Interior Design Community
A supportive talk show for professional interior designers, focusing on the real-world business challenges and community dynamics behind the pretty pictures.
This is the "To-The-Trade" podcast from the Interior Design Community non-profit, where hosts Laurie Laizure and Nile Johnson have supportive, in-the-trenches conversations with fellow designers. The show bypasses purely aesthetic discussions to focus on the operational side of a design business—tackling topics like pricing, client management, professional ethics, and burnout. It's a space for designers to hear their unspoken business fears and frustrations discussed openly and constructively.
“Unlike many design podcasts focused on inspiration and trends, this show's defining feature is its vulnerability and business candor. The hosts create a safe space to discuss uncomfortable topics like money, fear of judgment, and industry gossip, making it a resource for professional development, not just creative inspiration.”
Who hosts this show
The "To-The-Trade" podcast is the editorial voice of the Interior Design Community, a non-profit founded in 2012 to support design professionals. It is co-hosted by IDC founder Laurie Laizure and award-winning interior designer Nile Johnson. Together, they foster candid conversations about the business realities, financial challenges, and community dynamics within the design industry.
Credentials & credits
- Laurie Laizure: Founder of Interior Design Community
- Nile Johnson: Principal, Nile Johnson Interior Design
- Nile Johnson: B.S. in Interior Design, The Art Institute of Philadelphia
- Nile Johnson: M.S. in Interior Architecture, Chatham University
- Nile Johnson: Adjunct faculty member in an Interior Design program
- Nile Johnson: Board Member, Interior Design Community
Other ventures
- Laurie Laizure: Speaker on AI for designers and social media
- Nile Johnson: Founder of a multi-state design firm (PA, DE, MD/DC)
- Nile Johnson: Featured designer on HGTV
- Nile Johnson: Member of House Beautiful Advisory Board
- Nile Johnson: Member of the Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01The right space can change everything #idcdesignersJun 28, 2026 · 9s
- 02Design is about understanding what people need #idcdesignersJun 27, 2026 · 10s
- 03We make homes feel like home #idcdesignersJun 27, 2026 · 10s
- 04Design is in the details #idcdesignersJun 26, 2026 · 2 min
- 05Good bones, better taste #idcdesignersJun 26, 2026 · 6s
- 06We design for the way people actually live #idcdesignersJun 25, 2026 · 7s
- 07
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01To-The-Trade S3E18: Jameelah Watkins-Mallett Says It's Time Designers Talked Real Numbers
A representative example of the show's mission, this episode features a candid discussion on taboo topics like money, inter-designer trust, and the fear of judgment that holds professionals back.
What you'll be asked on this show
Laurie and Nile run a highly supportive and collaborative interview. They begin with personal, off-the-cuff banter to create a comfortable atmosphere before introducing the guest. Rather than a rigid interrogation, the conversation flows organically, with the hosts actively affirming the guest's experiences and sharing their own vulnerabilities to build rapport. They guide the discussion towards the business and emotional challenges of the industry, probing on topics like profitability and professional ethics. The interview consistently wraps with a structured and energetic 'lightning round' of short, personal questions, which serves as the show's signature closing.
The show is a two-host conversational interview, starting with casual banter between Laurie and Nile to set a relaxed tone. The main interview is a flowing, supportive dialogue, with the hosts often sharing their own experiences. Each episode concludes with a signature, fast-paced 'lightning round' of personal questions. The channel also publishes short, aphoristic video clips separate from the main podcast.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
10 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“How did you get your start in the interior design industry?”
This is the standard opening question, used to establish the guest's origin story and career path.
craft
2- Q.01
“Great design should always... what?”
Asked during the closing lightning round, this question distills the guest's core design philosophy into a single phrase.
- Q.02
“Favorite city for design inspiration?”
Used in the lightning round to quickly learn about the guest's sources of creative and aesthetic influence.
mindset
1- Q.01
“What's the book that has influenced you the most?”
A lightning round question that reveals the guest's intellectual influences and mindset beyond design.
personal
6- Q.01
“Coffee or tea?”
A quick, personal icebreaker used during the closing lightning round.
- Q.02
“Early bird or night owl?”
This lightning round question offers a quick insight into the guest's daily work habits and energy.
- Q.03
“What's one item in your home you would never part with?”
Asked in the lightning round to understand a guest's personal attachment to objects and their own space.
- Q.04
“What's something people would be surprised to learn about you?”
This lightning round question is designed to reveal a fun, lesser-known personal fact about the guest.
- Q.05
“What's on your bucket list?”
A closing lightning round question that explores the guest's personal goals and aspirations outside of their career.
- Q.06
“What's a luxury you'll happily spend money on?”
This lightning round question provides a glimpse into the guest's personal values and definition of luxury.
Signature segments
- · Closing 'lightning round'
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show books established interior designers, educators, and entrepreneurs who are willing to speak with radical candor about the business and emotional realities of running a creative company. Guests are often founders who can share their journey and specific business systems.
- Jameelah Watkins-Malletton To-The-Trade S3E18 Jameelah Watkins-Mallett Says It's Time Designers Talked Real Numbers
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Sponsors include high-end appliance and furnishing brands like SKS Signature Kitchen Suite and Currey & Company. This suggests the podcast's audience consists of active, professional designers who specify and make purchasing decisions for high-budget residential and commercial projects.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of the podcast?
- The podcast is co-hosted by Laurie Laizure, the founder of the Interior Design Community, and Nile Johnson, the principal of Nile Johnson Interior Design.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is a conversational interview show with two hosts. Most episodes feature a guest designer and conclude with a signature 'lightning round' of questions.
- Is Interior Design Community a non-profit?
- Yes, the channel description states that Interior Design Community (IDC) is a non-profit organization founded in 2012 to support interior designers.
- What is the 'To-The-Trade' podcast about?
- It focuses on the business side of interior design, covering topics like profitability, client relations, marketing, and professional ethics, aiming to provide support and real-world advice.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on the Interior Design Community YouTube channel and on audio platforms like YouTube Music.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Laurie Laizure - Interior Design Communityinteriordesigncommunity.com
- [02]Nile Johnson - Interior Design Communityinteriordesigncommunity.com
- [03]Nile Johnson Interior Design | Luxury Spaces in PAnilejohnson.com
- [04]Philadelphia Interior Designer - Nile Johnson Designnilejohnson.com
- [05]Nile Johnson Interior Design | Kennett Square, PAhouzz.com
- [06]Board And Moderators - Interior Design Communityinteriordesigncommunity.com
- [07]The Case Collectivethecasecollective.co
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