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This is a review of the Colorful Conversations podcast, a home and lifestyle podcast to help you create a space you'll love to live in.
The team behind the home design blog Kaleidoscope Living has launched a new home/DIY podcast.
Kaleidoscope Living was formerly known as Designer Trapped in a Lawyer’s Body. It was started by Tasha Agruso as a personal blog to show her friends and family her DIY home remodeling projects.
When the blog became popular with online users who were searching for interior design inspiration, Tasha quit her job as a lawyer to write her blog full-time.
In addition to chronicling room re-designs and DIY projects, the blog provides tutorials and tips for readers who are looking to tackle similar projects.
My first introduction to Tasha was through a presentation she did at a blogger conference a couple of years ago. I watched the video of her energetic and funny presentation and I thought, “I could listen to her talk about anything!”
A year later, I met Tasha when I attended the conference in-person. She presented again, and I found her personality and presentation style really fun and enjoyable. So, when I heard that she was launching a podcast, I was thrilled.
Colorful Conversations releases new episodes every Tuesday. Each episode averages about 40 minutes, and you can find the show on all major podcast players.
Tasha has a passion for helping others create a home that will they love to live in. From the paint colors to the furniture and layout. She’s thrifty, too.
She also knows that not everyone is able to envision - or execute - a room re-design, so the podcast aims to help you figure out how to make the best decisions for you.
If you’ve ever pinned a few thousand DIY projects to an “inspiration board” on Pinterest, then the Colorful Conversations podcast is for you. Keep reading to find out what I think about this new show.
Podcast Review: Colorful Conversations
The hosts
Tasha doesn't host the podcast alone. In episode 1, she introduces us to her two co-hosts: Joe, her firefighter husband, and Thea, who works for Kaleidoscope Living.
Thea
I have to be honest: when I heard the intro to the very first episode, my heart sank. That's because Thea was the one doing the intro, not Tasha.
I’m obviously a fan of Tasha, and I was looking forward to hearing her chat about all things home and DIY. No offense to Thea at all, it's just that I don’t "know" her.
But I stuck with it. And I have to say that Thea does bring a necessary perspective to the podcast.
Her role is described as the “host and sometimes referee”. She sets up the theme for each episode, and she adds a third-party point of view that you wouldn't get if the podcast were just between Tasha and her husband.
Like in episode 4, when they discuss the pros and cons of open concept floor plans. Tasha and Joe say that their kids are super noisy, so open concept isn't ideal for them. They need walls to keep the noise level in check.
Thea laughs at this, calling Tasha and Joe out for being the wrong people to ask about noisy kids (she claims their twin girls are quiet compared to her owns boys). I liked this, because it helps listeners to get to know all three hosts, and it reminds us that we all see things from our own point of view.
Because they're a couple who has been together for several years, it would be easy for Tasha and Joe to agree on a lot, and to say what they think listeners want to hear. I feel like Thea's participation ensures that they're being honest with themselves and the audience.
Joe
As a co-host and first-time podcaster, Joe does a pretty good job in these initial episodes. Although there are moments when it's obvious that he's scripted to present a tip or idea, it doesn't bother me.
Why? Because there aren't a lot of husbands out there who can start a conversation about creating Pinterest boards! In my opinion, Joe's doin' okay! He's really likeable, and I am sure he'll get even more comfortable on the mic with time.
Tasha
Once each episode gets rolling, Tasha does take the lead. And, true to the persona that I've been exposed to, she's hilariously honest and open with listeners.
She has funny anecdotes about many of her remodeling projects, and you can often hear her tip-toeing into a story because she knows that Joe is probably going to have his own version of it. Their dynamic is relatable and fun to listen to.
Home design tips without any photos?
There's an obvious challenge to making a podcast about home design and DIY: there aren't any visuals.
Avid podcast listeners know this problem all too well. You hear about something in a podcast, and the host tells you to go to the website to see the photos...but you never get around to doing it.
This was a concern that I had about Colorful Conversations. I wondered how Tasha and company would give me tips and tricks without having visuals to help me along.
And that's where we get to the "meat" of what this podcast is really about. Tasha looked at the big picture and realized that not everyone can just jump into a renovation. Partly because they don't know how, but partly because there are so many decisions to be made before you even get to the "how".
Instead of telling you which paint brands are the best, and why you should go with laminate over hardwood, Colorful Conversations helps you to take a step back and consider the pros and cons for new flooring in your home. For your lifestyle.
They don't teach you how to re-paint your kitchen cabinets (Tasha already has whole tutorials about that on her blog).
Instead, they discuss how to approach a project like re-doing your kitchen cabinets. They walk you through the questions you need to ask yourself before you start (DIY or hire a contractor?), and give you tips for how to get the other people in your home (your spouse, family, or roommate) on board with your ideas (and your budget).
So there's no need for visuals. You don't need before and after photos. I think this is a super smart podcast concept, and a brilliant way to move Kaleidoscope Living into the podcast space.
Episode topics
Episode 1 of Colorful Conversations quickly gets personal, as the team talks about marrying personal styles into one household.
Tasha and Joe describe their different styles, as well as how they overcame disagreements about decorating early in their marriage. They share tips to help listeners communicate with their spouse (or anyone else they share a home with) so that everyone is happy with the end result.
This is the stuff you never see on HGTV, people! Usually, there's one person in the relationship who is super opinionated and overbearing. You never really see them compromising. Because it's good TV to make someone the "bad guy".
And that's what makes Colorful Conversations different and useful. Even if you're just shopping for a new couch, the advice from this show can make it easier for you. You don't have to be doing a giant home remodel for the podcast to be helpful.
Other episode topics include:
- How to find a good remodeling contractor (they give you a list of legit things to ask/look out for)
- Is an open concept kitchen right for you? Pros and cons to think about
- 7 tips to find time to improve your home (this one has my name written all over it)
Although it helps to know the hosts a bit, you don't have to listen to Colorful Conversations in order of episode release. The episodes are themed, and mostly not related, so you can listen to only the episodes that are relevant to you, if that's what you prefer.
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Production quality
If I had to guess, Colorful Conversations is recorded in Tasha's home office. Occasionally, there's some background noise (an email notification popping up on someone's phone) or an echo, but it doesn't sound like a "hollow basement" podcast (y'all know what I'm talking about).
Tasha is excitable and bubbly by nature, so the audio goes up and down depending on how excited she is. Sometimes I have to turn the volume down as I listen, but I never have trouble hearing any of the co-hosts.
Because the episodes are a recording of a three-way conversation, there isn't a lot of editing necessary. It sounds like they publish the full conversations and add in a little music here and there.
In episode 1, Tasha mentions that they will live-stream their podcast recording sessions on Instagram, so they probably aren't cutting a lot of content in the end. (I'm not on Insta, so I can't speak to this).
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The verdict
Colorful Conversations is casual, fun, informative, and inspiring. Even though I'm not in a position to renovate my home right now, I enjoy thinking about different ways I could make it homier.
Listening to the show doesn't pressure you to do anything; it just helps you remember what you need to know when you're ready to put a plan into action.
This podcast is also great for anyone who struggles to communicate with the most significant person in their life (whether that's a spouse, family member, or someone you don't even live with).
Tasha and Joe are a real-life example of people who do not always see eye-to-eye, but find a way to communicate and meet in the middle. It's a bonus feature that makes this show more than just a DIY/home design podcast.
I'm subscribed to Colorful Conversations and plan to add it to my weekly podcast listening.
Have you listened to Colorful Conversations? What did you think of the podcast? Drop a comment below to help other podcast listeners out!
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