For more than two decades, Deb was the familiar voice for Austin’s morning commute. As co-host of The Jason and Deb Morning Show on 101X, people who never met her felt like they knew her, and many miss her since she’s been gone from the airwaves.
After stepping away from radio in 2021 she found herself at a crossroads. She briefly started a podcast, first on her own and then with Jason before taking an unexpected turn after discovering a new passion -interior design.
Today, Deb is the proud owner of Hyde Park Wall Co., a boutique wallpaper installation and home styling business and she lives in Hyde Park with her rescue Frenchie Alfie, Kit, the once-stray kitten she found at the radio station, and Coco, a long-haired no-tailed cat she adopted from Tomlinson’s. We caught up with her for a chat about her career pivot, from her unconventional path into radio to her vision for Hyde Park Wall Co. and more
What led you to move to Austin?
I moved here the very end of 1999 with my then-husband for his new job. Our marriage didn’t work out, but I fell in love with Austin and had made some great friends, so staying here seemed like the right thing to do.
What do you love about Austin?
I’ve traveled a lot and have found that many capital cities around the world have become very homogenized. And, even though Austin has been through a lot of changes in the time I’ve been here, it remains a very green city with lots of beautiful trails and waterways, which as a dog mum is important to me. I love our parks and outdoor spaces and take advantage of them as often as possible. And obviously, I love our music and arts scene!
How did you become radio DJ?
A friend heard that JB and Sandy were looking for a new ‘sidekick’ and entered me into the competition for the position. Somehow, I won, and my radio career began there at Mix 94.7. After we went off air every morning, I would sit in with the other DJs and sound engineers to learn all the other aspects of the business. It was definitely an unorthodox entry, but I loved it and worked hard to become the best radio personality that I could be.
When did you leave 101X?
February of 2021, just a few days before Snowmageddon. Talk about a strange time!
Looking back, what was your favorite part about doing The Jason and Deb morning show?
The sense of being a part of the Austin community and having a connection to our listeners was wonderful. I felt like we had the opportunity to talk about real issues and give a voice to those who didn’t have one.
I liked organizing fun events to bring our listeners together that would always have a tie-in to a local animal charity. For example - sure, come out and play softball with us at the Dell Diamond and win some ACL tickets, but you’ll also be contributing to the low-cost spay and neuter programs that Emancipet provides.
And I loved working hard to create content that entertained our listeners. Whether it was on-air, online or in-person, our job was to get people through their awful commutes with a smile on their faces so they didn’t think about being stuck in the car in Austin traffic!
Do you have a favorite interview?
We did soooo many amazing interviews it’s hard to pick the best one! My favorite interviews we did are probably with comedians. They always come with something funny to say, and that just makes the interview flow easily. Kevin Nealon appeared on our show many times and it was always like meeting up with an old friend again. I’ve been known to brag about having a lot of soulmates, but Kevin is definitely up there as one of my top ones. He’s also a vegetarian and animal lover and was especially fond of my dearly departed dog Blue. Jon Gries aka Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite is also a standout interviewee and is still a friend in real life.
Are you still in touch with Jason?
Jason and I are still in touch as he’s basically family. He was my work husband for over 15 years! After he left 101X we started our own podcast, which I loved doing so much - more than doing my own podcast. When that came to an end - not my decision - I was very upset.
Would you want to ever get back into radio or podcasting?
I think that Jason is my radio soulmate and I’m not sure I could capture that magic with anyone else. I’ve had offers and discussions about re-entering radio, but the whole industry has changed. Massive syndication and jocks putting out several different shows a day to different towns is the new way. I don’t like it one bit. Austin loves local, and I love Austin. Anything else just feels so inauthentic. I’m not saying I wouldn’t consider radio/podcasting in the future if the situation was right, but it would have to be something special.
And now you have your own wallpaper-hanging company; how did that pivot come about?
Hyde Park Wall Co. was born out of my own selfish desire to remodel my laundry room! Last year I decided to take a sabbatical to figure out which direction my life was going to take. During that time I planned to tackle some home and garden projects that had been bugging me for a while. I designed and built my first house in 2005 and when I bought my current house in 2015 I remodeled it one room per year, so I’ve always had a passion for interior design and love seeing a vision come to life. Several years ago I hired a lady to install wallpaper in a couple of rooms in my house. It was difficult to find someone who even did wallpaper back then, and when I discovered that the wallpaper lady was retiring, I decided to just take matters into my own hands and figure out how to do it myself! A friend introduced me to someone who had been hanging wallpaper for years and I started to learn the basics. Then I found an online course that was put together by the WIA - the Wallcovering Installers Association - and upon graduation, I joined the association and even attended the annual conference in Philadelphia last September. It was there that my career took a huge turn. I found an amazing community of professional wallpaper installers who were so passionate about their craft and willing to mentor me and take me to the next level in my new career. It all seemed a little crazy after 20 plus years working in an industry that generally pitted you against your competition! These new friends of mine, from all over the country, will pick up the phone or answer a text any time I have a question or issue with an install.
It seems still hard to find many people to hang wallpaper in Austin
Wallpaper installation is definitely a niche profession, and I think it’s partly because it’s very difficult! There are so many types of wall coverings and so much that can go wrong! But I love the process, and once I’ve transformed someone’s room from bland to stunning, it’s all worth it.
What are some projects you’ve done, and how long does something like a bathroom take?
I’ve installed wallpaper in small residential bathrooms, 10,000-square-foot mansions, farmhouses, and even a med spa. A small bathroom can take just a few hours and sometimes I’ll find myself working in a house for several days to weeks…I love doing murals. The transformation a room goes through once a mural has been installed is just stunning.
Do you prefer peel and stick or traditional wallpaper?
Peel and stick is the biggest con in the DIY space in years. It’s pushed as homeowner-friendly, but most experienced wallpaper hangers won’t even install it. My advice is to buy the traditional wallpaper and have one of us do the hard work for you!
What’s your vision for your company?
Hyde Park Wall Co. isn’t just wallpaper! I see the company growing into a full-service house styling business. I have many clients who lean on me for selecting the wallpaper, accompanying paint color and even light fixtures and furniture. After styling my own houses all these years I can visualize my clients’ ideas and help them come to life. Some clients come to me with the desire to make changes, but they’re overwhelmed by so many decisions. I know some paper hangers who say, ‘you pick it, I’ll stick it’ and I’m the opposite. My job is to help the client make an informed, aesthetic decision that they’ll love to live with.
Quick fire:
Favorite dog rescues Love-A-Bull, Stand Up For Pits, and Emancipet are some of my favorrite organizations.
Favorite workout I love just weightlifting, but I’m currently a member of the new Nike Studio in The Triangle. I love their workouts!
Favorite restaurant in Austin Even though Austin has garnered some new James Beard and Michelin awards recently, Uchiko will always be my favorite restaurant.
If you could have one superpower It used to be mind reading, but now that the quality of airline travel has declined so much in the last few years, I think I’d like to be able to fly! Just think how much more traveling you’d get done!
Final Thoughts Adopt don’t shop! And, please don’t get a Frenchie. I love Alfie with all my heart, but this breed should be banned. It’s inherently cruel to these poor little guys.
Find Deb at:
www.hydeparkwallco.com
Deb@hydeparkwallco.com
512-436-3115
Wallpaper installation is definitely a niche profession, but I love the process and transforming someone’s room from bland to stunning.