Out Of The Clouds

In this episode of Out of the Clouds, host Anne Muhlethaler interviews fashion journalist and writer Ana Santi. Ana has held various roles, including deputy editor at Drapers Magazine, a renowned UK fashion trade magazine, before going in-house at a brand called Jigsaw, where she became their first editor in chief. There she launched an in-house magazine and even published a book, called “Comfort Zones”, a collection of original stories by 28 women writers, including Pandora Sykes, Elizabeth Day, and Emma Gannon among others for the charity Women for Women International.Her new book, “Three Things to Help Heal the Planet”, was published in May 2022, and Anne was very keen to get into it with her and to have a conversation about the important topics that are covered across the 21 essays that make up the book.So in this interview, the two talk about Ana's journey, from her native Brazil to the UK as an eight-year-old, her love of languages and what brought her to journalism. Ana shares how and why working as a fashion reporter was a launching pad towards this new book to talk about sustainability and the possibility of individual action to help the planet — something she outlines is meant for ‘people who have choices’, as she goes on to explain.The two end on discussing why we should learn to be better ancestors, and how that possibly will help us leave the planet in what is hopefully a better state than it currently is. A thought-provoking, enjoyable interview that will hopefully leave listeners with the desire to both read the book and, if they have the choice, do their bit to help heal the planet. Happy listening!***Selected links from episode:You can find Ana at https://www.ana-santi.com/on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anasanti1/on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Ana_C_Santion LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-santi-8a28a51/And find all her info and up to date links via her Link Tree - https://linktr.ee/anasanti1Drapers online - https://www.drapersonline.com/The book Comfort Zones - https://www.ana-santi.com/comfort-zonesBritish brand Jigsaw - https://www.jigsaw-online.com/Mums for Lungs, the charity - https://www.mumsforlungs.org/This Could Be our Future, the book by Yancey Strickler - https://www.ystrickler.com/book/The Bento Society - http://www.bentoism.org/To Sell is Human, book by Daniel Pink - https://www.danpink.com/books/to-sell-is-human/We Are the Weather, book by Jonathan Safran Foer - https://wearetheweatherbook.com/A Beautiful Constraint, book by Adam Morgan and Mark Bardem - http://www.abeautifulconstraint.com/the-book-2Tristram Stuart, the food waste campaigner - https://www.tristramstuart.co.uk/Robert McKee, author and teacher - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_McKeeGoooders website, ethical and sustainable fashion and accessories - https://goooders.com/Sapiens, the book by Yuval Noah Harari - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapiens:_A_Brief_History_of_HumankindThe quote by Ernest Hemingway, about 'finding the emotion - https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1135556-find-what-gave-you-emotion-what-the-action-was-thatCatch 22, the book by Joseph Heller - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/168668.Catch_22 ***If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, we really appreciate your support and feedback, thank you  so much for listening! For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/  Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://annevmuhlethaler.com. Follow Anne: Twitter: @annvi  IG: @_outoftheclouds  This episode is brought to you by Le TrenteAre you a purpose-driven individual seeking clarity in your personal narrative? Is your brand struggling to communicate authentically with your audience? Looking for a thought partnership that transforms how you connect with the world?Le Trente is a global community that emboldens purpose-driven individuals and organizations to communicate authentically. Headquartered in Geneva but serving clients worldwide, we coach both individuals and brands through their communication journey—from identity exploration to strategy development—all grounded in mindful leadership and compassionate, holistic communication.Our mission is to be a catalyst for positive change. We inspire open-minded people and organisations to build better worlds through community-building salons, strategic consulting, mindful coaching and storytelling.Ready to transform your approach to communication and create ripples of positive change? Get in touch, we like to make magic happen. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LE TRENTE HERE. *** If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, we really appreciate your support and feedback. And thank you so much for listening!For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://outoftheclouds.com.Follow Anne and Out of the Clouds: IG: @_outoftheclouds or @annvi Or on Threads @annvi On Youtube @OutoftheCloudsFor more, you can read and subscribe to Anne's Substack, the Mettā View, her weekly dose of insights on coaching, brand development, the future of work, and storytelling, with a hint of mindfulness.

Nishanth Chopra is a young, innovative Indian entrepreneur who in 2016 founded a unique sustainable brand and collective called Oshadi (pronounced aw-sha-dhi, which means ‘essence of nature’ or ‘healing plant’ in Sanskrit - @oshadi_collective)In this interview with Anne Muhlethaler, Nishanth tells Anne about growing up in the textile town of Erode and how, after returning from university in the UK, he decided to carve a new path for himself by breaking with the expectations of his family and launch a small sustainable ready-to-wear brand. In his pursuit, Nishanth came to realise the depth of problems that were underlying the traditional fashion production model, even when trying to do it sustainably. He explains to Anne how, out of a desire to look after the earth after creating clothing, from printing and dyeing to weaving and spinning cotton, the collective started cultivating a new fashion system with a 50-acre regenerative cotton farm.Nishanth says that if he has any talent it’s really just connecting the dots — right time, right place, right people — and that’s how he was able, step by step, to launch this 'seed to sew concept'. And Oshadi doesn’t just look after not just the soil or think of the finished product. Instead, Nishanth shares his vision with the farmers and artisans who collectively work on this project. He says his aim is that the complexity (of figuring out this new respectful way of working with the earth) should end with ‘us’ — making it possible for anyone else in the future to replicate this radically transparent model. Nishanth also tells Anne how meaningful change can happen when there is collaboration through real respect for someone’s work — something that’s not always shown to Indian craftsmen and women from a Western point of view. A unique voice and gifted entrepreneur, who hopefully will leave you inspired. Happy listening! *** Selected links from episode: You can find out more about Nishanth work and Oshadi at https://oshadi.in/on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/oshadi_collective/And selected press at https://oshadi.in/pages/pressErode, in Tamil Nadu, where Nishanth grew up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ErodeFibershed's Rebecca Burgess - https://www.eco-age.com/resources/fibershed-rebecca-burgess-interviewThe film Merku Thodarchi Malai that Nishanth talks about on every podcast - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merku_Thodarchi_MalaiThe myth of Sisyphus - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SisyphusSapiens - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapiens:_A_Brief_History_of_HumankindThe article about soil from the Guardian posted on the Oshadi Instagram - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/07/secret-world-beneath-our-feet-mind-blowing-key-to-planets-future***If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, we really appreciate your support and feedback, thank you  so much for listening! For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/  Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://annevmuhlethaler.com. Follow Anne: Twitter: @annvi  IG: @_outoftheclouds   This episode is brought to you by Le TrenteAre you a purpose-driven individual seeking clarity in your personal narrative? Is your brand struggling to communicate authentically with your audience? Looking for a thought partnership that transforms how you connect with the world?Le Trente is a global community that emboldens purpose-driven individuals and organizations to communicate authentically. Headquartered in Geneva but serving clients worldwide, we coach both individuals and brands through their communication journey—from identity exploration to strategy development—all grounded in mindful leadership and compassionate, holistic communication.Our mission is to be a catalyst for positive change. We inspire open-minded people and organisations to build better worlds through community-building salons, strategic consulting, mindful coaching and storytelling.Ready to transform your approach to communication and create ripples of positive change? Get in touch, we like to make magic happen. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LE TRENTE HERE. *** If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, we really appreciate your support and feedback. And thank you so much for listening!For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://outoftheclouds.com.Follow Anne and Out of the Clouds: IG: @_outoftheclouds or @annvi Or on Threads @annvi On Youtube @OutoftheCloudsFor more, you can read and subscribe to Anne's Substack, the Mettā View, her weekly dose of insights on coaching, brand development, the future of work, and storytelling, with a hint of mindfulness.

Abigail James (@abigailjames1) is an A-list facialist, well-being expert and author. She is widely known in London as ‘the queen of skin’ and the ‘priestess of facial massage’ and is one of the most sought-after skincare experts of the British Capital. Abigail’s YouTube tutorials have been a huge hit, with some of the videos garnering nearly 6.5 million views. In our interview, the single mother of three talks to Anne about her journey, from working for her father’s food business to her start in training as a milliner before she switched to study to become a beauty therapist. Abigail had the chance to find her way to Lady Bamford’s organic wellness space in the Cotswolds, which was an important stepping stone in her career. In addition, the skin expert, who’s also trained as a yoga teacher, shares the successes and the emotional ups and downs in her journey, or ‘mental health tweaks’ as she calls them. Of course, Abigail talks about the art of face massage, its physical benefits, and the power of positive touch, as well. When it comes to looking after our skin, Abigail affirms that education is important. And indeed, knowledge is power — both on the product side but also in understanding the underlying tissues, muscles and bones. The woman who’s been named by the press as a ‘skin genius’ doesn’t just use a holistic approach, she also loves to use what technology can offer, relying on safe and advanced tools that support her clients for treatments that are completely bespoke. Anne and Abigail discuss the pressures of being online, with Abigail in front of the camera herself, as well as what she sees as trends in the tweakments space. The interview ends with Abigail sharing insights from her new book, “The Glow Plan”, and describing her life philosophy — break down, dust yourself off and try again! A moving, inspiring, and very joyful interview. Happy listening! ***You can find Abigail at: https://www.abigailjames.com/On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abigailjames1/On Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTLWxHt0O27w6Xg2X4EyLrgOn Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AbigailJamesLondonOn TikTokOn Twitter https://twitter.com/abigail_jamesAbigail's books - The Glow Plan and Love Your Skin - https://www.abigailjames.com/book/ Beauty NVQ2 and NVQ 3 - what is an NVQ course UKLady Bamford - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carole_BamfordBamford in the Cotswolds - https://www.bamford.com/uk/pages/cotswolds-daylesford-farmCoworth Park, a Dorchester Collection Hotel - https://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/ascot/coworth-park/Francesca White, Tatler - https://www.tatler.com/profile/francesca-whiteGrace Belgravia - https://www.studiorhe.com/gracebelgraviaLiz Earle Skincare - https://www.lizearle.com/Suzanne Faith Yoga - https://www.suzannefaith.com/Anusara yoga - https://www.anusarayoga.com/Burnout, a book by Emily and Amelia Nagoski - https://www.burnoutbook.net/Emily & Amelia Nagoski interviewed by Brené Brown - https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-emily-and-amelia-nagoski-on-burnout-and-how-to-complete-the-stress-cycle/Rise Up, the song by Andra Day - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBuIBaDSOa4***If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, it helps people find us and also helps to secure future guests. Thank you  so much for listening! For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/  Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://annevmuhlethaler.com. Follow Anne: Twitter: @annvi  IG: @_outoftheclouds   This episode is brought to you by Le TrenteAre you a purpose-driven individual seeking clarity in your personal narrative? Is your brand struggling to communicate authentically with your audience? Looking for a thought partnership that transforms how you connect with the world?Le Trente is a global community that emboldens purpose-driven individuals and organizations to communicate authentically. Headquartered in Geneva but serving clients worldwide, we coach both individuals and brands through their communication journey—from identity exploration to strategy development—all grounded in mindful leadership and compassionate, holistic communication.Our mission is to be a catalyst for positive change. We inspire open-minded people and organisations to build better worlds through community-building salons, strategic consulting, mindful coaching and storytelling.Ready to transform your approach to communication and create ripples of positive change? Get in touch, we like to make magic happen. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LE TRENTE HERE. *** If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, we really appreciate your support and feedback. And thank you so much for listening!For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://outoftheclouds.com.Follow Anne and Out of the Clouds: IG: @_outoftheclouds or @annvi Or on Threads @annvi On Youtube @OutoftheCloudsFor more, you can read and subscribe to Anne's Substack, the Mettā View, her weekly dose of insights on coaching, brand development, the future of work, and storytelling, with a hint of mindfulness.

In this episode of the Out of the Clouds podcast, host Anne Muhlethaler interviews former Commonwealth British gymnast, dancer, choreographer, entrepreneur and now certified breath coach Aicha McKenzie (@AichaMcKenzie). Aicha is the CEO and founder of the AMCK Group, which she launched in 2005 with AMCK Dance - an award-winning international premium dance agency with the most elite selection of dancers, choreographers, and creative directors - as well AMCK Models in 2008, London’s only exclusively male model agency, counting over 150 male models on its books, shooting campaigns for Prada, Gucci, Burberry, among many others. Aicha has made many TV appearances, appearing as a judge on reality dance shows in the UK and the US. Aicha has also been responsible for choreographing 300 Olympic dancers during the London 2012 Olympic Games.Aicha and Anne met on a very special project with burlesque cabaret dancer Dita Von Teese, a filmed performance that was to be turned into a hologram, the keystone of the famed shoe designer Christian Louboutin’s 20th anniversary retrospective at the London Design Museum. Over the course of this very personal interview, Aicha shares her amazing story, or her ‘many lives’ as she refers to it: from her first life as the first Black gymnast to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games, supported by her amazing mother, to becoming a commercial dancer and working as a choreographer with top artists, to her latest pursuit launching, running, and expanding an award-winning AMCK Group, which consists of four entities, AMCK Dance, AMCK Models, AMCK Fit and BreatheByAMCK.The two of them move to talking about the stress of managing it all, Aicha’s health scares, and how movement has been a through line for her, even in difficult times. The conversation moves to managing burnout, launching a wellness arm with AMCKFit, learning to let things move through and the value in slowing down. Anne and Aicha also discuss the power and purpose of our breath. The certified breath coach shares this wisdom: “Breath is the whole story: balance, reset, energise, activate, transform, heal, exhale” and said that she ‘loves working with the breath because it’s allowing that pause to exist, allowing yourself to literally take a breath.’Having helped so many talented individuals at some point in their careers, the mother and CEO says that her work in its entirety is about the connection to being oneself, not being someone else or following another's path.A very powerful, moving and inspirational interview with an incredible woman. Happy listening! ***Selected links from episode You can find Aicha on Instagram - @AichaMcKenzieOn Twitter - https://twitter.com/aichamckenzieModels by AMCK - http://www.amckmodels.com/Dance by AMCK - https://www.amck.tv/Breathe by AMCK - https://breathebyamck.com/NFT recently launched - https://www.amck.io/Pineapple Dance Studios in London - https://www.pineapple.uk.com/Alvin Ailey - https://www.alvinailey.org/Julliard School - https://www.juilliard.edu/The Dita Von Teese hologram for Christian Louboutin's Design Museum Retrospective - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZedZN48VgjMAicha interviewed on the Power Hour with Adrienne Herbert - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/aicha-mckenzie/id1443615779?i=1000432306200Nadi Shodhana - Alternate nostril breathing - https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-to-know-about-alternate-nostril-breathingThe article 'Something's got to give'The song 'Optimistic' by Sounds of Blackness The body keeps the score, book by Bessel van der Kolk  *** If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, it helps people find us and also helps to secure future guests. Thank you  so much for listening! For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/  Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://annevmuhlethaler.com. Follow Anne: Twitter: @annvi  IG: @_outoftheclouds  This episode is brought to you by Le TrenteAre you a purpose-driven individual seeking clarity in your personal narrative? Is your brand struggling to communicate authentically with your audience? Looking for a thought partnership that transforms how you connect with the world?Le Trente is a global community that emboldens purpose-driven individuals and organizations to communicate authentically. Headquartered in Geneva but serving clients worldwide, we coach both individuals and brands through their communication journey—from identity exploration to strategy development—all grounded in mindful leadership and compassionate, holistic communication.Our mission is to be a catalyst for positive change. We inspire open-minded people and organisations to build better worlds through community-building salons, strategic consulting, mindful coaching and storytelling.Ready to transform your approach to communication and create ripples of positive change? Get in touch, we like to make magic happen. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LE TRENTE HERE. *** If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, we really appreciate your support and feedback. And thank you so much for listening!For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://outoftheclouds.com.Follow Anne and Out of the Clouds: IG: @_outoftheclouds or @annvi Or on Threads @annvi On Youtube @OutoftheCloudsFor more, you can read and subscribe to Anne's Substack, the Mettā View, her weekly dose of insights on coaching, brand development, the future of work, and storytelling, with a hint of mindfulness.

In this episode, Anne Muhlethaler interviews Dr Jonathan Kaplan, Ph.D. Dr Kaplan is a licensed clinical psychologist, author and teacher, an expert in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), an ACT therapist (for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and also works with the application of mindfulness and meditation in psychotherapy.Dr Kaplan runs the SoHo CBT + Mindfulness Center, he also teaches courses to undergraduates at The New School in "Mindfulness and Meditation in Psychology" and "Culture, Ethnicity, and Mental Health." Prior to that, he taught graduate courses in "Evidence-Based Practice" and "Mindfulness and Meditation in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy." He is a visiting faculty member at the Nalanda Institute (which is how Anne came across him), and has held numerous other teaching positions in the past. Dr Kaplan has also written several books, with subjects including the application of mindfulness to city experiences and viewing love and relationships from a modern behavioural perspective. In fall 2020, he also contributed to a playful gift box that incorporated mindfulness with the care of houseplants (i.e., Plantfulness).Over the course of this interview, Anne invites Dr Kaplan to talk about his path, which led him from California to Japan and back, and how he left an early career in law to get into psychology, first working on a suicide hotline. He tells Anne about how he began to meditate while serving as a psychology intern, having to lead patients with psychiatric disability in meditation, and the effects he observed on them. The two of them also talk about Urban Mindfulness, the title of the online column and subsequent book Dr Kaplan wrote, and how those of us living in noisy big cities can find calm and navigate through it all. They discuss some of the practices outlined in the book, including how to deal with sensory overload and what Dr Kaplan calls the mindfulness of diversity, to help us explore our biases and blind spots. To conclude, the two of them discuss the powerful possibilities and psychological flexibility offered by ACT, how it can help us work with limiting stories, away from cognitive diffusion or experiential avoidance, and how this method (which leans on mindfulness) encourages us to act in the world according to our values. A deeply engaging and fascinating interview, full of insights. Happy listening! ***You can find Dr Jonathan Kaplan at Soho CBT - https://www.sohocbt.com/team/dr-kaplanor on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanskaplan/https://nalandainstitute.org/His book, Urban Mindfulness https://www.amazon.com/Urban-Mindfulness-Cultivating-Presence-Purpose/dp/1572247495and his other book ACT and RFT in Relationships https://www.amazon.com/ACT-RFT-Relationships-Commitments-Acceptance/dp/1608823342/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1655999778&refinements=p_27%3AJonathan+S+Kaplan+PhD&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Jonathan+S+Kaplan+PhDThe blog post Anne wrote after her a-ha moment, thanks to Dr Kaplan and his lecture on ACT is here https://avm.consulting/looking-forward/why-i-want-a-flexible-brainACT (to sound as the word 'act) or Acceptance & commitment therapy -  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acceptance_and_commitment_therapySteven C Hayes, founder of ACT - https://stevenchayes.com/about/Dr Herbert Benson and the relaxation response - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Relaxation_ResponseTranscendental meditation or TM - https://www.tm.org/Wu wei - or the concept of non-doing in Taoism - https://www.theschooloflife.com/article/wu-wei-doing-nothing/Walden, the book by Henry David Thoreau - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walden***If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, it helps people find us and also helps to secure future guests. Thank you  so much for listening! For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/  Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://annevmuhlethaler.com. Follow Anne: Twitter: @annvi  IG: @_outoftheclouds  This episode is brought to you by Le TrenteAre you a purpose-driven individual seeking clarity in your personal narrative? Is your brand struggling to communicate authentically with your audience? Looking for a thought partnership that transforms how you connect with the world?Le Trente is a global community that emboldens purpose-driven individuals and organizations to communicate authentically. Headquartered in Geneva but serving clients worldwide, we coach both individuals and brands through their communication journey—from identity exploration to strategy development—all grounded in mindful leadership and compassionate, holistic communication.Our mission is to be a catalyst for positive change. We inspire open-minded people and organisations to build better worlds through community-building salons, strategic consulting, mindful coaching and storytelling.Ready to transform your approach to communication and create ripples of positive change? Get in touch, we like to make magic happen. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LE TRENTE HERE. *** If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, we really appreciate your support and feedback. And thank you so much for listening!For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://outoftheclouds.com.Follow Anne and Out of the Clouds: IG: @_outoftheclouds or @annvi Or on Threads @annvi On Youtube @OutoftheCloudsFor more, you can read and subscribe to Anne's Substack, the Mettā View, her weekly dose of insights on coaching, brand development, the future of work, and storytelling, with a hint of mindfulness.

In this episode of Out of the Clouds, host Anne Muhlethaler reconnects with Archana Jain, an accomplished PR and communications professional, and the founder of PR Pundit, one of India’s top integrated communications firms. Archana has been at the forefront of her industry since her early days in the field and is widely recognised as a leading personality in PR, communication and media. She has been acknowledged as India’s top 100 PR communications professionals, as well as among India’s 50 Most Influential Women in Indian Media, Marketing & Advertising (2019, 2020 & 2021) and featured in the “Top 100 Influential Game Changers List.”Anne and Archana collaborated a few years ago, and got to know each other, back when Anne was heading global communications for French shoe designer Christian Louboutin. Over the course of this conversation, Archana tells the story of her beginnings in PR, how she went from consulting into working towards consumer-focused communication, to building her company and creating meaningful programs for the right audiences. She talks to Anne about why public relations still matters today, how it’s imperative for brands to be telling authentic stories and why PR is a long game - not a quick win, and current challenges given that it’s not an age-old profession. They also discuss changes in the media landscape and the rise of purpose-driven communications and community advocacy, in the age of social media. Archana also offers her thoughts on what it’s been like to be a woman at the head of her own business, how the landscape changed in the past twenty years, but also how she chose to  integrate flexibility and WFH capabilities for her team since 2004 - and how satisfying it’s been for her to be able to help women balance their personal and professional commitments. You’ll probably notice a loud peacock (or two) in the background, as some were roaming behind Archana’s home office during the interview. A good way to set the scene for this warm and in-depth interview with this influential entrepreneur. Happy listening!  ***Selected links from the episode:You can find Archana on IG @AJPundit and on Twitter @AJPunditOn LinkedIn Archana Jain Find out more about PR Pundit on their website http://www.prpundit.com/ - or on IG https://www.instagram.com/PRPundit/The origin and meaning of the word Pundit - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PunditTripundra - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TripundraVogue India - https://www.vogue.in/Adidas Run for the Oceans campaign - https://thecsrjournal.in/adidas-run-for-the-oceans-unites-over-87k-runners-across-india/Archana's interview on CommSpeak with Amith Prashu - https://youtu.be/1Zn2uWJARo0The German tampon PR campaign by Female Company via The GuardianThe exceptional Kate Winslet for L'Oréal campaign - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjcd6Xu4MYUParvati Valley - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parvati_ValleyKashmir Shaivism - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir_ShaivismThe Hungry Tide, book by Amitav Ghosh https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4950.The_Hungry_TideA suitable boy, the book by Vikram Seth https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50365.A_Suitable_BoyThe Emperor of All Maladies, a biography of cancer, the book by Siddhartha Mukherjee https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7170627-the-emperor-of-all-maladies***If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, it helps people find us and also helps to secure future guests. Thank you  so much for listening! For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/  Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://annevmuhlethaler.com. Follow Anne: Twitter: @annvi  IG: @_outoftheclouds  This episode is brought to you by Le TrenteAre you a purpose-driven individual seeking clarity in your personal narrative? Is your brand struggling to communicate authentically with your audience? Looking for a thought partnership that transforms how you connect with the world?Le Trente is a global community that emboldens purpose-driven individuals and organizations to communicate authentically. Headquartered in Geneva but serving clients worldwide, we coach both individuals and brands through their communication journey—from identity exploration to strategy development—all grounded in mindful leadership and compassionate, holistic communication.Our mission is to be a catalyst for positive change. We inspire open-minded people and organisations to build better worlds through community-building salons, strategic consulting, mindful coaching and storytelling.Ready to transform your approach to communication and create ripples of positive change? Get in touch, we like to make magic happen. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LE TRENTE HERE. *** If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, we really appreciate your support and feedback. And thank you so much for listening!For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://outoftheclouds.com.Follow Anne and Out of the Clouds: IG: @_outoftheclouds or @annvi Or on Threads @annvi On Youtube @OutoftheCloudsFor more, you can read and subscribe to Anne's Substack, the Mettā View, her weekly dose of insights on coaching, brand development, the future of work, and storytelling, with a hint of mindfulness.

In this episode of Out of the Clouds, host Anne Muhlethaler interviews her friend, New York-based jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher. The two met in New York, many moons ago, over a long dinner at Mr Chow’s in Tribeca and had an instantaneous bond. Jennifer is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a nominee for the 2020 and 2019 Accessory Designer of the Year at the annual CFDA Awards, a recipient of the 2018 Town & Country Jewelry Award for Retail Innovation, the 2016 Influencer of the Year at the annual Accessories Council Excellence (ACE) Awards and was a nominee for the CFDA Swarovski Accessories award in 2014. She speaks frequently about strategic leadership, brand building and empowering the next generation of fashion entrepreneurs.A long-time wardrobe stylist who grew up in California, Jennifer started making jewelry after her son Shane was born, which followed treatment for a tumor in her chest and several failed rounds of IVF. In their conversation, she tells Anne the story of creating that talisman, a special piece that became a powerful charm to mark the birth of her baby, and how it became a natural starting point for her brand. A born entrepreneur, Jennifer shares how at age five she was already selling caterpillar hair clips and button earrings to the local store. She also tells Anne how growing up, she watched her polo-playing, silversmith grandfather solder bolo ties and belt buckles, a likely inspiration for her own jewelry making. Of course they discuss business, too, including how Jennifer cultivates a positive mindset despite the stress of her career (especially in the last two years), and how she lets herself learn from things that don’t work. The two also talk in depth about the way they eat, because Jennifer, a wonderful cook, recently launched a line of condiments, Jennifer Fisher Salt (the ultimate seasoning, as it’s been dubbed by Goop). They also connect on the importance of making smarter choices when it comes to food and their personal reasons for that, too.  They finish by talking about Jennifer’s latest venture, a new fragrance (which she describes is like a cookie on vacation!) and the wonderful partnership she has with Kevin, her husband, both at work and at home. An inspiring, joyful and very personal conversation. Happy listening! ***Selected links from episode: You can find Jennifer at https://jenniferfisherjewelry.com/Discover the salts & Jen's recipes at https://jenniferfisherjewelry.com/collections/saltsFollow Jennifer on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jenniferfisherjewelry/And https://www.instagram.com/jenniferfisherkitchen/or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JenniferFisherJewelryPhotographer Luke Gilford https://www.lukegilford.com/and his portraits of Pamela Anderson https://www.pamelaandersonfoundation.org/news/2016/2/26/movies-by-luke-gilfordThe Glamour Magazine cover with Uma Thurman https://www.amazon.com/Glamour-Magazine-July-2006-Thurman/dp/B0026C424AJennifer's custom charm necklaces https://jenniferfisherjewelry.com/collections/charms-1https://www.glamour.com/story/jennifer-fisher-cfda-award-nTasis School in Lugano https://www.tasis.ch/Hashimoto's disease https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashimoto%27s_thyroiditisThe book Jennifer swears by, Ketotarian by Dr Will Cole - https://drwillcole.com/ketotarianA book Anne swears by, A Beautiful Constraint - http://www.abeautifulconstraint.com/the-book-2The song Bitch better have my money by Rihanna -  https://open.spotify.com/track/0NTMtAO2BV4tnGvw9EgBVq?autoplay=true ***If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, it helps people find us and also helps to secure future guests. Thank you  so much for listening! For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/  Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://annevmuhlethaler.com. Follow Anne: Twitter: @annvi  IG: @_outoftheclouds  This episode is brought to you by Le TrenteAre you a purpose-driven individual seeking clarity in your personal narrative? Is your brand struggling to communicate authentically with your audience? Looking for a thought partnership that transforms how you connect with the world?Le Trente is a global community that emboldens purpose-driven individuals and organizations to communicate authentically. Headquartered in Geneva but serving clients worldwide, we coach both individuals and brands through their communication journey—from identity exploration to strategy development—all grounded in mindful leadership and compassionate, holistic communication.Our mission is to be a catalyst for positive change. We inspire open-minded people and organisations to build better worlds through community-building salons, strategic consulting, mindful coaching and storytelling.Ready to transform your approach to communication and create ripples of positive change? Get in touch, we like to make magic happen. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LE TRENTE HERE. *** If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, we really appreciate your support and feedback. And thank you so much for listening!For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://outoftheclouds.com.Follow Anne and Out of the Clouds: IG: @_outoftheclouds or @annvi Or on Threads @annvi On Youtube @OutoftheCloudsFor more, you can read and subscribe to Anne's Substack, the Mettā View, her weekly dose of insights on coaching, brand development, the future of work, and storytelling, with a hint of mindfulness.

In this episode, host of Out of the Clouds Anne Muhlethaler interviews Wesley Faulkner. Wesley is a first-generation American, public speaker, and podcaster, and he currently works as a Head of Community at SingleStore, co-hosts the developer relations focused podcast Community Pulse and serves on the board for South by Southwest. He is a founding member of the government transparency group Open Austin and a staunch supporter of racial justice, workplace equity and neurodiversity. A tech enthusiast since his teens, Wesley first trained as an electrical and computer engineer (despite growing up without owning a personal computer himself). He shares the arc of his multipronged career from hardware to software, how being an early adopter of Twitter led him to social media management, and later to ‘dev rel’ (or developer relations). The two discuss how Wesley navigated his life and career with a late diagnosis of ADHD and dyslexia, and how he became a passionate advocate for neurodiverse populations in the work environment. His THAT conference keynote, ‘Be like me… different’ was a great starting point to discuss how ‘community shapes us’, in which Wesley offers his perspective on the evolution of the role of social media manager, what to consider to create a community and his vision for the metaverse. Finally, Wesley offers his thoughts on how organisations can work towards being more inclusive for neurodivergent team members, including by measuring effort, not just success, and encouraging experimentation. A very passionate, in-depth and honest conversation. Happy listening!***Selected links from episode You cand find Wesley on Polywork and on Twitter On LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesley83/AMD - https://www.amd.com/enDevRel - or developer relations - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developer_relationsTHAT conference - https://that.us/that-conference/Wesley's keynote 'Be just like me... different' - https://that.us/activities/f0ByacQCrzrCC5kYNsMowhich you can watch on Youtube - https://youtu.be/YP7RfeX8xnYThe Workology Podcast with Wesley Faulkner - https://www.peatworks.org/podcast-neurodiversity-intersectionality-a-disclosure-challenge/SMART goals - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteriaPriya Parker book - The Art of Gathering You Can Change Other People book - https://bregmanpartners.com/books/you-can-change-other-people/The End of Bias book by Jessica Nordell - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250186188/theendofbiasabeginningDon't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU *** If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, it helps people find us and also helps to secure future guests. Thank you  so much for listening! For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/  Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://annevmuhlethaler.com. Follow Anne: Twitter: @annvi  IG: @_outoftheclouds   This episode is brought to you by Le TrenteAre you a purpose-driven individual seeking clarity in your personal narrative? Is your brand struggling to communicate authentically with your audience? Looking for a thought partnership that transforms how you connect with the world?Le Trente is a global community that emboldens purpose-driven individuals and organizations to communicate authentically. Headquartered in Geneva but serving clients worldwide, we coach both individuals and brands through their communication journey—from identity exploration to strategy development—all grounded in mindful leadership and compassionate, holistic communication.Our mission is to be a catalyst for positive change. We inspire open-minded people and organisations to build better worlds through community-building salons, strategic consulting, mindful coaching and storytelling.Ready to transform your approach to communication and create ripples of positive change? Get in touch, we like to make magic happen. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LE TRENTE HERE. *** If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, we really appreciate your support and feedback. And thank you so much for listening!For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://outoftheclouds.com.Follow Anne and Out of the Clouds: IG: @_outoftheclouds or @annvi Or on Threads @annvi On Youtube @OutoftheCloudsFor more, you can read and subscribe to Anne's Substack, the Mettā View, her weekly dose of insights on coaching, brand development, the future of work, and storytelling, with a hint of mindfulness.

In this episode, Anne Muhlethaler, host of Out of the Clouds, interviews consultant and experience design specialist Jenny Sauer-Klein. Jenny is passionate about how we get together as groups and how we learn, and she regularly consults for organisations like Google, Airbnb, Dropbox and the Haas School of Business. She is a wonderful facilitator who has spent her life creating lasting experiences for a myriad of different audiences and is a frequent presenter at international conferences and has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, and Inc., as well as Tim Ferriss’ book “Tools of Titans”.In this conversation, the native New Yorker shares with Anne her personal journey, how she went from Broadway actress to yoga teacher, which led her to therapeutic acrobatics and then on to launching AcroYoga with co-founder Jason Nemer. Jenny talks about how she stepped away from this previous career despite having scaled AcroYoga to an international brand, community and organisation with millions of practitioners, and how she came later to understand that the values that AcroYoga was based on -- trust, connection and playfulness -- were still her core values that would guide her towards her next steps.Jenny also explains her thoughts on how we gather and learn. The two go over some of the pillars of the experience design training program Jenny created (named Scaling Intimacy, which Anne took last year) and how you can help people make a crowd of 100 people feel like a gathering of 10. The three-day workshop caters to those wanting to develop interactive and engaging live events where collaborative learning and connection are privileged over content. ​​​   Finally, the new mom talks about her experience of pregnancy during COVID, and distils the essence of the TED talk she gave (while 8 months pregnant) in January 2021 on the 3 Keys to Virtual Connection. If you are into leading engaging events or want to create meaningful experiences and inspire your communities with a sense of purpose and connection, this is the episode for you. Happy listening! *** Selected Links from Episode You can find Jenny at https://www.jennysauerklein.com/And Scaling Intimacy School of Experience Design - https://scalingintimacy.com/Play on Purpose - https://playonpurpose.com/You can watch Jenny's TED talk, the 3 keys of virtual connection https://www.ted.com/talks/jenny_sauer_klein_3_keys_to_virtual_connectionKen Nateshvar Scott https://contactyoga.com/Jason Nemer and Acro YogaLearning zones framework - https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/learning-zone-model.htmPryia Parker - The Art of Gathering bookThe study by Arthur Aarons about interpersonal closeness https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0146167297234003Business Insider article on Breema, Tim Ferriss and no hurry, no pause https://www.businessinsider.com/how-tim-ferriss-keeps-from-burning-out-2017-1?r=US&IR=TBreema - https://www.breema.com/The Red Tent - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4989.The_Red_TentStinson Beach - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinson_Beach,_CaliforniaThe song Ani Kuni by Polo & Pan  *** If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, it helps people find us and also helps to secure future guests. Thank you  so much for listening! For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/  Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://annevmuhlethaler.com. Follow Anne: Twitter: @annvi  IG: @_outoftheclouds   This episode is brought to you by Le TrenteAre you a purpose-driven individual seeking clarity in your personal narrative? Is your brand struggling to communicate authentically with your audience? Looking for a thought partnership that transforms how you connect with the world?Le Trente is a global community that emboldens purpose-driven individuals and organizations to communicate authentically. Headquartered in Geneva but serving clients worldwide, we coach both individuals and brands through their communication journey—from identity exploration to strategy development—all grounded in mindful leadership and compassionate, holistic communication.Our mission is to be a catalyst for positive change. We inspire open-minded people and organisations to build better worlds through community-building salons, strategic consulting, mindful coaching and storytelling.Ready to transform your approach to communication and create ripples of positive change? Get in touch, we like to make magic happen. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LE TRENTE HERE. *** If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, we really appreciate your support and feedback. And thank you so much for listening!For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://outoftheclouds.com.Follow Anne and Out of the Clouds: IG: @_outoftheclouds or @annvi Or on Threads @annvi On Youtube @OutoftheCloudsFor more, you can read and subscribe to Anne's Substack, the Mettā View, her weekly dose of insights on coaching, brand development, the future of work, and storytelling, with a hint of mindfulness.

In this episode of Out of the Clouds, host Anne Muhlethaler interviews writer, copy editor and journalist Manfreda Cavazza.The two have been collaborating since late 2020, with Manfreda supporting Anne in her writing for the blog and newsletter she publishes weekly for her company, AVM Consulting. They share a number of values, including, among other things, a love of words well used, storytelling and values-driven strategies. In this interview, the Italian-English writer shares stories about her childhood spent between Brazil, Italy and England, her beginnings as a journalist in London covering the retail sector, and her adventures sailing around the world for a year with her husband and two young daughters. Manfreda loves to talk about voice - the importance of purposeful writing and tone - as a tool for brands or freelancers to leverage when crafting their message so they find the right audience. The two talk about thinking of the audience first, why they dislike the word “content,” and how we could all do well to remember to use a little humour in writing copy. For anyone who cares about how writing can support connection with your clients or audience, this is a wonderful interview full of applicable insights. Happy listening! ***Selected links from episode You can find Manfreda at https://www.manfredacavazza.com/or on LinkedIn and Instagram @freddiewrite78Read Manfreda's travel blog https://smallhandsondeck.wordpress.com/Mahon, one of Manfreda's favorite spots https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mah%C3%B3nPrincess Diana Beach in Barbuda https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147253-d11998734-Reviews-Princess_Diana_Beach-Barbuda_Antigua_and_Barbuda.htmlAnn Handley, who Manfreda quotes https://annhandley.com/and writer Anne Lamott https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_LamottTony's Chocolonely - https://tonyschocolonely.com/int/enMailchimp's Tone & Voice document - https://styleguide.mailchimp.com/voice-and-tone/Any Human Heart by William Boyd - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Any_Human_Heart***If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, it helps people find us and also helps to secure future guests. Thank you  so much for listening! For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/  Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://annevmuhlethaler.com. Follow Anne: Twitter: @annvi  IG: @_outoftheclouds  This episode is brought to you by Le TrenteAre you a purpose-driven individual seeking clarity in your personal narrative? Is your brand struggling to communicate authentically with your audience? Looking for a thought partnership that transforms how you connect with the world?Le Trente is a global community that emboldens purpose-driven individuals and organizations to communicate authentically. Headquartered in Geneva but serving clients worldwide, we coach both individuals and brands through their communication journey—from identity exploration to strategy development—all grounded in mindful leadership and compassionate, holistic communication.Our mission is to be a catalyst for positive change. We inspire open-minded people and organisations to build better worlds through community-building salons, strategic consulting, mindful coaching and storytelling.Ready to transform your approach to communication and create ripples of positive change? Get in touch, we like to make magic happen. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LE TRENTE HERE. *** If you enjoyed this episode, click subscribe for more, and consider writing a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, we really appreciate your support and feedback. And thank you so much for listening!For all notes and transcripts, please visit Out Of The Clouds on Simplecast - https://out-of-the-clouds.simplecast.com/Sign up for Anne's email newsletter for more from Out of the Clouds at https://outoftheclouds.com.Follow Anne and Out of the Clouds: IG: @_outoftheclouds or @annvi Or on Threads @annvi On Youtube @OutoftheCloudsFor more, you can read and subscribe to Anne's Substack, the Mettā View, her weekly dose of insights on coaching, brand development, the future of work, and storytelling, with a hint of mindfulness.