Advertise on podcast: Flying Solo with Katie Kangas

Architect, musician, and creative storyteller James Ray Polk has spent decades exploring the connection between music and architecture. He founded his firm, Music in Architecture so that his practice would resonate with the other creative endeavors in his life. He has continually found inspiration in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and this summer his ensemble, the Mississippi Sawyers, will embark on the Organic Architecture tour. Starting at Falling Water, James will share the congruence he found between architecture and music and share how Wright’s architecture inspired the original compositions of his first album, Organic Architecture. On June 8th, 2026 - what would have been Frank Lloyd Wright’s 159th birthday - the Organic Architecture Tour will join forces to create the EntreArchitect Experience at Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin. In this episode, James shares his deep hopes for this tour. His experience in Taliesin sparked the rebirth of his career. He hopes that other architects can discover the core or essence that drives their creativity, so that their practice can resonate with deeper passions and interests. James's journey seems mythical, like the legendary Phoenix. He admits to reaching the point of burnout before turning 40. He had built a thriving architecture firm with a team of fifteen people, completed hundreds of beautiful buildings, and worked tirelessly. Then he hit a breaking point which required a full reset. In that time of resetting his career path, he discovered Taliesin - moved to Spring Green, Wisconsin and rediscovered not only his love for architecture, but his passion for music. In this conversation, Katie and James discuss burnout, rebirth, Frank Lloyd Wright's influence, and the surprising parallels between music and architecture. They explore resonance, intentionality, narrowing your practice to go deeper rather than wider, and how sharing your authentic self creates stronger connections with clients and community. James reminds us that success is not always about attracting everyone. Sometimes it is about building a campfire instead of a stadium and finding the people who truly resonate with your work. Reviver Architecture & Development Architecture Firm: Music in ArchitectureNew album: Organic Architecture (Available June 6th, 2026)Find James Ray Polk or the Mississippi Sawyers on major music platforms.Instagram: @james_ray_polk_architectLinkedIn: James Ray PolkEntreArchitect Interview: EA648: James Ray Polk - His Taliesin Experience and a Lifelong Dream Come TrueMusic in Architecture at Taliesin Experience: Reserve your seat now To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mark R. Page, founder of EntreArchitect and Gabl Media, has been building a community of small firm architects who are having tough conversations to improve their professional practice and live their best life every day. Mentioned in this episode: DATM

In this episode of the Flying Solo Podcast, host Katie Kangas speaks with Laurie McGinley, licensed architect, private advisor, and author of The Dissolve. Laurie began her career in architecture but found herself increasingly drawn to design transformation in people’s lives. Today, through her advisory practice Via Lucent, Laurie guides leaders to refine their career, recover from burnout, and dissolve invisible barriers. Laurie describes her firm in three words: Clear. Catalytic. And Unapologetically Uncomfortable. As a guide, Laurie’s natural bird archetype is the Jaquin, a modern mythical guardian, a jaguar with wings. Strong, protective, and unafraid to use its claws, the Jaquin represents both power and support. Like the Jaquin, Laurie helps her clients confront what is holding them back and flies them past their invisible barriers. Leaving behind a genuine transformation. Throughout the conversation, Laurie and Katie discuss burnout in the construction industry, the importance of designing a job that energizes rather than exhausts, and the necessity of continuously iterating your business model. Laurie shares how her own firm evolved as she refined her focus, messaging, and offerings—treating her business the way architects treat design. Laurie’s clients come to her because they are stuck. They know something needs to change, but can’t say what it is. This led to the three-step transformational framework from her new book, The Dissolve: name the invisible barrier, soften your relationship to it, and intentionally move through it. Everyone’s barrier is different. The barrier may be perfectionism, overwork, or reluctance to charge what you're worth. This episode is a reminder that architects are not only designers of buildings. We are designers of careers, cultures, and lives. When we intentionally design our work, dissolve our barriers, and build supportive communities around us, we create practices that allow us to soar to new heights. Website: Via LucentSubstack: Laurie McGinleyLinkedIn: Laurie McGinleyInstagram: @lauriemcginleyBook: The Dissolve (coming soon!) Season 2 of the Flying Solo Podcast is sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation, whose mission is to invest in excellence, leadership, discovery, and equity within the profession of architecture. To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mentioned in this episode: DATM

In this episode of the Flying Solo Podcast, host Katie Kangas speaks with Damaris Melo-Gyasi, founder of Design by Melo. Her small architecture designs inclusive projects focused on long-term community impact. Damaris did not originally plan to become an entrepreneur. After working within multiple firms and striving to reach her full potential, she realized she was seeking deeper alignment—more inclusion, stronger recognition, and a practice that reflected her values. Rather than waiting for that opportunity, she chose to build it herself. Damaris describes her firm in three words: “Curious. Inclusive. Fun.” Those values shape every one of Design by Melo’s collaborations. They operate at the intersection of affordable housing, urban redevelopment, and revitalizing neighborhoods. These are not small or simple projects. They often navigate the challenge of change in established communities. Yet Damaris approaches each engagement with clarity and care, navigating politically charged discussions while keeping the focus on shared community goals and thoughtful development. Damaris’ bird archetype is the Jabiru — one of the largest flying birds in the Americas. With its distinctive silhouette and commanding presence, the Jabiru represents visible leadership and adaptability. Like the Jabiru standing tall in the wetlands, Damaris does not shrink her vision to fit into a smaller role. As a small firm, she leads her team through large, complex, and long-term projects. She demonstrates that small does not mean little. Throughout the conversation, Damaris shares how entrepreneurship allowed her to fully live out her calling, how aligning with mission-driven clients strengthens both culture and impact, and why sustainability is not only environmental, but relational. Her story offers a reminder that architects can shape inclusive urban environments by standing tall, owning their voice, and adapting their practice to serve communities wherever the work is needed. Website: Design by MeloLinkedIn: Design by Melo LLC Season 2 of the Flying Solo Podcast is sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation, whose mission is to invest in excellence, leadership, discovery, and equity within the profession of architecture. To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mentioned in this episode: DATM

In this episode of the Flying Solo Podcast, host Katie Kangas speaks with Ashley Mitlyng, founder of Mitlyng Design + Architecture, a Twin Cities–based residential practice focused on renovations and additions. Ashley’s work aligns with the House Wren—a bird known for thriving in tight, overlooked spaces. House Wrens don’t seek wide-open fields or blank slates. They nest inside existing structures, choosing awkward corners that others pass by. Through thoughtful, efficient moves, they transform these overlooked spaces into highly functional havens. This instinct mirrors Ashley’s approach to residential design: working within constraints, offering thoughtful options, and shaping spaces that support real life and honor the surrounding neighborhood. Together, Katie and Ashley explore three lessons inspired by the House Wren. First, the importance of finding the right fit - particularly when homeowners interview contractors. Second, they reflect on the power of small, overlooked spaces. Just as Ashley designs details that improve daily life—like smoothing kitchen flow or resolving awkward door swings—listeners are invited to examine the friction points in their own businesses. Finally, they discuss how Ashley’s practice filled a niche. Her practice is intentionally positioned among complementary designers and suppliers. Making her business more visible to potential clients and industry partners. Throughout the conversation, Katie and Ashley explore the realities of running a small architectural practice, balancing work and family life, and navigating the blurred line between living and working as entrepreneurs. Ashley shares how she digs deeper into practical details that smooth the flow of everyday life for her business and her clients. Website: Mitlyng DesignHouzz: Ashley Mitlyng, AIAFacebook: Mitlyng Design, LLCInstagram: @mitlyngdesign Season 2 of the Flying Solo Podcast is sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation, whose mission is to invest in excellence, leadership, discovery, and equity within the profession of architecture. To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mentioned in this episode: DATM

In this episode of the Flying Solo Podcast, host Katie Kangas speaks with Meghan Elliott, a structural engineer, historic preservation expert, and founder of New History. Meghan shares how her career was shaped by early experiences with earthquake engineering and how that foundation led her to build a consulting practice focused on the complex realities of historic building redevelopment. Meghan describes her firm in three words: “outcomes-based, mission-driven, and interdisciplinary.” That clarity defines how she works with clients. Rather than offering a narrow scope of services, Meghan positions herself as a trusted expert who helps clients navigate the full ecosystem of historic projects—structural challenges, funding strategies, tax credits, regulations, and long-term feasibility. Her work is rooted in understanding not just the building, but the pressures, risks, and ambitions surrounding it. Meghan’s bird archetype is the Oxpecker—a small but essential bird that lives among much larger animals, removing pests and irritations that threaten their health. Like an oxpecker, Meghan integrates herself into large, complex projects and long-term client relationships, solving problems as they arise—and often before they’re even noticed. Her value lies in deep client knowledge, proactive communication, and the ability to quietly remove obstacles that could derail a project. Throughout the conversation, Meghan discusses how building strong, lasting relationships allows her to expand scope with existing clients rather than constantly chasing new ones. She also shares insights from launching her second venture, Jill Pine, where she applies her preservation expertise directly to real estate development and hands-on revitalization work. This episode explores what it means to be a true consultant—selling solutions, not just services—and how listening closely, collaborating deeply, and earning trust over time can create a sustainable, mission-driven solo practice. Meghan’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the most impactful work happens not by flying ahead, but by staying close, paying attention, and solving the problems that matter most. Architecture Website: New HistoryDeveloper Website: JillpineArchitecture LinkedIn: New HistoryLinkedIn: Meghan ElliottInstagram: @newhistoryconsultants Season 2 of the Flying Solo Podcast is sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation, whose mission is to invest in excellence, leadership, discovery, and equity within the profession of architecture. To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group.

In this episode of the Flying Solo Podcast, host Katie Kangas speaks with Molly Dalsin, founder of Mesh Architecture, about building a practice rooted in human-centered design, community connection, and long-term impact. As an architect, educator, and researcher, Molly weaves teaching, research, and practice together—using each to inform and strengthen the others. Molly describes her firm in three words: human, interconnected, impact. That philosophy shapes how Mesh Architecture approaches housing, social spaces, and community-focused work. Rather than treating architecture as a finished object, Molly views it as a cultural output—one shaped through collaboration, research, and open exchange of ideas. Her practice prioritizes doing more with less, responding thoughtfully to context, and designing spaces that serve people beyond a single project or moment. Molly’s bird archetype is the Weaverbird, a symbol of resourcefulness, interconnection, and legacy. Like a weaverbird crafting intricate nests from found materials, Molly builds her practice by gathering insights from teaching, research, and community engagement—creating work that is both resilient and meaningful. Throughout the conversation, she shares how networking, inviting dialogue, and rethinking traditional business models allow solo practitioners to expand their impact without building large teams. Her story offers a grounded reminder that solopreneur architects don’t have to work in isolation to make a difference. By weaving together relationships, ideas, and disciplines, even a small practice can create architecture that endures—strengthening communities and shaping the future one thoughtful strand at a time. Website: Mesh ArchitectureUniversity of Minnesota: Molly Dalsin Season 2 of the Flying Solo Podcast is sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation, whose mission is to invest in excellence, leadership, discovery, and equity within the profession of architecture. To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mentioned in this episode: DATM

In this episode of the Flying Solo Podcast, host Katie Kangas speaks with Elizabeth Turner, founder of Precipitate, a specialty architecture and consulting firm focused on passive house design, energy modeling, and performance-driven research. Elizabeth’s practice operates at the intersection of academia, community engagement, and real-world building outcomes. She pairs research with practice to create lasting buildings and infrastructure in our communities. Elizabeth’s practice mirrors a Honeyguide, a small African bird known for its remarkable symbiotic relationship with humans. The honeyguide can locate wild beehives, but it cannot open them alone. Instead, it guides people to the hive, relying on collaboration to access the reward. In return, both benefit from the sweetness inside. This partnership, built on trust, signaling, and shared purpose, reflects Elizabeth’s approach to practice. She doesn’t work in isolation. She guides students, research teams, communities, and partner firms toward opportunities they could not reach alone. Throughout the conversation, Elizabeth shares her journey of stepping away from traditional firm structures to build a hybrid practice. Her balance of grant writing, mentorship, and community-centered design has advanced her specialty in sustainability. She talks about the fear and uncertainty that comes from forging a new paths—and the freedom that follows when architects follow their curiosities. Through collaboration, Elizabeth has expanded her impact. She works on meaningful, large-scale initiatives while remaining a small, specialized firm. Three takeaways resonate with Elizabeth’s Honeyguide practice: the power of collaboration as a professional strength rather than a compromise; the courage required to move forward despite uncertainty; and the role of generosity in building lasting community impact. Elizabeth’s story challenges the myth that solo practitioners must work small or alone. Instead, her work shows how guiding others, sharing knowledge, and connecting disciplines can create healthier buildings, stronger communities, and a more resilient future for the profession. Precipitate: Architecture Planning Research Website: PrecipitateInstagram: @precipitateFacebook: Precipitate PLLCLinkedIN: Precipitate Season 2 of the Flying Solo Podcast is sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation, whose mission is to invest in excellence, leadership, discovery, and equity within the profession of architecture. To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mentioned in this episode: DATM

In this episode of the Flying Solo Podcast, host Katie Kangas speaks with Cheryl Fosdick, founder of CF Design. Cheryl brings a deep passion for storytelling to her work, designing spaces shaped by Great Lakes landscapes and the nuanced use of light that transforms how people experience their homes. Cheryl practices in Duluth, MN. A city that invites people to enjoy the outdoors, even through the long freezing winters. She describes the unique connection between water and light, weather, and seasonality that shape the way people live and dwell. Her approach to architecture is thoughtful and unhurried. Each project begins with listening—to the land, to the client, and to the quiet cues that define a specific place. Cheryl describes herself as an “architect of a specific place,” designing homes that feel adventurous, enduring, and yet, invite the homeowner to be at ease. Cheryl’s practice can be seen in the common loon—an iconic bird in Minnesota. The lon has an unmistakable silhouette and haunting call that echoes across open water. Its essence represents calm confidence, deep awareness, and lasting memory. Like the loon, Cheryl’s work doesn’t demand attention. It draws people in. It creates presence. It invites them to stay. Throughout the conversation, Cheryl shares her journey of establishing a practice, navigating the architecture profession as a serial entrepreneur, and remaining deeply engaged in her community. She reflects on patience as a professional strength, adaptability as a creative tool, and the importance of understanding both site and story. The episode concludes with thoughtful advice for architects and designers seeking to build meaningful, place-based practices of their own. Website: CF DesignInstagram: @cfdesignltdFacebook: CF Design LTDLighting Studio: LUMstudio Season 2 of the Flying Solo Podcast is sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation, whose mission is to invest in excellence, leadership, discovery, and equity within the profession of architecture. To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mentioned in this episode: DATM

In this episode of the Flying Solo Podcast, host Katie Kangas speaks with Sara Imhoff, founder of Imprint Architecture, who designed her firm around personal connections and thoughtful design. After founding Imprint Architecture with her husband in 2008, they have experienced steady, intentional growth. Across residential and commercial work, Sara leads with relationships first, allowing design to grow from trust and understanding. Sara’s business is like a Bowerbird. Rather than hunting for connections, the bowerbird carefully curates its environment, shaping a setting that attracts the right partner. That same philosophy defines Sara’s work. She doesn’t chase clients through loud marketing or rapid expansion. Instead, she attracts them by being clear about who she is, how she works, and what she values. Every project is carefully composed through light, geometry, and detail, leaving a lasting imprint on the lives of the people who inhabit those spaces. And each project earns a name that expresses its unique story. Throughout the conversation, Sara reflects on her personal journey as a firm owner, sharing how her desire to “do her own design work” evolved into a practice built on trust, empathy, and long-term relationships. She describes growth not as a sudden leap, but as a series of thoughtful baby steps. She creates chemistry in professional relationships by taking the time to truly understand people’s stories. Sara transforms stories into projects and projects into partnerships and partnerships into enduring connections. Sara’s bowerbird leaves listeners with three key aspects of a relationship centric practice: the importance of imagining what’s possible before taking action; the value of investing in authentic client relationships; and the power of implementing change through deliberate, incremental steps. Together, these ideas form the rhythm of Imprint Architecture’s guiding words: imagine, implement, imprint. Sara’s story offers a quiet but powerful reminder that architecture isn’t just about what we build, but about the environments, relationships, and identities we shape along the way. Website: Imprint Architecture + Design LLCInstagram: @imprint.architectureFacebook: Imprint Architecture + Design, LLCPinterest: imprintarchitecture Season 2 of the Flying Solo Podcast is sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation, whose mission is to invest in excellence, leadership, discovery, and equity within the profession of architecture. To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mentioned in this episode: DATM

In this episode of the Flying Solo Podcast, host Katie Kangas speaks with Andrea Hammel-Wollak, co-founder of HW² Design, about building a highly strategic, efficient architecture practice rooted in adaptability, collaboration, and good design for everyone. Andrea runs a two-person firm with her husband, John, and together they have spent over twelve years refining a way of working that pairs thoughtful design with practical execution. Andrea describes her firm in three words: “Good design for everyone, adaptable, flexible.” That philosophy shapes every project they take on. HW² Design focuses on creating spaces that are buildable, functional, and carefully considered—often working with small business owners, restaurants, and clients who need smart solutions rather than flashy excess. Their work blends aesthetics with logistics, ensuring each project functions as a true workhorse for the people who use it. Andrea’s bird archetype is the Raven, a symbol of intelligence, strategy, and collaboration. Ravens are known for using tools and working alongside wolves to achieve shared goals. In Andrea’s practice, that collaboration shows up through strong contractor relationships, quick communication, and a deep respect for the expertise of others. Rather than working in isolation, Andrea stays fully engaged with builders and consultants, keeping projects moving forward through clarity, trust, and responsiveness. Throughout the conversation, Andrea shares how her entrepreneurial upbringing shaped her comfort with uncertainty, how she leverages technology and systems to run an efficient firm, and how she built her business around her family so she can stay present both at work and engaged in her kid’s activities.. Her story offers a grounded reminder that success as a solopreneur doesn’t require being louder or bigger—just smarter, more intentional, and quick to communicate. HW² Design Website: HW² DesignInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hw2designFacebook: HW2 Design + Architecture, llc Season 2 of the Flying Solo Podcast is sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation, whose mission is to invest in excellence, leadership, discovery, and equity within the profession of architecture. To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. Mentioned in this episode: DATM

In this episode of the Flying Solo Podcast, host Katie Kangas speaks with Heather Rose Dunning, founder of Yellow Dog Studio, about building a design practice rooted in excellence, trust, and precision. Heather is a serial entrepreneur who has launched and led multiple design firms by assembling highly specialized, high-performing teams that integrate seamlessly with their clients. Heather describes her firm in three words: “Just the A-Team.” That clarity shows up in every aspect of her work. Rather than spreading herself thin, Heather builds focused teams of designers, architects, engineers, and contractors who are selected specifically for each project. Every engagement stays in the hands of the people best equipped to deliver results. Heather’s bird archetype is the Falcon — a symbol of focus, speed, and purpose. Like a falcon trained by a falconer, Heather’s teams wait for the right target before taking flight. When they move, they do so with confidence and precision, becoming a trusted extension of their client’s organization. Throughout the conversation, Heather shares how her businesses are shaped by her personal values, how she embeds herself deeply within client teams, and why trust — not transaction — is the foundation of long-term success. Yellow Dog Studio Website: Yellow Dog StudioInstagram: @yellow_dog_studioFacebook: Yellow Dog Studio Season 2 of the Flying Solo Podcast is sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation, whose mission is to invest in excellence, leadership, discovery, and equity within the profession of architecture. To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website.  Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mentioned in this episode: DATM

Joy Martin’s story and architecture firm show remarkable resilience. Like the European Starling thriving far from its origins, Joy has navigated moves across the country and built a small, multi-state practice through seasons of change and personal loss. The starling’s ability to adapt to new climates and contexts mirrors Joy’s journey, learning new rhythms, forming new roots, and thriving in unfamiliar places. Starlings are best known for their mesmerizing murmurations, thousands of birds moving together, responding to one another to form living shapes in the sky. That same spirit defines Joy’s approach to design. Her process is collaborative, fluid, and deeply attentive, allowing projects to evolve through shared momentum rather than top-down direction. By empowering her team and cultivating trust, Joy built a firm capable of continuing even when she needed to step away, proving that collaboration creates lift. Joy describes how her own experience in professional practice shaped the culture and structure of her firm. Her team fills in the gaps, responding to one another and to client needs with clarity and care. By being attentive, supportive, and intentional, Joy empowers team members to step into leadership roles when needed, taking ownership and rising to responsibilities they feel called to carry. For solopreneurs and small-firm leaders, this episode is a reminder that adaptability, collaboration, and trust can create practices that are not only resilient, but capable of moving together with grace. Joy Architecture + Interior Design Website: Joy Architecture + Interior DesignInstagram: @joyarchitectureFacebook: Joy Martin ArchitecturePinterest: JoyArchitecture Season 2 of the Flying Solo Podcast is sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation, whose mission is to invest in excellence, leadership, discovery, and equity within the profession of architecture. To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website.  Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mentioned in this episode: DATM

In this episode of Flying Solo, Katie Kangas speaks with Minnesota architect Heather Whalen, founder of Reviver Architecture and Development. After nearly three decades in practice, Heather launched Reviver to refocus her energy on hospitality design and the renewal of existing and historic buildings. Like a Barred Owl (wise and aware) Heather provides thoughtful leadership in her work. She listens closely, studies the subtleties of a site or building, and guides clients through complex redevelopment decisions with calm, steady confidence. Heather and Katie discuss how beginning a firm later in her career created both clarity and strength in her practice. Years of working with aging buildings helped Heather recognize the hidden risks and quiet opportunities that others often overlook. Instead of rushing toward solutions, she enters every client conversation with intentional curiosity—listening for motivations, anxieties, and aspirations that shape the heart of a project. This practice of deep listening positions Heather not only as an architect, but as a trusted guide. Her ability to read a site, understand a client’s language, and foresee potential challenges supports clients through intricate adaptive-reuse decisions. Alongside this, Heather emphasizes the importance of community, collaboration, and learning from the broader ecosystem of solopreneurs. A reminder that even independent practitioners thrive when surrounded by a strong, supportive network. Katie highlights three key takeaways from Heather’s Barred Owl practice: the power of deliberate awareness developed through years of experience; the discipline of listening deeply before acting; and the quiet leadership that builds trust through steadiness rather than speed. These traits mirror the Level 5 leadership traits described Jim Collin’s book, Good to Great. Great leaders are humble, focused, and anchored by a clear professional will. Heather’s story shows how architects can guide clients through uncertainty, revive existing spaces with intention, and shape a practice rooted in wisdom. Reviver Architecture & Development Website: Reviver Architecture & DevelopmentInstagram: @reviver.design  Season 2 of the Flying Solo Podcast is sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation, whose mission is to invest in excellence, leadership, discovery, and equity within the profession of architecture. To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram, where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website.  Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mentioned in this episode: DATM

In this episode of Flying Solo, host Katie Kangas speaks with Innes Henderson, founder of S2S Architects, whose practice embodies the focus and agility of a hummingbird. Innes has developed a specialized architectural process centered on intentionality, adaptability, and aligning his expertise with the unique needs of each client. Like a hummingbird hovering with precision at a flower, his approach is about finding the sweet spot—moving with precision and leaving a lasting impression wherever his projects take him. Katie and Innes explore how his practice reflects three defining qualities: Experience, Intelligence, and Consensus. Innes founded S2S Architects after years of honing his craft, driven by his love for design and the belief that architecture should be practiced at the highest level of his abilities. His systems and processes run at lightning speed behind the scenes, enabling him to deliver design solutions that feel seamless and precise to clients. Innes embraces agile collaboration, leaning on a strong network of peers and partners. He focuses on what he does best while drawing on others’ expertise, ensuring each project is tailored to a specific client's priorities with clarity and intention. This adaptability also extends beyond geography. When clients expand into new regions or recommend him to their partners, Innes follows—crossing state boundaries and adjusting his practice to meet evolving opportunities. Like the hummingbird’s seasonal migration of thousands of miles, his willingness to adapt ensures that S2S Architects remains both specialized and expansive, ready to respond wherever the work leads. Innes’s story illustrates how a solo architecture firm can thrive by honing specialized skills, building trusted networks, and staying agile. His passion for practice fuels him daily, both missionally and financially, as he continues to refine his approach and expand his impact. For architects considering how to shape a solo career around their strengths, his hummingbird-like practice offers inspiration: show up with focus, move with agility, and design with purpose. S2S Architects Website: https://www.s2sarch.com/  To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mark R. Page, founder of EntreArchitect and Gabl Media, has been building a community of small firm architects who are having tough conversations to improve their professional practice and live their best life every day. Mentioned in this episode: DATM

In this episode of Flying Solo, host Katie Kangas speaks with Edward J. Shannon, an architect whose career embodies the steady persistence of a woodpecker. Day after day, Ed has built his solo practice by connecting deeply with clients and crafting homes that tell a story—one that resonates with their lives, goals, and values. His work leaves a legacy not only for today’s homeowners but also for the generations who will live in these spaces in the future. The conversation also explores Ed’s book, The Sole Practitioner Architect, where he defines six types of solo practitioners. His insight reminds us that even though Solopreneurs run their own businesses, it doesn’t mean they are practicing in isolation. By sharing stories and frameworks, entrepreneurial architects can connect with one another, learn from different paths, and discover new ways to define success in practice. Ed’s holistic view of architecture embraces both professional and personal dimensions—showing how project planning, financial structures, and client relationships ripple into the way architects live their lives beyond the 9-to-5. Throughout the episode, Katie highlights how Ed’s practice reflects three traits of the woodpecker: persistence, resonance, and legacy. He is unafraid to reach out to potential clients, consistently putting in the work to build relationships and opportunities. He listens closely for resonance, using storytelling to create projects that feel authentic and meaningful to the people who inhabit them. And his legacy extends beyond his own practice, as his writing and mentorship create openings for other architects to shape businesses of their own. As the season one finale, this conversation with Ed underscores the core message of the Flying Solo Podcast: that while no two solo architecture firms are alike, every path is worth telling. Whether your practice is just beginning or evolving toward new horizons, stories like Ed’s remind us that even when flying solo, we are never truly alone. Spirit Lake Studio Website: https://spiritlakestudio.com/ Facebook: Spirit Lake StudioLinkedIn: Spirit Lake Studio/Edward J. Shannon Architect PLC To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mark R. Page, founder of EntreArchitect and Gabl Media, has been building a community of small firm architects who are having tough conversations to improve their professional practice and live their best life every day. Mentioned in this episode: DATM