Business of Architecture Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Why Architects Struggle With Fees—and How to Fix It Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework

Fees start everything in an architecture firm: the work you take, the team you pay, and the life you live. In this episode, Enoch Sears and Rion Willard cut through "competitive pricing" and show why fee stress is rarely about the number on your proposal. They point to what low-fee fear is really signaling—and why it's hard to fix later.

You'll hear how sales and marketing shape fees more than most architects admit, and why confidence is built from real inputs, not hype. They also preview an updated industry fee report and how you can use it to see your fees in context. It may change how you price next job.

The hidden reason "I might lose this job" shows up right before you quote.
The blind spot that makes smart architects think they can sell.
The profit clue that warns something deeper is off—before you crash.

Contribute your data and get access to the updated Architectural Fee Report at https://businessofarchitecture.com/fees

From Overwhelm to Ohm: Mindset Shifts for Architecture Firm Leaders | EP665 Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework

Architects often find themselves buried under deadlines, staff questions, and the pressure to deliver flawless work—leaving little room to breathe, lead, or think creatively. This episode explores why that overwhelm feels so persistent and why traditional fixes rarely move the needle.

Drowning in projects, staff issues, and nonstop client demands? In this episode, Enoch and Rio dig into what really sits beneath overwhelm for architecture firm owners and new partners.

You'll hear how ego and pride in being "the busy one" can trap you in a me-centric office, and why real change starts with how you see yourself, not with another tool or system.

The hidden "reward" you may be getting from overwhelm… and why letting it go can feel unsafe.
A quiet shift in how you see your role that lets your team grow while you step back.
The wake-up calls that push some architects to rebuild their firms—and their lives.

From OMA to Developer: Rethinking Architecture Through Ownership and Value | EP664 Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework

What do two architects do after working at one of the most elite firms in the world? In this episode, Alex Yuen and Minkoo Kang share how their time at OMA shaped their view of architecture—and why they chose a very different path. They now work at the intersection of design, development, and teaching.

But they didn't just trade desks—they rewired the way they think about value, money, and impact. If you've ever felt stuck between being a visionary and being profitable, this episode speaks directly to you. You'll hear how these two navigated burnout, risk, and reinvention to reclaim creative and financial power.

Whether you're still chasing design awards or itching to build your own thing, what Alex and Minkoo reveal will shift how you see your role as an architect.

The hidden cost every architect pays—but rarely talks about
How to unlock design freedom without pitching or pandering
Why "good design" might be the least important part of your project

To learn more about Alex & Minkoo, visit their websites: https://co-operations.org/ - https://generalpartneroffice.dev/

The Non-Linear Strategy for Scaling Your Architecture Practice Fast | EP663 Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework

Architects often feel stuck and overwhelmed when dealing with the challenge of growing their firms beyond the exhausting hustle-and-grind stage, especially when the traditional path to growth feels slow, risky, and filled with staffing headaches. Many try to "stay small" to avoid these pains—only to face inconsistent cash flow, constant stress, and limited creative freedom.

Enoch & Rion explore a bold and unexpected path to growing an architecture firm—one that challenges long-held beliefs in the industry. Along the way, they reveal why so many small practices stay stuck, and what keeps talented architects locked in old models that drain time, energy, and joy.

You'll hear stories from firm owners who broke out of the grind, the hidden risks of staying small, and a surprising route that can give instant stability and creative freedom.

By the end, you'll see the industry from a new angle—and feel pulled toward a different future.

The "invisible desert" nearly every firm must cross—and the shortcut few know exists.
A counterintuitive move that can turn years of slow growth into a single bold leap.
The surprising reason a bigger firm can be easier to run than a small one.

Designing Profit: How Bill Caleo Built The Brooklyn Home Company | EP662 Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework

What happens when a trained actor walks away from the stage and steps into the world of real estate development? In this episode, Rion Willard speaks with Bill Caleo, co-founder of The Brooklyn Home Company, about how one bold move—and one deeply personal project—sparked a $500 million design-led business. You'll hear the journey of how heart, family, and instinct came together to form a vertically integrated firm that's rewriting the developer playbook.

Bill shares how his theater background gave him a unique edge most developers miss—and why he believes developers have a duty to shape culture, not just buildings. You'll also hear a surprising story about one handcrafted object that saved an entire project during a financial crash. And for architects dreaming of more control, more beauty, and better margins, this conversation just might crack something open.

In this episode, discover:

The unusual career path that became a secret advantage
A costly mistake that revealed the most profitable design move they ever made
Why their most powerful marketing strategy isn't what you think

To learn more about Bill, visit his website: https://www.thebrooklynhomecompany.com/

Goal Setting for Architects: Measurable Targets, Feedback, and Clarity | EP661 Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework

Architects often feel stuck chasing "someday" goals, working harder but not getting closer to the practice or life they imagined. The real pain? Knowing you're busy, overwhelmed, and talented—yet still unclear about what you're aiming for or why progress feels so slow.

Enoch and Rion share how a small shift in how you think about targets, feedback, and your "default future" can reshape your practice and your life.

You'll hear how their own health scares and career detours uncovered blind spots they never saw coming.

You'll get a simple check-in across four areas of life and a fresh view of what real progress looks like.

Why one blunt question about your future makes it hard to keep tolerating the status quo.
The sneaky way "being busy" can drain your self-esteem and your team's drive.
A daily habit with a notebook that can expose what you truly want faster than any course.

From Architecture Grad to Developer: How Baker Roddey Launched His First Investment Project | EP660 Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework

What happens when a young architect trades a steady paycheck for a risky first project—with no guarantee of success? In this bold episode, Baker Roddey reveals how he navigated real estate rules, raised unexpected funding, and turned one deal into a springboard for his firm. But it wasn't easy—and what he shares will challenge your ideas of what it really takes to grow.

You'll hear how strategy, sales, and sheer nerve played a role—but not in the ways you might expect. Baker opens up about the invisible barriers architects face, and how he learned to move through them without burning bridges (or cash). His story isn't just smart—it's surprisingly spiritual.

Whether you're just starting out or ready to rewrite your path, this conversation holds insights worth stealing.

The quiet financial tactic no architect is taught in school—but should be.
How one phone call (and a mindset shift) unlocked the deal that changed everything.
The one "soft skill" Baker used to raise five figures… without pitching like a bro.

To learn more about Baker, visit his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakerroddey

To learn more about Mary Beth, visit her website: https://threerealestate.com/

How Accountability Transforms Leadership, Culture, and Profit in Architecture Firms | EP659 Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework

Architect Nation, this episode tackles the silent killer in many firms: weak accountability. Enoch and Rion reveal how polite habits and fear of conflict drain authority, profit, and joy. You'll hear why "safety" and "fierce compassion" can live in the same room.

Through real stories, they show what happens when leaders avoid hard talks—or explode instead. You'll learn how language choices signal ownership, and why clients sense wobble long before you do. The result: missed deadlines, shrinking margins, and the "supplier" label.

Then they point to a better way. A simple conversation frame, a different stance on responsibility, and a mindset that turns collision into creation. The payoffs touch culture, fees, and speed of execution.

The two-word shift that changes everything with staff and clients.
A ruthless-yet-loving move that ends chronic deadline drift.
The profit leak hiding in your "nice" culture (and how leaders plug it).

What Architects Can Learn from UX, Tech, and Real Estate | EP658 Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework

Most architects feel like outsiders in the business conversations that shape their projects. They're left out of key decisions, treated as a line item cost, and frustrated when their design expertise isn't valued the way it should be.

What happens when an architect trades AutoCAD for agile sprints and business models?

In this episode, we sit down with Daplaah-Teng Aryene—an architectural designer turned UX strategist—whose career took a sharp turn during the pandemic. What started as a leap into startup life became a masterclass in value creation, entrepreneurship, and how architects can reclaim agency in a system that often undervalues their genius.

Daplaah unpacks how real estate, tech, and business strategy reshaped his understanding of architecture's role—and where most firms leave opportunity on the table. From innovation frameworks to unexpected lessons in developer boardrooms, this episode challenges everything you thought you knew about the "architect's lane."

To learn more about Daplaah-Teng Aryene, visit his LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daplaah-teng-aryene

Building High-Performance Architecture Teams with Rion Willard | EP657 Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework

In this energetic live session, Rion Willard held at the AIA Austin Event, he asks a hard question: what does a true high-performance architecture team look like? He shares sobering industry stats and stories. Then he flips the script, turning the room into a workshop with quick audits, hands-up shares, and honest self-checks.

You'll hear why profits power design, and why little things—like scattered emails, fuzzy roles, and quiet scope creep—silently drain margins. Rion sketches a simple score that top firms use to gauge performance, plus a brutal-but-kind way to map every teammate's fit. He closes with field notes from firms that made the leap, and a nudge to take one concrete action today.

Along the way, he surfaces bottlenecks leaders rarely admit, and invites you to test with no-fluff prompts. Expect candid talk about hiring, delegation, and the real cost of turnover. If you lead a team, or want to, this is your wake-up call now.

The surprising revenue-per-person target top studios chase—and how to gauge yours in minutes.
A four-box lens that reveals who to elevate, coach, or release (without drama).
The tiny leaks that steal profit each week—and the simple ritual that plugs them.

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