About Build Her Home | Home Building & Renovation Support for Women
Building a house is one thing. Building your home is another.
Welcome to Build Her Home — the podcast where we pull back the curtain on the custom home building process, from the first sketch of your dream home to the final walkthrough. Hosted by Lara Kennedy, founder of Black Castle Homes, this show was created for women who are stepping into the role of homeowner, decision-maker, and visionary — even if it’s your first time working with a custom home builder or managing a new construction home.
Each episode breaks down the real-life journey of building a home: how to choose the right build
In this episode Lara introduces the upcoming Build Her Home Society, a new membership community designed for women who are building, renovating, or simply making a house feel like home.
She explains how the idea grew from wanting a more organized, supportive space than a Slack channel, and shares that the platform will include courses, construction videos, onboarding documents, expert connections, freebies, live events, member directories, and topic-based chat areas.
Lara also highlights the community’s regional chats, where members can connect locally, swap recommendations, and meet up in real life, and she closes by inviting listeners to join the waitlist and participate in the free Facebook community.
JOIN THE BHH SOCIETY WAITLIST
https://blackcastle.myflodesk.com/bhhsocietywaitlist (https://blackcastle.myflodesk.com/bhhsocietywaitlist)
✨ Connect with Lara 👇🏼
https://www.instagram.com/buildherhome (https://www.instagram.com/buildherhome)
FREE Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildherhomecommunity)
Land & Home Site Checklist (https://blackcastle.myflodesk.com/landandhomesitechecklist)
25 Jun 2026
Ep. 5 | Don't Choose Your Builder Based on a Free Estimate! What You Should Do To Avoid Being Surprised by Your Budget
In this episode, Lara shares why so many homeowners end up thousands of dollars over budget—and how you can avoid it.
We’ll talk about why builder estimates can vary so much, what a realistic construction budget should include, why pre-construction is one of the smartest investments you can make, and the red flags to watch for before signing a contract.
If you're planning to build a custom home, this episode will help you make more informed decisions and protect your budget from costly surprises.
✨ Connect with Lara 👇🏼
https://www.instagram.com/buildherhome (https://www.instagram.com/buildherhome)
FREE Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildherhomecommunity)
Land & Home Site Checklist (https://blackcastle.myflodesk.com/landandhomesitechecklist)
How to Find A Builder You Trust Mini-Course (https://laradollkennedy.mykajabi.com/offers/uWWvNzk6)
2 Jun 2026
Ep. 4 | If We Had $50K Extra in the Build Budget — Here's Exactly Where We'd Spend It
Thinking about where you'd spend an extra $50,000 in your home build? In this episode, Lara and Steven Kennedy play a builder-versus-homeowner game and break down exactly where they'd invest additional budget—and where they wouldn't spend a dime.
From kitchens and prep pantries to windows, lighting, storage, and primary bathrooms, they share the upgrades that improve daily life, increase long-term value, and make your home feel better to live in. Plus, Steven gives some surprisingly strong opinions on pot fillers, wine rooms, outdoor kitchens, pools, and smart home systems.
Whether you're building a starter home or your forever home, this episode will help you think more strategically about where your money will have the biggest impact.
In this episode you'll learn:
• The one area of your home that's almost always worth investing more money in
• Why windows are one of the smartest upgrades you can make during construction
• The difference between having more storage and having better storage
• Which "invisible" features create a more comfortable, energy-efficient home
• Why lighting may be the most overlooked luxury in a custom home
• The bathroom upgrades that improve everyday life—and the ones that aren't worth the splurge
• Steven's hot takes on pot fillers, wine rooms, outdoor kitchens, pools, smart home systems, and more
• How to think like a builder when deciding where to allocate your budget
If someone handed you an extra $50,000 for your build tomorrow, where would you spend it?
✨ Connect with Lara 👇🏼
https://www.instagram.com/buildherhome (https://www.instagram.com/buildherhome)
FREE Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildherhomecommunity)
Land & Home Site Checklist (https://blackcastle.myflodesk.com/landandhomesitechecklist)
19 May 2026
Ep. 3 | Building With A Spouse (And Not Losing Your Minds)
Building a home with your partner can bring you closer together… or reveal that you have very different opinions about grout color, budgets, and who was supposed to email the builder back.
In this episode, Lara shares three practical ways couples can stay connected, communicate better, and reduce stress during the building process. From dividing responsibilities to creating systems that keep everyone informed, this episode is packed with simple strategies that can protect both your project and your relationship.
Because building a home isn't just about finishes and floor plans — it's about learning how to build as a team.
Why trying to make every decision together can actually create more conflict
How to divide responsibilities based on strengths and decision-making styles
The simple weekly habit that can dramatically improve communication during a build
Why every couple needs a shared "build brain"
How organization reduces stress, confusion, and resentment
The difference between building a house together and truly functioning as a team
✨ Connect with Lara 👇🏼
https://www.instagram.com/buildherhome (https://www.instagram.com/buildherhome)
FREE Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildherhomecommunity)
Land & Home Site Checklist (https://blackcastle.myflodesk.com/landandhomesitechecklist)
19 May 2026
Ep. 2 | Are You the Red Flag? 6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Get Upset With Your Builder
Before you fire off that frustrated text or assume your builder dropped the ball — pause. In this episode, Lara walks you through six quick questions to ask yourself before blaming your builder. This isn’t about taking the blame; it’s about becoming the kind of homeowner who leads with clarity, calm, and confidence.
Learn how to communicate better, set realistic expectations, and strengthen your builder-client relationship (and your sanity) through self-awareness and structure.
The one thing every builder wishes clients would do before sending “that” message
How to tell the difference between a true delay and standard construction timelines
Why clear, written communication protects both you and your builder
How decision lag quietly derails your schedule
Why custom homes don’t move at Amazon Prime speed (and why that’s a good thing)
The emotional reset that instantly changes how you handle stress during a build
✨ Connect with Lara 👇🏼
https://www.instagram.com/buildherhome (https://www.instagram.com/buildherhome)
FREE Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildherhomecommunity)
Land & Home Site Checklist (https://blackcastle.myflodesk.com/landandhomesitechecklist)
19 May 2026
Ep. 1 | So You Want to GC Your Own Home? What I'd Do as a Custom Builder
Ever wondered if you could manage your own home build and skip the builder fee?
In this episode, Lara, a custom home builder and founder of Build Her Home , breaks down what it really takes to general contract your own build.
From reviewing plans to wrangling trades, this is the honest, unfiltered talk you need before you dive into the deep end of DIY homebuilding. Lara shares what she’d do step-by-step if she were the homeowner running the show, and where most people get it wrong.
This isn’t about scaring you off. It’s about helping you build smarter, with eyes wide open and a plan that actually works.
The truth about GC’ing your own build (and why it’s not always cheaper)
The 6-step framework Lara would follow if she were the homeowner managing her own project
How to avoid the biggest mistakes first-time GCs make
Why inspectors and structure plans matter more than Pinterest boards
The right questions to ask before you buy land or start building
How to decide if self-GC’ing is empowering… or exhausting
✨ Connect with Lara 👇🏼
https://www.instagram.com/buildherhome (https://www.instagram.com/buildherhome)
FREE Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildherhomecommunity)
Land & Home Site Checklist (https://blackcastle.myflodesk.com/landandhomesitechecklist)
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Apple Podcasts (US)
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