LytePod

Lighting is the biggest opportunity most integrators aren’t taking full advantage of. In this episode, Trent Mulligan shares how reps and dealers can unlock real revenue, why luxury homes are often underlit, and why education and early involvement are the keys to making lighting work. 🎧 Listen now to hear: How to grow without doubling staff Why “bad light” is still the norm in high-end homes The...

Lighting is the fastest-growing frontier in home tech—and Brian Anderson, Rocky Settacassi, and Alex Lelch share exactly how they’re making it pay off. From building immersive showrooms to mastering LED challenges and collaborating with designers, this episode is packed with insights for integrators, dealers, and designers ready to turn lighting into a thriving part of their business. Whether you'...

The hardest part of buying lighting isn’t the check - it's making sure you get what you ordered. In one of the most eye-opening conversations we’ve had, Justin Streeb, Co-Founder and CSO of 1 LUX, breaks down the behind-the-scenes chaos of actually buying lights. With over 20 years in the industry, Justin went from designing high-end homes in Aspen to founding multiple companies that now sit at th...

AI is changing design—not by replacing creativity, but by clearing space for it. In this episode, we explore how designers can use AI to save time, improve documentation, and focus more on what matters: ideas. From writing proposals to generating marketing assets, we talk through the real ways AI fits into a design workflow—and why it’s up to creatives to shape how it’s used.

Lighting is no longer just an accessory — it’s becoming a core profit center for AV integrators. In this episode, Sam Koerbel sits down with CEDIA co-founder Tom Doherty and current CEO Daryl Friedman to explore why lighting is now a strategic focus for the custom integration industry. They discuss: Why lighting represents the next big opportunity for integrators The challenges of adding lighting...

AI is changing the game — but not the designer. In this episode, Sarah Richter shares how she’s using AI to enhance creativity, save time, and stay focused on what really matters: the design. We cover: 🎯 Where AI fits in early-stage workflows 📬 How it’s helping with client comms + marketing 🧠 Why curiosity (not code) is the key to using AI well If you’ve been wondering how real designers are ac...

There’s a shift happening in the custom home world—AV integrators are stepping into lighting, but most don’t realize they’re now part of a much bigger story. This episode explores that turning point. It’s about power, partnership, and what happens when two expert worlds—lighting design and technology integration—finally meet. Whether you're trying to add margin through lighting, avoid conflict...

Mentorship isn’t a checkbox, a program, or a bullet point on a website—it’s a mindset. In this deeply reflective and energizing episode, Paige Donald joins Sam to challenge everything you think you know about mentoring. They explore what happens when teams build trust, lead with vulnerability, and invest in each other beyond just “doing the job.” You’ll hear how mentorship becomes the engine for c...

Burn the Rulebook. Challenge Yourself. No Rules. Just Design + Creativity. In this episode of the LytePOD, Keith Bradshaw — CEO and co-founder of Speirs Major — invites us into the mindset that has shaped one of the most iconic lighting design studios in the world. From rejecting personal “style” to designing with emotional precision, Keith shares why the real competition is internal — and why gre...

Why can’t you just get a price for a light fixture? What exactly does a lighting rep do? In this eye-opening episode, Sam sits down with Caitlin Mulligan to break down the architectural sales channel and shed light on the critical but often misunderstood role of manufacturers’ reps in the design and construction industry. From the pricing complexity of architectural products to the behind-the-scen...

What does it mean to belong? In this honest and eye-opening episode, David Seok, associate and suido leader in NYC unpacks the sense of being a minority in a way that helps anyone understand what life is like when you don't look like other people—from cultural identity to hiring practices, mentorship, and representation. Through personal stories as an Asian American designer, David reflects on...

Explore the reality of growing a design firm. Chip reflects on decades of experience—what he learned the hard way, how he approaches business decisions, and what he wishes young designers knew before launching their own studios. Whether you're a seasoned principal or just beginning your career, this episode is full of actionable advice for navigating the intersection of creativity and business...

How can lighting help rebuild communities after a disaster? In this episode, we speak with homeowners who have lost everything, elected officials leading recovery efforts, and industry experts working to make reconstruction safer and more sustainable. Learn how lighting design is crucial in rebuilding efforts and what it takes to create a more resilient future. Get involved: lightequity.org A spec...

As a former creative agency owner turned wellness coach, Shawna Bigby-Davis explores the unique challenges faced by creative professionals. She discusses the connection between creativity and the nervous system, how stress manifests in the body, and the importance of self-regulation for maintaining mental and physical well-being. Drawing from her own journey of overcoming autoimmune diseases, Shaw...

Kate explores the power of color in lighting design —how it shapes human experiences, evokes emotion, and influences spatial perception. Drawing from her background in theatrical and architectural lighting, she shares insights on the intentional use of color as a storytelling tool. From museum exhibits to built environments, Kate discusses how light enhances materials, the cultural significance of...

This conversation explores the impact of lighting on human health. Kevin Houser, Professor at Oregon State University and Lead Engineer at the Pacifica Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), discusses how circadian lighting and human-centric design influence well-being, the latest research on non-visual responses to light, and the industry’s challenge in balancing scientific rigor with practical ap...

How is AI reshaping the world of lighting design? This episode explores how technology transforms creativity, productivity, and collaboration in the industry. Dive deep into how AI tools are helping designers make data-driven decisions, streamline workflows, and push the boundaries of what's possible. We also tackle the ongoing challenges of aligning budgets with bold design visions and fostering...

Dive into the essential role of nonprofits in the design industry, examining how they fill gaps, serve mission-driven purposes, and create community impact. Andrea and Christopher discuss key themes like leadership, the importance of mission alignment, and the future outlook for nonprofits in creative spaces. If you've ever wondered about the purpose of nonprofits in design and how they bridge soc...

Do you ever wish your client, the owner would just get it? Design has many different languages that might not always be easy to communicate across the table - but there are tools to do that. Cecilia Ramos, Senior Director of Architectural Markets for Lutron opens up a conversation about Luxury and how it can be a common thread that many can relate to. Explore her thoughts and be inspired to take a...

When you understand what you want to do, and get to play with what you love - it's hard to consider it a job. David Warfel has built a design team of nearly a dozen professionals in a space that has largely never considered the value of design fees when it comes to 'good lighting'. As a pioneer in connecting with AV integrators and homeowners directly through the CEDIA channel, he'...

The lighting industry has gone through a few evolutions, and the pathway from design to final delivery is undeniably one of them. Gone are the "transactional" days of interchangeable parts + pieces like lamps and ballasts -- for better or worse, today's lighting equipment has become unique and specialized, and staying at the forefront of change requires a new way of thinking about su...

Born of the Black Lives Matter movement, Equity in Lighting's overarching mission is to equip the lighting industry with the ability to design for everyone — not just the white, neurotypical person that today's technology and practices have come to serve the best. Join us as Elaine Cook, Co-Founder of Equity in Lighting, talks to us about why they founded EIL and how their goals and strate...

What if the lighting system in any given space could be your teammate? What if it could help cue you, guide you, inform you, and help you achieve your goals? That's one way Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Senior Lighting Researcher Andrea Wilkerson sees lighting through the lens of her career in lighting research and analysis. Andrea believes that digging into data is the key to unlockin...

Consistency. Balance. Efficiency. Three virtues most businesses strive for, but achieving them is a different story. Oculus Light Studio's business approach may be the exception, conceived of the idea that life and life in lighting can blend and coexist. Join us as Archit Jain + Scott Hatton, co-founding principals of Oculus studio, talk to us about how they look at time—one of life's most...

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a lighting designer to the stars or design homes for celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and LeBron James? That's exactly the claim to fame for Malibu-based CEO of ADG Lighting Gerald Olesker. An architectural industrial designer by training, Gerald has amassed a star-studded portfolio of luxury projects around the globe, and ADG's custom lighting is th...