Who I Met Today

Lucas Eilers Design is a highly sought-after residential design firm in Houston, TX. Sandy Lucas and Sarah Eilers work on upscale projects nationwide, have won numerous accolades, and are frequently featured in national publications. In this episode, the two women discuss lovely and current residential design trends.

In business together for over thirty years, Sandy and Sarah design (independently) everything from family homes to beach houses to New York City apartments to ski country homes to Texas ranches. They explain their preference for renovation versus new construction, body sprays, induction cooktops, and their new things. 

Listeners will learn current design trends in kitchens, bathrooms, finishes, flooring, colors, and paint.

Sandy's and Sarah's design book we mentioned—Expressive Interiors: Designing an Inviting Home

Also, for more design inspiration, check out the Lucas Eilers Design website, their Instagram page, and their Facebook feed

Sarah's utility room featured in Architectural Digest

Sandy's blue study on Instagram

Other episodes you may enjoy: Cindy Burnett—Book Recommendations, Dr. Maureen Seitz—Bone Density, and Brooke Jones—Random Acts of Kindness.

And, if you need assistance—How to Listen to a Podcast

I’d love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook or Instagram, visit my website, or email me at [email protected]

The Second Life of Mirielle West, a historical fiction novel, revolves around the Carville Leprosarium. From 1894-2005, the law required all leprosy patients in the United States to be quarantined in this rural Louisiana hospital community. I loved the book and its fascinating history. And so, I reached out to Amanda Skenandore, the author and an infection prevention nurse, to learn more.

In this episode, Amanda and I discuss the history of the Carville National Leprosarium, life inside this isolated community, and how patients grappled with the disease and the stigma. Amanda explains the steps residents took to connect and create meaningful lives. We talk about what the medical community has learned about leprosy—now called Hansen's Disease—and how it is treated today. Amanda discusses her research, the Carville cemetery, leprosarium fake names, her novels, and her calming one new thing.

The National Hansen's Disease Museum is located between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. For travelers to the area, Amanda suggests a visit!

After Amanda came across Marcia Gaudet's book, Carville: Remembering Leprosy in America, her creative storytelling juices began to flow.

The Nurse's Secret

The Second Life of Mirielle West

The Undertaker's Assistant

Between Earth and Sky

How to Listen to a Podcast

Iceland Travel Tips

A Doctor Discusses Bone Density

I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook or Instagram, visit my website, or email me at [email protected]

Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely like and want to share. This is a way to support Who I Met Today and allow me to run the site and engage with this community I love. Thank you for listening!

In this episode, Dr. Maureen Seitz discusses ways to minimize bone density loss and preserve bone mass. She defines osteopenia and osteoporosis, the difference between the two, and the test to determine the health of our bones. We discuss diet, exercise, vitamins, and lifestyle choices to ensure healthy bones as we get older.

Dr. Seitz recommends Yoga with Adriene.

Other episodes you may enjoy—Marci Houff and Ovarian Cancer OR Barb Heilman and UnbuckleMe.

I’d love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook or Instagram, visit my website, or email me at [email protected]

Photo courtesy of Dr. Maureen Seitz

In this episode, Emily McNulty and I chat about her dream job as the innkeeper of MaMere's Guest house, a charming bed and breakfast in Monmouth, Oregon. We discuss the house's history, how she stepped into this career, activities to do in the Willamette Valley, her love of baking, and Emily's new thing.

In this episode, we mentioned:

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival–This family-friendly festival runs from March 24-April 30, 2023. Plan ahead to see the acres of spectacular tulips.

Adelman Peony Gardens—A beautiful sight from May 1-June 15, 2023

 Transamerica Bike Trail

The Geocaching app

If you care to read more, here is another post on Willamette Valley travels

If you'd like to visit MaMere's Guest House, call for more information or book directly on their website.

I’d love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook or Instagram, visit my website, or email me at [email protected]

You may also enjoy Brooke Jones and Random Acts of Kindness. Or Iceland Travels with Erika Owen. 

In this episode, I chat with Erika Owen. The Brooklyn-based travel and design writer is an expert on all things Iceland. We discuss the best time of the year to visit Iceland, flaneuring, and must-see sights. Erika talks about the country's cuisine, wildlife, lava tunnels, and her one new thing.

Erika is the author of two books:

The Art of Flaneuring: How to Wander with Intention and Discover a Better Life

Lawbreaking Ladies: 50 Tales of Daring, Defiant, and Dangerous Women from History

Erika's recent Iceland travel articles have been featured in:

Trip Advisor The Iceland Road Trip You Haven't Heard Of

Conde Nast Traveler In Iceland, Slowing Down to Appreciate Folklore and Nature's Silence

Design features include:

Architectural Digest 3 Holiday Tablescapes to Inspire Your Dining Dreams

Architectural Digest The Wiggle Trend Will Never Go Out of Style

For more about Erika, you may enjoy this story.

I’d love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook or Instagram, visit my website, or email me at [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, you might want to check out Brooke Jones—Random Acts of Kindness or Barb Heilman—UnbuckleMe.

In this episode, grandmother and former occupational hand therapist Barb Heilman and I discuss how she invented UnbuckleMe, the handy little gadget that opens those pesky car seats effortlessly. We talk about her and her daughter’s successful Shark Tank appearance, the brand new Totebook car seat activity product, how it feels to enter the business world after 60, and her one new thing. 

UnbuckleMe is available at www.unbuckleme.com and, in the episode, Barb shares a discount code for listeners. You may also purchase it at Amazon, Target, Walmart, buybuy BABY, and hundreds of independent retailers. 

I’d love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook or Instagram, visit my website, or email me at [email protected]

You may also enjoy Brooke Jones and Random Acts of Kindness and Cindy Burnett and Book Recommendations.

In this episode, Brooke Jones and I discuss her role at The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation and the resources her organization provides to communities, workplaces, families, and children. We also talk about the science behind kindness and how it affects the human brain, whether we give, receive, or witness kind gestures. She provides examples of how we can, in our everyday lives, lift each other up—and, as a result, feel better ourselves.

Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week February 12-18.

Random Acts of Kindness Day is February 17.

Read about Dr. Bill Bellet’s 21-Day Positivity Exercise here.

I’d love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook or Instagram, visit my website, or email me at [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, you may want to check out Cindy Burnett's Book Recommendations or Marci Houff and Ovarian Cancer.

Photo courtesy of Brooke Jones

In this interview, ovarian cancer survivor Marci Houff and I discuss her surprising ovarian cancer diagnosis at a young age, the facts surrounding this sneaky and deadly disease, the steps she took to battle this cancer, ovarian cancer symptoms, and the non-profit she founded to spread information and awareness.

The following episode was originally recorded for Mom’s Don’t Have Time to Move and Shake, a Zcast production.

• Bloating that is persistent
• Eating less, feeling fuller
• Abdominal and/or back pain
• Trouble with bladder and bowels

I’d love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook or Instagram, visit my website, or email me at [email protected]

In this episode, Cindy Burnett and I discuss her bookish podcast, Thoughts From a Page, five outstanding first quarter book recommendations, other novels we've enjoyed, and much more.

The Sweet Spot by Amy Poeppel

Dust Child by Nyugen Phan Que Mai

Go as a River by Shelley Read

Exiles by Jane Harper

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley

Force of Nature by Jane Harper

The Dry by Jane Harper

The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Limelight by Amy Poeppel

Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel

For author interviews and more book recommendations by Cindy Burnett, check out her podcast Thoughts from a Page.

I’d love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook or Instagram, visit my website, or email me at [email protected]

It’s never too late to learn something new. Every two weeks, join Pam Lamp as she interviews people from all walks of life. Through conversations about health, food, books, aging, and travel, explore new territory and expand your horizons.