Why My Business Works with Megan Dahle

What Happens When Art Leads the Room: How Art-Forward Design Elevates Daily Life with Susann Eva Goerg

In this episode of Why My Business Works, Megan sits down with interior designer and creative director Susann Eva Goerg [https://www.susannevagoerg.com/] to explore what happens when art leads the room not as decoration, but as a driver of meaning, emotion, and quality of life. Susann shares how a single piece of art in her own bedroom became the catalyst for reshaping her design philosophy and, eventually, her business. With a background in advertising and creative direction, she brings a storyteller’s lens to interior design, creating homes where art and space speak to one another, and where clients feel more grounded, inspired, and at home in their own lives. The path to discovering your “secret sauce,” the courage to niche down, and why creative business is ultimately about capacity, boundaries, and belief. An invitation to see art, design, and business as deeply human and your space as an active part of daily life and work. If you’ve ever felt that your home could support you more creatively, emotionally, or energetically, this episode will open a new way of seeing. In this episode, we cover: * The moment Susann realized art could shape how she shows up in her life * Why art should never be an afterthought in interior design * How her background in advertising influences her design process * What it really takes to niche down in a creative business * Why running a design firm is “89% business and 11% design.” * How art-forward spaces impact clients’ daily habits and wellbeing * The role of storytelling, memory, and aspiration in choosing art * Why marketing is one of the hardest and most creative parts of entrepreneurship * How designers can reclaim the value of their work in an undervalued industry Links Susann Eva Goerg [https://www.susannevagoerg.com/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/susannevagoerg/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgoerg/] About Susann Eva Goerg Susann Eva Goerg is an interior designer and creative director based in New York, working on residential projects across New York, New Jersey, and beyond. With a background in advertising and brand storytelling, she brings an art-forward approach to interior design, creating spaces where art and environment elevate one another. Her work challenges the idea of art as decoration, positioning it instead as a powerful force for connection, reflection, and quality of life. If you loved this episode: Subscribe to the show, share it with a friend who believes spaces shape us more than we realize, and leave a review to help more creative business owners find Why My Business Works. Music in this episode: Sweet Honey (Instrumental) by Scarlet Parke [https://www.scarletparke.com/] Castle (Instrumental) by Sam Ryder [https://www.sam-ryder.com/]  New SBs (Instrumental) by Toonorth [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5cnRXRa8otbppSiXvfdmo3] Music licensed by Audiio [https://audiio.com/]

Everything’s a Metaphor: How Real Relationships Build Real Businesses with Susan Yeley

In this episode of Why My Business Works, Megan sits down with designer and longtime friend Susan Yeley [https://susanyeleyhomes.com/] to talk about the power of proximity, authentic connection, and leading a company that genuinely takes care of its people. Susan built her firm the same way she builds homes: with curiosity, presence, and a deep respect for the humans involved. She shares how her business grew alongside her young family, why she hires by “letting the universe reveal the right people,” and how supporting her team through real-life challenges became one of the most meaningful parts of entrepreneurship. They talk about joy as a business tool, design as a form of storytelling, and how integrating work and life can make you a better leader and a more grounded creator. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to run a business that is both beautiful and deeply human, this episode will feel like a warm, steadying breath. In this episode, we cover: * Why proximity shapes everything from creativity to capacity * How Susan built her team through trust, intuition, and genuine affection * The moment she decided to put employees on payroll and what that commitment really meant * Her design philosophy and why “we do not discard our histories in our homes” * How joy, rest, and presence fuel better creative output * The privilege of design work and her dream to bring good homes to underserved communities * What it looks like to prioritize people in the real moments — illness, babies, transitions, life * Why everything really is a metaphor, and how it shapes the way she leads Links Susan Yeley Homes [https://susanyeleyhomes.com/] Prospect Refuge [https://prospectrefugestudio.com/] Heather Peterson [https://www.heatherpetersondesign.com/] Robins Architecture [https://robbins-architecture.com/about/] Reath Design [https://www.reathdesign.com/] Jessica Helgeran [https://www.jhinteriordesign.com/jhid%20] 1% Project [https://www.theonepercentproject.org/] Zoey Feldman [https://www.zoefeldmandesign.com/about] (scroll down for her Giving Back section) About Susan Yeley Susan is the founder of Susan Yeley Homes, a Bloomington-based design firm known for thoughtful, layered, deeply personal spaces. Her work blends art, heart, and structure, and her leadership centers on care, generosity, and building a team that thrives together. Explore her work at susanyeleyhomes.com. If you loved this episode: Subscribe to the show, share it with a friend who treasures her people, and leave a review to help more heart-led business owners find us. Music in this episode: Sweet Honey (Instrumental) by Scarlet Parke [https://www.scarletparke.com/] Sugar (Feat. Esabalu) (Instrumental) by The Artist "Me" [https://audiio.com/the-artist-] You and I by Hannah Gill & The Hours [https://www.hannahgillmusic.com/] Music licensed by Audiio [https://audiio.com/]

Be the Sun, Not the Moon: Stop Pretzeling for Clients and Build a Business That Fits You

Note: This episode includes occasional adult language.   What happens when you stop contorting yourself into whatever clients want and start showing up as the sun in your business? In this first episode of Why My Business Works, Megan sits down with holistic interior designer Gala Magriña to talk about claiming your niche, valuing your work, and building a business that feels aligned from the inside out. Gala shares the moment a business coach told her she was “turning into the moon” on sales calls, and how stepping into her full voice changed everything. They dive into flat-fee pricing, transparent money conversations, the power of a small-but-mighty team, and the spiritual roots of Gala’s design philosophy. If you’ve ever doubted your value or hesitated to stand firm in your process, this episode will feel like a mirror and a megaphone. In this episode, we cover: * Why “pretzeling” for clients erodes your value (and your joy) * How Gala attracts the right clients by going all in on her niche * Flat-fee pricing, transparency, and why she ditched markups * Building an aligned team and leading as a grounded, human-first CEO * The origins of holistic design and how it’s reshaping the industry * The power of designing a business that works for your soul Links Gala's Podcast [https://galamagrinadesign.com/beyond-spaces-podcast/] Sean Low [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-low-b95a945b/] Hasani Reyes [https://www.hasanireyes.com/] Flack Studio [https://flack.studio/] Kelly Behun [https://www.kellybehun.com/]   About Gala Magriña Gala is a holistic interior designer, speaker, and founder of Gala Magriña Design [https://galamagrinadesign.com/]. She blends beauty, function, and wellness to create spaces that support mind, body, and soul. She also hosts the Talk Purpose Podcast, where she explores the deeper meaning behind how we live and work. If you loved this episode: Subscribe to the show, share it with a friend who needs the reminder to stand in her power, and leave a review to help more right-sized, heart-led business owners find us.   Music in this episode: Sweet Honey (Instrumental) by Scarlet Parke [https://www.scarletparke.com/] Knew That It Was Right (Instrumental) by Spearfisher [https://www.sprfshr.com/] La Vuelta (Instrumental) by MARSCOTT [https://audiio.com/marscott] Music licensed by Audiio [https://audiio.com/]   Content note: Contains strong language used for emphasis and honesty.