ProFresh Podcast

In one of our all-time favorite Profresh episodes, Kristen talks about the intersection of brand and culture with the co-owners of Historic Agency, Mark Miller and Ted Vaughn. They cover Mark and Ted's upcoming book, Culture Built My Brand, their theory of marquee culture, and what it looks like to shape a joyful, meaningful workplace. Some of our favorite tips include: Build your values around your people, your customers, and your why.Strive to have happier, healthier people, not just a faster and more efficient team.Think intentionally about developing your people. 

Kristen chats all things workplace culture with Gina Delapa, a company culture expert and coach. They discuss the differences between drama and conflict, management and leadership, and they even share advice surrounding talking about money at work — for both bosses and employees. 

Kristen sits down with Bryana, Sonnet, and Veronica, the founders of Raising Children You Like, to talk about motherhood. They get into everything from social media pressures to the infrastructure that works against women in the workforce. If you've ever been infuriated by maternity leave policies or the unrealistic expectations that working families face, then this is the episode for you.Raising Children You Like is an online course that will transform the way you think about motherhood — and the way you parent. Try the course today. Our exclusive link for Raising Children You Like: https://www.raisingchildrenyoulike.com?fpr=kristen98 

This episode features an exciting announcement and meaningful conversation. What more could you ask for? Join Kristen and her friend Chrystal as they discuss Columbia's newest business, Spacey, and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the salon space. 

Mark Morey, an executive leadership coach, talks with Kristen about workplace culture and connecting with our roots. He works with companies from Nike to Google, and he's helped teams and individuals find success in all aspects of their work. In his words, this is one of the best interviews he's ever been a part of. So find your favorite mug, pour a cup of tea, and get ready to learn about leadership — and life.

Kristen and Adam are embarking on a new endeavor: commercial property. They recently purchased a building, which will become Hoot headquarters, and started a new real estate business, Townie Properties. And today, they're getting real about why they became landlords — and how much it cost. 

Lorenzo Gomez, an author, CEO, and tech startup expert, sits down with Kristen to talk about his newest book, The Rack We Built: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Creating Company Culture. He gets real about his time at Rackspace, a key player in bringing YouTube to life, explains the value of sharing financials with your team, and talks about leaving workplaces with dignity. 

Getting let go, letting people go...it's something we all encounter at one point or another. And while it's never a pleasant experience, there are a few ways to stand out as a classy fire-ee. We know because we've been there. And today, we're talking openly about our experience firing both clients and employees — and getting fired ourselves.

This week, we're excited to introduce you to Sojen, a hemp company made specifically for working professionals. Sojen's founders, Caleb and Nick, saw that stress in the workplace boils down to culture, and they created products to alter this dynamic. Learn more about Caleb, Nick, and their company in this unique episode. 

If you're a fan of requests for proposals, this episode isn't for you. In it, Kristen goes on the record to take a stand against the abusive RFP process. She shares horror stories, gets real about the financial cost of RFPs, and makes a bold statement about HDco's relationship with proposals moving forward.  

Stacy Henry is an entrepreneur, author, and the latest Profresh guest. Stacy is the owner of CenterBranch, where she offers leadership development that transforms her clients' professional and personal lives. To reach more people, Stacy recently put her experience into a book, Get Rooted: Growing People and Companies Through Change. In today's episode, she dives into her approach, embracing change, and nourishing your values. Her advice is more pertinent now than ever before, and we promise you'll walk away from this episode with some serious wisdom. 

You asked, and we listened. Due to popular demand, Kristen is serving us a How-I-Built-This style episode. She details everything from the origins of HDco to where she sees the business in 2025. You'll hear some never-before-shared stories and gain insight into what business ownership is really like. And if you have any other episode requests, please email us at hi@hootdesignco.com to share.

This week, Kristen talks healthcare with Jen Wheeler, the cofounder of Big Tree Medical, a direct primary care concept. Big Tree offers affordable concierge medicine, it never deals with insurance, and it gives healthcare professionals the ability to work from home. And when the pandemic shut down schools, Jen turned her conference room into a school, fully equipped with a professional teacher and organized recess. Jen is transforming what it means to be an employer and a healthcare provider. And you'll love what she has to say. 

Kristen sits down with Beth Snyder, owner of 1canoe2 and Hemlock Goods, for a year-end review. They cover the good, the bad, and the ugly, from growing businesses during a pandemic to crying over online school. They both agree that 2020 will set women in the workplace back 50 years — and that the only solution is more support. 

Kristen takes Profresh international when she speaks with Sean Hoff, the owner and founder of Moniker, a high-end corporate events company based out of Toronto. Moniker plans and hosts corporate retreats everywhere from Switzerland to Thailand, which led to some amazing experiences — until the pandemic hit. Sean opens up about how Moniker pivoted earlier this year, and he explains why coordinating events is more important than ever. And of course, Kristen gets him talking about brands and company culture too. 

Join Kristen and Matt, HDco's lead brand strategist, as they talk about aging in an industry that glorifies youth. Kristen, the oldest person in the office (although she is still so young), and Matt, the youngest, bring uniquely millennial and Gen Z perspectives to the conversation. They tackle questions like “can you still be relevant at 50?” and “can you be a good manager at 23?”. Their answers may surprise you. 

This week, Kristen talks with Barbara Cook, the CEO of Lovers, a boundary-pushing sexual wellness company that happens to be going through a brand refresh. This episode is packed with everything we love to discuss: authenticity, making business pivots, brand identity, and empowering your team. You'll walk away from this episode with an inside look into an exciting national brand — and a new woman crush.

Kristen welcomes her husband, Adam, to the Profresh studio to talk vulnerably about their relationship, their home, and their careers. They get candid about how their dynamic shifted when Kristen started to bring home more money, and how their experience ties into bigger cultural realities, like the motherhood penalty. They even give some controversial advice — like when you should actually start to have kids. Trust us, you've never heard a conversation about breadwinners like this before.

In this week's episode, Kristen interviews Dr. Heather Kunen, a New-York-City-based orthodontist and co-founder of Beam Street. Beam Street is the Dry Bar of dentistry: It offers teeth cleanings, whitening, and Invisalign services — aka, all the things millennials are after. Dr. Kunen talks about how she came up with the idea, what it's like to be the only female co-founder of the business, and the secret to her marketing success. 

In today's episode, Kristen talks with Kristi, our CMO, and CJ, a member of our account team, about paid time off. You may be surprised to learn that Kristen is a self-described ‘monster about PTO,' and you may be shocked to hear how some of our team members spend their days away from the office. When it comes to PTO, we don't hold back.

Kristen sat down with Rob Rickert, the owner of CAP3, a comprehensive financial services firm, to talk about running their businesses. They may be in completely different industries, but Kristen and Rob found a lot of similarities in their businesses. They both hold office book clubs, they both see great importance in defining core values, and they both love working with female business owners. This episode is proof that creatives and accountants aren't so different after all. 

The HDco team just got back from the 2020 summer retreat, and office morale has never been higher. In our latest episode, Emma and CJ, members of the HDco account team, sit down to talk about how an annual (or better yet, bi-annual) retreat enriches office culture. They divulge tips for a successful work staycation, share retreat ideas for offices of all sizes, and even get real about how retreats can show who's a good fit for the team — and who's not. 

Bri and Matt, two twenty-something designers on the HDco team, take the mic to discuss moving in with their partners. They get real about how hard transitioning into a shared space can be (dishes are a point of contention) and how to get through it (compromise and communication). They also speak to the importance of finding a partner who understands and supports your career — and your TV habits, of course.

In this week's Profresh download, Kristen talks to Abby, HDco's copywriter, about her experience with the novel coronavirus. They get into it all - from where she got it to how she dealt with it to where (not) to get tested. They also talk about how a positive test can impact an entire office. We hope you walk away from this episode with useful information and a couple of unique perspectives. 

Even on the best days, juggling work and motherhood is a serious challenge. But when you throw a pandemic in the mix, it becomes downright impossible. In today's episode, Kristen sits down with Kristi, HDco's chief marketing officer, to talk about what it was like to work from home with kids during quarantine. They cover everything from productivity to iPad guilt to Brene Brown, our office hero. This vulnerable episode is a must-listen for current and future moms alike. 

Profresh Podcast has gone through a heck of a lot of changes over the past few years. This sweet, sweet podcast has seen everything from different brands to different topics to different co-hosts. Really, the only thing that has stayed consistent is the name. In this episode, we get real about our trials and errors so you don’t have to make the same mistakes we did.

Profresh Podcast has gone through a heck of a lot of changes over the past few years. This sweet, sweet podcast has seen everything from different brands to different topics to different co-hosts. Really, the only thing that has stayed consistent is the name. In this episode, we get real about our trials and errors so you don't have to make the same mistakes we did.

Our country is hurting right now. But as a brand, how can you acknowledge the overwhelming reality that is systematic racism? We are the first to admit that it’s not easy. In today’s episode, we talk openly about Hoot’s own struggles with supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement appropriately. It’s such a sensitive subject that we even tried re-recording the podcast, but take two was a total flop. We took it as a sign that we were meant to share our original, imperfect thoughts with you. We are not happy with every word choice (for example, we’d prefer to say “advocate” instead of “be a voice”) but the point of our message is that we will never be perfect allies, and that’s ok. We hope you can appreciate our vulnerability here.

This prerecorded episode features a special appearance from Stevie, our old cohost! Stevie and Kristen survey the HDco team to discover how they find inspiration when their creative juices just aren't flowing. Answers vary from listening to old Michael Jackson music to visiting a local park. We hope you find these recommendations valuable right now, when it can be difficult to feel creative. 

This prerecorded episode features a special appearance from Stevie, our old cohost! Stevie and Kristen survey the HDco team to discover how they find inspiration when their creative juices just aren’t flowing. Answers vary from listening to old Michael Jackson music to visiting a local park. We hope you find these recommendations valuable right now, when it can be difficult to feel creative.

Navigating the coronavirus pandemic has been tough for everyone, and small business owners have been met with an extra set of challenges. Kristen speaks to what it's been like leading Hoot Design Co. throughout the past couple of months. She gives tips on how to add value to both clients and employees - and how to maintain culture while working remotely.

Navigating the coronavirus pandemic has been tough for everyone, and small business owners have been met with an extra set of challenges. Kristen speaks to what it’s been like leading Hoot Design Co. throughout the past couple of months. She gives tips on how to add value to both clients and employees - and how to maintain culture while working remotely.

Yes, this is a breakup episode. No, there are no tears, fights, or bad blood. It’s a peaceful goodbye to our beloved Profresh co host, Stevie, who is leaning into her big-city life with a brand new office job. If only all of our breakups had gone this well....

Yes, this is a breakup episode. No, there are no tears, fights, or bad blood. It's a peaceful goodbye to our beloved Profresh co host, Stevie, who is leaning into her big-city life with a brand new office job. If only all of our breakups had gone this well....

In this episode, Kristen and Stevie talk about the time HDco was targeted by an illicit Google review ring that victimized local Columbia businesses. The duo share how they dealt with the situation, what they learned, and what they would do differently next time.

In this episode, Kristen and Stevie talk about the time HDco was targeted by an illicit Google review ring that victimized local Columbia businesses. The duo share how they dealt with the situation, what they learned and what they would do differently next time.

Kristen and Stevie spend this episode giving feedback on how to give feedback. You may think that negative feedback is the worst kind, but Kristen and Stevie wholeheartedly disagree. Find out why inconsistent feedback is a creative's worst nightmare.

Kristen and Stevie spend this episode giving feedback on how to give feedback. You may think that negative feedback is the worst kind, but Kristen and Stevie wholeheartedly disagree. Find out why inconsistent feedback is a creative’s worst nightmare.

Kristen welcomes back Sarah Bohl, founder of The Civilian and etiquette-coach-turned-interview-advisor, to talk about generational differences in the workplace. Sarah explains the quirks of each generation, from baby boomers to Generation Z, and a few of the clashes they may encounter while working together.

Kristen welcomes back Sarah Bohl, founder of The Civilian and etiquette-coach-turned-interview-advisor, to talk about generational differences in the workplace. Sarah explains the quirks of each generation, from baby boomers to Generation Z, and a few of the clashes they may encounter while working together.

Kristen and Stevie sit down with Emma Dorge, an HDco account executive, to discuss why they're so passionate about passion projects. Emma has turned her love of photography into an exciting side hustle, which has positively impacted her life (and work!) in so many ways. While not everyone needs to start a side business, Kristen, Stevie and Emma all agree that everyone should invest time into their hobbies.

Kristen and Stevie sit down with Emma Dorge, an HDco account executive, to discuss why they’re so passionate about passion projects. Emma has turned her love of photography into an exciting side hustle, which has positively impacted her life (and work!) in so many ways. While not everyone needs to start a side business, Kristen, Stevie and Emma all agree that everyone should invest time into their hobbies.

Stevie sits down with Profresh producer Haley to chat openly about boundaries in the workplace. Boundaries are important, but it can be hard to find the sweet spot between being perfectly candid with your coworkers and giving them way too much information. The last thing you want to do is make anyone in the office uncomfortable.

Stevie sits down with Profresh producer Haley to chat openly about boundaries in the workplace. Boundaries are important, but it can be hard to find the sweet spot between being perfectly candid with your coworkers and giving them way too much information. The last thing you want to do is make anyone in the office uncomfortable.

In this episode, Kristen and Stevie cover a more serious topic: grieving in the workplace. They tackle how to navigate working relationships and time off when tragedy strikes. There's no manual for coping with loss, but Kristen and Stevie discover that the most important thing is to communicate your needs.

In this episode, Kristen and Stevie cover a more serious topic: grieving in the workplace. They tackle how to navigate working relationships and time off when tragedy strikes. There’s no manual for coping with loss, but Kristen and Stevie discover that the most important thing is to communicate your needs.

In this episode, Kristen spreads the good news about life support. Her plate was overflowing with work, motherhood and household duties, and something had to give. Cue Patricia, maker of tear-inducing homemade egg rolls and Kristen's household savior. The two sit down to talk about what it's like working together, asking for help, and why everyone should invest in their own life support.

In this episode, Kristen spreads the good news about life support. Her plate was overflowing with work, motherhood and household duties, and something had to give. Cue Patricia, maker of tear-inducing homemade egg rolls and Kristen’s household savior. The two sit down to talk about what it’s like working together, asking for help, and why everyone should invest in their own life support.

Kristen and Stevie talk about why outsourcing is an important tool to get comfortable with. Outsourcing things you’re not good at(hello, bookkeeping) turns your weaknesses into strengths, and allows you to do the things you actually enjoy.

Kristen and Stevie talk about why outsourcing is an important tool to get comfortable with. Outsourcing things you're not good at(hello, bookkeeping) turns your weaknesses into strengths, and allows you to do the things you actually enjoy.

Kristen sits down with Sarah Bohl, author of The Civilian Newsletter, to learn how she remains unbiased in our increasingly polarized world. They talk about how confusing politics can be, even for people who work in politics. Sarah also gives tips on how to best, and most effectively, talk politics with the other side.