Stretton Unfiltered

Stretton Unfiltered

Welcome to Stretton Unfiltered. The podcast where fashion, purpose, and unapologetic conversation meet. Hosted by Annah and Sami Stretton, this series takes you behind the seams of a legacy brand and a powerful social impact journey, sharing the stories, lessons, and voices that inspire change

  1. 1D AGO

    Ep 15: From Fear to Freedom - Nikki’s Story

    What does it really look like to love someone through chaos… and still find your way back to yourself? In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, we sit down with Nikki, her story will stay with you long after the conversation ends. From a stable upbringing to a life shaped by low self-worth, abusive relationships, and years of fear, Nikki bravely shares what it was like to live inside a world that felt impossible to escape. We talk about the quiet realities so many women carry, staying when it hurts, protecting children while breaking inside, and the invisible weight of believing you’re not worthy of more. Nikki opens up about life alongside Ben through prison, addiction, violence, and the turning point that changed everything. Not overnight, not easily, but through accountability, honesty, and the slow rebuild of two people choosing something different. This is a conversation about survival, about what it costs to stay and rebuilding yourself from nothing. It’s also about hope. About forgiveness. About the possibility of change, even when everything says otherwise. And most importantly, it’s a reminder that if you are in something hard, you are not alone. There is support. There are people who will stand beside you. Taking that first step is enough. If you’ve ever questioned your worth, stayed longer than you should have, or wondered if life can look different, this conversation is for you. Resonated with something in this conversation? Explore more of the work we do with RAW here: www.raw.org.nz Where to get help? waikatowomensrefuge.co.nz 24 HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE: 07 855 1569 Connect with us on socials 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    46 min
  2. APR 1

    Ep 14: Holding It All Together Until It Falls Apart - Nadene's Journey

    Some of the women who fall the hardest…are the ones holding everything together. From the outside, it can look like capability. Success. Control. But underneath, it can be pressure. Responsibility. And decisions made quietly, just to get through. In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Nadene shares the story behind what happens when that pressure builds over time… and eventually gives way. Not all at once. Not dramatically.But slowly. A business growing faster than the support around it. A refusal to ask for help. A belief that it can still be fixed. Until it can’t. What follows is a journey through the justice system, prison, and everything that comes after.The reality of being seen differently.The weight of rebuilding.And the quiet work of starting again. Because this is not a story about failure. It is about what happens when capable women carry too much, for too long…and what it takes to rebuild from there. Through RAW, this is something we see often. Not women defined by their worst moment. But women who choose, step by step, to move beyond it. Take a moment to listen. Resonated with something in this conversation? Explore more of the work we do with RAW here: ⁠www.raw.org.nz⁠ Where to get help? ⁠waikatowomensrefuge.co.nz⁠ ⁠24 HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE: 07 855 1569⁠ Connect with us on socials 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 Join our VIP page 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    42 min
  3. MAR 25

    Ep 13: Inside The Annah Stretton Retail Experience

    Some days in retail are about beautiful clothes.But at Annah Stretton, it has always been about something much more. In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah and Sami sit down with Angela Gilmour, who spent 17 years in their flagship Christchurch store, to take you inside the Annah Stretton retail experience. This is a brand built on the belief that clothing should be designed not just for a woman’s shape, but for her story.That what she wears can lift her up, restore confidence, and help her step back into her own light. But what truly sets this experience apart is the people behind it. Our retail teams are not there to simply sell clothes.They are carefully chosen, developed, and empowered to deliver something far greater, an experience that meets women exactly where they are, and helps them see themselves again. Angela shares what really happens behind the fitting room curtain…The quiet moments.The turning points.The transformations. For business owners, this episode offers a powerful look at a retail model that prioritises connection over transaction, and shows how investing in exceptional sales teams can elevate an entire brand experience. Because when your people are exceptional, your retail becomes unforgettable. This conversation is a reminder that great retail is not just about product.It is about purpose, people, and the courage to do it differently. Connect with us on socials 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 Join our VIP page 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    54 min
  4. MAR 17

    Ep 12: Passion, Pivot & Closure – A Chat With Millie Rose On Building, Thriving, And Letting Go

    What does it take to build something special? To dream up a space that's part cupcake haven, part fashion sanctuary, all heart, and actually pull it off? In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, we sit down with Millie Rose founder, dreamer, doer, and the unstoppable force behind Millie Rose Boutique in Timaru. From emailing her way into her very first supplier relationship, to baking through the night and helping hundreds of women feel good in their own skin, Millie unpacks the unfiltered reality behind the six-year journey that was equal parts hustle, hope, and heartbreak. We talk about the power (and pain) of saying YES, the lessons that arrive with every “no,” and what it means to pivot and keep going, until you know it’s time to walk away. It’s about community, courage, creative burnout, and the quiet strength it takes to call it when your head and your heart are pulling in different directions. If you’ve ever had to back yourself when no one else would, reinvent on the fly, or redefine what success really looks like , this conversation is for you. Connect with us on socials⁠🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram⁠🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook🌸 Join our VIP page🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖Rag Trade To Mag Trade:⁠Ebook available here⁠Order the physical book here 📚Grit Before Grace:⁠Ebook available here⁠Order the physical book here⁠ 📚Wise Heart:⁠Ebook available here⁠⁠Order the physical book here⁠ 📚

    49 min
  5. EP11 : Give To Gain - Happy International Women's Day

    MAR 11

    EP11 : Give To Gain - Happy International Women's Day

    International Women’s Day got us thinking. About women. About impact. About purpose. And about why Life Changing Clothes has always meant so much more than fashion.In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, we unpack a simple idea that has shaped so much of what we do Give to Gain.Not financial gain. Not applause. Not recognition.But the kind of gain that comes from showing up for other women. From backing them when it matters. From building connection, opening doors, and creating change in the places where it’s needed most.We talk honestly about the work behind the work. The social impact journey. The wins, the failures, the lessons that only come from doing the mahi.From RAW to Hopefish to Sisterhood Social, this conversation goes right to the heart of why supporting women in all spaces matters so deeply to who we are.If you’ve ever believed that giving your time, your voice, or your energy can change lives — this one is for you. Connect with us on socials 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 Join our VIP page 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    37 min
  6. Ep 10: The Launch Of Sisterhood Social

    MAR 4

    Ep 10: The Launch Of Sisterhood Social

    This week on Stretton Unfiltered, Sami and Annah dive into the story behind Sisterhood Social, a new platform designed to help women over 40 build meaningful friendships and connections. Fresh off the back of their very first Sisterhood Social event, they reflect on what happened when nearly 40 women walked into a room full of strangers and left feeling connected, inspired, and part of something bigger. From courageous solo arrivals to fast-paced icebreaker conversations, the night proved just how much women value genuine connection. In this episode, Annah and Sami talk about:• The unexpected moment that sparked the idea for Sisterhood Social• Why making friends as an adult can be harder than we think• The difference between surface-level conversations and meaningful friendships• How the Sisterhood Social platform works and why it’s designed specifically for women 40+• The importance of safety, identity verification, and thoughtful matching• What they learned from the first trial event and the powerful feedback from attendees They also explore the broader question many women quietlyask themselves: Where do you go to meet new friends when you’re no longer in school, raising young children, or surrounded by built-in social circles? Sisterhood Social aims to answer that question by creating a trusted space where women can connect, share interests, build friendships, and enrich their lives. If you’ve ever wished for deeper conversations, new perspectives, or simply more women in your world who “get it”, this episode is for you. Learn more or register at sisterhoodsocial.co.nz. 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 Join our VIP page 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    20 min
  7. FEB 25

    EP: 9 The Lovely Chat - Catering For Curves In Fashion

    In this timely and honest conversation, Annah and Sami unpack the realities of catering for curvy women in fashion. From the early days of their dedicated “GARB” label to today’s fully integrated size range, they reflect on what inclusion truly means and how their approach has evolved. Sparked by recent industry conversations around size ranges and commercial pressures, this episode explores the economic realities behind fashion decisions, the emotional impact of exclusion in retail spaces, and why Annah Stretton continues to design from XS through to 3X. They share behind the scenes insight into: • Why they moved away from separating “curvy” collections • The real cost of cutting extended sizes • Why pricing remains inclusive across all sizes • How AI models and diverse casting are reshaping their campaigns • The impact of RAW and social impact work on leadership and design • Why belonging matters more than ever in fashion It is thoughtful, candid, and a reminder that inclusion is not just a marketing strategy. It is a values decision. Connect with us on socials 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 Join our VIP page 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    31 min

About

Welcome to Stretton Unfiltered. The podcast where fashion, purpose, and unapologetic conversation meet. Hosted by Annah and Sami Stretton, this series takes you behind the seams of a legacy brand and a powerful social impact journey, sharing the stories, lessons, and voices that inspire change

You Might Also Like