Arcfluence - The Architecture and Design Podcast

Nick and Paul are back from the 2026 AIA National Conference in San Diego with a full debrief. They start with the keynotes that stood out: a celebrated culinary host on design as a curated experience, Charlene Li on winning with AI as a leadership and culture challenge rather than a magic button, and the World Bank's Sameh Wahba on designing for a changing climate - building for the next century,...

Charlene Li is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and strategist who has spent decades helping leaders navigate disruptive technology and organizational change. In this episode, the Arcfluence Team sits down with Charlene for a grounded conversation about AI, architecture, and what it takes for firms to adapt with clarity instead of fear. Charlene frames AI not as a magic solution or a...

Central Ohio reads as a single metro on a map. On the ground it doesn’t behave like one. German Village and Dublin are fifteen miles apart and may as well be different states for how buyers think about them. Grandview is its own city. So is Bexley. So is Upper Arlington. Worthington was founded by New Englanders and still feels like Vermont. Powell has two distinct halves separated by a few minute...

Seventy episodes in, the hosts step out of the host seats. Danny Porter from behind the scenes dives in with Nick Karakaian and Paul Fatkins about how Arcfluence was built, where new technologies fit in a working architecture practice, what the next stretch of the firm looks like, and the studio they're about to move into. Conversations along the way: why podcasts work in 2026, what Bill Griffith...

In this episode of The Arcfluence Podcast, Nick and Paul sit down with Kathy Binner, founder of Kathy Binner International Academy, to trace three decades of building in Columbus - from salon ownership and commercial real estate to education, authorship, mentorship, and community leadership. Kathy shares how buying her first building forced her to learn the realities of change-of-use, life-safety...

Omar ElhagMusa, Executive Vice President at Spring Garden Lending, joins the Arcfluence Podcast to discuss Columbus’s first zoning rewrite in seventy years—Zone In Phase 1. He serves on the City’s Zoning Advisory Committee and brings a background spanning lending, policy, and small-scale residential investment. The conversation focuses on how the new code actually functions: corridor-based upzonin...

Steven Rhodes is a mechanical engineer and Certified Passive House Consultant (Phius CPHC) who built Central Ohio's first certified passive house in Clintonville. In this episode, he breaks down what passive house certification actually means in practical terms - envelope performance, air quality, energy independence, and the real numbers behind it. Steven walks through what his family pays to hea...

Tabi Mund from Swoon House Studio is back for Part 2. This time we get into the operational side of running a design practice in Columbus. Tabi talks about growing her practice, what it took to build a real team, and why she leans into vintage sourcing and handmade pieces over mass production. We walk through the new Arcfluence office together, talk about the Westerville house collaboration, and g...

Blake Souls from Summit Building and Roofing Company joins Nick and Paul to talk about what 16 years and 300+ kitchens have taught his team about craftsmanship, relationships, and doing the work right. From high-end kitchen renovations with Amish-made cabinetry to converting a single-family home into an assisted living facility, this episode covers the real side of construction in Columbus. Blake...

What does luxury residential design actually look like in Central Ohio right now? In this episode, Nick and Paul pull back the curtain on four active projects to break down the specific design decisions that define high-end homes in Columbus and the surrounding region. They start with indoor-outdoor living, a concept more commonly associated with the West Coast that is gaining traction in Ohio. On...

Randy Roberty, AIA, NCARB, Director of Design and Architecture at Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, joins us to explore how thoughtful design shapes the dining experience - from the moment you walk through the door to the invisible details you feel but never notice. With 113 restaurant openings across 20 concepts, Cameron Mitchell has become one of the Midwest's most influential hospitality groups. Ra...

Columbus is having a moment. In this market update, Nick and Paul cover the major developments shaping central Ohio: billions in manufacturing investment from Honda and Intel, the new Capital Line pedestrian pathway transforming downtown, record apartment deliveries in Q4 2025, and a new ADU ordinance that passed unanimously - making it easier than ever to add housing to residential lots. Whether...

The crew meets ahead of the New Year for a relaxed conversation with Nick, Paulie, and Nino to reflect on 2025 over some Italian wine - awards won, projects completed, team growth, and exciting plans for 2026.

John Kelley, Chief People Officer and fourth-generation family member at White Castle, joins Nick and Paul to discuss the company’s new Columbus headquarters and how it reflects both day-to-day operations and long-standing company values. Kelley explains how family ownership, a multi-generation presence in Columbus, and an emphasis on continuity informed decisions to rebuild on a long-held site, s...

We talk with Jonathan Styer - broker, owner, and manager of 100+ furnished rentals - about what’s actually driving Columbus’s midterm rental market. Jon explains why traveling tradespeople now outnumber traveling nurses, which neighborhoods perform, and why design has become a true competitive advantage. We also cover rising regulations, Columbus’s rapid growth, and why investors should secure a H...

Nick and Paul sit down with longtime family friend and community leader Bob Porter to trace how the kitchens many of us grew up in, Italian, Greek, Serbian, and other old-world spaces, quietly shaped the way we design modern ones. Through stories about soffit demo, appliance upgrades, outdoor cooking setups, and a pantry that functions like a second kitchen, the episode connects real family workfl...

Kent State University’s Dean Mark Mistur joins Nick Karakaian and Paul Fatkins to discuss the future of architectural education and practice. The conversation explores how design schools are adapting to new technologies like AI, the renewed value of craft and model making, and the vital role travel plays in shaping global awareness.

In our latest community conversation, we sit down with Fox in the Snow co-founder Lauren Culley to discuss her leap from New York publishing into Columbus’s café culture. She shares how a Craigslist garage became their first shop, the design philosophy built around floor-to-ceiling light, communal tables, and no Wi-Fi - and why those choices continue to define every location. Lauren also traces he...

This episode examines how first-order architectural decisions - circulation flow, natural light strategy, kitchen zoning, entry sequencing, and layered lighting - shape the lived experience of a home. Centered on Central Ohio’s housing stock, it explains why finishes are secondary to structural logic and how trend-resilient design enhances both usability and long-term value.

This special edition of the Arcfluence podcast was recorded live at the AIA Ohio 2025 Conference in Columbus. Principals Paul Fatkins and Nick Karakaian present Integrated Living: ADUs as Catalysts for Community & Sustainable Growth, exploring how Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) can address Central Ohio’s housing challenges, lessons from peer cities, and the implications of zoning reform. Arcf...

Nick and Paul take a deep dive into 3D scanning (a true Arcfluence geek-out session) from the first BLK360 to Leica’s lightning-fast Gen 2. With stories from real projects in Central Ohio, they show how scanning is changing workflows, boosting accuracy, and keeping Arcfluence at the forefront of architectural technology. Along the way, expect plenty of banter about robot dogs, drone surveys, and t...

In this episode, we explore how architects move beyond design to build trust, lead teams, and win complex projects. Nick and Paul sit down with longtime collaborator Nino Samardzic to discuss career growth, mentorship, and the strategies that set firms apart in competitive markets - while never losing sight of design passion.

Today we explore two very distinct design stories in Ohio. The Cliffs is a modern residence imagined for the dramatic terrain of Hocking Hills, while BeAligned Health is a completed wellness space in Powell that reshaped a business through thoughtful design. Both projects are part of this year’s AIA Ohio People’s Choice Awards, and we’ll share how they came together — and why they stand out. Vote...

What really goes on behind the scenes of a growing architecture firm? In this episode, we talk with Emily Hall, president of CVG, about the real dynamics that shape design teams - how leadership evolves, where firms tend to get stuck, and what it takes to grow without losing clarity or culture. From hiring and delegation to communication and client experience, we explore what makes a firm strong b...

In this episode, we talk with Darguin Fortuna of Flow Design Architects about how architecture firms are built—from compelling design visions to the operational systems that bring them to life. The conversation unpacks what clients rarely see but always experience: how fee structures are set, how teams are organized, and how firms decide what work they’re equipped to take on. For developers, build...