The Homebody Collective

Hosted by Lauren Jo Home

Business Entrepreneurship Education

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Episodes

231

Latest episode

Jul 2026

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About the show

The Homebody Collective is more than a podcast—it's a gathering place for people who believe that home is where our stories begin, healing happens, creativity flourishes, and meaningful lives are built. Hosted by Lauren Gehman (AKA Lauren Jo Home), realtor, interior stylist, entrepreneur, and lifelong homebody, each episode explores what it means to create a life that feels authentic, meaningful, and deeply rooted. Through honest conversations with creatives, entrepreneurs, industry experts, and everyday people, we dive into the spaces we live in, the experiences that have shaped us, and the journeys that continue to inspire us. From home design and real estate to motherhood, entrepreneurship, relationships, and self-discovery, The Homebody Collective is a place for thoughtful conversations, fresh perspectives, and finding beauty in both where we live and who we're becoming. Because home isn't just a place—it's the foundation for the life you're building. Welcome home.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 21, 20269 min

Building My Own Table- The Opportunity I Turned Down (And Don't Regret)

Turning down a big opportunity isn't always about the money. In this episode of The Homebody Collective, Lauren shares the real, unfiltered story behind saying no to an advertising partnership with a well-known local real estate publication, even after almost signing on a 1am out of fear of missing out. She breaks down the difference between a decision made from scarcity and competition versus one made from alignment, why chasing a seat at someone else's table can quietly pull you off your own path, and how reinvesting in what's already working (systems, inventory, education, and loyal clients) can matter more than chasing visibility. If you've ever caught yourself making a move out of comparison instead of clarity, this one's for you. Topics covered: business alignment, saying no to opportunity, home staging business growth, real estate marketing, entrepreneurship and scarcity mindset, building versus competing. Lauren Lefever is a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Elite helping people find inspiration in their homes and inside themselves. For all Real Estate inquires text/call M: 7175197491 E: laurenjohome@kw.com laurenjohome.com For Staging and Interior Design inquires: dwellerstagedesign.com Sign up for early book access, freebies, BTS action & more Here

July 22, 202616 min

From My Dad's Garage to Where We Are Now: Two Years of Dweller- Staging & Design LLC.

In this solo episode of The Homebody Collective, Lauren gets real about the last four years of building Dweller Stage Design — from staging her first listings out of her dad's garage, to a leaky three-bay garage in Lancaster City, to walking away from a toxic business partnership two years ago and building Dweller- Staging & Desgin LLC entirely on her own terms. She opens up about imposter syndrome that still shows up today, growing a business while pregnant and postpartum, the moment James Fisher gave her her first real shot, and what it meant when her husband was finally able to leave his 9-to-5 to build this with her full time. She also shares what's next for Dweller — expanding the team, empowering other women in the industry, and rolling out investor-friendly staging offerings for the year ahead. A raw, honest look at what it actually takes to bet on yourself and start over. Lauren Lefever is a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Elite helping people find inspiration in their homes and inside themselves. For all Real Estate inquires text/call M: 7175197491 E: laurenjohome@kw.com laurenjohome.com For Staging and Interior Design inquires: dwellerstagedesign.com Sign up for early book access, freebies, BTS action & more Here

June 17, 202611 min

I Thought I Had Systems — The truth about burnout, building a staging business, and what next level actually looks like.

After one of the busiest spring real estate markets of my career, I am finally coming up for air — and I'm using this "slower season" to do the work that actually matters: rebuilding systems, resetting boundaries, and getting honest about burnout. In this episode, I'm sharing what it really looked like to run a growing home staging business with a skeleton crew — think six installs and four destages in a single week with a team of three, finishing proposals at midnight, and running on nothing but determination and love for the dream. I get real about what burnout actually feels like when you're an entrepreneur, why knowing what you need and being able to do something about it are two very different things, and why my old systems — as good as they were — could only carry Dweller- Staging & Design LLC so far. This one is for the stagers, the small business owners, the real estate entrepreneurs, and anyone who has ever looked at their calendar and thought there is no way — and then pulled it off anyway, at a cost they didn't fully realize until later. In this episode I'm talking about: Why the slow season is actually the most important season for your business What burnout really looks like for entrepreneurs — and why it's not what you think The difference between systems that work and systems that scale Why my next level isn't more revenue — it's calm, boundaries, and abundance over hurry How I'm rebuilding Dweller from the inside out now that I finally have the space to do it Lauren Lefever is a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Elite helping people find inspiration in their homes and inside themselves. For all Real Estate inquires text/call M: 7175197491 E: laurenjohome@kw.com laurenjohome.com For Staging and Interior Design inquires: dwellerstagedesign.com Sign up for early book access, freebies, BTS action & more Here

June 11, 202611 min

Outgrowing your own brand (and what comes next).

After nearly a year away from my microphone, I'm back — and this time, everything looks a little different. Welcome to The Homebody Collective , the rebrand and evolution of Homebody- The Podcast. In this relaunch episode, I'm sharing the story behind the pivot: why I outgrew my own brand, what it really means to build before you're ready, and why I'm no longer interested in fitting myself into spaces built for an earlier version of who I was. I'm also opening up about the year I've been having: welcoming our son Archer Hayes in October 2025, navigating postpartum recovery, my husband Alex joining the business full time, running Dweller: Staging & Design LLC through one of our busiest seasons yet, the book I wrote but have not released, and a home renovation that's been equal parts dream and chaos. This episode is an open door — an honest, grounded introduction to what this podcast is, who it's for, and what's coming next. What to expect going forward on The Homebody Collective: real conversations with real estate professionals, women entrepreneurs, and business owners across South Central Pennsylvania. Less highlight reel. More messy middle. Stories about staging, design, motherhood, gender roles in business, and building a life that actually fits who you're becoming. If you've ever felt like you were evolving faster than the containers built for an earlier version of yourself — you're in the right place. Lauren Lefever is a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Elite helping people find inspiration in their homes and inside themselves. For all Real Estate inquires text/call M: 7175197491 E: laurenjohome@kw.com laurenjohome.com For Staging and Interior Design inquires: dwellerstagedesign.com Sign up for early book access, freebies, BTS action & more Here

November 6, 20258 min

Lessons I Learned the Hard Way in My Early Real Estate Years

In this episode, I'm sharing the hard-earned lessons from her first few years in real estate—the ones no one really talks about. From not needing anyone else to validate your worth, to saying yes to the messy opportunities that build momentum, to realizing you can have both a thriving career and a beautiful family—this episode is an honest look at what it takes to make it past year one. If you're a new agent, an entrepreneur finding your footing, or just someone figuring it out as you go, this one's for you. Because success isn't about getting it perfect—it's about learning, evolving, and trusting that you've got what it takes. Tune in to Homebody – The Podcast for real conversations about business, growth, and building a life that feels like home. Sign up for early book access, freebies, BTS action & more Here Lauren Lefever is a licensed Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty helping people find inspiration in their homes and inside themselves. For all Real Estate inquires text/call M: 7175197491 E: lauren.lefever@cbrealty.com laurenjohome.com For Staging and Interior Design inquires: dwellerstagedesign.com

September 15, 20257 min

Fear Doesn't Get the Final Say.

Once upon a time, I let fear and control stop me from telling my story. Not anymore. In this raw and unfiltered episode, I'm sharing the moment I realized fear was the last thread of control—and why I'm finally saying fuck it, hitting publish, and reclaiming my narrative. This isn't just about me. It's about you. About reminding you that fear doesn't get the final say. You do. Sign up for early book access, freebies, BTS action & more Here Lauren Lefever is a licensed Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty helping people find inspiration in their homes and inside themselves. For all Real Estate inquires text/call M: 7175197491 E: lauren.lefever@cbrealty.com laurenjohome.com For Staging and Interior Design inquires: dwellerstagedesign.com

August 5, 20256 min

The Messy Middle: Behind the Scenes of Building Dweller

In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the messy middle of business growth — that in-between space where you're no longer winging it, but still figuring out the next big leap. I recently sat down with Ari from ASSETS Lancaster to talk through some of the real pain points I've been navigating with Dweller, my staging and design company — hiring, outsourcing, investing back into the business, and dreaming up bigger-picture goals like B Corp certification, sustainability, and community impact. This conversation was a game-changer, and I'm sharing all the takeaways with you: how to move through the overwhelm, when to refine, and when it's time to take off . Plus, if you've ever wondered how you can work with Dweller — whether it's staging a property, designing your home or business, or through e-design — I've got you covered. This is a behind-the-scenes episode you don't want to miss. For Staging and Interior Design inquires: dwellerstagedesign.com Sign up for early book access, freebies, BTS action & more Here Lauren Lefever is a licensed Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty helping people find inspiration in their homes and inside themselves. For all Real Estate inquires text/call M: 7175197491 E: lauren.lefever@cbrealty.com laurenjohome.com

July 29, 20259 min

Finally, Some Damn Clarity: Unraveled Cover Reveal + Exclusive Excerpt

The moment is finally here — the official cover for my book Unraveled is live, and I couldn't be more excited (and honestly, a little emotional) to share it with you. In this episode of Homebody — The Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain on: ✨ The heart behind the Unraveled cover design ✨ Why the book's release date shifted from this summer to this fall ✨ How I'm navigating the fear of being silenced while telling my story ✨ And a powerful reading from the chapter "Finally, Some Damn Clarity" If you've ever felt silenced, underestimated, or like you had to rebuild your life from scratch, this episode is for you. Sign up for early book access, freebies, BTS action & more Here Check out the Unraveled book cover art HERE Lauren Lefever is a licensed Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty helping people find inspiration in their homes and inside themselves. For all Real Estate inquires text/call M: 7175197491 E: lauren.lefever@cbrealty.com laurenjohome.com For Staging and Interior Design inquires: dwellerstagedesign.com JOIN THE HOMEBODY- COLLECTIVE HERE

July 22, 20258 min

Pregnant Again! Navigating Surprise, ADHD, and Slowing Down the Second Time Around

This pregnancy has been so different than my first. Harder physically. Heavier emotionally. And let's be honest — running a staging company, selling real estate, and chasing around a four-year-old while pregnant hits different . In this episode, I'm sharing what this season has looked like for me — the real, unfiltered version. From navigating pregnancy with ADHD (without medication), to preparing my businesses for maternity leave, and learning to actually let go of control… it's been a ride. I'm also sharing a few tips that have helped me manage ADHD during pregnancy, for anyone else who might be in a similar place. And at the end, I'm giving you a little sneak peek into my upcoming book Unraveled — all about toxic relationships, entrepreneurship, and the messy, beautiful process of reclaiming your self-worth. It's coming out this fall, and early access + behind-the-scenes content is now officially open! Sign up for early book access, freebies, BTS action & more Here Lauren Lefever is a licensed Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty helping people find inspiration in their homes and inside themselves. For all Real Estate inquires text/call M: 7175197491 E: lauren.lefever@cbrealty.com laurenjohome.com For Staging and Interior Design inquires: dwellerstagedesign.com JOIN THE HOMEBODY- COLLECTIVE HERE

June 30, 20253 min

Letting Go of the Version of Me That Settled

In this episode, I'm talking about one of the hardest but most healing parts of my journey: letting go of the past version of me who settled. The one who kept the peace at her own expense. The one who made herself smaller to feel safe. The one who thought love, success, and stability required her to abandon herself. She got me here — but she's not coming with me. I share how writing this book became an act of releasing her, grieving her, and honoring her… without staying her. Because real growth isn't just about learning something new — it's about being willing to outgrow who you used to be. If you're in a season of shedding, shifting, or standing at the edge of who you were and who you're becoming — this one's for you. Sign up for early book access, freebies, BTS action & more Here Lauren Lefever is a licensed Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty helping people find inspiration in their homes and inside themselves. For all Real Estate inquires text/call M: 7175197491 E: lauren.lefever@cbrealty.com laurenjohome.com For Staging and Interior Design inquires: dwellerstagedesign.com JOIN THE HOMEBODY- COLLECTIVE HERE