Through the Fog

• Ep 7/12: From PR to Presence, a conversation about culture, founders and addiction with Sarah Rice

  In this episode of Through the Fog, I sit down with Sarah Rice, an organizational culture strategist and coach who has spent over two decades helping founders and leaders navigate the complex, often contradictory expectations of modern leadership. We explore the hidden pressures on entrepreneurs to become both “priests and parents” to their teams, how culture shapes behavior, and the power of being honest about your motives, even if they’re not pretty. Sarah also shares her personal journey through recovery, the lessons she’s learned about over identification with work, and why embodied leadership matters more than ever. This candid, warm, and occasionally irreverent conversation is a must-listen for anyone steering a business, and themselves, through uncertainty. Chapters 00:00 Navigating Transitions and Personal Growth 02:57 The Venn Diagram of Identity 05:41 The Role of Business in Community 08:47 Mental Health and Leadership Responsibilities 11:51 The Pressure on Leaders 14:31 Learning from Other Organizational Structures 17:40 The Importance of Values in Business 20:44 Defining Authentic Values 23:33 The Role of Storytelling in Values 26:29 The Complexity of Truth and Oversharing 29:26 The Importance of Community and Relationships 32:20 Lessons from Personal Connections 35:10 Embracing Uncertainty and Surrendering Control 42:42 The Role of Spirituality in the Workplace 49:42 Decision-Making and Intuition 01:00:50 The Power of the 12-Step Program 01:05:14 Navigating Paradox and Duality 01:09:07 Future Aspirations and Coaching Goals Find Sarah here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahelizabethrice/ More about me and the show here: https://thisispierre.co/podcast

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• Ep 6/12 || Life post Yuppiechef, Luck and Strategy with Andrew Smith

  In this heartfelt and insight-rich conversation, I sat down with my friend and mentor Andrew Smith, co-founder of YuppieChef and now co-creator of Brave Hardy. From the early days of web design to building one of South Africa's most beloved kitchenware brands, Andrew shared his journey of entrepreneurship, vulnerability, resilience, and the art of “staying in the game.” Whether you’re a founder navigating uncertainty or someone in transition, this episode is packed with lessons on strategy, partnership, and purpose. Timestamps for Key Questions & Topics: ● 00:30 – Where is Andrew today in life? ● 03:30 – What did little Andrew want to be? ● 10:05 – What mission is Andrew on now? ● 13:00 – What changes post-exit from YuppieChef? ● 20:00 – How important is luck vs. hard work? ● 26:00 – The origin of YuppieChef and early experiments ● 32:00 – The power of Andrew & Shane’s partnership ● 36:00 – Advice for solo founders ● 39:00 – Making big decisions and trusting instincts Find Andrew on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/agsmith/ Brave Hardy: https://bravehardy.com More about me on https://thisispierre.co #entrepreneurship #founders #strategy

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• Ep 5/12 || Oryx Desert Salt, Soul and Starting again - Samantha Skyring

  In this deeply inspiring episode of Through the Fog, Pierre speaks with Samantha Skyring, adventurer, visionary, and founder of the globally loved Oryx Desert Salt. From a transformative kayaking journey and losing her island dream, to single motherhood and building a business rooted in purpose, Samantha opens up about the intentionality behind everything she does. Expect powerful stories about resilience, spiritual connection, team empowerment, and the surprising truth about the white crystal we all consume daily. If you've ever wondered how to blend soul with strategy, this is the conversation. [00:00] Pierre's personal salt obsession & intro [01:00] Samantha's early entrepreneurship journey [04:30] Losing the island and gaining conviction [06:30] The accidental beginning of Oryx Desert Salt [08:00] The fire of single motherhood [11:00] The power of working from intuition [13:00] Salt: misunderstood, sacred, essential [16:00] The Whole Foods deal — built on pure intention [18:45] Table salt vs. Oryx salt — the truth [21:00] Energetics, purity, and the spirit of salt [23:00] Packaging with purpose — saving the planet one grinder at a time [26:00] Drumming, dreaming & the power of community projects [32:00] Building a team that dreams [35:00] “No one gave me permission to dream” — changing internal narratives [39:00] Scarcity, IQ, and the science of dreaming big [41:00] Caring for people: when leadership is pastoral [44:00] Creating culture: breathwork, books, and breakthroughs [47:00] Should companies be families? The new business ethic [50:00] Wrap-up reflections 🔗 Learn more about Oryx: https://oryxdesertsalt.com 💌 Feedback or guest ideas? Email Pierre: [email protected] Learn more about pierre https://thisispierre.co

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• Ep 4/11 || Fashion, Trends and becoming a Death Doula with Dion Chang

  In this episode, I reconnect with someone I’ve known and admired for over two decades, the ever-evolving Dion Chang. You might know Dion as a fashion icon, trend analyst, and founder of Flux Trends. But what you probably don’t know is that Dion is now a certified end-of-life companion, yes, a death doula. This conversation left me both grounded and inspired. We talk about identity, reinvention, what it means to say goodbye, and how ritual can anchor us when life is shifting beneath our feet. Dion’s journey from studying in Paris to midlife cliff-diving (his words) to pet funerals and corporate retirement is a testament to living truthfully, even when the path is unmarked. If you’re in the midst of change, or sense it’s coming, this one is for you. Timestamps: 00:00 – A 26-Year Friendship & Fashion Flashbacks Dion and I share how we met (in a feathered bolero, no less) and what it means to know someone across so many versions of themselves. 03:15 – What Is a Death Doula, Really? Dion explains his calling to become an end-of-life companion and how this work is about more than mortal death — it's about transitions, beginnings, and endings of all kinds. 07:00 – From Couture to Consulting: The Birth of Flux Trends Leaving fashion behind, building a new identity, and riding the early wave of social change and trend analysis. 12:10 – Shedding Labels & Personal Rebranding How Dion fought the persona of “fashion guy” to become someone new — and why that was so much harder than it sounds. 16:30 – Midlife Metaphors & The Fog We revisit a conversation from 15 years ago that shaped the name of this podcast — including cliffs, clearings, and hacking your way through. 20:50 – Business Needs a Doula Too How Dion is applying his doula training to help companies grieve, transition, and adapt with empathy. 25:40 – Extreme Pet Parenting & Pet Bereavement You won't believe the stats from South Korea and China — or how Dion is pioneering the world of pet doulas (and writing a book about it). 30:05 – Ritual, Loss & Meaning-Making From Buddhist chanting to memory stones, we talk about the power of ritual in human and corporate life — and why we need it now more than ever. 35:20 – Saying No, Growing Up & Purpose After 60 Dion shares how he filters every decision through one question: “What do I want?” And why that gets more vital with age. 39:45 – Resources & Ways to Connect We wrap with gratitude and links to explore Dion’s evolving world. 🔗 Follow Dion: https://fluxtrends.com https://www.dionthedoula.com/ https://instagram.com/@dion_chang https://www.linkedin.com/in/dion-chang-a8b5379/ 🎧 Subscribe to Through the Fog and leave us a review if this episode moved you, it helps more fog-walkers find their way.

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• Ep 3/12 || Divorce, Art and Finding your way with Lira van Staden

  In this deeply moving and honest conversation, Pierre sits down with artist, teacher, and divorce doula Lira van Staden. Together they explore the intersections of creativity, loss, personal reinvention, and what it truly means to find your voice again after life doesn’t go according to plan. Lira shares her journey from a childhood dream shaped by societal expectations to becoming a celebrated public artist and a compassionate guide for those navigating the pain of divorce. They discuss the cultural narratives around marriage, the subtle early signs that relationships are changing, and how grief can be an essential — and even beautiful — part of starting anew. This episode is a powerful reflection on resilience, authenticity, and the unexpected paths life asks us to walk. Get in touch with Lira: Instagram @divorcedoulafindingaway Whatsapp: 082 524 5375 www.divorcedoulaway.com Time-stamped Topics [00:00] Meet Lira: Artist, mother, and newly minted divorce doula [02:00] Early memories: How community shaped their friendship [05:00] Growing up on a farm and early dreams of motherhood [08:30] Art, identity, and discovering hidden callings [11:30] Megaphone Me: Giving voice to the unheard [16:00] Uncovering subconscious desires through art [20:00] How we sometimes “know” before we consciously know [24:00] Cultural expectations of marriage and the pressure to conform [28:00] What makes relationships last — and what makes them falter [32:00] Grief, guilt, and “gorillas” after separation [36:00] Creating new routines after loss [39:00] Why you should be careful who you sit with after a breakup [42:00] Redefining success, love, and belonging on your own terms Key Takeaways - Grief is not a detour; it is a necessary part of personal transformation - You can lose yourself in the idea of a life before you realize it - True love accepts, rather than tries to change, the other person - New identities are often hidden inside old stories - Trusting your instincts early can save years of pain - Post-divorce life is not survival, it can be a season of creativity and hope

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