

Style and Substance
Elizabeth Cairns & Fiona Humberstone
Style and Substance is a branding and business podcast brought to you by The Brand Stylist, Fiona Humberstone and The Empowered Entrepreneur, Elizabeth Cairns. Resourcing you with inspiration, insights and heaps of expertise to help you navigate all things branding and business. Ideal for creative entrepreneurs and those of you looking to sidestep the hustle, keep joy at the forefront of your work your work and find a more meaningful and sustainable approach business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 11, 2024 • 40min
Studio Theia - The Story Behind the Brand
We are very excited to bring you todays episode as it coincides with the Launch of Fiona's new brand consultancy Studio Theia. The creation of Studio Theia has been a labour of love, a creative unfolding and a strategic commercial proposition that is, even if we do say so ourselves the epitome of authentic and aligned work. In this episode we share the story behind the brand and insights and inspiration around what's possible when a brand is truly aligned and beautifully atmospheric. As well as exploring the personal and professional journey to the creation of the new studio, we talk about why Fi made the choice to structure the new Studio in the way she did, and the power of working as a collective. We hope there is boundless inspiration for all of you running businesses with creativity at the heart. Studio Theia are a multidisciplinary collective of strategists, designers, creatives and visionaries united in their commitment to build truly magical brands. We create astonishingly evocative brands for businesses in the lifestyle, consumer and hospitality sector and you can find out more at studiotheia.coor find the studio on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 4, 2024 • 44min
Wintering - Why Embracing the Season of Withdrawal is a Business Essential
Winter is here and in this episode we are exploring the benefits and the potentially scary territory of wintering in our businesses. What does it look like, is it realistic, should we be doing it and what do we risk if we don't? This conversation is a walk through the seasons and cycles of business and ways we can capitalise on the energy of the seasons and make the most of winter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 27, 2024 • 32min
Is your Brand Pulling it's Weight? - How to Tell and What to Do to Realise your Brands Full Potential
Is your brand puling it's weight? How do you know, what are you missing out on and what should you do about it?In this episode I'm picking Fi's brains on realising the potential in our brands and the crucial role of clarity in realising our full potential. Discover the benefits to the business and the entrepreneur of a brand that is packing it's full punch and where to start in getting real strategic clarity.#brandclarity strategicbranding #branding Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 20, 2024 • 31min
The Value in Doing your Authentic Work
Explore the vital connection between authenticity and meaningful work. Discover how personal evolution shapes professional branding and the challenges of balancing work and life. Learn about the societal pressures surrounding fulfilling careers and the unique contributions of individuals. Dive into the importance of self-awareness, curiosity, and self-compassion in finding your authentic path. The conversation also introduces community-building events and coaching opportunities for personal growth and development.

Nov 13, 2024 • 43min
Lusting After Building a Luxury Brand? - Listen to this first!
A luxury brand can be an utterly aspirational prospect for many, but is it the magic bullet it promises to be? If you want move into this space, there is a whole load you absolutely need to be considering up front. In this episode we dig into the why's and the wherefores of what it takes to create a luxury brand. Fi talks us through some of the visual signifiers and the critical importance of getting it right. We explore the demands it places on an entrepreneur who wants to sit comfortably in the luxury space, the challenges and the definite up sides. A must listen for anyone serious about holding their own in luxury sector!#luxurybranding #colourpsychology #creatingaluxurybrand Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 11, 2024 • 19min
Introducing the Brand Catalyst Programme - A Reason to Celebrate
Lovely listeners, we're dropping in between episodes this week because both of us are incredibly excited about Fi's new Brand Catalyst Programme and I wanted to give her the opportunity to share that excitement and take the chance to celebrate. In our conversation we talk about how the programme came about and some of the strategic considerations we have had to make with regard to how it sits within the rest of Fi's work. We talk about Fi finding her flow and the creative unfolding edge of her business and why she is so looking forward to the new year. So alongside the what, the why, and the how of the programme itself, there will no doubt be some behind the scenes insights that we hope will be equally valuable. Happy listening and we look forward to being back on Wednesday with the next full length episode. To find out more about the programme you can visit https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/brand-catalyst-programme and if it resonates, I wholeheartedly invite you to take advantage if the whacking great £300 off that Fi is offering if you book before 29th November. #rebranding #brandcatalystprogramme #brandmentoring #donewithyoubranding Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 6, 2024 • 50min
The Dynamics of Collaboration - Avoiding the Pitfalls and Making Partnerships Work
Welcome back to season 12 and, after a post half term catch up sharing Fi's adventures in Rome and my recent challenge with mental health, we dig into todays topic; The Dynamics of Successful Collaboration. If you've ever had your fingers burnt after a disastrous collab, have struggled to make things equitable in partnership or are simply curious about how to get your self in the best possible position for a successful collaboration this is for you. We talk about not only the numerous benefits of joint ventures and why both of us absolutely love having it built in to the way we do business, but also the common pitfalls and what we can do to avoid them. As ever it's candid, far reaching and hopefully useful. If you enjoy the episode please do share with a friend or colleague that might benefit and take a moment to like, and review. Thanks so much.#howtocollaboratesuccessfully #pitfallsofcollaboration #empoweredentrepreneurship #howtomakecollaborationswork Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 16, 2024 • 43min
Avoiding Stagnation in Business
How to Keep things Moving and Avoid Getting Stuck in a Rut.Welcome back lovely listeners to our last episode of the season before we head into the half term break. As we look forward to the last quarter of the year we are all about keeping the mojo going, maintaining momentum and avoiding that joy sapping, energy draining business limiting experience of being stuck in a rut. We cover a whole load in this conversation including modelling out some of how Fi avoids stagnation in her own business, why frustration can be a handy motivator, the importance of plateauing every so often, why momentum isn't always about be more, do more, have more and how to connect with our innate drivers. There's also a mention of the upcoming breakfast event and a reminder if you missed out on joining us due to being sold out so quickly, we have opened a wait list for the next one which you can find over at https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/the-breakfast-event. If you'd like to be the first to hear of the next event and get priority access for booking then just pop your details on the form and we'll be in touch very soon.Happy listening lovely listeners, we really hope you enjoy the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 9, 2024 • 36min
Renegotiating Boundaries Part 2
Delve into the art of renegotiating boundaries in professional relationships. Discover strategies for gracefully transitioning from pro-bono work to fair pricing while tackling scope creep. Explore the complexities of ending collaborations and redefining partnerships with clear communication. Listen as hosts share insights on managing work-life balance and the emotional intricacies of client relationships, emphasis on self-worth, and the importance of transparency in pricing negotiations. Gain tools for nurturing healthy work dynamics.

Oct 2, 2024 • 38min
Renegotiating Boundaries Part 1.
The discussion kicks off with the tricky yet vital topic of setting boundaries in both life and business. Listeners gain insights into balancing personal and professional expectations, especially during significant life changes. Tips are shared on maintaining clarity in communication and setting realistic timelines with clients. The episode dives into the importance of self-awareness and how to kindly renegotiate boundaries when life throws curveballs. Personal anecdotes add depth, reflecting on challenges and strategies to keep collaborations healthy.


