Style and Substance

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 for purpose led business. We close with the unexpected things we've both been grateful this year. We hope you find it useful and, as ever, thank you for listening. 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.

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 information.

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 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 thatHow branding can hold your high standards and reflect who you’re becomingThe midlife turning point: legacy, visibility, and the art of leaving your markIt’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 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 share:why time feels so scarce,how to set your mindset before tackling the to-do list,how we use buffers and white space to plan for the unexpected,how Eisenhower’s matrix can cut through the noise and help with prioritisationand what to do when crisis or emotional weight hijacks your schedule.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=1000616897019Reconciling Priorities: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reconciling-priorities-managing-the-tensions-as-women/id1653753664?i=1000714455826Holding 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.

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 find it helpful and if you know someone who needs to hear this please do pass it on with our love. 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.

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 and thank you for your support of the podcast this season, it means the world. xx 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.

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 a few joyful party plugs along the way!) which we hope will give you pause for thought. We mentioned the summer party on 2nd July, do join us! You can find out more at www.thebrand-stylist.com/soiree 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-courseIf 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.