Style and Substance

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.

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. 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.