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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!
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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
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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
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We are excited to bring you this one, uncharacteristically Elizabeth is in the hot seat as Fi invites her to dig deep about her experiences with her latest creative breakthrough which will mean BIG CHANGE for her and her business.
In this conversation we explore the attitudes, principles and strategies behind taking a Flow not Force approach to your business and the underlying beliefs that help make it a reality. We hope you enjoy and, as ever, if you do please like, review and share away. Thank for listening.
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We are passionate about entrepreneurs and brands achieving their potential. There are so many factors that come into it, from from our attitudes and beliefs, how we show up to the way we implement design.
In this wide ranging conversation we dig deep into what it takes for brands to avoid playing small (deliberately or otherwise) and realise their full potential. We explore the personal and practical factors that both get in the way and make it possible for our brands to take up the space they deserve.
If you have a sense that your brand might not be quite living into its potential, that you might inadvertently be holding yourself back but aren't quite sure why, then this is for you. Importantly If you want to know what to do about it, then listen in.
As ever if you enjoy it please do rate and review and if you know a fellow entrepreneur that needs to hear this then please do share away lovely listener.
I mention Fi's stellar Design for Go Getters course in the episode, if you'd like to check it out you can do so here: https://thebrandstylist.thinkific.com/courses/design-for-go-getters
And if you'd like the free Show Stopping Brand Roadmap which gives you the 8 clear steps to take when building a powerful brand, you can grab your copy here: https://thebrandstylist.thinkific.com/pages/the-show-stopping-brand-road-map
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