Our Style Stories
58 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 7 years ago - ★★★★ - 192 ratingsWelcome to your digital version of grabbing coffee with a good friend. In this podcast, Hilary Walker leads conversations with the guests of her blog on topics such as creative work, personal style, daily habits, work/life balance, girlboss-ness, momboss-ness and generally all the cool lady stuff we’re eager to learn from each other. Tune in bi-weekly for new episodes, including personal musings from Hilary on life as a freelance prop stylist, wife and mother. And visit ourstylestories.com for the photographic stories that accompany each episode.
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Episodes
How I Survive the Work Week
February 06, 2017 11:00 - 20 minutes - 37.1 MBFor all of you wondering how I make things work behind-the-scenes of my blog and Instagram feed... this is it. The tell-(almost)-all of how David and I survive the work week as two very busy working professionals with a toddler and two dogs. SHOW NOTES: The Basics - Daycare After school care Dog sitter Meals - Hello Fresh Casseroles or Dish-in-One meals Take out! Bonuses - Starbucks mobile order Outfit planning (thanks B. Jones Style!) Weekend staycations Expectati...
Minimalism + Self-Discovery with Jamie Lyons
January 19, 2017 11:00 - 22 minutes - 39.5 MBIf you were looking for a reason to tidy up in the new year, this. is. it... The stunningly edited home and wardrobe of Jamie Lyons. If you haven't seen her Style Story from last week, stop what you're doing. Right now. And go check it out! Seriously. I'm questioning all of my previously held beliefs about my proficiency to ward off clutter. In the wake of my visit with Jamie, I am clear on one thing... I am a total amateur. But today you'll get the full scoop from Jamie herself. In our conv...
Lessons + a Poem for 2017
January 06, 2017 19:38 - 18 minutes - 34.2 MBWhen I look back on 2016, a lot has happened. Much has baffled and disappointed me. But I've learned a lot and met some fantastic people along the way. Today's podcast is a review of this past year's Style Stories and the lessons that I learned from each. #1 Prolific creativity is often the result of a youthful spirit. from Kelly Christine Sutton Sidenote on Kelly... This past year, she and her husband took what I'm now going to call a "leap of youthfulness" and purged the majori...
Mentorship & the Freelance Life with Arianna Jones
December 12, 2016 10:30 - 42 minutes - 61 MBThere was never a question that Arianna Jones would have a creative career. Artistry and entrepreneurship were in her bones and she knew from early on that she was meant to live a certain kind of artist's life. The question was more nuanced... How was she going to live that life. What would it look like, feel like... How would it come together, grow and operate on a daily basis. These aren't questions a person can necessarily answer on their own and, lucky for Ari, she didn't have to. Her jo...
Vote with Your Style... A Holiday Gift Guide That Matters
November 25, 2016 10:00 - 25 minutes - 38.2 MBThere are so many instances in which I feel like I don't have control. I mean... have you ever tried to reason with a toddler? Parenting at this stage (and who am I kidding, probably at any stage) is an exercise in learning to live without control. The world's problems are so great and the solutions can seem so very far out of reach. But I'm here today to say that while we may not be able to solve all the problems in all the places just by the swipe of a card, we do have a profound power to ...
The Yin and Yang of Being a Working SAHM with Gina Bender
November 11, 2016 22:24 - 26 minutes - 47.2 MBGina Bender describes herself as humble, creative and nurturing and her personal style as a mix of classic vintage, layers of color and mindfulness for minimalism. Today on the podcast, we talk about her work as a graphic designer - where she got started and how it has evolved into the work she does today - as well as the yin and yang, give and take, ebb and flow of being a working SAHM. I have tremendous respect for all of Gina's hard work as a mother and designer! Additionally, Gina shar...
What Is Personal Style, Anyways?
October 24, 2016 10:00 - 27 minutes - 37.7 MBToday's episode is courtesy of years worth of pondering on the subject of personal style. What it represents... how it's developed... where it comes from... how it manifests itself. Indulge me as I take a brief dive into these thoughts and more in today's podcast show. Additionally, get the scoop on two books I HIGHLY recommend for personal growth and personal style development. Plus, a few quotes to get your week going! "...It is a compass for creating a life that reflects what's true...
A Week in the Life of a Prop Stylist
October 08, 2016 10:00 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MBMiracle of miracles... I'm back with another podcast episode and it didn't take me three months! Trust me, I'm just as shocked as you are. Today, I'm sharing a glimpse into what a week of my work life as a prop stylist looks like. My schedule, my work load, the idiosyncrasies of this very unusual job. It's all there plus a bit more. I hope you enjoy! And if you're an aspiring stylist and want to know more about breaking into this behind the scenes industry, drop me a line! The link ...
What Is Too Much & Other 50th Episode Musings
October 01, 2016 11:00 - 17 minutes - 23.6 MBYou may have thought I left podcasting (I wouldn't blame you... it's been forever), but NOPE! I'm still at it. In fact, this is officially my 50th episode, if you can believe it! Who knew? (I nearly missed it myself.) Turns out, I've been at this whole podcasting thing for quite some time but when you publish as irregularly as I do, 50 episodes takes ya a while. But no matter. I'm not letting that get in my way of creative expression and experimentation! Speaking of which, today's show is...
Layered Homes & Self-Confidence with Kris Drayovitch
June 06, 2016 10:00 - 36 minutes - 50.4 MBLast week's Style Story visit into the home of home Kris Drayovitch was all about rich layers, worldly textiles and inviting details. In today's podcast, you'll hear from the equally beautiful Kris herself. Besides sharing her personal tips on for shopping second-hand furniture and decorating a home that is welcoming and layered, Kris opens an honest and graceful conversation about her interior struggle with perfectionism and self-confidence... two things I'm sure many of us can relate to! I...
Collaboration + Creative Process with Jayme Ditto and Allie Hill
May 05, 2016 15:44 - 54 minutes - 99.7 MBJayme and Allie are co-owners of Yeti and the Beast and housemates in the coolest arts and crafts home (did you see their Style Story?). They blew me away with their insights when we sat down to record today's podcast. To summarize, we touched on business partnerships and how to make the most of them, honesty and flexibility in regards to your work, the creative process, #anthrowindows, stress as a type of creative rut (and how to work your way out of it), inspiration and why you shouldn't b...
Style Questions... No. 2
January 22, 2016 04:42 - 18 minutes - 33.4 MBOk, who's ready for a little style Q & A? Today, I published the second episode of my new Style Questions series. In it, I'm riffing on a few design questions that some of you submitted (don't forget, you can send me questions too using the prompt on the right side of this page). Hopefully I've presented some creative solutions to your design dilemmas. SHOW NOTES Question #1: from Mary Evelyn - How do you keep a home looking fresh and stylish without investing in large purchases or...
Fashion and Philanthropy with Carly Burson
December 23, 2015 20:25 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MBToday's conversation comes as a perfect follow-up to my Conscious Gifting Guide from last week. It's becoming a well-known fact that "fast fashion" has a tragically negative affect on the people that are employed to produce the items. Carly is tackling this problem head on with her fashion company Tribe Alive by adopting a socially responsible business model. In her opinion, doing business in such a manner is nothing extraordinary, or at least she feels it shouldn't be. Rather, it's just the...
Style Questions... No. 1
November 09, 2015 10:00 - 16 minutes - 22.8 MBToday's post has been a looong time coming. Since it's inception, the podcast has always played second fiddle to the blog for a variety of reasons but primarily because audio is not my area of expertise. But now that I've established a fairly solid rhythm on the blog, I'm finally ready to step up my game on the podcast. And today is the day! As part of my improvement of the podcast, I asked for your style questions and today I'm answering the first few of them. Below, you'll find the four q...
Colorful Spontaneity with Kelly Christine Sutton
October 01, 2015 16:09 - 35 minutes - 48.5 MBKelly Christine Sutton is a photographer, film-maker, plant whisperer and rainbow decorator. In her words, her style is colorful and spontaneous. If you've seen her Style Story, I'm sure you're dying to hear the rest of her story! Today we're chatting about her creative impulses and stylish preferences. I've changed up my usual questions for some new, more style focused inquiries. You'll learn about Kelly's personal style from all angles... fashion, home, morning rituals, creative career, t...
Handmade Goods and Family Business with Brooke Fish
September 10, 2015 12:00 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MBBrooke Fish, the co-founder and crafter behind the baby product company Fresh Bib, takes me through her journey from fashion student to corporate employee, stay-at-home mother and finally product designer and entrepreneur. She shares some of the struggles and lessons that she and her husband Adam have learned along the way as well as her favorite four letter word and how to make a lot out of a little by shopping second hand. As a special gift for all Our Style Stories listeners, Brooke is o...
Art + Motherhood + a Simplified Wardrobe with Jane Cheek
August 01, 2015 22:32 - 25 minutes - 23.9 MBJane Cheek is a mother of many talents. She is an artist and teacher by trade, a mother to three (now) and a crafty home decorator to boot. You saw her lively home in last week's Style Story, right? In today's podcast episode, I sit down with Jane in her Dallas studio and discuss just she how manages it all... family, kiddos, studio time and homemaking. To my surprise, Jane has gone to some unusual ends to simplify parts of her life. At the end of our conversation, she describes a new appro...
Melanie and Dalton Tarver: A Guide to Cool Hobbies
June 19, 2015 11:00 - 48 minutes - 66.2 MBAt long last, Melanie and Dalton get their turn on the podcast. If you saw their Style Story, then you know that in addition to their day jobs as commercial photographer and still life stylist, they enjoy a delightful variety of hobbies. Vegetable gardening, beer home brewing, group running and bath salt mixing. It's all on the table, my friends. This is officially your Summer guide to having a cool hobby, courtesy of the Tarvers. Listen below or on your smart phone in iTunes to hear ou...
Editing Your Style and Launching a Design Business with Heylee Heep
January 26, 2015 12:00 - 28 minutes - 39.2 MBEarlier last week, I shared Heylee Heep's Style Story on the blog and today - after traveling to Salt Lake City and back for the Alt Summit conference - I'm back with a her podcast interview. Get ready for some serious design savvy. Heylee is a master of editing and in today's episode she's going to share a few pro tips on how to edit your own space and wardrobe plus reasons why you should consider working with a neutral color palette and what it was like to launch her styling business. ...
Young Love and Business Ventures with Robbie and Adam Werner
December 08, 2014 03:37 - 38 minutes - 52.4 MBNot long ago, I shared a peek inside the home of Robbie and Adam's inviting family home but now it's time to dig a little deeper into the story behind all those cool art pieces and charming decor. Robbie is a baker and owner of Stir Crazy Baked Goods and her husband Adam is an art educator and visual artist. Along with their children Amaris, Paige, and Asher they've followed an adventurous and creatively motivated life together. In today's podcast, Robbie and Adam share some of those highlig...
Lisa Elin and Erik Craighead: The Impact of Location on a Creative Career
August 16, 2014 19:47 - 32 minutes - 44.2 MBToday's conversation with Lisa and Erik Craighead of Salt Lake City, UT is primarily about location. I visited their historic downtown apartment earlier this Summer and spent the better part of an entire day with them, touring their home, snapping some pictures, exploring their garden, and enjoying great conversation over a delicious home cooked meal. During our visit we talked a lot about location as it relates to developing a creative career. We discussed the pros and cons of living in a...
Laura Busby: Comfort Zones and Bedding Wisdom
August 08, 2014 12:43 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MBAfter yesterday's Style Story featuring Laura Busby, I'm sure you're anxious to hear more from this girl who plays mandolin, takes adult ballet classes, and experiments in videography . In today's interview, Laura and I chat about her journey from the beginning as a shop girl at Anthropologie to her current role as a manager of e-commerce and marketing at Peacock Alley. Laura imparted some serious bedding wisdom and enlightened me on my sad, uneducated ways. (hint: what's more important tha...
Rachel and Dave Chamberlain: Love Stories and Home Renovations for a Family of Six
August 02, 2014 22:35 - 41 minutes - 56.7 MBRachel and Dave Chamberlain are today's guests and I'm thrilled to welcome them onto the podcast. Earlier this week, I shared their gorgeous Style Story and today you'll hear the rest of their story as told in their own voices. Rachel is a portrait illustrator and writer and Dave is a cabinet and furniture builder and owner of Chamberlain Cabinetry. The two live in their gorgeous mid-century home nestled in the mountainside of Salt Lake City, UT with their children Beau, Georgia, Kingston, ...
Cristina Lynch: Artisan Crafts and Creative Collaboration
July 21, 2014 16:28 - 39 minutes - 55 MBToday we continue our visit with Cristina Lynch from last week. Her Style Story is full of such beautiful traditions and stories. As a special addition to our typical podcast episode, I'm also including photos that I took of Cristina's showroom and work studio for her company Mi Golodrina on the blog. Visit www.ourstylestories.com for the full tour. After taking a tour of her space, we sat down to talk about everything from folk art and cultural migration to the process behind creating art...
Skyler Fike: Multi-Faceted Careers & Self Education
July 09, 2014 12:00 - 36 minutes - 50.3 MBSkyler Fike is a thoughtful guy who has a particular appreciation for challenges that help him grow. Earlier this week we saw a glimpse of his home and how he inhabits his space through his Style Story. In today's conversation, we dig deeper into the story behind his work and lifestyle. We talked about the early seeds of his interest in architecture, his love affair with photography and film, the many facets of his current freelance work and how being a member of a creative community has hel...
Maryam Salassi: Art for Children and Launching a Business
June 28, 2014 16:44 - 31 minutes - 42.9 MBThis week's Style Story featuring Maryam, Jacob, and Margaux Salassi got a lot of attention for it's bold hues and playful art. I absolutely loved spending the afternoon with this sweet family and thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Maryam for the podcast. Maryam and I talked about everything from her childhood growing up in Guam, her philosophies on early art education, her favorite children's book authors, and her insights and lesson learned in the process of launching Pouf Salon which...
Diamond Mahone: Dressing Courageously and Maintaining Authenticity
May 30, 2014 12:47 - 38 minutes - 53.3 MBIn Wednesday's blog post you met Diamond Mahone, the fashion blogger behind Diamond Janae, and got a glimpse of her enviable and bold style. Today we're going to dive a little deeper into her story on the podcast. Diamond has some wonderful insights to share around courage, boldness, and maintaining authenticity in your work. Her early interest in fashion and later education in fashion marketing and management have helped Diamond hone a unique personal aesthetic. Through publishing her own b...
Catie Conlon: Editing, Humility, and Mentorship in the Life of a Young Creative
May 16, 2014 12:40 - 40 minutes - 55.1 MBFor someone as young and fresh as she is, Catie Conlon sure has a wealth of valuable life lessons to share. In this podcast interview, Catie discusses her thoughts on the following topics: Decorating a diverse and unique home Nurturing creativity and positive energy in a work environment Developing mentorship relationships The role of humility in launching a career The importance of editing And finally, managing the guilt of downtime If you haven't already, take a peak inside Ca...
Sam Sano and Joslyn Taylor of SWOON the studio: Creating a Niche Through Diversifying
April 11, 2014 11:59 - 23 minutes - 32.7 MBPart two of SWOON's Style Story takes us behind the front facade of their cool work space and into the minds and musings of Sam and Joslyn, it's founder and principal designers. Join me as I dig deep into topics such as "master of craft" vs. "renaissance woman" and the process of creating a niche through diversifying their offering. I thoroughly enjoyed all of their insights and think you will too. For all those creative entrepreneurs and developing business folks out there, this one's for y...
Ruthie Lindsey: Navigating Pain and Purpose, Brokenness and Beauty
April 05, 2014 16:07 - 38 minutes - 52.9 MBRuthie Lindsey and I sat down to chat at her dining table a month ago after touring her home for her Style Story feature. During our conversation, Ruthie opened up about her journey from being the victim of a serious car accident and undergoing multiple subsequent spinal cord surgeries, to her life today as a decorator and stylist in Nashville, TN. After opening up about her struggles with the world through her blog and social media last year, Ruthie discovered the overwhelming joy and bless...
Amanda Lackey: Building a Young Business and Working with a Decorator
March 21, 2014 12:00 - 35 minutes - 48.5 MBYesterday, I walked you through the home and wardrobe of Amanda Lackey. She is a successful photographer and business woman here in Fort Worth with some fantastic insight into multiples niches! Today, you'll get to hear her speak first hand about what it's been like to build her business as a very young professional, the balance she is learning to strike between work and home life in her first year of marriage, and what the process of working with a decorator was like among other things.
Emily and Aaron Williams: Honoring the Process and Creating Intentional Happiness
March 07, 2014 13:00 - 43 minutes - 60.2 MBI was at a bit of a loss for words on Wednesday when I first posted Emily and Aaron's Style Story. There was so much to share about them and the thought of covering it all just totally overwhelmed me. But that's why I have these interviews. Because my guests are often far more eloquent than I am! Today you'll hear Emily and Aaron share, among other things, a bit about their childhood growing up in rural Texas, their thoughts on setting goals and learning to appreciate the moment, and how to ...
Facing Risk and Overcoming Insecurities with Rachael Currie
February 21, 2014 13:21 - 39 minutes - 55 MBToday's podcast episode is a bit longer than usual but worth every minute of extra time. Rachael and I started by talking about her background in the performing arts as an actress and then shifted into discussions about fear and freelancing, insecurities and doing work that's new, financial stability and learning to accept risk as part of the creative process. It was awesome!! If you are an independent creative or someone that just wants to put themselves and their creative work out to the w...
Work & Life Balance, Creative Outlets, & the Blogging Community with Samantha Stewart
January 24, 2014 13:29 - 13 minutes - 19.1 MBAdmittedly, today's conversation with Sam was a little self-indulgent. I had a few burning questions about blogging that I just had to ask her. For example, how does she handle a job and a blog... at the same time! Of course, she had the best answer. In addition, we chatted about the importance of a creative outlet, how a blog facilitates that, the delights of being a part of a community of supportive people, and a few key tips for beginning vintage shoppers and newby bloggers.
Craftsmanship, Family Influences, and Saving for Your Dream with Angela Scott
January 17, 2014 13:00 - 16 minutes - 22.6 MBFor Angela Scott, footwear has been a lifelong pursuit and one that has finally led to the launch of her own company, The Office of Angela Scott. It has been a dream for years and was a long time in the making. Now, almost three years into production, Angela can say her dream has come true. In today's interview, we chat about what her journey has looked like, how she saved in order to launch her business, what has influenced her work artistically, and the value of fine craftsmanship.
Priorities, Work Flow, and Repurposing with Dana Pugh
December 18, 2013 13:00 - 32 minutes - 44.6 MBYesterday's Style Story featuring Dana Pugh was just the beginning of her beautiful insights. Today, you'll get to learn more from this talented lady in a conversation that left me wanting for more. We chatted about her childhood growing up with a single parent, how that influenced her outlook on life and decorating, her entry into design, making priorities in life and work, choosing what to pay attention to in our busy world, and learning to edit when scavenging for home items.
Family Businesses, Life Transitions, and Home Renovation with Brianne and Trey Denton
December 11, 2013 13:35 - 31 minutes - 42.7 MBIn today's episode, I chat with Brianne and Trey Denton, owners of Blue Lotus Gardens in Dallas, TX and new parents to babygirl Veda, about their family history of entrepreneurship, their views on the importance of family priorities, some exciting floral trends, and a few key tips for home renovation.
Literature, Education, and the Importance of a House Full of Books with Colleen Whitver
December 04, 2013 13:00 - 28 minutes - 39.1 MBBetween our common interest in writing, history, and education and our undeniable "gift for gab", Colleen and I shared a wonderful conversation when I visited her earlier this year to photograph her Style Story. Among other things, we discussed her background in literature, how that influenced the style of education she offered her children, what she has been growing in her garden lately, books on her reading list, and the responsibility of education.
Creative Entrepreneurship and Launching a Jewelry Line with Jennifer Blumenstock
November 25, 2013 13:00 - 8 minutes - 11.9 MBIn this podcast interview, Jennifer and I chat about what inspired the launch of their jewelry line, Three Bishops, what has challenged them so far, and advice for other young creative entrepreneurs.
Decorating on a Budget, Working from Home, and Teaching Your Children About Design with Sarah Greenman
October 31, 2013 12:00 - 12 minutes - 17.2 MBIn this episode, you'll listen to Sarah share a few personal insights about the role of budgetary restrictions on her decorating style, the challenges of working from home, how design has taught her boys respect, and what it takes for her to get work done.
Finance and Fashion, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, and Dallas Art with Lisa Moore
October 28, 2013 12:00 - 19 minutes - 26.5 MBIn today's podcast interview, I sat down with Lisa Moore of Dallas, TX to chat about her transition from finance to fashion, the challenges of entrepreneurship, overcoming intellectual property infringement, and the Dallas art community among other things. Lisa has a unique perspective on each of these issues which she expands on honestly in our conversation.
World Travels, Global Style, and Philanthropic Fashion with Paula Minnis
October 16, 2013 12:00 - 12 minutes - 17.9 MBIn this conversation, Paula Minnis shares the influence of her world travels and volunteer work for the International Refugee Committee on the founding of her philanthropic fashion line Gaia as well as a more in depth look at her personal style.
Creative Couples, Street Style Photography, and Vintage in Boston with Krista Casey & David Kavaler
October 07, 2013 11:30 - 19 minutes - 27.1 MBWhen Krista, David, and I sat down on their apartment patio for our official podcast interview, we had barely known each other an hour. But we jumped into some really interesting topics such as the dynamic between to two of them as a creative couple, the ins and outs of running a street style blog, and where to shop for vintage clothing and furniture in Boston.
Entrepreneurship for Artists and Connecting the Dots of One's Life with Jane Waggoner
September 25, 2013 13:52 - 19 minutes - 26.7 MBIn this conversation with Jane Waggoner, we discuss the importance of entrepreneurship for artists, maintaining artistic sensitivity while also growing a thick skin, and connecting the dots of one’s life to find your true calling. In addition, I learned s
Pursuing Your Passion as a Side Project & Discovering Your Personal Style with Greg and Chantal Hickman
September 13, 2013 12:00 - 17 minutes - 23.8 MBGreg and Chantal sat down with me to chat about how they pursue their passions outside of their day jobs, how they shop for vintage furniture, and what the process of discovering their own personal style has looked like.
Raising a Family in the Entertainment Industry and Defining Personal Style on Your Own Terms with Lucy Wrubel
September 07, 2013 16:25 - 35 minutes - 48.6 MBLucy Wrubel is a sketch comedian turned DJ living with photographer husband Steve and daughter Stella in Dallas, TX. In this interview, among other things, we chatted about the transition from comedian to DJ, raising a family in the entertainment industry, and discovering personal style on your own terms.
Launching a Business and Thrifty Decor with Misty Spencer
August 27, 2013 09:00 - 18 minutes - 25.9 MBMisty Spencer is an organic hair stylist turned interior decorator and owner of Objects Living Co. In this interview, we chat about her thrifty design philosophy, how to launch a business using the barter system, and designing a home with kids in mind.
Modern Design and Family Spaces with Patrick Craine
August 24, 2013 16:52 - 6 minutes - 9.58 MBPatrick Craine is currently pursuing his second masters degree in advanced architecture at Columbia University. This interview, in which we discuss his philosophies on modern architecture and designing smaller spaces for more meaningful family interactions, was originally taken in the Spring of 2012 at Patrick and Cindy's Fort Worth home.
Meredith Carmichael in Conversation
August 16, 2013 09:00 - 20 minutes - 28.7 MBMeredith Carmichael is the client services manager for Spruce Austin, a progressive upholstery workshop and retail store based in Austin, TX. In this interview, I chat with Meredith about her home, the DIY projects she's undertaken to improve it, how she shifted the course of her career, and some helpful tips about custom upholstery on a budget.
Lindsay Leggett in Conversation
August 14, 2013 09:00 - 20 minutes - 28.7 MBIn this conversation with Lindsay Leggett, learn more about what has influenced her as a creative, challenged her in her entrepreneurial endeavours, and some take aways from her most recent travel to Bali.