Style and Substance

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.weareru...

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...

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 possibilit...

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 mainta...

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 cu...

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...

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 b...

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...

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 th...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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: A...

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...

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...

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 more...

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...