The crew meets ahead of the New Year for a relaxed conversation with Nick, Paulie, and Nino to reflect on 2025 over some Italian wine - awards won, projects completed, team growth, and exciting plans for 2026.

John Kelley, Chief People Officer and fourth-generation family member at White Castle, joins Nick and Paul to discuss the company’s new Columbus headquarters and how it reflects both day-to-day operations and long-standing company values. Kelley explains how family ownership, a multi-generation presence in Columbus, and an emphasis on continuity informed decisions to rebuild on a long-held site, shape office and public spaces, and create test kitchens and training environments used to evaluate and develop new restaurant concepts. The conversation also addresses why sustainability was treated as a baseline rather than a feature, and how work done inside the headquarters carries through to restaurant prototypes and operational changes across the system.

We talk with Jonathan Styer - broker, owner, and manager of 100+ furnished rentals - about what’s actually driving Columbus’s midterm rental market. Jon explains why traveling tradespeople now outnumber traveling nurses, which neighborhoods perform, and why design has become a true competitive advantage. We also cover rising regulations, Columbus’s rapid growth, and why investors should secure a HELOC before converting a primary residence - along with what these shifts signal for anyone trying to compete in the next phase of the market.

For entertainment and informational purposes only; not investment, financial, or legal advice.

Nick and Paul sit down with longtime family friend and community leader Bob Porter to trace how the kitchens many of us grew up in, Italian, Greek, Serbian, and other old-world spaces, quietly shaped the way we design modern ones. Through stories about soffit demo, appliance upgrades, outdoor cooking setups, and a pantry that functions like a second kitchen, the episode connects real family workflows to the design principles behind today’s high-performance residential kitchens. 

Kent State University’s Dean Mark Mistur joins Nick Karakaian and Paul Fatkins to discuss the future of architectural education and practice. The conversation explores how design schools are adapting to new technologies like AI, the renewed value of craft and model making, and the vital role travel plays in shaping global awareness.

In our latest community conversation, we sit down with Fox in the Snow co-founder Lauren Culley to discuss her leap from New York publishing into Columbus’s café culture. She shares how a Craigslist garage became their first shop, the design philosophy built around floor-to-ceiling light, communal tables, and no Wi-Fi - and why those choices continue to define every location.

Lauren also traces her journey from scooping cookies at Blue Bottle to running a bakery that now serves hundreds of egg sandwiches a day, all while staying true to simple recipes and hand-crafted details. Along the way, she reflects on the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone, learning when to say no, and preserving authenticity as the brand continues to grow.

This episode examines how first-order architectural decisions - circulation flow, natural light strategy, kitchen zoning, entry sequencing, and layered lighting - shape the lived experience of a home. Centered on Central Ohio’s housing stock, it explains why finishes are secondary to structural logic and how trend-resilient design enhances both usability and long-term value.

This special edition of the Arcfluence podcast was recorded live at the AIA Ohio 2025 Conference in Columbus. Principals Paul Fatkins and Nick Karakaian present Integrated Living: ADUs as Catalysts for Community & Sustainable Growth, exploring how Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) can address Central Ohio’s housing challenges, lessons from peer cities, and the implications of zoning reform. Arcfluence also accepted two People’s Choice Awards at the conference for The Cliffs and BeAligned Health.

This episode is provided for educational purposes only and should not be taken as investment advice.

Nick and Paul take a deep dive into 3D scanning (a true Arcfluence geek-out session) from the first BLK360 to Leica’s lightning-fast Gen 2. With stories from real projects in Central Ohio, they show how scanning is changing workflows, boosting accuracy, and keeping Arcfluence at the forefront of architectural technology. Along the way, expect plenty of banter about robot dogs, drone surveys, and the fun side of staying ahead in design.