Offline, With Alison Rice

Dearest you.

An honest conversation with naturopathic doctor, women’s health activist and author of what can only be described as a bible for women everywhere, Period Repair Manual, Lara Briden.

Lara’s work is about providing practical solutions and natural alternatives to hormonal birth control. She’s helped thousands of women who suffer from missing periods, hair loss, PMS, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, adult acne and more, establish treatment plans that don’t require ingesting synthetic hormones that shut down ovulation. 

This is precisely what happens when we take the pill. 

Lara challenges us to get clear: pill bleeds are not periods. We do not cycle when we’re on the pill. When we don’t cycle, we don’t ovulate. When we don’t ovulate, we don’t produce progesterone. Women not having progesterone is like men not having testosterone. 

She successfully challenges pill medicine with natural treatments including diet, nutritional supplements, herbal medicine and body-identical hormones. 

This episode is a call to action to women everywhere to get empowered through education about their menstrual cycle, and confidently question the advice or diagnosis they’ve been given by a doctor. 

Thank you for being here.

Alison xo

Subscribe to Substack

Join SERVE

Book a 1-1 Session

Watch on YouTube

Seasonal Curriculum

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dearest you.

An honest conversation with arguably one of the most fashionable women on the planet, Anine Bing. 

In October 2019, Anine was in Sydney to celebrate the opening of the first Anine Bing Australia store in Paddington, marking the 15th opening since she started the brand from her LA garage in 2012. What we learn in this episode, is Anine’s success story is one born from humble beginnings, hard work and a dedication to exploring and expressing her creativity. 

Anine grew up in a small village in Sweden of just 8,000 people, and by 15, she’d already travelled the world as a model. It was those early, more nomadic days, that shaped the Anine Bing brand we know and love today. Anine shares her journey from modelling to music (she started a rock band in her early twenties called Kill Your Darlings), then blogging, and how she leveraged her Instagram following to start her own now-global fashion company. 

She also shares the key roles she brought in along the way, her early creative process, how it has evolved with the brand’s “see now, buy now” model, her reflections on motherhood, her relationship with her phone and what she does to find some calm within her big and busy life.

Thank you for being here.

Alison xo

Subscribe to Substack

Join SERVE

Book a 1-1 Session

Watch on YouTube

Seasonal Curriculum

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dearest you.

To launch season four, I share Offline's platform with Melbourne listener, Teryll Brewer. 

I met Teryll at an Offline Women’s Circle in August 2019. Offline Women’s Circles exist to create gentle entry points to conscious connections, and as we gathered together as women on our way that night, Teryll’s story moved the room. 

Her bravery and honesty got me thinking about the deeper role Offline could play when it comes to both education and prevention. What might we face, who has already survived it, and would they be willing to share what they’ve learned?

Offline started as honest conversations with the women behind the Instagram accounts. Their stories and their humility not only moved us, but opened us up to a part of ourselves we weren’t all that familiar with — our True Selves. In came the teachers and healers to help us navigate this new spiritual terrain, and now, it’s time to hear from those closest to us.

The people in our lives who don’t necessarily have a social media presence or a stage to stand on, but they teach us anyway. 

Teryll’s story, and the stories I hope will follow, stand for survival. What does it mean to sit in True Self when life serves us a set of circumstances and experiences we didn’t see coming and we don’t feel prepared for? 

Her hope is that through listening, we learn.

Teryll Brewer is a 33 year-old, stage four breast cancer survivor. This is her story. 

Thank you for being here.

Alison xo

• Donate to the Breast Cancer Network Australia 
• Learn more about young women and metastatic breast cancer
• Learn about breast awareness and self-examination

Subscribe to Substack

Join SERVE

Book a 1-1 Session

Watch on YouTube

Seasonal Curriculum

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dearest you.

This episode is produced by Studio Offline in partnership with Original & Mineral.

I'm joined by the delightful and determined founder of Original & Mineral, Jose Bryce Smith. Twenty years ago she co-founded Australia’s first natural hair salon, where harsh chemical formulations were replaced by high performing colour created in-house. It included natural extracts, minerals and native Australian ingredients.

Today, we know it as Original & Mineral (O&M for short), with brand extensions in colour, styling and education.

Here’s why O&M is important — to those of us listening who have ambition to start a conscious business, and to the health of anyone who colours their hair. O&M is PETA-approved, leads innovation in the natural hair care space globally and it is founded by a generous woman who wants to share her start up story so we can learn from it.

I have been using O&M for the best part of a decade, so it was truly a thrill for me sit down with the brain behind a brand that celebrates hair as a health choice. It’s time we all got real about it. We read so many warnings about the dangers of using parabens, sulphates and other harsh chemicals on our skin — but what about our hair and our scalp? 

In this honest conversation, Jose brings incredible insight into what it means to found and fund a multi-million dollar business, how to think about taking investment, what she had to sacrifice, the times she got it wrong, how she uses the Emotional Freedom Technique to reprogram her thought patterns, and so much more. 

Thank you for being here.

Alison xo

Subscribe to Substack

Join SERVE

Book a 1-1 Session

Watch on YouTube

Seasonal Curriculum

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dearest you.

I close season three with an Ask Alison episode, dedicated to Offline’s beautiful community. I put a call out for questions on Instagram and answered 11 across topics including true self, spirituality and personal development.

From my own journey to feeling more spiritually expressed, to my advice on how to begin exploring what spirituality means to you, my definition of soul, how my life has changed since starting Offline, my biggest “ah-ha” moment, how I up my day for success, my advice on finding love and fulfilment, how to find like-minded people, how I feel when I see pregnancy announcements on Instagram, what I've learned about leading teams, and much more. 

Thank you for being here.

Alison xo

Subscribe to Substack

Join SERVE

Book a 1-1 Session

Watch on YouTube

Seasonal Curriculum

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dearest you.

Another honest conversation with leading Australian sexologist, Juliet Allen.

If you haven’t listened to our first honest conversation and you’d like to, here it is. We discuss sex as a pathway to healing, sex magic, why our cycle is sacred, why it is time to redefine the word slut and much more. 

This time around, Juliet answers questions sent in from Offline’s curious and thoughtful listeners. Topics include: becoming more confident in the bedroom, how to improve your libido, how to accept your partner’s sexual attraction to others, how to communicate your sexual needs, how to communicate you have an STD, why we should consider organic alternatives to supermarket lube, how to get in touch with your feminine after a major operation like a hysterectomy, sex-positive porn, why enjoying anal sex comes down to trust and Juliet’s tips to authentic and connected oral sex.

Best not to have kids around for this one!

Thank you for being here.

Alison xo

Warning: Some parts of this honest conversation are difficult and confronting. If you need help or support, please reach out:

• Reach Out’s sexual assault support directory
• Call 1800 RESPECT

Subscribe to Substack

Join SERVE

Book a 1-1 Session

Watch on YouTube

Seasonal Curriculum

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dearest you.

This episode was recorded live at the sold-out Sundays Offline listener event in Melbourne on August 18, 2019. It was an honour to sit down with leading Australian fashion creative, Erin Maxwell, and take questions from the audience.

From how to stay true to our values, to pitching for creative work, why we should celebrate each others’ success, a definition of manifestation and more.

Thank you for being here.

Alison xo

Subscribe to Substack

Join SERVE

Book a 1-1 Session

Watch on YouTube

Seasonal Curriculum

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dearest you.

This episode is part one of my honest conversation with Erin Maxwell recorded live at Sundays Offline, Melbourne.

Erin is a leading Australian fashion creative. Her long-time followers knew her first as Love Shop Share, but at the time of recording, Erin is the proud founder of the The Maxwell Note. A thoughtful and curated platform that seeks to tell visual stories.

In this honest conversation recorded in front of 85 passionate Offline listeners, Erin opened up for the first time about her work, what it means to be a mother and a businesswoman today, her 17-year bond with husband Nick, her relationship with the label WAG and why her family will always come first. 

Following our honest conversation, we took questions from the audience so look out for part two.

Sundays Offline Melbourne would not have been possible without the support of its generous sponsors, and the women who donated their time. 

Thank you for being here.

Alison xo

Subscribe to Substack

Join SERVE

Book a 1-1 Session

Watch on YouTube

Seasonal Curriculum

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dearest you.

In this special Self Care Sundays mini-series produced by Studio Offline and in partnership with Estée Lauder, I sit down with three of the brand’s Australian ambassadors to have an honest conversation about life on the other side of the filter, self care, sleep and skincare. 

My next guest is Eleanor Pendleton. The Estée Lauder ambassador and beauty entrepreneur is the founder of one of Australia’s most popular and pioneering beauty destinations, Gritty Pretty.

It’s her third time sitting down with me for Offline, and in this honest conversation Eleanor shares her opinion on self care, what it takes to lead one of Australia’s most-popular digital media brands, the mentors who have helped her along the way, what boundaries look like on any given day, her relationship with sleep and ageing, what she wishes more women knew about skincare and the very joyful chapter ahead for her and her husband Matt.

Thank you for being here.

Alison xo

Subscribe to Substack

Join SERVE

Book a 1-1 Session

Watch on YouTube

Seasonal Curriculum

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dearest you.

In this special Self Care Sundays mini-series produced by Studio Offline and in partnership with Estée Lauder, I sit down with the brand’s ambassadors and friends to have an honest conversation about life on the other side of the filter, self care, sleep and skincare. 

Next up is Deborah Symond O’Neil. She’s the founder of pioneering fashion retailer, Mode Sportif, and one of the best dressed women in Sydney. Deb works fast and hard. In this honest conversation, we learn that what we see on Instagram is actually very close to her reality, but that she also dedicates a great deal of her time and energy to her growing business, her team and her husband Ned. 

Given her workload and the speed at which she operates, I was curious to know how Deb carves out time for herself and what routine looks like for a busy founder and mum-to-be. And as an ambassador for Estée Lauder, what role does a cult product like Advanced Night Repair play when it comes to maximising her evening skincare routine? 

If you’re interested in learning about the realities of running and scaling a fashion retail business, the art behind a successful buy, the skincare advice handed down from her mum and why she doesn’t identify with the label heiress, we hope you adore this episode. 

Thank you for being here.

Alison xo

Subscribe to Substack

Join SERVE

Book a 1-1 Session

Watch on YouTube

Seasonal Curriculum

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.