Podcast Content


Catching Fire with Nick Hogan of Pyro Restaurant

Our guest today is Nick Hogan, Co-Owner and CEO of Flagship Restaurant Group, the team behind the popular new, award-winning restaurant Pyro in Arcadia, next to the Global Ambassador. In addition to Pyro, they have 16 other restaurant concepts spanning across Arizona to Chicago to Nashville! This team has defied the odds of successfully creating and managing multiple restaurant concepts simultaneously and talks about all the risks and luck in this journey.

In this episode we’ll hear about how this restaurant group founded over 20 years ago in Omaha, NE got started with a team of four friends who are still the same group of owners. Since, they have grown to multiple cities and states and over 40 locations and become a success here in Arizona. Just like architecture, this career is a mix of creativity and mathematics and takes a great team and leadership.

Nick will tell us about how Pyro came about and the design and menu creation. Also here in town, be sure to check out the beautifully designed Palma, Cham Pang Lanes and Ghost Donkey in downtown Phoenix and later this year two Blue Sushi Sake Grill locations are coming to Surprise and Tempe and a couple more in the works for 2026!

To learn more about Flagship Restaurant Group visit:

 www.flagshiprestaurantgroup.com 

Design+Build with Cammie Beckert of Cameron Custom

Our guest on this episode is Cammie Beckert, founder and owner of Cameron Custom, one of the few female-owned and operated custom homebuilders in Arizona. Cammie grew up in the home building industry, as her grandparents are the founders of Camelot Homes. She also has an extensive background in media, market research and real estate, and worked at Camelot Homes before launching this new design & build division.

Growing up here in the Phoenix area in the homebuilding industry, Cammie was perfectly positioned for the career she has created. Listen below to learn more about her trajectory, the industry and how Cameron Custom curates a plethora of local professionals and resources to design, build and decorate their clients’ homes, as well as acting as an Owner’s Rep through the process.

Creating Gastronomic Masterpieces with ArchiChef Cory Oppold

Cory:AtlasDining.png
cory-oppold.jpg

Click above to watch our cooking class with Chef Corey

Pan seared scallops with cornbread pudding, zucchini, fennel soubise, and tomato coulis.

Our guest is award-winning Chef Cory Oppold, former winner of Food Network’s Chopped, and owner of Course, a fine dining restaurant in Scottsdale that just won “Emerging Restaurant of the Year”. At Course, “Chef Cory Oppold and his culinary team take you on a food exploration through an explosion of both your taste and visual senses, using seasonality of products and a progression of flavor.”

Cory’s prior positions include teaching at the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Executive Chef at Tarbell's restaurant in Phoenix and Executive Chef at Atlas Bistro. His childhood was spent on an dairy farm in a small town in Illinois. It wasn't until he came to Arizona to study architecture that Cory first encountered fine dining and the experience led him to enroll at the Scottsdale Culinary Institute where he graduated with honors in 2002.

Today, Corey was able to transition his upscale catering and event dining company Course into a full-service restaurant in early 2023. Cory’s innovative spirit makes his dishes not only creative delights, but also accessible in many different dining experiences. “I believe a menu is everything a chef wants to say at that time and moment and it’s hard for us to tell our story with one dish. That is why every guest gets multiple courses while experiencing my cuisine,” says Chef Cory.

Open Tuesday - Saturday for dinner and Sundays for brunch.

Follow Cory here:

https://courserestaurantaz.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-oppold-a56704113

https://www.instagram.com/chefcoryoppold/

Making a Difference with Habitat For Humanity with Jason Barlow and Rosie Romero

Our guests today are two huge difference makers in housing for Greater Phoenix, Arizona residents: Jason Barlow, CEO & President of Central AZ’s Habitat for Humanity and KTAR’s Rosie on the House Arizona’s most trusted source of home-improvement advice and know-how.

I have known Rosie Romero for nearly 40 years now and his show has been a weekly fixture on KTAR radio since the 1988. Rosie doles out easy-to-understand, common-sense advice to do-it-yourselfers about all kinds of projects around the home. 

I have had the pleasure of working with and cooking with Jason Barlow as a Habitat for Humanity Board member for a number of years. Habitat for Humanity has built over 1,200 homes, completed more than 3,800 repairs, and improved living conditions for more than 5,000 Arizona families since 1985.

Today's episode covers all things building and housing related. Rosie tells us about the huge KBIS industry show in Las Vegas  he just returned from and we discuss new products, processes and industry and housing trends he learned about at the show.

We talk about some Habitat past projects we have each been involved with, such as the first ever 3D printed house we designed for a family and a new project with Habitat called the Rosie Habitat Build Challenge.

Jason shares with us their new Construction Training Program for people wanting to learn those valuable skills and invites listeners to attend their  semi-annual event March 23 Blueprints and Blue Jeans.  We will be auctioning off an authentic Cajun dinner prepared and hosted by Rosie & Mark!

Kicking off 2024 with Chef Brent Menke of Mick's Brasserie

Mark & Isabel kick-off the episode by sharing highlights from their holiday trip to Lisbon & Fatima Portugal, Lourdes, and San Sebastián, Spain - see and hear more about their trip on our Blog: https://www.candelariadesign.com/lifestyle-blog

Next they share the exciting news that SIX of our Candelaria Design homes are featured in a brand new series on The Design Network called Extravagant Spaces!! The series debuts January 20th and will continue every Saturday for 6 weeks, catch it streaming for free on The Design Network  or on their YouTube page!

Our guest on this episode is Brent Menke, head chef & owner of the Mick Brasserie, an award-winning  French Colonial Brasserie in North Scottsdale that I’ve now had the pleasure of dining at twice. Together we talk about his journey from a yacht deckhand to meeting his French wife, to becoming a chef, and then opening his restaurant during 2020 We talk about his curated food and wine tours to France, monthly themed wine pairing dinners, his favorite chefs and restaurants in town and much more!

Building with Rammed Earth with Otto Pappa

 This podcast episode features Otto Pappa, architect and founder of Ottocrete, specializing in rammed earth and concrete-based designs. Otto and Mark met while working on a very cool, modern house in Paradise Valley, that is now the recipient of  two design awards! Otto founded  ottocrete with the desire to fuse timeless design with timeless construction, blurring the lines between sculpture, art, and architecture. Otto  hand-makes all his pieces and his work can be found worldwide, from California to Spain to Austria in both private spaces and commercial such as the Hermes store in Orange County. 


Join us on one of our 2024 Inspiring Living Tours:


Oaxaca, Mexico Cultural Tour May 2-8

Let's Talk Paradise Valley with Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner and wife Robyn

Our guests this month is Paradise Valley Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner and his wife Robyn Bien-Willner. Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner is a third-term Mayor, a native Arizonan, and spent his childhood in Paradise Valley and attended Scottsdale public schools (SUSD) through high school. After, he attended Claremont McKenna College and U of A on academic scholarships and graduated with the highest academic honors. Robyn was born in South Africa, but grew up in Irvine, CA and moved to NYC to pursue fashion, which is where the two met and married.

We talk about how Jerry went from a high-stakes litigation lawyer in NYC to our third-term, volunteer Mayor and why he finds civic work so rewarding and how you can find rewarding ways to be of service. Robyn contributes a monthly column for Stroll Paradise Valley Magazine profiling local businesses, interesting people and other news worthy topics within the community. We discuss the laws, permit process, short-term rentals, senior living options, home prices, and the future of PV!

Capturing Ways of Living Through Photography by Werner Segarra

Today's guest is an amazing artist, photographer, father and friend, Werner Segarra. From photographing the mega-mansions of PV and Scottsdale, to the dirt floor casas of Mexico and Puerto Rico, Werner has an eye for capturing the spirit of a place. Werner had humble beginnings in Puerto Rico, and now shoots for a handful of top magazines and designers, including many of the homes featured in our design book, "Mark Candelaria Homes", and currently has his work on exhibit alongside Andy Warhol!

Werner’s passion lies in landscape and "slice of life" photography and we begin the episode by talking about his upcoming event at Western Spirit Scottsdale Museum where he has 57 large-scale photographs on display now through February, 2024. His exhibit focuses on the culture and heart of the Northern Mexican Cowboy, a people who are born and die cowboys, and the beautiful, stark landscape around them. Werner shares the stories of his time down there visiting as a child and now as an adult and how much the area, the culture, and the process of ranching has changed and how his photos have helped preserve and showcase their unique way of life. 

Werner shares how his personal life and early career inspired his personal photography and style and how today he approaches each photography project in the moment, collaboratively with the subject/scenery/client. Mark and Werner conclude with talking about who and what inspires them, how they stay creative, where they like to travel, what it takes to be successful and what Werner has coming up next.

https://www.wernersegarra.com/

instagram.com/wernersegarra/ facebook.com/werner.segarra

Iconic Hour: Architectural Case Study with 3 Leading AZ Architects

On this special episode of ICONIC Hour, Publisher Renee Dee is joined by three of Arizona's most prolific architects: Mark Candelaria, Brent Kendle, and CP Drewett. Each has made an impact on the architectural landscape of Arizona, utilizing their unique talents to create beautiful works of art within the desert environment.

In this episode, these three architects discuss their backgrounds in architecture, their sources of inspiration, and how to preserve and continue Arizona's flourishing architectural and cultural progress.

Click above to watch the podcast on YouTube or click below to listen to just the audio.

Celebrating 6 Years Cancer Free with Dr. Rubin and Dr. Darling

Our guests today are two incredible doctors, Dr. Dan Rubin, a naturopathic oncologist and Dr. Mia Darling a naturopathic specialist. They graciously took the time to talk with us today on this podcast, but have appeared on many podcasts prior, professional medical panels and even had their own talk series called “Ad hoc with a doc” which you can find on their website listenandcare.com. 

 The reason we are here today is because 6 years ago on this weekend Isabel was first diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer which later metastasized to her brain! Yet miraculously here we are with Isabel having a clean bill of health.  One of the most key components of her recovery and now part of her ongoing health maintenance program is her discovery of Naturopathic Specialists, LLC, who she has been seeing for 6 years and now she has me going and I have been visiting them regularly for over two years now! 

We start by having the doctors share what naturopathic medicine is and what makes it different from traditional Western medicine. Then we learn about each doctor's extensive background and their areas of specialization. Next we get into Isabel's treatments, ozone therapy, Epstein Barr, and discuss general health, wellness and longevity tips.
 
This is an amazing podcast with two incredible naturopathic doctors and while we really just scratch the surface here, you can learn much more by visiting their website, their videos on Instagram and listening to the other podcasts and talks they've given. 

Meet our 2022 MVP: Team Director Tyler Bulriss

Tyler started at Candelaria Design in 2016, his first job in Arizona, after Googling some firms and submitting his resume. He moved out to AZ from upstate NY when he was 24, sight unseen, per his Aunt & Uncle's recommendation who lived out here. No architecture degree, just a drive to learn and work hard, and he's certainly proved successful at both! From a young age Tyler loved Legos and Lincoln Logs, then in high school he went to a trade school in the afternoons where he got into architecture. He went to architecture school for two years, then got a job for a structural engineer in NY, then moved to AZ shortly after.

We talk about some of Tyler's first projects and current projects, how there's always more to learn everyday in this field, both technically and aesthetically, and how he's grown as a leader. We also dive into his life experiences, his hobbies beyond architecture and how driven he is to expand his potential, physically and mentally, try new things and give back to the community. Tyler is truly inspirational and we are so lucky to have him on our team!

Exploring the Scottsdale Art Scene with Artists Priscilla Nelson and Ryan Schmidt

I am always fascinated by art and in particular, the artists behind the art. In today’s podcast we feature two very talented and prolific Scottsdale artists, first modern figurative  artist, Priscilla Nelson, and modern sculptor Ryan Schmidt. And to add even another perspective we also had Ryan Schmidt’s wife, Janice,  join us and she gave us her take on living with an artist! 

We had a wonderful discussion about each of their respective work and passions and how they both deal with the stress of their work and craft and what continues to motivate and inspire them. We also talk about the Scottsdale art scene and everything that’s happening to make Scottsdale one of the top art spots in the country! 

How to Discover Your True Brand Identity with Cindy Gombert

On this episode, Mark & Isabel chat with Cindy Gombert, an award-winning branding executive, creative writer, designer and entrepreneur who has been creating compelling consumer brands for nearly 25 years. Her work has been recognized in over 40 international and national design annuals and has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Cindy is the principal/owner of Lunabrand Design Group located in Phoenix, a comprehensive brand development firm, which she explains all about in this episode. She specializes in consumer branding for restaurants and retail, including some unique clients like Isabel's Interior Design firm Earth and Images!   

Cindy Gombert, Principal

Lunabrand/Luna Creative, Inc.

Brand Strategy & Development | Brand Design | Interior Design | Marketing | F & B Specialty

LinkedIn: lunabranddesigngroup/

Instagram: @lunabrands_

Talking Luxury Travel with Julie Skrei at Abercrombie & Kent

Our first guest of 2023 is Julie Skrei, Director of Sales for the prestigious travel company Abercrombie & Kent where she has worked for over a decade. Julie is a highly regarded travel industry professional, with an extensive background in sales within the luxury hospitality market. Julie tells us how she got her start with Hilton Hotels, The Sanctuary and then helped open a billion dollar resort in Las Vegas, during which she was named the #1 revenue generator and later “Travel Agent Specialist of Arizona" for all Promus Hotels on the West Coast. She shares her story, skills, favorite travels and inside info on what it’s like working in the hospitality and travel industry. With all her extensive travel, we of course as her what her favorite trips, cities and hotels are and what she has gained from travel!

2021 MVPs - Project Architect Rebecca Roe

Every year our company takes the time to nominate individuals our team for MVP of the year and then we each cast our vote for MVP, well this year there was a tie, we had both Team Director and Project Architect Rebecca Roe and our Director of Lasting Impressions, Janice Rantanen take the top votes for 2021’s MVP, so they are each featured in their own podcast episode!

Rebecca was born and raised in a small town in upstate New York in an old farmhouse on her family's dairy farm. She spent much of her youth playing with legos, building forts and creating and renovating with her dad, which spurred her passion for architecture. From an early age that passion never faded and she went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Technology. During college she traveled to Italy, an invaluable experience that sparked her interest in classic architecture.

Following graduation Rebecca immediately found her home at a Syracuse firm specializing in historic architecture and preservation. She spent over ten years with that firm learning valuable skills and techniques. In the fall of 2016 Rebecca moved to Arizona to be near family. She began with Candelaria Design in November as a Job Captain and is still happily working away and has moved up the ranks to Team Director.

They discuss leadership, architecture, different design styles, some of the current projects Rebecca's working on and what makes each one interesting and challenging.

Follow Rebecca on Instagram @rroearch

Candelaria Design's 2021 MVPs - Janice Rantanen

Every year our company takes the time to nominate individuals our team for MVP of the year and then we each cast our vote for MVP and they receive a weekend staycation package at the resort of their choosing. It’s a great way, in addition to quarterly bonuses and our other incentives, to reward our staff for work well done. Well this year there was a tie, we had both Team Director and Project Architect Rebecca Roe and our Director of Lasting Impressions, Janice Rantanen take the top votes for 2021’s MVP, so they are each featured in their own podcast episode which you can listen to below!

Janice has lived in the Valley since 1982 and joined Candelaria Design as Director of Lasting Impressions early 2019. She does an amazing job of catering to our valued clients and design team members, as well as upholding the Candelaria Design Lifestyle brand throughout the office, client dinners, meetings, site visits, events and is currently crafting our newest Candelaria Tour France! 

Prior to joining Candelaria Design she represented a semi-custom home builder in selling many of Scottsdale’s finest communities. In addition to her real estate background she also owned one of Scottsdale’s most beloved home and garden stores specializing in farm antiques and accoutrements sourced from Europe. Janice has always had an interest in architecture and interior design; she enjoys antiquing, cooking, gardening and traveling the US as well as abroad.

And check out this past podcast from Iconic Hour where magazine Editor Renee Dee, Jamilyn Fournier founder of The Collector’s House, Architect Mark Candelaria  and Janice Rantanen discuss "living beautifully". https://iconichour.libsyn.com/living-beautifully

Page Knudsen Walks Us Through Willamette Valley

Our guest today is Page Knudsen and her and her brothers are second-generation owners and operators of Knudsen Vineyards, in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. In this episode she shares the rich history of their vineyard and the region that has grown to receive worldwide recognition for outstanding Pinot Noir grapes. We were fortunate enough to meet Page last summer on a guided Pinot Wine Walking tour that Page herself led that day. She told us all about the vineyards and the area’s history while walking us through the vineyards and sampling the wines along the way. We are so excited to include this wine walk on our first ever Willamette Valley Wine Tour this month with 16 of our friends and to have Page on our podcast today!

40 Years as an Architect: Then, Today & the Future

Today, March 4th, Mark celebrates his 40th anniversary of his first day working as an architect and has two special podcast episodes to commemorate!!

March 4, 1982 was my first day on the job in an architect’s office - that office being the offices and studio of my mentor and good friend, George W. Christiansen! Some 2000+ homes later and over 20 tours, it’s rewarding to look back and remember where this all started! I am SO grateful to all of my colleagues who helped me along the way, my clients who trusted in me and gave me the opportunity to create their dreams, and my family who put up with my endless efforts and hours in creating these homes and now our company, Candelaria Design! 

To celebrate and tell the story I have created two podcast episodes, the first episode is with the two people who were with me on that first day in 1982. These special guests are CCBG President and Architect, Brian Cassidy and Dianne Kleber who ran George’s office and called and told me I had gotten the job!.

Then we flash forward 40 years and the second episode is with my current partners at Candelaria Design, Evelyn Jung, Meredith Thomson, and our newest partner, Tim Mathewson! We look back at the nearly 23 years of Candelaria Design and then talk about what we see for the future of architecture and Candelaria Design! 

⁠⁠These are two fascinating episodes full of wonderful memories and exciting plans we hope you won’t miss!

Masters of the Southwest - Candelaria, Vallone, Spitz and Berghoff

Masters of the Southwest from left to right, Donna Vallone, Jeff Berghoff, Mark Candelaria, & Walter Spitz

This episode features three very special Phoenix Home & Garden Master's of the Southwest, Walter Spitz, of Creative Designs in Lighting, Donna Vallone of Vallone Design, and Jeff Berghoff of Berghoff Design. We all share how each of us got started in the design industry and then a revisit some of our earliest collaborations from the 1980's and 90s' to some of our current works underway some 30 years later. Many times referred to as "The Dream Team" this group has created 100's of homes including the historic El Chorro Lodge in Paradise Valley. 

In addition to talking about the past we look ahead to the future and the trends and new technologies that are changing the design industry. We also talk about the transition and our plans for the future of all of our firms. Jeff and Walter have been on prior Inspiring Living podcasts and you can listen to them below.


Masters of the Southwest Dream Team Websites

Phoenix Home & Garden Magazine

2022 Master of Southwest Feature