Stressed But Well Dressed

Dahlia is joined by Nicola Kemp to discuss the concept of 'self editing'.

Nicola explains how people (and women in particular) feel a pressure to edit themselves to conform to societal expectations and stereotypes. The discussion looks at the different types of self-editing and how individuals can turn down their 'negative internal chatter' and get more comfortable being themselves.

Dahlia and Nicola unpick why we 'fear the cringe' so much and uncover our need to feel embarrassed our work or our success. The conversation is an honest, relatable and ends with some great tips from Nicola on cultivating confidence.

Nicola Kemp is an editor, speaker, connector and advocate for diversity in all its forms.
Nicola's expertise is in identifying trends and developing and implementing content strategies to connect with diverse audiences across multiple platforms as well as chairing, curating and speaking at events.

Nicola is a business editor and journalist with over 15 years experience on titles including WGSN, M&M Global, Reuters, The Guardian, The Observer, Campaign, Marketing magazine and Vision.
Nicola also provides brand consultancy, content and strategy advice for brands, agencies and business leaders.
Nicola Kemp was named by The Dots ‘Top as one of the ‘200 women shaping the creative industry’, a Timewise Power Part Time winner, a Pitch 100 Superwoman and the Women in Marketing Journalist of the year winnerTopics in this episode include:

#clothes

#confidence

#personalbranding

#womeninleadership

#publicspeaking

#resilience

#diversity

#femaleleadership

#empowerment

Julia Hotz is author of 'The Connection Cure' and joins Dahlia for a conversation to look at the link between stress, identity and mindset. Julia has challenged the traditional question 'What's the matter with you?' and turned it on its head to ask 'What matters to you?' to identify how social prescribing can contribute to a less stressed more well dressed mindset.

Dahlia and Julia discuss how getting really clear on what matters to you, getting in control and social prescriptions of nature, art, movement and even belonging can reduce your stress. Julia's book has been recognised in the list of 'The Next Big Idea Club' June 2024 reading list curated by Adam Grant, Daniel Pink, Susan Cain and Michael Gladwell. So what matters to you?

Julia Hotz is a solutions-focused journalist based in New York, with stories in The New York Times, WIRED, Scientific American, The Boston Globe, Time magazine, and more. She helps other journalists report on the big new ideas changing theworld at the Solutions Journalism Network. The Connection Cure is her first book.

*Social prescribing is an option to complement traditional healthcare practices and not intended to replace it.

Topics in this episode include:

health and wellbeing

stress

psychology

healthandwellness

clothes

style

belonging

social prescribing

wellness

culture

society

'If you have a dream and you have a passion and you believe - it happens.'

Dahlia is joined by Alicia Kite, retailer, product creator and image consultant.

Alicia brought luxury fashion north, launching five boutiques across the Midlands and South Yorkshire over 40 years ago. Alicia now works as a Personal Brand consultant and has created her own shapewear range 'Alicia Kite Shapewear'.

Alicia's experience has enabled her to understand how clothes impact how we feel and how to use your wardrobe to make you feel unstoppable. Her positive attitude and absolute passion for using clothes to enhance your personal brand is palpable throughthe conversation. Alicia shares her story of building a retail brand, losing it all and then coming back stronger, talking about the defining moments that have put the Alicia Kite name back on the map.

If you are thinking

'Dare I put myself out there!?'

Alicia's advice goes like this:

'If anybody out there is questioning themselves but they really are passionate about what they are doing - try and store that passion. Keep dreaming, keep believing. Have the dream and then dare to do it!'

Alicia's shapewear range can be found at www.aliciakite.com

Topics include:

shopping

dress

clothes

style

fashion

founder

confidence

strength

resilience

entrepreneurship

personalbranding

wardrobemanagement

styling

How would someone sum you up in one sentence?

What words would they use to describe your attitude, who you are and how they know you?

When Lynsey Donoghue was introduced to Dahlia the sentence that was used to describe her was 'She's up for life.' Dahlia explained that she immediately knew she needed to meet Lynsey and her her story, hearing those four words and envisioning positive mental attitude, energy, passion and strength.

On meeting Lynsey and through recording the podcast Dahlia discovered that Lynsey is well and truly up for life. In addition to being a firefighter, Lynsey shares an inspiring story about her journey to being a finalist on BBC SAS Ultimate Hell. Lynsey shares how being a parent was part of the motivation that got her through the challenges in the show. She discusses how her need to overcome personal challenges and increase her resilience has shaped who she is today. Lynsey also discusses the reality of having multiple identities at one time balancing being a firefighter and being mum - and needing to wear several hats. The conversation includes the work she has done to champion job sharing within the fire service after having her third child, paving the way for more opportunities for people to work flexibly in firefighter roles.

Listen to the conversation to hear how uniform creates equity within the Fire Station and across a team, how Lynsey survived the Ultimate SAS challenge in army gear in South Africa in 39 degree heat and the work she has done to bring flexible working to the West Yorkshire Fire Service.

Topics in this episode include:

firefighting

firefighter

strength

resilience

empowerment

teams

teamwork

relationships

clothes

uniform

job sharing

flexible working

diversity

diversity and inclusion

Dahlia is joined by Simon Bourne, also known as 'The Shoe Guy' to talk shoes, style and steely resilience.

Simon shares the journey which lead him to create Jim Charles Shoes and the hurdles he has overcome on the way. The conversation includes Simon's reflection on his personal style and the influence that his mental health has had on the way he has shown up to the world and the clothes he has chosen to wear over the last few years.

The conversation includes an understanding of the Jim Charles brand and the man behind the name. Dahlia and Simon discuss the emotion we attach to what we wear - and Simon explains how he witnesses this every time he helps a customers experience the creation of their own unique pair of shoes. They also reflect on the fact that the path of business ownership is not always easy and Simon is very honest about his journey out of bankruptcy which was the motivation for his book Soled Out.

The conversation is honest and uplifting, paying homage to Simon's family heritage and paving the way for a very exciting future for Jim Charles Shoes.

Listen to find out who 'This Charming Man' might be.

Who is The Shoe Guy?

Simon Bourne - The Shoe Guy - has built an entire company around his love of expressing his fashionista urges! Jim Charles Shoes is a fantastic company that puts shoe design into the hands - or feet - of the customer thanks to their order | edit | customise philosophy.
Simon, who published his book Soled Out! in September, is a bundle of passion and authenticity and you just can't help getting drawn into his fabulous energy.

Topics in this episode include:

business

founder

resilience

courage

stress

mental health

health and wellness

fashion

shoes

dress

fashion design

bravery

In the first episode of Season 3, Dahlia is joined by Amy Rollings to discuss the topic of redundancy, likening the situation to being 'All dressed up with nowhere to go'. This episode is one of the bravest and the most raw on the podcast so far - but perhaps also the most positive.Dahlia and Amy get really honest about redundancy, discussing how it feels, what to do next and how to get in control.

Amy runs 'Let's Connect' and has helped a significant number of people make connections and build their network at the time they have needed it most in their careers.

Alongside a very real account of redundancy based on lived experience, the episode discusses personal branding, building your network and taking your next step forward.

The main messages in the episode include: 1. Everyone's career journey is unique, you have the opportunity to shape yours.2. Your network is your net worth - invest in relationships3. If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again!If you are going through redundancy at the moment or thinking about what's next, this is the conversation you need to hear.

Amy's experience includes roles at Burberry, Kurt Geiger and Michael Kors. In addition to running Let's Connect, Amy works as a Consultant and runs Rialto a homewares shop in Hackney, London.

Topics in this episode include:

fashion

clothes

style

redundancy

mental health and wellbeing

confidence

job seeking

resilience

personal brand

personal branding

Why are two heads better than one?Dahlia is joined by Chloe Fletcher and Laura Walker to understand what it truly means to be part of a job share. They give an honest account of how you find your job share 'kindred spirit' creating a corporate unicorn. The conversation helps to paint the picture of what it means to job share as both the employee and the employer and Chloe and Laura explain what a great formula looks like to make job sharing work. The pair talk about how they have grown their own confidence but also how they have learnt from one another - and draw on the outfits that have helped them feel empowered!Chloe and Laura are seasoned in job sharing having partnered in two different Senior Finance Director roles in ASDA. They are now using their experience and knowledge to support organisations who want to create a greater talent pipeline through job share opportunities. Find out more about what they do at https://thejobsharerevolution.co.uk/

Topics in this episode include:

women in leadership

job sharing

teams

teamwork

leadership

flexibility

learning and development

clothes

dress

style

Dahlia is joined by ITV Weather Presenter Jo Blythe to talk about the British public's favourite topic of conversation - the weather!Come rain or come shine, Jo has worked at ITV as resident weather presenter for 20 years. Dahlia and Jo discuss what to wear on TV and how Jo's style has evolved during her time in her role.Joanna shares some of her favourite outfit memories and shares her incredibly positive mindset of 'Get up, show up.' She describes being a weather presenter as her dream job and something she has wanted to do right from day one. This conversation is a cup of liquid sunshine. Tune in for some feel good fashion forecasting, an insight into how the map works and top tips on how to get your name on a storm.

Topics in this episode include:

television

media

fashion

style

parenting

confidence

clothes

career

career development

Dahlia is joined by Alistair Vince, Co-Founder and Chief Botherer at Watch Me Think.

Alistair and Dahlia's conversation centres around Mark Fisher's quote 'Nobody is bored, everything is boring.' They discuss why we are so obsessed with our bright and shiny smart phones and the idea that the overload of content is overstimulating but lacks true inspiration.

Alistair explains that the way we are now consuming content has dramatically changed the way we shape our perspective of the world and what this means for how we shape our own thoughts and opinions.

The conversation starts and finishes with a pair of orange jeans and how they were Alistair's way of standing out, perhaps shaping a part of who he is today.

An incredibly thought provoking conversation that will make you want to question your news channels, turn your phone to greyscale mode and get out for a walk.

This conversation includes the following topics:

consumption

fashion

clothes

style

media

healthandwellness

technology

What is the need for fashion to be inclusive?

Every morning we wake up and get dressed, sometimes planning our outfit details meticulously and sometimes on autopilot. It is something we do everyday and whilst we might have considered our outfit, often the physical act of dressing requires little thought.

Dahlia is joined by Dr Jo Gooding to discuss the growing recognition that fashion is not always fit for purpose and 'Getting dressed' isn't always easy.

Jo is a Design Historian and one of the co-founders of StyleAbility, an organisation focused on working with brands to help make fashion inclusive for everybody.

Dahlia and Jo discuss the progress in the industry so far to create adaptive ranges and drive inclusion - whilst also recognising how much more work there is to do.

Dr. Jo Gooding (she/her) is an educator and researcher. She is knowledgeable in inclusive design and the challenges facing design-led innovation. She is committed to using her skills and knowledge to effect change. Her passion for supporting adaptive designers comes from personal experience of a chronic pain condition during her first job tutoring fashion students.

Jo is an alumna of Northumbria University and the Royal College of Art. She is a Zinc fellow, a member of the Global Disability Innovation hub’s expert bench, and a signatory to the design manifesto “Super Normal Design for Extraordinary bodies.”

Topics in this conversation include:

inclusion

diversity and inclusion

fashion

style

clothes

disability