Inspiring Living with Mark Candelaria

Live from our 2027 Candelaria Design Tour Italy, this podcast was recorded on October 7th from the Umbrian Farmhouses during our Cooking Class! What an amazing tour and a great group of travelers! Give this episode a listen as it will give you a good “taste” of what our tours are all about and how much fun we have. 

We experienced some amazing venues starting with four nights in Florence, then a week in the Umbrian/Tuscan countryside and finishing with 4 nights on the Ligurian coast staying in Santa Margherita (next to Portofino). In addition to the incredible sights and venues, most of our Tour Italy travelers said the best part of the trip is the life long friendships created

We welcome you to join us on our two remaining 2027 Tours. Our Oregon Wine and Food Tour slated for end of July and our Fall Hudson River Valley Tour slated for early October. More info is on our website’s Tour tab - reach out to get on the interest list as these trips will sell out!

https://www.candelariadesign.com/oregon-wine-tour

https://www.candelariadesign.com/hudson-river-valley

For photos from this episode and to see all of our past episodes of Inspiring Living, visit our website's Podcast Page: https://www.candelariadesign.com/inspiring-living-podcast

Our guest today is Maureen Geraghty, CEO of In the Flow and a good friend of both Isabel and I for many years. Now I have done over one hundred podcasts over the last 6 years, but this podcast definitely ranks way up there. 

25 years ago, on September 11, 2001, what we all call 9-11, Maureen lost a brother and a brother-in-law in those attacks, both New York City Firefighters who were in the building rescuing people when the towers collapsed.  She then later lost another brother just a few years ago from cancer as a result of the environmental effects from that day. Overall there were 2,977 immediate deaths and over 10,000 related deaths since as a result of that attack. Maureen and her family tragically suffered what I cannot even imagine. But despite the horrific loss Maureen has been able to turn that loss and grief into something loving and positive that’s making an impact on those around her and that’s what this podcast (and her event) are all about. 

“The intention isn't to erase what happened or tell anyone how they should feel about 9/11. It is to create a space where, 25 years later, we can remember, honor, heal—and perhaps consciously choose again.” 

On September 11, 2026, the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Maureen is presenting an event she named “The Choice on 9/12: A Healing Experience” at New Vision Center for Spiritual Living in Phoenix. This will also be live streamed. Maureen is a Licensed Spiritual Practitioner, coach, speaker, and facilitator, she creates spaces for people to explore what might be possible when they see themselves—and their lives—in a new way. Drawing from her own life experiences, Maureen shares stories that illuminate the love and connection that unite us all.

For 25 years, Maureen hasn't publicly told this story in this way & this 25th anniversary feels like the right time for her to share the story of her family’s profound loss and the extraordinary love that emerged from the darkness. Through story, music, reflection, and healing, we’ll remember what brought us together—and discover what 9/12 still has to teach us at the event below. 

Here is the link to RSVP https://newvisioncsl.org/events/the-choice-on-9-12/2026-09-11  

For photos from this episode and to see all of our past episodes of Inspiring Living, visit our website's Podcast Page: https://www.candelariadesign.com/inspiring-living-podcast

Our guest on this episode is Sam Biswas, Founder & CEO of Eiffel Industries, LLC, which focuses on structural engineering, construction, technology and global enterprise. Mark first worked with Sam a couple years ago during the creation of our PV Farms home in McCormick Ranch, a project that has won a handful of awards, but really got to know Sam recently during the bidding process of a new build project here in Scottsdale. He was amazed at the personal story and professional trajectory of Sam’s life and knew he wanted to get him as a guest on our Inspiring Living podcast. 

Sam’s story began in India, with Bengali family roots in West Bengal and formative chapters in Ranchi, Calicut and New Delhi. His father was an engineer and Sam earned his Bachelors in Civil Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Calicut, graduating as a gold medalist. His career began in New Delhi with Consulting Engineers Corp. when he was hired as a Project Engineer in 1997. During this time he moved to the United States with the company and over two decades later founded Eiffel Industries. 

Sam shares with us his vision for “resilient communities, responsible infrastructure, and human-centered spaces.” His diverse perspective, creative journey, and long-standing experience in engineering, architecture, and construction can bring meaningful value to the conversation.

For photos and more about this episode and all of our past podcast episodes, visit: https://www.candelariadesign.com/inspiring-living-podcast

Also, visit our YouTube Channel to watch the video of our previous podcast guests along with many, many home walkthroughs, behind the scenes on Mark's design process, cooking classes led by Mark & Tiffany and our Lifestyle Tours!   https://www.youtube.com/@CandelariaDesign

In this podcast episode Mark is joined by two founders of Scottsdale Art Week Trey Brennen, owner of T.H. Brennen Fine Art in Old Town Scottsdale and Amy Gause, Director of the Fair. The four day international art fair took place at WestWorld in Scottsdale and showcased art from more than 110 galleries, daily fashion shows, cultural performances, sculptural installations and other innovative programming. It also included collaborations with institutions, galleries, artists and prominent collectors, as well as off-site after-hours VIP events.

More than 21,000 guests made their way through the gates of WestWorld of Scottsdale to view 112 galleries across 123 booths. Ticket sales climbed 133% over its inaugural run, and a Justin BUA painting sold for $1.2 million within the first two hours, setting the tone for an unforgettable four days to follow.

The Fair brought together galleries from all over the world, representing 19 countries, with thousands of blue-chip, contemporary, modern, Indigenous, Western, European and LatinX works along with works by Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Marc Chagall, David Hockney, Alex Katz and Maynard Dixon for sale. In addition to art, there were five Ferraris on display, 32 monumental sculptures, an area to listen to daily speaker panels, a concessions dining area and a VIP Lounge. 

Join us next year - mark your calendars for March 18-21, 2027 https://scottsdaleartweek.com/

For photos, videos & more of our past podcasts, visit our podcast page: https://www.candelariadesign.com/inspiring-living-podcast

Lastly, we have room for one more couple on our 19th annual Italy Tour with Mark Candelaria, September 30 - October 14, 2026. All info is here: https://www.candelariadesign.com/touritaly 

The team at Sierra Pacific Windows featured Mark Candelaria on their latest “Sales Talk” educational series for their team. Mark shared his insights and perspective in the design and build fields and gave a great overview of what he does day-to-day. The main goal of the conversation was to share his point of view on how vendors can best approach and work with a high-end architect in a way that leads to a good relationship and more sales for the vendors. 

For the video version plus all of our past podcast episodes, visit our website's podcast page: candelariadesign.com/inspiring-living-podcast 

This month’s guest is Dr. Brook Choulet, a concierge Sports & Performance Psychiatrist and Founder of Choulet Performance Psychiatry. Dr. Brook is President of the American Board of Sports and Performance Psychiatry and the Maricopa County Medical Society Foundation and is a regular contributor to a handful of trusted publications. 

Her pioneering work in Performance Psychiatry® focuses on helping high-achievers and their families optimize their mental health and enhance their performance, both personally and professionally. She is passionate about helping them elevate their well-being and lead more fulfilling lives. 

In this episode we discuss what she does, how she helps improve performance for both athletes and executives, the influence of mindset and mental clarity, and the science behind optimal skill and performance. She also shares details about her current role working with over 650 D1 student athletes as the sports psychiatrist for the ASU Sun Devils. 

Follow Dr. Brook: linkedin.com/in/brook-choulet/  instagram.com/brookchouletmd 

Join us on our Lifestyle Tour: Willamette Valley Food + Wine Tour 

We have a special guest today for Veteran's Day - Mike Christensen, founder of luxury home building company, Peak One Builders and a proud 20+ year veteran. In today’s episode, we will get to know Mike, how he’s been contributing to the luxury home market for nearly 25 years and his mission to help veterans recover and integrate after deployment through his program Freedom for Heroes. This is a truly inspiring episode as Mike will reflect on all the lessons in leadership, perseverance, community, integrity and service he’s learned throughout his life journey.    

Mike and Mark met for the first time earlier this year when they teamed up for a fundraising event for Mike’s Freedom for Heroes charity. Mark cooked his popular paella and Febal Casa hosted the well attended event. 

https://peakonebuilders.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/peakonebuilders/ 

https://freedomforheroes.org/about-us/ 

For more info and photos on this episode and to see all of our past episodes, visit our website's podcast page: candelariadesign.com/inspiring-living-podcast

In this episode, I have two wonderful people and artisans on the podcast, Julie & John Taber of Taber & Company. This husband and wife duo have been together in life and business for 30+  years and they are going to share their story with us. Taber & Company is located in Tucson and specializes in high-end custom furniture, doors, cabinetry and millwork that are individually designed and handcrafted in Arizona. John is a "Master of the Southwest" and has mastered the art of enhancing the natural beauty of the wood he uses with his proprietary blend of stains and waxes. 

We all met back in 2006 while working on a home in Paradise Valley, and we are currently working on two new homes that are about completed in PV and Arcadia. One special aspect about their company is how considerate they are about the wood they use and ensuring as little waste as possible in their local harvesting and milling of their wood. Listen to hear all the interesting stories, designs and lessons learned along the way and what makes this couple and company so incredible! 

For photos of their doors and designs, and more of our past podcast episodes, visit our Podcast Page: www.candelariadesign.com/inspiring-living-podcast 

https://www.instagram.com/taberandcompany/ 

https://www.candelariadesign.com/press 

On this episode, Mark talks with Jon Summer, Founder of Garaza Design, and former founder of Cyber Group. After 20 years at Cyber Group, Jon retired to spend more time with family and on his hobbies, which eventually led him to jump back into business by founding a passion project designing cool, customized car garages. They talk about running a business, design, garages, playing music together, travel and why the garage is commonly the forgotten space in luxury homes, but how and why that is changing. 

Garaza Design has a state-of-the-art showroom in North Scottsdale, where we recently co-hosted a fun happy hour for our clients! Their services include Steel Cabinets, Garage Design/Renderings, Wall Paneling/slat walls, Lifts, Mezzanines, Lighting, Flooring Options, Car Photography. 

For photos and more on this episode and all of our past 3 Seasons of Inspiring Living, visit our Podcast Page: https://www.candelariadesign.com/inspiring-living-podcast 

www.garazadesign.com

@garazadesignaz

Our inspiring guest today is Top Doctor, Lexi Hill, an MD licensed in over 20 states specializing in obstetrics, gynecology and pregnancy. She practices telemedicine full-time, offering concierge consultations and assisting underserved communities. She is extensively involved with the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine as she is a passionate advocate for maternal health care. She has also spent time as an assistant professor and is published in numerous medical journals and textbooks and hosts her own podcast! 

Mark and Dr. Lexi have some enlightening conversations about health & wellness, nutrition, pregnancy and modern-day medicine. Learn more at www.drlexihill.com

For photos and more on this podcast episode and all our past episodes, visit www.candelariadesign.com