From the Honeycomb

On this week's episode, Katerina sits down with Diane Gatza, founder of California Maternity Leave Consulting, who shares her inspiring journey from civil engineer to passionate advocate for women navigating the complex world of maternity leave. Diane opens up about the health challenges that shaped her path, her transition into motherhood, and how those experiences ignited her mission to empower women with the knowledge they need ...

In this inspiring conversation, architect and entrepreneur Phephe Rose shares her architectural journey and the bold moves that led her to launch her business, Brush Up Your Space. From a childhood love of drawing to navigating the challenges of architecture school, Phephe reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her path. 

She opens up about the realities of managing multiple ventures, the lessons she’s learned from property ma...

In this episode, Katerina returns from a brief hiatus to share reflections on her evolving entrepreneurial journey. She opens up about recent shifts in the podcast, the current challenges within the architecture industry, and the personal growth that has come from stepping back. From navigating the economic slowdown in Q1 of 2025 to making difficult decisions in her business, Katerina shares a transparent look at what’s been happen...

In this episode, Katerina sits down with Erin Fantozz, a designer whose expertise is shaped by her dual degrees in interior design and architecture. Erin shares the story of her journey in the design industry, from an early passion for creating spaces to the pivotal moments that led her to establish her own business. She reflects on the challenges she faced balancing the demands of a growing career with motherhood, shedding light o...

On this week's episode, Katerina welcomes Jodie Snyder, a registered Ayurvedic lifestyle and wellness coach, to share her inspiring journey into Ayurveda and the creation of Hina Hale, a tranquil sanctuary on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Jodie reveals her path to self-healing, the value of structured routines, and the powerful role nature plays in the healing process.

The conversation explores the deep connection between personal we...

In this week's episode, Katerina sits down with Amy Edwards, founder of Markedly, to explore the art of marketing for architects and designers. Amy offers advice on marketing effectively on a budget, building trust through valuable content, and setting clear business goals to guide your strategy.

She highlights the importance of focusing on strategy over tactics, committing to long-term success, and creating meaningful content to e...

In this reflective episode, host Katerina opens up about the challenges she faced in 2024 and her journey toward slowing down in 2025. After experiencing burnout, Katerina shares her decision to take a hiatus from the podcast, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing mental health and self-care.

With her word for the year, slow down, she explores how setting boundaries and focusing on personal growth have shaped her goals for th...

In the final episode of 2024, Jesse and Katerina look back on their entrepreneurial journeys over the past year. With Jesse’s word of the year, “build,” and Katerina’s, “create,” as guiding themes, they share how these intentions shaped their professional growth.

Together they dive into why they both feel rooted in residential construction, highlighting the unique challenges and rewards of the field. Jesse opens up about the demand...

In this candid solo episode, Katerina takes you behind the scenes to reflect on the final stretch of the year and share her journey through Q4. With no script and plenty to vent about, she opens up about unexpected twists in her business and personal life, offering an honest look at the lessons learned going into her second year as a business owner—lessons that have been even more eye-opening than the first.

Katerina revisits her w...

In this entrepreneurial episode, Katerina is joined by architect and firm owner Kelsey Ahumada, founder of Portica Architecture, as she takes us through her inspiring path from aspiring architect to successful business owner. Kelsey shares how her love for both sketching and technical details led her to architecture and how she was fortunate to gain invaluable early experience in a supportive firm that encouraged her to get license...

In this week's episode Katerina is joined by I'm joined by Lizi Raar, Jessica Rogers, and Norgerie Rivas, the hosts of the She Builds Podcast. Together, they dive into the stories and inspiration behind their podcast, where they highlight the legacy and contributions of women in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC). The trio shares the joy and impact of creating content that motivates and connects with listeners while ...

In this week's episode, licensed therapist and coach Katy Bandy returns as a guest to share reflections from her first year as an entrepreneur. She discusses her journey from a 9-to-5 role to building a business where she empowers high-achieving women through her coaching programs.

Katy opens up about the risks she took, health challenges she faced, and a shift in her approach to social media, all within her first year of entrepren...

In the fourth and final episode of the Women in Architecture series, Katerina sits down with architect Annette Wu, whose passion for the field was sparked early on through creativity in graphic design and hands-on projects. Annette reflects on her journey, including a pivotal moment during her second semester of architecture school that reignited her determination to continue pursuing her dreams

Reflecting on the evolution of archi...

In the third episode of our Women in Architecture series, Katerina is joined by Meg Coffee, a California-based landscape architect with over 20 years of experience and an instructor at UCLA Extension. Meg’s journey as a landscape architect is an inspiring tale of career pivots, perseverance, and leadership.

Meg shares how her early passion for architecture evolved after she discovered the world of landscape architecture, this disco...

In the second episode of our Women in Architecture series, Katerina sits down with architect Bryn Young—ARE coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Mind Over ARE (MOA). Bryn is passionate about guiding the next generation of architects toward licensure and she shares the personal challenges that inspired her to create a community for those struggling with the exams.

Bryn opens up about her own failures with the ARE and how those experi...

Welcome to the first episode of our "Women in Architecture" series, where this year's theme is Collaboration. In this episode Katerina is joined by Janiece Williams, co-founder of Leader Flow, a nonprofit that empowers professionals through leadership programs. Janiece shares her journey into architecture, her experiences with imposter syndrome, feeling disconnected during school, and how her classmates helped her push through thos...

In this special episode celebrating the 3rd anniversary of From the Honeycomb, host Katerina reflects on the journey of her podcast. She takes listeners behind the scenes, sharing insights into why each episode begins with a moment of gratitude and how her curiosity has shaped the podcast's evolution.

Katerina opens up about the growing confidence she gained in inviting guests onto the show and expresses deep gratitude to those who...

In this episode Katerina sits down with Luciana Triplett, an inspiring immigrant architect who shares her journey of establishing and growing her own architecture firm in the United States. Luciana opens up about the unique challenges she faced as a woman pursuing an architecture degree, navigating the grueling exams, and ultimately launching her own business amidst challenges. 

She reflects on the moments when she questioned her p...

In this week's episode Katerina is joined by the creator of the "Spicy Brains" planner Lis Montoya. Lis shares how her personal experiences with mental health, ADHD, and her many hobbies led her to design a planner that empowers women to stay organized and feel accomplished. She opens up about her therapeutic journey, discovering how to better cope with her emotions and how these insights influenced the creation of her planner.

Lis...