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Love Letters: Arielle Thomas
16/06/25
Author: RIISE Team
DOCUMENTED BY: RIISE
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Introducing Love Letters by RIISE. Love Letters is a series of visual and written odes to somewhere, someone or something that inspires joy. Each letter is a celebration of the moments of delight in the lives of the creatives who inspire RIISE.
“Creativity is the freedom to imagine something, and the drive to make it tangible” says Arielle Thomas, director, founder and host of Process the podcast. We visited the multi talented creative in her Melbourne home to understand what creativity means to her and why hosting a podcast like Process is so important. Her love letter is dedicated to her listeners.
RIISE: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
AT: The long answer: I’m a director and founder of Thom, a content studio servicing enterprise businesses like Anko on a global scale, as well as local names like Vogue, Mecca, and Chemist Warehouse. I also host a podcast called Process, where I interview creative leaders across industries to unpack their unique creative processes. Once a month, I share solo episodes about my own journey, including how I'm scaling creativity for my clients with highs and lows. Most recently, I launched a wellness brand called Remy. Our first product, Rhythm, is a gentle energy gummy. One helps you beat the 3pm slump, two powers you through a workout.
The short answer: I do a lot of things that feed my curiosity.
RIISE: What inspired you to start Process the podcast?
AT: I’ve been lucky to build strong career relationships over the years with editors, filmmakers, brand founders, and creatives I really admire. I’ve always had questions for them: not just about what they do, but how they do it. A podcast felt like the most natural way to learn - and to share that learning. It's one of the only formats where you can sit with someone for 90 minutes and ask deeply personal, specific, and process-oriented questions without it being weird. I also saw a gap: there wasn’t a space where creatives like Vogue editors, photographers, and designers could openly discuss how they actually make the work they put out, in long form. A few top line interviews, but I wanted to give them a platform to share more.
RIISE: What does creativity mean to you?
AT: Creativity is the freedom to imagine something, and the drive to make it tangible. Whether it’s a recipe, a film script, a microchip, or a journal entry, it’s all creativity. It’s about how we move through life, how we process the good and the bad. For me, creativity is both a tool and a channel for self-expression. These days, I’m short on time to just create just for creativity’s sake (I’m writing this from an airport lounge). It means a lot to me, and I think it’s really important.
RIISE: Why was it important for you to create a platform like Process to celebrate creatives?
AT: Creative industries can be lonely, and building a career with longevity is hard, especially without community. I’ve always loved the phrase steal like an artist because it reflects how we learn: by borrowing, adapting, and evolving ideas. I started Process to create a space for that. A place for creatives to hear the real stories behind the work, to feel seen, to feel less alone. The show invites people into honest conversations, whether they’re about breakthroughs or roadblocks. If it helps even one person feel understood in their creative journey, then it’s doing its job.
RIISE: Of all the amazing aspects of running a podcast, what brings you the most joy?
AT: The people. Every guest teaches me something, not just about their process, but about being human. I’m constantly surprised by how open, honest, and reflective our conversations are, on and off the mic. That level of connection is rare. Many of these guests have become friends, and that’s a gift I never expected. Sharing space with brilliant minds and hearing how they really are, not just what they do. Often because these people have often heart me yap away about my own challenges, the walls are already down. It’s a privilege.
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Documented By: RIISE
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