Designed To Thrive with Colleen Tobey

In this deeply personal anniversary episode, Colleen reflects on fourteen years with her husband and eleven years of marriage, exploring the profound connection between love, nervous system regulation, and the homes we build together. Drawing on neuroscience, family systems research, and Human Design, she explains why healthy relationships aren't just emotionally fulfilling—they're biologi...

What if the life you want isn’t unrealistic — just waiting for you to fully claim it? In this deeply personal episode of the Designed to Thrive Podcast, Colleen shares a recent birthday weekend experience that sparked a powerful realization about abundance, self-worth, dreaming bigger, and trusting the life she’s building. From a spontaneous shopping moment at Marine Layer to dreaming about slow s...

What if attraction isn’t about chasing harder — but aligning more deeply with who you already are? In this episode of the Designed to Thrive Podcast, Colleen dives into the intersection of Human Design, manifestation, nervous system alignment, and the environments we live in. Through the lens of all five Human Design types, she explores how we’re each uniquely designed to attract opportunities, re...

What if the most beautiful homes aren’t designed from trends… but from nature? In this episode, Colleen explores how the natural world shapes the way we experience beauty, safety, grounding, and home—and why she believes Mother Nature is the greatest designer of all time. From the lush, layered landscapes of Pennsylvania to the sun-drenched mountains of Colorado and the weathered coastal charm of...

This episode is different. No frameworks. No how-to. No step-by-step anything. Just a real, honest reflection on what this past year has looked like—what’s shifted, what’s mattered, and how growth actually feels when you’re inside of it. In this birthday episode, Colleen shares a personal window into her life: the quiet ways she’s changed, the things she’s fallen back in love with, and the deeper...

When was the last time you made a decision and just  knew ? In this episode, Colleen explores what it really means to trust yourself—not as a mindset, but as a physiological, lived experience. If you’ve been second-guessing your decisions, outsourcing your authority, or feeling disconnected from your inner knowing, this conversation will help you understand why—and how to begin rebuilding that tru...

This episode is a real, behind-the-scenes conversation about entrepreneurship—what it actually looks like beyond the highlight reel. No frameworks. No design tips. Just the truth. Colleen shares what it means to build something from the ground up: the belief, the uncertainty, the creativity, and the emotional weight that comes with choosing a path that doesn’t exist yet. If you’re in the middle of...

Episode 20 feels like a milestone—and a moment to say thank you. What started as a place to share ideas has grown into a consistent, connected community. If you’ve been here listening, sharing, and engaging… this episode begins with deep gratitude for you. From there, Colleen dives into something that’s been quietly reshaping her work as a designer and educator: What if working with a designer did...

In this episode of the  Designed to Thrive Podcast , Colleen Tobey explores a powerful idea: Your home isn’t just where you live—it directly impacts how your Human Design functions. Focusing on three essential spaces— the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen —Colleen breaks down how these rooms either support your energy, decision-making, and nourishment… or quietly work against them every single day. T...

In this episode of the  Designed to Thrive Podcast , Colleen Tobey introduces a perspective that has the power to completely shift how you see your home—and yourself:  You are not meant to see a space the same way as everyone else. What if the reason you and someone else walk into the same room and have completely different reactions… isn’t about taste, training, or having a “good eye”? What if it...

In this episode of the  Designed to Thrive Podcast , Colleen Tobey challenges a belief so many mothers carry: “I’ll get back to my creative self someday.” Someday when life slows down. Someday when there’s more time. Someday when things feel easier. But what if that version of creative time you’re waiting for… isn’t coming back? And more importantly—what if you don’t need it to? This episode is an...

In this episode of the  Designed to Thrive Podcast , Colleen Tobey explores something many women are quietly experiencing but rarely naming out loud: the absence of real, nourishing community—even in lives that look full from the outside. She opens with a powerful question:  When is the last time you felt truly held?  Not just supported in a surface-level way, but deeply seen, known, and understoo...

In this episode of the  Designed to Thrive Podcast,  Colleen dives into the fascinating intersection of interior design, psychology, and neuroscience. Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt calm… or uneasy… without knowing why? It turns out your brain is doing an incredible amount of processing the moment you enter a space—analyzing light, layout, color, scent, and visual informatio...

In this episode of the  Designed to Thrive  Podcast, Colleen breaks down one of the most common struggles she sees in homes today:  overwhelm. Too many ideas. Too many options. Too many pieces that don’t quite relate. If you’ve ever stood in the middle of a room wondering why it still doesn’t feel finished—despite trying new décor, rearranging furniture, or saving endless inspiration online—this e...

In today’s episode of the  Designed to Thrive  Podcast, Colleen shares a real-time reflection on what it means to grow in a world that refuses to slow down. We’re living in an era of constant change—new trends, new platforms, new expectations, and an endless stream of pressure to pivot, scale, optimize, and reinvent. And while growth is often celebrated, it can quietly pull us into reaction instea...

Your bedroom is doing more work than you think. In this episode of  Designed to Thrive , Colleen shares why she believes the bedroom is the most important room in your entire home—and why it deserves far more intention than it’s often given. More than a place to sleep, your bedroom quietly shapes your nervous system, your mindset, your relationships, and your ability to truly rest and restore. Dra...

What happens when your entire home is under construction—and there’s no “safe room” to retreat to? In this episode of  Designed to Thrive , Colleen shares candidly from the middle of a full-home remodel and explores what this season is teaching her about design, creativity, community, and nervous system support. Rather than reflecting from the other side, this conversation is rooted in the now—the...

What if being “new” doesn’t mean starting from scratch — but starting from experience? In this episode of  Designed to Thrive , Colleen Tobey speaks to the quiet, tender season of being experienced and capable… yet still feeling exposed because you’re showing up in a new way. This is a conversation for anyone who has built something before, held expertise, or worn a clear identity — and now finds...

What if the dream you can’t stop thinking about isn’t random — but an invitation? In this episode of  Designed to Thrive , Colleen Tobey shares the story behind starting this podcast and what it taught her about listening to intuition, trusting a full-body yes, and moving forward even when fear is present. If you’ve ever felt pulled toward something new — a creative idea, a project, a shift — but...

Have you ever looked around your home and thought, “It’s fine for now”—but still felt subtly drained, restless, or unsettled? In this episode of Designed to Thrive , interior designer Colleen Tobey explores how “good enough” design quietly impacts your energy, your nervous system, and your sense of ease—especially if you’re a busy professional, a parent, or someone carrying a heavy mental load. Th...

In this first episode of Season One, Part Two, Colleen welcomes listeners into a fresh chapter of the Designed to Thrive Podcast and into the new year. January invites reflection, clarity, and intention — and this episode is all about returning to the basics. Today’s conversation is Design 101: the foundational principles that make a home feel grounded, intentional, and supportive. Colleen breaks...

Welcome to the final episode of Designed to Thrive Season One, Part One! In this beautifully honest closing episode, Colleen opens her heart and shares a story many listeners will see themselves in—her journey into motherhood, despite once believing she’d never have children. This episode isn’t just about parenting; it’s about identity, intuition, partnership, self-discovery, and the way love evol...

In this episode of Designed to Thrive, Colleen shares the behind-the-scenes story of her very first community challenge — the 21-Day Home Glow Up Challenge — and how it came to life through the guidance of her Splenic Authority (hello, Human Design Projectors!). Fresh off the inspiration of Living Brave Live in Denver with Shoshanna Raven and other guest speakers, Colleen listened to the unmistaka...

In this heartfelt episode of Designed to Thrive, host Colleen Tobey reflects on the profound role mentorship has played in her life — from early teachers who made her feel seen, to business coach Jacki Carr, whose guidance helped Colleen embrace visibility and self-trust. Colleen explores what mentorship truly means beyond the definition: connection with purpose. She shares how powerful it can be...