The Go Ham Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Iyonna Elston, who proves that age has nothing to do with ambition. Iyonna found a way to begin cosmetology school at just 17 years old, built a thriving business behind the chair, and by 19, had the opportunity to do hair at Paris Fashion Week. We talk about the experiences that have shaped her into the businesswoman she is today, the lessons she’s taken from bot...

In this episode we sit down with Tara Davis and Sara Gardiner, owners of Blu Salons in Raleigh, to hear a story they never could have planned. After years behind the chair, they approached their salon owners hoping to get their blessing to open a salon of their own. Instead, they were handed an opportunity they never saw coming: the chance to take over all three salon locations. And then, just as...

What if your biggest setback became your greatest opportunity? In this episode, we sit down with Dom Mednick , who shares how her own hair loss journey led her to create a thriving topper business after feeling dismissed by the medical community and realizing extensions were no longer an option for her. We talk about how she turned a personal challenge into a solution that's helped thousands of cl...

In this episode, we're getting honest about what happens when leadership evolves and many of the responsibilities salon owners once owned are delegated or outsourced. Heather shares her personal story of feeling lost after stepping away from the day-to-day tasks she had always identified with, and the journey of rediscovering where she could make the biggest impact. Instead of trying to hold onto...

Everyone keeps saying you have to become a content creator to grow behind the chair in 2026... but is that actually true? In this episode, we're challenging the idea that social media is the ONLY path to a fully booked schedule. We break down the growth strategies that have consistently worked across our salons, from increasing your rebooking percentage and creating unforgettable guest experiences...

In this episode, we’re talking about the most important person you’ll ever lead in your company: yourself. As leaders, it’s easy to get caught up in the decisions, KPIs, systems, and operational side of running a business. But when we focus only on the logistics, we can lose sight of the energy, frequency, and emotional intelligence required to truly lead people. We dive into what it means to regu...

This week on Go Ham , we sit down with one of our own, Gabby Muscatello, to talk about what's possible when talent meets work ethic. At just 19 years old, Gabby earned a promotion, bought a brand-new BMW, and saved over $30,000—all while building her career in the beauty industry. We dive into the habits, mindset, and daily choices that helped her get there, and why this industry can create incred...

Everyone has a business idea after watching a 30 second TikTok. But social media only shows the highlight reel. It doesn’t show the backend chaos, the financials, the team bandwidth, the client experience issues, or whether that idea even works long term. In this episode, we’re talking about the danger of implementing every shiny idea you see online, how social media can create reactive leadership...

Clean and organic isn’t a trend anymore, it’s taking over. In this episode of, we talk about the shift happening in the beauty industry and why it matters more than ever. With a potential formaldehyde ban from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, things could change fast when it comes to services, products, and how salons operate. We also get into how stylists are thinking more about their healt...

If you think your mindset doesn’t impact your business… this episode will humble you real quick. This week we’re sitting down with Paige Fisher, and her story is the kind that proves everything can change when you do. She went from feeling stuck, pessimistic, working two jobs, and seriously considering leaving it all behind to move south… to building the career she once thought was out of reach an...

Trying to find a salon home? Cool. But are you actually asking the right questions… or just hoping for the best and ignoring the red flags? In this episode, we’re getting real about what stylists should be looking for when they’re interviewing at salons and what most people completely miss. Yeah, we talk about the obvious stuff like schedule, pay structure, and growth opportunities… but that’s the...

In this episode, we’re talking about the hiring mistakes that cost salon owners way more than they realize. Not just money, but time, team morale, resources, and a ridiculous amount of energy trying to make the wrong hire work. We break down the red flags we’ve ignored in interviews, why hiring “off the street” can sometimes create bigger problems than it solves, and why promoting from within ofte...

The beauty industry gets a bad rap. Burnout. Drama. Negativity. Comparison. Sure, that exists. But that’s not the whole story. In this episode, we’re talking about the opportunity no one talks about enough... flexible schedules, serious income potential, brand deals, creative freedom, and building a life that most “traditional” careers can’t offer. And bigger than that… the impact. What feels like...

In this episode of Go Ham, we sit down with Daniel and Jodi Mason-Jones to talk about what it really looks like to go from being wildly successful behind the chair to building a full-blown salon empire. Daniel is one of the most sought-after inspirational speakers in our industry, but what makes him different is he’s still in it. He’s consistently running a thriving business behind the chair, seei...

In this episode, we talk with Robin, a heart attack survivor whose story every woman needs to hear. Robin suffered a SCAD heart attack, a rare and often misdiagnosed type of heart attack that mainly affects women. Like so many of us, she could have brushed off the symptoms or told herself she was fine. Instead, she listened to her body and trusted her instincts, and that choice saved her life. Now...

In this episode, we sit down with Maddie Sweeney, one of the fastest-growing stylists in our company, and break down what it actually looks like to build a business behind the chair in one of the hardest seasons our industry has seen. You’ll hear exactly what Maddie did differently, the habits she committed to, the mindset shifts she had to make, and the uncomfortable decisions that helped her bea...

In this episode, we get real about what’s actually going on with retail in salons. Big brands controlling distribution, constant supply issues, Amazon partnering with professional lines, and the disappearance of brand reps who used to support, educate, and show up. We talk about how this is impacting salon owners, stylists, and culture, and why selling retail feels harder than ever. Most important...

In this episode, Jennifer Boutwell gets real about the hard seasons of life and how they shape the leader you are. We talk about how trauma doesn’t just stay neatly in the past. It quietly shows up in your decisions, your relationships, your leadership style, and the way you move through the world. Fight or flight might help you survive for a while, but it can only take you so far. Without self-aw...

In this episode of Go Ham, we sit down with Nichole Mansi to talk about what really happens when you leave a workplace and things get messy. Nichole shares her experience of walking away, unexpectedly dealing with a lawsuit that was ultimately non-sense, but still incredibly stressful, and navigating the fear and pressure that came with it. We dive into the challenges of starting a business on her...

Salon shutdowns are happening everywhere right now and nobody wants to talk about it — but we are. In this episode, we break down why so many salons are struggling, the silent factors most owners never see coming, and what you  can control to keep your business alive, profitable, and moving forward. From tightening your systems to leading your team with more clarity, from building a real bran...

Today we sat down with Derek Hull to talk straight about what’s actually working in salon marketing right now. If you’ve ever wondered how we’ve been able to grow brand awareness, drive new guests, and stay top of mind in a crowded market, Derek and Salon Ninja have been a huge part of that. Derek drops the bomb on his newest project: an AI powered salon software that literally lets you ask anythi...

This week, we’re talking about communication… the part of leadership that’s a breeze when you’ve got a tiny team, but can suddenly feel like herding cats once you grow. We’re diving into what’s worked for us, what absolutely  didn’t , and the systems we’re using right now to keep everyone aligned without losing our sanity. We get into matching communication styles, setting clear expectations...

We sat down with straight-shooter Nina Tulio for a real talk on what leadership in the salon industry actually looks like today—no buzzwords, no sugar-coating. Nina breaks down how leadership has evolved, why servant leadership still wins, and how to lead from purpose instead of ego. She also dives deep into one of the hardest things for stylists to face: raising prices without guilt. If you’ve ev...

We see it all the time in this industry, people lose their drive. When the pressure, and the constant giving start to outweigh the love for the craft, it can feel easier to walk away. But sometimes, stepping back is the only way to remember why you fell in love with it in the first place. In this episode, we sit down with  Cesalee Smith , a stylist who’s walked that exact path—leaving the ind...

On this episode, we sit down with Gina Bianca, a true jack of all trades in the industry. From hairstylist to commission/booth rental owner, yoga studio owner, and one of the most sought-after educators in the business, Gina has been through it all. She doesn’t sugarcoat her story, and she doesn’t shy away from the hard parts. We dive deep into the challenges she’s faced, the pivots she’s made, an...