Today on the podcast, I speak to former fashion designer turned ceramicist Deborah Sweeney. After a successful career in fashion that saw her working in New York and London, Deborah returned to New Zealand to establish her fashion label in 2002. Her collections were stocked in select boutiques around the world - including the UK, USA, Japan, Denmark, and Australia; her designs were featured in publications like British Vogue, Women's Wear Daily ID, Nylon, and Elle. However, after fifteen...

Today on the podcast, I speak to artist and writer, Fleur Wickes. After a very successful twenty-year career in photographic portraiture, and with published short stories and poetry under her belt, in 2008 Fleur began drawing the words she wrote: the shape of the drawn words acting as an emotional landscape, adding depth and meaning to the poetry.  Since then, she’s made a career and a studio as an artist working in word and image, using photography, drawing and painting as her medium. Fleur...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Kristy McGregor, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Shepherdess. From the Women, For the Land — Shepherdess is here to connect, empower and inspire women across rural Aotearoa. An organization passionate about creating vibrant rural communities through storytelling and events. Starting life as a blog and then launching as an independent printed publication in August 2020, Shepherdess was started around Kristy’s kitchen table on a dairy and beef farm in the...

Welcome to a special edition of Super Creative. In this episode, I'm thrilled to present our very first 'Holiday Spectacular'! This is an episode I've wanted to do for quite a while; a chance to share some of my recommendations, my quick-fire faves, and shows, books and podcasts I've been enjoying throughout the year. And rather than ramble on by myself for an hour, I've invited previous guest and friend of the pod, Mandy Myles from Bookety Book Books to join me. Mandy is the perfect person...

Today on the podcast I'm catching up with the wonderful Sarah Page - founder and CEO  of the Kindness Collective. I first interviewed Sarah this time last year and as we have just launched our second Kindness Collective Christmas Joy Store giveaway, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to check in with Sarah and see how the Kindness Collective is getting on a year later.  The Kindness Collective is such a special organisation, but as this is a podcast where I talk to creative Kiwi...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Jane Allan, founder of Finery - a range of unique ready-to-pour low and no alcohol cocktails. Finery is here to voice moderation. Since 2019, Finery's mission is to reshape Australasia's drinking culture with low and non-alcohol alternatives. You’ll find Finery on shelves in New Zealand's largest supermarket chains and specialty liquor outlets as well as in their online store.  Jane’s background is in finance and commercial property. After going through a...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Jessica Clarke, co-founder of Mother Made, a 100% all-natural, plant-based dietary supplement made from nothing but mushrooms. Using the benefits of natural fungus, Mother Made helps support the brain, body, skin and gut; they have a mushroom for everything. Mother Made's purpose is to shine a light on one of the planet's true minute marvels: the mushroom, nature's greatest healer. In 2021, Jessica co-founded Mother Made alongside her long-time best friend...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Miria Flavell, founder and owner of Hine Collection, a women's activewear and athleisure brand but also a community-led, purpose-driven movement built to inspire change. By women for women and indigenous-owned, Hine is leading the way as one of the world's most size-inclusive and diverse activewear brands. Currently stocking thirteen sizes (XXS - 8XL), it's safe to say that this brand truly champions body diversity. Miria's journey began in 2018 when she...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Claire Hammon, co-founder and Creative Director of independent jewellery studio Meadowlark. The Meadowlark story is a love story between the creative minds of Claire and co-founders and partner Greg Fromont. Starting from a makeshift work bench in their Auckland home, the evolution of Meadowlark reflects their mutual passion for art, nature, travel and the magical craft of jewellery making. Established in 2006, Meadowlarks offering includes everyday...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Chloe Zara Munro – award-winning hairstylist and founder of Chloe Zara Hair – a mindfully curated, premium haircare collection that fuses the best of science with the wonder of nature. With two decades in the hair industry, Chloe has amassed a wealth of knowledge on what it takes to create healthy hair. Launching in 2020, Chloe Zara Hair is formulated and made in New Zealand with clean beauty principles and premium ingredients top of mind, the ever-growing...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Meg Gallagher – visual artist and denim designer.   Meg has spent the past decade in Australia working in top design roles for some of the most recognisable brands in the fashion industry including Camila and Marc, Insight and Ksubi. After years of the intensive fashion loop she  started to feel the itch to create slower work with her hands so she translated everything she knew about denim, textiles and colour into creating art. She started selling pieces...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Emilie Pullar – fashion designer and co-founder of womenswear label Maaike and the pasta chef behind the recipe website and instagram account Burnt Butter Table. This is such an interesting episode as I chat to Emilie right at the crossroads of her business journey.   In 2010, Emilie and her business partner Abby van Schreven founded their brand Maaike and have grown a loyal following in New Zealand and overseas, becoming known for their timeless and easy to...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Aroha Tamihana – owner of Maimoa Creative, a design studio based in Tauranga that is passionate about promoting the Māori language and culture through unique designs, products and resources. Her aim is to help normalise the use of te reo Māori in everyday life. In her own words Aroha is a graphic designer, hand lettering artist, wife to a passionate Māori teacher, māmā, perfectionist, learner, and advocate for te reo Māori. Maimoa Creative was birthed out of...

Hi, everyone. Just a really quick note from me before we launch into this episode.  I have been on holiday and have come back a little sick and I'm running a little bit behind. So I  decided to re-release an episode that isn't too out of date and that also could keep my little one episode a week algorithm going! So for those of you that haven't listened to this episode with Frances Shoemack from Abel, I know that you will love it. And for those of you that have already listened to this...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Eliana Glover –managing director of FSL foods, a family run business with 20 years’ experience sourcing and selling frozen fruit and vegetables. FSL work closely with local and international growers to produce leading retail brands that we find in our supermarket freezers such as Fruzio, Goodness Kitchen and The Berry Fix, the majority of which are packed by the team in their Nelson based factory. Eli’s story is slightly different to many of my previous...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Julia Matthews –founder of Two Islands, a range of lifestyle food and dietary supplements creating daily rituals for skin, hair, nails, joints, gut health, brain and sleep. Made in Aotearoa, Two Islands is a blend of science and nature, an expertly formulated range of intentionally crafted supplements using only the highest quality ingredients at effective doses. Two Islands aims to simplify wellness and give its customers greater control over the health of...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Victoria Harris – co-founder of The Curve, a financial education platform providing investing and finance content to women globally. As well as a website, Harris and her co-founder Sophie Hallwright host workshops, corporate events, and (my personal favourite) multi award-winning podcast, called Raising The Curve. With over ten years in the investment and finance industry, Vic continued to see the women around her struggle with the confidence to build their...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Sophie Hurley – co-founder of luxury luggage and accessories brand Honest Wolf. Sophie, along with her husband and co-founder Sam, are part of the third generation to farm at Papanui Estate. Nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s North Island, Papanui Estate covers 3,300 hectares and is home to over 25,000 happy, healthy sheep. Their property has been thriving for more than 80 years and they hope to keep it alive and well for at least another century or...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Olivia Boswell – award-winning public relations and communications specialist and founder of Common Ground PR.  Olivia is a multi-faceted operator. With her extensive experience in the cultural space and her passion for New Zealand businesses with heart, she offers a unique and creative perspective. Common Ground PR supports companies with big goals in their journeys, from launching and profile building to maintaining a covetable position in the media. It's...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Katey Mandy – founder of the New Zealand botanical skincare brand RAAIE. After 15 years working in the creative industry for other high-profile names in luxury beauty, Katey launched her own active botanical skincare brand just over a year ago.  RAAIE represents a new realm of science-backed botanical skincare. With the antioxidant power of New Zealand botanicals and backed by the latest ingredients in cosmeceutical science, RAAIE is looking to redefine...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Claire Stapleton – a self-taught, New Zealand born artist based in Sydney, Australia. Inspired by the human form and the connections we have with each other, Claire’s work is a continuous journey as she explores both conscious and unconscious responses through the process of painting on paper, raw linen and cotton canvas, and ceramics. Only four years into her practice, Claire’s use of expressive colours, gestures and form is ever evolving. She is...

Today on the podcast, I speak to Sarah Lindsay – founder of Sala, a multidisciplinary movement community in the heart of Ponsonby, Auckland. Sala is more than just sweating. Born from the desire to create impactful experiences, integrated living and community, Sala hosts over 85 weekly classes in 12 disciplines, including yoga, reformer pilates, barre, HIIT, sound healing and more. When Sarah moved to Auckland from London in 2018, she struggled to find her ‘place’ or her ‘people’, and after...

Today on the podcast I speak to the incredible Mimi Gilmour Buckley - entrepreneur, restauranteur, hospitality guru, creative director, and mother. Many of you will know her as co-founder of burger empire, Burger Burger, she's also the owner and creative director of brand and design agency Mates and more recently she's the entrepreneur behind a new skincare range and resilience-building app, IAMMI. Burger Burger opened in Ponsonby, Auckland in 2014 and is now in six locations around NZ....

Today on the podcast I speak with the clever Frances Shoemack - founder of Abel Odor, a modern 100% plant-derived fragrance house fixated on a better future. Following a failed search for a natural perfume that was chic, modern and long lasting. Abel was founded in Amsterdam by Frances with a simple goal - to create the world’s best natural perfume. For nearly a decade, Abel have been working on that mission without compromising on ethics or aesthetics, and in doing so, inspire positive...