This month we read Beneath by Ariel Sullivan! Join me for a brief discussion on the book and a BIG update on how the book club episodes will look moving forward!

Today I am joined by Sirena Singleton! Sirena is a heart-centered branding photographer and small business brand strategist who specializes in strategy-led brand photography. She helps creatives and established business owners translate their brand story into visuals that are aligned, confident, and designed to convert.

Sirena guides her clients through clarity around their brand messaging, audience, and goals so their visuals support consistency, connection, and long-term growth. Through this approach, brands move beyond “pretty content” and into visuals that position them as experts and drive real revenue.

After working closely with small business owners, Sirena saw a major gap: incredible brands struggling to show up visually in a way that truly reflected their value. That realization led her to build The Aneris Collective, where brand photography meets thoughtful strategy to create an authentic, irresistible presence that attracts their people and supports sustainable business growth.

In this episode we chat about how Sirena began her photography business, why she transitioned to branding photography, how her services are different than others in the industry, why branding is important, and so much more!

For sponsorship information, visit my website and fill out the form or email me at hello@laurencunningham.co

Aneris Collective Instagram

Aneris Collective Website

Aneris Collective LinkedIn

Sirena's LinkedIn

Sirena's Instagram

Lowcountry Local First

Lowcountry Orphan Relief

Today I am joined by Molly Basile! Molly is an interior designer based in Charleston, SC, with a passion for creating spaces that blend timeless elegance with everyday practicality. Specializing in traditional design with a fresh, modern twist, Molly has a unique ability to transform houses into homes that are a true reflection of each client’s personality and style. Her approach is clean, inviting, and always mindful of comfort, incorporating vibrant colors, rich textures, and thoughtful details.

With professional experience in interior space planning, textiles, and color trends, Molly founded her design firm in 2018. Her love for well-curated, functional spaces began at an early age, and she is known for crafting beautiful, livable environments. When she’s not in the studio, Molly enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.

In this episode Molly and I talk about her journey to becoming an interior designer, how she started her business, what scaling an interior design business has been like, budget conversations with her clients, and so much more!

Molly's Instagram

Molly's Website

Good Friends of the Low Country

Today I am joined by the founders of Park and Oak, Christina Samatas and Renee DiSanto! Christina and Renee were brought together by design — and a touch of fate. After starting their respective careers in PR and marketing (Christina) and photography, baking, and content creation (Renee), the two joined creative forces to build what is now a nationally sought-after design brand. The pair’s complementary yin-yang energies and multi-layered skill sets prove to be the foundation of everything they’ve created both in style and practice. Park & Oak’s timeless, classic approach to design mixes styles, influences, and materials to create unique spaces that feel sophisticated, yet comfortable and welcoming — a true reflection of the brand’s founders.

In this episode we chat about how they met, why they decided to go into business with each other, how they built their design business, their cocktail lounge, partnerships & collaborations, where they see their business going, and so much more!

Park and Oak Website

Park and Oak Instagram

Park and Oak Collected Website

Park and Oak Collected Instagram

The Parlour Website

The Parlour Instagram

Today I am joined by Soon Hagerty! Soon is a serial entrepreneur, brand strategist, small business owner, and philanthropist. Soon and her family fled Vietnam when she was just four years old, which is an experience that continues to shape her purpose, leadership, and commitment to giving back.

Soon has co-owned multiple PR and marketing firms and her career spans global brand strategy for some of the world’s most recognized brands.

A firm believer in “doing well by doing good,” Soon founded The Good Bowl, a mission-driven Vietnamese restaurant launched in Traverse City, Michigan in 2018. The restaurant donates $1 from every bowl sold to charity, allowing guests to choose from rotating local, national, and global nonprofit partners.

For nearly 20 years, Soon helped shape the brand strategy at Hagerty, supporting the company’s purpose to save driving and fuel car culture for future generations. She played a key role in the company’s evolution from a small specialty insurance business to a global, publicly traded lifestyle brand, which joined the New York Stock Exchange (HGTY) in 2021 with a valuation exceeding $3 billion.

In 2023, Soon transitioned from her executive role into a consulting capacity to focus on supporting female founders and leaders through Boundless Futures Foundation, which she co-founded with her husband, McKeel Hagerty. The foundation provides financial support, leadership resources, and community to women building businesses designed for both growth and good.

Boundless Futures Foundation

Soon's Linked In

Today I am joined by Meghan Donovan! Meghan is the creator behind lifestyle site wit & whimsy and substack The Noteworthy Edit. Created in December of 2006 to develop her passions of fashion, beauty and travel, wit & whimsy has grown to be a place where Meghan loves sharing more about her outfits, her life in New York City, her pursuit of a clean beauty routine and her love of Paris. With Meghan's content you can expect to find fashion inspiration, the best beauty products, travel recommendations, great sale items and more noteworthy items to help elevate your every day.

Meghan is a Francophile at heart and also the founder of En Route to Rêverie – a bespoke travel atelier for France & England.

Originally hailing from Chicago, Meghan has lived in London, Paris & spent eight years in California. She now resides in Brooklyn Heights. She is one of four children and has a severe case of wanderlust. Meghan owns too many pairs of shoes, considers photography her hobby and is always on the hunt for good croissants.

In this episode we chat about Meghan's 20 year career in the influencing/blogging industry, her career in PR, her love of travel, starting her travel business, tips for planning trips in France and England, what it means to be a travel specialist, and so much more!

Meghan's Instagram

Meghan's Website

Noteworthy Edit Substack

En Route to Rêverie Instagram

En Route to Rêverie Website

Passport to Rêverie Substack

Domestic Violence Hotline

Join me for March's book club pick: The Stolen Queen! This is a historical fiction book set in two different times -- 1936 and 1978. In 1936, we are introduced to Charlotte, a young student working in archeology in Egypt. In 1978, we meet Charlotte once again as an older woman working at the Met. When a mysterious artifact is generously loaned to the Met, no one bats an eye.... except for Charlotte, who recognizes the artifact as something she thought had been left at the bottom of the Nile River.

It is a bit of a mystery & I loved the fast pacing! A very easy book to get into. If you have read it I'd love to know your thoughts!

Next month: Beneath by Ariel Sullivan

Today I am joined by Gray Ellender! Gray is a luxury travel advisor and honeymoon specialist, owner of Go With Gray Travel, based in Charleston SC. She is a "one man show" with hundreds of clients!

In this episode we talk about how to become a travel advisor, why Gray chose to specialize in the honeymoon travel industry, her favorite honeymoon destinations, why you should hire a travel advisor, and so much more!

Gray's Website

Gray's Instagram

Alzheimer's Association