Hashtag Authentic - for creatives, dreamers & business owners online
125 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 159 ratingsA podcast for dreamers, makers and creatives who want to grow their online business without having to sell their soul.
In each episode, certified coach and UK Instagram Expert Sara Tasker and her guests share inspiring stories, practical strategies and social media insights to help you create the life, presence and business of your dreams.
meandorla.substack.com
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Episodes
A Beginner's Mindset to Instagram, with Katie Pulsifer
February 13, 2024 14:30 - 52 minutes - 47.9 MBI first met deep-dive master coach Katie Pulsifer when she was my instructor for certification at The Life Coach School. I recall being pretty intimidated. I’ve never been sky-diving or tried a bungee jump, but I’m pretty sure the adrenaline rush is comparable to coaching in front of Katie for immediate feedback in front of a group. 🪂 Katie’s recently gone solo, after many years working for a large coaching school, and as we caught up over Zoom I was struck by how her open, beginner’s minds...
Introducing: The Substack Soirée Podcast
November 24, 2023 01:00 - 1 hour - 63.1 MBI’m sharing something a little different today… the results of my ‘podcast affair’ with my Aussie bestie, the gorgeous Ms . Bonded over our love of storytelling and creativity, Keeley and I and came together to create - a gathering of resources, classes and a shiny new podcast, in the hope of passing some of that passion along.I chose this very first episode to share here with you on Hashtag Authentic because I really think the fundamentals we talk through - which we’re jokingly calling ou...
Staying true to your unique identity, with Katie Leamon
November 23, 2023 16:45 - 58 minutes - 54 MBThis week I talk to Katie Leamon, who turned her love of paper and pattern into her eponymous family-run stationery studio. Her notebooks have been a daily companion to me for many years, so it was really fun to chat with her about her designs, her process and the realities behind running a product-lead business with the family on board! Things we talk about: * Building from a home studio to printing and selling at scale * Designing products based on creative instinct * The rise of indep...
Downsizing, decluttering and still creating content with Hannah Bullivant
June 30, 2023 06:00 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBFind Hannah’s 4 Week Refresh Programme here Hannah’s Instagram: @hanbullivant Hannah’s website: hannahbullivant.com Sara's Instagram: Sara's Substack: Sara's classes and coaching: Sara's website: Get full access to Entre Nous at meandorla.substack.com/subscribe
Being afraid of NOT doing it, with Lisa Francesca Nand
December 12, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 61 MBThings we talked about: The way multi-faceted careers can feel piecemeal (especially if parenting is added into the mix), or “like I’m doing five different jobs at once” Factoring in time to play as well as work Exploring your home town like a holiday destination Taking things home from real holidays that you might not expect (like appreciating the simple things, family meals, all your possessions in one suitcase) Avoiding habits of consuming everything and creating nothing Making conn...
The Power of Story in the Creative Process with Susan Mar
November 11, 2022 07:00 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MBThings We Talk About In This Episode: Working with clients in the creative process and their reactions. How as humans we respond to visuals in a human way. Narratives that make it seem shallow to care about how things look. Like it’s superficial to care too much about the way you look and that this might mean you don’t have depth. Aesthetics are a luxury that comes after the essentials of survival and how you can still care about aesthetics, even if the first priority is survival. Creati...
Social Video, with Sophia Smith Galer
August 01, 2022 07:30 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBThings We Talk About In This Episode: The importance that established news organisations find ways to use social media if they want to engage a young audience TikTok has redefined the experience of social media, with short video content, and Instagram Reels and Youtube Shorts have followed suit How Sophia found an audience on TikTok (and later on Instagram Reels) by talking to camera about her media stories The way we can gain insights into what makes a successful social media post by be...
When Social Video meets Journalism , with Sophia Smith Galer
August 01, 2022 07:30 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBThings We Talk About In This Episode: The importance that established news organisations find ways to use social media if they want to engage a young audience TikTok has redefined the experience of social media, with short video content, and Instagram Reels and Youtube Shorts have followed suit How Sophia found an audience on TikTok (and later on Instagram Reels) by talking to camera about her media stories The way we can gain insights into what makes a successful social media post by be...
Why you need to join Substack with Farrah Storr
July 04, 2022 15:54 - 45 minutes - 42 MBThings we talked about: The value of owning your own audience Building a brand for yourself around the work you’re doing The growing online hunger for content by real people and the forging of real connections We seem to be entering an era that Farrah calls, rather poetically, "the Time of the Writer": the world has passed the period of devouring all the content on the Internet, now we are more discerning, and only want to consume content that we genuinely enjoy The continued return of ...
Why you need to join Substack with Farrah Store
July 04, 2022 15:54 - 45 minutes - 52.5 MBThings we talked about: The value of owning your own audience Building a brand for yourself around the work you’re doing The growing online hunger for content by real people and the forging of real connections We seem to be entering an era that Farrah calls, rather poetically, "the Time of the Writer": the world has passed the period of devouring all the content on the Internet, now we are more discerning, and only want to consume content that we genuinely enjoy The continued return of ...
The Time of the Writer with Farrah Storr
July 04, 2022 15:54 - 45 minutes - 52.5 MBThings we talked about: The value of owning your own audience Building a brand for yourself around the work you’re doing The growing online hunger for content by real people and the forging of real connections We seem to be entering an era that Farrah calls, rather poetically, "the Time of the Writer": the world has passed the period of devouring all the content on the Internet, now we are more discerning, and only want to consume content that we genuinely enjoy The continued return of ...
Why niching on Instagram is (generally) bad advice
May 04, 2022 11:42 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBWhere to find Sara: Sara’s website: meandorla.co.uk Sara on Instagram: @me_and_orla Sara on Twitter: @meandorla Sara on Substack The Insta Retreat Sell Your Sh*t One to one business coaching with Sara Get full access to Entre Nous at meandorla.substack.com/subscribe
Radical contentment, with Jamie Varon
April 06, 2022 10:41 - 1 hour - 75.8 MBThings We Talk About In This Episode: The many ways for a book to “be successful” that don’t involve writing a New York Times bestseller (who knew?!) Lockdown lessons, and learning to live with uncertainty The surprising weight and reliance that we put on the future, without realising we’re doing it The “ladder of hierarchies” through which we try (and mostly fail) to feel better about ourselves Learning to enjoy the process of making something, more than the reception it receives Drin...
The magic found in true community, with Gina Bianchini
March 17, 2022 08:00 - 56 minutes - 51.9 MBThings We Talk About In This Episode: Recognising the power of what’s possible when people come together with a common goal The value of creating your own, distraction-free destination for group learning and support Empowering creators to place higher value on the important business, community and content they are making - rather than being driven solely by the pursuit of money and influence The importance of community, particularly when we are forging new paths (or making things up as w...
Minimalism and Simplifying Life with Jessica Rose Williams
January 19, 2022 16:28 - 1 hour - 64.8 MBThings we talked about: Trusting that you have enough, you are enough and that there'll be enough in the future and how that applies to you as a human Decluttering and finding your own style, starting with the external and slowly moving in Being diagnosed with cancer at 25 and having an existential crisis that kick-started a big lifestyle change Jess's realisation that if the worst happened she would have had so many regrets, that the situation shone a light on ways she was living her li...
Finding your path with Maria Wigge
January 12, 2022 07:27 - 56 minutes - 51.3 MBThings we talked about: How it still doesn't feel quite normal to call herself a full-time artist and how that's something a lot of us struggle with Growing up with a parent who's an artist, the expectations that brings and how that comparison can make creating art feel overwhelming Finding your own path, however varied and wherever it takes you The feeling of not being good enough, how it can hold you back and the judgements we make of our own work How posting on Instagram helped Maria...
Writing for reaction, with Natalie Morris
January 06, 2022 22:38 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBThings we talked about: The difference between writing as a journalist and writing a book (it’s just so long!) But: you only get to publish your first book once! Accept the nerves, and appreciate the moment The ever-present contention and push-back received when one writes about race Natalie’s very wise words that reaction is the point of writing - and those reactions don’t have to be positive every time The value of the interviews in her book, and how she found and chose the right peop...
A life that feeds what you need, with Rebecca Schiller
October 15, 2021 11:51 - 57 minutes - 52.5 MBThings we talked about: The trials and tribulations of being a “goat doula” Her new book Earthed, and its journey from concept, through to the transformation it underwent while she was writing, due to pressures from within (mental health) and without (a pandemic) How she actually managed to get it written, with all this going on The challenges and joys of writing autobiographically We dug into the need to be honest with ourselves about how we want our lives to look… and to recognise the...
A life that feeds what you need, with Rebecca Schiller
October 15, 2021 11:51 - 57 minutes - 52.5 MBThings we talked about: The trials and tribulations of being a “goat doula” Her new book Earthed, and its journey from concept, through to the transformation it underwent while she was writing, due to pressures from within (mental health) and without (a pandemic) How she actually managed to get it written, with all this going on The challenges and joys of writing autobiographically We dug into the need to be honest with ourselves about how we want our lives to look… and to recognise the...
The Insta Retreat Live Coaching Calls
September 30, 2021 17:30 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBThe Insta Retreat– My tell-all, best-selling course for Instagram creatives and business owners.
Live coaching calls from the Insta Retreat
September 30, 2021 17:30 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBEach week in the insta retreat we have 2 calls - one with a business/IG focus, and one like this, for mindset issues. Find out more and join in the fun at The Insta Retreat Get full access to Entre Nous at meandorla.substack.com/subscribe
Finding your ‘techquilibrium’ with Becca Caddy
September 27, 2021 21:50 - 1 hour - 65.1 MBThings we talked about: Why so many of us feel suspicious about new technologies, and how we can change the narrative The way artificial intelligence (AI) reads and interprets our interests and activities in order to deliver content to us… and the impact that content can have on us Approaching social media mindfully, by noticing the impact certain content has on our moods and behaviours, and carefully curating what we choose to consume The difference between active and passive behaviour ...
“On the human spectrum” with Katherine May
September 22, 2021 15:42 - 1 hour - 59.7 MBThings we talked about: Allowing ourselves to feel good when things actually go well The synchronicity of things happening when they’re supposed to (and when you’re ready) Defining success for ourselves (and it’s not always what we assume it might be) How lockdown taught Katherine to create her own “sense of safety” following the success of her book, by creating courses to shore up her income Finding ways to own your own story, message and brand How Katherine’s approach to Instagram ev...
Being a multi-hatted freelancer, with Anna Codrea-Rado
June 10, 2021 13:42 - 1 hour - 56.2 MBWHAT WE TALKED ABOUT Anna and I discuss the difference between the business of writing, and the writing of writing The fear that so many of us feel of showing up, and putting ourselves out there or “being seen to try”. Anna says this is “straight-up embarrassment,” and we feel this way whenever we step outside the norm (even if we are embarrassed for positive reasons, like receiving a compliment) But in addition to this, she says that what holds us back, post-pandemic, is “very low emoti...
The Dangers of People Pleasing, with Sally Hardie
May 03, 2021 22:35 - 1 hour - 68.4 MBSally is joining me for weekly bonus coaching calls in my upcoming Insta Retreat class. Enrol now at meandorla.co.uk Sally’s free program, “stop people pleasing in 5 days” Sally's Website The Life Coach School Sally's Instagram @sallyhardie_coach My Instagram Get full access to Entre Nous at meandorla.substack.com/subscribe
What the F is up with Instagram Hashtags?
April 30, 2021 06:27 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBIf you want to know more about my tell all Instagram class The Insta Retreat follow this link To read my companion blog post 'What the F is up with Instagram Hashtags?' follow this link Get full access to Entre Nous at meandorla.substack.com/subscribe
Investing in yourself with food stylist Kimberly Espinel
April 27, 2021 13:00 - 52 minutes - 48 MBWHAT WE TALK ABOUT * The often-underestimated importance of being “politely persistent” * Starting a blog and Instagram before you become an expert (practising in public), as a way to find clients after you graduate * The way Kimberly used Instagram not only as a photography portfolio but also as a way to train her writing voice ahead of writing her book, alongside her blog writing * The value of receiving immediate feedback on Instagram to hone our marketing skills: we immediately learn...
Investing in yourself with Kimberly Espinel
April 27, 2021 13:00 - 52 minutes - 48 MBWHAT WE TALK ABOUT * The often-underestimated importance of being “politely persistent” * Starting a blog and Instagram before you become an expert (practising in public), as a way to find clients after you graduate * The way Kimberly used Instagram not only as a photography portfolio but also as a way to train her writing voice ahead of writing her book, alongside her blog writing * The value of receiving immediate feedback on Instagram to hone our marketing skills: we immediately learn...
Tiktok, Reels and 4 million views in a year With Ida @toeverymom
January 26, 2021 19:57 - 1 hour - 57.8 MBLinks mentioned in this episode: Ida on TikTok Ida on Instagram Ida on Youtube Ida’s lumberjack TikTok Clubhouse My Instagram Class, The Insta Retreat Me on Instagram – @me_and_orla Times for our Clubhouse chat 16:00 GMT 11:00 AM EST 08:00 AM PST 04:00 AM Sydney Get full access to Entre Nous at meandorla.substack.com/subscribe
Following your curiosity, with Mel Wiggins
November 27, 2020 14:36 - 1 hour - 72.9 MBThings We Talk About In This Episode: Multi-layered, multi-hyphenated careers and what to call yourself if you’re asked at a party Being led by curiosity, the value of deep-dive research, and the joy of starting something new Mel’s early career in the not-for-profit charity sector, and the turning point she reached that led her to galvanise a group of volunteers and ultimately, to co-create Freedom Acts, a not-for-profit group aimed at ending modern slavery How pregnancy can be an impetu...
Understanding Instagram Trends (And how to use them for growth)
November 16, 2020 16:06 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBThings I Talk About In This Episode: The evolving trends of Instagram How our fears and doubts stay the same, no matter how the platform evolves The risks and costs of buying too heavily into one trend Why I'm always wary of one-size-fits-all solutions online The importance of staying connected to your own creative vision and voice How to use trends for growth without getting blown off-path The importance of building meaningful connections with your audience/customers Links mentioned...
Food from the heart, with Skye McAlpine
November 09, 2020 14:11 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBThings We Talk About In This Episode: The world changed between the time Skye wrote this book and when it was published. We talk about how she faced the challenge of publishing a book about feeding the people you love, when you’re not allowed to be with them. (Spoiler alert: being apart from the people we love makes us value those times we do have together, even more) The creative ways we have responded to lockdown, finding unique (safe) ways to gather, and cooking with limited ingredients...
Connecting to Your Creative Courage, with Maressa Fernandez
October 20, 2020 11:34 - 43 minutes - 39.5 MBThings We Talk About In This Episode: The business idea that grew out of Maressa’s own creative slump How important it is to value creativity (Maressa says it’s the uniqueness that makes us human) even if the people around us - and society in general - don’t recognise the value The challenge of finding the balance on Instagram (and elsewhere) between “what I want to share” and “what people want” Developing an Instagram account that creates space for you to be a whole person, and that can...
Finally going freelance, with Fiona Thomas
September 22, 2020 12:26 - 1 hour - 65.5 MBThings We Talk About In This Episode: Why you don't need a huge audience online to be successful How to get organic reach on Instagram without having to pay for ads Photography for Instagram, and how it differs from conventional photography Pivoting your business, and why it pays to put yourself at the heart of your brand The difference between being a freelancer and an entrepreneur/business owner Promoting a book during lockdown, and the unexpected benefits of “marketing for introvert...
Keep Selling Your Wonderful Thing
September 09, 2020 13:12 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBThings I Talk About In This Episode: Why we get tempted to make something new instead of doubling down on selling what we've already created What to do when you think you've run out of marketing ideas Why our brains like to keep us from doing things that are new The benefits of creating and selling a long-term product Lessons learned from maintaining a bestselling online class for 4+ years The difference between when your product is the problem vs when it's your marketing or offer Lin...
Anti-Racism Work for well-meaning Liberals, with Nova Reid
June 05, 2020 13:47 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBThings We Talk About In This Episode: Nova's career path through acting, singing and psychotherapy, and how she came to anti-racism work Nova's wedding blog and the lack of diversity in the wedding industry Nova's work educating white people about white supremacy The boundaries and safeguards Nova has to put in place due to the trauma of her work The origins of racism and white supremacy in the UK and beyond Why we need to do the work personally, and not just put the blame of white sup...
Flying your 'freak flag', with The Good Ship Illustration
May 06, 2020 12:08 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBThings We Talk About In This Episode: What's great, and not-so-great, about conventional art education The balance between profitability and individuality, and where mainstream advice often goes wrong Creating an online class for the first time, and building a mailing list Why it's so hard, and so important to get to grips with your own creative voice The magic of imperfection in all things Links mentioned in this episode: The Good Ship Illustration Helen Stephens Katie Chappell Ta...
An Indistractable Q&A, with Nir Eyal
March 25, 2020 21:23 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBThings we talk about in this episode: Why being truly indistractable isn't really the aim “A mistake repeated more than once is a decision” ― Paulo Coelho Why your goal should be growth, not perfection Why we can't rely on willpower and self control The antidote to impulsiveness How time-boxing your calendar gives you freedom Why we can't blame our phones for our distraction How to stay indistractable when spending time with our kids (even when it's boring!) The power of changing ou...
Redefining 'entrepreneur', with Angelica Malin
March 09, 2020 15:45 - 43 minutes - 39.4 MBThings we talk about in this episode: Women for Women's #MessageForMySister campaign How Angelica started About Time Magazine and built her readership How the title survives online when so many others have folded Finding mentors, and how sometimes the best mentors can be people you've never met The value of meeting fellow entrepreneurs and creative business owners How the difference in experience affects the terms used for women in business Why true entrepreneur spirit doesn't need to...
Creating with Courage, with Rachael Lucas
January 26, 2020 23:35 - 1 hour - 60.4 MBThings we talk about in this episode: Rachael's new book - The Telephone Box Library The need for 'comfort reading' and gentle entertainment in a difficult world Why women's fiction is so important, and the power of a quiet message in accessible form Social media as a force for good Why feeling uncomfortable about what you share can be a good thing The power of finding your 'inner American' for self confidence Creativity and courage Procrastination, and lessons from 15 Minute Magic ...
Frequently Asked Instagram Questions
January 21, 2020 17:04 - 40 minutes - 37 MBThings we talk about in this episode: The fears that stop us sharing our creative work Maria's journey from making art in her house that nobody saw, to sharing and selling full time What Maria gained from The Instaretreat The power of a nurturing community Maria's plans for online teaching Instagram's ALT text feature Adding captions to Instagram Stories & IGTV videos Why the Instagram algorithm sometimes seems to hates you Business accounts vs Personal accounts on Instagram Ways t...
Life Lessons for Freelancers, with Anna Codrea-Rado
January 13, 2020 20:37 - 1 hour - 56 MBThings we talk about in this episode: What journalists and content creators can learn from one another The power of engagement of numbers The content creator/journalist/freelancer as a brand Managing your public versus private self The positives of being more 'reachable' in today's media/content realm Anna's newsletter, how she developed and grew it, and how it now pays her revenue The freelance mindset Why having a key message and consistency is essential for freelancers Why you ha...
How to be Indistractable in a chaotic world with Nir Eyal
January 05, 2020 22:59 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBThings we talk about in this episode: Developing good habits around tech, and managing existing bad habits Distraction vs traction Forethought vs impulse, and how the two interact How procrastination and distraction interlink Why to do lists are generally unhelpful The magic of 'timeboxing' The importance of translating your values into time Using scheduling for relaxation time as well as work activity, so you don't have to feel guilty The truth about multitasking Why seeking happi...
Building Community, Online and Beyond, with Sophie Hansen
December 02, 2019 22:48 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBThings we talk about in this episode: How Sophie built her online business from a personal blog Life in rural Australia - farming, drought and lots of long drives! Writing her book, A Basket By the Door, and teaching herself photography The power of Instagram for rural producers and product based businesses - especially when you're geographically isolated Finding the beauty in the mundane Why there's space for everyone on the internet, and how to find yours Why you need to 'put your s...
Why you need more than Instagram
November 26, 2019 13:43 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBThings I talk about in this episode: Episode sponsor, Olympus and the new PEN E-PL10 camera Get 20% off in the Olympus webshop with code SARA20 Your customer pathway, and where Instagram sits on it The '7 touchpoint' customer rule Not putting all our eggs in one social media basket] Why relying on only one platform makes sales harder Why images are still (and will always be) key The power of Visual Identity Pictures and symbols for communication Repurposing content Why we all stop...
Making your own rules on Instagram, with EJ Osborne
November 18, 2019 00:01 - 1 hour - 68.2 MBThings we talk about in this episode: Old school vs new style Instagram Instagram as therapy How to know what is or isn't too vulnerable to put online EJ's experience of sharing his trans journey on Instagram Instagram's anti-bullying and moderation features The dangers of chasing likes Controlling your 'inner toddler' instincts Taking Instagram breaks How EJ landed his job as a BBC presenter EJ's reflections on sharing his cancer diagnosis Links mentioned in this episode: EJ's I...
"You Look Okay To Me", with Jameisha Prescod
November 10, 2019 22:56 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBThings we talk about in this episode: Jameisha’s video creation process The realities of living with a chronic illness, and the importance of awareness Jameisha's experience of getting a diagnosis of Lupus The pros and cons of being your own “google doctor” Racism and conscious/unconscious bias in the health care system How colonialism still shapes medical bias How to advocate for yourself when seeking a diagnosis when you're not being heard The strength of online support communities...
Why you're not taking action on your goals - and how to fix it
November 06, 2019 20:03 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBThings I talk about in this episode: Getting stuck in passive action - reading books, buying courses, but never doing the work Why I made my new 15 Minute Magic program Why you're not lazy, and procrastination is much more common than we think Why 'willpower' is never enough How resistance is always here for a reason, and how to unpick it "You can't change your mind with your own mind" Headings for worksheet: 1. The thing you want to be doing. 2. What's the feeling? (check the graphic...
When your successful business isn't what you want, with Jane Lindsey
October 27, 2019 23:37 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBThings we talk about in this episode: How playing the algorithm and customer pleasing game too well can lead us off our true path Building a business with Addisons disease, and working with chronic illness Making successful sales through Not On The Highstreet and other third party platforms Why six figure turnover doesn't always equal high profits How to evaluate whether your business is making you happy Pivoting your business Why Jane is 'anti amazon prime' and encourages slow and m...
Staying happy and sane online, with Fiona Thomas
October 21, 2019 05:00 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBThings we talk about in this episode: How Fiona found blogging as a way to improve her mental health Fiona's book and podcast The positive power of social media for mental helth Why the friends and communities you make on social media matter Why diet culture sucks How to maintain a healthy relationship with the internet Why your self worth and status should not be defind by your job or levels of productivity How finding you creative outlet can help your mental health Creative flow s...