THE SLOW DOWN

Chrissy Rutherford is a writer, consultant and mental wellness advocate. She was a digital editor at Harper’s Bazaar.com for 9 years, from 2011-2020, in New York City- spearheading the magazine’s instagram account - which got over 4 million followers under her influence- along with writing fashion and celebrity articles, styling, producing and hosting their Youtube series Heel Hunters. Since departing Harpers, Chrissy is now a writer and digital content creator working with brands like J Crew, Caudalie, JW Marriott Hotels, DeBeers and American Express . She has a newsletter called FWD JOY  which is dedicated to the journey of self-discovery, self-care, and self-investment. 

In this episode we cover: 

• What it took to get an Editor’s job at Harper’s 

• And what it took to leave 

• Living with your parents as an adult 

• Pulled back from digital activism after going 5.4m+ viral on a post  

• The joys of being 39 and single 

• Why you should move around in your career 

  
  

Mentions:

A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle 

Notes from the Universe (app) 

Clueless (1995) directed by Amy Heckerling 

The Places That Scare You - ​​Pema Chodron

Links: 

https://chrissyrutherford.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrissyford

Dan Murray-Serter is a  serial entrepreneur, angel investor (85 startups), and advocate for mental health. He co-founded Heights, a brain care supplements company, following personal struggles with insomnia and anxiety. Dan also co-hosts the acclaimed Secret Leaders podcast, where he has interviewed over 500 prominent figures, amassing more than 50 million downloads. He shares insights on success and well-being through his newsletter, "The Science of Success." 

In this episode we cover: 

- When ADHD meets creative entrepreneurship

- Do hard things, build up dopamine

- The successes and failures of start ups

- Curing insomnia

- Building Heights in a few way

- Getting investment for a 'slow down' company

- Annual life audits

Mentions:

The Dose Effect - TJ Power  

The Molecule of More - Daniel Z. Lieberman and Mike Long

Building A Story Brand - Donald Miller

Awareness - Anthony De Mello 

Joy (2015) directed by David O Russell 

The Defiant Ones (2017) Documentary by Allen Hughes

Links: 

www.linkedin.com/in/danmurrayserter
www.yourheights.com

Marine Tanguy was the youngest gallery manager in Europe before founding MTArt Agency, the first talent agency dedicated to visual artists. They represent top visual artists and integrates their art into various contexts, from digital platforms to public art projects. She is also the author of her new book The Visual Detox - challenging the dominance of commercial imagery in public spaces.

In this episode we cover: 

At 21 Marine was the manager of Steve Lazarides Gallery (Banksy and other street art)

Marine’ gallery she opened at 23 was called De Re Gallery (named after the island she came from in France) on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles

Marine was mentored by Michael Ovitz , co-founder of CAA

Tineye.com - reverse image search 

BBC Verify

Pina (2012) documentary by Wim Wenders on choreographer Pina Bausch

Links: 

https://www.instagram.com/marinetanguyart/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marine-tanguy-303b4a103/  

https://www.instagram.com/mtartagency/ 

Sharmadean Reid MBE, is a British entrepreneur, author, and cultural innovator best known for founding WAH Nails, a nail salon that redefined beauty culture in London, and The Stack World, a platform empowering women through networking and business tools. Sharmadean's new book, New Methods for Women: A Manifesto for Independence, features 49 essays that provide actionable advice and personal insights on navigating life, work, relationships, and personal growth. Drawing from her own experiences as an entrepreneur, leader, and co-parent, Sharmadean offers readers practical tools to thrive while advocating for systemic change to better support women's empowerment​. 

In this episode we cover: 

• How to be a contributor to your city 

• The difference between founding and entrepreneurship 

• How praise can reinforce negative behaviours 

• Finding a career that gives you pleasure 

• Why two baths a day is true luxury 

• Equity: the next wave of feminism 

• How to centre yourself every day 

• Bringing the healing home

  
  

Mentions:

Street Haunting: A London Adventure (1927) by Virginia Woolf 

New Methods for Women (2024) by Sharmadean Reid 

Boomerang (1992) Film by Reginald Hudlin 

Links: 

https://www.instagram.com/sharmadeanreid
https://www.newmethodsforwomen.com/

Sarah Ann Macklin is a British nutritionist, model, and mental health advocate, known for blending science and compassion in her work. After a successful modeling career, she transitioned into the field of nutrition, earning a first-class degree in Human Nutrition. Her personal experiences, including being diagnosed with dyslexia during her studies, inspired her to explore how nutrition supports mental health and conditions like ADHD and autism. She also hosts the popular podcast Live Well, Be Well, which focuses on evidence-based nutrition and mental health strategies. Sarah has spoken internationally, including at the European Parliament, and contributes to publications such as Women’s Health and Harper’s Bazaar.

In this episode we cover: 

• What happens when we are told we are successful at a very young age 

• What being hospitalized by burnout means 

• Relearning self-compassion 

• True success is when you overcome something huge in yourself 

• Discipline and the myth of work-life balance 

• Wellness culture’s latest trends and traps 

• Why wellbeing starts with the mind 

Links: 

https://sarahannmacklin.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin

Olivia Rubin is a celebrated British fashion designer known for her vibrant, feminine and joyful designs. Reviving her eponymous brand as a mum of two in 2018, Olivia rocketed to success. Within a year, the brand was stocked in Selfridges and Saks New York. Within three she had a store on Marylebone High Street and was presenting at London Fashion. Then there was a kids collection and collaborations with Elemis, sofa.com, Liberty and more.

Her signature rainbow patterns and commitment to creating inclusive, size-diverse collections made her a favourite among celebrities and fashion enthusiasts alike. But in the last year, Olivia has decided to slow down - on the unsustainable pace of seasonal collections, on scaling so big she loses control and in her busy personal life too. 

In this episode we cover: 

• How regaining control increases your enjoyment 

• Celebrating the small wins

• Allowing space for yourself postpartum 

• Finding the joy in dressing 

  
  

Mentions:

Miuccia Prada’s 90s shows 

One of Olivia’s many posts that I reference on slowing down:  ⁠https://www.instagram.com/p/DCHkY6iMEGH/?img_index=1⁠

Links: 

https://oliviarubinlondon.com 

https://www.instagram.com/oliviarubin/

Solomon Oyemade was a Location Manager and connector in East London whose curiosity and intuition took him to Sweden where he ran the kitchen in an African Drum School for 9 months and started to find his place at the intersection of creativity and social impact.

After house-sitting in Costa Rica, California, Mexico, Portugal and Spain he nomadically built Curated Funding, an online library that gives creatives and social entrepreneurs access to an archive of active awards, grants, and funding initiatives. Solomon is currently the Special Projects Manager at Shoreditch Arts Club - programming events that celebrate diversity and grassroots creativity. Solomon’s journey is not the typical one which is why his perspectives and stories are so refreshing. 

In this episode we cover: 

• Using your phone as a mailbox 

• Anchors rather than titles 

• Monastic experiences and being alone 

• Being an experimenter 

• Grief as a great equalizer 

• What pervasive belief are you railing against today?

• The lens of gratitude is not about perfection 

• Who are you when social expectation is removed? 

Mentions: 

Newham Youth Parliament 

WorkAway

Fela Kuti

Fresh, (1994) film by Boaz Yakin

Links: 

https://www.instagram.com/solomonthefounder/ 

https://shoreditchartsclub.com/

Alexia de Broglie is the co-founder of Your Juno, a financial education platform that helps women reach their financial goals. She started Your Juno with her sister at the age of 24 and raised over $2.5m in investment. In the last three years, Juno has supported 150,000 women in increasing their personal combined wealth by an estimated £600 million. Alexia has also been a guest editor at the Financial Times, named Forbes 30 under 30, ex-McKinsey & PwC, and featured for her work in Vogue, BBC, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan, amongst others. Re-imagining her life now after a failed sale of her business, Alexia is exploring different ways of living, community-building and slowing down. 

In this episode we cover: 

• Seeking your father’s admiration 

• Study drugs and doing it all

• How that first big setback feels 

• ISTA, love and travel on a journey of change  

• Re-building the mind-body connection 

• What you do with your privilege is what matters

• The role money plays in the loss of community 

  
  

Mentions:

Charles Eisenstein

The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

International School of Temple Arts (ISTA) 

Links: 

https://www.yourjuno.co/

Matt Klein is an award-winning cultural theorist, strategist, and writer renowned for his insights into societal trends and digital culture.

His present role is Head of Foresight at Reddit and running his award-winning publication ZINE (which you should subscribe to!). As a sought-after speaker and consultant, Matt collaborates with brands, the UN, investors, philanthropists and press to navigate the complexities of the modern world. I speak to him on if slowing down, and re-defining our careers for ourselves is a macro-movement in the zeitgeist. 

In this episode we cover: 

Lazy Girl Jobs and the Great Resignation

Our mass desire to renegotiate our time back at work

How social media makes our public image always-on  

How to fend off the hungry content monster 

How capitalism sells you wellness 

How spending a day with a child can help you slow down 

Mentions:

The Century of the Self (2002) Documentary by Adam Curtis

Future Shock, Alvin Toffler 

Theory of Self-Preservation, Irving Goffman 

Big Brothers, Big Sisters: https://www.bbbs.org/

Team Human, Douglas Rushkoff 

Links: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kleinkleinklein/

KleinKleinKlein.com

Ellie Dixon is an indie-pop musician and songwriter from Cambridge known for her witty, self-aware lyrics and creative production techniques. Starting her career by crafting music from her bedroom studio, merging pop, jazz, rap, and R&B, she amassed over a million followers on Tiktok through duets, remixes, covers and now her own body of work.

Her most recent work includes the EP In Case of Emergency (2023) and singles "Big Lizard Energy" and "Renaissance" (2024). In addition to her musical talent, Ellie is known for her hands-on approach to all aspects of her craft, including directing and producing her music videos. 

In this episode we cover: 

Mentions:

Music Youtubers: Walk of the Earth, Pentatonix, Dodie

Musical influences: Katie Tunstall, Adele, Bill Bailey, Tim Minchin, Fight of the Concords, My Chemical Romance, Easy Life, Remi Wolf, Hippocampus, Anderson .Paak, Doja Cat

The Bird Cage (1996) film by Mike Nichols

Links: 

https://www.elliedixonmusic.com

https://www.instagram.com/elliedixonmusic

https://www.tiktok.com/@elliedixonmusic?lang=en