Are you ready for candid (and caffeinated) conversations about life & business as a designpreneur?

Welcome to The T.E.A. with Albie Knows.

Still dedicated to changing the conversation and creating impact, "The T.E.A. with Albie Knows" is an upgrade to the formerly known as podcast "The Design Influence". Every week, we will think (and talk) through industry growing pains, equip ourselves with solution based education, and take action when & where action is needed. It's time for T.E.A.

I am your weekly hostess, Albie of Albie Knows — interior design content creator, multi hyphenated designpreneur, and all around idea machine. After years of trying to find my place, I’ve learned lots of lessons along the way. With the help of some industry peers, mentors, and friends, I’m always learning, and I have lots to share.

So if you’re ready for some T.E.A, pop in your air buds, get cozy, and let’s dive in!

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If you’re listening to (or reading) this then you may already know that comeback is a long time coming! When I launched this podcast as The Design Influence 3 years ago, I had a pretty clear idea of where it was headed. 

Then life happened, and it happened fast. 

Here’s the thing tho — while I may have had to take a few detours on back roads, the GPS still got me to exactly where I wanted (and needed) to be… it got me here! Let’s back things up a bit first…

If you’re new to me and my things…hi… my name is Albie!

I’m an interior design & lifestyle content creator… which wasn’t always the case. When I first came “on the scene” as it were, it was as an online interior designer. While I did have a blog, I didn’t consider myself a blogger or creator because I didn’t think that was enough — I had to be an “interior designer” and so that’s the title I lead with when entering rooms. Fast forward and here are a few more of my titles — 

Self published author

Podcast host

Brand ambassador

Freelance writer

Conference producer

…and I am no longer an online interior designer aka e-designer. 

I happily dropped that title in 2019 and have leaned into content creation full time by way of all those other titles. As I said, my designpreneur gps had to reroute more than a couple of times to get me here… and I’m all the better for it. For starters, after an unplanned 2 year hiatus, the podcast is back, with a new name and a stronger purpose! Now I’ll likely have a whole other episode dedicated to some lessons learned since the last time I hit publish on this podcast… that’s just not what we’re here for today. In addition to finding my way back to the podcast, I’ve also found my way back to another passion project I had to put on hold — an in person conference… which is also, likely, how you got to The T.E.A. today! 

So what’s The T.E.A… T-E-A? 

I realized — while procrastinating on bringing the show back — that The Design Influence no longer accurately represented what I was creating. In hindsight, I don’t know that it ever really did… I just knew that The E-Design Experience — the virtual conference that inspired the podcast — was definitely not an accurate representation of what I wanted the show to be. It wasn’t, actually, until I did the Share The Mic Now Home Edition initiative in 2020, that I realized how much I was limiting myself & the show with the name “The Design Influence”… I just didn’t have the mental bandwidth to figure out what the next iteration of the show would look like. 

Now here we are, in 2022, less than 3 months away from The Meridian Experience Weekend — the first of its kind retreat style conference for the home industry — and I knew if I didn’t do this now, I was never gonna do this… this being bringing back the show. And then it hit me… The T.E.A… a show where I will be your guide as we T— think (and talk) through industry growing pains, E — equip ourselves with solution based education, and A — take action when & where action is needed.

Talk. Education. Action. 

The show would run parallel the conference and continue after till the next one… and the next one… and the next one… for years to come! And that’s really why we’re here today… to talk all about The Meridian Experience!

If you’ve been following along with me over on @albieknows then The Meridian Experience Weekend isn’t news to you — I publicly shared my planning fall of 2021 and it’s been all consuming on my social media since the top of this year, as I’ve been bringing y’all along for the journey.

It’s a conference, a retreat, and a reunion.

Having been on this very grueling journey of designpreneurship myself for years — and still on it, to be clear — I curated a conference itinerary that I know is missing from this industry… an itinerary… nay… an experience designed to encourage both personal & professional growth. Not that it’s been easy — because it hasn’t — however, it knew it was necessary. I didn’t just want to put people in a room for the sake of saying I did. I wanted to show that it could be done after years of feeling like an outsider in many other rooms. Here’s why?

I’m a millennial woman of color. 

I’m not a classically trained designer. 

I’ve chosen content creation over a service based model. 

These rooms were not created with me in mind, so I created my own and have brought together some of your favs’ favs to pour into this community in a way that I know I’ve, at least, never seen before. And to be honest, many of you have expressed to me that you’ve never seen this done either which is why I confidently say Meridian is a first of it’s kind for the home industry… and we’re hopefully setting a new precedent & a new standard of excellence when it comes to community, education, and transformation. 

On the website for Meridian — www.meweekend.com — it says, it’s not just about the speakers, the education, or the networking… it’s about the experience. I mean that through and through. 

It’s the collective magic!

However…

However…

I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge how much of an epic inaugural line up we have! And it’s really important to me for y’all to understand why I chose this line up and how it’s such a full circle moment for me in so many ways!

So who’s gonna be serving all the T.E.A. at Meridian this summer?

By the way, if you check out the website, you’ll peep that M.E.R.I.D.I.A.N. is also an acronym — Manifesting Exceptional Relationships with Interior Design Influencers through Authentic Networking.

Exceptional relationships. Not just regular degular “nice to meet you, follow me online” relationships. Exceptional. Because, to be frank, the people in the room are exceptional. I never in a million years imagined that I could outdo myself from when I did the Share The Mic Home Edition. I sincerely believed I’d peak as it results to bringing together people of this caliber. Not only have I done it again… I’ve done it bigger… on a whole other scale. 

At Meridian you’ll have Share The Mic Now “alum” if you will such as Kennesha Poe-Buycks of @restorationhouse, Joanna Hawley-McBridge of @jojotastic, Rashida Banks (@rashida.banks), Mandi Gubler of @vintagerevivals, Shavonda Gardner of @sgardnerstyle, Carmeon Hamilton (@carmeonhamilton), and Emily Henderson (@em_henderson). They were all part of my last big, wild, and crazy idea 2 summers ago and now, almost to the date, we’re basically celebrating our anniversary!

I was very intentional about bringing in people that could teach & inspire you, that had the receipts to satisfy the needs that y’all had been expressing to me over the past year or so. So I called my friends and then I made some new friends…

Ashley Basnight of @smashingdiy, Alvin Wayne (@alvinwayne), Demetrius Robinson of @athomewithsavvy, Sandy Jandu of @elleehome, Orlando Soria (@mrorlandosoria), Dabito (@dabito)… just to name a few. Yes, I wanted people who could help you elevate in the ways that interior designer & home influencers need; and it was equally important to me to also have people in the room that you, otherwise, wouldn’t have access to.  Access to their design IQ, their business savviness, their years of collective experience, their magic…I’d say that’s low key priceless! 

The fact that every single one of these epic individuals said “yes” is a testament to how much we need this. Because let’s be clear about who will be presenting — NYTimes bestsellers, HGTV personalities, content creators with a reach into the millions, acclaimed designers… and all of em with receipts & a proven standard of excellence in all that they do.  

I know a few people whose mouths were agape when I announced the speakers for the evening… wondering, “how in the name of all that’s good did she get all of this magic in the room?” There are days I still can’t believe and yet’s it’s real — 20+ of the industry’s thought leaders & trendsetters all together for one weekend. There’s a sort of synergy that happens when you have that much brilliance in a room… and that’s not even accounting for the peer to peer mentorship from everyone who’s simply going to be in attendance.

One of the attendees said it best —

This is especially true in such an intimate environment. Meridian isn’t going to be a crown of hundreds… nope… just one hundred designpreneurs who’ve chosen to invest in themselves with through an action oriented, heart centered curriculum. 

Today’s episode is presented to you by The Meridian Experience, a first of its kind retreat style conference for interior design & home influencers, transcending the traditional design narrative. It’s more than just a conference. It’s an experience designed to bridge the gap between interior designers & home influencers for meaningful & intentional exchanges.

This June, in the picturesque city of Bellevue, WA, join 100 designpreneurs for a curated action oriented event tailored to celebrate and support the multi hyphenate design creative on their designpreneur journey through a curated curriculum & intentional relationship building.

Meridian has 3 key speaking/presenting formats — workshops, panels, and fireside chats… and that’s in addition to our wellness sessions and premium additions. You’ll notice that there aren’t any “keynote” speakers because I really wanted to encourage people to take action. Yes… everyone will leave there inspired & transformed — I have no doubts! — however, being able to receive practical knowledge & strategies will get you a lot further. 

Y’all know the Emily Henderson Design blog right? You know… that little blog that get’s 2 million monthly site views, over half a million unique visitors, and over 30 million social media impressions a month? You know the one. Well the editorial director, brand partnerships manager, and social media manager will be sitting down with yours truly to talk all about the business of content creation… because it is a business. Remember earlier when I said I was ashamed to even talk about having a blog? If I had a chance, back then, to be a room and pick the brains of these ladies, oh how different my life might be right now.

Again… it’s all about the access… the information sharing. 

Following up that panel, we have Rashida Banks & Ashley Basnight sharing their actual strategies — not just theory & templates — on how to pitch purposely & profitably. Like pitching… to work with brands… on campaigns… monetizing your influence. If you’ve seen either of these ladies online, you know that collectively they’ve worked with some heavy hitter brands and not just in the home industry! The 60 minute workshop will leave you feeling equipped and confident in the next pitch you send out to a brand partner… so much that you’ll realize you’ve likely been leaving thousands of dollars on the table. 

As I said, I want to make sure everyone feels ready to leap before they even get home. This is why I have Sara Ligorria-Tramp & Joanna Hawley-McBride leading a photography workshop on day 1, and Demetrius Robinson & Nadia Casanova leading a video workshop on day 2. If you’ve seen any of their work, you’ll know that these two workshops alone is worth the price of admission… much less combined with everything else that has to do with being a designpreneur.

Y’all know my roots in design are as an e-designer so naturally e-design is going to be part of the programming, with Terri Moore of @tmoorehome not just teaching you the business of e-design… she’s giving you all of her resources so that you can see success whether you’re choosing to do it exclusively or in addition to your current business model. Teri’s online interior design income has surpassed her full service design income, and you get to find out exactly how she’s continued to grow & see success. 

Then you get to put it all in practice while you’re there through our 4 creative co-op sessions throughout the weekend. Each session is 60 mins, allowing your to work alongside your peers and take immediate action to improve and get feedback. 

As I mentioned, the weekend is as much about the person as it is about the entrepreneur, so while we will be learning a lot… we’re also gonna have a good time while we do it, starting with our opening day banquet style welcome dinner… en blanc. I mean… who doesn’t love an all white event? It’s giving luxury. It’s giving elevated. It’s giving “you don’t wanna miss this!” 

Another session I’m looking forward to… 

Zumba with David Quarles, IV (@David.quarlesiv). I’m so honored to be hosting a fireside chat with David, getting really intimate about being a multi hyphenated creative, especially since David also gets to bring one of those hyphens to the conference in a very real way! David has a contagious jois des vie that is evident in all of his passions, not just as an interior designer. He’s a multi disciplinary multi hyphenate who won’t just be bringing anecdotal gems… he’s bringing the dance! Personally, I’m a huge fan of Zumba as a way to get my body moving, burn some calories, and shake out some anxiety. 

Trust me… a good time will be had by all. 

Y’all… I’m jealous of my own conference & wanna buy a ticket… and I haven’t even covered half the itinerary! Barely scratching the surface actually. If I were to go through the itinerary session by session — person by person — this return episode would be obnoxiously long. Y’all can honestly head over to the site, meweekend.com, or the @meridianexperience instagram to get the full scope of what’s planned. What I wanted to convey to you today was really about the people… THE people. 

I’ve watched this industry fumble the ball countless times over when it comes to create a well rounded, diverse, and inclusive event. My therapist is that one that told me I needed to take a moment to give myself roses… to clap for myself… for bringing together thought leaders in this space that represent different racial, cultural, geographical, and social backgrounds, while also tapping into different education types, business models, and design styles. There is nothing homogenous about this cohort and it’s likely what I’m most proud of. This was the goal — to continue the work of the Share The Mic Now Home Edition… to continue shaking the table & disrupting the industry. Low key… this puts the entire industry on notice that in can be done… because I did it. With no VC backing or 6-figure sponsors (at least not at the time of recording). This is all the fruit of the relationships I’ve fostered over the years and my own tenacity and audacity. 

I’m doing it because it has to be done. 

I am doing it by the grace of God… and in the words of Luvvie Ajayi, God will always bring you your helpers. My Meridian lineup has generously poured into me so that they can generously pour into you. So what does that tell you about this community? What does that tell you about how everyone in attendance is going to leave filled & activated & transformed?

Diving into the deep end with this conference, the imposter syndrome & scarcity mindset have been working overtime! They’re taking extra shifts… and yet I haven’t allowed myself to let up because part of getting to that next level… of being top tier… is doing the work. And doing the work means being in the room where others are already at that level… being in the room where the money resides, as the viral audio goes. I’m going to be learning right along side y’all just from literally being in the room!

This is the conference I wish I had 6 years ago… and definitely needed 3 years ago. 

So if you’re like me and you’ve been kinda uncertain of where you fit in… or maybe you know where you fit in and just know you haven’t unlocked your full potential as an interior design & home influencer — no matter which side of the aisle you identify most with — then you need to get your butt in the room at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA this June. 

Our careers are built on relationships… this is the case for most of us. Have you ever heard of “the power of hello”? I don’t know who originally coined the phrase, however, in essence, being in the room with these mentors & your peers… you don’t know which “hello” is going to be the one that changes your life. This is why I believe in making a connections and why I love being a natural connector… I’m paying forward all that has been giving from the relationships I have. 

Do you know how much people spend on individual masterminds, coaches, co working spaces, etc?

I feel blessed beyond measure to be able to take the door off the hinges & let everyone in the room to make the access to information equitable in a rare & intimate way. 

Now I already know you’re coming. If you didn’t already have your ticket, I just know that you’re on the meweekend.com site right now, checking out with your ticket, whilst those who have already gotten their tickets are planning out all their outfits because everyday may or may not be a fashion show in the making. 

You’re gonna learn, network, and work.

You’re gonna eat, dance, and maybe even cry.

If you’ve gotten any of the premium add ons or just the all access tickets, you’re gonna leave with media assets & exclusive gems from our mentor dinners. And no matter which ticket you have, you’re gonna feel taken care of & completely transformed. It’s no accident the even initials also spell M.E. Issa Raye already gave us our 2022 mantra…

it’s M.E. Season!

Since I just spent the past I don't know how long now gushing & swooning over the Meridian programming — rightfully deserved — the next few episodes as we ease back into the show will be all about Countdown to Meridian with the speakers. Not to mention the fact that I am still very much in the throes of putting this event together. Over on IG, I’ve been hosting weekly lives with the speakers… some one on one & some it’s a group of us. These lives are so we can hang out & talk about the conference — of course — and they’re also so you can get better acquainted with everyone before June… to take some of the edge off. Knowing that not all of us what to be tethered to a phone to hear a good conversation, all of those lives — the audio at least — will also be released here, episodically, so you can binge all of the Meridian magic leading up to that weekend and even on the whole plane ride here… you're welcome.

I can’t wait to share space — and take up space — with all of you this June as we gather to celebrate our journeys and honor our gifts!

If you haven’t already, connect with me over at @albieknows on IG and learn more about the inaugural Meridian Experience Weekend at www.meweekend.com. 

See you next week… and see you in June!

Are you...

…an interior designer wanting to transition into being a design influencer? 

...providing interior design services and looking for clarity on content creation? 

...a home content creator ready to level up as a creative entrepreneur? 

...an interiors professional looking for an environment that speaks to your duality as both a creator & designer?

Whether you're new, seasoned, or just trying to figure out if this space is even for you, if you're looking for authentic relationship building, exploration, and learning with a diverse community of creators & brands, then the Meridian Experience Weekend 2022 is for you! 

The collective expertise of the Meridian Experience roster includes interior design, content creation, influencer marketing, book publishing, editorial features, and television… and all known for their design IQ, creative know-how, and business savviness. That’s a combined value of over $10K in hands on learning, mentorship, co working, multimedia,… and so much more!

Join 100 designpreneurs this June for a curated action oriented event tailored to celebrate and support the multi hyphenate design creative on their designpreneur journey through a curated curriculum & intentional relationship building.

There’s limited availability so grab your tickets today at www.meweekend.com.