Podcast Content


That's a Wrap on our Summer Trip to Scotland

This podcast features a conversation on the last day of our recent personal trip to Scotland we took May 30th - June 10th. Our group included Isabel and myself, our friends and past Candelaria Design Tour travelers, Anthony and Gicela Dulcich, and Isabel’s mother, Alette Thompson who was celebrating her 75th birthday. 

As for why she chose Scotland for her birthday trip, during the pandemic Alette did a lot of research on their family and found that their ancestry was from Scotland. She traced back their ancestors as far as the 1300’s, including Scottish royalty and the castles they lived in! Thus, these castles became our itinerary and we based ourselves in  Edinburgh, Scotland in a lovely AirBnB and from there we explored castles, distilleries, St. Andrews, and the countryside of Scotland including the Scottish Highlands.
What a marvelous trip and this episode was recorded on our final day, so some wonderful reflective thoughts are shared from our journey. Enjoy~

Links:

  • Iconic Hour podcast episode featuring Mark Candelaria, Brent Kendle, and CP Drewett here.

  • Modern Arcadia Home article here.

  • Join us in Newport Beach July 23rd for a special book signing and wine tasting at Roger's Gardens, more info here. 

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_

On the Arizona Highway with Robin Sewell

Our guest today is Robin Sewell, founder and CEO of Sewell Media Group and the creator, executive producer and host of Arizona Highways Television which showcases the people and places of Arizona,  reflecting the heart and soul of our communities.
 
Robin began as a struggling actress/server, but soon discovered her love for broadcast journalism and started as an intern at Channel 10 in Phoenix! She explains how she moved up the ranks to become a news anchor in major markets such as Fort Meyers, Sacramento, Seattle and finally back to Phoenix with ABC in 1996. 

After many years as an anchor, traveling all over the world covering news stories, including 9/11, Robin was ready for a change. Robin became the first to create a statewide syndicated show that's been on the air since 2004  and garnered more than 30 Emmy awards!!

In this episode we hear all about Robin's time in news/television and how she created her own award-winning  media group and  first statewide syndicated television show. She also shares all the amazing things she has learned, places she has visited and people she has met through Arizona Highways and we talk about some of our favorite, less-known cities in Arizona. Robin clearly loves Arizona and is a big supporter of our local community and nonprofits and also shares her love for her family, travel and storytelling. 

https://sewellmediagroup.com/shows/az-highways-tv/

https://sewellmediagroup.com/

Watch Arizona Highways TV episodes:  Saturdays 8:30PM – 3TV (KTVK) & Sundays 4:30pm – News 5 (KPHO)

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!

European Holiday - France, Switzerland and Italy

In this podcast episode Mark and his oldest daughter Tiffany talk about their incredible Christmas and New Year spent in Europe! Mark treated his three daughters on an incredible holiday trip where they spent 4 nights in Paris (scouting for our CDA France Tour this September), 3 nights in Zurich, Switzerland (to go someplace none of them had ever been), 4 nights in Florence and 3 nights in Rome (because they love Italy)! The youngest daughter is 17 and off to college next year, so Mark figured this might be the last time all 4 of them could take the time to do a trip like this, especially given the last time they all took a trip together for the holidays was back in 2015!

Mark and Tiffany share all the logistics that went into this trip, from expedited passports, to the booking process for AirBnBs in Europe, to trains strikes, to navigating the metro. Of course they will also recount all the fun stuff too, like the amazing restaurants, the Christmas Markets, the famous sights and the memories they made.

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

Being a Dad in Architecture with Erik Peterson

In this episode 42 of Season 2, Mark and “rival” architect Erik Peterson of PHX Architecture spend a weekend together with their daughters during the Xavier Father-Daughter Ski Trip in Durango, CO. We have a lot of mutual respect for each other and shared interests, so naturally we decided it would be fun and interesting for our listeners to hear us podcast together! We talk about architecture, being dads, and pick up on where Erik’s chat with Renee Dee on her “Iconic Hour Podcast” left off. Listen to that podcast to learn more about Erik’s personal and professional story here.

If you enjoy our podcast, I’d so appreciate if you’d take a minute to subscribe and rate this podcast, it makes a huge difference for our growth!

Erik is President of the award-winning PHX Architecture, he presides over the 30-person firm headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ with a second office in Beverly Hills, CA. Erik specializes in lifestyle design includ­ing luxury, bespoke res­i­den­tial, golf club­houses, boutique resorts and distinctive dining.

Inspiring Scottsdale Arts with Gerd Wuestemann

Rendering of the new Civic Center Performing Arts Center in downtown Scottsdale

Episode 41 of Season 2 features Dr. Gerd Wuestemann, President & CEO of Scottsdale Arts. I joined the Board for Scottsdale Arts about 6 months ago and that's when I first met Gerd and experienced his passion and vision for the arts firsthand.

After getting to know him better through prepping for this podcast, I cannot wait to learn more about his fascinating life story, starting in Germany as a Classical guitarist touring the world at an early age. In his mid/late 30’s tragedy forced him on another path where he built an academic career as professor of guitar studies at the U of Louisiana. After that he launched two successful companies before starting a career in arts administration and eventually becoming the President & CEO of Scottsdale Arts as we know him today.

Gerd also tells us all about Scottsdale Arts and its various branches, the importance of the organization in the community, the challenges of the past pandemic years, the improvements and visions for the future of Scottsdale Arts and all the exciting performances, events, etc. coming up this year!

Fashion and Art Repurposed with Laura Madden

Our featured guest on this episode is Laura Madden: artist, influencer, and sustainable fashion advocate specializing in abstract up-cycled art. Everything she creates has the purpose of creating “More Style. Less Waste”. Her passion for creating beautiful things and doing good for the environment led her to start ReFashioned Art in 2019, a certified Gold Level Green business. Her advocacy for sustainable fashion as well as her repurposed art have been showcased in numerous galleries and magazines since! Laura serves on the boards of Remake, the Arizona Costume Institute, Fashion Group International and San Francisco Fashion Community Week!

She is on a mission to demonstrate a mirroring of style and sustainability, which leads into everything I do. She has been making her own art her entire adult life and came from her not being able to find or afford the art or clothes she really wanted, so she started doing it herself! She points out there is no shortage of stuff and "trash", so the possibilities to repurpose all this stuff into something beautiful and "new" is endless! “I hope my art will bring beauty, positivity and a fashionable edge to your home and workspace.”

Inspired Cooking with Chef & Blogger Giangi Townsend

Our guest today is Giangi Townsend, creator of Giangi’s Kitchen, a top-rated food and recipe blog. Back in the 1980s, Giangi’s desire as a working mom to provide healthy and delicious food for her family has since grown into a full-blown business featuring tons of recipes, an online shop, virtual cooking classes and her favorite cookbooks, including one of her own, Back to Basics – Cooking 101.

Giangi's childhood was spent between Southern Italy in the Summer and Paris in the Winter with her French father and Italian mother, it's no wonder she ended up as a fabulous chef! We talk about the importance of food and gathering for dinner, what led her to become interested in cooking and blogging, her favorite recipes and cookbooks, and tips and tricks in the kitchen and in life!

Italian Cuisine in Oregon with Dario Pisoni of Rosmarino's

Today's guest is a fabulous chef from Italy my daughter Tiffany found while researching restaurants for our Candelaria Design Willamette Valley Wine Tour set for May of 2022. Chef Dario Pisoni is the Owner and Head Chef of the amazing restaurant Rosemarino Osteria Italiana in Newberg, Oregon. It has been rated one of the best restaurants in Oregon and the country just four years after opening in 2015 and I have had the pleasure of dining here now a couple times, including just last night where we enjoyed an incredible five course dinner and wine pairing with a sold out crowd of fellow diners.

We have fun exchanging memories of Italy and their fabulous food and wine, Dario shares his life story in Italy, how he gained his love for cooking from his Italian Grandma, and how he and his wife ended up moving to this small town of Newberg. Dario shares what it's like running a restaurant, his favorite recipes, cookbooks, and places in Italy and other interesting topics. We are so excited to introduce our group of friends who are joining us on our May tour to our new friend Dario and his incredible restaurant and if you are ever in the area be sure to make a reservation at Rosemarino Osteria Italiana!

https://www.osteriarosmarino.com/
https://www.instagram.com/rosmarinonewberg/

Exploring the Inspiring Life & Career of Artist Priscilla Nelson

Episode 37 of Season 2 features Contemporary Figurative Artist and fellow Scottsdale Arts Board Member, Priscilla Nelson. Together we talk about art, creativity, family, passion, motivation and upcoming art events. Priscilla’s art career spans over 40 years and the majority of her work falls under two categories, Figurative, which explores the figure, clothing, and water to capture "a poignant mood and the hint of a story that can be interpreted in many ways". In her more Contemporary paintings she takes a very organic approach with inspiration from reflections and movement.