Mike Moser

On today’s episode, Avi sits down with interior designer and friend Mike Moser who is working with Carla on their upcoming 3rd St. brick and mortar location. Mike’s bicoastal projects have been featured in Architectural Digest and commended for their client-first approach. From working at Wasteland when he first moved to LA to getting a job at Ralph Lauren and starting his own eponymous design studio, Mike highlights his journey of personal and professional self-discovery with this discussion that covers: 2:21 - what happens when projects or client relationships shift and how to handle them 5:24 - the impact of being featured in Architectural Digest 9:03 - growing up in a close-knit Christian family and coming to terms with Mike’s own sexuality 15:49 - the complexities of religious/internalized shame when trying to validate your identity as you come of age 18:59 - people are not defined by their “sins” and it is not their identity 22:06 - turning an awareness of design and aesthetics into a career 23:28 - falling in love at Wasteland and the whirlwind decision to move to LA instead of going back to San Diego 29:42 - getting a job at Ralph Lauren and the experience of working at such a recognizable brand/aesthetic style 33:43 - when Mike realized it was time to move on and start his own studio 34:30 - honor your true strengths and passions while learning to delegate the rest 43:13 - where Mike gets inspiration for his designs 50:48 - working with people directly to bring them joy and happiness is the goal 58:45 - other key moments that Mike attributes to helping him get to where he is today 1:04:07 - the privilege of the ability to work with clients of a certain caliber and the pride but also responsibility to deliver that comes with it 1:07:52 - what Mike avoids when approaching a design project 1:10:47 - misconceptions about designing a space and how to align your vision with the client’s 1:18:34 - Mike’s current relationship with God/spirituality and valuable lessons he's learned about himself