Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Natalie and Mike Trelstad of Glendale, AZ

Natalie and Mike Trelstad shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Natalie and Mike, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Natalie: Getting back into an old hobby of swing dancing! It’s been such a fun reminder of the importance of finding something that’s just for you.
Mike: Playing music and whittling have both been grounding and creative outlets for me.
As a family: We’ve been loving our game nights and big puzzles spread across the dining table. It is a cozy way to slow down and connect.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
We’re Natalie and Mike Trelstad, elementary school teachers, parents, and the husband-and-wife team behind Radish Builds. We built our very first sensory table for our 10-month-old daughter, simply wanting a beautiful, functional space for her to explore and play. From there, Radish Builds grew into a small family business dedicated to creating sustainable, handmade sensory tables and play kits that invite creativity, curiosity, and connection.

We believe sensory play should be accessible for all families, and we love finding ways to make that happen, whether through our Strings, Stories, and Sensory virtual and in-person play dates, or by designing tables that are both durable and beautiful enough to blend into your home. Each piece we make is crafted with care, inspired by the magic of childhood exploration and the joy of slowing down to play together.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
We both learned a lot about hard work and dedication from our parents. Natalie grew up watching her parents run their own family business, and that experience really shaped how we approach Radish Builds – with care, consistency, and pride in what we create. We’ve both seen firsthand that meaningful work takes time, patience, and heart.

One of our favorite things about Radish Builds is that our kids get to be part of it, too. They see us sanding, working markets, packing boxes, and playing together and we love knowing they’re growing up surrounded by that same example of working hard at something you love.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have definitely been moments where we’ve felt stretched thin. Balancing teaching, parenting, and running a small business is a lot to juggle. Early on, we poured hours into building tables late at night after putting our kids to bed, wondering if anyone would even find our little business. But every time we thought about slowing down, we’d get a message from a family sharing how much their child loved their table or how sensory play had become a special part of their routine.

Those moments reminded us why we started Radish Builds in the first place: to create something meaningful and accessible for families like ours. It’s never been easy, but seeing our kids grow up watching us build something together makes every bit of effort worth it.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely! Just maybe with the toys scooted out of the camera frame! We always try to keep things real. What you see is genuinely us and our kids playing. Our goal is to share simple, doable play ideas with things families already have at home. No perfection required!

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
We hope people remember us as a family who created space for play. That we built something small but meaningful, rooted in love, creativity, and connection. We want people to say we encouraged families to slow down, make a mess, and find joy in simple things.

If Radish Builds inspires even a few families to pause their busy days, scoop some rice, and just play together, that’s the legacy we’d love to leave behind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.radishbuilds.com
• Instagram: @radish_builds
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AttguNC4Z/?mibextid=wwXIfr