If You Know You Grow

If you’ve ever wondered what actually goes on inside a founder retreat… this is your inside look 👀

In this week’s episode, I’m recapping my experience at the Humble Brags Founders Retreat — from the people in the room to the biggest lessons I walked away with (and trust me, there were a lot).

We’re talking:

• Why the most successful founders are often the most humble

• The reality of “community over competition” in business

• What founders are really struggling with (hint: hiring & people)

• Why agility and staying close to your business matters more than ever

• And the mindset shifts that actually move the needle

Plus… we get a little personal. I share my biggest self-saboteur (hi, people pleasing & overthinking 🙃) and the leadership lesson that genuinely stuck with me: respond, don’t react.

No gatekeeping, no fluff — just honest reflections, real insights, and the kind of conversations that actually help you grow.

This week’s episode is a little stream-of-consciousness moment that turned into something I’ve been thinking about a lot.

We talk about the “be selfish” narrative that’s everywhere right now and why it only works if you weren’t already selfish to begin with. If you want a village, you have to be the village. Reciprocity matters. Boundaries matter. And so does knowing when you’ve been over-investing in people who aren’t pouring back into you.

I share what it’s looked like for me as a delusionally optimistic, glass-half-full, chronic giver (aka “good girl energy”) learning how to stop letting people metaphorically sh*t on me — lovingly, of course.

This one’s about boundaries, expectations, emotional capacity, and protecting your energy without becoming the villain.

This episode is slightly unhinged… but accidentally insightful.

What started as a conversation about personal brand quickly spiralled into misconceptions, founder pressure, burnout, masculine vs feminine energy, astrology compatibility ratings, and whether you should be sharing your entire life online (or absolutely not).

We chat about:

• The biggest misconceptions people have about us

• Founder-led brands (and why you don’t actually have to be one)

• Confidence vs being “intimidating”

• Burnout and showing up when you’re running on fumes

• Oversharing, boundaries, and what actually belongs online

• And yes… posting something purely for engagement

If you’ve ever felt pressure to build a personal brand that doesn’t even feel like you - or wondered how much of your life you actually need to share - this one’s for you.

It’s chaotic. It’s honest. It’s a little astrology-coded.
And honestly? Sometimes you just have to do it for the plot.

Thinking about a career in marketing? This episode is for you.

In this solo chat, I’m unpacking the real conversations I have daily in my DMs — what it actually takes to build a career in marketing, where expectations often miss the mark, and why getting your foot in the door isn’t always glamorous (but is always worth it).

We talk talent droughts, entry-level salaries, transferable skills, why university isn’t the golden ticket people think it is, and how to make yourself stand out in an industry that’s more competitive than ever. I also share what I look for when hiring, how to think about progression and pay rises, and why passion and curiosity will take you further than a perfect resume ever will.

If you’re just starting out, feeling stuck, or considering your next move in marketing — consider this your honest, behind-the-scenes career pep talk.

In this mini episode, Chantel dives into a big question marketers (and shoppers) are quietly asking: is luxury actually… accessible now? From the decline of logo-heavy status symbols to the rise of luxury experiences, this chat breaks down how purchasing behaviour is shifting — and why a designer bag just isn’t the flex it used to be.

We unpack what declining luxury sales really signal, why travel and experiences are booming, and what this means for brands that want to stay relevant. Spoiler: it’s no longer about selling a product — it’s about selling a feeling, a lifestyle, and a story your customer wants to be part of. If you work in marketing, branding, or just love spotting cultural shifts before they go mainstream, this one’s for you.

In this episode, Chantel unpacks the five things that truly changed her life in 2025 — and spoiler: none of them were overnight wins or shiny “quick fixes”. From finally locking in a routine that actually works (yes, including 4:30am mornings), to learning how to say no without guilt, redefining self-worth, and getting comfortable with a little discomfort, this is a real and reflective chat on growth.

This episode is part mindset reset, part personal debrief, and part gentle reminder that the work you’ve been doing does compound — even when it doesn’t feel like it in the moment. If you’re easing out of holiday mode, craving clarity, or looking for motivation that feels grounding (not hustle-y), this one’s for you.

Rhode is finally accessible in Australia - for the first time ever and it’s a big deal.

Until now, Australians have never been able to purchase Rhode from within Australia. No local DTC shipping, no retail access - just distance, workarounds and hype. That’s what makes Rhode’s upcoming launch into MECCA such a defining moment for the Australian beauty market.

In this impromptu, opinion-led episode, we break down what this move really means. We debate whether Rhode’s growth will be driven by MECCA’s retail ecosystem or its DTC channel, and why this is one of the first times MECCA has allowed a non-heritage brand to enter without full exclusivity.

We also ask the uncomfortable question: is MECCA’s Beauty Loop still as powerful as it once was? Or are loyalty mechanics losing influence as consumers prioritise access, speed and brand experience?

The conversation then turns to Hourglass’s exit - what likely led to it, what happens next and why MECCA played a critical role in building Hourglass into a prestige powerhouse in Australia in the first place. From in-store education to product discovery, we unpack how retail can shape brand legacy.

This episode is a real-time discussion on access vs exclusivity, DTC vs wholesale power, loyalty fatigue and how beauty brands scale in Australia - with honest takes, generational perspectives and a few hot opinions along the way.

Press play for the full breakdown, context and our unfiltered takes.

Marketing in 2026 isn’t louder - it’s longer, bolder and more intentional.

In this episode, we’re unpacking the marketing shifts that will define 2026 - the ones already happening beneath the surface and the ones most brands aren’t prepared for yet.

We explore why long-form content is making a powerful comeback, what the short-term “death” of the portfolio career really means for creatives and founders and why we’re about to see a strong return to colour-led products after years of safe, neutral sameness.

This isn’t about trends for trend’s sake - it’s about where attention, trust, and value are actually moving. If you’re a brand, creative, founder or marketer trying to future-proof your strategy, this conversation will challenge the way you think about content, identity and visibility going into the next year.

Consider this your 2026 marketing forecast - grounded, opinionated and ahead of the curve.

Press play if you want to understand what’s changing before everyone else does.

This season was never about having all the answers.
It was about asking better questions, about growth, identity, timing, resilience, and what it actually looks like behind the scenes of building something meaningful.

Across these conversations, one theme kept coming up again and again: growth isn’t linear, and it’s rarely loud, but it’s usually intentional.

We heard from founders, creatives, operators and leaders who are all navigating different chapters — scaling businesses, rebuilding confidence, redefining success, and learning how to trust themselves again.
Not one story was polished. Not one journey was perfect. And that’s exactly the point.

In this episode, Chantel shares personal updates and reflections on the recent Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping period, discussing the polarizing effects on consumer behavior and marketing trends. She emphasizes the importance of brand strategy and transparency while navigating the challenges of burnout and emotional well-being. She focuses on a "stop" the scroll moment by a creator that really had her shift her mindset on how she's often happy she doesn't get what she wanted.