Pretty Hard

<p>Pretty Hard is all about discussing what we feel when we think about our relationship to beauty - how it's changed over time, what we've been and are currently influenced by, what we're trying to change, and of course, how hard it is to run (and consume) a beauty brand in today's digital age. A podcast by Fluff, a beauty brand that believes it’s ok to feel more with makeup, so long as you don’t feel less without it. A series of honest conversations: thoughts and feelings with founder, Erika Geraerts and Head of Brand, Ellen Jenkinson.</p>

Episode 46: Layered. Joy Ben Hur's Relationship to Beauty.

Joy Ben Hur is a digital creator and storyteller whose voice bridges YouTube, film, and podcasting. She launched her Youtube channel Joyish at 14 years old, as a space to share fashion, lifestyle, art and personal reflection. As a filmmaker, Joy writes and directs, turning intimate themes of belonging and change into cinematic form, most recently for Fluff in her short film titled, Beauty is Nurture. Through her Humble Ego Podcast, Joy holds space for creatives to unpack imperfection, vulnera...

10-01
56:14

Episode 45: Constantly in Flux. Chantel Horvat's Relationship to Beauty

Chantel Horvat is an Australian basketballer who studied at UCLA over a five-year collegiate career before launching her professional journey across the U.S., Europe, and home in Australia. She’s represented the Opals at the Asia Cup and has played for top clubs in Poland, Turkey, Spain, the WNBL’s Canberra Capitals and Melbourne Tigers, and recently, Townsville Fire. When she's not on the court you can find her as an anything-goes creative sharing whatever her travelling hands can prod...

09-29
49:23

Episode 44: Difficult & Incredible. Kayla Moon's Relationship to Beauty.

Kayla Moon is a multifaceted creative across Xxflos and Stay Soft Studio in Melbourne, where she has built a reputation as a local business owner and floral artist blending nature and structural modernity. Her story has been shaped by reinvention, resilience, and the challenges of carving space in industries that demand both vulnerability and vision. We chat about growing up with strong, wild feminine archetypes as role models, the idea of appreciating beauty outside of oneself, alongside the...

09-29
52:26

Episode 43: Jessica Defino, Erika Geraerts, and Maeva Heim. An honest discussion.

The beauty industry is brutal, for consumers, brands, and founders alike. While glossy on the surface, behind the scenes is a world of numbers, stakeholders, and systems that are rarely discussed. Purpose vs Profit. Expression vs Exploitation. Generosity vs Gatekeeping. In this intimate, live podcast recording from April 2025 in NYC, founder of Fluff, Erika Geraerts speaks openly with beauty journalist and writer Jessica Defino and Bread Beauty founder Maeva Heim. Find Jessica on ...

08-07
01:07:06

Episode 42: Fraught. Eryca Judi Green's Relationship to Beauty.

Eryca Judi Green is a photographer, co-owner at Opmanis & Green, and director of Smith St Bazaar. We have known each other for around a decade, having first met at her furniture store and very quickly becoming close friends. I am inspired by Eryca’s personal style, strong sense of self, and appreciation of all things beautiful - and her application of such in her daily life. Like me, Eryca believes that everything can tell a story, from the clothes you wear to the furnit...

04-25
45:05

Episode 41: Alice Edgeley's Relationship to Beauty.

Alice Edgeley is a fashion & costume designer, stylist, and a self proclaimed fashion history/ beauty nerd. If you live in Collingwood or Fitzroy, you will definitely know her work. Alice is all about questioning established notions of ‘good taste’ and challenging conventional aesthetics - and this has meant an exploration of bold glamour and following her instincts rather than the dictates of current fashion trends. We spoke about the positive influence of Alice’s mother over her life, h...

04-21
48:50

Episode 40: Roses. Carol Green's Relationship to Beauty.

Carol Green is a dancer, model, and teacher, who at 67, is still dancing en pointe - having been a professional ballerina with the Australian Ballet School and having danced since the age of 5. We chat about many things including the most poetic definition of beauty, how her style has changed (and been reclaimed) over time, why she believes dance is an art form for people of all ages, and the legacy she wants to leave in terms of beauty, style, and identity. She refuses to become invisible an...

04-16
48:09

Episode 39: Dynamic. Diana Mishka's Relationship to Beauty.

Diana Mishka is a NY based model, marketing manager, and friend of Fluff. We recently collaborated on a PH colour-changing Lip Oil, after getting to know Diana and her love of makeup. We thought, why pick another colour when we can work with the people that love and inspire our brand each day? What do they want to see? In this episode we caught up across different timezones, to discuss Diana's experience growing up in Russia, being bullied at school for not fitting in to the ideal beauty ae...

12-12
55:51

Episode 38: Layered. Stacey Burt's Relationship to Beauty.

Stacey Burt is the founder of Little Company, a holistic skin studio that offers a focused approach to the body’s largest organ, that being the skin. We love Little Company's approach to facials - it is truly a meditative ritual that we believe everyone should experience if they can, and their approach to simple, supportive routines just makes sense. Stacey is also working on a Training School for beauty therapists - a term that's polarising for Stacey and of which we go into detail. She's al...

09-11
47:11

Fluff x Shopify Masters. A (re)introduction to the brand, with founder Erika Geraerts.

An interruption to our usual podcast schedule, to (re)introduce Fluff to new listeners, customers, and followers, on behalf of Shopify Masters and host Shuang Esther Shan. ​​Fluff was created in 2018 as an antidote to the current beauty industry narrative, for anyone who thinks that the world doesn't need more products, just better products, and responsible, transparent messaging. ​​Founded in Melbourne, Australia, we ship our refillable Cloud Compacts around the world, for anyone who wants ...

08-27
39:52

Episode 36: Complex. Lydia O'Donnell's Relationship to Beauty.

Lydia O'Donnell is a Marathon Athlete, Nike Pacific Run Coach, and the Co-Founder of Femmi, a dedicated running app for women, focused around learning about one's cycle and it's impact on movement and exercise, as well as a weekly run community across Australia and NZ. We met a few years ago and eventually joined the Femmi run club, which has been a chance to meet new people, get outside, add a few kms to the week and explore community. In this episode we discuss Lydia's relatio...

08-06
46:39

Episode 35: Clean. Sam Guggenheimer's Relationship to Beauty.

Sam Guggenheimer is the co-host of Just For Girls, a podcast discussing everything that plays out in the day to life of just that, being a girl. We loved talking to Sam because she had a very balanced perspective on the work she's doing in her industry and within the social media space. We get stuck into topics including growing up around a camera, online bullying and trolling, privacy and control, structure vs going with the flow, and being as candid as she can online. Please note this...

07-23
49:38

Episode 34: Fun. Lucinda Price's Relationship to Beauty.

Lucinda Price is a writer, comedian, and performance artist. We've crossed paths over the last ten years, and have wanted to talk to Lucinda in detail for a while. We finally got the opportunity and we loved the amount of crossover we had, being writers and working in advertising and media. We talk a lot about her upcoming book, titled, ALL I EVER WANTED WAS TO BE HOT’ and her journey/relationship to beauty that inspired the content. Please note this episode contains topics including di...

07-18
01:02:46

Episode 32. Fluctuating. Leonie Akhidenor's Relationship to Beauty

"You’ll care less, strive further, and feel more,” Leonie Akhidenor is the host of the Parenthood Podcast, a model, and mother, who was introduced to Fluff via mutual connections. In this conversation we explore her experience as a bi-racial woman growing up in Australia, her journey through pre and post natal depression, and her learnings from hundreds of conversations with other parents, including the tension for some mothers to find their ’sexy’ or to feel good in their ‘new' body a...

02-20
42:30

Episode 28: Catching up

Erika & Ellen discuss the series ahead, the current state of the industry, the current state of their personal lives, and what the future of beauty looks like, right now.

11-16
46:52

Episode 25: Honesty. Zac Waters Relationship to Beauty

Zac Waters has been a touring musician for the last 11 years. In 2019 he started Adult Art Club which blends music and art in immersive exhibitions. Zac opens up about the role of ego in identity and creativity, and the importance of appreciating the small moments. Zac turns the questioning on us about Fluff’s origins, our growth over time, and our evolving, personal relationships to beauty. Find Zac via @zac.waters & @adult.art.club

08-09
48:26

Episode 24: Internal. Robyn Clark's Relationship to Beauty

Robyn Morrison (Bobby Clark) is an artist, creative director, interior stylist and creative consultant. She speaks openly about her experience growing up in Scotland, how her art has been the truest expression of her identity, how becoming a mother has influenced her perception of self, and the positive and negative impacts of social media in her life. There is a beautiful moment where we discuss recognising beauty in oneself, for the first time. We hope you enjoy this honest conversation. F...

07-26
55:10

Episode 23: A New Season: Career & Community

In season 3 we’re discussing beauty under the lens of career and community: everything from societal expectations to how your work can be the truest expression of your identity. (For some, not everyone). As a tangent, we discuss the evolving (and debated) definition of self-care and how the beauty industry continues to exploit it; and the responsibility of having a platform (in this case podcast) and following. Ellen and Erika reflect on the season ahead, what they learned from each guest, as...

07-12
33:08

Episode 22: Considered. Avi’s Relationship to Beauty

Avigon Paphitis is a Beauty industry marketing consultant, and founder of Paphitis Advisory. She previously worked at Beautycounter and Youth To The People, and has a wealth of knowledge across global makeup and skincare brands, and the changing consumer landscape over the last 10-15 years. We discuss the expectations of beauty brands vs the reality, and the ugly side of the beauty industry as she turns the questions on us as to why we started, and how things are going.

06-14
01:16:54

Episode 21: Up & down. Soumeya’s Relationship to Beauty

Soumeya Beeow is a professional runner and model who recently featured in Fluff’s Lip Oil campaign. We were drawn to her willingness and openness to discuss the cultural differences surrounding beauty, growing up as a West African women in Australia, the growing number of people using skin bleaching creams, and the expectations, crossovers, and contradictions of the professional sporting and modelling space.

06-07
42:18

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