THE SLOW DOWN

Chloë is best known for her leadership in the creator economy as the founder and CEO of SHFT, a talent agency she grew into a multi-award-winning, 6-figure business while advocating for fairness, inclusivity, and integrity across the industry. In 2024 she was recognised on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for her impact in influencer marketing and entrepreneurship. Last year, Chloë chose to exit her company, take a break and channel her expertise into coaching. She now works as a Mindset and Business Coach, supporting entrepreneurs, leaders, and creatives to build clarity, confidence, and sustainable success.I don’t think we hear enough empowering stories of successful founders stepping away from their businesses. The narrative seems to simply be that we should build and gain recognition and money - but what happens next? What happens when you outgrow that idea you had in your early 20s, or when you don’t feel challenged or fulfilled anymore? Leaving a successful business means going against the grain of our culture  in so many ways - and then what do you do with that newfound space? In this episode we cover: Growing up in Peckham & young entrepreneurship Dance & the creative importance of hobbies Carving a path in influencer agencies Black Lives Matter: her turning point Creating SHIFT , success stories & Forbes 30u30Waking up unhappy at 30 Autism & ADHD diagnosis Why and how she left her business What she did while off social media Why coaching is her next move Mentions: Laban Dance School - https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/Spirited Away, Studio Ghibli (2001) Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloedownes/

Stefanie Sword-Williams is an award-winning founder, speaker and author of the book  F*ck Being Humble: Why self-promotion isn’t a dirty word. A global mission, movement and training consultancy inspiring individuals to be unapologetically proud of their achievements and overcome the fear of self-promotion.She has spoken at the offices of Apple, Netflix, Unilever, Nike, Google, L’oreal and Microsoft,  at Universities for  the Wharton Business School in New York to  London College of Fashion, trained over 700 people in her Side Hustle School programme, has been Forbes 30 under 30, recently won the ‘Future is Female’ LinkedIn award for her positive contributions and impact on the industry and did a TEDx on why the world needs to be less humble. Stef’s support towards those who were unemployed during the pandemic led to her being invited to become a Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts and she continues to reinvest profits and time into community projects to help improve the lives of many.Her new book is called The Career Comedown. In this episode we cover: Switching from agency work to self-employedThe reality behind the ‘big’ moments Managing your own expectations on growth  Why someone needs to pay for your recovery time The career comedown - are you feeling it? Finding Ease in a world that values “Hard” work The power of having a business coach Mentions: Surreal - cereal brand Tiny Experiences by Anne-Laure Le CunffLinks: LinkedinInstagram (Personal)Instagram (F*ck Being Humble)

Karimah Hassan is a British-Yemeni artist, writer and performer whose practice spans large- scale painting, spoken word, and socially-driven storytelling. Trained as an architect but called to storytelling, she paints large-scale portraits that vibrate with colour, emotion, and spirit. Her work has been exhibited across London, New York, Toronto, and the Middle East, with collectors ranging from Vogue editors to global institutions. Karimah’s art is an invitation: to belong, to feel, to show up. Through her spoken word performances, poetic newsletters like The Gremlins, and weekly 'poem casts', she explores the complexities of identity, visibility, and healing. Her practice is communal and grounded, often unfolding in public spaces with people watching, contributing, or simply witnessing. Karimah’s redefinition of success isn’t measured in accolades — but in connection, in creativity without compromise, and in returning again and again to the joy of making. On The Slow Down, she speaks on finding rhythm in chaos, why beauty is an act of resistance, and how to stay soft in a world that demands you harden.In this episode we cover: Growing up mixed race in Wales Architecture to Art Portraits of hundreds of strangers during COVID Art as Therapy Reclaiming our cycles Meeting Vera Wang on the EurostarMentions: The Artist’s way, Julia CameronLetters to a Young Poet - Rilke Inception (2010)City of God (2002)Rothko room at the Tate Links: https://www.instagram.com/karimah.hassan/?hl=enhttps://www.karimahhassan.com/ Season 3 of The Slow Down is created in partnership with period and cycle tracking app Clue. Especially for The Slow Down listeners, CLUE is offering a 75% discount on the annual Clue Plus subscription via their website. To redeem, go to helloclue.com and enter the code SLOWDOWN at checkout). So, download Clue today in the App Store or Google Play, and start making space for the signals your body’s been sending all along.Link to sign up with discount already included: https://helloclue.com/login?discount_code=SLOWDOWN

New member of the prestigious NatGeo Explorers: listen to Alice Aedy share her journey and mission on climate and social justice storytelling. Saving the planet is now, in part, a communications challenge and Alice Aedy has risen to the occasion.Alice Aedy is a documentary filmmaker, photographer, and co-founder of Earthrise Studio — a creative agency focused on climate and social justice storytelling. With a camera as her entry point into activism, Alice has travelled from refugee camps in Europe to the frontlines of climate change around the world, capturing stories that cut through apathy and ignite action. Her work has been featured in Vogue, The Guardian, and The New York Times, and she’s collaborated with organisations like the UN Refugee Agency and Extinction Rebellion. But beyond powerful visuals, Alice is also deeply reflective — asking not only what kind of world we’re building, but how we live and work as changemakers within it. In a world addicted to speed and profitability, Alice represents a new kind of leadership: intentional, collaborative, and rooted in purpose. On The Slow Down, she opens up about the personal cost of urgency, her creative process, and how redefining success means honouring your values as much as your voice.In this episode we cover: Becoming a photojournalist in a male-dominated space Learning to protect your emotional space at work Building Earth Rise Studio Becoming at NATGEO Explorer Meeting Jane Goodall & Sir David Attenborough Why long-term activism means pacing yourself Mentions: Photograph of Alan Kurdi Photo journalist Anastasia Taylor- Lind Museum of the UN Earth Percent Seat at the Table - Earthrise Studio The Salt Of The Earth - documentary on Sebastião SalgadoLinks: https://www.instagram.com/aliceaedy/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/earthrise.studio/?hl=enSeason 3 of The Slow Down is created in partnership with period and cycle tracking app Clue. Especially for The Slow Down listeners, CLUE is offering a 75% discount on the annual Clue Plus subscription via their website. To redeem, go to helloclue.com and enter the code SLOWDOWN at checkout). So, download Clue today in the App Store or Google Play, and start making space for the signals your body’s been sending all along.Link to sign up with discount already included: https://helloclue.com/login?discount_code=SLOWDOWN

Sarah Langford is a former criminal barrister turned regenerative farming advocate, writer, and mother of two. After years in the courtroom, she traded legal briefs for muddy boots, returning to her family’s land to learn how to heal both soil and society. Her acclaimed book Rooted weaves personal experience with the future of sustainable farming in Britain and has become a rallying cry for a more conscious relationship with land. Sarah now bridges two worlds—justice and agriculture—bringing insight, clarity, and urgency to conversations around food, climate, and rural resilience. Her legal career is coming full circle as she works and advocates for agricultural justice in Britain. In this episode we cover: The desire to be a ‘high flyer’ Turning to writing as a mother of 2 What organic farming taught her about patience How tech and nature can work together Why urban people that care about wellness should sit with farmers Our in-built reaction to soil that we are losing Why success is reaching outwards to others Mentions:In Your Defence - Sarah Langford Sarah’s piece in the FT on wellness culture and farming: https://www.ft.com/content/ba2c3d35-7428-4e3b-9630-468498cdbbca Links: https://www.instagram.com/sarahlangfordwrites/?hl=enSeason 3 of The Slow Down is created in partnership with period and cycle tracking app Clue. Especially for The Slow Down listeners, CLUE is offering a 75% discount on the annual Clue Plus subscription via their website. To redeem, go to helloclue.com and enter the code SLOWDOWN at checkout). So, download Clue today in the App Store or Google Play, and start making space for the signals your body’s been sending all along.Link to sign up with discount already included: https://helloclue.com/login?discount_code=SLOWDOWN