The GroomPod

Are we living in the future, or is the future already here? In this episode of The GroomPod , hosts Susy Scott and Barbara Bird plow headfirst into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI)! Barbara shares her recent experiences collaborating with AI as a tireless, enthusiastic research and editing partner to help break down complex grooming and skin sciences into digestible, bite-sized education....

Get ready to scrub down your physical space and your mental space in this episode of The GroomPod! Host Susy the Groomer is joined by Barbara Bird to talk about the magic of horsepower and high temperatures. Susy shares her latest workspace upgrade: a new state-of-the-art vapor steam cleaner. Discover the ultimate guidelines for using steam to blast away dander and grime in the nooks, crannies, an...

n this exciting episode of The GroomPod, Susy and Barbara sit down with the incredible Stephenie Calhoun, owner of The Meditative Groomer Academy in Wisconsin! Stephenie recently packed her bags and headed straight to the source—Korea—to immerse herself in the hyper-precise, physics-defying world of high-end Korean grooming and advanced model dog sculpting. As a member of the North American Model...

Are you looking to save your back, slash your grooming times, and get more out of your products? This week, Susy and Barbara are diving deep into the tub to explore a tool that completely transforms your workflow: recirculating bathing systems. Whether you are operating out of a mobile van or a brick-and-mortar shop, changing how you bathe can feel like giving yourself an immediate raise. We break...

The GroomPod Episode 479: Structure, Shop Vacs, and Global Grooming Join Susy and Barbara for a review of the April 2026 Groomer to Groomer magazine. We discuss the importance of canine structure in education, share tips on handling difficult client conversations, and catch up on Susy’s mobile van setup—bruises and all! Plus, Barbara shares her honest experience learning to use a grooming hammock.

In this episode, Susy and Barbara go beyond the barn to explore the science of skin health with Vince Polentes , co-founder of Coat Defense . Originally born from a need for clean, human-grade skincare, Coat Defense has become a staple in the equine world and is now making massive waves in professional grooming salons. What’s inside this episode: The Origin Story: How a family health journey led t...

Recorded on April 5, 2026, Susy and Barbara catch up on a week of sunshine and the "violent" labeling required to keep a new grooming van organized. Susy seeks help from the "masses" on how to manage 100 feet of shore power cord without drilling holes in her van.  The duo tackles technical grooming questions about Maltese coats, the dangers of heat styling, and why "tensile force" from brushing ca...

In this episode, Susy and Barbara dive deep into the March 2026 issue of Groomer to Groomer magazine . The duo provides a candid "virtual salon" critique of the latest industry articles, covering everything from creative grooming covers to the essential theme of self-care and burnout prevention . Susy shares her latest adventures in her new grooming van , discussing the learning curve of transitio...

Join Susy and Barbara as they dive into the excitement of the Groom’d 2026 event in Atlanta! This week, we are joined by special guest Melody Coleman, a mobile grooming professional who recently stepped into the competition ring for the very first time with her standard poodle. In this un-edited episode, we recap the highlights of the show, from Barbara’s "adventures" navigating the trade show flo...

  In this un-edited episode, Susy and Barbara dive deep into the emotional and professional world of customer service in the grooming industry. Susy shares a "comedy of errors" involving three different generators and her transition into a Wag'n Tails grooming van from her trailer. The duo discusses how to handle confrontations without getting defensive, the power of making clients feel heard, and...

The GroomPod Episode 473: Legacy, Lifelines, and New Beginnings  In this episode, Susy the Groomer and Barbara Bird honor the incredible life and legacy of Marlene Romani, the trailblazing inventor of the Clippervac and a mentor who shaped the grooming industry. Susy shares personal stories from her time at Marlene’s school and factory, reflecting on how that technology transformed her own career....

Susy and Barbara Bird dive into the essentials of career longevity and cutting-edge skin science. First, we’re dreaming big with "Longevity by Design." If money were no object, what would the ultimate ergonomic sanctuary look like?. From double-door safety entries and anti-fatigue flooring to the "one-inch rule" for equipment placement, we discuss how to build a shop that protects your back, wrist...

Welcome back to the virtual salon! After a short hiatus for vacations and new "body parts," Susy and Barbara are back to catch up on all things grooming. In this episode, Susy recounts her "badass" moment changing a trailer tire in a rainstorm and shares a tip for getting the most out of searchable podcast transcripts. The duo also dives into the latest issue of Groomer to Groomer magazine, discus...

Welcome back to the virtual salon! In this heavy yet hopeful episode, Susy and Barbara take a moment to honor the life and legacy of a true industry giant, Chris Christensen . We reflect on how his innovations transformed the way we work at the grooming table and pay our respects to a man who changed the grooming world forever. Shifting gears to something a bit more... pungent, we dive deep into t...

Welcome to Episode 469 of The Groom Pod! This week, Susy and Barbara sit down with dear friend, educator, and the force behind the Caring for the Canine Coat (CCE) program, Christine Sertzel Pearson . Chris is launching a groundbreaking monthly digital magazine designed to bridge the gap between daily grooming and skin science. In this episode, we dive into why this resource is essential for the m...

In this episode of The GroomPod , Susy the Groomer and Barbara Bird welcome back their most frequent guest, Dave Campanella from Best Shot , to discuss the cutting-edge trends shaping the grooming industry in 2026. We dive deep into Dave’s latest insights for Groomer to Groomer magazine, debunking old myths about silicone copolymers and exploring why these modern ingredients are actually "game cha...

Episode 467 | The Art of Mentorship & The Philosophy of K-Beauty In this episode, Susy and Barbara get real about the highs and lows of the grooming life—from surviving Northwest floods and "fish pond nightmares" to the emotional toll of losing a beloved pet. But the heart of today’s show is all about growth. First, we explore the essential traits of a great grooming mentor. Are you rushing in...

Episode 466: Poodle Sauce, Pistachios, and the December Issue Welcome to the virtual salon! In this episode, Suzy and Barbara celebrate the start of their 12th year of The Groom Pod. To kick off the anniversary, the duo dives deep into the December 2025 issue of Groomer to Groomer magazine, sharing their unfiltered takes on everything from business advice to breed tutorials. In This Episode: The "...

🎧 The Groom Pod Episode 465: What to do when they pass, and Whiteners and optical brighteners Welcome to Episode 465 of The GroomPod! Join your host, Susy, a mobile groomer from Seattle, Washington, and her co-star, the curator of ingredients, Barbara Bird. This week, we are tackling two very serious, yet important, topics for every professional groomer: 🐾 When They Pass Away (00:01:08) Susy ope...

🐶 GroomPod 464: Stress Buckets, Trigger Stacking, and the Tea Tree Oil Truth Welcome to episode 464 of The Groom Pod! This week, hosts Suzy and Barbara Berg dive into two critical areas that affect every groomer's daily work: canine behavior management and ingredient safety. 🌊 Part 1: Trigger Stacking & The Stress Bucket Every dog arrives with a "stress bucket" already partially full. Learn...

This week, Susy kicks things off with a rant about a major change in Google's search algorithm. Due to new AI involvement , the podcast's 462 previous episodes are no longer easily searchable, as the new system requires full transcripts to mine data. Susy explains her new process for posting transcripts and asks listeners who can't find an old episode to private message her directly for a link. Th...

🎙️ Episode 462: Grooming Disasters, AKC/NDGAA Fallout, and Chris Christensen's New Formulas Welcome to Episode 462 of The GroomPod! This week, hosts Susy and Barbara don't hold anything back as they tackle industry controversies, confess their biggest career mistakes, and dive deep into product ingredients. Inside This Episode: ⚠️ Industry Alert: We discuss the shocking news out of Portland regard...

In this episode we give our first impressions of the Funky Poodle products, a new face in the marketplace.  Then we talks about all kinds of options for handouts for your clients.  

Barbara and Susy interview Dave and Tracy Campanella about the grooming industry and how to age gracefully while continuing to work.                                                       

This episode includes our discussion of the Groomer to Groomer Magazine September 2025  ads and articles.