The McClain Method | Business Tools For Interior Designers
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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.
87 Episodes
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EPISODE 87 — Be the Unicorn in the Room: Visibility, Partnerships & Mindful Success with Antonio DeLoatch If you're an interior designer craving more visibility, confidence, and high-quality clients, this episode is your new playbook. I’m joined by NYC-based designer and mindfulness advocate Antonio DeLoatch - a man who has mastered becoming the unicorn in the room. Together, we unpack what it really takes to stand out in a crowded design industry, elevate your brand presence, and bu...
Three Reasons Designers Stay Stuck (And How to Break Through Before 2026) If you’ve been feeling stuck in your design business — stuck at the same income level, stuck recreating your processes every time a new client reaches out, stuck second-guessing your pricing, or stuck behind a brand that doesn’t reflect your true talent — this episode is the shift you needed. Today, John breaks down the three biggest reasons designers don’t grow (even when they’re working hard!) and teaches the mindset,...
What if the version of success you’ve been chasing… isn’t actually yours? In this episode, John McClain gets personal about what happened when his business grew beyond what his soul was ready for — and why he made the decision to choose alignment over expansion. From running two design offices across the country to finding peace and purpose in a smaller, more intentional business, John shares the real lessons behind sustainable success. If you’ve ever felt pressure to “go big” before yo...
In this episode of The McClain Method Podcast, I’m joined by nationally recognized designer, TV personality, and NKBA Person of the Year Alena Capra — a powerhouse in the world of interior design and brand partnerships. We’re pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to build a thriving design brand from the ground up — one that’s respected, recognizable, and rooted in authenticity. Alena and I dive into: 🌟 How to find your niche and use it to stand out in a crowded design industry🤝 Th...
If your Instagram captions or newsletters sound like a bad Hallmark card… I hate to break it to you, but I know AI wrote them. And so does your audience. 👀 Here’s the deal: AI isn’t the problem. It’s actually a powerful tool — but if you’re handing it the mic and posting whatever it spits out, your content is going to sound robotic, generic, and totally forgettable. And luxury clients? They don’t hire forgettable. In this episode of The McClain Method, I’m giving you the tough love (and the s...
The Hidden Reason Your Clients Don’t Feel Fully Taken Care Of Even the most talented designers can unintentionally miss the small-but-critical details that shape how clients feel throughout (and especially at the end of) a project. And let’s be honest: clients remember the final 10% more than the first 90%. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the quiet gap in most design businesses — the part that turns even the most beautiful projects into stressful, confusing experiences for clients. We’...
How to Avoid Common Interior Design Business Mistakes with Ronniesha Rivera In this episode of the McClain Method Podcast, host John McClain discusses overcoming difficulties in the interior design business with guest Ronniesha Rivera, founder of Vetted By Design. They talk about the importance of dealing with hardships, the challenges of finding good help, outsourcing effectively, and maintaining long-term profitability. They also delve into the specifics of hiring bookkeepers, account...
Do it Afraid: Navigating Fear and Change in Design In this episode of the McClain Method Podcast, host John McClain speaks with Katie Derek Erickson, founder of Success by Design. They discuss the importance of grit, perspective, and intuitive decision-making in business. Katie shares her journey from flipping houses to leading a multimillion-dollar commercial design firm and emphasizes the significance of sustainable design. The episode also touches on overcoming fear, the power of cel...
Episode 79: Clutter-Free Life – Transform Your Space, Transform Your Mindset with Helen Sanderson In today’s episode of The McClain Method Podcast, we’re diving into the powerful connection between your home environment and mental wellness. I’m joined by Helen Sanderson, the UK’s leading expert on the psychology of clutter and the author of The Secret Life of Clutter. Helen is here to show us how to clear the physical clutter in our spaces—and how doing so can lead to a clearer, more in...
Episode 78: How Instagram’s Search Engine Update Can Help You Get Found and Grow Your Business Hey y’all, welcome back to The McClain Method Podcast! Today, I’m bringing you some amazing information from my YouTube channel and adapting it for the podcast. If you haven’t subscribed to my YouTube yet, check out https://www.youtube.com/@mcclainjohn for more content with visuals! In today’s episode, we’re diving into a game-changing shift happening on Instagram: it’s becoming a search engine. Ins...
What do interior designers, creatives, and wellness founders have in common? Most of them hate selling—but still need to do it daily. In this episode, John sits down with Christopher Francis, engineer-turned-entrepreneur and founder of Home Plunge, the world’s first cold plunge designed for your home bathtub. Drawing inspiration from Steve Jobs and his own experience bridging product design with human connection, Christopher shares how to sell without being pushy, pitchy, or fake. Ins...
76: You’re Not Lazy—You’re Exhausted: Rethinking Productivity and Self-Worth 📝 Episode Description / Show Notes: What if the real problem isn’t your motivation, your to-do list, or your morning routine? What if you’re not lazy—you’re exhausted? In this powerful conversation, John McClain sits down with wellness expert and founder of bnourished, Katie McDonald, to challenge everything we’ve been taught about productivity, hustle culture, and tying our worth to output. 👂 In this episode: How se...
75: How to Grow Your Business Using Your Own Story with Jude Charles In a world of AI-generated content and generic captions, how do you make your brand actually stand out? In this powerful episode, John is joined once again by storytelling expert and filmmaker Jude Charles for a heartfelt, thought-provoking conversation about what truly connects clients to your brand: your story. Together, they unpack: Why your voice is the one thing AI can’t replicateThe 3 Rules of Authentic Storytelling ev...
Episode Summary: If your Instagram posts feel like they’re disappearing into the void lately—you’re not imagining it. In this episode, I’m breaking down the just-revealed 2025 changes to Instagram’s algorithm and content strategy, based on a brand-new interview with Instagram Head Adam Mosseri on the Build Your Tribe podcast with Brock Johnson. From why hashtags aren’t helping anymore, to why Reels still matter (but only if you do this), to how Lives have lost their edge—this is your updated...
🎙️ Episode 73 — How Breegan Jane Built a Bold Design Brand—and Landed 13 HGTV Shows In This Episode: If you’re an interior designer dreaming of being on television, this episode is your roadmap. John McClain sits down with HGTV star, product designer, author, and branding powerhouse Breegan Jane for an unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to get noticed by TV networks—and how building a bold, authentic brand is the key to long-term success. Breegan shares how she: Built a stron...
🎙️ Luxury Clients Aren’t Booking You—Because You Look Budget 📌 Episode Summary: You say you want luxury clients… but does your brand actually look the part? In this bold and necessary solo episode, John McClain pulls back the curtain on why so many talented interior designers are struggling to attract high-end projects. Spoiler: it’s not your portfolio—it’s your presentation. From outdated websites and inconsistent posting to visuals that send mixed messages, John dives into the top se...
71: Want a Product License? Here Are 3 Specific Strategies from Meredith Heron In this episode of the McClain Method Podcast, host John McClain speaks with Canadian design powerhouse Meredith Heron. They discuss the importance of dealing with decision-makers, aligning values in business relationships, diversifying ventures, and staying true to passion and creativity. Meredith shares insights from her journey from working at Home Depot to becoming a TV host and launching a bespoke rug co...
In episode 70 of The McClain Method Podcast, host John McClain continues his insightful conversation with Luann Nigara, a leading figure in the interior design industry. They delve into key aspects of running a successful design business, including mindset, pricing, and branding strategies. Luann shares her journey, emphasizes the importance of being unapologetically yourself, and discusses the value of professional guidance. They also address common industry challenges such as cl...
The McClain Method Podcast Episode 69: Get Out of Your Own Way: Lessons from LuAnn Nigara In this episode of The McClain Method Podcast, host John McClain welcomes LuAnn Nigara, a pioneer in the interior design business world. They discuss LuAnn's journey from helping her husband start Window Works to becoming a celebrated media personality with her podcast 'A Well-Designed Business.' LuAnn shares how she identified the need for business education among designers, her strategies for lau...
🎙️ Episode 68 is here, y’all! Say hello to the very first episode of the newly rebranded McClain Method Podcast — and let me just say… she’s bold, she’s brilliant, and she’s ready to take center stage. 💁♂️✨ In this kickoff episode, I’m pulling back the velvet curtain on why I rebranded the podcast, what The McClain Method really means, and how YOU can stop playing small and start building the visible, profitable, soul-aligned business you actually want. We’re talking: 💫 Why your “backstage”...
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