Chrissy Rutherford is a writer, consultant and mental wellness advocate. She was a digital editor at Harper’s Bazaar.com for 9 years, from 2011-2020, in New York City- spearheading the magazine’s instagram account - which got over 4 million followers under her influence- along with writing fashion and celebrity articles, styling, producing and hosting their Youtube series Heel Hunters. Since departing Harpers, Chrissy is now a writer and digital content creator working with brands like J Crew, Caudalie, JW Marriott Hotels, DeBeers and American Express . She has a newsletter called FWD JOY which is dedicated to the journey of self-discovery, self-care, and self-investment.
In this episode we cover:
What it took to get an Editor’s job at Harper’s
And what it took to leave
Living with your parents as an adult
Pulled back from digital activism after going 5.4m+ viral on a post
The joys of being 39 and single
Why you should move around in your career
Mentions:
A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle
Notes from the Universe (app)
Clueless (1995) directed by Amy Heckerling
The Places That Scare You - Pema Chodron
Links:
https://chrissyrutherford.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrissyford
Dan Murray-Serter is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor (85 startups), and advocate for mental health. He co-founded Heights, a brain care supplements company, following personal struggles with insomnia and anxiety. Dan also co-hosts the acclaimed Secret Leaders podcast, where he has interviewed over 500 prominent figures, amassing more than 50 million downloads. He shares insights on success and well-being through his newsletter, "The Science of Success."
In this episode we cover:
- When ADHD meets creative entrepreneurship
- Do hard things, build up dopamine
- The successes and failures of start ups
- Curing insomnia
- Building Heights in a few way
- Getting investment for a 'slow down' company
- Annual life audits
Mentions:
The Dose Effect - TJ Power
The Molecule of More - Daniel Z. Lieberman and Mike Long
Building A Story Brand - Donald Miller
Awareness - Anthony De Mello
Joy (2015) directed by David O Russell
The Defiant Ones (2017) Documentary by Allen Hughes
Links:
Marine Tanguy was the youngest gallery manager in Europe before founding MTArt Agency, the first talent agency dedicated to visual artists. They represent top visual artists and integrates their art into various contexts, from digital platforms to public art projects. She is also the author of her new book The Visual Detox - challenging the dominance of commercial imagery in public spaces.
In this episode we cover:
- What visual literacy means
- What you can do to become a more conscious visual consumer
- How an image of her used in a slander campaign became on of the most viewed images on Le Monde
- Raising boys
- How visuals can catalyse important conversations
- Taking a “30 minute holiday” every day
Mentions:
At 21 Marine was the manager of Steve Lazarides Gallery (Banksy and other street art)
Marine’ gallery she opened at 23 was called De Re Gallery (named after the island she came from in France) on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles
Marine was mentored by Michael Ovitz , co-founder of CAA
Tineye.com - reverse image search
BBC Verify
Pina (2012) documentary by Wim Wenders on choreographer Pina Bausch
Links:
https://www.instagram.com/marinetanguyart/
Sharmadean Reid MBE, is a British entrepreneur, author, and cultural innovator best known for founding WAH Nails, a nail salon that redefined beauty culture in London, and The Stack World, a platform empowering women through networking and business tools. Sharmadean's new book, New Methods for Women: A Manifesto for Independence, features 49 essays that provide actionable advice and personal insights on navigating life, work, relationships, and personal growth. Drawing from her own experiences as an entrepreneur, leader, and co-parent, Sharmadean offers readers practical tools to thrive while advocating for systemic change to better support women's empowerment.
In this episode we cover:
How to be a contributor to your city
The difference between founding and entrepreneurship
How praise can reinforce negative behaviours
Finding a career that gives you pleasure
Why two baths a day is true luxury
Equity: the next wave of feminism
How to centre yourself every day
Bringing the healing home
Mentions:
Street Haunting: A London Adventure (1927) by Virginia Woolf
New Methods for Women (2024) by Sharmadean Reid
Boomerang (1992) Film by Reginald Hudlin
Links:
https://www.instagram.com/sharmadeanreid
https://www.newmethodsforwomen.com/
Sarah Ann Macklin is a British nutritionist, model, and mental health advocate, known for blending science and compassion in her work. After a successful modeling career, she transitioned into the field of nutrition, earning a first-class degree in Human Nutrition. Her personal experiences, including being diagnosed with dyslexia during her studies, inspired her to explore how nutrition supports mental health and conditions like ADHD and autism. She also hosts the popular podcast Live Well, Be Well, which focuses on evidence-based nutrition and mental health strategies. Sarah has spoken internationally, including at the European Parliament, and contributes to publications such as Women’s Health and Harper’s Bazaar.
In this episode we cover:
What happens when we are told we are successful at a very young age
What being hospitalized by burnout means
Relearning self-compassion
True success is when you overcome something huge in yourself
Discipline and the myth of work-life balance
Wellness culture’s latest trends and traps
Why wellbeing starts with the mind
Links:
https://sarahannmacklin.com/
Olivia Rubin is a celebrated British fashion designer known for her vibrant, feminine and joyful designs. Reviving her eponymous brand as a mum of two in 2018, Olivia rocketed to success. Within a year, the brand was stocked in Selfridges and Saks New York. Within three she had a store on Marylebone High Street and was presenting at London Fashion. Then there was a kids collection and collaborations with Elemis, sofa.com, Liberty and more.
Her signature rainbow patterns and commitment to creating inclusive, size-diverse collections made her a favourite among celebrities and fashion enthusiasts alike. But in the last year, Olivia has decided to slow down - on the unsustainable pace of seasonal collections, on scaling so big she loses control and in her busy personal life too.
In this episode we cover:
How regaining control increases your enjoyment
Celebrating the small wins
Allowing space for yourself postpartum
Finding the joy in dressing
Mentions:
Miuccia Prada’s 90s shows
One of Olivia’s many posts that I reference on slowing down: https://www.instagram.com/p/DCHkY6iMEGH/?img_index=1
Links:
Solomon Oyemade was a Location Manager and connector in East London whose curiosity and intuition took him to Sweden where he ran the kitchen in an African Drum School for 9 months and started to find his place at the intersection of creativity and social impact.
After house-sitting in Costa Rica, California, Mexico, Portugal and Spain he nomadically built Curated Funding, an online library that gives creatives and social entrepreneurs access to an archive of active awards, grants, and funding initiatives. Solomon is currently the Special Projects Manager at Shoreditch Arts Club - programming events that celebrate diversity and grassroots creativity. Solomon’s journey is not the typical one which is why his perspectives and stories are so refreshing.
In this episode we cover:
Using your phone as a mailbox
Anchors rather than titles
Monastic experiences and being alone
Being an experimenter
Grief as a great equalizer
What pervasive belief are you railing against today?
The lens of gratitude is not about perfection
Who are you when social expectation is removed?
Mentions:
Newham Youth Parliament
WorkAway
Fela Kuti
Fresh, (1994) film by Boaz Yakin
Links:
Alexia de Broglie is the co-founder of Your Juno, a financial education platform that helps women reach their financial goals. She started Your Juno with her sister at the age of 24 and raised over $2.5m in investment. In the last three years, Juno has supported 150,000 women in increasing their personal combined wealth by an estimated £600 million. Alexia has also been a guest editor at the Financial Times, named Forbes 30 under 30, ex-McKinsey & PwC, and featured for her work in Vogue, BBC, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan, amongst others. Re-imagining her life now after a failed sale of her business, Alexia is exploring different ways of living, community-building and slowing down.
In this episode we cover:
Seeking your father’s admiration
Study drugs and doing it all
How that first big setback feels
ISTA, love and travel on a journey of change
Re-building the mind-body connection
What you do with your privilege is what matters
The role money plays in the loss of community
Mentions:
Charles Eisenstein
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
International School of Temple Arts (ISTA)
Links:
Matt Klein is an award-winning cultural theorist, strategist, and writer renowned for his insights into societal trends and digital culture.
His present role is Head of Foresight at Reddit and running his award-winning publication ZINE (which you should subscribe to!). As a sought-after speaker and consultant, Matt collaborates with brands, the UN, investors, philanthropists and press to navigate the complexities of the modern world. I speak to him on if slowing down, and re-defining our careers for ourselves is a macro-movement in the zeitgeist.
In this episode we cover:
Lazy Girl Jobs and the Great Resignation
Our mass desire to renegotiate our time back at work
How social media makes our public image always-on
How to fend off the hungry content monster
How capitalism sells you wellness
How spending a day with a child can help you slow down
Mentions:
The Century of the Self (2002) Documentary by Adam Curtis
Future Shock, Alvin Toffler
Theory of Self-Preservation, Irving Goffman
Big Brothers, Big Sisters: https://www.bbbs.org/
Team Human, Douglas Rushkoff
Links:
Ellie Dixon is an indie-pop musician and songwriter from Cambridge known for her witty, self-aware lyrics and creative production techniques. Starting her career by crafting music from her bedroom studio, merging pop, jazz, rap, and R&B, she amassed over a million followers on Tiktok through duets, remixes, covers and now her own body of work.
Her most recent work includes the EP In Case of Emergency (2023) and singles "Big Lizard Energy" and "Renaissance" (2024). In addition to her musical talent, Ellie is known for her hands-on approach to all aspects of her craft, including directing and producing her music videos.
In this episode we cover:
Piano lessons to music-making
Playing at Glastonbury on your own terms
When the label drops you - build your own label
What to do after burnout
In defence of rest
Mentions:
Music Youtubers: Walk of the Earth, Pentatonix, Dodie
Musical influences: Katie Tunstall, Adele, Bill Bailey, Tim Minchin, Fight of the Concords, My Chemical Romance, Easy Life, Remi Wolf, Hippocampus, Anderson .Paak, Doja Cat
The Bird Cage (1996) film by Mike Nichols
Links:
https://www.elliedixonmusic.com
https://www.instagram.com/elliedixonmusic
https://www.tiktok.com/@elliedixonmusic?lang=en
Abadesi Osunsade is an entrepreneur, author, and advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
She is founder and CEO of Hustle Crew, a career advancement community, and the co-host of popular tech podcast Techish. Previously, Abadesi held roles at Amazon, Google, and Product Hunt as well as being Brandwatch's first ever Global Vice President of Community & Belonging. A child of immigrants, like me, we talk about where our definitions of success start and how they manifest in us as adults.
After years feeling cycles of burnout in tech, Abadesi is now learning to listen to her body, how to say no and that the only opinion that matters is her own.
In this episode we cover:
The immigrant child’s experience
Why “Startups are fueled by the energy of youth”
How we internalise capitalism
The added labour of being the only black woman in the room
Does being busy make you feel worthy?
What does it mean to have enough?
How to practice slowing down
Mentions:
The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron
The Social Network (2010) film by David Fincher
Guardian Article featuring Abadesi: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/apr/02/soft-life-why-millennials-are-quitting-the-rat-race
Cory Muscara https://www.instagram.com/corymuscara/
Tricia Hersey and The Nap Ministry https://www.instagram.com/thenapministry/?hl=en
Dr Nedra Glover Tawwab - How to Set Boundaries, Find Peace https://www.instagram.com/nedratawwab/?hl=en
Hidden Figures (2017) film by Theodore Melfi
The Woman King (2022) film by Gina Prince-Bythewood
Abadesi’s Links:
Welcome to The Slow Down.
A new podcast helping you re-define success and growth for yourself, with a little help from others.
Here is a taste of what's to come in Season 1 featuring Sharmadean Reid MBE, Olivia Rubin, Abadesi Osunsade, Sarah Ann Macklin, Solomon Oyemade, Ellie Dixon, Alexia de Broglie and Matt Klein.
