This week on HGTV Obsessed, hosts Kat and Mike Stickler have a virtual double date with superstar couple, Allison Holker Boss and Stephen “tWitch” Boss to talk all about Design Star: Next Gen. They share what’s different about the reboot, and what it was like to film on a custom compound. Allison shares her story of going into labor at Home Goods and why she insisted on checking out before going to the hospital. The Boss’s share their favorite challenge from Design Star: Next Gen, the diverse competitors on the season, and what the judges look for in the next HGTV design star. Allison and “tWitch” met on So You Think You Can Dance, and they reveal who made the first move after reading all the wrong signals. The couples talk about marriage, parenting, and the most important things they’re teaching their kids. Then, they share their thoughts on words as home decor and whether “Live, Laugh, Love” is outplayed. Finally, Taylor Spellman comes to the rescue of a listener whose home listing isn’t getting any love.
This week on HGTV Obsessed, hosts Kat and Mike Stickler have a virtual double date with superstar couple, Allison Holker Boss and Stephen “tWitch” Boss to talk all about Design Star: Next Gen. They share what’s different about the reboot, and what it was like to film on a custom compound. Allison shares her story of going into labor at Home Goods and why she insisted on checking out before going to the hospital. The Boss’s discuss their favorite challenge from Design Star: Next Gen, the diverse competitors on the season, and what the judges look for in the next HGTV design star. Allison and “tWitch” met on So You Think You Can Dance, and they reveal who made the first move after reading all the wrong signals. The couples also talk about marriage, parenting, and the most important things they’re teaching their kids. Then, they share their thoughts on words as home decor and whether “Live, Laugh, Love” is outplayed. Finally, Taylor Spellman comes to the rescue of a listener whose home listing isn’t getting any love.
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Find episode transcript here: https://hgtv-obsessed.simplecast.com/episodes/design-stars-allison-holker-stephen-twitch-boss-practical-home-selling-tips
KAT STICKLER: I had coffee. It's kicking in.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah, it's finally kicking in.
KAT STICKLER: (SINGING) I don't drink coffee for this reason.
MIKE STICKLER: I'm so sorry, guys.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
KAT STICKLER: Hi, guys, and welcome. I'm Kat.
MIKE STICKLER: And I'm Mike.
KAT STICKLER: This is HGTV Obsessed. Hi, guys. And welcome back to another episode of HGTV Obsessed.
MIKE STICKLER: The weekly podcast where we dive into all things HGTV. I'm Mike.
KAT STICKLER: And I'm Kat. And when we aren't watching HGTV, we make funny videos on TikTok about marriage, parenting, and life. I cannot believe who we have on the podcast today.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah, superstars, no doubt about it.
KAT STICKLER: So excited to talk to them. So today on the podcast we have Allison Holker Boss and Stephen tWitch Boss. They're here to spill the tea on all things Design Star Next Gen.
MIKE STICKLER: That's right. Design Star Next Gen, it's HGTV's latest competition series, where eight talented designers from across the country compete in intense weekly challenges for the chance to win $50,000 in cash and a shot at their own show. Allison is the host of the show, and her husband tWitch is one of the guest celebrity judges.
KAT STICKLER: They also talk all about their lives as social media influencers, celebrities, and fellow TikTokers. I'm not going to lie, this felt like TikTok couples therapy. I loved their advice on how they keep things fresh and fun when you're married and how you work together. They have the greatest chemistry.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah.
KAT STICKLER: They exceeded all of my expectations. You could say they danced their way right into my heart.
MIKE STICKLER: Oh, God. Oh, my Lord. I'm surprised you didn't try to dance for them and get their approval, like, get some tips.
KAT STICKLER: I dance with them. They don't know it, though. I didn't get to tell them I dance with them on their Instagram.
MIKE STICKLER: Really?
KAT STICKLER: Yeah, they teach dance on their Instagram page. I didn't want to distract them.
MIKE STICKLER: What if you take a video of you doing that and send it to her of you doing the workout?
KAT STICKLER: Why would I do that?
MIKE STICKLER: I don't know. I feel like you would do that. You would do that.
KAT STICKLER: I would look ridiculous. We're more comedy. Dance isn't our thing. We've tried it.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah, no.
KAT STICKLER: We tried to do a dance and people were like, what are you guys doing?
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah, we're just too weird for sure.
KAT STICKLER: Something feels wrong about this. You're not doing the moves right.
MIKE STICKLER: Mike is not gyrating properly. Oh my gosh, anyway, so it was an awesome episode. We're super ecstatic for you guys to hear this episode. It's going to be great. We won't keep you waiting any longer. So without further ado, here's our talk with Allison and tWitch.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
KAT STICKLER: Allison and tWitch, guys, welcome to HGTV Obsessed. So happy.
MIKE STICKLER: So happy to have you guys.
ALLISON HOLKER: Oh, we are so excited. And I love how close you guys are, because we like to be really close, but I feel like it always makes people uncomfortable. But now we're all close together.
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah, exactly.
MIKE STICKLER: Hey, cuddling is great. I don't know, that's just my two cents.
STEPHEN BOSS: Absolutely.
ALLISON HOLKER: Yeah.
STEPHEN BOSS: And also, I think this can probably count as our first Zoom double date. We'll call it that is what we're going to do. This is what this is.
MIKE STICKLER: I'm honored.
ALLISON HOLKER: We do like dates for us too. I never thought of it that way.
KAT STICKLER: So before we dive in, what's the latest with you guys? What's the 411 you want to fill everyone in on? What's going on?
ALLISON HOLKER: Oh, man, well, I'm so excited because on HGTV and Discovery Plus, I have Design Star Next Gen coming out. The show is just so amazing. It was such a huge honor to be a part of it. And so I'm really, really excited about that. But I would say as far as work goes, that's what I'm working on. That's what's going on right now.
STEPHEN BOSS: And it couldn't have been more-- It also couldn't have been more perfect for her, because she's just like, when it comes to design and just having an eye on things, yeah, she's the perfect person for it. So I'm so excited to see how everything comes together.
ALLISON HOLKER: And I'm excited to see for HGTV for a competition show like this to come back. They had this for so many years, and I was a fan back then. So now to be a part of it now is so incredible. And we've both been on so many competition shows, I'm like, this is amazing. Now I get to sit from a different sides. It's an honor.
MIKE STICKLER: That's so surreal. That's awesome. So can you tell for our listeners who maybe don't know about the show, can you tell us a little bit about the show and what to expect from it?
ALLISON HOLKER: Oh yeah, so Design Star Next Gen is a competition for designers and renovators. So we bring in eight designer innovators from all around the country, and we put them through challenges in every single episode. And when I say challenges, these challenges are insane, everything from designing a kitchen, doing a living dining space, indoor, outdoor spaces, and even flipping an airplane, a caboose, and a bus.
And these, they're only given a few days to do these challenges. And l I'm sitting back like, there's no way. There's no way. And then they do it and it's amazing and so impressive. Every episode they always push themselves, and it's really incredible.
KAT STICKLER: So this is actually a reboot of the original show that was on HGTV Design Star. What is the difference about the show this time around?
ALLISON HOLKER: Well, I would first off just say everything. Everything they're really, really elevating the level. But I think the biggest challenge is essentially what we have is any designer's dream campus. And when I say in campus, we have what's called the design hub, where they do their sketches, they get to pick out their pink colors. And then we have a workshop where they actually get a build and get their hands on with doing woodwork and stuff like that.
But then we also have the furniture and selling warehouse, where it's like they go in there and there's everything that they would need to style their designs that they do. And then each designer was given essentially their own tiny home that with each challenge they get to flip. So it's like a blank canvas that they get to turn around with each new challenge.
MIKE STICKLER: That's so wild. So pausing there in the tiny home, right, so I see that you guys basically, you filmed on what was like a compound, right, that was basically, like you mentioned, that was the design center and the tiny homes, and each contestant worked out of it. And since you were on set filming this with them, does that make you both official members of the design star cult?
ALLISON HOLKER: Oh, yeah.
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah, I'd like to think so, absolutely.
ALLISON HOLKER: And bless his heart. He is the absolute best husband, where every single episode we come home like, babe, we've got to do this. You wouldn't believe it.
STEPHEN BOSS: And also just to give you more context, I'm not the dude that's like, all right, babe, let's go ahead and figure that out. For me, I'm still like, all right, so do we need a Phillips head or what? You know I'm saying?
ALLISON HOLKER: Also did you notice his action? He didn't get anything at all.
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah, you see what I'm saying? It's just like, when I think tools, I think OK, screwdriver. Is that all we need? Is that it?
MIKE STICKLER: It's a running--
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah, it's a running joke, right? It's crazy. It's just but the inspiration that I think people that are really passionate about design and remaking things and all that the inspiration that you'll get from this show, because what these designers do every episode it really is. You come home to your space and you're like, OK, so literally anything is possible.
ALLISON HOLKER: And it's incredible, and another thing that really makes this one different is there was such a family feel. Because we were on a campus, it's everyone's very competitive, because everyone wants to be the Design Star at the end of the day. But there was this collaboration feel, because you could see what each other were working on. You'd see people going and helping each other out in their tiny home.
And so it was just like this family that was created together. But essentially, though, you feel the heat coming, though, because they're winning a chance to have their own TV show and $50,000 on HGTV, which is insane, yeah.
MIKE STICKLER: The stakes are high. The stakes are high, right?
ALLISON HOLKER: Yeah.
MIKE STICKLER: I'll go back to what you're saying it's a running joke in our family that I rely on my mother-in-law, who's the handiest woman in the world to come over and fix everything at our house.
KAT STICKLER: My mom is like this small Latin woman that can just fix anything. It's amazing.
MIKE STICKLER: It's so weird.
KAT STICKLER: A fridge, a washer, a dryer, anything, she's got it. She's like a mechanic.
MIKE STICKLER: Literally, I call her when I'm like, what's-- like you were saying, what screwdriver do I use?
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah, exactly. And that always helps. It's like you've got to have somebody that at least knows what they do, because yo, when I tell you it's just like, listen, I just need some direction. Just tell me what to do. I can do it, but like, yo.
ALLISON HOLKER: It's crazy because like I love design. I love interior design. I love creating visuals, and I love creating a home that has a feeling and a warmth but also very, very creative feeling. So I always come up with all these grand ideas, and I'm just like, you got to figure it out. That's it. You just got to do it.
KAT STICKLER: I have a vision. Just let me see it.
STEPHEN BOSS: Just figure it, yeah.
KAT STICKLER: So you both are obviously no strangers to competition shows, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With The Stars. What was it like being on the other side as a host and as a celebrity guest judge? What was that kind of flip for you guys?
STEPHEN BOSS: Well, yeah, you're not wrong. We definitely know what that pressure feels like. But then also we know how exciting it is, because you've got to think that when you participate on shows like this, it's like you're-- and not putting it lightly, you're on the precipice of life-changing events, you know what I mean? So with that, I think neither one of us really take that lightly.
So I know that, and I'm talking about her like she's not here, but I the comfort and also inspiration that she brings as a host to the contestants as they compete week after week, because that can be a lot sometimes. It's just like being a competitor on the show. Obviously, you're creating art and you're doing what you love, but then there's a lot of things that you have to think about-- surviving week to week, making sure that you're still standing out from the pack while also being a cool person, you know what I'm saying?
So with that, it's just like I think that from the competitions that we've been involved in, going back and being able to speak to contestants even just being around contestants, I think it brings an ease and a love and a light that can really be useful going on week to week to make sure that competitors don't just stay in their head, because that can be a very easy space to slip into is just to be in your head and forget that this is actually an experience to take part in wholeheartedly.
ALLISON HOLKER: Yeah, and honestly, having the experience being from competition. A lot of the times, we are the ones holding ourselves back. We're the ones overthinking something. We come up with the vision and go, oh, I can't do that. I can't do that.
And so as the host, I never wanted to step in and just deliver lines. I wanted these designers and renovators to know that I am there, and I am their biggest fan. I am here to help you in any way I can and let them know that they deserve to be in this space, because they are the best. And so I always wanted them to know I am their advocate, and I am there to make them shine.
KAT STICKLER: That's so nice. I felt like you believed in me too when you were telling that. I was standing up a little straighter like, oh yeah, the season of a star.
MIKE STICKLER: My soul is warmer right now.
KAT STICKLER: So good. OK, so it seems like based on your TikTok, the dances, your home, the design is gorgeous. Half of my family live in Brazil and the design in my aunt's house in Brazil is literally exactly like your home, the sliding doors with that open feel, and I want that in our home. It's just I would watch your dance videos and be like, pause, screenshot and then pause, screenshot. That backyard looks so good. It was great. So do you both-- oh, I guess I know Allison does. But do you tWitch have a love for interior design?
STEPHEN BOSS: I'm going to be 100. My love for interior design it's really shared with hers, actually. Do you know what I'm saying?
MIKE STICKLER: You appreciate her design.
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah, exactly. So for me, and I don't know if you could agree too, right, but it's like, for me, it's just like I can appreciate it. And thank goodness for her mind and the way that she can put, because I'm telling you, from any shot that you get about, it is. I got to give her props. It's beautifully done.
And sometimes as she's talking about it and I'm like, yeah, well, yeah. And behind the smile I'm just like, what? But with that, man, it's just like the appreciation has A, grown, because now I feel like I have a better understanding of the things that she's talking about, especially as we go along.
She and I have been together for 10 years now. And we've lived together for what, like seven years, something like that. So with each place that we've been in, I've slowly but surely come to see the overall vision that she's talking about. Even sometimes when I don't understand, I'm just like, you know what, I trust you. So it's like, so the love it's actually more of an appreciation for what it is that she's done, because she's immaculate with it. She's a gangster with each design. It's amazing.
ALLISON HOLKER: The home is like the heart of the family, right, besides the people, right? You need a space that feels comforting, and warm, and creative, and you get excited about waking up in. So for me, I love creating spaces like that, where guests love coming over. They love the energy. They love the feeling of the home, but you've got to create that for yourself.
So that's really where my love of design comes in that feels like a huge purpose for me to bring people together in a lovely space. But then it's really fun. I got to be honest with you. When he says, I thank God for me, I got to agree, because let me tell you, when I first started dating him, he put a sectional in his bedroom, and you couldn't open the door. And I had to creep open the door and sneak in. I was like, babe, you can't do this. We can't do this.
STEPHEN BOSS: You're right. But just hear me out for a quick second, all right.
ALLISON HOLKER: He needed me.
STEPHEN BOSS: I really did. But let me just hit you off to this, because it's off.
MIKE STICKLER: Let's hear it.
STEPHEN BOSS: In the bedroom, it was like a master bedroom situation. I had my bed, I was like, man, there's a lot of space in here. I would really love a seating area so I can play video games and stuff like that. So I went and I got a sectional through the wall.
ALLISON HOLKER: A ginormous sectional.
STEPHEN BOSS: So don't get me wrong, it definitely fit into the room. It might have been a bit much, but just get into it. In the morning I could wake up and literally roll from my bed onto the sectional, you know what I'm saying?
MIKE STICKLER: It was great for you.
ALLISON HOLKER: You couldn't open the doors all the way in his rooms, like the bathroom, the closet, or the door to get into the space.
MIKE STICKLER: Hey, it worked for him. It was his oasis.
STEPHEN BOSS: That's what I'm. Saying It was.
ALLISON HOLKER: It was so bad.
STEPHEN BOSS: You feel me on that, right? I know it might have been cramped a little bit, but I woke up every morning like, oh, well, I guess it's time to roll out to and then there I was on the couch. And then when it was time to go to bed, I was just like, I'm just back rolling and I was onto the bed.
ALLISON HOLKER: It was so bad. And also, we are just like starting to really go to each other's places, so I had to really figure out how I was going to move the sectional, because it was not going to stay. So I made up all these excuses and started by one piece out of the room and then another. And then now we don't have it.
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah, she was creating a surgical with it. It was just gone. It was weird.
KAT STICKLER: I don't know where it went. One day I woke up, it wasn't there. So I think the transition then for you guys in your home makes sense, because now you guys have started a beautiful family, and like Allison was saying, making that design the heart of the home. And they told us a funny story about your pregnancy labor experience, Allison. I heard you went into labor in HomeGoods.
ALLISON HOLKER: Yes.
KAT STICKLER: You just have to tell me all about this.
ALLISON HOLKER: Oh, yeah. OK, so my mother, who is just like my teacher, my hero, my best friend, just like we're so close, we love going shopping for our homes together. And she was visiting me because I was pregnant. And so we went shopping at HomeGoods, and I started having my contractions. But we are getting ready for Christmas, and there was all this amazing Christmas decor.
And so I was like mom, I'm fine. I'm fine. She's making sure, and I was like, I'm fine. She was like, how often are the contractions happening? I was like, oh, like every couple of minutes. But let's just make sure we feel what we need, go through checkout and then we'll be fine. And she was like, yeah, OK, we can push through. So even my mom's encouraging this.
So we were picking-- we have two carts full of Christmas decor, and we were in line. And it was starting to get real bad where I was like, oh, this is not like Braxton Hicks contractions. I'm in labor.
STEPHEN BOSS: I'm having the baby--
ALLISON HOLKER: I'm having the baby right now, and it's Christmas time at HomeGoods, so the line is very, very long. So I called Stephen, and I was very calm. I was like, hey, babe. What are you doing? I was like, I think I'm in labor. Don't freak out, though. We're going to be OK. He was like, get home. I got to take-- I was like, well, I got to check-out first. I was like, I'll be home real soon. Don't worry about me.
So we checked out, we got home, and then literally, I packed a bag. And then we went to the hospital and I had who's now baby Zaia an hour after we got to the hospital. So I was fully in labor at HomeGoods and I was like, I got to get these Christmas elves. I got to get to be real.
STEPHEN BOSS: It's also a testament too to all the significant others out there that's like, you just got to trust them. You just got to trust them, because for me, she was OK. But then I could tell by the tone of her voice that it was like, OK, this is it. But she was like, but I got to check-out first. I was like, girl, if you don't put them things down and come home, but she was like, no, I got it. I'mma check us out. Yeah, she had it.
And I was at home just in mid-freak out, like freak out on standby. But she had it. It was good.
KAT STICKLER: What a woman.
MIKE STICKLER: It was like stress shopping. You were stress shopping, you know what I mean?
ALLISON HOLKER: It was also relaxing. I just knew Christmas was going to be so good, you know what I mean?
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah, it was, and the decorations you got were fire. It was so good.
ALLISON HOLKER: Really elevated up out here for baby Zaia.
MIKE STICKLER: All right, we could talk about pregnancy all day and giving birth. But let's get back to the show. So there's a stacked roster of celebrity judges on the show-- Jonathan Adler, Lauren Makk, right? So what are these judges looking for in the next generation of these design stars? Is there an IT factor? What are you guys looking for?
ALLISON HOLKER: Well, obviously, the biggest component is design. Do they have what it takes to create a whole design movement, right? Because essentially, we love people that can take someone's home and turn it into something fresh and new, right? But they have to also be able to deliver that with the TV show, right?
So they have to have personality. They have to be able to make those hard decisions, right? So we're looking for the whole package, a fantastic designer, someone that could design for someone else and not just their own ones, but also that is going to bring everyone else who's watching the show to want to do the same thing.
STEPHEN BOSS: So you feel like you're a part of it too. So yeah, absolutely.
ALLISON HOLKER: And what also made the show so amazing, though, is we brought in the eight separate designer renovators to compete against each other. And each one of those designers had completely different spirits and energies and personalities about them, but you see that come across in their designs. And I love that you could look at each room and be like, oh, that's so-and-so, that's so-and-so. And that's what made it so powerful to see this competition, because you grow to love each one of the designers. So for these judges, it was so, so hard to lose someone each and every episode.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah.
KAT STICKLER: Off of what you were saying, Allison, the diversity of the contestants on the show is perfect. It's such a nice balance. You can touch on every single person. So I feel like everyone can relate when they watch it.
There is someone who has 35 years of experience. They represent an older generation. And then you have someone who just quit their waitressing job and they're pursuing design full-time. And then you have someone who moonlights as a drag queen. So were you inspired seeing these unique designers and how they tackle the different challenges and what that brought to the show and all that?
ALLISON HOLKER: I just think all the diversity in general just brought so much culture and life to the show. It really lights up the screen because everyone is showcasing a whole new element that's so important in our world. And so I just feel like it really made it fun. It made it exciting, because each person had something so special to share with everyone.
MIKE STICKLER: Can you share a challenge you loved that viewers can look forward to for the rest of the season?
ALLISON HOLKER: Oh, yes, there were so many incredible ones. But definitely, my favorite challenge is they have to flip and turn around an airplane, a caboose, or a bus. And you look at these ginormous spaces and they only have a couple of days to accomplish this. You're like, there's no way they're actually going to get all this done, because they have these huge, huge ideas. And then they do, and it's amazing. It's so amazing what they create together.
So I think because those spaces, the airplane, the caboose, and the bus, they're so different and they're so quirky to work with, it was really fun to watch that episode just because you're just seeing these spaces come to life.
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah, and I think the one I'm looking forward to was one that they were working on while I was there actually. And it's to transform the space back from a daytime space to a nighttime space. And I just thought that was dope just because I think functionality is a really good thing to me. So the way that these designers came up with these ideas of things that can move or double as something else to transform the space is just incredible, so I think that, yeah.
KAT STICKLER: Yeah, that's definitely my favorite part of those shows when they just make something so ordinary, and I feel like it can be a life thing, and you can just make it so amazing and connect with you.
MIKE STICKLER: It's so more than just being like a practical object.
KAT STICKLER: Yeah, I love it. So something I thought was interesting about these challenges was you add social media presence to the mix. And that was new, especially for HGTV. Obviously, this day and age, building a brand on these platforms is really important, and we can relate to that. So as social media sensations, you guys, what do you think is the key to engaging with your audience through social media?
MIKE STICKLER: Love that.
ALLISON HOLKER: Yeah, I love that, because also I love that the show is really elevating that the consciousness of that, right? Building a brand is so important for any business and also at this point, any individual, honestly. And social media is a fantastic place to do that.
I think sometimes people look at social media as being too much. It's a lot to handle. There's so many things to do and pay attention to. But really, if you strip yourself of the negatives and look at the positives, you're opening so many doors with social media. You have so many people that you can reach and really target with it.
And I think that social media is a place that you can start any business you want, and in this case a design business. And it's really important to know who you're targeting, what they want, what you want. And also you can create anything that you want with social media. You've got to look at this as a positive, fun element to really show who you are.
And I think the people that really take advantage of that, and in this case on the show, really know how to engage with their audience. You're making it fun. You're making it exciting, and you're bringing people on with you in your journey, and people love that.
STEPHEN BOSS: Exactly. And she really hit it on the head then when she said, being yourself is authenticity, right? I think that's totally key words right there is that I think that all of us can probably relate with. It's like you find something very authentic and genuine about yourself that you can really carve out and put on this online presence. And then not only are you creating something that people can latch on to, but even speaking about the show that's also then training these contestants as well for having a show, right?
So it feeds right into what the show is geared towards anyway, right, which is delivering yourself as a product to the audience. And obviously, with the way that how powerful social media is now, obviously, audiences can sniff out something that's inauthentic in a second. That kind of training and that kind of self-awareness is so important nowadays.
ALLISON HOLKER: I just think it's an amazing opportunity, right? Social media opened the door where you can reach anybody around the world at any moment if you want to. And I just think it's something that's so positive and so incredible that we have all these people at our fingertips.
MIKE STICKLER: So you guys are a super solid couple just from talking to you genuinely, really love you guys. And so you're both professional dancers and you met while you were both all stars on So You Think You Can Dance.
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah.
MIKE STICKLER: I have to know who made the first move.
KAT STICKLER: tWitch just pointed to Allison.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah, wait, this is the only audio I need you to--
STEPHEN BOSS: All right, all right, yeah, so--
MIKE STICKLER: You need to vocally tell everyone that.
STEPHEN BOSS: I'm on the video. Yeah, Allison made the first move. You guys, listen, I've said this many times. I have never been the dude ever that's been like, oh, yes, she's feeling me, son. No, that's not me, right? Yeah, she definitely made the first move. And this was actually a few weeks before we actually made the genuine connection, right, as I got y'all.
So see, I got her number, right? But that was her saying like, yo, take my number down, you know what I'm saying? Here's the thing, though, didn't call.
ALLISON HOLKER: Never called me.
STEPHEN BOSS: I didn't call. Look, but I wasn't under the pretense of like, oh, she want me to call because she's feeling me. I thought it was because it was like, OK, we're genuinely connected, because here's the thing too. You got to know that Allison is like social butterfly extreme, right?
And throughout the time that we were on So You Think You Can Dance, I would find out after weekends away, we'd come back for rehearsal, and people would be talking about their weekends like, oh yeah, we're over Allison's house, we had dinner. I was like, oh yeah, y'all went to Allison's house.
ALLISON HOLKER: I never invited him because I was too shy to invite him at the time.
STEPHEN BOSS: And so I was like, oh, she doesn't like me.
ALLISON HOLKER: But then I decided to put that energy aside because I just had too strong feelings. I was like, he is so cute. So I was like, I have to just-- I was like, he is clearly not making a move on me. So I was talking to my friend at the time and I was like, OK, I just got to do it. So I would start touching his shoulder and stuff like that.
MIKE STICKLER: When were you like, oh, holy crap, this woman's into me.
STEPHEN BOSS: Honestly, so this moment happened is like it was almost like a magnet. It sounds so corny now that I'm about to say this. It's like a magnetic attraction, it was. So we at the wrap party for So You Think that season, we've shared the first dance, and we've been together ever since, you know what I mean?
ALLISON HOLKER: He makes it sound like it was like a slow dance like snowball. No, this was full-blown music video, like Usher Yeah! playing. We're going so hard together.
MIKE STICKLER: Booty shaking.
ALLISON HOLKER: Getting dancing all over the place. It was amazing.
STEPHEN BOSS: Absolutely, yeah.
ALLISON HOLKER: But it was like hype feels.
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah, that first dance lasted like the entire time that we were there, yeah.
MIKE STICKLER: Nice. It just set the stage.
ALLISON HOLKER: Yeah, and then literally we've been together ever since that moment.
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah.
MIKE STICKLER: Wow.
KAT STICKLER: Now you guys are married and you have three children. And you honestly look like you're having so much fun together. Even watching you on this Zoom, just the way you connect and the way you appreciate what the other person brings to the table, just the chemistry is just shooting arrows at me right now. I'm just like, Cupid is going crazy. So what is a normal typical day like in the Boss household?
ALLISON HOLKER: Typical, yeah, I would love to.
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah, the normal typical day, they go-- honestly, it bounces all over the place, because as you said, we have three kids. But our three kids are in very different stages of life right now, where our oldest is 12, 12-year-old daughter. So she's in junior high. She's doing the distant learning and all that and also approaching teens, right? So they're in a completely different stage of life.
Then we have a four-year-old son, who is basically Miles Morales in training. That's the new Spider Man and his training is the moment his eyes open. As a matter of fact, when we started this Zoom, when Allison got up and walked off for a second, you heard him coming down the stairs. And coming down the stairs, it's like, you got to hear like--
ALLISON HOLKER: Web shooters down the stairs all day long.
STEPHEN BOSS: And then Zaia, she's one. So she's up, she's moving, she's trying to keep up with her brother and sister. So it's like, a typical day in the Boss house, it's different from day to day because we have them but then also we're working, and we're working on different things. So it's literally hard to say what a typical day in the Boss.
But I tell you what we do have is staples in our day which we definitely connect with each other in the mornings before we go off of work and stuff like that. We still have coffee together and sit at the table in the mornings and just chill. And then we also always do dinner together. Dinner is a very big thing for us, because we're busy. We're doing a lot throughout the day. So as long as we can begin and end the days with each other, that's always a great thing.
ALLISON HOLKER: And our home really is everything he's saying. It feels wild and crazy. But when we come together, we try to create a whole new feeling, where it's about communication, having great conversation with our kids, hearing about how they're feeling. And I just feel like amongst all the crazy, I feel like we also feel a lot of love in our home, which makes it all OK.
So I think we have wild energy, but we also come together and make sure that we pay attention to how each other are going through the space and the energy of the world right now, because it's a little bit of an odd time, if I'm honest know. But I think we do a really, really good job at communicating with each other and with our children and making sure that everyone's doing OK at that moment.
STEPHEN BOSS: Absolutely, because at this point, it's just like, no matter what's going on out there, our family is the anchor for us all. You know what I'm saying? So sure, it's making sure that we always genuinely connect throughout the day. I think that's the most important part. So I think that that aspect can be considered typical. It's like making sure that we find time to connect with all of us throughout our days.
ALLISON HOLKER: I would say we play hard and we love hard.
STEPHEN BOSS: Yes, 100%.
MIKE STICKLER: That's so awesome.
KAT STICKLER: You should write a book and call it that.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah, that's a great title.
ALLISON HOLKER: Thank you. It started all right here.
MIKE STICKLER: New York Times bestseller.
KAT STICKLER: Yeah, I'll buy 1,000 copies right off the bat.
STEPHEN BOSS: Absolutely. Kat and Mike, they're doing the foreword for us. That's pretty good.
MIKE STICKLER: Let's go!
KAT STICKLER: Yeah, we'll do a little TikTok too in the beginning. We're like, we don't dance. We don't dance but we'll try.
MIKE STICKLER: That would be lit, oh my gosh. What do your kids think of seeing you on TV?
ALLISON HOLKER: Honestly, they don't know anything else, you know what I mean? So it's just like that's just, kind of, it is what it is. They still think it's cool. They'll be like, oh, look, there dad on Ellen. We're like, that's his job. And they're like, OK. But it's just been something that they've only ever known, so I don't think that they know it could be a different way.
STEPHEN BOSS: Absolutely. And also it's a couple of things. It also depends on which kid you're asking and also at what time, you know what I'm saying? Sometimes for Weslie, who is our oldest, it's really cool. And then like I said before, she's approaching the teens, so sometimes it can be really embarrassing for a teen.
ALLISON HOLKER: I would like to think that we're really cool parents, but we're still the parents to our kids. So we are 100% the most embarrassing thing to them all of the time.
STEPHEN BOSS: Absolutely.
ALLISON HOLKER: But we love it. I would not change that. I will embarrass my kids all the time. They got to learn.
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah, and the embarrassment is only going to increase.
ALLISON HOLKER: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
STEPHEN BOSS: No, don't get it twisted.
ALLISON HOLKER: For sure. We're already planning on being at my daughter's prom. She's not getting away from us.
MIKE STICKLER: Chaperone?
STEPHEN BOSS: She got to Chaperone with these dances.
ALLISON HOLKER: Oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah, so it's like, do you think it should be fun? But it's also like, oh my gosh. And anything that we do, her friends are like, oh, I saw your parents did this. And she's like, yeah, I know. I know.
KAT STICKLER: I saw them too.
MIKE STICKLER: Oh my gosh, tWitch, I can just see you at the dance over the kid's shoulder just behind him as you're dancing just whispering in his ear.
STEPHEN BOSS: I just whip out a ruler like, hold on, player. Y'all are a little too close. Y'all are a little too close, player. Let's get a foot in there. Let's get a foot.
KAT STICKLER: So we have a baby and we are relatively new to the marriage--
MIKE STICKLER: The parent game.
KAT STICKLER: Parent game. Yeah, we're very new too.
ALLISON HOLKER: Welcome.
STEPHEN BOSS: Yeah, welcome. congrats.
MIKE STICKLER: Thank you.
KAT STICKLER: Thank you. And I feel like it all happened very quickly.
MIKE STICKLER: Oh, yeah.
KAT STICKLER: All at once. So I know you guys were talking about how you find that harmony. You start the day together, you end the day together, and you have quality conversations with your kids. What do you think the most important lesson you have to teach your kids is? What is something you really genuinely want to get through to them?
ALLISON HOLKER: I want my kids to know that they are the main characters in their story, right? So don't be the sidekick to someone else's story. Really know who you want to be and who you want to be seen as and who you want yourself to be. And just move forward from that purpose and never look back.
If you're moving from purpose and from love and just living your best life for yourself, no one can take that from you. And so I always say to my kids like, you are the main character, so just remember. And you have to be a strong person in this world. But all that takes is love and purpose. Something that we're learning too is that as parents, we want to be the best guides and teachers for someone.
But sometimes when we think of guides and teachers, I think sometimes parents think that's telling the kid exactly who they have to be to succeed when really our job is to teach them the best skills for them to develop exactly who they are and tell us who they are. So it's this fine line and this fine balancing act that you have to do as a parent is that I'm guiding and teaching you the best skills and qualities for you to develop who you are. And I'm going to support that.
So it's always this give and take you have to do as a parent, which is a very, very hard balance to learn. But that's what makes it so exciting is you have kids. So we have three kids and they're all completely different from each other. But we are teaching them the qualities that we believe are important in life, but they're using them in their own separate ways for who they are, and I think it's really special.
KAT STICKLER: So the winner of Design Star Next Gen is going to be catapulted to fame and a much, much larger platform. That's amazing, much like you both were. Any advice for the winner and maybe us who got 5 million followers in six months.
[APPLAUSE]
STEPHEN BOSS: That's amazing.
KAT STICKLER: We made it to the ups and downs that come with sudden success and fame.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah.
ALLISON HOLKER: I think the biggest advice I would give is to stay true and authentic to who you are, because that is what got you to the place you are today, right? You don't need to switch it up and turn into someone else. You don't have to take on a new thing. Just be exactly who you are. Develop that, perfect that, and allow yourself to shine. And never let anyone else tell you differently.
STEPHEN BOSS: Remember what got you to where you are, and that's the foundation. That's the foundation.
ALLISON HOLKER: And live from gratitude. I will say that too. Always, forever, no matter how big, no matter what opportunities come your way, where you move to, where you come from, all these things lead from gratitude always.
MIKE STICKLER: That's so good.
KAT STICKLER: This part, we're getting schooled in this classroom. Allison, tWitch, right now you guys it's time to-- I was going to do a joke. I changed my mind.
ALLISON HOLKER: I want to hear it.
STEPHEN BOSS: You had us hanging on it. I was like--
ALLISON HOLKER: I want to hear the joke. I love it. I want to hear it.
MIKE STICKLER: It's time to one two step.
STEPHEN BOSS: Love it. You should do it. You should do it. It's good.
KAT STICKLER: To defend the trend, thank you, yeah. So we're going to give you both a design trend and you give us your thoughts on that.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
OK, Allison, as an avid HomeGoods fan, you've seen plenty of word art as home decor. What are your thoughts? Do you live, laugh, love it, or should everyone relax with the wall words?
ALLISON HOLKER: OK, I know this is such a hot topic right now, OK. I know a lot of people got-- people feel that live, laugh, love is out of play, but I've got to be real with you. We are a family of affirmations. We live it, breathe it. Every single day we tell our kids to say affirmations in the mirror every single day. So we are for sure the words, people.
But you know what, I want to say it, so they ought to stay, but make them cool. Just do it with like neon lights or like cool colors. So make it pop. Make it fun. Make it relevant to the new times. But oh, man, yeah we--
STEPHEN BOSS: And also I think too it's just like, even if you're out and about and you're finding that the words that you're seeing are not speaking to you, there's still so many other options that do. Like even as we talk right now, there's the beginning of Rapper's Delight on the wall over here and also the beginning of Biggie's Juicy, it was all a dream. It was right here.
Yeah, you can still find words that's love right there. You can still find-- well, don't pull the word chicken pox. We got it, yeah.
ALLISON HOLKER: No, we love it, and we stand by it. And we stand strong.
MIKE STICKLER: I love it. You guys are so great. I'm going to get a neon sign in my room right now.
KAT STICKLER: I'm convinced. That was a very quick way to defend that trend. That convinced me right away. So before you guys go, can you let everyone know where we can watch Design Star Next Gen and where we can find you on social media?
ALLISON HOLKER: Oh, you can watch on HGTV and Discovery Plus, Wednesday, February 24 9/8 Central. Guys, we are so excited. Honestly, the show is fantastic. You're going to be excited. You're going to be inspired, and you're going to get to know so many incredible designers.
STEPHEN BOSS: And then you can find us on TikTok, that's @allisonholkerboss. Me I'm @twitchtok7. And then Instagram @AllisonHolker and @sir_twitch_alot.
ALLISON HOLKER: My tags are much easier. They're just my name.
STEPHEN BOSS: Very much so. I feel inspired to create something new every time.
MIKE STICKLER: I love it. I will be following right after this call.
KAT STICKLER: It was so awesome to talk with you, guys. Thank you so much. I'm a huge fan. I was a fan before, but now I'm--
MIKE STICKLER: You guys are great. We really appreciate it.
STEPHEN BOSS: Oh, and with y'all too, seriously. And much continued blessings and success to y'all. Much love.
MIKE STICKLER: Thank you, guys.
ALLISON HOLKER: Thank you, guys.
STEPHEN BOSS: Absolutely.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
KAT STICKLER: Honestly, I am very into the word art. I would probably choose different words than live, laugh, love.
MIKE STICKLER: Yours is definitely more like live, love, make other people cry laughing.
KAT STICKLER: Oh, you're so sweet.
MIKE STICKLER: You really enjoyed that?
KAT STICKLER: Yeah.
MIKE STICKLER: Oh, cool. More streaming time.
KAT STICKLER: [CHA-CHING] I have a ton of affirmations because Allison--
MIKE STICKLER: On your mirror.
KAT STICKLER: On my mirror. Allison was talking about how important that is. And I wanted to tell her like, girl, you should see my mirror. I can't even see myself in that mirror. It's just like post-its everywhere.
MIKE STICKLER: You literally get comments on all of our TikTok videos now whenever we do bathroom scenes.
KAT STICKLER: What's on that chick's mirror?
MIKE STICKLER: What's all over your mirror? What a weirdo.
KAT STICKLER: So I feel like your words would be more like live, laugh, leave your laundry on the floor.
MIKE STICKLER: You know, I'm not going to lie. That line was written not by you, but it's accurate. They must really know me. Whoever wrote that line, you're a genius, because I definitely leave my laundry on the floor.
KAT STICKLER: I asked Michael to pick up something I was filming in the mirror and the reflection of his clothes were on the floor, and he picks it up and moves it a foot on the other side of the floor. I was like, Michael, it's still in the shot. What are you doing?
MIKE STICKLER: I just feel like I have better things to do with my time than hanging laundry up. I don't know, that's just me.
KAT STICKLER: No, it's not just you.
MIKE STICKLER: OK, well, anyways, let's get into HGTV To The Rescue.
KAT STICKLER: [MIMICS CHICKEN SOUNDS]
MIKE STICKLER: I like that.
KAT STICKLER: Thank you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
OK, everyone. It is time for one of our favorite segments. (SINGING) It's HGTV To The Rescue. What are we going to rescue today?
TAYLOR SPELLMAN: Oh my gosh, I can't believe what a singer you are.
MIKE STICKLER: You sound like a country singer.
TAYLOR SPELLMAN: It's so good. I just teared up.
KAT STICKLER: Oh my god, Taylor, that means the world.
TAYLOR SPELLMAN: So great.
KAT STICKLER: So today we have our friend Taylor Spellman from One Week To Sell. And she's going to be answering a listener's question. And James asked today, our home has been on the market for months and just isn't getting any traction. What are some quick and cheap things I can do to make it stand out and sell fast?
TAYLOR SPELLMAN: Well, James, I would start with the fact that 90% of buyers start their search online. So are your photos amazing? And if there's no traction, that is typically the first hurdle. So make sure that the photography is good.
If you have a broker who comes in and says or an agent that says, Dori, my phone is sufficient and then you put it up in a hodgepodge order, it's not going to play well when the potential buyer is viewing it. So that would be my first tip. Your photos probably aren't that great. So let's figure out how to take better photography, and then you're going to be in a better place immediately.
That said, if your photography is amazing and you're still not getting the traction you think you need, I would say a quick fix is a fresh coat of paint. And I know that no one loves painting, but we can all do it if we take a weekend and just hammer it out. It helps with photography. It helps with the cleanliness of the space, and it also helps with making sure that the potential buyer can see themselves in the space.
And then my last super quick tip is lighting. I think it's something that people oftentimes forget about. But make sure you have great new bulbs in every room. Make sure that, for instance, like the bedside table lights right here, they have the same bulb in them. One from five years ago and one from last week, it's not a good look. And that really is impactful and really inexpensive.
MIKE STICKLER: Wow. I love how quick and easy those tips are very, very practical. That's so cool. Makes me feel like we could sell a house in seven days.
KAT STICKLER: Yeah, I think my favorite thing about you is you're such an aspirational human being. I'm not talking to you, Michael, but also you as well. But we haven't even bought our first home yet, and Michael's like, yeah, we can just sell this in seven days.
MIKE STICKLER: I got this. We're going to sell this home we rent. Let's go.
KAT STICKLER: Funny what you said about the light bulbs. It sounds so mundane, but I literally notice that the first thing we walked in here and I wanted to change it. We ended up running the place but three of the bulbs were different, one would light a different color and it's like, who cares? It's lighting it up. No, you can mix, yeah.
TAYLOR SPELLMAN: Yeah, when the lighting is yellow on your face, it's not like you look over at him and you're like, let's leave. This is not good. So yeah, lighting is key.
MIKE STICKLER: Well, thank you, Taylor for answering our HGTV To The Rescue.
KAT STICKLER: Yes, awesome.
TAYLOR SPELLMAN: Great singing, again.
KAT STICKLER: Thank you so much. Thank you. That's actually what this segment is for.
MIKE STICKLER: It's for her audition for American Idol.
KAT STICKLER: Auditioning for Something.
TAYLOR SPELLMAN: Yeah, it's unknown what you're auditioning for yet, but any day now it's going to come to you. You're going to be ready.
KAT STICKLER: One day a producer will hear this and be like, wow, how did we miss this gem?
TAYLOR SPELLMAN: Yeah, if this isn't talent, I don't know what it is.
KAT STICKLER: Yeah.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MIKE STICKLER: Wow, I love how quick and easy those tips are. It makes me feel like I could sell a home in seven days.
KAT STICKLER: Does it make you feel that way?
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah, can you see that?
KAT STICKLER: No.
MIKE STICKLER: I would crush it. I'd be on the cover of every home magazine, realtor magazine. Well, I don't know what I'm saying. I've never touched one of those in my life.
KAT STICKLER: We got all the dancers on the show today. We got Allison, tWitch, Taylor, yours truly.
MIKE STICKLER: Oh, I don't think you are in that group. I'm sorry.
KAT STICKLER: Michael, that's not even in the script. You're not supposed to say that.
MIKE STICKLER: They're superior. They're real dancers.
KAT STICKLER: You said I was a good dancer.
MIKE STICKLER: Yeah.
KAT STICKLER: Well, you are a good video game player.
MIKE STICKLER: I really am, top 2% in the world.
KAT STICKLER: Really? Then win a tournament maybe. I don't know, let's make some money off of this skill.
MIKE STICKLER: You cannot even, don't even come at me just because I said, you are not tWitch or Allison, professional dancers, OK?
KAT STICKLER: Babe, I lost this tournament. I was going to win so much money, but I was so close I lost at the end. OK, just let me know when you win.
MIKE STICKLER: Maybe it's because you kept knocking on my door, asking me how long the tournament would take. How distracting.
KAT STICKLER: You know, side note, I went to a lyrical dance class last night. There were two other people in the class, but I'm pretty sure I was the star pupil. I don't know, she kept looking over at me, and I was. We did have to do a lot of things over, because I kept messing up but that's besides the point.
MIKE STICKLER: I feel like the world needs to see that lyrical dance class.
KAT STICKLER: Yeah, they need to see it when it's done. The world needs really Allison and tWitch. I feel like they just filled up my cup. They are superstars. It was just coming off of the screen this Zoom call.
Thanks so much to Allison Holker Boss and Stephen tWitch Boss for being our guests on the show today. Don't forget to tune in to Design Star Next Gen Wednesdays at 9:00 PM Eastern to see all the action and see who will be crowned the next member of the HGTV family.
MIKE STICKLER: And a big thank you to Taylor Spellman for answering today's HGTV To The Rescue question. And don't forget to catch her show One Week To Sell streaming on Discovery Plus now. If you want to ask HGTV stars your own questions, hit us up on the HGTV Instagram account. Just look for a post on Thursdays.
KAT STICKLER: And as usual, if you like what you're listening to, please, please head over to Apple Podcasts to rate and review HGTV Obsessed. I have loved reading what you guys have got to say, and it's very inspiring and motivational. And don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. And also head over to HGTV.com/podcast for the show notes on today's episode.
MIKE STICKLER: Lastly, if you want even more of us, follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube at @MikeandKat. See you next Thursday.
KAT STICKLER: Bye, guys.
[MUSIC PLAYING]