Aligned and Unfiltered

This month a few things completely rewired my brain, and I couldn’t keep them to myself.

I’ll be honest, I haven’t been consistent lately. So in this episode I’m owning that and sharing the 3 things I’ve heard recently that have really struck a chord with me.

Being busy vs building. Because you can fill every hour of your day and still not move forward.
Why hard work is needed. There’s no shortcut, and I think we need to stop looking for one.
Not jumping straight to instagram when I wake up.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, scattered or like you’re running on the spot, this one’s for you. 🤍

Come and say hi on Instagram @alignedandunfilteredpod or @samanthagreen.tgh and tell me which one landed for you ✨

Ever spent months (or years) trying to get good at something that just never felt right? This week I'm talking about what happens when something finally clicks.

I started out as a make-up artist and I found it hard. Not "good hard", just constantly trudging through mud trying to be good at something that didn't come naturally. Then I focused on hair and everything changed. It flowed and started to feel effortless. 

In this episode I'm getting into:

• Why "pushing through" isn't always the answer
• How to spot the difference between a challenge worth sticking with and something that's just not yours
• What it feels like when you're finally in the right lane
• Giving yourself permission to stop trying to be good at something you're not

If something feels too hard, maybe there's a reason. This one's for anyone who needs to hear that.

@alignedandunfilteredpod

@samanthagreen.tgh

Youtube

Back after almost 2 months in the UK, I'm chatting all about everything I've learnt. How it actually felt having so long away from my home, work and business. Many things expats will be able to relate to! Thanks for listening and supporting the podcast if you like this episode please share it with someone else! 

All the best, Sam xx

@samanthagreen.tgh - Instagram

Youtube link

I was recently offered something my past self would've been desperate for. A few years ago, I'd have said yes without thinking twice. This time, I said no.

In this solo episode, I talk through that opportunity, why it no longer fits the person I've become, and why saying no to something good is sometimes the clearest sign you've grown. If you've ever felt guilty for turning down something that "should" excite you, this one's for you.

@alignedandunfilteredpod @samanthagreen.tgh 

She started with one chair. Today, Donna runs a team of 15 at British Salon in Dubai and she's still one of the most down-to-earth people you'll meet.

In this episode, Donna talks through what it's actually taken to build her business: growing and holding onto a strong team, keeping her standards as the salon scaled, and staying true to herself while running a successful business in one of the most competitive cities in the world.

If you're a salon owner, work in the beauty industry, or you're just trying to grow something without losing yourself in the process, this one's for you.

We talk about:

• Building and maintaining a team from the ground up
• What it really takes to grow a salon business in Dubai
• Staying grounded and real while running a big, busy business

Connect with Donna:

@thebritishsalondubai @hairbydonna.dubai

Follow Aligned and Unfiltered: @alignedandunfilteredpod @samanthagreen.tgh

Sammie Kerr went from working in a Dubai salon to fully self-employed with a waitlist and now she's built an app to teach hairdressers all over the world how to do hair extensions. We talk fear, freedom and how social media became the tool that changed everything.

You can follow Sammie's journey-

@sjkhair - Instagram

To find Samatha-

@samanthagreen.tgh

Watch on Youtube

"Follow your passion" doesn't help when you don't have one. This solo episode is for the times you're genuinely stuck and have no idea what to do next.

I talk through finding purpose in your pain, why you want the overlap between what you're good at and what you actually enjoy, and why you should go look at the real day of someone already doing the thing you think you want, before you chase it.

What I cover:

• Purpose hides in what you've survived, not your wins
• Good at it + enjoy it.. why you need both
• Studying the reality of a path, not the idea of it
• One small step to take this week

Follow @alignedandunfilteredpod for new episodes weekly.

@samanthagreen.tgh instagram

Lettersfromsamanthagreen - substack 

Natalie, The Money Savvy Expat, went from teacher to running a product business, to carrying serious debt and used it all as the turning point to build financial independence and help other women do the same.

In this episode we talk about leaving the 'safe' career, what it really feels like to face your finances alone, life as a self-employed woman in Dubai and the practical steps that actually move the needle when you feel behind with money.

Find Natalie at @themoneysavvyexpat on Instagram

Fine me on instagram @samanthagreen.tgh / @alignedandunfilteredpod

Find all my links here

You asked and I'm finally answering. This episode is all about the journey of The Green House Salon. I'm sharing the real story: the fear, the funding and my biggest mistakes.

If you've ever thought about starting a business, taking a leap, or building something that's truly yours, this one's for you.

We cover:

• How the idea started and why I went for it
• The practical side nobody talks about (money, leases, hiring)
• What I'd do differently and what I'd do exactly the same

Where goals meet aligned action — this is what that really looks like. 🚀

Find me on instagram

@alignedandunfilteredpod x @samanthagreen.tgh

Watch on YouTube here

Follow along on Substack 

This week I'm joined by Poppy Owen, former business mentor now Dubai content creator. She is someone who has reinvented herself in business more times than most people dare to try. Poppy mentored me in 2023, so this conversation is deeply personal and packed with the kind of honest insight you only get from someone who has actually done the thing.

We dive into the art of the pivot — what drives it, what makes it terrifying, and why it might be the best thing you ever do for your business and your life.

Find Poppy: Instagram @poppyowen | TikTok @thepoppyowen

Find me: @samanthagreen.tgh @alignedandunfilteredpod 

Watch this ep on YouTube here