Process The Podcast

Arielle Thomas
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Weekly

Welcome to Process the podcast, where we welcome guests of all creative disciplines and bridge the gap between art and commerce as leaders in their lane. We dive into their unique process to actualize their ideas and get our hands dirty with - the work. Host Arielle Thomas hopes you love these creative conversations with some of the most celebrated names in the Australian fashion, media, and design landscape!

  1. 2d ago

    Your Next 100 Days Decide Your 2027

    “You don’t get in the room by waiting to be invited.” - Arielle Thomas Feeling lost in your career, stuck, or unsure what to do next? In this Process Petite, Arielle Thomas, motion director, social strategist and founder of Cinema Thom, shares what happened after the biggest contract of her career came to an end and she lost her confidence and her direction. She talks through how one episode with Merit Beauty’s founding CMO Aila Morin changed the course of the podcast. She also explains why she decided no one was going to hand her the next chapter, and how a simple idea about “your next 100 days” reshaped her mindset, motivation and plans for 2027. Recorded the night before a four-week, four-city recording trip across LA, New York, London and Paris… This episode is for anyone looking for career direction, motivation or guidance. That includes creatives, founders, freelancers, and anyone in their 30s still figuring out what they want. Arielle covers investing in yourself when there’s no client and no brief, why “don’t ask, don’t get” changed how she cold emails, and admitting when you need help. She also explains why building your own seat at the table beats waiting for permission, and how to figure out what you want by starting with what you don’t. If you need a push to stop waiting and start going after it, this one’s for you. INSIDE THE EPISODE: 00:00 — Intro: Why I’m Leaving for LA Tonight 00:41 — Losing My Biggest Client & Feeling Lost 01:24 — The Episode That Changed Everything 02:34 — No One Is Going to Hand It to You 04:25 — Your Next 100 Days Decide Your 2027 05:46 — Don’t Ask, Don’t Get 07:53 — The Joy of Cold Emailing 08:38 — Inside a Four-Week Recording Marathon 10:14 — Investing in Yourself: “I Am the Brief” 11:10 — Admitting You Need Help 11:42 — Build Your Own Seat at the Table 13:55 — Feeling Lost? Start With What You Don’t Want 14:48 — What’s Next for Process Episodes Mentioned: Aila Morin Estée Lalonde Jamie Green Coco Mocoe Enjoyed this Episode?Join our Community! Your host, Arielle Thomas, on Instagram, @arielle.thomas Us, on Instagram, @processthepodcast Whatsapp Community @processthepodcast Got someone you’d love Arielle to interview on this trip? Comment down below or DM us on Instagram. Follow us to get notified every time a new episode drops every Tuesday.See you at the next one! This episode includes references to third-party brands, books, publications and public figures discussed for educational commentary. All rights and ownership belong to their respective copyright holders. This content is utilized under Fair Use principles and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with Process The Podcast. For takedowns or copyright inquiries, please contact hello@cinemathom.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Your Next 100 Days Decide Your 2027

  2. Oct 27

    Estée Lalonde on Building Mirror Water and finally asking for help

    “I love a trier. It doesn’t matter where it goes. If you are actually out there trying, that’s the special sauce right there.” - Estée Lalonde Estée Lalonde has spent 16 years as a content creator, building an audience of more than a million YouTube subscribers. When she launched her body care brand Mirror Water, she’d never had a corporate job and had never used a spreadsheet. Five years later, the brand is mostly self-funded and has grown entirely organically, with no paid media until recently. It’s stocked in Space NK, Liberty, Selfridges and Cult Beauty. In this episode, Estée gets honest about the difference between building an audience and building a business. She talks about why followers don’t automatically become customers, why she still doesn’t take a salary from her own brand, and what it really takes to launch a beauty brand on a fraction of the usual budget. For aspiring female entrepreneurs and creators who want to build a brand that stands on its own, this is a candid look at creator-led brands and retail. Estée shares the founder mistakes she’d undo (hello, expensive office), how landing her first stockist and one glowing press review changed everything, and why she’s always asking other founders for help. She also covers how she weighs raising investment against staying independent, how she splits her time between Mirror Water and her YouTube channel, and how she’s keeping the brand distinct on an increasingly crowded body care shelf. She also opens up about the year she finally asked for help, why “good enough” isn’t good enough anymore, and why networking in person still matters. INSIDE THE EPISODE: 00:00 — Intro: Meet Estée Lalonde 02:26 — The Year She Finally Asked for Help 09:48 — Nobody’s Coming to Save You 12:59 — Why You Have to Be in the Room 18:45 — Why “Good Enough” Isn’t Good Enough Anymore 23:16 — Founder Mistakes, Motherhood & Having It All 30:07 — Falling Back in Love With YouTube 33:07 — How Mirror Water Started 37:09 — A Brand That Never Tells You to Do More 41:03 — Raising Money vs Staying Self-Funded 44:42 — Running a Brand and a Channel at Once 47:45 — Why Followers Don’t Equal Customers 50:33 — What Moved the Needle: Stockists, Press & Founder Friends 53:55 — Standing Out on a Crowded Shelf 56:32 — Setting the Tone for What’s Next + Where to Find Estée Connect with our Guest: Estée Lalonde on Instagram: @esteelalonde Mirror Water on Instagram: @mirrorwater.earth Enjoyed this Episode?Join our Community! Your host, Arielle Thomas, on Instagram, @arielle.thomas Us, on Instagram, @processthepodcast Whatsapp Community @processthepodcast Follow us to get notified every time a new episode drops every Tuesday. See you at the next one! This episode includes references to third-party brands, retailers, creators and publications (including Space NK, Liberty, Selfridges and Cult Beauty) discussed for educational commentary. Nothing in this episode is financial or investment advice. All rights and ownership belong to their respective copyright holders. This content is utilized under Fair Use principles and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with Process The Podcast. For takedowns or copyright inquiries, please contact hello@cinemathom.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Estée Lalonde on Building Mirror Water and finally asking for help

  3. Oct 20

    How Saie Built a Diehard Beauty Community

    “The audience comes last, so that they can come first.” - Erin Starkweather How does a beauty brand that only launched in November 2019 end up selling one Glowy Super Gel every 10 seconds at Sephora? Erin Starkweather, Creative Director of Saie Beauty, has been there even before day one. She started out packing boxes in her apartment on Sunday nights, and today she shapes every visual touchpoint of the brand. Before Saie, Erin worked at Cap Beauty in New York and as a beauty consultant, until founder Laney Crowell brought her in. In this episode, she takes us inside the creative world of one of beauty’s most-loved brands: “easy, effortless and elevated” makeup for skin that looks like yours, only better. Erin breaks down how a beauty campaign comes together, from the product brief and mood board to the Super Suede Eyeshadow launch starring Helena Christensen, inspired by 90s Steven Meisel imagery. She explains why Saie shoots its baked powders in Italy, how she plans Sephora fixtures and visual merchandising a year in advance while staying nimble, and how often the team shoots to keep content fresh. She also shares how Saie built a diehard community through events, its Clean Beauty Crew, an arts and culture program, and its livestreamed Makeup Class, plus advice for small beauty brands growing a fandom on a low budget. Rounding it out: what it’s like to choose in-house over consulting, what she learned from Laney about not taking no for an answer, and what’s next as Saie launches in Sephora UK. If you work in beauty marketing, brand building or creative direction, or you just love Saie, this one’s for you. INSIDE THE EPISODE: 00:00 — Intro: Meet Saie’s Creative Director 02:55 — How Saie’s Creative Process Works 08:18 — Why “The Audience Comes Last” 09:43 — Why Saie Shoots in Italy 11:13 — From Packing Boxes to Planning a Year Ahead 15:54 — Super Suede Eyeshadow & the One-Shade Look 18:47 — Behind the Helena Christensen Campaign 25:15 — Let’s Build a Beauty Campaign 28:55 — How Saie Built a Diehard Community 34:13 — What Moved the Needle: From Launch to Sephora 38:01 — In-House vs Consulting & Not Taking No 41:58 — Launching Saie in the UK 44:43 — Saie’s Makeup Class & Where to Shop Connect with our Guest: Erin Starkweather on Instagram: @erinstarkweather Saie on Instagram: @saiebeauty Shop Saie: saiehello.com Enjoyed this Episode?Join our Community! Your host, Arielle Thomas, on Instagram, @arielle.thomas Us, on Instagram, @processthepodcast Whatsapp Community @processthepodcast Follow us to get notified every time a new episode drops every Tuesday. See you at the next one! This episode includes references to third-party brands, retailers, publications, campaigns, and photographic works (including Sephora and the work of Steven Meisel) discussed for educational commentary. All rights and ownership belong to their respective copyright holders. This content is utilized under Fair Use principles and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with Process The Podcast. For takedowns or copyright inquiries, please contact hello@cinemathom.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    How Saie Built a Diehard Beauty Community

  4. Oct 14

    Shared Stages: Does Engagement Make Money with Sally Obermeder

    “Likes are a beautiful vanity metric... but if your wallet’s not killing it, why are we doing it?” — Sally Obermeder This episode was a part of a juicy panel at the Social Summit Manly 2026. We can’t wait to take you behind the curtain with Sally Obermeder, founder of Ziish (formerly Swiish)!  Can you actually get paid for likes on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook? Does 100k likes mean you’re making money? Sally Obermeder, former Channel 7 entertainment reporter turned co-founder of wellness brand Ziish (formerly Swiish), says the answer is no, not on their own. After a stage three cancer diagnosis the day before giving birth, Sally and her sister turned a green smoothie blog into one of Australia’s best-known wellness brands. It now has around 20 products, stocks in all 500 Priceline stores, and launched into Boots in the UK. Recorded live at Social Summit, this fireside chat with Arielle closes the gap between likes, engagement and real sales. Sally breaks down exactly how to monetize your social media following and turn engagement into revenue. She covers why the algorithm is “pot luck” and why your email list is the land you actually own. She also shares how she builds lead magnets that cost $0 (including the dopamine menu that landed her on Sunrise), how ManyChat comment automations grow your audience, and why “the best way to sell is to not sell.” Other topics include how to collab with bigger brands, how she tests content organically with trial reels before spending on Meta ads, what makes a video ad a “banger,” and how to run IRL events on a small budget. It finishes with live audience Q&A, where Sally gives on-the-spot marketing advice to a small business florist and a B2B consultant. If you’ve ever wondered how creators and small businesses really make money online, this one is for you. This episode features a big shout out to our friends at Many Chat! If you loved the sound of Many Chat in this episode, use our link to get your first month FREE with Many Chat Pro!  CLICK HERE! - https://manychat.partnerlinks.io/60dpckpyh4zt-ogcg6e  FREE DOWNLOAD Get the free Beyond the Likes checklist: 6 steps to turn social media attention into revenue INSIDE THE EPISODE: 00:00 — Intro: Meet Sally Obermeder 02:57 — Likes vs. Money & Owning Your Audience 07:45 — Lead Gen That Costs $0: The Dopamine Menu 10:30 — Reaching “Sally”: Wellness-Adjacent Content 13:19 — ManyChat, Collabs & Dating Up in Business 17:39 — Giveaways, Email & the Art of Not Selling 22:21 — Ads: Test Organically, Then Back Winners 26:04 — What Makes a Video a Banger 28:50 — IRL Events: Spend Where It Matters 33:19 — Live Q&A: Sales Advice for Small Businesses Connect with our Guest: Sally Obermeder on Instagram: @sallyobermeder Ziish on Instagram: @ziishofficial Enjoyed this Episode? Join our Community! Your host, Arielle Thomas, on Instagram, @arielle.thomas Us, on Instagram, @processthepodcast Whatsapp Community @processthepodcast Follow us to get notified every time a new episode drops every Tuesday. See you at the next one! This episode includes references to third-party brands, platforms and retailers (including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook/Meta, ManyChat, Priceline and Boots) discussed for educational commentary. Nothing in this episode is financial advice. All rights and ownership belong to their respective copyright holders. This content is utilized under Fair Use principles and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with Process The Podcast. For takedowns or copyright inquiries, please contact hello@cinemathom.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Shared Stages: Does Engagement Make Money with Sally Obermeder

  5. Oct 6

    Jamie Green is strapped to a rocket ship, from mag covers to Oprah

    "It's all relationships... learn the camera, definitely. But then invest your time in relationships." — Jamie Green Jamie Green didn't pick up a camera until 2017. Before that, he was building a social enterprise sleepwear label in Melbourne. A move to Byron Bay, photos of his wife for Instagram, and one brand asking "can you do that for us?" turned into a whirlwind career. He has shot campaigns across Europe, a GQ cover with Cody Simpson, Oprah for People, and celebrity work for Netflix, all while being based in a small surf town in Byron Bay. In this episode, Jamie and Arielle get into the side of photography that has nothing to do with settings. They cover why building trust with talent matters more than a technically perfect shot, how he burnt out shooting five days a week through Covid and stepped back from his career, and the beach swim that led to shooting Oprah. He also explains how meeting Greg Williams changed his whole approach, and what "rolling the dice" on a Paris trip actually looks like. It's an honest look at building a global photography career on relationships, the long game, and the myth of overnight success. INSIDE THE EPISODE: 0:00 — Intro: Meet Jamie Green 01:10 — From a Sleepwear Label to Shooting for Spell 04:50 — The Covid Boom, Paris & the GQ Cover Call 08:09 — How Jamie Builds Trust with Celebrities 12:39 — Tethering, Burnout & Building the Byron Barn 17:30 — Hitting Pause, Then Shooting Oprah 21:27 — Greg Williams & Going Documentary-Style 24:44 — Rolling the Dice in Paris 29:12 — The Long Game: Seeds, Euros & Family Travel 35:26 — Fluid Style, Big Goals & Proving Doubters Wrong 41:39 — Artists, Brands & Reading the Room 45:07 — Shooting for the Archive with Sam 48:56 — NYC Time & the Overnight Success Myth 53:45 — The Netflix Airport Dash 56:54 — Where to Find Jamie, Film Plans & "Stills Only" Connect with our Guest: Jamie Green on Instagram: @jamie_.green Jamie's website: jamiegreen.com.au Enjoyed this Episode?Join our Community! Your host, Arielle Thomas, on Instagram, @arielle.thomas Us, on Instagram, @processthepodcast Whatsapp Community @processthepodcast Follow us to get notified every time a new episode drops every Tuesday. See you at the next one! This episode includes references to third-party publications, brands, celebrities and photographic works (including the work of other photographers) discussed for educational commentary. All rights and ownership belong to their respective copyright holders. This content is utilized under Fair Use principles and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with Process The Podcast. For takedowns or copyright inquiries, please contact hello@cinemathom.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Jamie Green is strapped to a rocket ship, from mag covers to Oprah

  6. Sep 29

    Styling for Prada, Cartier & Bvlgari: The Many Hats of a Celebrity Stylist with Jess Pecoraro

    Jess Pecoraro didn't know what a stylist was until she walked into the Cosmopolitan fashion cupboard. By 23, she had worked her way through some of Australia's biggest magazines. Then she walked away from her dream job with no clients, no title and no safety net, betting she could build something bigger on her own. Today she's one of Sydney's most in-demand celebrity stylists and fashion brand consultants. Her work spans Fashion Week runways, GQ Men of the Year, NGV x Cartier Gala,  luxury trunk shows, brand consulting and private clients on retainer. In this episode, Jess breaks down the many hats a stylist wears beyond the clothes themselves. On a runway she's across the fittings, castings, hair and makeup briefs, music and lighting. Brands bring her in before a collection is even designed ("700 tops for one pair of pants"), and she tells her favourite clients to "just tell me the budget." She's honest about cash flow, the Covid-era business she launched and closed, learning to be on camera, and why she kept her second pregnancy quiet to protect her client base. It's a rare, candid look at building a service business in a small market, and what "effortless" style really takes behind the scenes. INSIDE THE EPISODE: 00:00 — Intro: From Cosmo Intern to Stylist 04:11 — Quitting at 23 to Go Freelance0 9:04 — The Money Side Nobody Teaches 11:34 — A Covid Business & Camera Fear 16:16 — How Stylists Really Get Paid 19:10 — Why Brands Need a Stylist 23:13 — Big Projects & Private Clients 28:18 — Inside Fashion Week & GQ 39:09 — Motherhood Without Losing Clients 44:58 — The Effort Behind "Effortless" 48:49 — Can a Styling Business Scale? 54:08 — Fave Aussie Brands + Where to Find Jess Connect with our Guest: Jess Pecoraro on Instagram: @jess_pecoraro Jess on Substack: @bluejeansanddiamonds Brand & business enquiries: jess@jesspecoraro.com Enjoyed this Episode?Join our Community! Your host, Arielle Thomas, on Instagram, @arielle.thomas Us, on Instagram, @processthepodcast Whatsapp Community @processthepodcast Follow us to get notified every time a new episode drops every Tuesday. See you at the next one! This episode includes references to third-party fashion houses, publications, events and brands discussed for educational commentary. All rights and ownership belong to their respective copyright holders. This content is utilized under Fair Use principles and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with Process The Podcast. For takedowns or copyright inquiries, please contact hello@cinemathom.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Styling for Prada, Cartier & Bvlgari: The Many Hats of a Celebrity Stylist with Jess Pecoraro

  7. Sep 22

    Founder and Expert-Led Video Content: The Complete Framework for 2026

    If you're a founder, business owner, or the person on the marketing team who keeps getting told "we need more founder videos" , this episode is the actual framework, not just the advice why & how to do it. In this Petit, Arielle breaks down exactly how she produces founder-led and expert-led video content for her own retainer clients, including real case studies from Sheila the Label and McMullen & Co. She covers two filming methods (the interview approach and the "chat-to-camera" method), why founder-led content is becoming the biggest competitive edge a small business has against AI-generated content and fast-fashion-style brand positioning, and closes with 15 specific content prompts you can use immediately free download linked below. In this episode, you'll learn: Why founder-led video content is becoming essential for SEO and AI-search visibility, not just social engagement Two proven filming methods for founder and expert-led videos — no crew or script required How one interview becomes 5+ pieces of content (hero video, B-roll, trial reels) 15 ready-to-use prompts for founders who don't know what to say on camera A real distribution and posting cadence you can actually stick to INSIDE THE EPISODE: 00:00 — Intro: Why Founder Videos Matter Now 03:36 — The Market Shift: Why Brands Like Zara Are Repositioning 05:18 — The Emotional Reality of Showing Up on Camera 09:40 — Method One: The Interview Approach 09:51 — Case Study: Alice McMullen — One Sitting Becomes 5 Videos 14:44 — Case Study Two: Claire & Sheila the Label 18:38 — Method Two: Chat-to-Camera ("Yapping") 20:07 — The Real Secret: Answer, Don't Announce 22:37 — The 15 Prompts, Part 1: Curiosity, Opinions & What You See Differently 27:16 — The 15 Prompts, Part 2: Credentials, Principles & the Future You're Building 31:59 — Distribution: Post Everywhere, Test & Commit to One a Week 32:53 — Recap & Call to Action Get the Free Founder Video Prompt PDF here: https://bit.ly/4jfri4E Enjoyed this Episode? Join our Community! Your host, Arielle Thomas, on Instagram, @arielle.thomas https://bit.ly/4v21hby Us, on Instagram, @processthepodcast https://bit.ly/4xJ1EKl Whatsapp Community @processthepodcast https://bit.ly/44pdcFf Cinema Thom: @cinema_thom https://bit.ly/4dPjtz4   DM us if you want this done for you on retainer  Follow us to get notified every time a new episode drops every Tuesday.See you at the next one! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Founder and Expert-Led Video Content: The Complete Framework for 2026

  8. Sep 22

    Why Fashion Still Chases Film: Inside Brydie Mack's World

    Most photographers shooting fashion campaigns today work in digital, instant previews, instant safety net. Brydie Mack, known to her audience as Wolf Cub, doesn't. She shoots everything on film: three to four rolls per look, five different cameras on set as backup, and a vague idea of what she's actually got until the lab sends it back. In this episode, Brydie breaks down exactly what it takes to specialize in film in an industry that's mostly moved on from it, the real cost and risk of every shoot, why brands are chasing the medium-format, hand-printed look right now, the airport scanner mistake that can ruin a week of work, and her honest take on why AI is about to make "handmade" the new luxury. She also opens up about stepping back from photography as her next chapter, and gives us the first real look at Lens, the film photography course she's building to pass on everything she knows. INSIDE THE EPISODE: 00:00 — About Brydie and the Wolf Club Origin 04:47 — On-set Politics 08:03 — The Cost & Risk of Film Photography 09:11 — Photography Heroes 13:52 — Anatomy of a shoot 15:49 — Camera Recommendations for beginners 18:56 — Film Stocks and Flying with Film 22:43 — Managing Shoot Days 24:33 — Dream Clients & US Visa Problems 29:08 — Life Outside Work 34:16 — Boundaries on travelling for work 35:58 — A Photographer’s Dream Model 39:21 — Pitching Jobs 40:20 — Photography Inspiration 44:59 — Shooting Nudes 52:53 — AI in Photo & Film Industry 59:34 — Szilvesztre Mako 1:00:29 — Film Lab Recommendations 1:03:36 — Advice for aspiring film photographers 1:04:15 — Connect with Brydie Join the Waitlist for Lens: Brydie's upcoming Film Photography Course  Connect with our Guest: Brydie Mack (Wolf Cub) on Instagram @wolfcubwolfcub Website: brydiemack.com Enjoyed this Episode? Join our Community! Your host, Arielle Thomas, on Instagram, @arielle.thomas Us, on Instagram, @processthepodcast Whatsapp Community @processthepodcast Follow us to get notified every time a new episode drops every Tuesday. See you at the next one! This episode references other photographers and their work for educational commentary. All rights and ownership belong to their respective copyright holders. This content is utilized under Fair Use principles and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with Process The Podcast. For takedowns or copyright inquiries, please contact hello@cinemathom.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Why Fashion Still Chases Film: Inside Brydie Mack's World
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About

Welcome to Process the podcast, where we welcome guests of all creative disciplines and bridge the gap between art and commerce as leaders in their lane. We dive into their unique process to actualize their ideas and get our hands dirty with - the work. Host Arielle Thomas hopes you love these creative conversations with some of the most celebrated names in the Australian fashion, media, and design landscape!

Information

  • Creator
    Arielle Thomas
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    158
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Process The Podcast

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