Sponge Stories

14/09/2026

NEW SPONGE STORIES 🎧

This week I’m chatting to Samantha Helen, the woman behind the brand ‘Essentials by Samantha Helen’

And I genuinely had no idea how much goes on behind the scenes of making the products we chuck into our kits and use every weekend.

We talk about Samantha’s journey from MAC makeup artist to face and body painter, educator, agency owner and product developer, but we also get right into the nitty gritty of actually creating face paints.

Formulations, testing, regulations, manufacturing, why some paints are better for linework than others, what makes a good black and white, and even why the glue inside your brushes matters.

We also chat about corporate face painting, building a team, the reality behind social media, developing the Swoosh brush, supporting other artists and the many, MANY lessons Samantha has learned while building Essentials.

It’s a really interesting one, especially if you’ve ever wondered what actually goes into the products sitting in your kit.

🎧 Sponge Stories with Samantha Helen is out now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube!

11/09/2026

Well… the clue was in the name 😂

Samantha explains why she called her brand and what she actually wants to earn a place in a face painter’s kit.

And after recently winning her black and white paints in a raffle and putting them straight to work, I had LOTS of questions about what actually goes into creating them 👀

🎧 New Sponge Stories Monday.

09/09/2026

A little reminder for anyone currently overthinking absolutely everything… 👀

No one cares.

Well, not as much as you think they do anyway 😂

Samantha Helen from on taking the pressure off, doing things in your own time and putting them out when YOU’RE happy with them.

🎧 New Sponge Stories Monday.

07/09/2026

NEW SPONGE STORIES 🎙️

This week I’m chatting to Jade La Forest Wolfe!

From breastfeeding at her first pay per face gig and nightmare clients, to winning body painting competitions, painting internationally and building The Witch & The Wolfe with husband Nick.

We talk creativity, burnout, knowing your worth, finding your own style and taking some pretty big leaps along the way.

Jade’s advice?

“Just keep swimming. It’s a beautiful river.”

🎧 OUT NOW on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

If Hollywood called tomorrow, which film franchise would YOU want to work on? 🎬

Jade had her answer ready.

Although apparently “anything Disney” wasn’t specific enough for me. 😂

What would you choose?

🎧 Jade La Forest Wolfe joins me on Sponge Stories tomorrow!!

03/09/2026

Back to school today! 🎒

As my kids head back into their classrooms, it got me thinking about how much the things they hear growing up can stick with them.

The encouragement. The criticism. The throwaway comments that an adult might forget five minutes later, but a child can remember for the rest of their life.

Jade still remembers being told by an art teacher that they didn’t think she’d make a career out of art.

Well… she did. ❤️👩🏼‍🎨

And I LOVE that she remembered those words and used them as fuel to prove them wrong.

🎧 Jade from episode of Sponge Stories is out Monday.

31/08/2026

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW

This week I’m joined by Beshlie-Ann from Glittery Rainbow Cat.

We talk about how her children drawing on each other with Sharpies led her into face painting, her journey from Fine Art and veterinary nursing, the designs that still make her nervous and why even experienced painters do not feel confident about everything.

Beshlie also shares what she learned during her time as secretary and Chair of FACE, why community and collaboration matter so much in our industry and what really goes on behind the scenes when organising the Hastings Face Painting Jam.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

30/08/2026

BLOOPERS 🫪

The reality of recording a podcast from home with three children and two cats during the summer holidays 🙃🤪

Children interrupting, cats catching mice and absolutely no chance of a quiet recording.

Thankfully, Beshlie was very patient with the chaos!

My episode with Beshlie-Ann from is coming tomorrow.

28/08/2026

How do you choose a face painting business name?

Beshlie kept it brilliantly simple.

She loves glitter, rainbows and cats, so Glittery Rainbow Cat was born.

Hear the full story in Monday’s episode of Sponge Stories and find out all about the upcoming Hastings Jam!!