How to Decorate - Podcast Rankings and reviews

This is a great podcast to listen to if you are interested in designing realistic and comfortable spaces for your home. I almost always learn something from the established design professionals who serve as guests. There’s only been one episode that I did not like (the guest was from a nationally recognized paint company who brought up politics on a design podcast - gross). The hosts are entertaining and “keep it real” by sharing their personal design projects and dilemmas.

I have listened to nearly every episode (and am working my way through the OG ones). It is such a great podcast and is so relatable to people new to design as well as seasoned veterans. I mainly wanted to write this review after seeing some negative comments from other listeners — Karen was a hilarious host but the remaining women have done a GREAT job in her absence. Liz is a delightful host with a soothing voice and very refined/considered point of view. I love her addition to the group! I look forward to the podcast every week and reference it in daily conversation with friends.

Hi! I keep coming back. That says a lot. I love many of the guests. At least one I have listened to more than once — because I wanted to take notes. 😃 I have been introduced to so much thru this podcast. I have deleted this podcast and brought it back. It is a keeper, with some caveats. I have a couple of suggestions that I think about repeatedly when I listen. (I checked the reviews and I am not the only one. 😂😃) BTW I tried and failed to find a private means of communication with the podcast and Ballard before writing this.

*Is this podcast Ballard’s stepchild? I hate that analogy, but it fits here. Is the podcast a side project that no top exec really values? If so, that makes me sad. So much potential and so many good things have come from this podcast. It keeps me coming back to Ballard. There are obvious things about the podcast that could be better if an exec put more money (?) and investment (time for staff / production ?) into it. I’m writing b/c I care.

*Classes for lead host on presentation, asking, questions, elocution. I don’t know enough to know how to describe such classes but surely there are classes out there. I sometimes wonder if writing out a list of questions would help with stuttering, long pauses, tripping on words. One review said the questions seem written out — but that would be better than the stumbling. It is painful, as one reviewer wrote. Also — podcasts are no longer a wing and a prayer. Even the most humble have good equipment and a team to do the essentials and make things sound professional. This podcast lacks a sense of professionalism in the presentation.

*I can deal and totally understand searching for words when the host is into the depth of the interview and new questions are popping into her head, but the beginning needs to be strong and confident. The most recent episode I listened to — and there was a really strong, strong guest so I continued listening — contained embarrassing and frankly unprofessional stumbling when reading the intro of the guest!!! (Groan, cover face — what was the guest thinking, not to mention the listeners like me?) Also, with the intro and the convoluted first question, it took forever for listeners to hear the guest’s own voice. But when he did speak — finally some well put-together thoughts!

This goes back to my first bullet. Does Ballard not care about good editing? Why didn’t the host stop and redo in a more confident manner and let the editor edit out the embarrassing mistake later? Is it because there is no professional editor / team / producer? Ballard please say that ain’t so. Come to think about it, a producer could say, hey, mi amor, no sweat, let’s just do that again. 😃

*So in short, it’s so easy to criticize. I could never do what you guys do. Thank you for great guests. Thank you for continuing to try to improve. Ballard deserves that and so do we. We love your content!

I love listening to the hosts and their guests! I always learn something in every episode and love the Design Dilemma and Trials and Triumphs segments. Keep up the great work! Thanks!

I listened to three episodes in the hopes it would get better. It did not. The host(s?) can’t ad lib a genuine conversation. It seems they have stock questions they ask but, as soon as the opportunity arises to expand on a topic spontaneously, they either miss it entirely or fill the space with meaningless platitudes such as, “So you find the New Orleans art scene is pretty colorful? That’s so neat. Do you find yourself using a lot of color in your designs?” Duh, the guest already stated this dozens of times. Bottom line: I don’t learn anything about the supposed subject of the podcast. The time is spent getting to know each guest through the teenage small-talk of the hosts. It s painful. Its design for people who know nothing about design. I give it credit for not being a commercial for Ballard Designs though.