Style and Substance
Elizabeth Cairns & Fiona Humberstone 137 episodes Nov 11, 2026
Style and Substance is a branding and business podcast hosted by Fiona Humberstone, The Brand Stylist, and Elizabeth Cairns, The Empowered Entrepreneur. It provides inspiration, insights, and expertise to help creative entrepreneurs navigate branding and business. The show focuses on sidestepping the hustle, keeping joy at the forefront, and finding a more meaningful and sustainable approach to business.
Episodes
Anyone Else Feeling Overwhelmed?
Full disclosure, we are both feeling a little overwhelmed right now. A full rosta in the studio, the end of the year looming and the state of the world being just a little bit more than we can handle. Join us as we try and make sense of our own overwhelm and work out what we can do to reclaim the agency we need to keep showing up for what we want and what we need when everything feels both urgent
You Get To Choose
As business owners we get to choose; what success looks like, when things happen, what pace we work at, how much space we take up and that are needs are worth meeting. But do we really believe that? And what makes it possible? And what happens when we do? This is the start of an ongoing conversation about what it really means to have full agency as women in business and we're excited to dig in
Raising Expectations When We're Done Settling
Fi and I thought it might be time for a little pep talk and a reminder of how brilliant you are dear listener. Unfortunately I was little too enthusiastic at 5 rhythms this weekend and the result is I'm flat on my back unable to walk, so we've not been able to record this week. But have no fear, we've got your back, even if mine has given out, and have found just the thing from this ti
We're Taking a Stand - Our Honest thoughts on AI
Regular listeners will know we have thoughts on AI, but as this debate becomes more critical, particularly for creatives, we are coming firmly off the fence and sharing our stance on AI in the branding process. We share the stand we are taking as part of the Studio Theia collective but also our personal concerns and why we feel so passionately about this. We know it's a challenging conversatio
Understanding The Autumn Seasonal Personality
September brings a new, and much loved by us both, season, so it's time to talk Colour Psychology and dig into the Seasonal Personality of Autumn. As the creator of Colour Psychology for Branding, Fi shares her abundant wisdom and helps us makes sense of how we translate the energy of this glorious season into the colours, fonts, shapes, textures, photography and illustrative styles for our br
Is Your Drive Truly Serving You and Your Business?
Fi and I are pretty driven in our work, but is it healthy drive? This is the question we are posing today as we dig deep and get personal about our motivations and sources of drive. Is Fi a workaholic? What drove me to put my life on the line as an environmental activist? How does being a woman in business change the nature of drive? How do we determine whether our drive is helpful or a fast road
The Most Commonly Asked Questions on Branding
This week, Fiona is in the hot seat answering the most commonly asked questions posed to Google and AI about branding. There's a goldmine of wisdom which we really hope is useful and, you won't be surprised to hear, she's not holding back on her thoughts about consulting generative AI for this stuff.You'll also hear an unexpected high from my week, courtesy of @jaycopley at Run That (www.wearerunt
Finding our way through a deeply challenging season.
Welcome back to a new season and thank you for being here. Fi has had an incredibly challenging summer, floored by illness and the accumulation of a year of personal challenges, this is a very personal episode where she shares some of how she has navigated a truly difficult time and what the priorities are coming into this new season. For anyone who wants to make the most of a fresh start in
Low Pressure Ways to Create More Impact over the Summer
In this last episode of the season we are exploring the low pressure ways you can find your edge, your space, create impact and maintain inspiration...even if the pace is a little slower over the summer.We talk about reconnecting with your muses, getting your processes in order, thinking more strategically to find and maintain your space and some invitations to open up to a little more possibility
Maintaining Your Drive When The Heat Is On
There is a big difference between a business intentionally making space for rest and restoration and one that ends up losing momentum and traction without realising it...and losing out as a result. If you tuned into our conversation on planning for a restorative summer, this is the essential counterpoint and the other half of the story.When the heat is literally on, how do we ensure we can maintai
A Guided Practice to Cultivate Spaciousness
Last week Fiona and I talked about the need for space to feed creativity and joy in our work and we know that the pace of this year can get a little overwhelming at times...so we're here to offer a little antidote to the haste and the hustle.As Fiona is away on a photoshoot in Guernsey this week, instead of our usual format, I've recorded a guided practice for you. This is aimed at helping you cul
Planning for a Restorative Summer
Phew! this year is galloping away lovely listeners and in this episode, as we've passed the crest of midsummer, we're thinking ahead a few weeks to the summer break. Both Fi and I traditionally take around six weeks off over the summer and today we enjoy a wide ranging conversation about why we feel the need and how we plan for it. We explore the difference for us between rest and restoration, the
Understanding the Summer Seasonal Personality - Colour Psychology for Branding
We continue our Colour Psychology for Branding series with this episode as we dig into the hazy delights of summer.In this conversation, Fiona walks us through the nuances of the summer seasonal personality and how we translate it through to a beautiful, stylish and elegant brand identity. We'll explore the colours, shapes, textures, photography styles, typography and key considerations for any bu
Our First Priority as Empowered Entrepreneurs...
Business is asking a lot of us at the moment and it's a whirlwind of creativity and genuine joy, but to ride those wild horses we are having to double down on looking after ourselves and keeping our vitality high. So this week, along with our regular catch up, Elizabeth is reading from the first chapter of her book the Empowered Entrepreneur, entitled 'Vitality - The Sustaining Force of your Busin
Finding a Name that Works for your Business
What's in a name? When it comes to branding, a whole lot!Naming brands and products is one of our absolute favourite things to do and there's nothing quite like that feeling and the traction you get when you land on one that is just right for your business. In this episode we talk through some of the things we consider when it comes to naming, why we avoid AI and, amongst other things, some of the
Maintaining your Edge as the Market Inevitably Shifts
One of the great joys and benefits of entrepreneurship is we get to be nimble, we can flex and evolve as circumstances change the face of business rarely stays the same over time. Fiona and I have certainly enjoyed a varied 25 years or so in business and today we're sharing a little of that picture.Whilst we may have learnt how to adapt over the years, one thing sadly neither of us has ever been a
Getting Personal about Mental Health
This week is mental health awareness week and so we're taking the opportunity to dig a little deeper into what tending to our mental health as entrepreneurs looks like for us. In this wide ranging conversation, we explore some of the unique conditions that leave entrepreneurs potentially vulnerable to mental health struggles and how we deal with those ourselves. We dig into vulnerability and how i
Creating the Conditions for Creativity to Thrive
Creativity, in our books is the not-so-secret sauce that makes doing business well taste more than just a little bit delicious. It's also what Fi in particular trades off and has built a thriving business around. In this episode we dig into what drives creativity for Fi. We explore some of the nuances that enable creativity to thrive and why AI may be the next best thing since sliced bread...but i
11 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself If you Want a Destination Brand
Building a destination brand can make wonderful things happen for your business and your life. And, as Fiona is off enjoying those benefits in Rome on a photoshoot this week, we have a slightly different episode on the pod for you today. I'll be reading from her best selling book Brand Brilliance and sharing her thoughts on building a destination brand and the essential brand strategy questions th
Writing Great Copy without the Angst
Writing great copy is not everyones favourite pastime but if you want to realise the potential of your brand, honing an authentic voice and nailing your copy is pretty essential. We use it pretty much everywhere, our website, social media, media kits, welcome guides, proposals...the list goes on. By now you probably know how we feel about resorting to AI for this kind of thing, so in this episode
Planning a Knockout Photoshoot for Your Brand
We know just how transformative the right photography can be for a brand and a business. Getting that photography is no mean feat, so today we are unpacking some of what it takes to plan and execute a knockout photoshoot. We explore locations, practicalities and how to get most bang for your buck if you're on a tight budget. The resources mentioned can be found on The Brand Stylist Academy here:Ar
Creating a Halo Effect with Your Brand
The Halo Effect is a powerful way to shape perception of your business and creates reputational momentum that can work wonders when its done well. Today we are digging deep into how we can use the Halo Effect to create excitement, remove friction and build loyalty for your brand and what to watch for that kills the effect dead if we're not careful. Enjoy this last episode of the season and we'll b
Understanding The Spring Seasonal Personality : Colour Psychology for Branding Part 1
Spring has sprung and it brings with it an abundance of inspiration and insight for branding. In this episode we look at the season of Spring through the lens of Colour Psychology and get granular about the strategic approach of Colour Psychology for Branding that Fiona has spent years developing and refining. Discover how the Spring Seasonal Personality can be translated into a brand; what colour
Powerful Messaging Without Resorting to AI
We're not holding back in this episode - listen in to hear exactly what we think about the use of AI for brand messaging. What we see as the genuinely real risks but perhaps more importantly, what you might want to consider if you're going to take a more empowered approach to crafting messaging that really lands for your business. We do hope you enjoy the listen and if you're keen to find our mor
Finding Flow in your Business When the World is A Lot
Flow state has the potential to supercharge productivity by 500%! But flow isn't just a nifty hustle hack, rooting your business in flow makes it more of a joy to run and infinitely more sustainable. In this episode we explore some of the hall markers of a business in flow and get granular about the specifics of how to reliably create the conditions for flow state. If it feels like you're pushing
Taking Care: Thoughts on Resilience and Nervous System Regulation when Energy is Low
Poor old Fi is distinctly under the weather this week so we took the opportunity to have a relaxed conversation about building resilience and nervous system regulation when we're not feeling full beans. In this fairly personal chat we explore what it looks like for each of us when we find ourselves dis-regulated and struggling and what our go to practices are for support. We chat about what that l
From the Horses Mouth - Feng Shui Expert Zoe Vita James on Making the Most of the Year of the Fire Horse
We are breaking with tradition for the last episode of the season and welcoming very special guest Zoe Vita James to the Podcast. Zoe is our resident Feng Shui and Ba Zi expert and in this conversation she will be bringing us her insights into how we as entrepreneurs can make the most of the Year of the Fire Horse in 2026. Learn how to make the most of the fire energy his year, how to use your spa
Are you Ready for the Year of the Horse?
As we've crossed the threshold of Imbolc and into Celtic Spring here in the UK we can feel a definite shift. Fi and I are already getting into step with the year of the horse and before it runs away with us, we want to be prepared in the best way possible. Hear us muse on what we are doing in our own businesses to maintain momentum for 2026 without things getting too out of control. From increasin
The Essential Advantage Most Creatives Miss
There's an edge so many creatives miss that helps us create sustainable, enjoyable and profitable businesses. In this episode we explore the importance of finding and honing your unique creative edge and how it is the key to staying both authentic, relevant and recommendable in a fast changing market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
An Invitation to Let Go and Why it Matters for your Business
Winter is the perfect season to reflect and release and not just because it's timely or happens to be on trend, but because it's an essential strategic practice and making space enables so much for you and your work. In this episode we dig deep and get personal about the need for and the very real challenges of letting go. How to discern what to let go of for our brand and ourselves. And, in our v
Our Hopes for You this Year
Welcome back and happy new year lovely listeners. We are making a gentle return to the podcast and welcoming 2026 in by sharing some of our hopes for you this year. We hope you find something in our conversation that brings a little warmth this mid winter and inspires you for what it to come this year. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A Warm Invitation
Happy New Year lovely listeners! Before we launch back in with season 19 next week we are so excited to bring you this bonus episode and share a very warm invitation to our first Style and Substance Retreat. Its taking place at Fi's beautiful home in the Surrey hills on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd January and we would love you to join us. For all the information you need and to book your place,
The Highs, The Lows, The Learnings and The Hopes - Review of 2025
Our traditional review of the year is here., this episode Fi and I get personal about the challenges of 2025, the highs and the hopes for next year. Thank you for being part of this incredible community, we are so looking forward to 2026 and all that it will bring, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to Get a Brand that Works and that Lasts - Part Two
In part two of how to get a brand that works and that lasts, we are digging deep into the steps of the process. Fi is sharing the fundamental principles, the key steps and the most important thing to be paying attention to when you're building a powerful brand. We hope this will be a really sharable episode so do pass this on with our love to anyone you know who is brilliant and deserves the very
How to Get a Brand that Works and that Lasts - Part 1
Having a brand that works and that lasts really is something every brilliant business owner has the right to claim, but what does it take to get one? In this first of a two part series, we are digging in to what it really means to get a brand that will give you the credibility, momentum and ease in your business that you deserve. Fi shares her inimitable passion for branding and her 25 years of ha
Gratitude...An Essential Practice for Business - No Really
In this episode, airing just before Thanksgiving in the US, we explore gratitude. More than a list of nice things or another self help task 'to-do, we see it as a powerful, science backed practice that reshapes the brain, strengthens resilience and reconnects us to the joy in our work. We touch on how gratitude widens perspective, helps us find meaning in the messy middle and becomes a quiet fuel
The Existential Crisis Facing Creatives
In this episode, we crack open the existential crisis so many creatives are quietly drowning in: when your hard-won brilliance suddenly feels… irrelevant. The rules of business have shapeshifted, the loudest are winning, and AI is nipping at everyone’s heels. Fi and I get brutally honest about what it means to stay true to your craft when the world keeps shouting “pivot!” and you’d rather set your
Letting Go ...Of Limitations
This week, we dive into the subtle and not-so-subtle ways, we hold ourselves back in business and life. From shrinking our brilliance without even realising it, to clinging to what’s “kind of working” instead of what’s calling us next, this episode is our usual fairly frank exploration of fear, growth and self-belief.Expect a few gentle rants and the reminder that your brand and your life can only
Your Questions Answered and a Look Ahead to 2026
Welcome back lovely listeners to a new season. As we hurtle towards the end of 2025, we’re kicking things off with a relaxed catch-up and your questions answered. Honest reflections, practical insights, and a few laughs, just how we like it. Thank you to everyone who sent in questions and we're always open to more so please do drop us a line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform
I Just Don't Want to be That Person ...
Have you ever swallowed what you really want to say because you didn’t want to come across as that person? You know that feeling when perhaps you’ve been short changed and, at some level you know you deserve more, but this tiny voice in your head says ‘ugh, I just don’t want to be that person…’?” We’ve all felt it but when that emotion overrides everything, it can cost us more than just a little e
Raising Expectations When We're Done Settling
Raising Expectations When We're Done SettlingThere’s a moment in every woman’s business journey when something shifts and she realises she’s been playing smaller than she meant to.Maybe it happens in midlife, maybe it happens when you finally admit what you really want, but either way, something clicks. You start to expect more.You stop wanting to prove yourself and start wanting to leave somethin
The Secrets to Feeling more Capable and Clear when there’s just Not Enough Time
The Secrets to Feeling More Capable and Clear When There’s Just Not Enough TimeHow is it October already?! Time feels slippery right now, and both of us are wrestling with how to make the most of it before the half-term break.If you’ve ever found yourself drowning in too much to do—or wondering where all those “free hours” mysteriously disappeared—this episode is for you.In this conversation we sh
Glow up Your Website in a Morning
Who does not love that feeling of looking at your website and going "oh yes! this is working for me and this is the nuts!" It's what we all want right? So today I am picking Fi's fabulous brains and our subject is "glowing up your website - practical strategies to create more impact, especially if you're not rebranding." In this punchy, insight filled episode, Fi is giving us a very simple, highly
Setting Boundaries and Starting as you Mean to Go On
With four months left of 2025 are you prepped to make the most of it? We are, and in this episode we are sharing our priorities, our goals and our experiences of setting boundaries to safeguard what's most important. We share our strategies for maintaining the focus we need to really capitalise on the energy of this season and what we have decided is most important for us right now. We hope you f
Connecting with your Ideal Client to Build a Sustainable Business - Listener Favourites
Connecting with your ideal client to build a sustainable business. We're opening the new season with a listener favourite from the archives and our very first episode on the Magic of Muses. Building a sustainable business relies on both identifying and attracting your ideal client, in this episode we explore all the magic our key Muses can offer us, how to usefully profile your ideal client and wh
Setting Yourself Up for the Summer
our last episode of the season before the summer break and today Fi and I are talking about how set up for the summer. What this season is about for us, how we are making the most of it and how we structure our businesses to enable us to take the break we need. If you're looking to create an intentional summer full of good things, business and otherwise, this one is for you. Enjoy lovely listeners
50+ Things We've Learned from 50 Collective Years in Business
Welcome to Episode 100, wow can't quite believe we are here. In this milestone episode, Fiona and I are pulling back the curtain on our collective 50 odd years in business and sharing some of what we've learned in that time. We cover everything from managing our energy and navigating major life shifts, including loosing it all and starting again, to structuring business with inspiration (not just
The Power of Aligment
In this episode, we dive deep into the power of alignment—not as a buzzword, but as a vital force for building an inspired, creative, and authentic business. Fiona brings her branding lens, while I explore the entrepreneurial and inner landscape, and together we unpack why true alignment—both within ourselves and in how we express our business to the world—is the foundation for more ease, flow, an
Reconciling Priorities - Managing the Tensions as Women in Business
This week we're unpacking the invisible load—those subtle, internal tensions that so many of us carry as women in business. From the emotional labour we absorb without realising, to the time drain of constantly reconciling competing priorities, we reflect on how these unseen dynamics can quietly erode our energy, clarity and capacity to thrive. Its a fairly reflective, contemplative, episode (with
Is your Brand Pitching you at the Right Level? How to know...
How do you know if your brand is pitching you at the right level? How can you be sure not to miss the opportunities inherent in a branding process done well? Why does going deep matter? We cover all this and more in this short but takeaway-packed episode where Fi shares her unique perspective on what's required to make sure your brand pitches you at the right level.If you want to give yourself the
AI or not AI? That is the Question
It's time we tackled the question on the lips of so many creatives in our field. Should we be using AI and what is it costing us if we do? In this juicy episode we dig deep and range far and wide as Fi and I grapple with the big question and the implications for us all. We explore why we feel so strongly about AI when it comes to Brand Strategy, whether AI can be empowering and what it might be mi
Finding the Courage to Make the Big Decisions
Ever found yourself paralysed by the big decisions? Whether it's business or life in general, when big changes are afoot it can be a tricky time. Join us as we kick off the new season with an exploration of how to find the courage to make those big decisions and live into the version of yourself and your life you really want.We would also love for you to come to our fabulous Summer Soiree, details
What is Takes to Hold the Vision Amidst the Noise...and See it Through
When you have an exciting vision or dreams for your business it can be incredibly exciting..but when seeing that vision through needs a marathon not a sprint, how do you keep it alive, maintain your focus and handle the set backs with so many competing priorities? In this conversation we're walking through the steps that inspired, yet busy entrepreneurs can take to hold the vision and and keep the
Exploring a Legacy - 10 Years on from How to Style your Brand
We are in a celebratory mood as this week marks the ten year anniversary of Fi's bestselling book How to Style Your Brand and in this conversation we explore what's possible when you listen to the muse. Fi talks about the importance of pursuing your passion against the odds, having the right people around you and a healthy dose of stubbornness along the way. We hope you find it inspiring and thank
Flow not Force in Action - Elizabeth Shares the Secrets to her Latest Creative Breakthrough
We are excited to bring you this one, uncharacteristically Elizabeth is in the hot seat as Fi invites her to dig deep about her experiences with her latest creative breakthrough which will mean BIG CHANGE for her and her business. In this conversation we explore the attitudes, principles and strategies behind taking a Flow not Force approach to your business and the underlying beliefs that help ma
How to Spot what's Keeping your Brand Small and What to Do about it
We are passionate about entrepreneurs and brands achieving their potential. There are so many factors that come into it, from from our attitudes and beliefs, how we show up to the way we implement design. In this wide ranging conversation we dig deep into what it takes for brands to avoid playing small (deliberately or otherwise) and realise their full potential. We explore the personal and practi
How to Keep Moving Forwards when the World is Going Mad
How to keep moving forwards when the world is going mad. There's no escaping the world is bonkers right now and that's putting it a little mildly, you don't have to go very far to be confronted with immense challenge and suffering and it is likely affecting us all to varying degrees. It can be hugely challenging to maintain hope, and resilience never mind momentum in such challenging times so toda
How to Get What you Want with Integrity - Part Two
Part two of getting what you want with integrity. Emotions and frustrations run high as we dig into a recent scenario that highlight beautifully what gets in the way of acting with integrity and what trips us up when we're trying to get a good outcome. In this conversation we walk through some of the signposts that tell us we or others might be acting out of integrity. We explore how we manage mai
How to Get What you Want with Integrity
Getting what we want in business isn't always easy and dealing with unreasonable demands isn't a walk in the park either. In this two part mini series we tackle all of that and more as we explore in depth and build aa model of how to get what we want with integrity. Let's get stuck in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bootstrapping your Brand - How to Create the Strongest Impression with your Brand, whatever your Budget.
Let's be real. None of us have limitless budgets that allow us to do everything we'd like on our brand: we all have to make choices. But we do think there is a big difference between a bootstrapping mentality (saving money at all costs and compromising on quality as you go) and the reality of bootstrapping your brand (making smart choices that will move your brand for
An International Womens Day Special
This special episode, created in honour of International Women's Day is a pulling together of just a glimmer of the wisdom held in our wonderful community of inspiring and empowered entrepreneurs. Rather than hearing from us, in this episode, we hear from you. Thank you to everyone who sent in a submission to be included we have tried to feature as many of you as we can, and whilst it hasn't been
Claiming Our Rightful Place as Women in Business
International Womens Day is coming up this week so it feels timely to explore this topic of Claiming Our Rightful Place as Women in Business and what we can do to step fully and confidently into our authority. We talk about the superpowers we uniquely have as women in business what might hinder our ability to take our rightful place and leave you with some profound words of wisdom from a much love
We're Back With...Quick Fire Tips on Managing your Energy
Phew...what a whirlwind the last few weeks has been and a hot topic for us both of late has been energy, how much do we have, how do we keep it high and how do we get it all done? So today to kick off the new season we've got a short and punchy episode where we catch up with our out-of-the-norm escapades over half term and some quick tips for managing your energy. Back to business as usual next we
International Women's Day - Call For Submissions
International Womens Day is coming up on 8th March and we want to create a celebratory showcase of all the wonderful female entrepreneurs in our incredible community. We want to hear your stories, your successes, your pearls of wisdom and we will do our best to share as many as we can. To join the action just send us a short insta ready video or image and story to podcast@fionahumberstone.com or D
Why Owning your Creative Identity is a Business Imperative...and How To Do It
Creativity is the lifeblood of both of our businesses and we have both experienced the game changing impact for ourselves and our clients when we really feel the strong sense of identity as a creative in our bones. When you can really own your creativity and it is woven through the fabric of your life and work it is transformative and not just for the jobbing artists amongst us. For every business
The Myth of Passive Income - What does it really take to make a Fast Buck?
These days you can barely move for someone promising you a '7 figure income' while you sleep. But is it really the panacea it promises to be? Passive income is something so many ambitious entrepreneurs are chasing, but what does it really take? We are about to get deep, opinionated and personal in this episode where we explore Fi's passive income success story that paid the mortgage. How the purs
Niching into your Creative Style - Why it's a must and how to do it.
Do you run a creative business? Are you reaping the benefits of trading off your creative style? If not, we're here to convince you that its a great idea and a total game changer for the creative entrepreneur. In this episode we dig into the commercial and creative benefits of finding and trading off your creative style. We'll be sharing success stories of entrepreneurs who've really leaned into t
What's Possible when your Branding Really Works
Welcome back lovely listeners, in this episode we are talking all things branding and what becomes possible when you get your branding really working for you. Fi shares her insights from over 20 years in the world of branding to uncover the essentials of what entrepreneurs need to know to empower themselves to make the most of their brand. So if you're branding something new, rebranding or have bi
Fi Finds Herself in an Impossible Dilemma...
Just before Christmas Fi sound herself on the receiving end of an outrageous comment. With commercial and ethical decision to make and plenty of self gaslighting and doubt in the mix, it wasn't an easy time. In this in depth exploration, hear how we navigated this sticky situation and resolved things amicably all round. A must listen for anyone who struggles with post decision dissonance, gaslight
Getting your Hype Squad in Place for the New Year
Happy New Year Lovely Listeners, Were coming out of the gates in 2025 with what we hope will be a thoroughly uplifting and encouraging episode where we are waxing lyrical about the benefits of a having a Hype Squad for your business. Hear where our support comes from, how we design for it in work and life and how to avoid becoming too transactional and loosing the magic of reciprocal championing.
The Highs, the Lows, the Learnings and the Hopes - A Review of 2024
Welcome to the final episode of 2024 and in typical Style and Substance form we are reviewing our year. In this conversation we share our highs, lows, learnings and hopes and what we've made of a pretty challenging 2024. Thank you for listening and all your support of the podcast this year, we are excited and inspired to be back in 2025. Wishing you a joyful and abundant festive season Elizabeth
Studio Theia - The Story Behind the Brand
We are very excited to bring you todays episode as it coincides with the Launch of Fiona's new brand consultancy Studio Theia. The creation of Studio Theia has been a labour of love, a creative unfolding and a strategic commercial proposition that is, even if we do say so ourselves the epitome of authentic and aligned work. In this episode we share the story behind the brand and insights and inspi
Wintering - Why Embracing the Season of Withdrawal is a Business Essential
Winter is here and in this episode we are exploring the benefits and the potentially scary territory of wintering in our businesses. What does it look like, is it realistic, should we be doing it and what do we risk if we don't? This conversation is a walk through the seasons and cycles of business and ways we can capitalise on the energy of the seasons and make the most of winter. Hosted on Acas
Is your Brand Pulling it's Weight? - How to Tell and What to Do to Realise your Brands Full Potential
Is your brand puling it's weight? How do you know, what are you missing out on and what should you do about it?In this episode I'm picking Fi's brains on realising the potential in our brands and the crucial role of clarity in realising our full potential. Discover the benefits to the business and the entrepreneur of a brand that is packing it's full punch and where to start in getting real strate
The Value in Doing your Authentic Work
The pursuit of truly meaningful and fulfilling work that puts our skills and talents at the heart might seem an indulgence that we don't always have time for but for us it's a commercial business imperative. Hear why in this episode on finding your authentic work where we dig into the value, not only for you and your business but the wider society and the world. We dig into some of the most common
Lusting After Building a Luxury Brand? - Listen to this first!
A luxury brand can be an utterly aspirational prospect for many, but is it the magic bullet it promises to be? If you want move into this space, there is a whole load you absolutely need to be considering up front. In this episode we dig into the why's and the wherefores of what it takes to create a luxury brand. Fi talks us through some of the visual signifiers and the critical importance of gett
Introducing the Brand Catalyst Programme - A Reason to Celebrate
Lovely listeners, we're dropping in between episodes this week because both of us are incredibly excited about Fi's new Brand Catalyst Programme and I wanted to give her the opportunity to share that excitement and take the chance to celebrate. In our conversation we talk about how the programme came about and some of the strategic considerations we have had to make with regard to how it sits with
The Dynamics of Collaboration - Avoiding the Pitfalls and Making Partnerships Work
Welcome back to season 12 and, after a post half term catch up sharing Fi's adventures in Rome and my recent challenge with mental health, we dig into todays topic; The Dynamics of Successful Collaboration. If you've ever had your fingers burnt after a disastrous collab, have struggled to make things equitable in partnership or are simply curious about how to get your self in the best possible pos
Avoiding Stagnation in Business
How to Keep things Moving and Avoid Getting Stuck in a Rut.Welcome back lovely listeners to our last episode of the season before we head into the half term break. As we look forward to the last quarter of the year we are all about keeping the mojo going, maintaining momentum and avoiding that joy sapping, energy draining business limiting experience of being stuck in a rut. We cover a whole load
Renegotiating Boundaries Part 2
Renegotiating Boundaries Part 2Handling Scope Creep, Pricing and When Partnerships Come to an EndWe're picking up where we left off form last week and digging back into renegotiating boundaries. This week we'll be talking about how to manage endings - what do you do when collaborations close, relationships and working partnerships need redefining or when you simply can't be at someones beck and ca
