Ep 4/11 || Fashion, Trends and becoming a Death Doula with Dion Chang
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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 – 03:18
Intro: Welcoming Dion Chang and setting up the conversation around future trends, adaptability, and societal disruption.
03:19 – 07:44
Dion’s background: starting in fashion journalism, moving into trend forecasting, and founding Flux Trends.
07:45 – 12:10
Understanding “the new normal” post-2020 and why discomfort is necessary for real innovation.
12:11 – 17:00
The emotional toll of being a trend forecaster—holding space for uncomfortable futures.
17:01 – 21:32
Disruption as a constant: why adaptability is no longer optional, and the businesses that can’t keep up.
21:33 – 26:54
South Africa’s contradictions: living in a country with deep innovation and dysfunction side-by-side.
26:55 – 31:40
How Dion navigates hope and despair in his work. Balancing realism and optimism.
31:41 – 36:18
Trends vs. fads: how Dion reads signals, identifies long arcs of change, and avoids hype.
36:19 – 41:52
The dangers of overusing buzzwords like “resilience” and “innovation”—when they become corporate wallpaper.
41:53 – 47:15
Gen Z as emotional realists: how their relationship to work, identity, and mental health is reshaping the landscape.
47:16 – 52:33
Technology and touch: post-pandemic shifts in human contact, hybrid working, and loneliness.
52:34 – 57:50
Ritual, identity, and the role of culture in stabilizing us during systemic flux.
57:51 – 1:03:05
Forecasting fatigue: what it’s like to see patterns others don’t want to acknowledge.
1:03:06 – 1:08:29
Leading without clarity: Dion shares how he makes decisions in the face of uncertainty.
1:08:30 – 1:14:55
What the fog has taught Dion: letting go of timelines, embracing chaos, and staying curious.
1:14:56 – 1:20:22
Closing reflections: the future is not something to predict—it’s something we shape together.
🔗 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.
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 – 03:18
Intro: Welcoming Dion Chang and setting up the conversation around future trends, adaptability, and societal disruption.
03:19 – 07:44
Dion’s background: starting in fashion journalism, moving into trend forecasting, and founding Flux Trends.
07:45 – 12:10
Understanding “the new normal” post-2020 and why discomfort is necessary for real innovation.
12:11 – 17:00
The emotional toll of being a trend forecaster—holding space for uncomfortable futures.
17:01 – 21:32
Disruption as a constant: why adaptability is no longer optional, and the businesses that can’t keep up.
21:33 – 26:54
South Africa’s contradictions: living in a country with deep innovation and dysfunction side-by-side.
26:55 – 31:40
How Dion navigates hope and despair in his work. Balancing realism and optimism.
31:41 – 36:18
Trends vs. fads: how Dion reads signals, identifies long arcs of change, and avoids hype.
36:19 – 41:52
The dangers of overusing buzzwords like “resilience” and “innovation”—when they become corporate wallpaper.
41:53 – 47:15
Gen Z as emotional realists: how their relationship to work, identity, and mental health is reshaping the landscape.
47:16 – 52:33
Technology and touch: post-pandemic shifts in human contact, hybrid working, and loneliness.
52:34 – 57:50
Ritual, identity, and the role of culture in stabilizing us during systemic flux.
57:51 – 1:03:05
Forecasting fatigue: what it’s like to see patterns others don’t want to acknowledge.
1:03:06 – 1:08:29
Leading without clarity: Dion shares how he makes decisions in the face of uncertainty.
1:08:30 – 1:14:55
What the fog has taught Dion: letting go of timelines, embracing chaos, and staying curious.
1:14:56 – 1:20:22
Closing reflections: the future is not something to predict—it’s something we shape together.
🔗 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.
