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Welcome to The McClain Method — the go-to podcast for interior designers who want to grow a profitable, polished, and well-run design business.
I’m your host, John McClain—award-winning interior designer, business mentor, author, and branding strategist. If you want to learn how to:
• price your interior design services
• attract high-value clients
• streamline your design process
• improve your client experience
• elevate your brand and visibility
• run your design firm with confidence
…you’re in the right place.
This podcast isn’t about pillows and paint swatches.
Here, we focus on the business of interior design—marketing, pricing, branding, sales, systems, visibility, mindset, and everything it actually takes to build a thriving design firm.
Each episode gives you clear strategies, actionable tools, and behind-the-scenes insights you can use immediately to grow your business and elevate your clients’ experience.
If you’re ready to step into your next level as an interior designer—and finally run a business that reflects your brilliance—welcome home.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
|
91: What Holds Interior Designers Back: Sourcing Fear, Pricing Pushback, and Building Better Systems with Heather McManus
|
Feb 09, 2026 |
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90: The Fear of Losing Clients When You Speak Your Values
|
Jan 26, 2026 |
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89: The Most Expensive Lie Designers Tell Themselves with Staci Davidson
|
Jan 10, 2026 |
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88: 5 Hard Truths That Changed My Design Business in 2025 (And What You Need to Know Before Next Year)
|
Dec 27, 2025 |
|
87: Be the Unicorn in the Room: Visibility, Partnerships & Mindful Success with Antonio DeLoatch
|
Dec 12, 2025 |
|
86: Three Reasons Designers Stay Stuck (And How to Break Through In 2026)
|
Nov 23, 2025 |
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85: The Hidden Reason Your Clients Don’t Feel Fully Taken Care Of
|
Nov 19, 2025 |
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84: Before You Scale: Why I Chose Alignment Over Expansion
|
Nov 19, 2025 |
|
83: 5 Proven Strategies to Build a Successful Interior Design Brand with Alena Capra
|
Oct 21, 2025 |
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82: How To Use ChatGPT To Write Your Instagram Captions (The Right Way)
|
Oct 04, 2025 |
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81: How to Avoid Common Interior Design Business Mistakes with Ronniesha Rivera
|
Sep 19, 2025 |
|
80: Do it Afraid: Navigating Fear and Change in Design with Katie Decker-Erickson
|
Aug 29, 2025 |
|
79: Clutter-Free Life: How Clearing Your Space Can Transform Your Mindset with Helen Sanderson
|
Aug 15, 2025 |
|
78: How Instagram’s Search Engine Update Can Help You Get Found and Grow Your Business
|
Aug 01, 2025 |
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77: How to Sell Without Feeling Salesy: The Steve Jobs Strategy for Designers + Creatives
|
Jul 18, 2025 |
|
76: You’re Not Lazy—You’re Exhausted: Rethinking Productivity and Self-Worth with Katie McDonald
|
Jul 07, 2025 |
|
75: How to Grow Your Business Using Your Own Story with Jude Charles
|
Jun 30, 2025 |
|
74: Brand-New Instagram Changes for 2025: Why Your Posts Aren’t Getting Seen (and What to Do Now)
|
Jun 18, 2025 |
|
73: How Breegan Jane Built a Bold Design Brand—and Landed 13 HGTV Shows
|
Jun 08, 2025 |
|
72: Luxury Clients Aren’t Booking You—Because You Look Budget
|
May 31, 2025 |
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71: Want a Product License? Here Are 3 Specific Strategies from Meredith Heron
|
May 26, 2025 |
|
70: You’ve Got the Talent—So Why Aren’t You Profitable Yet? Part 2 with LuAnn Nigara
|
May 17, 2025 |
|
69: Get Out of Your Own Way: Lessons from LuAnn Nigara
|
May 09, 2025 |
|
68: Branding, Boldness & Brilliance: The McClain Method Podcast Debut Episode!
|
Apr 25, 2025 |
|
67: How to Create a Dream Team and Streamline Your Design Processes with Jessica Harling
|
Apr 04, 2025 |
|
66: LIVE FROM KBIS! The Future of Luxury Baths: Tech Advances & Entrepreneurial Lessons with BainUltra
|
Mar 21, 2025 |
|
65: SEO for Designers: How to Gain 1000 New Website Visitors Fast with Barb Davids
|
Mar 08, 2025 |
|
64: How Photorealistic Renderings Can Serve Luxury Clients & Increase Your Revenue - with Mina Duque
|
Feb 21, 2025 |
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63: Live From Italy! How to Unlock Your TRUE Creative Potential & Unchain Your Past
|
Feb 11, 2025 |
|
62: Mastering PR, Branding, & Marketing in the Design Industry With Jocelyn Hutt
|
Jan 25, 2025 |
|
61: How to Create A True Client-Centric Design with Michael Mitchell
|
Jan 13, 2025 |
|
60: New Year = New Priorities. Saying YES to What Serves YOU in 2025!
|
Jan 04, 2025 |
|
59: Building a Design Showroom, Vendor Growth, & Work/Life balance with Sara Lynn Brennan (Part 2)
|
Dec 13, 2024 |
|
58: The Power of Processes & The Journey to Design Success with Sara Lynn Brennan (Part 1)
|
Dec 06, 2024 |
|
57: How to Incorporate Curated Art Into Your Design Business With Leonardo Ledesma
|
Nov 16, 2024 |
|
56: 5 Proven Strategies to Enhance & Grow Your Design Business with Jennifer Stoner
|
Nov 02, 2024 |
|
55: Designing Your Business Framework: Contracts, Negotiations, and Global Success with Christina Richardson
|
Oct 19, 2024 |
|
54: Transform Your Design Business Sustainably & Profitably with Carter Averbeck
|
Oct 04, 2024 |
|
53: Balancing Business and Life: 3 Big Lessons I Have Learned In The Past Year
|
Sep 20, 2024 |
|
52: How to Fully Craft Your Client Journey: Part 2 with Brittany Farinas
|
Jul 17, 2024 |
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51: Brand Perception, Authenticity and Strategy: Part 1 with with Brittany Farinas
|
Jul 10, 2024 |
|
50: 7 Words To Avoid In All Business Conversations & What To Use Instead
|
Jun 26, 2024 |
|
49: The Intersection of Luxury Design & Entrepreneurship: Jamie Gasparovic on Pricing, Clients, & Confidence
|
Jun 18, 2024 |
|
48: How To Combine Excellent Client Communication & Creative Risks For Ultimate Success with Sarah Wilson
|
Jun 10, 2024 |
|
47: Turning Consultations Into Sales: Ten Steps for Mastering the Interior Design Consultation
|
May 31, 2024 |
|
46: Creating Harmonious Homes: Ethical and Vegan Interior Design with Deborah Dimare
|
May 17, 2024 |
|
45: Essential Productivity Hacks For Designers That You Can Do Today From Amber De La Garza
|
May 04, 2024 |
|
44: How To Diversify Your Design Talents For Success With Christopher Todd
|
Apr 25, 2024 |
|
43: Burnout and Boundaries: Embracing Mindfulness in the World of Design with Lori Miller
|
Apr 16, 2024 |
|
42: Live Seminar! Essential Systems & Processes from High Point Market
|
Apr 07, 2024 |
|
41: Vendors & Trades: Insider Secrets Every Designer Needs To Know
|
Apr 01, 2024 |
|
40: The Keys To Big Design Business Success In A Small Town With Nicole Roe
|
Mar 25, 2024 |
|
39: How To Bring Your Past Skills Into Your Current Business
|
Mar 16, 2024 |
|
38: Difficult Clients & Difficult Conversations with Valerie Darden
|
Mar 09, 2024 |
|
37: 7 Pieces of Technology I Can't Work Without
|
Mar 02, 2024 |
|
36: That Time A Client Sued Me
|
Feb 24, 2024 |
|
35: Actionable Ways To Increase Your Press & Marketing TODAY
|
Feb 17, 2024 |
|
34: The Audacity of Authenticity with Joshua Smith
|
Feb 09, 2024 |
|
33: The Personal Side Of Interior Design With Amala Raj Swenson
|
Feb 03, 2024 |
|
32: How Many Unpaid Jobs Do You Have?
|
Jan 27, 2024 |
|
31: How Relationships Can Grow Your Business Inside & Out With Susan Hayward Interiors
|
Jan 20, 2024 |
|
30: How To Overcome The Fear of Pricing Your Services For Your Value
|
Jan 12, 2024 |
|
29: Don't Price Another Project Before Listening To This Episode!
|
Jan 05, 2024 |
|
28: The Good, Bad, & Ugly of My 2023 & 3 Easy Steps For You To Plan Your Own Year
|
Dec 29, 2023 |
|
27: From the Vault: Discovering & Blending Your Authentic Self With Your Business
|
Dec 22, 2023 |
|
26: Use This Filter To Answer Every Question - Forever
|
Dec 15, 2023 |
|
25: Lessons Learned From a TV/Film Industry Design Legend
|
Dec 07, 2023 |
|
24: How To Create Your Own Social Network
|
Dec 02, 2023 |
|
23: Your Year End Review: 3 Easy Steps To Reflect
|
Nov 24, 2023 |
|
22: Need Revenue Before The End Of The Year? Listen Up!
|
Nov 16, 2023 |
|
21: How To Value Yourself As Much As You Value Your Clients
|
Nov 10, 2023 |
|
20: Do This One Thing Today To Get New Clients
|
Nov 02, 2023 |
|
19: Handling Confrontation With Communication & Body Language
|
Oct 25, 2023 |
|
18: My BRAND NEW Learning Program Created For Interior Designers
|
Oct 19, 2023 |
|
17: How To Best Serve A Luxury Design Client
|
Oct 13, 2023 |
|
16: High Point Market & Design Industry Insider Info You Need To Know!
|
Oct 05, 2023 |
|
15: How To Use Storytelling To Grow Your Business
|
Sep 28, 2023 |
|
14: Listen To Your Heart: The Power of Being Original
|
Sep 21, 2023 |
|
13: Finding & Growing Your Brand With Jess Ponce
|
Sep 15, 2023 |
|
12: Celebrating My Book & Revealing My Design Process!
|
Sep 07, 2023 |
|
11: How To Create A "How We Work" Document For Your Business
|
Aug 31, 2023 |
|
10: How Dreaming Big In Your Business Brings Big Rewards
|
Aug 24, 2023 |
|
9: How To Take A Vacation (While Your Business Still Operates)
|
Aug 17, 2023 |
|
8: Setting Expectations Around Timelines & Responsibilities
|
Aug 10, 2023 |
|
7: How To Set Pricing Expectations With Your Clients
|
Aug 03, 2023 |
|
6: The Importance Of Setting Expectations In Your Business
|
Jul 27, 2023 |
|
5: How To Create YOUR OWN Success Path
|
Jul 21, 2023 |
|
4: My Top 5 Marketing & Sales Tips For Any Business
|
Jul 13, 2023 |
|
3: Discovering & Blending Your Authentic Self With Your Business
|
Jul 06, 2023 |
|
2: The Power of The Process
|
Jun 29, 2023 |
|
1: The Most Pivotal Moment In My Life & Career
|
Jun 22, 2023 |