EP 478 | Interior Designer Jodie Carter on Grief, Pricing, and Finding Purpose Again

April 28, 2026

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Some episodes are about systems. Some are about mindset. This one is about what happens when life changes everything.

In this deeply personal conversation, Kimberley Seldon sits down with interior designer Jodie Carter to talk about loss, resilience, and what it takes to keep going after unimaginable grief. Jodie shares the story of losing her 12-year-old son, Hamish, after years of bullying—and how she found her way forward as a mother, a business owner, and a human being.

This episode is honest, moving, and unexpectedly practical. Because even in the hardest moments, there are lessons about boundaries, pricing, purpose, and the role your work can play in rebuilding a life.

At its core, this is a conversation about returning to your business—and your self—with more clarity, stronger conviction, and a deeper understanding of your value.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

  • Why grief doesn’t follow a straight line—and neither does recovery
  • How to continue meaningful work, even in the face of profound loss
  • Why interior design remains an act of service, even for affluent clients
  • How stronger boundaries and better pricing transform client relationships
  • Why raising your rates can increase trust, respect, and profitability
  • The role community plays when life becomes overwhelming
  • Why sometimes the most important business lesson is also a life lesson: stick to the plan

 

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About Jodie Carter

Jodie Carter is an interior designer based in Sydney, Australia, known for beautiful residential work, fierce honesty, and the kind of hard-won perspective you cannot get from a textbook. In this conversation, she shares how profound personal loss reshaped her values, her family life, and the way she approaches both design and business. She also makes a very strong case for charging more. As usual, the Australians are out here making everyone else look underpriced.

https://jodiecarterdesign.com.au

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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general business advice for interior designers and design professionals. It is not intended as individual legal, accounting, or professional guidance. Kimberley Seldon and Business of Design® make no guarantees regarding accuracy and are not liable for how information is used. Strategies shared may not apply to every situation—listeners should seek qualified legal, financial, or professional advice before making business decisions. References and resources mentioned may change over time.