Libsyn Directory

710: The Book Every Salon Leader Needs, with Heather Bagby!

Release Date: 07/27/2026

0725: The Salon I’d Choose If I Were Starting Over

Beyond The Technique Podcast

If you were starting over in the beauty industry, what would make a salon truly worth choosing? In this episode, Kati Whitledge shares the six qualities she would prioritize, including commission-based earning potential, ongoing education, an inspiring service menu, quality products, a clean environment, and exceptional communication. She explains why these elements help beauty professionals grow their careers while feeling seen, supported, and connected to their salon’s culture. Whether you’re searching for your next salon home or hoping to attract outstanding talent, this conversation...

0724: Winning at Adaptation, with Rachel Gower

Beyond The Technique Podcast

What does it take to build a salon business that can withstand change, team turnover, and unexpected challenges? Rachel Gower, president and CEO of Houston’s award-winning salon The Upper Hand, shares how consistent recruiting, a strong apprenticeship program, and strategic marketing have fueled decades of success. She reveals why salon owners must continually evaluate what’s working, release what isn’t, and create systems that keep the business moving forward when employees or circumstances change. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about resilience, adaptation, and the determination...

0723: It's Never Too Late to Change Your Standards and Set New Goals

Beyond The Technique Podcast

You don’t have to wait for a new year to reevaluate your life, raise your standards, and pursue meaningful new goals. In this episode, Kati explores seven key areas of well-being—financial, career, family, social, physical, intellectual, and spiritual—and explains how to determine which deserve your greatest focus in this season. Drawing from her personal transformation, she shares why lasting change requires burning the ships, establishing nonnegotiable routines, eliminating distractions, and intentionally choosing what to say yes and no to. You’ll be encouraged to envision the person...

0722: Creating Space to Be Sugared and Bronzed

Beyond The Technique Podcast

What began as a side hustle in a Santa Monica apartment has grown into SUGARED + BRONZED, a nationally recognized beauty brand with 50 corporate-owned locations. Co-founder and president Courtney Claghorn shares how an unwavering focus on client comfort, strategic locations, intentional hiring, and disciplined spending helped turn a simple solution into a scalable business. She also reveals what salon and spa owners should consider before expanding, from market demographics and operational capacity to real estate, construction, funding, and potential cannibalization. Tune in for an honest,...

0721: What Stylists Need to Do When they Start Behind-The-Chair

Beyond The Technique Podcast

Building a successful beauty career starts with putting in the time, gaining experience, and making yourself available when clients need you most. In this episode, Kati shares why new stylists and service providers should embrace model calls, volunteer opportunities, advanced education, networking, and consistent social media marketing. You’ll learn how repetition strengthens your craft, relationships create unexpected opportunities, and early effort can lead to greater freedom later in your career. Tune in to discover the practical steps you can take now to build a loyal clientele and...

0720: Manage Your Team More Efficiently

Beyond The Technique Podcast

Managing your salon team shouldn’t require juggling group texts, emails, social media, and multiple apps. In this episode, Kati welcomes Salon Symphony founder Antonio Stanley to share how his all-in-one platform brings team communication, training, events, goals, tasks, resources, onboarding, and more into one organized space. Discover how leading salon brands are using technology to strengthen communication, simplify operations, improve recruiting, and keep everyone on the same page as they grow. If you’re ready to eliminate communication chaos and manage your team more efficiently, this...

0719: Pressure Is A Privilege Until It Isn't

Beyond The Technique Podcast

Pressure can sharpen your focus, strengthen your performance, and inspire growth—but when it becomes constant, it can threaten your health, relationships, and leadership. In this episode, Kati shares lessons from her own transition out of salon ownership while exploring how anxiety, stress, fear, overwhelm, and pressure affect salon and spa leaders. You’ll learn why pressure paired with adequate resources creates a healthy challenge, while pressure without enough preparation, recovery, support, or time becomes a threat. Walk away with a practical framework for recognizing your limits,...

0718: Get this Conversation Right

Beyond The Technique Podcast

AI is transforming the front desk, and salon and spa owners can now deliver immediate, personalized support without overwhelming their teams. In this episode, conversation designer Jyoti Iyer introduces Brook, a virtual assistant that manages calls, texts, website chats, appointment bookings, and client requests—even after hours. Discover how the right AI can eliminate voicemail, prevent missed opportunities, reduce booking friction, and provide measurable insight into your return on investment. You’ll also learn what to look for when choosing an AI platform and how this technology can...

0717: Your Weaknesses are Strengths Abused

Beyond The Technique Podcast

Your greatest weakness may actually be one of your greatest strengths—simply overused, misused, or applied in the wrong context. In this episode, Kati explores how qualities like communication, confidence, loyalty, optimism, decisiveness, and adaptability can create powerful results but also damage trust and relationships when left unchecked. You’ll learn a practical four-step process to name, notice, neutralize, and redirect these behaviors with greater self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Whether you lead a salon, spa, med spa, or simply want to grow personally and professionally,...

0716: Stay Humble, Thirsty, and Strong!

Beyond The Technique Podcast

In this inspiring episode, Kati sits down with salon owner and educator Kelley Martell to explore her 22-year journey of creativity, resilience, and continual growth in the beauty industry. Kelley shares why salon owners must remain humble, stay present with their teams, and recognize the talent and fresh perspectives emerging from today’s newest hairstylists. She also encourages beauty professionals to pursue education, overcome imposter syndrome, embrace opportunities, and remember that success reflects the effort invested in mastering their craft. From navigating serious health challenges...

More Episodes

What if happiness wasn't just a personal goal—but a competitive business advantage? In this episode, Heather Bagby shares the powerful Head, Heart, and Hands framework from her new book, Beautiful and Balanced, revealing how emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and consistent action can help salon leaders build stronger teams, develop grit, and create lasting success. If you're looking for the leadership book every salon owner should read, this conversation will challenge the way you think about growth, fulfillment, and building a business that thrives from the inside out.

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