This week, I talked with author/photographer/YouTuber/knitwear designer Veronika ‘Kika’ Lindberg about her fluid and inspiring journey to success online, and how she’s evolved her work along the way. Kika’s open-minded and playful approach is so inspiring to me, and I’ve found myself returning to this conversation in my mind so much since we recorded it.I hope you love hearing from her too!

Things we talk about in this episode:

* Getting started on Instagram, and how it has changed

* Growing a YouTube audience, and how to make video

* Why Kika doesn’t use Reels or YouTube shorts very much (and why this is ok!)

* Pivoting your focus and work, and letting your audience evolve with you

* Changing path, and dealing with disappointment when things don’t go as planned

* The loneliness and challenges of having to run a creative business by yourself

* Getting a publishing deal, and the process of writing and sharing knitting patterns

* The different revenue streams in Kika’s business

* Running a business while caring for a baby

* Establishing your expertise with your audience

* Going with the creative flow in business and in life

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Links for this episode:

* Kika’s Instagram, @Kutovakika

* Kika’s YouTube

* Kika’s website

* Kika’s Ravelry

* Knit This book

* Knits to Wear book

* My online classes

* My Instagram, @me_and_orla

* Substack page for this episode - come and leave a comment!

Thanks for listening!

This week, I’m chatting to Dr Anita Goraya from ADHD Wellness & Wisdom , GP-turned Psychotherapist who specialises in helping people with ADHD. Both Anita and I have diagnoses of ADHD, so this is a topic close to our hearts, and I hope this warm and compassionate conversation will be helpful whether you’re neuro-diverse, awaiting a diagnosis or just interested to know more!

Things we talk about in this episode:

* Being diagnosed with ADHD later in life

* The neuro-developmental nature of ADHD, its hereditary aspects, and some of the common misconceptions people might have

* Anita’s transition from GP to therapist, and her own diagnosis process

* The importance of self-acceptance, leveraging strengths, and scaffolding weaknesses

* Practical strategies for managing ADHD symptoms, such as mindfulness, problem-solving, and making use of tools and resources

* The emotional impact of ADHD, the potential for neuro-plasticity, and the importance of seeking formal diagnoses and support.

Links we mention in this episode:

* Anita’s Substack ADHD Wellness & Wisdom

* Anita’s website

* Goblin to-do list tool

* My Festive Marketing Guide & Planner

* My coaching page, where you can book now for 50% extra coaching

* Book a Discovery Call with me

* My Me & Orla Christmas Cards

* My new 2025 M&O photo calendar

Thanks for listening and following along!

This week, I’m chatting to my friend Sarahbeth Larrimore, the wonder-woman behind Unabashed Apparel. The mantra for her work says it all: “Empowering women to design & sew. Our bodies are worthy of our finest frocks, just as they are.” Um, yes please!Sarahbeth and I had a juicy conversation about personal style and the benefits of sewing for self-expression, creativity and body acceptance. I know next to nothing about sewing, but by the end of this episode Sarahbeth had me completely convinced I should start stitching my own wardrobe - and I bet you’ll feel the same!

Things we talk about in this episode:

* How sewing and clothing design can be empowering in unexpected ways

* Sarahbeth’s Queen Robe Project (enrolling now!), and how anyone can learn to sew

* The differences between historical garments and modern made clothes

* How clothes impact our body image and self worth

* The role of sewing and mending for sustainability and customisation

* My collection of vintage French under-dresses, and my upcoming collection of them for sale

* The stories our clothes can tell about us as they age and change

Links we mention in this episode:

* Sarahbeth’s Instagram

* Sarahbeth’s Queen Robe Project (enrolling now!)

* Sarahbeth’s post on mending, and sustainable fashion

* Sarahbeth’s Website, Unabashed Apparel

* Sarahbeth’s Substack

* My upcoming collection of vintage French nightdresses

* My coaching page, where you can book now for January availability

Thanks for listening and following along!

This is a republished episode from LFAHC

In today’s episode we dive into listener questions all about Instagram - from building engagement up, feeling hopeful and excited about the platform again, coming back after a long break, adapting to creating more video content, whether to use hashtags anymore and lots more.

Join Sara for her Instagram Summer School Class starts on Monday, the 29th, so you need to be quick.

Would you love some encouragement and support in your business? Submit your letter for an upcoming episode here.

More from Sara

More from Jen

I first met Sarah D Rees through my class, The Insta Retreat, quite a few years ago, and we’ve worked together ever since. Sarah is a mental health nurse and CBT therapist with over 10 years of experience in private practice. Through her mentoring and coaching services, she supports other therapists in setting up and growing their private practices. Sarah struggled with the lack of a business plan and structure in her private practice, leading to dissatisfaction and confusion, and wanted to help others so they don’t have to feel the same way.

Her book, A Therapist’s Guide to Private Practice: Building a Values-based Business, is out this week (Happy publication week, Sarah 🥳), so it seemed the perfect time to ask her on the podcast to hear about it and how she supports therapists.

Things we talk about in this episode:

* Challenges of setting up a private practice for therapists and coaches

* Identifying values in business and personal life

* Marketing strategies for private practice therapists

* The benefits of niching for mental health professionals

* Using Substack for email marketing and membership platforms

* Using Substack for therapists to build communities and generate income

* Therapist social media presence and boundaries

* Mental health services demand, therapy training and book launch.

Links we mention in this episode:

* Sarah’s book

* Sarah’s website, Instagram and Substack group for therapists

* My Instagram Summer School

The Instagram Summer School

Instagram Summer School is my new 4-week refresher and revive-r for your instagram mojo! The whole of my bestselling Instagram Masterclass, The Insta Retreat, but condensed into 4 weekly highlight reels to get you straight to the good bits and set to work! With daily challenges, free templates, planners and guides, plus weekly AMA (ask me anything) calls with me, and mindset coaching calls with Katie Pulsifer, this is your sun-filled, breezy vacation from all the Insta drama! Check out all the details by clicking here ⬇️

PS. If you have done The Insta Retreat before, look out for emails about how to take part

I first met deep-dive master coach Katie Pulsifer when she was my instructor for certification at The Life Coach School. I recall being pretty intimidated. I’ve never been sky-diving or tried a bungee jump, but I’m pretty sure the adrenaline rush is comparable to coaching in front of Katie for immediate feedback in front of a group. 🪂

Katie’s recently gone solo, after many years working for a large coaching school, and as we caught up over Zoom I was struck by how her open, beginner’s mindset to social media is bringing so much ease and fun to her work. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all recapture a little bit of that early magic when we’re showing up on the internet?I asked Katie to come on the podcast to tell us more.

Things we talk about in this episode:

* How Katie found her niche and why it resonates with her deeply

* Building a values-led business, and being ok with not doing things like everybody else

* The mindset shift and learning curve in switching from employee to entrepreneur

* Using Instagram, Facebook, newsletters and Substack to grow an audience in 2024

* The evolution of coaching techniques, including the self-coaching model, and how Katie adapts them to best serve her clients

* The importance of trusting the process, being present, and allowing growth to unfold naturally

Links we mention in this episode:

Katie’s upcoming Mind at Ease masterclassKatie’s website, Facebook and InstagramThe Self Coaching ModelBev Aron’s Deep Dive Coaching Certification

I’m sharing something a little different today… the results of my ‘podcast affair’ with my Aussie bestie, the gorgeous Ms Keeley Rees . Bonded over our love of storytelling and creativity, Keeley and I and came together to create The Substack Soirée - a gathering of resources, classes and a shiny new podcast, in the hope of passing some of that passion along.I chose this very first episode to share here with you on Hashtag Authentic because I really think the fundamentals we talk through - which we’re jokingly calling our ‘commandments’ - are applicable to every and any platform out there online.

So, whether you’re Substack-curious, have no intention of ever joining Substack or are a self-confessed Substa-holic, I hope this episode can offer you support, strength and encouragement for showing your creative side online.If you want to hear more from me and Keeley, be sure to Subscribe to The Substack Soirée and to the SSS podcast in your favourite podcast app.

PS - Our special Winter Substack class is now enrolling, until Monday November 27th! Check out all the details on how you can join us here.

This week I talk to Katie Leamon, who turned her love of paper and pattern into her eponymous family-run stationery studio. Her notebooks have been a daily companion to me for many years, so it was really fun to chat with her about her designs, her process and the realities behind running a product-lead business with the family on board!

Things we talk about:

* Building from a home studio to printing and selling at scale

* Designing products based on creative instinct

* The rise of independent stationery makers and designers online

* Selling wholesale vs. direct

* Family business, and drawing the the lines between work and home life.

* Taking time for creativity outside of work

* Growing a team, and when to let things go

* Katie’s new experiments in creating ceramic range

* Launch strategies and learning from mistakes

* Trusting your brand identity and staying authentic

Links we mentioned:

* My Substack Soiree class

* Katie’s online store, Katie Leamon

* Katie’s new ceramic range (I LOVE THIS CUP!)

Listened and loved it? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Find Hannah’s 4 Week Refresh Programme here 

Hannah’s Instagram: @hanbullivant

Hannah’s website: hannahbullivant.com

Sara's Instagram: 

Sara's Substack:

Sara's classes and coaching:

Sara's website:

Things we talked about:

• The way multi-faceted careers can feel piecemeal (especially if parenting is added into the mix), or “like I’m doing five different jobs at once”
• Factoring in time to play as well as work
• Exploring your home town like a holiday destination
• Taking things home from real holidays that you might not expect (like appreciating the simple things, family meals, all your possessions in one suitcase)
• Avoiding habits of consuming everything and creating nothing
• Making connections on Twitter (Lisa says, “I engage with people because I love it”)
• Pondering the idea that the Internet means we don’t get bored any more, and what that means
• On making things happen (Lisa was waiting for a radio job offer but it didn’t come, so she started a podcast)
• “People say you’re brave putting yourself out there, but I’m more afraid of not doing it”
• The importance of perseverance, and regularly doing the thing you fear (until you don’t fear it any more)
• We had a frank conversation about money. Despite living an outwardly glamorous life, Lisa says, “I don’t earn enough”
• Becoming an “accidental landlady”: her unexpected foray into property investment to build financial security
• We talked about the way women often hide our realities, keeping everything from messy kitchens to miscarriage behind closed doors
• Everything has to start with just two views. Even the most viral video of all time had only two views at some point.
• And finally, the possibly-surprising-but-then-probably-not location that Lisa chose when I asked her about her favourite place in the whole world

Where to find Lisa:

• On Twitter she's @lfnand
• On Instagram she's @lisafrancesca_nand and @thebigtravelpodcast
• Her podcast: The Big Travel Podcast

The meditation app Sara mentioned:

• Waking Up

Where to find Sara:

• Sara on Substack
• Sara’s website: meandorla.co.uk
• Sara's charity Christmas cards
• Me and Orla 2023 Calendar
• Sara on Instagram: @me_and_orla
• Sara on Twitter: @meandorla
• One to one business coaching with Sara
• The Insta Retreat