Style and Substance

Planning for a Restorative Summer 24.06.2026 51хв

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 differing types of rest we plan to make space for and how we are trying to avoid skidding into the summer break in a hot mess! It's a pretty personal episode and we hope you enjoy the conversation. A reminder from our lovely sponsors Squarespace of their free live circle event happening today (as this comes out) Wednesday 24th, 3pm uk time with Fiona talking about Design on your terms and taking questions. You can register your place here https://luma.com/circle-live-040 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Understanding the Summer Seasonal Personality - Colour Psychology for Branding 17.06.2026 33хв

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 business looking to bring the essence of summer into their brand.Thank you to our sponsors for this episode - Squarespace.You can find the details and register for a place on their Live Circle event on Wednesday 24th June with Fiona here You can find the Absolute Essentials of Colour Psychology and the other Colour Psychology resources Fiona mentions hereYou can find our previous conversation on the Spring Seasonal Personality here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our First Priority as Empowered Entrepreneurs... 10.06.2026 44хв

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 Business'. We hope you enjoy lovely listeners. The book is on half price summer sale at the moment so if you'd like to snag your copy while stocks last then you can order your personal signed copy from Elizabeth's website here https://www.elizabethcairns.com/book Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding a Name that Works for your Business 03.06.2026 48хв

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 pro's and cons of using your own name for your company.We mention the naming masterclass so if you are foraying into rebranding or renaming your business and would like a tried and tested process to follow you can check it out on The Brand Stylist Academy here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maintaining your Edge as the Market Inevitably Shifts 20.05.2026 47хв

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 able to control is the ever changing landscape of the market. Recessions, pandemics, global turbulence, the pace of tech...all impact the daily reality.In this conversation we are exploring how business has evolved over the years and the things that have helped us find, maintain and lean into our edge and what has, and still does, make it a continual creative challenge to stay in the game and most importantly enjoy it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Personal about Mental Health 13.05.2026 51хв

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 it shows up for us as both a challenge and an opportunity. We talk about our own challenges with giving and receiving support and how tricky it can be to build community even with the closest of friends. We end with a few of the many resources that we have found to be hugely helpful for us both, the links as promised are below. Thank you as ever for joining us and if you are in a place where you're struggling, as far as we are humanly able, we will always do our best to support. Go gently. Much love, Elizabeth & FionaThe Homing podcast episode we mention where Matt Gibberd interviews Urban Designer David Engwicht can be found here.We are both avid fans of The Class - a music-driven somatic workout where we exercise the body to engage the mind and connect to the heart. You can dip your toe in with a free trial.Courtney Baxter of TRE Surrey is also highly recommended for Trauma Release work and Quantum Energy Coaching. We've both enjoyed her workshops, classes and 121 sessions.For those curious about the benefits of Singing for unlocking creativity, fostering wellbeing and nurturing community. Sound and Song run by my dear friend Zoe Hatch is a must try. She runs weekend harmony singing circles and holds a truly safe space for women to come together and enjoy using their voices.The Be Still and Notice podcast is a soothing oasis of calm and reflection in your day hosted by my dear friend and fellow Yogi Helen taylor. You can find it here. My colleague and dar friend, Jo McAndrews has created an extraordinarily comprehensive and sensitively delivered online course that does actually teach us the skills of warm attentive listening and accompaniment. Jo's work is trauma and attachment theory informed and based in solid science as well as being hugely and reassuringly relational. Whilst the course is aimed at building skills for parents and carers it's something I feel we can all benefit hugely from whether you are a parent or not. You can find it here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creating the Conditions for Creativity to Thrive 06.05.2026 38хв

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 is a fast, cheap, processed loaf what we really want to be enjoying with our morning coffee? We hope you enjoy the conversation, and if you do please do share it with someone who needs a little creative lift. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself If you Want a Destination Brand 29.04.2026 22хв

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 that you need to ponder if you want your ideal customers to cross continents to work with you. Enjoy lovely listeners, I do hope it's useful. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writing Great Copy without the Angst 22.04.2026 51хв

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 thought we'd offer some thoughts on how we go about copy writing so you can feel empowered, inspired and informed to take it back into your own hands and enjoy all the benefits of expressing yourself with words that really work.In this episode we talk about what gets in the way of good copywriting, the role of the brand voice and how it rounds out the other elements of your brand, how to find a voice that feels most authentic and, if you do choose to outsource to a copywriter, some of the things you might want to think about to make sure you make the most of it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Planning a Knockout Photoshoot for Your Brand 15.04.2026 48хв

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:Art directing impactful photographyCompose and Captivate Enjoy lovely listeners and welcome to season 21. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creating a Halo Effect with Your Brand 24.03.2026 41хв

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 be back after the Easter Break. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Understanding The Spring Seasonal Personality : Colour Psychology for Branding Part 1 18.03.2026 56хв

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 colours, fonts, shapes and textures will create coherent impact and what throws a brand 'off'. We touch on considerations for photography, copy writing, scents and even food when it comes to encapsulating the resonance of spring. This is the first of a 4 part series that will air along side the changing seasons and we hope is a delightful and illuminating guide to this fascinating and empowering topic. If you want to listen back to the previous episode mentioned you can find 'Colour Psychology for Branding' from season 4 here: https://open.acast.com/public/streams/63627df65e54600012595265/episodes/647f3f51aa1f100011562a5d.mp3if you're curious about learning more there are a wealth of Colour Psychology for Branding resources including:The Absolute Essentials of Colour Psychology Seminar, The Colour Psychology for Creatives online course, The Absolute Essentials of Colour Psychology handbook, The Resonant Brand Method for Designers, on The Brand Stylist website here: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Powerful Messaging Without Resorting to AI 11.03.2026 58хв

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 about Brand Clarity that we mention at the end of the episode you can find it on Fi's website here: https://thebrandstylist.thinkific.com/courses/brand-clarity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding Flow in your Business When the World is A Lot 04.03.2026 30хв

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 water up hill at the moment or, like us, are struggling with how the tide is turning in the global picture, this might just be the episode you need. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taking Care: Thoughts on Resilience and Nervous System Regulation when Energy is Low 25.02.2026 49хв

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 looks like on a daily basis and how we structure our business from the ground up to build in safe guards against nervous system overload. We touch on how that landscape might look different for neurodivergent folks, how challenging it can be to accurately determine our capacity and what real resilience actually looks like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the Horses Mouth - Feng Shui Expert Zoe Vita James on Making the Most of the Year of the Fire Horse 11.02.2026 29хв

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 space to welcome opportunities, what it means for how we show up and what to watch for. Zoe is a wealth of insight and knowledge on Classical Feng Shui and it is our very great joy to welcome her to the podcast. We have had the pleasure at Studio Theia of working with Zoe on her new brand identity and website which has launched this week. You can hear more from Zoe on her own podcast - Feng Shui The Real Thing, and find our more about her Feng Shui consultancy, Ba Zi Readings and must have 2026 Feng Shui Energy Forecast on her website www.zoevitajames.com. We do hope you enjoy this very special guest episode and thanks again for listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you Ready for the Year of the Horse? 04.02.2026 46хв

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 increasing capacity, to managing boundaries, to what freedom might really means, we cover it all. We hope you enjoy the listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Essential Advantage Most Creatives Miss 28.01.2026 48хв

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 21.01.2026 40хв

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 view, the spirit in which to do it that makes it so much more powerful, compassionate and ultimately rewarding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Hopes for You this Year 14.01.2026 34хв

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.