The Trend Report - Insights on Office Furniture, Contract Interiors & Workplace Design

Hosted by Sid Meadows

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207

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Welcome to The Trend Report, your inside look at the people, products, and ideas shaping the future of workplace design. This podcast takes you behind the scenes of the office furniture industry and the broader interior design community. Hosted by industry veteran Sid Meadows, each episode dives deep into the conversations, trends, and strategies shaping the future of our industry. From insightful interviews with industry innovators, brand builders, design leaders, CEOs, and changemakers to real-world discussions on workplace trends, sales strategies, and furniture design, The Trend Report delivers the knowledge and inspiration you need to stay ahead. Whether it’s exploring how workplace design impacts the future of work, uncovering innovations in commercial furniture, or understanding the connection between real estate and design, this is your inside look at the ever-changing world of contract interiors. If you’re an architect, interior designer, manufacturer, dealer, or simply passionate about the office furniture and design industry, this podcast is your trusted guide to what’s now and what’s next. To learn more, please visit https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 5, 2026Episode 20653 min

A New Collaborative Tool (DOT) with Kari Anderson & Prakash Narasimhalu

Send us Fan Mail Have you felt the friction hiding in early-stage furniture projects? Joining Sid to discuss this and why copy-paste workflows slow down creativity, budgets, and client decisions, are Kari and Prakash with DOT. Together they walk through DOT, a Miro plugin designed to pull manufacturer content into one shared board so teams can collaborate faster with fewer emails and fewer errors. Resources: The Trend Report Ep. 162 - Understanding Industry Technology with Kari Anderson https://www.sidmeadows.com/episode162 Connect with Kari: DOT - https://sites.google.com/techboxcollective.com/meetdot?pli=1&authuser=0 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/uxandkari/ Connect with Prakash: Riverstone - https://www.riverstonetech.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-narasimhalu/ The Trend Report is your inside look at the people, products and ideas shaping the future of workplace design. We explore the evolving world of contract interiors, office furniture, and workplace design. From the interior design industry to commercial furniture and the future of work, we share insights, trends, and strategies that keep the office furniture industry and the interior design community informed and inspired. Connect with Sid: Home Page: www.sidmeadows.com Podcast Website: https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast Sid on LinkedIn Sid on Instagram Sid on YouTube The Trend Report introduction music is provided by Werq by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4616-werq License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

September 28, 2026Episode 20516 min

10 to Win: Do You Have 8 Minutes?

Send us Fan Mail A casual text can hide a real request for help, and we often miss it because it looks like everyday conversation. Join Sid in this exploration of how an eight-minute phone call can interrupt loneliness for leaders and friends, and why simple presence beats quick advice. The Trend Report is your inside look at the people, products and ideas shaping the future of workplace design. We explore the evolving world of contract interiors, office furniture, and workplace design. From the interior design industry to commercial furniture and the future of work, we share insights, trends, and strategies that keep the office furniture industry and the interior design community informed and inspired. Connect with Sid: Home Page: www.sidmeadows.com Podcast Website: https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast Sid on LinkedIn Sid on Instagram Sid on YouTube The Trend Report introduction music is provided by Werq by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4616-werq License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

September 21, 2026Episode 20449 min

What's A Snapshot Really Worth? with Stephen Searer of Office Snapshots

Send us Fan Mail Listen as Sid sits down with Steven Searer, founder of Office Snapshots, about how a side project built from pure curiosity turned into one of the most trusted workplace design resources in commercial interiors. They dig into curation, tagging, product discovery, AI workflow tools, and what decades of office projects reveal about how workspaces keep changing. Connect with Stephen: Office Snapshots - https://officesnapshots.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/office-snapshots/ Email - hello@officesnapshots.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/officesnapshots/ Pinterest - https://www.instagram.com/officesnapshots/ The Trend Report is your inside look at the people, products and ideas shaping the future of workplace design. We explore the evolving world of contract interiors, office furniture, and workplace design. From the interior design industry to commercial furniture and the future of work, we share insights, trends, and strategies that keep the office furniture industry and the interior design community informed and inspired. Connect with Sid: Home Page: www.sidmeadows.com Podcast Website: https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast Sid on LinkedIn Sid on Instagram Sid on YouTube The Trend Report introduction music is provided by Werq by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4616-werq License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

September 14, 2026Episode 20330 min

Hot Takes with Janeen Waddell of Navitas Credit

Send us Fan Mail Joining Sid on this Hot Takes episode is Janeen Waddell of Navitas Credit. Together they challenge a few “normal” habits in the contract furniture world that quietly slow projects down and frustrate buyers. They also dig into why speed, financing, and follow-up are not extras, they are the work that creates certainty and keeps relationships strong. Resources: The Trend Report Ep.195 CEO Chat: What is the Dealer of the Future? with Tim Carroll of Lyric Workplace - https://www.sidmeadows.com/episode195 Dealer's Dilemma: The Independent Dealer's Guide to the Future of the Contract Furniture Industry by Scott Hartkopf - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6KM346F?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Connect with Janeen: Navitas Credit - https://www.navitascredit.com/ Email - Janeenwaddell@navitascredit.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeen-waddell-clfp-1ab2ba2/ Phone Number - 609-206-4513 The Trend Report is your inside look at the people, products and ideas shaping the future of workplace design. We explore the evolving world of contract interiors, office furniture, and workplace design. From the interior design industry to commercial furniture and the future of work, we share insights, trends, and strategies that keep the office furniture industry and the interior design community informed and inspired. Connect with Sid: Home Page: www.sidmeadows.com Podcast Website: https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast Sid on LinkedIn Sid on Instagram Sid on YouTube The Trend Report introduction music is provided by Werq by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4616-werq License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

September 7, 2026Episode 20249 min

Have We Designed Nature Out of the Workplace? with Sadig Alakbarov & Vanessa Lindbeck

Send us Fan Mail Listen as Sid sits down with Sadig and Vanessa from Greenmood to unpack why nature belongs inside the spaces where we work, heal, and gather. They break down preserved plants, biophilic design, and the surprising ways natural materials can improve comfort, focus, and acoustics. Connect with Sadig & Vanessa: Greenmood - https://greenmood.us/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/greenmood.usa LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenmood-usa/ Email - https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?fs=1&tf=cm&source=mailto&to=us@greenmood.us The Trend Report is your inside look at the people, products and ideas shaping the future of workplace design. We explore the evolving world of contract interiors, office furniture, and workplace design. From the interior design industry to commercial furniture and the future of work, we share insights, trends, and strategies that keep the office furniture industry and the interior design community informed and inspired. Connect with Sid: Home Page: www.sidmeadows.com Podcast Website: https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast Sid on LinkedIn Sid on Instagram Sid on YouTube The Trend Report introduction music is provided by Werq by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4616-werq License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

August 31, 2026Episode 20112 min

10 to Win: Are You Missing The Signals?

Send us Fan Mail The most expensive business and leadership mistakes often come from a lack of awareness, not a lack of intelligence. Sid breaks down three simple habits that help us see reality faster, make better decisions, and stop forcing outcomes that are not working. The Trend Report is your inside look at the people, products and ideas shaping the future of workplace design. We explore the evolving world of contract interiors, office furniture, and workplace design. From the interior design industry to commercial furniture and the future of work, we share insights, trends, and strategies that keep the office furniture industry and the interior design community informed and inspired. Connect with Sid: Home Page: www.sidmeadows.com Podcast Website: https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast Sid on LinkedIn Sid on Instagram Sid on YouTube The Trend Report introduction music is provided by Werq by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4616-werq License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

August 27, 2026Episode 20020 min

What Happens When Listeners Become the Hosts?

Send us Fan Mail Continue with The Trend Report Episode 200 celebration with bonus content that gets personal, as our guests share their favorite Trend Report episodes and moments. They also flip the script on Sid with rapid-fire questions that reveal what he would change about the contract furniture world and what kind of leadership we all want more of. Resources: The Trend Report Ep.175 - Building Effective A&D Partnerships with Krystal Lucero https://www.sidmeadows.com/episode175 Connect with Leah Eckhoff: LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/leckhoff Connect with Shawn Popovich: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-popovich-83446019/ Connect with Chris Ford: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-ford-commercialfurnitureconsultant/ Connect with Kristen Benavides: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-benavides-a142b9b/ The Trend Report is your inside look at the people, products and ideas shaping the future of workplace design. We explore the evolving world of contract interiors, office furniture, and workplace design. From the interior design industry to commercial furniture and the future of work, we share insights, trends, and strategies that keep the office furniture industry and the interior design community informed and inspired. Connect with Sid: Home Page: www.sidmeadows.com Podcast Website: https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast Sid on LinkedIn Sid on Instagram Sid on YouTube The Trend Report introduction music is provided by Werq by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4616-werq License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

August 24, 2026Episode 2001 hr 11 min

What Happens When the Listeners Take the Mic?

Send us Fan Mail Listen as Sid celebrates Episode 200 of The Trend Report by handing the mic to four longtime listeners for an honest roundtable on how all the players in commercial interiors work together. They dig into respect, relationships, sales habits that waste time, and practical ways to invest in the next generation. Resources: The Trend Report Ep.175 - Building Effective A&D Partnerships with Krystal Lucero https://www.sidmeadows.com/episode175 Connect with Leah Eckhoff: LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/leckhoff Connect with Shawn Popovich: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-popovich-83446019/ Connect with Chris Ford: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-ford-commercialfurnitureconsultant/ Connect with Kristen Benavides: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-benavides-a142b9b/ The Trend Report is your inside look at the people, products and ideas shaping the future of workplace design. We explore the evolving world of contract interiors, office furniture, and workplace design. From the interior design industry to commercial furniture and the future of work, we share insights, trends, and strategies that keep the office furniture industry and the interior design community informed and inspired. Connect with Sid: Home Page: www.sidmeadows.com Podcast Website: https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast Sid on LinkedIn Sid on Instagram Sid on YouTube The Trend Report introduction music is provided by Werq by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4616-werq License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

August 17, 2026Episode 19956 min

What Happens When Product Designers Think Like Farmers? with Fernando Ramirez & Justin Beitzel

Send us Fan Mail Sid talks with Justin Beitzel and Fernando Ramirez about building OkaTerra by starting with farmers, waste streams, and regenerative materials rather than a product spec sheet. The main thread running through the whole conversation is simple: transparency, community impact, and planet health can create better furniture and a better story customers remember. Resources: The Trend Report Ep.193 - What is Real Sustainability? With John Strassner - https://www.sidmeadows.com/episode193 Connect with Justin and Fernando: Common Object Studio - https://www.commonobjectstudio.com/ OKATERRA - https://okaterra.com/ Justin’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinbeitzel/?skipRedirect=true Fernando’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-ramirez-b00b35aa/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/commonobjectstudio The Trend Report is your inside look at the people, products and ideas shaping the future of workplace design. We explore the evolving world of contract interiors, office furniture, and workplace design. From the interior design industry to commercial furniture and the future of work, we share insights, trends, and strategies that keep the office furniture industry and the interior design community informed and inspired. Connect with Sid: Home Page: www.sidmeadows.com Podcast Website: https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast Sid on LinkedIn Sid on Instagram Sid on YouTube The Trend Report introduction music is provided by Werq by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4616-werq License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

August 10, 2026Episode 19831 min

Hot Takes with Matt Danyliw of Avanto

Send us Fan Mail Sid spins the wheel with Avanto CEO Matt Danyliw and trade honest hot takes on leadership, AI, and what customers value now. The through-line is simple: stop hiding behind “we’ve always done it this way” and start building teams and systems that move faster with less chaos. Connect with Matt: Avanto - https://www.goavanto.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-danyliw-6a8b24b/ Email - sales@goavanto.com The Trend Report is your inside look at the people, products and ideas shaping the future of workplace design. We explore the evolving world of contract interiors, office furniture, and workplace design. From the interior design industry to commercial furniture and the future of work, we share insights, trends, and strategies that keep the office furniture industry and the interior design community informed and inspired. Connect with Sid: Home Page: www.sidmeadows.com Podcast Website: https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast Sid on LinkedIn Sid on Instagram Sid on YouTube The Trend Report introduction music is provided by Werq by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4616-werq License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/