The Creatress Tapes: Amy Lea

The Creatress Tapes: Vicki of The Jojoba Company

In this deeply moving and beautifully empowering conversation, I sit down with Vicki, Founder of The Jojoba Company, to explore the extraordinary journey behind one of Australia’s most loved natural skincare brands — a journey born from loss, reinvention, intuition and unwavering self-belief. Vicki shares openly about her decade-long fertility struggle, the emotional toll of IVF, and the life-altering diagnosis that changed everything. After grieving the dream she once held so tightly, her next chapter arrived in the most unexpected way: through her father’s farm… and a plant she already trusted with her own skin. We talk about following gut instincts, the healing power of purpose, and how creating something meaningful can become its own kind of rebirth. Vicki also reflects on founding a business in her 40s, stepping into leadership, discovering joy in cosmetic formulation, and building a brand rooted in education, integrity and natural innovation. And, of course, we dive into skincare — what women in their 40s and 50s really need, how to hydrate properly, and why jojoba is such a uniquely transformative ingredient. Highlights include:💬 Starting a brand in her 40s — without business experience — and why it was the gift she didn’t know she needed.💬 The power of learning something new and allowing yourself to evolve.💬 Transitioning from school teacher to company leader — and why the skills weren’t as different as she once thought.💬 What women in their 40s and 50s should prioritise in skincare — and why hydration is everything.💬 The next chapter: international expansion, creativity, and doing her most empowered work yet. “Learning something new in my 40s made me feel alive again — it gave me purpose.” — Vicki This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit soniabavistock.substack.com [https://soniabavistock.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Creatress Tapes: Marika of Lanamara

In this warm, gorgeous, deeply nostalgic conversation, I sit down with Marika, Founder and Creative Director of Lanamara — the Australian lifestyle and accessories brand rooted in craftsmanship, colour, and the pure joy of self-expression. Marika shares her lifelong love affair with getting dressed — from childhood dress-up boxes sewn by her mum, to years spent exploring fashion as play, to the creative spark that eventually became Lanamara. Together we explore the role clothing and jewellery play in confidence, identity, mood, and emotional wellbeing — especially in the years of perimenopause, reinvention, and becoming. We talk about colour as a healing force, accessorising as self-connection, the joy of dressing for yourself, and why women in their 40s, 50s and beyond are entering their most powerful, stylish, unapologetic era yet. She opens up about founding Lanamara later in life, stepping into creativity after years of self-doubt, and her vision for building a global community of connection, beauty, belonging, and handcrafted artistry. Highlights include:💬 Why joy, not perfection, should guide your personal style.💬 Dressing through perimenopause and using clothing as emotional support and self-care.💬 The magic of colour, texture, sparkle, and layering — and why accessorising can change your whole energy.💬 Finding inspiration in older style icons, 70s glamour, Scandi creatives, and the timeless women who came before us.💬 The next chapter of Lanamara: apparel, community building, global walks, connection and creativity woven together. “We are still sexy, still vibrant, still powerful — at every age.” — Marika This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit soniabavistock.substack.com [https://soniabavistock.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Creatress Tapes: Cherie Clonan

In this fiery, vulnerable, deeply human conversation, I sit down with Cherie Clonan — Founder of The Digital Picnic, workplace culture visionary, autistic leader, and one of the most heart-led humans online — to talk about perimenopause, identity shifts, leadership, boundaries, and what it looks like to rebuild yourself during a season you never saw coming. Cherie shares candidly about her hysterectomy, the sudden onset of perimenopause, and the emotional and hormonal rollercoaster that followed. We talk about grief for former versions of ourselves, the brain fog that feels like gaslighting, and the profound change that comes when you stop abandoning yourself and start protecting your energy like it’s sacred. We dive into friendship breakups, standards, letting go of hyper-explaining, and the surprising empowerment of entering your “villain era” — that season where being disliked is no longer a fear, but a sign that you’re finally living in alignment. She also opens up about team culture, leadership, founder loneliness, neurodivergence, and the world-first policy at The Digital Picnic that put her on the global map. Highlights include:💬 Navigating sudden perimenopause, identity grief, and emotional recalibration💬 Why letting go of draining friendships can feel like a spiritual cleanse💬 The “villain era”: reclaiming power, voice, and energetic sovereignty💬 How to protect founder energy while leading a large and growing team💬 Neurodivergence, diagnosis accessibility, and TDP’s world-first policy💬 Why appreciation, kindness, and micro-moments can transform workplace culture💬 Predicting “the big break” that’s coming in 2026 — personally and professionally “Villains aren’t cruel — they’re just women who stopped abandoning themselves.” — Cherie Clonan This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit soniabavistock.substack.com [https://soniabavistock.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Creatress Tapes: Erin Henry

In this vibrant, raw, and deeply inspiring conversation, I sit down with Erin Henry — creative powerhouse, identity mentor, and co-founder of Studio Henry — to explore self-belief, reinvention, self-expression, and what it really takes to rebuild your life after everything falls apart. Erin shares the story behind her globally loved philosophy Becoming the Coolest Person I Know — and how it emerged from a period of heartbreak, identity collapse, and rebuilding herself one tiny act of courage at a time. We talk about the power of hobbies, the importance of doing “cool s**t” simply because it lights you up, and how reclaiming your self-expression can completely change the trajectory of your life. We dive into identity, creativity, business evolution, personal freedom, and the pure magic that happens when you decide to become your own source of inspiration. Highlights include:💬 How “Becoming the Coolest Person I Know” was born from heartbreak, burnout, and total reinvention.💬 Why being a try-hard is actually the gateway to confidence and identity expansion.💬 The role of hobbies in rebuilding self-belief and reconnecting with joy.💬 How Erin and her partner reimagined Studio Henry into a lifestyle-driven creative studio.💬 Why creative self-expression is often the catalyst for quantum shifts in life and business. “Becoming the coolest person you know isn’t about being good at things — it’s about being willing to try.” — Erin Henry This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit soniabavistock.substack.com [https://soniabavistock.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Creatress Tapes: Amy Lea

In this potent, expansive conversation, I sit down with Amy Lea — Human Design & Astrology Mentor — to explore standards, self-worth, reinvention, and the deep inner recalibration that happens when life cracks us open. Amy speaks candidly about navigating a confronting year of burnout, emotional release, and identity dismantling — and how choosing higher standards (in life, love, creativity, and business) became the catalyst for stepping into a new version of herself. We dive into the difference between boundaries and standards, the power of emotional expression, and the moment a desire stops being a mindset concept and becomes embodied truth. We talk about self-trust, visibility, nervous system capacity, and what it really means to bring your creative gifts into the world without collapsing into self-doubt or compromise. Highlights include:💬 The difference between boundaries rooted in protection and standards rooted in empowerment.💬 How emotional release can be the portal for your next chapter.💬 Reclaiming visibility without self-abandonment.💬 How Human Design shapes the way we express ourselves creatively and energetically.💬 Why creativity is a co-creation — never a solo act. “When something actually becomes a standard, it stops being a mindset concept — and becomes who you are.” — Amy Lea This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit soniabavistock.substack.com [https://soniabavistock.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]