Authenticity: The Florist’s Path to Confidence, Clarity, and Community with Elizabeth Hodges, Philo Floral
Release Date: 06/12/2025
Seed Talk: Planning, Planting, and Cool Flowers at The Gardener’s Workshop with Layne Angelo and Lisa Mason Ziegler
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On this episode of The Flower Podcast, I’m joined by Layne Angelo, Seed Director at The Gardener’s Workshop and co-host of Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne, alongside Lisa Mason Ziegler — gardener, flower farmer, educator, author, and founder of The Gardener’s Workshop. Lisa has been a guest before, and it was wonderful to welcome her back and to also chat with Layne for the first time. Their podcast, Seed Talk, is a true treasure trove of information, offering growers practical guidance and insight into all things seed-related. In our conversation, we talk about the importance of...
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In this episode of The Flower Podcast, host Scott Shepherd sits down with Franceska McCaughan, The Hotel Florist, to explore how florists can grow their businesses with weekly floral accounts. Franceska shares her journey from experimenting with flower bars to building a thriving business serving hotels, restaurants, and professional spaces. She explains why embracing trial and error, thinking profit-first, and creating memorable client experiences can transform your floral business. You’ll learn: -How weekly accounts can create reliable, recurring income -Why embracing “no” as “not...
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Floristry with Heart and Purpose: Carole Patilla of Tuckshop Flowers and The Farewell Flowers Directory
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In this episode of The Flower Podcast, Scott Shepherd talks with Carole Patilla of Tuckshop Flowers and co-founder of The Farewell Flowers Directory. They explore the growing movement toward sustainable and foam-free funeral flowers. Carole shares practical tips for florists ready to shift away from floral foam, embrace compostable design, and rethink traditional funeral floristry. This inspiring conversation is all about starting small, building confidence, and making meaningful change in your local community. Whether you’re new to sustainable design or looking to expand your eco-conscious...
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Authenticity: The Florist’s Path to Confidence, Clarity, and Community with Elizabeth Hodges, Philo Floral
The Flower Podcast
In this episode of The Flower Podcast, Elizabeth Hodges, owner of Philo Floral in Greenville SC., opens up about the powerful mindset shift that helped her build a business rooted in authenticity. We explore how understanding generational values—from Gen Z’s focus on connection and transparency to older generations’ appreciation for experience—can change the way you approach wedding consultations and client relationships. Elizabeth also shares her thoughts on taking ownership of your growth, letting go of the need to be liked by everyone, and the importance of putting on blinders when...
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Building Your Best Farm: Adrianne Gammie of Marilla Field and Flora
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In this episode, we welcome back Adrianne Gammie, a dedicated flower farmer known for her intentional approach to business, sustainability, and community impact. Adrianne shares valuable insights from her evolving farm, covering everything from pollinator habitat and land stewardship to profitability and professional relationships. Her candid advice is grounded in real-world experience and offers practical strategies for flower farmers at any stage. Topics Covered: -How diversification helps manage risk in farming -Creating and managing pollinator habitat for ecological health -Learning from...
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Standards in Cut Flower Production: Diane Szukovathy of Jello Mold Farm
The Flower Podcast
Flowers are at the heart of so many meaningful moments—especially since Mother’s Day week just happened. This episode honors the hardworking farmers, florists, designers, and behind-the-scenes teams who make it all possible. Returning guest Diane Szukovathy of Jello Mold Farm joins Scott for a rich conversation about long-term farm planning, infrastructure investment, and the evolving role of a flower grower. As a founding member of the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market, Diane also shares the story behind Floral Standards—a new, farmer-developed book designed to help growers sell more...
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Being the Face of Your Farm: Nicole Pitt, Flower Hill Farm
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Design, Relationships, and Giving Back: Pili Fuentes’s Floral Story
The Flower Podcast
This week's episode highlights the importance of continual growth and learning in the floral industry. Our guest, Pili, exemplifies this by consistently investing in her skills through workshops and collaborations with leading designers. She emphasizes the need for exploring new trends and refining techniques to perfect one’s craft. A key theme in the conversation is Pili's ability to identify issues and opportunities, then rallying the community to fill those gaps. We dive into the flower market in Mexico City, where Pili shares fascinating insights, including the fact that the only outside...
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Streamlining and Growing Your Flower Business with Niki Irving
The Flower Podcast
This week on The Flower Podcast our guest is Niki Irving, the owner and florist behind Flourish Flower Farm in Asheville, NC, where she grows a wide variety of flowers and foliage using sustainable methods. She creates beautiful, seasonal arrangements for weddings and events, leads classes and workshops on the farm, and offers fresh bouquets at her farmstand. Niki is also the author of the popular book Growing Flowers: Everything You Need to Know About Planting, Tending, Harvesting, and Arranging Beautiful Blooms, first published in 2021 with a new edition set to release in 2025. In this...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Flower Podcast, Elizabeth Hodges, owner of Philo Floral in Greenville SC., opens up about the powerful mindset shift that helped her build a business rooted in authenticity. We explore how understanding generational values—from Gen Z’s focus on connection and transparency to older generations’ appreciation for experience—can change the way you approach wedding consultations and client relationships.
Elizabeth also shares her thoughts on taking ownership of your growth, letting go of the need to be liked by everyone, and the importance of putting on blinders when it’s time to focus. We dive into how contracts provide security during uncertain times, the role planners play in her business, and why supporting local flower growers matters now more than ever.
A big thanks to our sponsors, The Gardener’s Workshop—helping flower farmers grow smarter with tools, seeds, and courses rooted in real experience—and the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, a community that supports and connects flower growers at every stage.
This conversation is packed with honest insights and practical wisdom for anyone growing a flower-based business. Whether you're just starting out or reevaluating where you're headed, this episode will inspire you to lead with intention—and grow with confidence.
Learn more about today’s episode and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com.
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