Me & Orla

05/08/2022

Good afternoon!
There's a new Hashtag Authentic episode for you to dive into!!!
This week I have Sophia Smith Galer joining me on the podcast. Sophia is a senior news reporter at Vice World News, author of the new book Losing It: S*x Education for the 21st Century, and a TikTok content-creator extraordinaire.
We all know that journalism pre-dates social media, and has been weakened by it in some places, but Sophia has found a way to bridge the two, and is blazing a new path. She recently received a British Journalism Award on “Innovation of the Year” for her use of social media in reporting.
If you want to hear about how Sophia found an audience on TikTok (and later on Instagram Reels) by talking to camera about her media stories. Or how we can gain insights into what makes a successful social media post by being a user of the platform then this episode is for you.

Listen here https://meandorla.co.uk/podcasts/112

05/07/2022

This week's episode of Hashtag Authentic is now live: The Time of the Writer with Farrah Storr

Much has changed for Farrah Storr since the last time she joined me on the podcast. A former editor of Cosmo magazine, and editor-in-chief of Elle, Farrah now writes "Things Worth Knowing" on Substack, a tech newsletter platform that she calls "A personal media channel for the individual."

We had a wonderful conversation about storytelling, the return of long-form content, and the pleasures of writing in community, rather than one-way broadcasting.

Farrah is also a wealth of information if you'd like to try Substack for yourself!

11/04/2022

Good Morning! Just a reminder that Sara's doing a drop-in coaching call on her IG live today and for the next few Mondays at 12 midday U.K. time.

Be lovely to see you there! ❤️

06/04/2022

This week's episode of Hashtag Authentic is now live: Episode 109 - Radical contentment, with Jamie Varon.

Jamie Varon is truly multi-hatted: she's a writer, designer, digital course creator, creative consultant, and author of the wonderfully-radical new book, Radically Content: being satisfied in an endlessly dissatisfied world.
Sara and Jamie had a fabulous, meaty conversation about the true things that drive them, where they find motivation, and the path to actual - rather than simply Instagrammable - contentment.

You can find it here https://meandorla.co.uk/podcasts/109

24/01/2022

Do you really need to stick to your 'niche' on Instagram? Here's why it's not always such great advice...

A question for you, my Instagram-using friend.Do you feel like there’s room for your whole self online? Do you feel safe sharing it? Do you feel like people even care?

19/01/2022

*New Hashtag Authentic Episode*
Minimalism and Simplifying Life with Jessica Rose Williams

I'm so excited that we finally made this episode happen!! We recorded this episode just before Jess birthed her beautiful book Enough, which is out now. It's about learning to simplify life, let go and walk the path that is truly ours. It's a how-to/memoir, based on Jess' story about how she learnt to let go of mental and physical stuff.

Jess is a writer & lifestyle blogger based in the Peak District, in the UK who writes about simple, creative & intuitive living.

She's also a part of the Insta Retreat Family!

I’m so excited that we finally made this episode happen!! We recorded this episode just before Jess birthed her beautiful book Enough, which is out now. It’s about learning to simplify life, let go and walk the path that is truly ours. It’s a how-to/memoir, based on Jess’ story about how she...

12/01/2022

*New podcast episode*

106 - Finding your path with Maria Wigge

"Your art is not saying anything about you as a person, you have to separate your art from your existence. "

This week I welcome back Maria Wigge, an artist I met through my Insta Retreat class, who started sharing her work on Instagram and found it changed her life. Our last episode really resonated with so many of you, so I'm delighted to be able to share this episode with you.

Maria lives in Sweden with her family and works full time as an artist, you can see her work over on her website and think you'll agree it's phenomenal. In our last episode, she had just taken the leap and left her job to pursue her art, in this one we talk about how things have changed for her and the impact Instagram has had on her business and creativity.

This week I welcome back Maria Wigge, an artist I met through my Insta Retreat class, who started sharing her work on Instagram and found it changed her life. Our last episode really resonated with so many of you, so I’m delighted to be able to share this episode with you.

12/01/2022

Now Open for Enrolment - The Insta Retreat

“I took the Instaretreat several months ago and since then have
grown my following about 600 to over 10k”

The Insta Retreat is like no other Instagram class or programme on the market. In constant development since 2016, this six-week class with group coaching is an essential bootcamp for anyone wanting to be successful and happy online.

It's 50% nerdy strategy & clever insights, and 50% creative coaching and support group. Because all the ‘insider tips’ in the world cannot help you if you shut down with overwhelm every time you open the app!

https://meandorla.co.uk/the-insta-retreat-2-0

07/01/2022

“Reaction is the point of writing. You’ve only failed as a writer if the reaction is silence.”

This week Sara talks to Natalie Morris about the difference between writing as a journalist and writing a book, the unique experiences that people of mixed race have when they walk through the world, and the impact this has on identity, parenting, privilege, and the experience of racism and the value of social media in creating connections, sharing ideas, and giving voice to minorities who are not always heard on mainstream platforms.

She’s also a fellow Mancunian, so let’s not overlook that!

Natalie Morris dreamed of being a writer as a child, and is now firmly entrenched in her dream job. She’s the senior lifestyle writer at metro.co.uk, and author of the new book Mixed/Other: Explorations of Multiraciality in Modern Britain. Writing about race comes with its own suite of challenges ...

06/01/2022

Find yourself thinking what the f is up with Instagram hashtags?

If you’ve been subscribed to my newsletters for a while, you’ll know this isn’t the first time I’ve talked about the ongoing evolution of hashtags, and their usefulness, on Instagram.