How To Make It Work

What if women have been training the wrong way all along? In this episode, I sit down with Esther Keown, co-founder of Femmi, a platform designing training specifically for women and their physiology. After growing up as an elite athlete in systems built for men, Esther set out to rethink sport for women through science, and cycle-based coaching. We also talk about her recent ovarian cancer advocacy, and why understanding and listening to our bodies is more important than ever.

What if making it work meant stitching together multiple dreams at once? In this episode of How to Make It Work, I sit down with Philippa Perry a.k.a. Pip the designer behind Pippin’s Apparel, a Raglan-based clothing brand handmade from repurposed and recycled textiles. From creating one-of-a-kind pieces stocked locally and online to chasing opportunities in film costume, Pip shares what it really looks like to build a creative life that doesn’t fit into just one box. We talk sustainability, small-town creativity, and following big dreams.

From somersaults to spreadsheets, this is what making circus work really looks like. In this episode of How to Make It Work, I talk with Evelyn Coulson, co-founder and manager of Black Sheep Circus Entertainment. From touring shows and festival performances to funding applications and free community circus spaces, Evelyn shares how she balances (quite literally) creativity, and logistics. We also talk about why bringing play, and movement into everyday community spaces like Raglan is at the heart of what she does.

What if the little things we often miss are actually the ones that matter most. On this week’s How to Make It Work, I talk with Russell Higginbotham, aka Ru or Captured_by_RU, a photographer who captures the fleeting, honest moments and emotions of people at events, and in everyday life. His work is all about making people feel seen and giving back to the Raglan community through his photography. Celebrating the everyday moments through his lens he wants to remind people of life’s little joys even more.

What if your work could grow beauty for people, for the environment, and even for animals? In this episode of How to Make It Work, I chat with Stina Svensson, the creative force behind Sprout Gardener. Stina has built a business that nurtures not just gardens, but also wellbeing, creativity, and environmental care. From garden design to unique wearable art, she shares how she’s cultivating spaces that feed both the soul and the natural world, and how she manages to make it all work.

Some people carve waves, others carve careers between data points and deadlines. Bruci does both! In this episode of How to Make It Work, I sit down with Bruci Schiavinato Jordão, a Laser Scanning Specialist and BIM Modeler, whose work helps map buildings and infrastructure across New Zealand in stunning 3D detail. Originally from Brazil, Bruci shares how he built a highly technical career in a new country, and what laser scanning actually is all about (in plain English). We also talk about how he balances precision-driven work with a lifestyle rooted in surf, and music in Raglan.

Some people learn how to surf, others build a whole community around it. In this episode, I chat to Nina Nouk, certified surf coach and founder of The Dames Surf Club, a thriving non-profit dedicated to helping women gain confidence in the water. Originally from France, Nina went from teaching on ski slopes to discovering surfing in Raglan. She created a space where women of all levels can grow, and support each other in and out of the ocean.

We talk about the spark behind The Dames, the power of women-only surf spaces, the mindset blocks many women surfers face, and the reality of building a grassroots community from scratch. Tune in and find out how Nina makes it work.

Feeling stuck in old patterns? In this episode, coach and NLP trainer Stephanie Philp breaks down what it really takes to change your mind — and keep the change. We talk intuition, neuroscience, authenticity, and the business side of coaching. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a life and career that actually fit you, this conversation is for you.

What does it really take to make a living from art—consistently, sustainably, and without losing the love for creating? In this episode of How to Make It Work, Raglan artist Miranda Jane Caird opens up about the business reality behind being a full-time painter for more than 20 years. From raising her son as a single mum to sending more than 1,000 original works out into the world, Miranda shares how financial necessity shaped her creative discipline, her decisions, and her success.

We talk about the practical side of running an art career: keeping a steady income, selling through galleries, moving into her own giclée print production, and learning how to thrive as an artist without chasing the limelight. It’s an honest, grounded conversation about creativity, independence, and building a life where art pays the bills—and feeds the soul.

Ready to break the burnout cycle? Start with your body, not your calendar. In this episode, I talk to chiropractor, nervous system strategist, and the powerhouse behind Wild Coast Collective — Dr. Kiri Walden. We dive into how Kiri blends trauma-informed nervous system work, and Māori-led approaches to wellbeing, as well as her mission to make nervous system regulation accessible for everyone through movement.

Kiri also drops big news about Wild Coast Collective’s eco-minded Yoga and Pilates equipment: she’s soon launching her own zero-waste activewear line. How does she manage all of this without burning out herself? Listen to find out. Today, we explore her story, her work, and how we can all begin regulating our nervous systems — not just our schedules.