This is Things I Learned from My Mother from Arcadian Revival, a podcast about creating home, community, and a deeper connection to nature and to one another. What does home mean to you? Here we explore answers to this question through generational wisdom, shared perspectives, and from Mother Nature herself.

At its core, home is about creating a place that is welcoming while keeping in mind that it is a microcosm of the greater global community in which we live, and is part of the larger natural world in which we call home.
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Latest Episodes

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#6

The Art of Craftsmanship, Community, and Leaving a Legacy

Episode 6: "The Art of Craftsmanship, Community, and Leaving a Legacy" with Master Craftsman Chuck Donnelly Things I Learned From My Mother from Arcadian RevivalIn this episode, I sit down with master craftsman Chuck Donnelly, a man whose work speaks for itself and leaves a lasting impression. Over the span of his rich career, Chuck has not only touched hundreds of home with his craft, he has carved out a career that speaks of pride of the spaces he has built, but also the relationships that he left room to cultivate along the way.Together, we explore the parallels between project and path. Chuck shares stories that carry the grain of wisdom earned only through time, patience, and a deep reverence for doing things the right way, especially when no one is watching.We talk about the exquisite millwork Chuck created here at our home and for the Arcadian Revival studio, and share a few of our favorite details, deep-rooted inspirations, those details that might initially go unnoticed, but make a space feel like home. In this conversation, craft becomes more than output. Millwork becomes a language of thoughtfulness, connection, and place. As a designer, Chuck brought me to my own deep path of appreciating millwork through a lens that I will always wear, a to a niche passion of mine within the building arts.Come sit with us in the stillness of good conversation. This is the kind of episode that reminds us that the best things often take time, and the most beautiful places are built rich with intention.
#5

Crafting Home with Cabinetmaker Justin Steinberger: On Kitchens, Nature, and the Art of Getting Things Done

Episode Five – Crafting Home with Cabinetmaker Justin Steinberger: On Kitchens, Nature, and the Art of Getting Things DoneWelcome back to Things I Learned From My Mother, a podcast by Arcadian Revival about creating home, cultivating community, and finding deeper connection to nature, our heritage, and to one another.In today’s episode, I’m joined by collaborator and friend Justin Steinberger, a cabinetmaker, father of six, devoted husband, and fellow dreamer rooted in the bucolic countryside of upstate New York. Justin not only helped design and build the kitchen in our home, but he’s someone who understands that true craftsmanship is about more than measurements and materials, it’s about listening closely to how people live.Our conversation moves from kitchen design into deeper territory: the balance between creative work and raising a family, the realities and rewards of small business ownership, and the quiet discipline it takes to keep showing up for both the big dreams and the daily to-dos. Justin shares his philosophy on cabinetry as a deeply personal expression of home, one that’s shaped not just by style or trend, but by the rhythms of everyday life.We talk about the power of place, especially the role that nature plays in shaping our work and our well-being. We reflect on what it means to step up to the plate, even when no one’s watching, and what it looks like to build a meaningful career doing something you believe in, one project at a time.We also look ahead at what’s next...some exciting collaborations we’re dreaming into being...and wrap up with a few thoughtful reflections from Justin on what homeowners should really know before diving into a kitchen or home design project, and how working so closely with people in their most intimate spaces has expanded his view of the world.This is an episode about craft, character, and connection. It’s about making space for beauty, for family, and for the kind of homes that feel as good as they look.If you’re craving that mix of inspiration and groundedness, pour a cup of something warm and join us.Follow along @arcadianrevival for more stories about slow living, seasonal design, and the art of building a life with care.
#4

Creating Community | Lessons on Opening Our Home and Thinking Beyond Ourselves

Episode 4: Creating Community – A Conversation on Opening Our Home and How Experience Shaped the Creation of a Special CommunityIn this fourth episode of Things I Learned From My Mother, I’m once again joined by my mom, Dee Bowyer for a heartfelt conversation about what it means to create community.This episode centers around the legacy of the seasonal craft shows my mother hosted for decades, events that were not just about handmade goods, but about building a home-based business rooted in people, the environment, and shared experience. We reflect on how these gatherings, often timed with the start of the holiday season (especially the week leading up to Thanksgiving), became annual rituals for so many in our Ohio hometown. Hundreds would come through our doors over the years, not only to support local artisans and small businesses, but to feel part of something meaningful, warm, and connected. I wish I could bring you there now. We also explore how those early memories shaped the work I do now through Arcadian Revival, creating a sense of place, belonging, and intentional living here in Saratoga Springs, New York. From porch gatherings to pop up shops and workshops and the stories we share through this very podcast, community remains a cornerstone of everything we build.This episode is a reflection on how giving to community nourishes not only others but ourselves. It’s a story about humble beginnings, handmade treasures, and the significance of connection. We hope you’ll listen in as we trace the roots of what “creating community” has meant across generations, and how it continues to grow.Tune in wherever you listen to your podcasts, and remember to subscribe so you won’t miss what’s next.