Jim Newman is a long time pal of host Melanio Gomez having met years ago as new homeowners in Asbury Park, NJ. On this episode he shares how he built his career in the performing arts, debuting on Broadway early on in The Who's Tommy, and performing in numerous other shows with names in lights, including Kristin Chenoweth and Liza Minnelli. For several years he travelled the world as the 'Cowboy' in the Village People and from there landed a leading role in ABBA's Mamma Mia roadsh...

Artist Jeff Wallace (from episode 4) joins Melanio to co-host this episode with guest Devin Wilde. Devin channeled drive and discipline across competitive cycling as a teenager, getting through Stanford's architecture program, designing digital user-experiences for tech companies, and ultimately crafting his own educational curriculum in the arts through various creator residencies. All of these steps led to an epiphany that clay was 'the thing' that really captured his imaginatio...

Since high-school age, Jaya Saxena has been drawn to the process of creating thoughtful and articulate essays. The craft of capturing a vibe in one's own perspective and voice in a manner that resonates with readers is the art and special alchemy that professional writers bring to the table. Jaya's unique brand of writing style, built on a series of numerous writing gigs, led her to a position as a staff writer for Eater.com, creating pieces on food and NYC's restaurant scene. &nb...

Show Notes: With Thanksgiving just around the corner it is especially timely to chat with Lucinda Scala Quinn, Author and Founder of Mad Hungry. Melanio and Lucinda share the heritage-inspired dishes that are on their holiday tables and reminisce about their time working at Martha Stewart Living. Lucinda has a storied career in food, starting from her high-school days onward and has now published 8 books including the 3 in the Mad Hungry series and her latest book published in 20...

This year John Derian celebrates 30 years of his eponymous boutique and antiques shop on 2nd Street in New York City's East Village neighborhood. His path took him from a creatively inspired childhood in Massachusetts to New York City as an adult where he built a design and retail business from scratch. He's known for finding antique illustrations and extending their life and enjoyment by applying them on glass objects through the craft of decoupage. The John Derian retail ...

Julia Wachtel is a conceptual artist who thrived in the New York City art scene of the 1980’s among contemporaries like Robert Gober, Jeff Koons and Cindy Sherman. Her art looks at the interplay of advertising and other commercial media in everyday life and speaks to her interest in consumer and political culture. Julia has a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College, studied at the School of Visual Arts and did independent study at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Her work is in the...

Ngoc Minh Ngo is a photographer whose poetic eye captures the quiet beauty of the natural world. Known for her evocative images of flowers, gardens, and interiors, Ngoc’s work reveals the harmony between art and nature. Born in Vietnam and based in New York City, she has authored several acclaimed books including Bringing Nature Home, In Bloom, and in 2025 Roses in the Garden. Ngoc models a sense of adventure and a willingness to try new things, which, over time led her to her professio...

Stylist, author, and interior designer Rebecca Robertson shares the story of how she developed an appreciation for antiques and collectibles at a young age and a lifelong interest in designing sets that has been a throughline in her career. She's led a very 'NYC' professional life working on film production, as a talent coordinator for the likes of Snoop Dogg, as a stylist at Martha Stewart Living, as a wine shop owner, and these days as an interior designer for model high rise apartmen...

Stephanie Housley is the founder, designer, and creative force behind Coral & Tusk, an embroidered textile brand celebrated for its whimsical, nature-inspired home goods. Born and raised in the Ohio Valley, Stephanie studied textile design at RISD and spent fifteen years working as an interior textile designer in New York City before turning her passion project into a full-time business. In 2007, working from a small Brooklyn apartment with a single embroidery machine, she lau...

Jon Carloftis grew up in rural Kentucky with parents that fostered a deep understanding and appreciation for nature and gardening. His educational pursuits further informed his creative aesthetic. Eventually, through life's twists and turns he ended up designing rooftop and terrace gardens in New York City, building a unique business from the ground up, often catering to wealthy and celebrity clients. Today, Jon lives and thrives professionally as a designer, author and spea...

Megan Pflug talks about her years at Martha Stewart Living, her early role at One King’s Lane where she developed her interiors practice, and the decision to take on a run-down Catskills motor lodge. That project became the Woodhouse Lodge, now a distinctive wedding venue shaped by Megan and her husband’s aesthetic, persistence, and hands-on problem solving. For more about Megan and links to her web-sites and social media visit www.alifecreativepod.com. Visit us on Instagram (and follo...

Christine Lavigne, Founder of Home Agency, a talent representation company, shares her various experiences that led her to establishing her own business. She explains what talent agents do, and some best practices for how creatives seeking representation should present themselves to prospective agents. Home Agency has offices in New York, Paris, Tokyo, and Seoul and represents photographers, make-up artists, hair stylists among other creatives. To see more about Christine visit ww...

This mini episode marks a milestone — 20 episodes! We take a moment to reflect on what has resonated most with us so far, share a few behind-the-scenes updates, and highlight some of the other projects we’ve been working on. Our producer, Chris Kangas, joins us to give a peek behind the scenes of making the podcast. And finally, we take a moment to thank our guests, our sponsor Rowenta, and our music creator Pierce McIntyre.

In this episode, we talk with Rob Van Wyen and Kevin Seitz, the team behind the furniture brand Seitz. We discuss how their complementary skills shaped the company, why they paused to focus on the operational side, and how they’re approaching their re-launch while continuing to work full-time. The conversation also covers their upcoming Monocle residency, working with skilled Swiss makers, and their commitment to creating long-lasting pieces in a culture that often favors disposable design. ...

In this episode we sit down with David Mann, founding principal of MR Architecture + Decor, to explore his path from an early fascination with buildings as a child to building a successful career in architecture and design. David reflects on his education at Pratt and the formative experiences in his early career, the leap to starting his own practice, and how MR Architecture + Decor has evolved over the years. He shares why he resists defining his aesthetic too narrowly, the collaborative pr...

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of collecting with Fritz Karch — a true renaissance man. From his early start as a passionate collector to his longtime role as Editorial Director of Collecting at Martha Stewart Living, Fritz shares his unique perspective on styling, antiques, and curating meaningful objects. We explore his background in styling, co-authoring Collected: Living With The Things You Love, his longtime running of his vintage shop, and collaborating with MR Arch...

In this episode, we speak with Nancy Soriano, a seasoned editorial leader and brand strategist whose career has spanned media, design, and retail. We talk about her early days as a stylist, her decade-long run as Editor-in-Chief at Country Living, and how she has navigated major roles at brands like One Kings Lane, West Elm, and now Perigold. Nancy shares what it has been like to shift from storytelling in magazines to crafting editorial content within retail, and how she continues to lead wi...

In this episode, we speak with Kristen Aronsson, founder and creative director of Aperçu, a direct-to-consumer eyewear brand that blends fashion, functionality, and strategy. With over 15 years of experience, Kristen has built a career focused on eyewear design and now leads both the creative direction and business development at Aperçu. She shares how she transitioned from studying art history to industrial design, what drew her to the world of eyewear, and how launching a brand has pushed h...

In this episode, we sit down with Heidi Johannsen Stewart, co-founder of Bellocq Tea Atelier, the celebrated Brooklyn-based tea company known for its exquisite hand-blended teas and deep commitment to quality and ritual. Heidi shares her journey from training at the French Culinary Institute to nearly a decade at Martha Stewart Living, and how those experiences ultimately led her to co-found Bellocq. We explore the inspiration behind the brand, the sensory artistry of tea blending, and ...

In this episode, we sit down with Raylene Marasco, founder of Dye-namix, a textile studio that creates custom fabrics for film, fashion, and fine art. Today, her work shows up in everything from The Gilded Age and Severance to runway pieces for Giorgio Armani and Ralph Lauren. We speak with Raylene about how her business has evolved over the years and some of the unique projects that have come her way. She’s collaborated with artists like Louise Bourgeois, worked with The Met on textile...