Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 best brand they can get.
You can find The free Where to Start course on Fi's website here: https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/creating-your-brand-where-to-start
The Podcast episode that walks through the Roadmap fi mentions can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/your-roadmap-to-a-show-stopping-brand/id1653753664?i=1000648193262
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 hard won insights in this conversation and we hope you will want to share it. If you know a business owner who deserves a knock out brand, then do pass this on with our love.
Fi's Free Where to Start Course that she mentions can be found in the Brand Stylist Academy: https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/creating-your-brand-where-to-start. Enjoy folks and, as ever, thanks for listening.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 laptop on fire.
What do you do when your expertise took 10 years to build… but someone with a ring light and a knack for marketing is now the “industry leader”? Join us as we unpack the creative identity crisis of our era, the rise of AI, and the pressure to monetise your soul via prompts, courses, and whatever the algorithm wants this week.
We are really digging in this week and hope you enjoy coming along with us.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 ever be as expansive as your thinking. Enjoy lovely listeners.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 embarrassment.
In this episode, we unpack the quiet tension so many women in business live with: wanting to honour our instincts and trust our boundaries, but fearing we’ll be misread or misunderstood or even not liked. We’ll explore why this conditioning runs so deep, how it erodes self-trust, and what it takes to reclaim your inner authority, without hardening or over apologising.
We're posing the question; "How much of our energy goes into curating how we are perceived, rather than inhabiting who we actually are and getting what we really deserve?" and what is that actually costing us?
Expect gentle truth-telling, a few nervous system insights, and some deeply practical ways to start trusting your “no,” and your instincts again.
Because maybe being that person, the clear, kind, self-respecting one, is exactly who you came here to be.
This is the last of this season before we head into half term and if you want something to look forward to you can book your place on our Style and Substance Christmas Lunch on 27th November, at the fabulous Jamie O's in London. Just head over to http://www.thebrand-stylist.com/events to book your place. We'd love to see you there!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Raising Expectations When We're Done Settling
There’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 something that lasts.
In this episode, we explore what it means to expect more, from your business, from your brand, and from yourself.
Together, we’ll talk about why the world doesn’t always hold high expectations for women in business, and why that means we must hold them for ourselves. We’ll unpack how branding can carry the weight of your ambition, give you a presence you can be proud of, and help you claim your legacy with confidence.
If you’ve felt that quiet nudge that says, “It’s time to raise the bar,” — this one’s for you.
In this episode we talk about:
Why women so often under-expect, and how to change that
How branding can hold your high standards and reflect who you’re becoming
The midlife turning point: legacy, visibility, and the art of leaving your mark
It’s a conversation about courage, refinement, and the power of showing up for yourself at a new level.
We'll leave you with three powerful steps to take when you start expecting more.
We hope you enjoy the listen and if you know someone who needs to hear this please do pass it on with our love.
#StyleAndSubstancePodcast #WomenInBusiness #BrandStrategy #MidlifePower #CreativeEntrepreneurs #BrandStylist
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Secrets to Feeling More Capable and Clear When There’s Just Not Enough Time
How 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 share:
This is a practical, clear-eyed conversation about taking back control and feeling more capable—even when life feels impossible to manage. We'll leave you with our key takeaways for what you can do right now to feel even clearer when it comes to getting stuff done.
The previous episodes mentioned you can find here: Making The Most of your Time: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-the-most-of-your-time/id1653753664?i=1000616897019
Reconciling Priorities: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reconciling-priorities-managing-the-tensions-as-women/id1653753664?i=1000714455826
Holding the Vision Amidst the Noise: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-is-takes-to-hold-the-vision-amidst-the-noise-and/id1653753664?i=1000709238379
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 actionable guide to glowing up your website. For those of you that have had your website on the to do list for a while and feeling more than a little overwhelmed, or even if you may have just had it done but don't have that "Oh yes" feeling, this is for you and we can do this in a morning, what's not to love?
If you want to move your website forwards quickly and powerfully and give yourself the best foundation for 2026 listen in. If you know someone who needs to hear this, please do pass it on.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 what that can do for the sustainability of your business. Whether you're just starting out or have been in business for a while, this is a must listen and packed with valuable takeaways. If you haven't explored your muses for a while, now is the time and here's what you need to do it well, Next week we'll be back with Start as you Mean to Go On - Making the most of the last quarter of the year. We hope you enjoy and if you know someone who needs to hear this episode please do pass it on with our love.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 efficiency) at the heart and crucially, staying true to what and who matters most.
It’s honest, with the odd hilarious outtake we've left in for fun, and hopefully useful. We hope you enjoy the listen as we celebrate our 100th episode.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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, and resonance.
We explore what alignment really means, why it matters, and how it touches everything from nervous system safety to brand strategy. You'll hear how inner clarity around your values, energy, and identity fuels outer clarity in your offerings, pricing, audience, and brand expression. We also talk about why finding alignment isn't always easy, what gets in the way, and the sacred and strategic practices that help us on the journey to full alignment. If you’re craving more flow in your business, this one’s for you. Enjoy lovely listeners.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 best possible chance of winning the right kind of work, attracting the most aligned opportunities, charging what you're worth and realising your brands potential, then this is a must listen.
We mention Fi's free "Creating your Brand Where to Start Course" you can find out more here https://thebrandstylist.thinkific.com/courses/creating-your-brand-course
If you're curious to find out more about the work of ImNotOk that I mention at the head of the episode, or would like to know more about becoming a volunteer companion then you can email me at elizabeth@elizabethcairns.com or visit imnotok.uk.
Thanks for listening and as ever if you've enjoyed the episode we'd love it if you would take a moment to drop us a review or share it with someone who might need to hear it. Thank you!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 missing, how it impacts on the work of creatives who may also be Neurodivergent and the all important consideration of the wider environmental impact of such a powerful tool. We'd love to hear your views. Are you a fan of AI? does it support your work? are you concerned about where it's headed and what do you see as the potential for the future? It's a topic I don't think any of us can avoid and we certainly aren't shying away from what we really think in this conversation. We hope you enjoy and do let us know what you think over on insta @styleandsubstance_podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 in the episode and you can find the link to book here https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/soiree. Do come we'd love to see you. x
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.