FINE FORM with Rebecca Jarvie-Gibbs – Details, episodes & analysis

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It’s a joy to begin Fine Form with our very first guest, the extraordinary chef and cookbook author Danielle Alvarez. A Cuban-American who now calls Australia home, Danielle was the founding Executive Chef of Fred’s in Paddington and today serves as Culinary Director of Events at the Sydney Opera House.

I met Danielle just as she arrived in Sydney to build a restaurant around her philosophy of honest, produce-driven cooking. I was instantly in awe - and still am. She is calm yet confident, deeply grounded in her values and refreshingly free of ego.

In this conversation, Danielle reflects on a career shaped by curiosity and conviction. We talk about seizing opportunities and how calculated risks have shaped her path, how work became both a lifeline and a weight, and how stepping back to slow down helped her rediscover joy in cooking. She speaks candidly about grief, gratitude and the daily practices that now anchor her life.

Her story is a reminder of what it means to live and work with intention. And it felt only right to open this podcast with someone who leads with such heart. I’m so grateful to Danielle for setting the tone for everything Fine Form is about.

If you’d like to enjoy more of her thoughtful writing and recipes, check out Danielle’s Substack Made Simple https://daniellealvarezmadesimple.substack.com or her instagram @daniellemariealvarez

You can follow FINE FORM @thisisfineform and Rebecca Jarvie-Gibbs at @rebeccajarviegibbs

www.thisisfineform.com

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This week’s guest is Sophie Coote - Co-founder and Creative Director of SIR, the cult fashion brand she launched in her twenties alongside her friend and business partner, Nikki Campbell.

In this episode, Sophie shares candid reflections on the realities of building a business in the fast-paced world of fashion. She speaks openly about burnout, the shifts she’s made to protect her creativity and wellbeing and the kind of freedom she believes is essential for true leadership - even when it challenges traditional expectations.

We also talk about the role of kindness in leadership, why she sees it as one of the greatest strengths a founder can bring to the table, and how she’s evolving her relationship with ambition as both a business leader and a creative.

It’s an inspiring conversation about resilience, self-discovery and building a career that feels true to you.

And for a good dose of style inspiration (and your spring wardrobe), check out the beautiful https://sirthelabel.com/ and instagram @sir__

You can follow FINE FORM @thisisfineform and Rebecca Jarvie-Gibbs at @rebeccajarviegibbs

 www.thisisfineform.com 

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This week’s guest is Zara Wong - brand consultant and writer behind the brilliant Substack, Screenshot This.

In this conversation, Zara shares her journey from growing up in Papua New Guinea to building a career across some of the world’s most influential media brands. She reflects on the ambition that’s driven her from day one, the work ethic instilled by her parents and how she’s navigated each chapter with curiosity, discipline and commercial smarts.

I could have spoken with Zara for hours. Her insights are sharp, thoughtful and deeply generous. We talk about building a personal brand with integrity, the power of mentorship and why good ideas aren’t enough unless you back them with action.

Zara reminds us that the language we use matters - and how shifting from workaholic to work-centric reframed not just how she talks about work, but how she lives with it.

You can find more of her brilliant writing on her Substack, Screenshot This https://screenshotthis.substack.com/ or follow her on instagram at @zara_wong

You can follow FINE FORM @thisisfineform and Rebecca Jarvie-Gibbs at @rebeccajarviegibbs

www.thisisfineform.com

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This week's guest is Holly Garber - a business coach and former fashion PR agency founder who’s built a career by trusting her instincts and backing what feels right.

Holly’s story is one of ambition, guts and reinvention. In her 20s, she launched a successful fashion PR agency at a time when hustle culture was at its peak, and she threw herself into building a business from the ground up. But after more than fifteen years, she made the bold decision to step away because it no longer felt aligned with who she was or the life she wanted to create.

In this conversation, we talk about what it takes to walk away from something that looks good on paper, the identity shifts that come with closing one chapter and starting another, and how Holly has shaped a new path in her 40s with clarity, purpose and real confidence.

We explore themes of energy management, financial discipline, honesty, and how to separate kindness from niceness - something I’ve often conflated. Holly brings such wisdom and grounded perspective, and she shares it with generosity and candour.

Holly is the real deal - smart, thoughtful and inspiring. I highly recommend her fantastic Substack to tap into her brilliant thinking on the regular. https://hollygarber.substack.com/

You can follow FINE FORM @thisisfineform and Rebecca Jarvie-Gibbs at @rebeccajarviegibbs

www.thisisfineform.com

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This week's guest is Nadia Fairfax-Wayne - a multi-hyphenate creative and self-described “girl about town” who’s carved a distinctive path through Australia’s fashion and digital world.

From training at the Australian Institute of Sport to launching Fairfax Journal, Nadia’s journey has been anything but linear. One of the first in Australia to harness the power of social media for personal branding, she built an influential presence long before it became the norm - and always on her own terms.

In this conversation, Nadia shares the courage it takes to pivot, why the best opportunities come from getting off email and into the room, and the power of long-term relationships. She talks about navigating commercial work with a creative-first mindset, the vulnerability of showing up publicly in early motherhood, and how her “life comes first” philosophy keeps it all in perspective.

She’s sharp, hilarious, endlessly curious, and refreshingly real - and a brilliant reminder that experiences matter more than endless to-do lists.

You can find Nadia at @nadiafairfax

You can follow FINE FORM @thisisfineform and Rebecca Jarvie-Gibbs at @rebeccajarviegibbs

www.thisisfineform.com

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This week's guest is Lauren Sams - Deputy Editor of The Australian Financial Review Magazine, Editor of Fin., and Fashion Editor at The Australian Financial Review.

Lauren is one of the country’s most respected editors and journalists, and I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous interviewing someone who’s such a master of the craft herself. She’s known for her sharp insight, elegant storytelling and ability to draw out the heart of a subject.

What I admire most about Lauren isn’t just the calibre of her work, but the integrity behind it. She is crystal clear on her values, her strengths and why storytelling matters to her.

In this conversation, we talk about what it takes to operate at the top of your field without burning out, how she preserves creativity and joy in the midst of deadlines, and what she hopes her daughters will take away from the way she works.

She’s articulate, thoughtful and just as brilliant a guest as she is an interviewer.

You can find Lauren at https://www.instagram.com/laurenssams/?hl=en or her writing at afr.com

You can follow FINE FORM @thisisfineform and Rebecca Jarvie-Gibbs at @rebeccajarviegibbs

www.thisisfineform.com

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This week's guest is Caroline Choker - interior designer, creative director and one half of the visionary duo behind the celebrated design studio, Acme.

In this conversation, Caroline shares the story behind Acme, her creative partnership with her husband, Vince, and how their yin-and-yang dynamic fuels both their process and their purpose. We talk about the power of saying no, resisting the pressure to scale and the discipline it takes to stay creatively aligned while growing a business.

Caroline also opens up about her difficult journey to motherhood and I’m so grateful for her vulnerability in sharing this chapter. Her reflections on perseverance, gratitude and navigating personal challenges alongside professional success are deeply moving.

This is a conversation about conviction and resilience. What Caroline leaves us with is the enduring power of gratitude and the possibility of finding joy in the everyday.

You can find Caroline on Instagram at @cc_acme and explore Acme’s work at @a_c_m_e

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You can follow FINE FORM @thisisfineform and Rebecca Jarvie-Gibbs at @rebeccajarviegibbs

www.thisisfineform.com

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This week's episode is with Jade Gillett - founder of Rainbow Studios and someone who truly embodies the spirit of backing yourself without needing a clear map laid out.

Jade had built a career in media and marketing before the pandemic created the space to bring Rainbow to life. What started as a bold idea quickly grew into an inspiring Darlinghurst hub that champions community, collaboration and creativity.

In this conversation, we talk about the power of taking risks, staying grounded in what matters and navigating uncertainty with purpose. We dive into the role of empathy in cultivating strong creative relationships and why taking time outside your business is just as vital as the hours you pour into it.

What I love about this conversation is Jade's openness in sharing the realities of running a business. She’s thoughtful and a true example of what can happen when you back yourself fully. And a special thank you to her for letting us record a number of the Fine Form episodes in the beautiful space.

Keep an eye out for all the beautiful events and exhibitions at Rainbow Studios in the coming months. You can follow Jade at @jadeegillett or @rainbow___studios

You can follow FINE FORM @thisisfineform and Rebecca Jarvie-Gibbs at @rebeccajarviegibbs

www.thisisfineform.com

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This week's guest is clinical naturopath and Pilates instructor, Bianca Wise.

I first came across Bianca at my home away from home, Bodylove in Woollahra (shout-out to Ali - a future Fine Form guest!), and I’ve been a fan ever since. Yes, she has abs of steel, but what really makes her special is her energy - vibrant, grounded, light.

In this chat, we explore her journey to becoming a globally recognised Pilates instructor and how she’s managed to grow her influence without losing the personal approach that anchors her.

This conversation is full of practical wisdom. Bianca speaks openly about the connection between stress and gut health, the importance of listening to our cycle, and why small, sustainable rituals can transform how we feel day to day. Her perspective blends movement, nutrition and self-care - reminding us that true growth doesn’t come from obsessing over numbers or appearances, but from cultivating kindness toward ourselves and finding peace within.

She truly walks her talk, and I loved unpacking the non-negotiables that keep her grounded no matter where she is in the world.

And since this chat, I’ve been paying much closer attention to my own cycle and realising how many symptoms I’d normalised or explained away. If you suspect something’s not quite right, consider this a gentle reminder: your body deserves to be listened to. Notice the patterns, write things down, trust what you feel and advocate for your body even when it’s inconvenient or unfamiliar. We’re so quick to minimise our symptoms, to push through, to tell ourselves “it’s fine.” But your body is always giving you information so listen in and look after it.

If you’d like to explore further, you can book a naturopathy consultation at balancedbybiancamelas.com or keep an eye out for her next retreat.

You can follow FINE FORM @thisisfineform and Rebecca Jarvie-Gibbs at @rebeccajarviegibbs

www.thisisfineform.com 

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