“I feel like people are more open to black brands” 

Dionne Gooding is a fashion designer and sustainable London-based clothes brand creating handmade, fun casual pieces and custom-made garments using West African print fabrics. Combining organic cotton and preloved garments with fabric off-cuts to avoid wastage, her sustainable credentials has seen the designs included in Selfridges’ Project Earth collection. Dionne shares her business journey so far, featuring Paris events and a pandemic pivot.

Dionne talks on:

• Building the business with customised shoes
• Learning essential business skills 
• Moving from custom designs to manufacturing
• Pivoting and changing the business model after COVID
• Being a working mum and adapting to change
• Designing for Selfridges 
• Positive BLM consequences

Discover Dionne’s work and latest collection at https://www.dionnegooding.com/

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work 

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“A Friday night treat without the guilt” 

Anshu & Renée are co-founders of sustainable takeaway service, DabbaDrop. The company is London’s first plastic and emission-free takeaway, delivering plant-based curries in reusable packaging, direct to people’s doors. In this episode, Anshu & Renée share their journey, ethos, and learnings on running a successful start-up food business.

Renée & Anshu talk on:

• Managing a friendship to business partnership and learning each other’s work ethic.
• Sustainable living – slowing the system and changing behaviours.
• Their vision – what growth and expansion look like.
• What’s gone wrong – why finding the right people is so important.
• Owning the female boss journey and believing in yourself.
• Shared knowledge and tips – learnings from along the way.

DabbaDrop currently delivers to North London (North London: N1, N4, N5, N7, N15, N16, N17, N19) East London (E1, E2, E3, E5, E7, E8, E9, E10, E11, E17, E20) and South East London (SE1, SE4, SE5, SE14, SE15, SE22). Leave your postcode and notes for DabbaDrop at https://dabbadrop.co.uk/

Follow DabbaDrop on Instagram @dabbdrop 

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work 

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The absence of illness does not mean you are healthy.”

Fleur and Courtney delve into the differences between wellbeing and wellness in this lively and in-depth discussion which explores Courtney's group therapy and coaching platform. Gwyneth Paltrow even gets a mention...

This episode covers:

• The challenges of fundraising and equity crowdfunding.
• Founding Paradym after her own mental health experience.
• Evidence-based psychology practice.
• Delivering accessible therapy for the younger generation.
• The difference between psychology and psychiatry, wellness and wellbeing.
• Being your 'well-est' - where does Capitalism sit on the scale of wellness?.
• What wellness and wellbeing looks like.
• Individual vs societal responsibility on mental health.

Discover more about Paradym and grab a free trial at https://theparadym.com/ or contact Paradym and mention the REALWORK podcast.

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work and sign up for the newsletter, The REALWORKer 

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“It’s so important that there are these spaces away from marks and grades and high-price tickets”

Internationally celebrated and award-winning artist Natasha Caruana joins the podcast to bring all of her experience and knowledge on the commercial arm of the arts industry: from creating the online community Work Show Grow that inspires artists to create and commercialise their art, to becoming a senior lecturer at the University of the Arts London starting from her very modest beginnings.

Natasha talks on:

• The inspiration for her provocative Married Man series on infidelity
• How and why she created Work Show Grow
• Getting into - and out of - academia and how it fits with her artistic direction
• Going behind the scenes on what went wrong and the challenges she faced
• Her decision to make her upcoming ‘Muse On Muse’ film

Discover more Natasha at https://www.natashacaruana.com and follow her on Instagram at @natasha.caruana

Explore opportunities with Work Show Grow here: www.workshowgrow.com and @workshowgrow 

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work and sign up for the newsletter, The REALWORKer 

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I collect bits of people and share bits of myself in exchange.”

Remi talks on:

• Early discrimination – kicked out of university for having a baby.
• The impact of economic experience on parenthood.
• Her career journey and how activism shapes everything she does.
• The impact of George Floyd’s death and the BLM movement on black careers.
• The importance of documenting life to reflect the time in which we live.
• Being a creative and why she is 'not extraordinary'.

Discover more Remi at https://remisade.com and follow her on Instagram at @remi.sade

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work 

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“There is no point planting seeds, if the soil is unhealthy.”             

Leading DEI practitioner Ashanti Bentil-Dhue talks on:

·       Difference between DEI activism and policy.

·       Her white paper and the need for data on black women in the UK.

·       Why workplace culture is the hardest and most crucial element for change.

·       The need for a push and pull approach between influence and education.

·       Sense-checking your own work

·       Developing self-awareness

Find Ashanti and discover Good Soil Leaders by searching Ashanti Bentil-Dhue on LinkedIn

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marine Tanguy is the founder and CEO of MTArt Agency, representing and championing artistic and creative talent around the world. From growing up on a remote French island to leading an international agency for artists and creatives, Marine shares her influences, lessons and aspirations now she’s in a position to change the industry she loves.

Marine talks on:

●      Entering the art world with a bang and how her one-in-a-million experiences in her 20s led her to where she is today

●      The impact of challenging the status quo and rewriting the rulebook

●      How she found her love of art and creativity growing up on a remote island

●      Why as a business leader and CEO she wants to distribute the power and looks to encourage equality

Follow MTArt Agency on Instagram @mtartagency

Visit the MTArt Agency website: mtart.agency

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“It was a love affair with the earth under my feet”        

Stephanie talks on:

·       Her crossroads moment in the magic of Mother Nature.

·       Noticing nature – how living a basic existence enabled her to see and feel more.

·       Adaptability and creating a business that’s right for you.

·       Growing organically and advocating appropriate tourism.

·       Surviving Coronavirus in the Galapagos – be humble and less judgemental.

·       Post Covid optimism - a sustainable future and the mindful tourist.

·       The juggle is real - managing a business as a woman.

You can find out more about Stephanie and her husband Michael’s safari camp at www.galapagossafaricamp.com or follow them on Instagram @galapagos_safari_camp

And as promised, read the story of Lonesome George here https://www.galapagossafaricamp.com/galapagos-safari-experiences/lonesome-george-galapagos

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers from Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“You can’t lie to your body”       

In this episode, Sally talks on:

·       How to thrive within a system designed for men and breaking success stereotypes.

·       Working within the limitations of our mental and physical health.

·       Real health as life’s foundation.

·       Nurturing yourself to a place of health – believing you deserve more.

·       Medical consent – understand the impacts.

·       The power of thoughts - how visualisation effects your body’s healing.

Further reading on the studies Sally referenced:

• EreminO.,et al. 'Immuno-modulatory effects of relaxation training and guided imagery in women with locally advanced breast cancer undergoing multimodality therapy: a randomised controlled trial', The Breast, 18(1), pp.17-25
•   UThomas, K.B. (1987), 'General practice consultations: is there any point in being positive?' British Medical Journal, 294(6581), pp.1200-1202
• Luparello, T.,et al(1968), 'Influences of suggestion on airway reactivity in asthmatic subjects, 'Psychosomatic Medicine, 30(6), pp.819-825

For more on the above Sally recommends reading 'Why Woo Woo Works' by David R Hamilton PHD

Find out more about Sally’s work on her website at www.womenwithsparkle.com / follow her on Instagram @womenwithsparkle / buy her book 'Get Your Sparkle Back'

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work

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“A sustained organisation that can make real impact”

Khalia talks on:

·      Bringing down barriers for black creatives and makers.

·      Understanding what role to take to help to solve a huge problem.

·      Surge guilt-shopping versus sustainable solutions.

·      How the collaborative approach and feedback assisted with her business evolution.

·      The importance in having an inclusive brand and ethos

Check out what Jamii is all about and join the community at lovejamii.com or follow them on social media: Instagram: @ukjamii /Twitter: @UKJamii / Facebook: @UKjamii

Find out more about REALWORK and sign up for the newsletter at www.doreal.work / Follow REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work / Search 'REALWORK' on Linkedin

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“How can we make this whole conversation more accessible?”    

Leyya talks on:

• How making people happy comes before education at The Other Box.
• A holistic approach to DEI education - meeting people where they are open to listen.
• How our influences and oppressive systems impacts bias and the importance of exposing ourselves to new narratives.
• Deflating the ego and the 4 part cycle: examine, unlearn, relearn, take action.
• Her learning journey as community builder.
• Creating real change - DEI training versus individual responsibility.

Find out more about The Other Box which welcomes individuals, solo entrepreneurs, small or large businesses at www.theotherbox.org

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Everyone has a story” 

Founder of luxury atelier upcycle business, House of Bilimoria, Shilpa Bilimoria-Cherry creates beautiful garments from family heirlooms and scavenged fabrics. Shilpa shares her inspiring story that led to her business today and her unique process in creating and personalising her bespoke garments.

Shilpa talks on:

• Using fabrics with heritage, memory and meaning to make it wearable
• Craftspeople versus the fashion designer.
• Embodying an identity through fabric.
• Sewing as therapy.
• A labour of love - how the energy at creation transfers into the fabric and wearer.
• The true definition of a legacy business (and why the legacy doesn’t have to be money!)

Find out more about House of Bilimoria: www.houseofbilimoria.com / Instagram @house_of_bilimoria

Find out more about REALWORK and sign up for the newsletter 'The REALWORKer' on the website: www.doreal.work / Instagram @doreal.work

This episode of the REALWORK podcast is sponsored by Work Show Grow, an online educational community supporting growth for creatives. Find them at www.workshowgrow.com / Instagram @workshowgrow / search founder Natasha Caruana on LinkedIn.

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative: www.decibellecreative.com / Instagram @decibelle_creative

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“It does exactly what we wanted it to do”        

Doing it for the Kids (DIFTK) aims to help self-employed parents create real connections for reassurance, support, collaboration and information sharing. Frankie discusses the award winning DIFTK podcast, her thoughts on monetising DIFTK and...

• How and why she started DIFTK – her initial intentions to avoid a blog ‘about me’.
• Monitoring a Facebook group of 8,500 member and the necessary rules (just don’t be a knob, ok?)
• Perceptions of success (and why they are usually wrong!)
• Winning Best British Podcast 2021 – why content rich wins in podcasting.

If you love DIFTK and all the fabulous value you receive for free, why not buy Frankie a coffee on Ko-Fi.com?

Find DIFTK on Instagram @doingitforthekids_ / join the Facebook group Doing It For The Kids : Community. / Search for Doing it for the Kids

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work

This episode is sponsored by Ainge Consulting. Find Leila on Instagram @leilaainge or book a free chat at www.aingeconsulting.co.uk

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative: @decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘I completely and totally design a life I am interested in’

Liana Fricker is founder of ‘The Inspiration Space’, a community created to help founders to create, grow, and develop their entrepreneurial ideas and businesses. Starting her own career in marketing and communications, Liana has worked in a range of environments from start-ups to larger corporate businesses, developing her leadership and businesses skills as she went.

Liana now uses ‘The Inspiration Space’ to helps others realise their business and life goals, and talks through:

• The importance of playing to your strengths, understanding your weaknesses and knowing where your value lies.
• Shaping your work around the life you want to live and being in control.
• Fostering creativity, the need for breaks and relaxation, and the threat of burnout.
• Developing ‘The Inspiration Space’ with the help of mentors and her study at the University of Westminster; the benefit of moving online and knowing when to scale.
• Helping others to network in a new way and grow their business to suit them.

You can find out more about ‘The Inspiration Space’ on their website at www.theinspirationspace.co and on Instagram @theinspirationspace.co

Keep up with Liana on Instagram @lianafricker

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘We are all looking for beauty in things all the time’

KANKAN founders Eliza Flanagan and Mary McLeod are on a mission to make refillable and reusable products convenient, appealing, and beautiful, with their liquid soap in plastic free cans.

Eliza talks on:

·       The benefit of being an MVP business and the direct feedback received from consumers early on to help shape the product.

·       Dividing the work between business partners and playing to your strengths.

·       Gaining inspiration from other businesses working in the sustainability sphere where the most important thing is not the bottom line e.g. DAME and Wild.

·       A tree is planted for every can sold – scale is the best way for KANKAN to make a huge environmental difference.

·       KANKAN is ready to grow and has big plans coming up: they are actively looking for collaboration partners and are fundraising to broaden their product range. You can also find Eliza’s sustainable recommendations by searching ‘WILD deodorant’, and ‘DAME’.

REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and www.decibellecreative.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘When you take a leap, when you go towards something that feels expansive, all sorts of bizarre and unpredictable magical things happen’

Tiu de Haan is a ritual designer, creative facilitator and idea doula, helping clients to birth their ideas and facilitating non-religious moments of meaning that help to adjust their perspective in the long term. Starting in 2005 with a small group in Devon and going from strength to strength since, Tiu now works with both individuals and corporate clients who want to (re)connect with their sense of creativity and wonder, curating and holding space for these often transformative experiences. Tiu shares her business journey and the methods she uses to encourage creativity, including:

• The development of the business over time and the importance of understanding client needs and adjusting your offer accordingly.
• Pronoia: the belief that everything in the universe is secretly conspiring on your behalf to shower you with blessings.
• How to consciously choose an alternative perspective for life by asking ‘What if this were for me?’ and starting to view life through a different lens.
• Engaging in small acts of kindness, the benefits this can bring, and the importance of boundaries and non-intrusive acts.
• Appreciating the openness of myth over dogma and learning to be comfortable sitting with questions rather than immediately seeking an answer.

Find the podcast on coincidence that Tiu discusses by searching ‘This American Life – Episode 489’.

You can find Tiu at her website www.tiudehaan.com, or on Instagram at @tiudehaan1.

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work

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Content note: body image and diet culture

‘Every job I have ever done is because I really love it, and I want to do it, and I want to connect with people in some way’

Alison Perry wears many hats; she is a blogger, podcaster, author, influencer, and mother.

Starting off her career in journalism Alison was an early adopter of social media, encouraging the magazines she worked with to increase their online presence. When she set up her first blog it was in her lunchtimes and evenings and wasn’t monetised; Alison wanted to offer support and a network to other mothers and didn’t see it as a career option. This has all changed, and now Alison is a pro content creator with a large online following.

Alison talks about:

• The importance of doing a job for the love of it, putting passion before pay cheques, and the privilege that facilitates this.
• Using social media to encourage body confidence, the issues with the damagingly narrow view of a healthy body that we currently have, and seeing the body as an instrument not an ornament.
• Her husband being a ‘stay at home husband’, how and why this works for them as a family, and the gendered reactions it provokes.
• Alison’s recent book ‘OMG It’s Twins’, perfect for anyone expecting twins to prepare them for what is to come and how to cope (from experience!).  

Find Alison on Instagram at ‘@iamalisonperry’, search ‘Not Another Mummy Blog’ to find her blog, or listen to her podcast by searching ‘Not Another Mummy Podcast’ on your usual podcast platform.

You can buy Alison’s book ‘OMG It’s Twins’ here.

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com

Our thanks go to Tom Seals for his wonderful piano playing at the end of this episode – find him here: @tomseals and www.tomseals.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Be open about what you don’t know and you do know, and where you add value’

Pippa Murray is the proud business owner of Pip & Nut, an independent food brand that has become a household name over its 6 years of trading. Passionate about food and innovation, Pippa shares her experience of growing her business, learning how to lead a team, and the business journey of Pip & Nut to date. Pippa explores:

• The role shift from doing to directing, knowing your value add, and building a supportive team around you. 
• The value of learning from experience, bouncing back from mistakes, and 'controlling the controllables'. 
• Knowing your brand inside and out, doing the due diligence, and putting the consumer first. 
• Becoming a B Corp, the structure for best practice this brings, and what it means for the business, the team, and consumers.

To find out more about Pip & Nut and more from the podcast, Google:

• Pip & Nut
• Ugly Drinks
• B Corp
• COOK 

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work 

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com

Our thanks go to Tom Seals for his wonderful piano playing at the end of this episode – find him here: @tomseals and www.tomseals.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘I’m learning, constantly learning’

Louise Atiba-Davies has worked in the fashion industry for 18 years as a designer for a range of household name commercial high street brands. At the start of the pandemic, Louise took the jump to work freelance in order to make changes in the industry she was becoming disillusioned with. Initially working freelance, she has now set up her business In House Creative Agency, which uses 3D design to make waves in the fashion industry.

Louise talks through:

• Moving from working freelance to running a business and the necessary mindset change involved.
• From 2D sketches to 3D computer aided design; how 3D design aids sustainability in product design.
• Being a conscious shopper, understanding the production chain of clothes you buy, and using The Ethical Consumer.
• The many different roles you play as a business owner and building confidence in your abilities.
• An insider view of the fashion and garment production industry in China.

https://www.inhousecreativity.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-atiba-davies/

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com

Our thanks go to Tom Seals for his wonderful piano playing at the end of this episode – find him here: @tomseals and www.tomseals.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“We might be a tortoise to the outside world, but we are definitely a hare inside the business”

Katie Vanneck-Smith is co-founder of Tortoise, a slow newsroom that set out from the start to be human, humble, and humorous. With an impressive background in print news, Katie recognised the reactive and overwhelming nature of the way we consume news today and knew there must be a better way to stay engaged; enter Tortoise.

Katie discusses:

·       The ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ of Tortoise, and the gap it fills in today’s media landscape.

·       Digital disruption of print news and the change in relationship between newsrooms and readers.

·       Importance of openness and debate, and the need to challenge your own points of view ad the path you took to reaching them.

·       The creation of Tortoise, from recognising the demand for slower news, through to a successful Kickstarter campaign and investor interest.

·       How Katie got to where she is today including schooling, high personal expectations, and upmost value of respect and the importance of working hard to earn it.

https://www.tortoisemedia.com/

Instagram: @tortoise

Find out more about REALWORK on Instagram @doreal.work or visit www.doreal.work

The REALWORK Podcast with Fleur Emery is produced by Buckers from Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: www.decibellecreative.com

Our thanks go to Tom Seals for his wonderful piano playing at the end of this episode – find him here: @tomseals and www.tomseals.co.uk

This week’s episode of the REALWORK Podcast is sponsored by ARC Club, a professional workspace and shared space for the neighbourhood in Homerton – more spaces coming to London soon!

www.arc-club.com

Instagram: @arc_club_

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