In this episode of The Project Emerald Collective, Eve McIntyre speaks with 14-year-old Tasmanian designer Olivia Robertson about creativity, determination, family, technology and what becomes possible when young people are encouraged to take their ideas seriously.

Olivia began sewing when she was just four years old and presented her first design at the Tasmanian Fashion Festival at only 12. Now returning to the runway for her third year, she is creating an ambitious transformative garment that shifts from an elegant maxi dress into a striking mini - combining historical influences, contemporary fashion and the technical skills she has developed through experimentation and mentorship.

Olivia shares how her 12-month mentorship with Tasmanian designer Celyna Ziolkowski has expanded her understanding of patternmaking, drapery, textiles and the business behind fashion. She also reflects on the importance of experienced people believing in emerging creatives, particularly in Tasmania, where education and industry opportunities can be limited.

But this conversation reaches far beyond fashion.

Olivia speaks thoughtfully about growing up without personal technology until high school and why she believes it strengthened her relationship with her parents and sister. She shares how working from a young age has taught her communication, responsibility, leadership and the true value of money—and offers a moving reminder of how much parents quietly do for their children.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Beginning to sew at four and entering a runway at 12
• Discovering your passion and having the courage to pursue it
• Designing a transformative garment for the TFF runway
• Mentorship and the importance of someone believing in your potential
• Balancing school, work, sport, music and creative ambitions
• Learning through experimentation, mistakes and constructive feedback
• Why Olivia is grateful she grew up without constant access to technology
• How reduced screen time can create stronger family connections
• The opportunities young Tasmanian creatives need
• Building resilience, discipline and a positive mindset
• Living intentionally and refusing to apologise for who you are
• Using your voice and power to inspire other people

Olivia’s perspective is an important reminder that wisdom isn’t defined by age. Her creativity is remarkable, but it is her gratitude, work ethic, self-awareness and determination to keep learning that make this conversation so powerful.

As Olivia says, life isn’t a dress rehearsal. We have one opportunity to pursue what matters, embrace the people we love and make the most of the life in front of us.

Olivia will present her latest design at the 2026 Tasmanian Fashion Festival, held on 10 and 11 October at Princes Wharf No. 1 in Hobart.

Festival information and tickets:
https://www.tasmanianfashionfestival.com.au/tickets

If this conversation resonates, subscribe to The Project Emerald Collective and share it with a young person, parent, educator or creative who may need to hear it.

Take your power back—one conscious choice at a time.

#ProjectEmeraldCollective #OliviaRobertson #TasmanianFashionFestival #YoungDesigner #TasmanianFashion #EmergingDesigner #IntentionalLiving #DigitalWellbeing #Parenting #YouthVoice

In this episode of The Project Emerald Collective, Eve McIntyre speaks with fashion designer Jessica Lawrence about creativity, personal style, sustainability and the courage to begin again.

After working across retail, styling, management, design, patternmaking and production, Jessica returned to study fashion design in her thirties - finally giving herself permission to pursue the creative path she had long imagined.

In 2024, Jessica and her husband left Melbourne for Hobart, choosing to build a life shaped by connection, creativity and proximity to nature. That move inspired her emerging Tasmanian label, Map of Tassie Swim and Map of Tassie Après Swim: a playful celebration of Tasmania, female empowerment and dressing unapologetically for yourself.

Jessica shares the vision behind her swimwear and limited-edition garments, her commitment to made-to-order and lower-waste production, and the importance of collaborating with Tasmanian artists. We also explore how knowing ourselves and developing an authentic personal style can help us consume more consciously.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Returning to study and changing direction in your thirties
• Backing yourself after years of putting creativity aside
• Moving from Melbourne to Hobart to live more intentionally
• The inspiration behind Map of Tassie Swim and Après Swim
• Designing for women’s comfort, confidence and self-expression
• Dressing for yourself rather than other people’s approval
• How personal style can reduce overconsumption
• Made-to-order fashion, quality and lower-waste production
• Using fashion to support women, community and environmental care
• Why taking your power back means putting yourself in the driver’s seat

Jessica will present her collection on the runway at the 2026 Tasmanian Fashion Festival, taking place on 10 and 11 October at Princes Wharf No. 1 in Hobart.

Festival information and tickets:
https://www.tasmanianfashionfestival.com.au/tickets

If this conversation resonates, subscribe to The Project Emerald Collective, leave a comment and share the episode with someone who may need the reminder that it is never too late to back yourself.

Take your power back, one conscious choice at a time.

#ProjectEmeraldCollective #JessicaLawrence #MapOfTassie #TasmanianFashionFestival #TasmanianFashion #SustainableFashion #PersonalStyle #WomenInFashion #IntentionalLiving

In this episode of The Project Emerald Collective, I sit down with Tasmanian artist, designer and environmental advocate Natalie Hamblin, whose extraordinary wearable artworks transform discarded materials into powerful statements about waste, consumption and our relationship with the natural world.

Natalie’s environmental story began before she could walk, when she was carried on her parents’ backs at protests against the damming of Tasmania’s Franklin River. Today, she continues that advocacy through art, creating sculptural garments from milk bottles, plastic packaging, discarded wedding dresses and other materials destined for landfill.

We explore Natalie’s journey from lifelong artist and educator to sustainable couture designer, and the moment during the pandemic when her frustration with our throwaway culture compelled her to bring fashion, waste and activism together.

Natalie also shares the story behind Quel Dommage—her striking paper garment inspired by Tasmania’s ancient mountain ash trees and the destruction of old-growth forests. Photographed in takayna/Tarkine during a Bob Brown Foundation art residency, the work demonstrates how creativity can become both protest and contribution.

We also discuss:

• Why Natalie sees fashion as a vehicle for environmental storytelling
• How discarded materials can inspire greater creativity and resourcefulness
• The confronting double standard between household and business recycling
• Why art can help transform environmental overwhelm into meaningful action
• The labour and intention behind Natalie’s one-of-a-kind couture pieces
• What audiences can expect from her “Lady Gaga meets Audrey Hepburn” collection at the Tasmanian Fashion Festival
• How each of us can use our own talents to advocate for the issues we care about

Natalie’s work reminds us that we don’t all need to protest in the same way. Our contribution might come through art, speaking, running, teaching, creating, or simply having the courage to question what we have been taught to accept.

Because taking action, however it looks for us, is often how we move from feeling powerless to recognising the influence we already have.

Follow Natalie’s work on Instagram at Natalie Hamblin Couture and see her collection on the runway at this year’s Tasmanian Fashion Festival.

If this conversation resonates with you, subscribe to The Project Emerald Collective, leave a review and share the episode with someone who believes creativity can be a force for change.

Take your power back. One conscious choice at a time.

In this episode of The Project Emerald Collective, I sit down with award-winning designer, author and artist Olga Blake McKenzie of Olly Macs to explore the relationship between fashion, storytelling, resilience and the human experience.

With 50 years of sewing experience and more than three decades working across film, television and theme-park production, Olga brings extraordinary knowledge and perspective to her creative practice. Her wearable-art designs are made using at least 80% recycled materials, transforming discarded objects into powerful expressions of identity, courage, mental health and hope.

One of these pieces, Homeostasis, was constructed from medication blister packs to represent the delicate balance between the body and mind.

Olga is also the creator of Wear Our Stories, a series bringing together 40 short stories and accompanying wearable-art designs. The first book, Timelines and Threads, launches in Brisbane on 30 October. Each design gives physical form to the life of a character—including Magenta, whose story reminds us of the importance of moving through life in our own time.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Olga’s journey through five decades of sewing and creative practice
• How recycled materials can carry meaning, memory and possibility
• The childhood experiences that shaped her resilience and commitment to authenticity
• Why courage and vulnerability are essential to taking our power back
• The inspiration behind Timelines and Threads and Wear Our Stories
• Why questioning our purpose is a natural part of life at every age
• The importance of kindness, curiosity and living without judgement
• Why Olga has no intention of retiring from creativity
• Her dream of developing independent theatrical runway shows and touring the project
• What it means to live intentionally, keep learning and leave the world better than we found it
  

Since recording our conversation, Olga has been named Designer of the Year at the Women in Fashion Global Awards in Brisbane. She also received the Most Creative Designer Award at Darwin Fashion Week—two wonderful recognitions of the imagination, purpose and heart behind her work.

Olga will next bring her storytelling through design to the Tasmanian Fashion Festival in October.

This is a conversation about far more than fashion. It is about turning our experiences into art, finding meaning in what has been discarded and having the courage to keep creating, at every stage of life.

If this conversation resonates with you, please like, subscribe and share it with someone who needs the reminder that it is never too late to begin, evolve or tell your story.

Follow The Project Emerald Collective for more honest conversations with women choosing to live, create and lead more intentionally.

#OlgaBlakeMcKenzie #OllyMacs #WearOurStories #TimelinesAndThreads #SustainableFashion #WearableArt #CircularFashion #TasmanianFashionFestival #WomenInFashion #IntentionalLiving #ProjectEmeraldCollective

And perhaps the bigger question is: how do we teach our children to live intentionally if we're not willing to examine the way we're living ourselves?

In this episode of The Project Emerald Collective, I sit down with Niloufar Pepperell — mother, pharmacist, community volunteer and teacher of spiritual education in Southern Tasmania — for a deeply thoughtful conversation about parenting, values, spirituality, agency and raising children in a world competing constantly for their attention.

As the daughter of an immigrant and refugee from Iran, Niloufar grew up within the Baháʼí Faith with a strong understanding of humanity as one interconnected family and a belief in service, community and contributing to the betterment of the world.

Those foundations now shape how she approaches motherhood and the work she does with children and young people.

But this isn't a conversation about having all the answers.

It's about asking better questions.

How do we help our children understand what they value before the world tells them what they should value?

How much space do we give children to develop their own agency?

What's the difference between happiness and genuine joy?

And how much of raising our children is actually about working on ourselves?

Together we explore:

• Raising children with a strong sense of identity and values
• How parents can nurture agency rather than unintentionally shut it down
• Why children need opportunities to make age-appropriate choices
• Spiritual education and what it can look like beyond traditional ideas of religion
• The importance of community, service and positive role models
• Helping young people navigate social pressure and outside influences
• Teaching children the difference between wanting something and truly valuing it
• Consumerism, money and helping children understand what “enough” looks like
• Why joy, connection and service offer something material possessions can't
• The role gratitude plays in contentment
• Why our children notice the gap between what we say and what we actually do
• How motherhood becomes an unexpected journey of our own personal development
• What living intentionally looks like in everyday life

One of the ideas that stayed with me from this conversation was Niloufar's belief that children naturally have agency — the question is how much space we allow them to exercise it.

When we constantly rush in, fix, micromanage or make every decision for them, we can unintentionally diminish something that was already there.

And perhaps the same is true for us as adults.

Niloufar shares a beautiful interpretation of taking your power back: imagining herself as a flute, with something greater flowing through her. Her role isn't to manufacture the power, but to remove the things that obstruct it — ego, distraction and everything that disconnects her from who she wants to be.

We also talk about coming back to ourselves as women and Niloufar's surprisingly simple suggestion: create some space.

Put down the phone. Allow yourself to be bored. Garden. Make something. Play music. Sit quietly.

Because sometimes creativity can reconnect us with parts of ourselves that thinking alone can't reach.

This is a conversation about raising our children intentionally — but it's equally a conversation about raising ourselves.

Subscribe to The Project Emerald Collective for new conversations each week with women sharing their experiences, perspectives and collective wisdom for living more intentionally.

Take Your Power Back. One conscious choice at a time.

Connect with Project Emerald:

Website: https://projectemerald.com.au
Instagram: @project_emerald
LinkedIn: Project Emerald Collective

Listen to the Project Emerald Collective podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe for more conversations exploring identity, belonging, fashion and conscious consumption—and what it means to take your power back, one conscious choice at a time.

In this special episode of the Project Emerald Collective podcast, founder Eve McIntyre steps into the guest seat to share the personal journey behind Project Emerald—and the experiences that have shaped her understanding of identity, intentional living and taking your power back.

Eve reflects on motherhood, her early experiences of second-hand shopping and the desire to create something that could connect women through fashion, conscious consumption and honest conversation.

She also shares how Project Emerald evolved from a circular fashion marketplace into something much broader: a platform and community helping women reconnect with themselves and make choices that feel aligned with who they are now.

This conversation explores:

• How motherhood changed Eve’s identity and direction
• The early experiences that inspired Project Emerald
• Why fashion can be a powerful doorway into identity, confidence and belonging
• Moving beyond autopilot and becoming more intentional about everyday choices
• The influence of Steiner education on Eve’s family and worldview
• Wearing many different hats without losing yourself within them
• The morning rituals that help Eve feel grounded and connected
• Learning to listen to your own inner guidance
• Making space for rest, self-care and self-love
• Shifting from “I have to” towards “I get to”
• What manifestation means when it is grounded in action and intention
• Why taking your power back begins with one conscious choice

This is an honest conversation about the person behind Project Emerald, the lessons Eve is still learning and her belief in the power of bringing women together to share their experiences and wisdom.

Because when we become more connected to ourselves, we can make choices—from what we wear to how we live—that more closely reflect who we truly are.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Eve and Project Emerald
01:24 Early Life and Motherhood
03:04 The Influence of Second-Hand Shopping
04:31 Creating Project Emerald
05:18 Fashion as a Connector
06:30 Living More Intentionally
07:25 Empowerment and Community Building
09:22 The Impact of Intentional Living
11:04 Lessons From Podcast Conversations
13:36 The Influence of Steiner Education
16:37 Self-Confidence and Individual Action
18:33 Building Community and Connection
22:30 Wearing Multiple Hats
24:40 Morning Routines and Self-Care
25:40 Creating an Intentional Morning
27:34 Spirituality and Inner Guidance
29:58 Meditation and Yoga
31:20 Self-Love and Rest
33:02 Letting Go of Obligation
36:07 Advice to a Younger Self
39:29 Shifting From “I Have To” to “I Get To”
41:07 Manifestation, Intention and Creating Possibility
45:30 Taking Your Power Back
47:07 Empowerment and Awakening

Connect with Project Emerald:

Website: https://projectemerald.com.au
Instagram: @project_emerald
LinkedIn: Project Emerald Collective

Listen to the Project Emerald Collective podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe for more conversations exploring identity, belonging, fashion and conscious consumption—and what it means to take your power back, one conscious choice at a time.

#ProjectEmeraldCollective #EveMcIntyre #IntentionalLiving #WomenEmpowerment #Motherhood #Identity #MindsetShift #SelfCare #Community #TakeYourPowerBack

In this episode of the Project Emerald Collective podcast, Eve McIntyre speaks with Yvonne Overste, founder of Cool Planet—a beautifully curated pre-loved children’s clothing store in Inglewood, Perth.

After a long career in government strategy, Yvonne retired at 60 and stepped into a joyful new chapter as a business owner. Cool Planet brings together her love of quality clothing, creativity, sustainability and community.

Yvonne’s approach was shaped much earlier by growing up in a Dutch family where buying carefully, repairing what you owned and avoiding waste were simply part of everyday life.

Together, Eve and Yvonne explore:

• How Yvonne’s childhood shaped her understanding of quality, repair and reuse
• Why retiring at 60 created the freedom to start Cool Planet
• Finding creativity, purpose and joy in a new stage of life
• What makes carefully curated pre-loved children’s clothing different
• How second-hand fashion can encourage creativity and resourcefulness in children
• Moving beyond the stigma associated with pre-loved clothing
• Why quality, natural fibres and thoughtful buying matter
• Modelling intentional habits for the next generation
• What it means to live according to your values rather than acting on impulse
• Yvonne’s powerful reminder: “Don’t dim your light”

This is an uplifting conversation about beginning again, trusting what matters to you and recognising that it is never too late to create something meaningful.

It is also a reminder that the habits children see us practise—from caring for their clothing to questioning what they consume—can help shape a more thoughtful and resourceful generation.

Connect with Yvonne and Cool Planet:

Website: https://coolplanet.shop
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coolplanet.shop
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575161522240
Email: contact@coolplanet.shop

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Eve McIntyre and Yvonne Overste
01:00 The Many Hats Yvonne Wears
02:24 Three Defining Moments That Led to Cool Planet
05:11 Finding Freedom and Joy in Business After 60
07:33 What Makes Cool Planet Different
12:24 Teaching Children Creativity, Values and Critical Thinking
21:32 Moving Beyond Dopamine Shopping
23:05 Lessons From Yvonne’s Dutch Dressmaker Mother
30:22 Modelling Intentional Habits for the Next Generation
33:24 Living Intentionally: Choices, Values and Habits
36:07 “Don’t Dim Your Light” and Taking Back Your Power

Connect with Project Emerald:

Website: https://projectemerald.com.au
Instagram: @project_emerald
LinkedIn: Project Emerald Collective

Listen to the Project Emerald Collective podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe for more conversations exploring identity, belonging, fashion and conscious consumption—and what it means to take your power back, one conscious choice at a time.

#ProjectEmeraldCollective #YvonneOverste #CoolPlanet #PreLovedKidsFashion #CircularFashion #IntentionalLiving #SecondHandStyle #WomenInBusiness #SustainableFashion

In this episode of The Project Emerald Collective Podcast, Eve McIntyre sits down with Chelsea Upham, artist and founder of Frogmouth Designs, to explore creativity, circular fashion and the courage to build a life that feels authentically your own.

Growing up in rural Maine, USA, Chelsea learned early to repair, reuse and create with what she had. After moving across the world to Perth, Western Australia, she began transforming discarded blankets, damaged tablecloths and forgotten furniture into one-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art.

Her work is grounded in a simple but powerful idea: nothing is ever truly finished. With creativity and care, the things others overlook can be repaired, reimagined and given another life.

But this conversation is about much more than fashion.

It’s about learning to see possibility where others see waste. It’s about starting again, trusting your instincts and giving yourself permission to create—and live—in your own way.

In this episode, we explore:

• How growing up with limited resources shaped Chelsea’s creativity
• Why limitations can become our greatest creative advantage
• Moving from Maine to Perth and rebuilding a life from scratch
• How repairing clothing can change the way we value ourselves and the world around us
• What teenagers are teaching Chelsea about creativity and personal style
• Why authenticity is more powerful than fitting in
• How upcycling invites us to see beauty and possibility differently
• What it means to take your power back and remain true to yourself

One of Chelsea’s most powerful messages is:

“Be your truest self. Wear what you want to wear. Design what you want to design. Just keep doing it.”

Taking your power back isn’t always about becoming someone new. Sometimes, it’s about giving yourself permission to become more fully who you have always been.

If this conversation inspires you, please like, subscribe and share it with someone who needs the reminder that it’s never too late to begin again—or to see something differently.

🎧 Listen on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

CONNECT WITH CHELSEA UPHAM

📸 Instagram: @frogmouth_creative
🌐 Website: https://hfqtr9-p3.myshopify.com

CONNECT WITH PROJECT EMERALD

🌐 Website: https://www.projectemerald.com.au
📸 Instagram: @project_emerald
💼 LinkedIn: Project Emerald Collective

Join The Project Emerald Collective community for deeper conversations about identity, creativity, belonging, conscious consumption and living with intention.

Take your power back—one conscious choice at a time.

#ProjectEmerald #FrogmouthDesigns #CircularFashion #Upcycling #SustainableFashion #SlowFashion #CreativeLiving #IntentionalLiving #WearableArt #WomenInBusiness #TakeYourPowerBack #Podcast

In this episode of Eve x Diane, host Eve McIntyre sits down with veteran yoga teacher and gardener Diane Summers for a deeply grounding conversation on reclaiming your personal power, listening to your body's innate wisdom, and breaking free from burnout.

After navigating profound personal losses, autoimmune illness, and decades of yoga practice, Diane shares how true healing happens when we drop out of our heads and into our physical bodies. Together, they explore:

• The Signals of Disconnection: How stress, injury, and emotional trauma manifest physically—and how to gently process them.
• Living in Rhythm: Honoring the natural cycles of the seasons (and your own biology) to prevent chronic fatigue and depletion.
• Daily Micro-Rituals: Why taking just 10–15 minutes of non-negotiable private time can completely restore your nervous system.
• Redefining Personal Power: Setting firm boundaries, protecting your energy, and replacing reactive stress with intentional self-care.

Whether you are feeling overwhelmed by modern pressures, curious about quantum biology, or looking to deepen your relationship with yourself, this episode offers a gentle, practical roadmap back home to your body.

#IntentionalLiving #BodyWisdom #SeasonalLiving #YogaNidra #SomaticHealing #WomenEmpowerment #MindfulLiving #NervousSystemRegulation #EveXDiane #Podcast

In this episode of the Project Emerald Collective podcast, Eve McIntyre speaks with Lulu Oostryck, co-founder of Perth Pre Loved Market, about the role community can play in changing the way we shop.

What began as a way to make buying and selling quality pre-loved fashion easier has grown into something much bigger. Perth Pre Loved Market brings women together to clear out their wardrobes, discover beautiful pieces and enjoy the excitement of fashion without continually feeding a culture of overconsumption.

Together, Eve and Lulu explore:

• Why information alone is rarely enough to change our behaviour
• How community can make choosing second-hand feel natural
• The psychology behind why we buy what we buy
• How pre-loved markets are helping create a new culture around fashion
• Why slowing down can lead to more considered decisions
• The joy of finding something unique with a history of its own
• Why connection, creativity and circularity belong at the heart of fashion’s future

This conversation goes beyond clothing. It is about reimagining what shopping can feel like—and recognising that sustainable choices are more likely to last when they bring us connection, enjoyment and a genuine sense of possibility.

If you have ever wondered how we move from endless consumption towards a culture in which choosing second-hand simply becomes the norm, this episode is for you.

Connect with Perth Pre Loved Market:

Instagram: @perthprelovedmarket

Connect with Project Emerald:

Website: https://projectemerald.com.au
Instagram: @project_emerald
LinkedIn: Project Emerald Collective

Listen to the Project Emerald Collective podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe for more conversations exploring identity, belonging, fashion and conscious consumption—and what it means to take your power back, one conscious choice at a time.

#ProjectEmeraldCollective #LuluOostryck #PerthPreLovedMarket #CircularFashion #PreLovedFashion #SecondHandStyle #IntentionalLiving #SlowFashion #SustainableFashion #Community

In this episode of the Project Emerald Collective podcast, Eve McIntyre speaks with Shrydhee Nasen, founder of Alamari—an Australian slow-fashion label celebrating cultural heritage, artisan craftsmanship and conscious design.

Inspired by childhood memories of her grandmother’s wardrobe in Singapore, Shrydhee created Alamari as a way to reconnect with her Tamil heritage and share the beauty and stories held within Indian textiles.

Together, Eve and Shrydhee explore:

• The childhood memories and cultural influences that inspired Alamari
• Building a purpose-led brand alongside motherhood and a full-time career
• How Shrydhee’s postpartum experience shaped Cinnamon—An Ode to Motherhood
• Moving beyond marketing based on poverty narratives and recognising Indian craftspeople as masters of their art
• The traditions of hand block printing and Suzani embroidery
• Why the variations within handmade garments are something to celebrate
• Choosing versatile, seasonless clothing designed to be worn and loved for years
• Staying connected to your identity while fulfilling many different roles

This is a beautiful conversation about heritage, motherhood, creativity and the courage required to bring a deeply personal vision to life.

It is also a reminder that conscious fashion is about more than materials. It is about respecting the people, skills, stories and traditions behind what we wear.

Connect with Shrydhee and Alamari:

Website: https://www.alamari.com
Instagram: @alamari.official

Connect with Project Emerald:

Website: https://projectemerald.com.au
Instagram: @project_emerald
LinkedIn: Project Emerald Collective

Listen to the Project Emerald Collective podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe for more conversations exploring identity, belonging, fashion and conscious consumption—and what it means to take your power back, one conscious choice at a time.

#ProjectEmeraldCollective #ShrydheeNasen #Alamari #SlowFashion #ConsciousFashion #TamilHeritage #ArtisanCraftsmanship #Motherhood #PurposeLedBusiness #CircularFashion

In this episode of the Project Emerald Collective podcast, Eve McIntyre speaks with Hazel Law, founder of The Curated Wardrobe and Director of the Circular Fashion Festival, about the powerful connection between clothing, identity and intentional living.

Hazel’s journey began with an environmental awakening during the Black Summer bushfires. What followed was a 12-month break from buying clothes—and a complete rethink of the way she shopped, dressed and viewed her wardrobe.

Together, Eve and Hazel explore:

• Why Australians consume so much fashion—and what keeps us on the overconsumption treadmill
• The emotional reasons we hold onto clothes we rarely or never wear
• How Hazel’s 12-month shopping ban changed far more than her wardrobe
• Why confidence isn’t something we can buy
• The connection between clothing, identity and body image
• How circular fashion can create community, creativity and connection
• Why questioning the status quo is one of the most powerful choices we can make

As Hazel says:

“Once the veil has been lifted, it can’t be unseen.”

This conversation isn’t about guilt or being told what not to buy. It’s an invitation to become curious about the stories we have been sold—and to ask ourselves better questions.

What do you genuinely want to wear?
What makes you feel most like yourself?
Which choices are you making simply because you have always made them?

If you have ever felt overwhelmed by your wardrobe, pressured to keep buying or sensed that there must be another way, this episode is for you.

Connect with Hazel Law:

Instagram: @thecuratedwardrobe.au
The Curated Wardrobe: https://thecuratedwardrobe.au
Circular Fashion Festival: https://circularfashionfestival.com.au

Connect with Project Emerald:

Website: https://projectemerald.com.au
Instagram: @project_emerald
LinkedIn: Project Emerald Collective

Listen to the Project Emerald Collective podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe for more conversations exploring identity, belonging, fashion and conscious consumption—and what it means to take your power back, one conscious choice at a time.

#ProjectEmeraldCollective #HazelLaw #CircularFashion #IntentionalLiving #SlowFashion #ConsciousStyle #TheCuratedWardrobe #CircularFashionFestival #SustainableFashion #TakeYourPowerBack

In this episode, Sophie and Eve break down what it truly means to live intentionally and challenge the modern concept of "greenwashing" with a much more human term coined by Sophie: "Green Wishing." They dive into the gap between wanting to make a change and taking real action, discussing how we can all use our personal agency to make a collective difference.

Sophie also shares the personal journey that led her to co-found Harrington Road, a business dedicated to helping families navigate major, emotional life transitions like downsizing and deceased estates by redefining the relationship between purpose and profit.

If you are looking to step out of autopilot, understand the "honest maths" of your impact, and find the courage to choose the hard things on purpose, this conversation is a must-watch.

Key Topics Covered:

• 00:00 – Introduction to Sophie Ballagh: Global Adventurer turned Business Founder
• 01:33 – Growing up in New Zealand & finding a passion for outdoor education
• 07:07 – The serendipitous 16-day journey that led Sophie to Antarctica
• 10:44 – The "Honest Maths" of our environmental footprint and the positive impact bucket
• 16:21 – Overcoming the trap of convenience and reclaiming individual agency
• 21:19 – What is "Green Wishing" and how do we bridge the gap to real action?
• 25:28 – What moves us into long-term action: Fire in the belly and deep connection
• 27:46 – Aligning purpose and profit through Harrington Road
• 33:09 – What living intentionally looks like on a daily basis
• 36:40 – A final message to listeners: Using your voice to force change

Connect with Sophie Ballagh:

• Find Sophie on social media to keep up with her latest insights on intentional living and entrepreneurship.

About the Podcast:

Project Emerald is focused on reclaiming personal power, one conscious choice at a time. Subscribe for more deeply resonant conversations with innovators, change-makers, and leaders who choose to live with high intentionality.

If you enjoyed this conversation, please hit the Like button, leave a comment with your own "green wish," and Subscribe for more episodes!

#SophieBallagh #ProjectEmerald #GreenWishing #IntentionalLiving #Sustainability #Antarctica #ConsciousEntrepreneurship #Leadership #HarringtonRoad

For Sharon Harvey, the answer wasn't giving up - it was rebuilding her life with more intention than ever before.

After a challenging childhood, decades of business experience, raising a family, and facing a life-changing brain condition, Sharon discovered that success isn't measured by titles, income or possessions. It's measured by creating a life that feels true to who you are.

Today she's the founder of Shakes and Ladders in Cygnet, Tasmania - a unique community space where nutritional shakes, indoor plants, preloved fashion and genuine human connection come together under one roof.

In this honest and uplifting conversation, Sharon shares how illness changed her perspective, why second-hand shopping has always been part of her life, and how she's blended everything that brings her joy into one business.

If you've ever questioned what success really looks like, or wondered whether it's too late to start again, this conversation is for you.

In this episode we explore:

• Growing up with very little and learning resilience
• The three pivotal moments that shaped Sharon's life
• How a life-changing health diagnosis transformed her outlook
• Why personal responsibility matters alongside modern medicine
• Building a business around purpose instead of profit
• The surprising joy of preloved fashion and conscious consumption
• Why collaboration always beats competition
• What it really means to live intentionally

One of my favourite moments was when Sharon said that she had finally realised she didn't need to choose between all the things she loved - she could bring them together in one place. It feels like Sharon is redefinig success on her terms, and I am so happy for her.

If this conversation resonates with you, please like, subscribe and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Every conversation helps us grow this movement towards more intentional living.

Connect with Sharon Harvey & Shakes and Ladders

Cygnet, Tasmania

About The Project Emerald Collective

The Project Emerald Collective is more than a marketplace, we're a movement towards intentional living.

Each week we sit down with inspiring founders, creatives, researchers and changemakers to explore what it really means to take your power back, live intentionally, and make choices that align with who you truly are.

New conversations every week. Join us in the meantime, for community, connection and bonus resources via https://www.skool.com/learn-to-trust-the-process-2733/about

#IntentionalLiving #SecondHandFashion #CircularFashion #PrelovedFashion #Sustainability #Mindset #PersonalGrowth #SmallBusiness #Tasmania #WomenInBusiness #ConsciousConsumption #ProjectEmeraldCollective

At first glance, this conversation is about travel.

But it quickly becomes something much deeper.

It's about burnout.

 It's about learning to trust yourself again.

 And it's about quietening what Cass calls our "internal committee"—the constant stream of thoughts telling us what we should do, what everyone else expects, and why we're not enough.

One step at a time, the Camino taught Cass something many of us spend a lifetime searching for:

How to hear her own voice again.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed, burnt out, disconnected from yourself, or wondered if there's another way to live, I think this conversation will really resonate.

In this episode we explore:

Why Cass walked away from a successful corporate career

What two Caminos across Spain taught her about resilience, intuition and trust

The surprising power of silence and slowing down

How to recognise your own "internal committee"

Why burnout isn't something to push through

The relationship between simplicity, presence and intentional living

Why taking your power back often starts with one small, conscious choice

This conversation reminded me that intentional living isn't about changing your whole life overnight.

It's about creating enough space to hear yourself.
And then having the courage to take the next step.
One conscious choice at a time.

If you enjoyed this conversation, I'd love your support.
Like this video. Tell us in the comments: When was the last time you truly heard yourself? Subscribe to the channel as we continue growing a movement of women choosing to live more intentionally.

About Project Emerald Collective

Project Emerald Collective is more than a marketplace.
We're a movement helping women reconnect with themselves so they can make more intentional choices with their time, money, energy and lives.

Through honest conversations with inspiring women, we're exploring what it really means to take your power back—one conscious choice at a time.

Takeaways

• Intentional living is about aligning actions with values.
• Slow fashion involves making intentional choices, buying what is needed, and using natural materials.
• The fashion industry and consumers both play a role in sustainable fashion, and individual choices can make a significant impact. Intentional actions lead to sustainable change
• Community collaboration is essential for lasting change

Chapters

• 00:00 Anastasia's Journey and Pivotal Moments
• 05:37 Creating the Slow Fashion Hub
• 11:57 Living with Intention
• 22:41 Understanding Slow Fashion
• 33:16 Misconceptions About Sustainable Fashion
• 34:58 Sustainable Fashion and Industry Misconceptions
• 39:10 Fashion, Identity, and Authenticity
• 41:28 Personal Style and Life Seasons
• 43:26 Reconnecting with Style and Identity
• 44:53 Hope for the Future of Fashion
• 46:51 The Role of Community in Creating Change
• 48:13 Slow Fashion Hub and Community Action
• 53:13 Bringing People Together for a Shared Purpose
• 55:27 Vision for the Future of Sustainable Fashion
• 58:08 Advice and Takeaways for Women

Not reckless.

Not angry.

Just willing to stop living by everyone else's expectations.

In this conversation, I sit down with community builder and marketer Pragathi Bansal, whose journey has taken her from India to London, from biotechnology to marketing, and from people-pleasing to living life entirely on her own terms.

What struck me most wasn't the countries she'd lived in or the career she'd built. It was her belief that every woman needs to be "a little more difficult."

Not because life should be harder, but because protecting your time, your energy and your dreams often requires saying no to what the world expects of you.

Together we explore what it means to trust yourself before anyone else does, build financial independence, embrace solo travel, create healthier boundaries, dress for yourself instead of other people, and discover who you become when you leave what's familiar.

One of my favourite moments comes when Pragathi says:

"You (Society) don't get to tell my story. I want to tell my story."

If you've ever felt like you're living according to someone else's rules, or waiting for permission to make a change, this conversation is your reminder that you already have everything you need to begin.

In this episode we explore:

• Why rebellion can be one of the greatest acts of self-respect
• The surprising freedom that comes with financial independence
• What solo travel teaches you about trusting yourself
• Changing careers without having everything figured out
• Building boundaries that protect your peace
• Conscious fashion, confidence and authentic self-expression
• Why curiosity may be one of your greatest strengths
• What it really means to take your power back

This conversation is for every woman who's ready to stop asking for permission and start writing her own story.

Together they unpack why the clothes we wear influence far more than our appearance. From confidence and nervous system regulation to mindfulness, natural fibres and the stories hidden within vintage clothing, this conversation challenges the way we think about fashion.

Sharon shares why she believes feeling good starts from within, why slowing down matters more than ever, and how reconnecting with nature, analogue living and your own intuition can transform your wellbeing.

Whether you're navigating a life transition, rediscovering your personal style, or simply craving a more intentional way of living, this episode will leave you seeing your wardrobe—and yourself—through a completely different lens.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why fashion is a form of self-expression
• The connection between clothing, confidence and mental wellbeing
• How stress and cortisol impact our bodies
• The gut-brain connection and holistic health
• Why natural fibres matter
• The hidden stories and energy behind vintage clothing
• How circular fashion supports both people and the planet
• Returning to analogue living in a digital world
• Practical ways to reconnect with yourself through mindfulness, nature and intentional choices
• What living intentionally really means
  

✨ If this conversation resonates with you, subscribe and join us as we explore how women can take their power back—one conscious choice at a time.

#IntentionalLiving #CircularFashion #MentalWellbeing #SlowFashion #Mindfulness #PersonalGrowth #ProjectEmeraldCollective #VintageStyle #SelfExpression #WomenSupportingWomen

Takeaways

• Intentional living integrates sustainability and spirituality.
• The divine feminine represents wisdom, leadership, and a return to nature's values. Leadership is not gender-specific
• Empowerment comes from conscious choices

Chapters

• 00:00 Intentional Living and Divine Feminine
• 02:22 The Many Hats of Milca Perez
• 05:00 Pivotal Moments and Reflections
• 09:04 Living Intentionally and Sustainability
• 10:27 The Divine Feminine and Matriarchal Societies
• 14:03 Female Leadership and Nature's Wisdom
• 15:53 Community Wisdom and Collective Care
• 18:00 Lessons from Ancestral Figures
• 22:02 Disconnection from Nature's Lessons
• 24:45 The Role of Women in Modern Society
• 26:35 Leadership and Divine Feminine
• 27:04 Feminine Leadership and Gender Equality
• 29:01 Raising Boys with Female Energy
• 30:12 Honoring Feminine and Masculine Energies
• 33:29 Self-Trust and Intuition in Leadership
• 35:22 Impact of Consumerism and Fast Fashion
• 38:37 Empowerment and Conscious Choices
• 45:38 Taking Your Power Back
• 48:16 Soul Sovereignty and Wisdom

Takeaways

• Self-acceptance through fashion
• The role of personal style in self-acceptance and confidence

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Identity and Intentional Dressing
• 05:13 Finding Personal Style and Self-Expression
• 11:08 Behavior Change and Self-Discovery
• 19:09 Wardrobe Evolution and Self-Acceptance

Takeaways

• Intentional Living
• Life Lessons
• Redefining Success
• Confidence in Different Life Stages
• Impact of Societal Expectations
• Reflection and Self-Awareness Power of reflection
• Uncovering true desires
• Seeking support
• Letting go of materialism
• Empowering the next generation

Chapters

• 00:00 Finding Purpose in Different Life Stages
• 01:04:51 Taking Back Your Power

In this episode of Take Your Power Back, Eve sits down with Susie Taffe, founder of Scanties and passionate advocate for authenticity, intuition, and self-trust.

Like many women, Susie spent years navigating expectations, responsibilities, and external pressures before realising that the answers she was seeking were already within her.

Through career pivots, international moves, personal challenges, and business ownership, she learned the importance of slowing down, tuning in, and allowing her inner voice to lead.

Together, Eve and Susie explore what it means to live authentically in a world that often encourages us to disconnect from ourselves. They discuss intuition, vulnerability, courage, self-compassion, and the power of making small, intentional choices that align with who we truly are.

This conversation is a reminder that authenticity isn't something we find—it's something we return to.

In this episode you'll discover:

✨ How to recognise and trust your intuition

✨ Why so many women become disconnected from their inner voice

✨ The major life shifts that helped Susie reconnect with herself

✨ Practical ways to slow down and check in with what matters

✨ How vulnerability creates deeper relationships and meaningful connection

✨ The hidden expectations that keep women stuck in self-doubt

✨ Why self-compassion is essential for growth and transformation

✨ How small, conscious choices can lead to a more intentional life

Whether you're navigating change, feeling overwhelmed, questioning your next step, or simply craving a deeper connection with yourself, this conversation will inspire you to trust your instincts and honor your own path.

Because taking your power back begins with learning to trust yourself.

Take Your Power Back. One conscious choice at a time.

Subscribe for more conversations on intentional living, self-discovery, authenticity, confidence, purpose, style, sustainability, and conscious choices.

#ProjectEmeraldCollective #TakeYourPowerBack #IntentionalLiving #SelfTrust #Authenticity #PersonalGrowth #WomenSupportingWomen #Intuition #Confidence #Purpose #Mindset #SusieTaffe