Style and Substance

We are breaking with tradition for the last episode of the season and welcoming very special guest Zoe Vita James to the Podcast. Zoe is our resident Feng Shui and Ba Zi expert and in this conversation she will be bringing us her insights into how we as entrepreneurs can make the most of the Year of the Fire Horse in 2026. Learn how to make the most of the fire energy his year, how to use your space to welcome opportunities, what it means for how we show up and what to watch for. Zoe is a wealth of insight and knowledge on Classical Feng Shui and it is our very great joy to welcome her to the podcast. We have had the pleasure at Studio Theia of working with Zoe on her new brand identity and website which has launched this week. You can hear more from Zoe on her own podcast - Feng Shui The Real Thing, and find our more about her Feng Shui consultancy, Ba Zi Readings and must have 2026 Feng Shui Energy Forecast on her website www.zoevitajames.com. We do hope you enjoy this very special guest episode and thanks again for listening.

As we've crossed the threshold of Imbolc and into Celtic Spring here in the UK we can feel a definite shift. Fi and I are already getting into step with the year of the horse and before it runs away with us, we want to be prepared in the best way possible. Hear us muse on what we are doing in our own businesses to maintain momentum for 2026 without things getting too out of control. From increasing capacity, to managing boundaries, to what freedom might really means, we cover it all. We hope you enjoy the listen.

There's an edge so many creatives miss that helps us create sustainable, enjoyable and profitable businesses. In this episode we explore the importance of finding and honing your unique creative edge and how it is the key to staying both authentic, relevant and recommendable in a fast changing market.

Winter is the perfect season to reflect and release and not just because it's timely or happens to be on trend, but because it's an essential strategic practice and making space enables so much for you and your work. In this episode we dig deep and get personal about the need for and the very real challenges of letting go. How to discern what to let go of for our brand and ourselves. And, in our view, the spirit in which to do it that makes it so much more powerful, compassionate and ultimately rewarding.

Welcome back and happy new year lovely listeners. We are making a gentle return to the podcast and welcoming 2026 in by sharing some of our hopes for you this year. We hope you find something in our conversation that brings a little warmth this mid winter and inspires you for what it to come this year. Enjoy!

Happy New Year lovely listeners! Before we launch back in with season 19 next week we are so excited to bring you this bonus episode and share a very warm invitation to our first Style and Substance Retreat. Its taking place at Fi's beautiful home in the Surrey hills on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd January and we would love you to join us. For all the information you need and to book your place, you can find the details at https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/the-winter-retreat. Do come, we'd love to welcome you.

Our traditional review of the year is here., this episode Fi and I get personal about the challenges of 2025, the highs and the hopes for next year. Thank you for being part of this incredible community, we are so looking forward to 2026 and all that it will bring,

In part two of how to get a brand that works and that lasts, we are digging deep into the steps of the process. Fi is sharing the fundamental principles, the key steps and the most important thing to be paying attention to when you're building a powerful brand. We hope this will be a really sharable episode so do pass this on with our love to anyone you know who is brilliant and deserves the very best brand they can get.You can find The free Where to Start course on Fi's website here: https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/creating-your-brand-where-to-startThe Podcast episode that walks through the Roadmap fi mentions can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/your-roadmap-to-a-show-stopping-brand/id1653753664?i=1000648193262

Having a brand that works and that lasts really is something every brilliant business owner has the right to claim, but what does it take to get one? In this first of a two part series, we are digging in to what it really means to get a brand that will give you the credibility, momentum and ease in your business that you deserve. Fi shares her inimitable passion for branding and her 25 years of hard won insights in this conversation and we hope you will want to share it. If you know a business owner who deserves a knock out brand, then do pass this on with our love. Fi's Free Where to Start Course that she mentions can be found in the Brand Stylist Academy: https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/creating-your-brand-where-to-start. Enjoy folks and, as ever, thanks for listening.