EPISODE 112: Vanya Insull started VJ Cooks in 2016 with a Facebook page sharing videos of what she was cooking for her own family. Ten years later, it's a website with 800+ recipes, a meal planning app (CookPlan), three cookbooks (with a fourth on the way), and a social media following approaching a million people. 🍴

In this episode, Vanya takes us through the whole journey, from those first Facebook videos through to the systems, the team, and the decisions that turned a passion project into a genuine business.

We talk about:

🧾  The workflow and checklists that keep it all running

📅  Planning around the school term

📱  Content planning and social media - sooooo much insight!

🤝  Outsourcing early, even before you feel ready

🍰  Choosing collaboration over competition with other creators

Vanya is warm, funny and an open book. I got so much out of this episode and I know you will too.

 

EPISODE 112: Vanya Insull started <a href="https://vjcooks.com/">VJ Cooks</a> in 2016 with a Facebook page sharing videos of what she was cooking for her own family. Ten years later, it's a website with 800+ recipes, a meal planning app (<a href="https://cookplan-app.vjcooks.com/main">CookPlan</a>), three cookbooks (with a fourth on the way), and a social media following approaching a million people. 🍴
In this episode, Vanya takes us through the whole journey, from those first Facebook videos through to the systems, the team, and the decisions that turned a passion project into a genuine business.
We talk about:
🧾 &nbsp;The workflow and checklists that keep it all running
📅 &nbsp;Planning around the school term
📱 &nbsp;Content planning and social media - sooooo much insight!
🤝 &nbsp;Outsourcing early, even before you feel ready
🍰 &nbsp;Choosing collaboration over competition with other creators
Vanya is warm, funny and an open book. I got so much out of this episode and I know you will too.
&nbsp;

Super Creative is a leading New Zealand podcast exploring creativity and business through candid conversations with inspiring women.

Hosted by Catie Dawson, the show features founders, leaders and creative thinkers navigating entrepreneurship, strategy, growth and life behind the scenes. Each episode explores the realities of building work that is meaningful, profitable and sustainable.

With over 100 episodes across five years, Super Creative shines a light on the people shaping industries across design, food, fashion, publishing, marketing and beyond.

Whether you are building a business, growing a career or simply curious about how creative leaders think and operate, this podcast offers practical insight, thoughtful reflection and grounded business perspective.

Super Creative is a leading New Zealand podcast exploring creativity and business through candid conversations with inspiring women.
Hosted by Catie Dawson, the show features founders, leaders and creative thinkers navigating entrepreneurship, strategy, growth and life behind the scenes. Each episode explores the realities of building work that is meaningful, profitable and sustainable.
With over 100 episodes across five years, Super Creative shines a light on the people shaping industries across design, food, fashion, publishing, marketing and beyond.
Whether you are building a business, growing a career or simply curious about how creative leaders think and operate, this podcast offers practical insight, thoughtful reflection and grounded business perspective.

Conversations with inspiring women in business

Super Creative

Super Creative is a leading New Zealand podcast exploring creativity and business through candid conversations with inspiring women.

Hosted by Catie Dawson, the show features founders, leaders and creative thinkers navigating entrepreneurship, strategy, growth and life behind the scenes. Each episode explores the realities of building work that is meaningful, profitable and sustainable.

With over 100 episodes across five years, Super Creative shines a light on the people shaping industries across design, food, fashion, publishing, marketing and beyond.

Whether you are building a business, growing a career or simply curious about how creative leaders think and operate, this podcast offers practical insight, thoughtful reflection and grounded business perspective.

 

Super Creative is a leading New Zealand podcast exploring creativity and business through candid conversations with inspiring women.
Hosted by Catie Dawson, the show features founders, leaders and creative thinkers navigating entrepreneurship, strategy, growth and life behind the scenes. Each episode explores the realities of building work that is meaningful, profitable and sustainable.
With over 100 episodes across five years, Super Creative shines a light on the people shaping industries across design, food, fashion, publishing, marketing and beyond.
Whether you are building a business, growing a career or simply curious about how creative leaders think and operate, this podcast offers practical insight, thoughtful reflection and grounded business perspective.
&nbsp;

Vanya Insull - VJ Cooks | Building one of New Zealand's best known food platforms

Today on the podcast, I speak with Sarah Meikle, founder of All India Permit Tours, a specialist travel business creating small group tours and tailor-made holidays to India.

After a long career in tourism and marketing, including 15 years with Wellington on a Plate, Sarah decided it was time for something new. With a long-standing love of India, she took the leap and turned that passion into a business of her own.

In this episode, we talk about:

✈️ Turning a lifelong passion into a viable business
💡 Knowing when it’s time for a new chapter in your career
📣 Finding customers and building trust and credibility
📱 Marketing a business when you’re the person behind everything
🙌 Going from a senior role to doing it all yourself

Sarah is a great example of someone who has taken her experience, backed herself and built a business around something she genuinely loves. And you can hear just how much she loves what she does.

Whether you’re thinking about turning a passion into a business or navigating your own next chapter, there’s plenty to take away from this conversation.

Sarah is currently in India, so it’s the perfect time to follow along at @allindiapermittours. And if India has been on your travel wish list, this episode might just be the nudge you need to start planning that trip! 

Today on the podcast, I speak with Sarah Meikle, founder of <a href="https://www.allindiapermittours.co.nz/">All India Permit Tours</a>, a specialist travel business creating small group tours and tailor-made holidays to India.
After a long career in tourism and marketing, including 15 years with Wellington on a Plate, Sarah decided it was time for something new. With a long-standing love of India, she took the leap and turned that passion into a business of her own.
In this episode, we talk about:
✈️ Turning a lifelong passion into a viable business 💡 Knowing when it&rsquo;s time for a new chapter in your career 📣 Finding customers and building trust and credibility 📱 Marketing a business when you&rsquo;re the person behind everything 🙌 Going from a senior role to doing it all yourself
Sarah is a great example of someone who has taken her experience, backed herself and built a business around something she genuinely loves. And you can hear just how much she loves what she does.
Whether you&rsquo;re thinking about turning a passion into a business or navigating your own next chapter, there&rsquo;s plenty to take away from this conversation.
Sarah is currently in India, so it&rsquo;s the perfect time to follow along at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/allindiapermittours/">@allindiapermittours</a>. And if India has been on your travel wish list, this episode might just be the nudge you need to start planning that trip!&nbsp;

Sarah Meikle - All India Permit Tours  |  A new chapter: turning a passion into a business 

Eva Nash and Kate Rogan are the founders and directors of Rogan Nash, an award-winning residential architecture and interiors practice based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Eva and Kate met while studying architecture at the University of Auckland and founded Rogan Nash together in 2012. Fourteen years later, they have built a practice designing new homes, renovations, extensions and interiors throughout New Zealand.

In this episode, Eva and Kate take us through what it means to build a creative business with another person, from those early days of starting out together through to the practice they have built today.

We talk about:
🤝 Building a creative partnership that lasts 14 years
🏡 Deliberately keeping the practice small and hands-on
👂 Listening to clients and the value of working collaboratively
💡 Their creative process, including how they reset and trust their instincts
📐 Bringing architecture and interiors together as one process
❤️ Building long-term client relationships and staying connected to the wider design community

Eva and Kate are clever, thoughtful and very passionate about both design and the business they have built together. I really enjoyed this conversation and there are so many good insights here for anyone running a creative business.

rogannash.com
@rogannasharchitects

Eva Nash and Kate Rogan are the founders and directors of <a href="https://rogannash.com/">Rogan Nash</a>, an award-winning residential architecture and interiors practice based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Eva and Kate met while studying architecture at the University of Auckland and founded Rogan Nash together in 2012. Fourteen years later, they have built a practice designing new homes, renovations, extensions and interiors throughout New Zealand.
In this episode, Eva and Kate take us through what it means to build a creative business with another person, from those early days of starting out together through to the practice they have built today.
We talk about: 🤝 Building a creative partnership that lasts 14 years 🏡 Deliberately keeping the practice small and hands-on 👂 Listening to clients and the value of working collaboratively 💡 Their creative process, including how they reset and trust their instincts 📐 Bringing architecture and interiors together as one process ❤️ Building long-term client relationships and staying connected to the wider design community
Eva and Kate are clever, thoughtful and very passionate about both design and the business they have built together. I really enjoyed this conversation and there are so many good insights here for anyone running a creative business. <a href="https://rogannash.com/">rogannash.com</a> <a href="rogannasharchitects">@rogannasharchitects</a>

Eva Nash & Kate Rogan - Rogan Nash | Growing a creative partnership that lasts

Today on the podcast, I speak with Sasha McLeod, founder of DoseBuddy, a reusable medicine syringe for kids, with numbers that never rub off and a cap that stops the mess.

In this episode, Sasha takes us through the journey from that 2am frustration to a fully realised, regulated medical product.

We talk about:

🍼  How she validated her idea
💸  Using PledgeMe to fund the first manufacturing run
📢  Building a brand and community by sharing it all publicly, delays included
📱  Her approach to digital marketing and founder-led content
👶🏻  Juggling a full-time job, motherhood, and building a business on the side

Sasha is so open and honest about the process, and because digital marketing is her actual day job, this episode ends up being as much a masterclass in brand and social strategy as it is a founder story.

I know you'll love my korero with Sasha as much as I did.

After the episode, head to dosebuddy.co to check out this amazing new product for yourself (already a staple in my home), and follow @dosebuddy on Instagram to follow along the journey as Sasha grows her brand.

 

Today on the podcast, I speak with Sasha McLeod, founder of <a href="https://dosebuddy.co/">DoseBuddy</a>, a reusable medicine syringe for kids, with numbers that never rub off and a cap that stops the mess.
In this episode, Sasha takes us through the journey from that 2am frustration to a fully realised, regulated medical product.
We talk about:
🍼 &nbsp;How she validated her idea 💸 &nbsp;Using PledgeMe to fund the first manufacturing run 📢 &nbsp;Building a brand and community by sharing it all publicly, delays included 📱 &nbsp;Her approach to digital marketing and founder-led content 👶🏻 &nbsp;Juggling a full-time job, motherhood, and building a business on the side
Sasha is so open and honest about the process, and because digital marketing is her actual day job, this episode ends up being as much a masterclass in brand and social strategy as it is a founder story.
I know you'll love my korero with Sasha as much as I did.
After the episode, head to <a href="https://dosebuddy.co/">dosebuddy.co</a> to check out this amazing new product for yourself (already a staple in my home), and follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dosebuddy/">@dosebuddy</a> on Instagram to follow along the journey as Sasha grows her brand.
&nbsp;

Vanya Insull - VJ Cooks | Building one of New Zealand's best known food platforms

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