We were lucky to catch up with Graciela Martin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Graciela thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My mission is to tell real people’s stories. During the lockdowns in 2020, I made it a goal to gain insight and glean off of people that inspired me most. I started The Green Side Podcast in hopes of telling their stories, their way, with all the twists and turns it may have. The purpose is to get real about what it took to get to where they are today, especially as Landscape Designers/Architects. The field provides such unique and niche paths. It makes it very easy to know anyone in the field and be intrigued by their story.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Certainly! Here’s the revised passage with some grammar adjustments:

“I was just as lost as any other high school graduate. I had no clue what to do with my life since I had no budding interests or what I believed was ‘raw talent.’ I loved the piano but had to quit. I loved photography, but I wasn’t going to pay for a college degree in that. I loved the idea of teaching children, but at the time, that wasn’t a respectable career choice. So, I went to community college in Houston just to take some time and learn about what I might like. Suddenly, yet providentially, my family and I moved to South Florida where I found my love for plants (succulents, to be specific). In fact, I loved succulents so much I started my own business called My Tiny Oasis, where I would sell my succulent arrangements in thrifted pots and glass terrariums. The business didn’t do that well, FYI! Come to find out, people liked to make it themselves! But I loved it. I gained a love for plants, design, and especially people. I loved talking with people, teaching them things, learning about arrangements.

My best friend told me about Landscape Architecture, and I immediately rejected the thought. ‘Architecture? No way. I hate straight lines,’ I naively thought to myself. But as I did my research, I found that Landscape Architecture was the perfect combination of plants, design, and people. I was hooked. Midway into my five-year master’s journey, I started The Green Side Podcast. I realized that there hadn’t really been anyone else in the industry, besides a few people (albeit, amazing people), that started a podcast about the people behind Landscape Architecture. I wanted to be myself, and, most importantly, I wanted their experience to be shared. As a struggling college student getting their Master’s degree during the COVID-19 Lockdowns, my future was looking grim. My mind was caged in, and I needed a way out of my ‘design block.’ I needed to talk to people to learn about their world. Was it hard for them too? Did they struggle like me? How did they get from here to there? Do they struggle too? These burning questions were best answered by just simply…asking them. So, I bought a cheap LAV mic, called a friend, and hit ‘record.’

Landscape Architecture students and young professionals are typically shocked at how different the job is from school. The podcast is an attempt to bridge this gap. I did everything I could to ‘prepare’ myself for it too, but nothing teaches you better than The School of Hard Knocks. The best part is, I get to interview people that have been ‘through it’ and back. Through their own personal stories, they get to be the ones to pass on the knowledge, wisdom, and experience to those who need it before putting on their adult pants and getting into the real world.

Sometimes, I can’t believe I went on Amazon, bought a cheap LAV mic, plugged it in, and said, ‘Hi, welcome to The Green Side Podcast. I’m your host, Graciela.’ I’m most proud (and beyond grateful) for the ability to do that. Some people hope to start a podcast and never do. As a person who struggles with following through, I am so glad I followed through with this one. It’s not a perfect follow-through, I admit. But I don’t intend to stop. Before every interview, I remind myself of one thing: it’s not about me. Let’s be honest; it’s easy to become consumed with how you sound, how you look, what you’ll say, will you sound smart or dumb, will it be a boring episode, or a great one, is this microphone good enough, am I being real, am I being myself enough… am I good enough? But what if we sat down, looked the other person in the eye and said, ‘Tell me about yourself.’ Did any of those questions matter anymore? No. They don’t. That reality is so freeing! I love the idea of getting to know someone for who they are. That’s why I do what I do. It’s the people.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

“I was fired from my first job out of college. At that time, I thought I had done everything I could, but when it’s over, it’s over. You know that moment when you realize that even though you could’ve tried harder, it wouldn’t have stopped the inevitable? That feeling of ‘I think I’m going to get fired’ and then it comes true? It was painful.

After that experience, I wanted to quit Landscape Architecture altogether. I thought it was too hard, I wasn’t smart enough, I wasn’t the right fit for it. Most importantly, I classified myself as a ‘failure.’

There are moments in your life that you must realize: you’re not all you thought you were, and that’s okay. We need to be humbled at times to show us where to move on. I needed to be humbled for sure! I realized that while the job wasn’t a good fit for me (or frankly, them), I had to take responsibility for my failures. But just because you got fired doesn’t mean it’s the end. I learned it was just the beginning. After my pity party, I realized this was the perfect opportunity to take on the podcast with full force and use that to learn from other people’s stories. Along with dear friends pouring into me with wisdom, I also found practical wisdom from the people I interviewed. Each person opened up an avenue of curiosity and opportunity to consider the industry one more time. Particularly, Pearce Butcher was a helpful one. She is resilient, smart, and a talented artist. She reminded me that I loved landscape architecture and that it was the only career that inspired me the most. So, I got back up and tried again. Now, I work for a wonderful company where I am learning and growing. I would not have had it any other way. You learn most in the valleys not just the mountain tops! (Psalm 23)

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is that I get to do something I was created to do. I am simply doing what’s innately in me which is to create and make things for people to enjoy! It can be anything. From podcasting about landscape architecture, making watercolor bookmarks for my dear friends, writing a thank you note on my typewriter, making a video about watercolor paintings, or doing photography. All these things I enjoy because it makes people smile. The biggest reward is when they get inspired too and do it themselves.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thegreensidepodcast
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graciela-martin-a02989a9?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thegreensidepodcast?si=3_Zdve4zEwv9ZiyO