Episode Details

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Bobby Berk joins Rocky and Kelly for a conversation that is funny, deeply personal, and surprisingly emotional, starting with the story of a young kid in rural Missouri secretly redecorating his bedroom because he instinctively understood how space could affect the way a person feels.

From there, Bobby opens up about growing up in a small town where he felt forced to hide who he was, the moment he realized he had to leave home at just 15 years old, and how survival mode eventually turned into ambition. He shares stories from telemarketing call centers, Applebee's shifts, sleeping in dorm rooms and cars, and the unexpected journey that eventually led him to New York City and the creation of his own furniture company.

Bobby breaks down how he accidentally became a designer, why he never thought he was qualified for the industry, and how learning to "sell himself" became the key to building a business and eventually landing Queer Eye. He also reflects on the emotional impact of the show, the kindness of its fanbase, and what it felt like when strangers started sharing stories about how the show changed their lives.

The conversation also dives into Bobby's relationship with his mini labradoodle Bimini, whose separation anxiety completely changed the rhythm of his home life and travel habits. Bobby shares why he refuses to design around fear of pets making messes, why dogs deserve to feel fully at home, and how your environment can dramatically affect your mental health.

PLUS: Rocky and Bobby discover they both worked in Springfield, Missouri call centers and Applebee's restaurants at nearly the exact same time, Bobby shares behind-the-scenes details about Junkyard Jackpot, and the group debates collectibles, clutter, design mistakes, and the emotional weight we attach to our stuff.

06:00 - Five-year-old Bobby redesigns his bedroom with birthday money 08:15 - Bobby opens up about leaving home at 15 years old 09:15 - The telemarketing job that changed Bobby's life 11:10 - Rocky and Bobby realize they both worked at the same Applebee's 16:35 - Bobby explains how dogs fit into his home design philosophy 18:35 - The restaurant incident that worsened Bimini's anxiety 21:25 - Moving to New York and building a furniture empire from scratch 26:30 - The audition that changed Bobby Berk's life forever 29:00 - Inside Bobby's new HGTV show Junkyard Jackpot 32:40 - The emotional reason one family finally sold their massive collection

Bobby's Coffee Order: Iced coffee with oat milk and simple syrup Dog: Bimini Follow Bobby: @bobby | website: https://bobbyberk.com/Book: Right at Home: How Good Design Is Good for the Mind: https://bobbyberk.com/book/

Thank you for sharing to help get our adoptable dog of the week a loving home!

Dog: Bobby the Basset Hound Age: 1 yo Breed: Basset Hound Location: Chula Vista Animal Services Go here: https://rockykanaka.com/adoption/bobby-for-adoption/

And check out ALL of our adoptable dogs at: https://rockykanaka.com/adoption-list/

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Dogs and Coffee Podcast by Rocky Kanaka and Kelly Ka