director to creative brand strategist, her accidental foray into social media, and how she built a business that’s redefining Broadway marketing.

We also tackle:
🎭 The reality of burnout and how she builds systems to stay creative
📲 Why Broadway has a brand problem and how she’s fixing it
🤖 AI in creative industries—opportunity or existential threat?
🏡 Running an Airbnb, voiceover work, and diversifying income as a creative
💡 Her ambitious new project: a digital-first Broadway content platform

If you love theater, business, or just a good entrepreneurial story, this one’s for you!

📌 Follow Katharine Quinn: @itskatharinequinn (Instagram) | YouTube
📌 Follow And That’s Showbiz: @andthatsshowbiz (Instagram) | YouTube
📌 Follow David Peck: @shopdavidpeck | @itsdavidpeck (Instagram)

Love is in the air… or is it? In this special Galentine’s Day edition of Inside the Design Studio, I’m joined by Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman and Shavonnah Roberts Schreiber for a no-holds-barred conversation about Valentine’s Day—romantic, cynical, and everything in between. From pop culture’s best (and worst) love stories to the joy of Galentine’s, Hallmark movies, bad date-watching at Steak 48, and even a new business venture that might make us blush, this episode is full of laughter, wisdom, and a few spicy surprises.

So grab your heart-shaped candy (or a stiff drink) and settle in for a conversation about love, friendship, and the moments that take our breath away—or leave us running for the exits.

Follow Us:

• David Peck – Instagram: @itsdavidpeck & @shopdavidpeck
• Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman – Instagram: @leisahollandnelson
• Shavonnah Roberts Schreiber – Instagram: @shavonnahschreiber

Catch Leisa & Shavonnah on their podcast, Culture Club: @cultureclubpodcast

Chapters

00:00 Celebrating Galentine's Day: A New Tradition
03:29 Valentine's Day: Pop Culture Reflections
06:09 On-Screen Love Stories: Best and Worst
08:50 The Nature of Love: Friendship vs. Romance
14:45 The Dynamics of Introversion and Extroversion
15:23 Friendship Insights from Pop Culture
20:05 The Importance of Writing and Storytelling
21:23 Valentine's Day Anecdotes and Reflections
22:20 Launching an Intimacy Wellness Consultancy
27:16 Closing Thoughts and Self-Love Messages
27:46 IDS Podcast outro.mp4

Is AI the ultimate creative sidekick—or is it slowly replacing human originality? In this episode of Inside the Design Studio, I sit down with poet, educator, and someone who is deeply engaged with AI in education, Scott Chalupa to explore the tension between AI and creativity.

We tackle:
🎭 AI’s role in art, poetry, and film (yes, including The Brutalist controversy!)
📚 Whether AI is inspiring new ideas or just remixing old ones
🤖 The ethical dilemma of AI “learning” from human-made content
🎓 How educators and students are adapting to AI in the classroom

If you've ever wondered whether AI is a revolutionary tool or the beginning of creative doom, this episode is for you.

Listen now!

00:00 AI in Education and Task Forces
02:38 The Journey from Poetry to AI
05:27 AI's Role in Creative Processes
07:56 Ethics and AI in Education
10:38 AI as a Tool for Writing
13:11 Navigating AI's Impact on Learning
15:49 The Future of AI in Education
22:36 Exploring Academic Integrity in the Age of AI
25:11 The Evolution of AI Technology and Its Impact on Education
26:38 Job Displacement: The Reality of AI in the Workforce
29:37 The Need for Human Oversight in AI
31:19 Ethical Concerns: AI and Content Scraping
33:36 AI as a Shortcut: The Dangers of Over-Reliance
37:06 Critical Thinking: The Key to Effective AI Use
40:22 AI's Limitations: Creativity and Human Touch
43:30 AI in Film: Enhancing or Detracting from Art?
47:53 The Future of AI: Tipping Point or Plateau?
49:48 New Chapter