Super Creative – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Today on the podcast, I speak with Robyn McLean - co-founder of Hello Period, the New Zealand-based brand shaking up the global period care industry.

Founded in 2017 alongside her best friend Mary Bond, Hello Period was born out of a desire to create period products that were sustainable, safe, and actually worked. Fast forward to now, Hello Period is an award-winning, world-leading brand in sustainable period care – with a full range of cups, discs, reusable pads and period underwear, all designed right here in Aotearoa.

In this episode, Robyn shares the story behind Hello Period - from how a conversation with a friend turned into a bold business idea, to launching a product in a category that, at the time, was still considered fairly taboo. We talk about product development, sustainability, scaling a purpose-led brand, investment and the lessons she's learnt along the way.

Honest, open, and full of real-life insight – I loved this conversation with Robyn as she doesn’t sugarcoat the hard stuff, and she’s generous in what she shares. This is a brilliant look behind the scenes of a Kiwi brand with personality, doing things differently and making a real impact.

I know you’ll love this kōrero with Robyn as much as I did.

Now, after you have finished listening, if you don’t have a Hello Disc already, I’m sure you will want one now! Visit helloperiod.com for all your sustainable period-care needs. There is so much helpful information on the website too. And of course, you can follow @helloperiodco on Instagram too.

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Today on the podcast, I speak with Greer Clayton – a contemporary artist known for her large-scale immersive landscapes that have a unique way of drawing you in.

Greer interprets the landscapes she paints, not in a direct, topographical way, but in a way that extracts their essence and reimagines the scene as a depiction of the artist’s mind’s eye. Each one represents an underlying connection with the land, exuding a feeling that goes beyond what the naked eye can see alone.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Elam in 1996, Greer spent time living and exhibiting in Sydney, London and Scotland, before settling back in Aotearoa. She has been represented by Parnell Gallery in Auckland for over a decade and most recently exhibited at the 2025 Aotearoa Art Fair.

In our conversation, Greer shares the early beginnings of her creative life - from a childhood love of painting and colour, to building a consistent and authentic art practice through all stages of life. We talk about how colour and paint have always been at the heart of her work, a thread that runs through every stage of her creative journey. We talk about confidence, growth, collaboration and the joy of watching her work connect with others.

Greer is warm, open, and thoughtful, and it was a true pleasure to sit down with my friend and hear more about her life in colour and her path as an artist.

I know you’ll love this kōrero with Greer as much as I did.

After you have finished listening, please head to greerclayton.com to view Greer’s beautiful and immersive work. You can also head to parnellgallery.co.nz to view her most current exhibition. And of course, make sure you follow Greer on Instagram @greerclayton

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Today on the podcast, I speak with Gemma Gillett — interior architect, founder of Studio Gemma, and creator of The Joinery Edit, an online education platform bridging the gap between designers and joiners.

After graduating from Massey University, Gemma spent nine years forging her career in London - working for several highly regarded interior design studios including Godrich Interiors. In 2014 Gemma relocated to Sydney and after the birth of her second son, she launched her solo venture, Studio Gemma, her own design practice specialising in interiors that are as functional as they are beautiful.

But Gemma’s passion for design extends beyond her own projects. The Joinery Edit started as a side project—an Instagram account dedicated to celebrating the art of joinery—and has since evolved into a thriving resource for interior designers, home renovators and design enthusiasts looking to deepen their knowledge and collaborate more effectively with trades.

In this conversation, we chat about Gemma’s journey from fresh design graduate to running her own studio, why she finds joinery sexy, how she’s built a platform that’s changing the way designers and trades collaborate. 

This chat is very conversational, it feels like Gemma is an old friend! She’s funny, sharp, so bloody talented and a little bit outrageous. I know you will enjoy my kōrero with Gemma as much as I did.

After listening, make sure you check out @_studiogemma_ on Instagram — it’s an absolute goldmine of inspiration and insights for design lovers. And then visit thejoineryedit.com for a deep dive into the sexy world of joinery and for her interior design work – studiogemma.com

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

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

Today on the podcast, I speak with Becs Caughey—co-founder of Cook & Nelson and Poptimist, the creators of Good Sh*t Soda.

Becs has never followed a conventional career path. She started out managing some of New Zealand's biggest musicians, including Shapeshifter and Ladi6, which took her all over the world. But when touring life became less sustainable, she pivoted into the world of food and, alongside her husband Nick, started Cook & Nelson, a company that brings trailblazing international food brands to New Zealand—think McClure's Pickles, Seedlip, and Tony's Chocolonely.

Then, during Covid, Becs, Nick and a few business partners set out to create a product of their own and co-founded Poptimist, the company behind Good Sh*t Soda*—the world's first pre- and pro-biotic soda, made right here in New Zealand. 

In this conversation, Becs shares her journey— how she's built businesses that align with her lifestyle, the lessons she's learned along the way, and how she approaches life with big-picture thinking and infectious enthusiasm. 

I loved this chat! Becs is sharp, funny, and this episode is full of brilliant business insights. I know you will enjoy my kōrero with Becs as much as I did.

After this episode, make sure you head to cookandnelson.com and goodshitsoda.com. And you can follow both brands on Instagram @cookandnelson and @goodshitsoda

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A big thank you to our wonderful podcast sponsor, Iris Store and Studio - an experiential beauty destination, with a retail store in Wellington and an online store. Iris stock internationally renowned, hard to find skincare makeup and fragrance brands, as well as offering beauty services. Visit iris-beauty.co.nz for all your skin and beauty needs.

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

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

Today on the podcast I speak with Polly Markus, the creative force behind Miss Polly's Kitchen. 

What started as a lockdown hobby in 2020 has quickly evolved into a thriving platform, amassing a community of over 75,000 followers on Instagram and two bestselling cookbooks; Miss Polly's Kitchen and the recently released Seriously Delicious. Through Miss Polly’s Kitchen, Polly has built a loyal community of food lovers who adore her light, colourful, and straightforward recipes. 

 In this conversation, Polly shares her journey—from her career in commercial real estate to finding her creative spark during lockdown and building a community and brand. We talk about the process behind writing her cookbooks, her insights on building a personal brand, and how she’s navigating the next chapter of Miss Polly’s Kitchen.

I loved this conversation with Polly! She is as warm and vibrant as the food she creates—an open book with an infectious laugh and a genuine love for what she does.  

I know you will enjoy my kōrero with Polly as much as I did.

And I’m sure you probably are following her already but if not, head straight over to @miss_pollys_kitchen where you will spend hours scrolling through the most delicious and inspiring food content. And then you can visit Polly’s website at misspollyskitchen.com

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A big thank you to our wonderful podcast sponsor, Iris Store and Studio - an experiential beauty destination, with a retail store in Wellington and an online store. Iris stock internationally renowned, hard to find skincare makeup and fragrance brands, as well as offering beauty services. Visit iris-beauty.co.nz for all your skin and beauty needs.

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

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

Today on the podcast I speak with Lauren Caughley, the founder of Caughley & Co, an interior architecture and design studio that believes in the transformative power of spaces to enrich our human experience. 

Originally from New Zealand, Lauren built her impressive career overseas, spending 12 years in New York City working for renowned firms Selldorf Architects and Morris ADJMI Architects. During this time, she worked on everything from residential homes to boutique hotels, retail spaces, and gallery design—projects that honed her craft and prepared her for the next big step: founding her own practice in 2021. Now based in Laguna Beach, California, Lauren is steadily shaping Caughley & Co into a studio that values collaboration and craftsmanship while taking on projects across New York, California, and New Zealand.

In this conversation, we talk about Lauren’s journey from New Zealand to New York, the lessons she learned working on high-caliber projects, and how she’s now balancing the early days of building her practice with family life and navigating working cross-country. We also discuss her thoughtful, approach to her work and the book that changed her life.

 I know you will enjoy my kōrero with Lauren as much as I did.

After this episode you can visit caughleyandco.com to view some of the beautiful projects Lauren has worked on and then connect with her on Instagram @caughley.and.co.

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I’m thrilled to introduce you to our wonderful new podcast sponsor. Iris Store + Studio is an experiential beauty destination, with a retail store in Wellington and an online store. Iris stock internationally renowned, hard to find skincare makeup and fragrance brands, as well as offering beauty services, brows, lashes, makeup lessons, applications, and facials. 

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

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

Today on the podcast I speak with contemporary fibre artist, Fleur Woods. Based in the beautiful rural village of Upper Moutere (near Nelson) Fleur is surrounded by vineyards, hop farms, orchards and country gardens that deeply inspire her work. 

She describes her style of work as ‘stitched paintings’ -   an extraordinary fusion of embroidery, textile collage, paint, and found materials. Her intricate and joyful pieces, filled with blooming florals, colour and texture, are collected internationally and throughout Aotearoa and are considered contemporary heirlooms.

Fleur’s journey as an artist is one of experimentation, perseverance, and self-discovery. She’s spent more than a decade refining her unique style—a vibrant celebration of stitch, colour, and vintage fabrics that reflect her love of nature and her commitment to creating from the heart, rather than following trends. Alongside her art, Fleur has cultivated a thriving creative community, teaching workshops and sharing her process with others who are eager to explore the restorative power of creativity.

In our conversation, Fleur shares her journey of finding her own artistic voice, building resilience, growing, learning and balancing the creative and business sides of being an artist. We talk about the importance of making what you love and finding joy in the creative process.

I know you will enjoy my kōrero with Fleur as much as I did.

After this episode, please visit fleurwoodsart.com and then head to Instagram and follow @fleurwoodsart. If you are anything like me you will be instantly obsessed and then start planning your own future as a stitch artist. I get lost for a long time when I start scrolling through Fleur’s insta feed – it’s just so lovely!

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

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

Today on the podcast I speak with Sarah Murray, editor-in-chief, publisher, and owner of Fashion Quarterly—New Zealand’s iconic style authority for over 40 years. With over 15 years of experience in journalism and a reputation as an award-winning feature writer, Sarah recently took the bold step to acquire Fashion Quarterly, where she’s leading its growth across print, digital, and event platforms.

During our conversation, we discuss Sarah’s career journey, finding her dream role at Fashion Quarterly, the unique challenges and rewards of taking ownership of such a legacy title, and her vision for the future of publishing in today’s fast-evolving media world. We also touch on the reality of running a business while balancing family life as an active mother and wife.

I absolutely loved this chat, and I know you will enjoy my kōrero with Sarah as much as I did.

After this episode, you can visit fq.co.nz and of course make sure you pick up the latest issue of the print magazine wherever you buy your magazines. You can follow FQ on Instagram of course @fashionquarterly and you can also follow Sarah herself @searsmurray.

Thank you to Grava and Dicey for recently supporting my first Super Creative events. Both wineries have generously given a discount code for Super Creative listeners to be used until the end of December 2024. Use SUPERCREATIVE15 for a 15% discount on wines from both grava.nz and dicey.nz. 

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

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

Today on the podcast I speak with Danu Kennedy a New York based interior designer and partner at Parts and Labor Design, an award-winning full service interior design firm, specializing in hospitality, commercial, retail, and residential experiences. 

Danu joined the Parts and Labor Design team in 2014 and several years ago became a partner and now leads the studio alongside founding partner Jeremy Levitt. Their work is frequently featured in top design publications, like Architectural Digest, Wallpaper and Elle Decor.  In July, Donna and Jeremy were named in Wallpaper* magazines USA 400 list, which honors the people defining America's creative landscape in 2024. 

Alongside Parts and Labor; Danu, Jeremy and design director, Alex DiLena have recently launched, Known Work - a collection-based furniture studio that explores livable sculpture for the home. The debut collection 'Perceptions' launched earlier this year in Mexico City.  

And this episode, we talk about moving to New York as a graduate, from finding her first jobs to joining Parts and Labor, becoming a partner, running a business, and living in New York through a pandemic, starting and building a new furniture brand (and launching it with missing products) and a personal journey of self-development and lifelong learning. 

I absolutely loved this chat, and I know you will enjoy my kōrero with Danu as much as I did.

After this episode, you can visit partsandlabordesign.com and be inspired by their forward-thinking design projects. The Known Work website is still in development, but you can bookmark knownworkstudio.com for a later date. And on Instagram, you can follow @danu_kennedy, @pldnyc and @knownwork.

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

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

Four years of Super Creative! To celebrate four years of the podcast, I thought it might be fun to re-release my very first episode with my friend Toni Brandso with a little 2024 catch up at the beginning. If you are new to the podcast, you might not have had a chance to go back to the beginning so here is your chance!

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My first guest is my clever and creative friend, Toni Brandso - interior architect and co-founder of Material Creative. Over the past 11 years, Toni and her business partner Liv Patience have built an award-winning interior design studio focused on creating unexpected design and spaces that bring people together and design attention. You only have to look up Material Creative online to find interiors that are beautiful, clever, bold, quirky and that truly have the ‘wow’ factor. To me, Toni is the epitome of ‘super creative’ and I’m so pleased to share her creative business journey for episode one. I hope you enjoy.

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Just a quick technical note. This episode was recorded four years ago. I'm still very proud of this episode but the technology I was using back then was slightly different. So the quality of the audio is not quite as good as what I am able to achieve most of the time now. Also my interviewing technique has hopefully slightly changed, it's very hard to listen back to something from four years ago, so please listen accordingly. 

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

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