Q+A: Meg Allan Cole, Threadbanger (Décor It Yourself)

There's no question about it: we've entered a do-it-yourself economy. And while a lot of us are buying crockpots and brewing our own cup of joe, the DIY mindset doesn't stop at food and beverages: with the help of Threadbanger podcasts you'll find DIY room ideas, clothes, and parties—among other things.

But to be clear: these are not the projects you'll find in your mom's craft magazines. These are crafts that will earn you cred with your hipster friends. (Create ballots for your 2010 Oscar party that include authentic wax seals! Find ironic uses for wood-grain contact paper!) You can read my original review here.

I am not a DIYer by any stretch of the imagination, but I watch Threadbanger podcasts because they're hilarious. (Meg Allan Cole, host of Wednesday's Décor It Yourself shows, recently lamented the state of the world today by splitting a single bean in half with a knife and fork to share it with her dog.) If I ever become a crafter, I'll know right where to start.

To find out more about the Threadbanger shows, Atomic Podcasts talked to Meg Allan Cole. She shared her thoughts about how she got started, the role of "weird projects" on the show, and the DIY project she's afraid to take on.

How did you get started with the podcast?

Rob and Corinne of Threadbanger interviewed me for their Earth Day show almost two years ago. I have an indie green design company, Enderby Designs, and they found me through that. I showed them my home style blog, Nest (www.EnderbyNest.com) and we really just hit it off. They asked if I would be interested in doing a show of my own, which was amazing. One of my dreams was to create a show and/or periodical based on the idea that style starts at home. Since Threadbanger is the network for people who create their own style, it was the perfect fit. So, with the help of good, generous friends (Dave, Syd, Barret) and my ever-so-patient husband, we got Final Cut Pro, borrowed equipment and learned how to use it all. All the while I was fleshing out the show’s identity and look, shooting a pilot, and trying to convince a network to support this. Thus, Décor It Yourself was born. Rob and Corinne have totally held my hand, had my back, and championed the show every step of the way.

A lot of media these days is talking about a return to thrift—for which a DIY show seems to be poised to do very well. What are your thoughts on the economy and DIY?

There hasn’t been a better time for this movement than now. DIY and thrifting makes it possible to take your individual style into your own hands, regardless of your budget or location. There is a growing community of people who have been earth friendly and DIY for a long time. Perhaps the one silver lining of the economic crisis is that it will broaden this community to a larger demographic. Some of my favorite DIY sources are (obviously) Threadbanger, Etsy’s Storque, Craft:Zine, Make:Zine, and RIP Domino magazine. I also read a ridiculous amount of design blogs like Design*Sponge, Door Sixteen, Apartment Therapy, A Cup of Jo. The list goes on. I have a whole list of inspiring and helpful links on the right column of Nest.

It seems like there's very little you guys can't do yourself. Is there anything you'll never try to take on?

There are a few larger-scale DIY projects looming and waiting to be tackled. My husband and I are dying to re-do our floors in our kitchen. We rent, so it’s hard to know how far to go for a temporary home. I am also wary of starting the process of making my time machine.

You guys are all really funny, which is one of the key differences between Threadbanger and a lot of other (very earnest) DIY podcasts. Do you think you get a different kind of audience as a result?

Aww, thanks. One of the coolest things about Threadbanger and Next New Networks, is that they let us push the envelope and be a little crazy. Some of the weirder ideas I’ve had, that I thought would just be nixed immediately, Rob and Corinne were the most enthusiastic about. Having the people you work with be open to the nuttier ideas you bring to the table is key.

You get a lot of enthusiastic DIYers contributing to your show. Some projects = awesome. Others, I'm sure, not so much. Do you have any examples of projects that you opted not to put on the show?

Of course there are projects that aren’t exactly my aesthetic, but I am genuinely excited about each and every piece our viewers make and love seeing the range of style and perspective the community has. Sometimes the weirder a project is, the likelier it is to be featured in one of the shows or blog.

What podcasts do you like listening to when you're not working on creating your own?

I think Backyard FX and Best Short Films in the World on Indy Mogul are frackin’ rad. And I am pretty obsessed with NPR’s This American Life.

Anything else you wanted to mention?

A big thanks and cyberspace high-five to everyone who has supported Threadbanger and Décor It Yourself. We can only do these shows because there are awesome people out there who tune in, subscribe to the show, and keep our community interactive.