Beyond The Technique Podcast

Building a thriving salon or spa starts with one powerful foundation: community. In this episode, Kati Whitledge unpacks why human connection is not just a "nice to have," but a biological, psychological, and business necessity for growth, retention, and long-term success. You'll learn why team members leave when they don't feel ownership or belonging—and how simple, intentional actions can dramat...

Discover the marketing trends you   cannot afford to ignore   as Kati sits down with industry marketing expert Kayla Morgan, who shares the digital strategies driving real revenue for salons and spas right now. In this episode, you'll learn why Meta ads must stay on, how geo-targeting and best-practice offers boost bookings, and which visuals consistently outperform in today's crowded feed. Kayla...

Today, Kati reveals how our deepest pains personally, professionally, and emotionally, can become the very fuel that ignites our greatest leadership breakthroughs. She shares her own journey from childhood hardship and unhealthy patterns to strength, identity transformation, and purpose, proving that pain isn't punishment, it's preparation. Salon and spa owners will learn how to reframe setbacks a...

Today we sat down with financial expert, Mel Abraham, to help salon owners redefine what it means to be truly free. Mel shares his deeply personal journey from leaving corporate life without a plan, to rebuilding the life of his dreams after cancer, to creating his signature "money machine" that generates income outside your business. Together, they talk about how to embrace present joy while buil...

Start the year with a mission that moves you. In this powerful conversation, Kati uncovers how the military defines "mission" and shows salon and spa owners how adopting that level of clarity, purpose, and direction can transform their business in 2026. You'll learn why revisiting and rewriting your mission each year fuels innovation, deeper team alignment, stronger culture, and measurable growth....

In this powerful year-end episode, industry expert, Danielle Cherewyk is back to tackling one of the biggest challenges facing salons and spas today: cash flow. Danielle breaks down why 82% of businesses fail due to cash flow issues and shares the exact strategies salons can use to stay profitable. Learn actionable ways to increase client frequency, transition into high-maintenance services, and b...

Today we talk about the concept of unconditional honor in leadership and business. We are drawing inspiration from military culture, where treating people with honor isn't optional, it's a matter of survival. You'll hear how this same mindset can transform everyday business environments by uncovering hidden strengths, recognizing potential before performance, and leading from the trenches. With pe...

Salon owners know the power of social media but are they truly leading their team by example? In this episode, Jodie Brown shares how she went from hairstylist to marketing mentor, revealing the simple branding strategies that helped her grow her business and build real authority online. Together, we talk about how storytelling, specificity, and a bold personal voice can transform your salon's soc...

When you create order in one part of your business, disorder will show up somewhere else and that's not a sign of failure, it's the science of growth. In this episode, we break down the law of entropy and explain why the most successful leaders learn to anticipate chaos, secure team buy-in and rebuild systems as their business scales. You'll hear real examples of what disorder looks like and the r...

What if unlocking your next level of leadership begins with rediscovering your true authority—your soul authority? In this inspiring episode, Master Certified Coach Lyn Christian returns to share how their Soul Authority Track is transforming leaders through purpose, radical self-awareness, and measurable personal growth—like improved health, renewed confidence, and clear career direction. You'll...

Raising your prices isn't about charging more, it's about elevating your standards so you can deliver the level of excellence today's clients expect. With industry expenses rising 12–20% since 2021, strategic price adjustments are what allow you to invest in better education, tools, technology, and the kind of talent that keeps your business thriving. Data shows that a 10% price increase can gener...

Get ready for a powerful and refreshingly honest conversation with legendary salon owner, educator, and curly-hair specialist Casey Voss—a 25-year industry vet whose story reads like a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and leadership. In this episode, Casey opens up about rebuilding after a devastating salon fire, navigating major business transitions, letting go of ego, and learning to trus...

When others doubt you, it can become your greatest edge. In this episode, Kati reveals how being underestimated became her superpower—from prevailing in a courtroom to building a one-of-a-kind tech platform that is reshaping the beauty industry. She shares how working quietly in the shadows allows you to learn, grow, and prepare without the noise of critics. Discover why the most powerful moves of...

In this inspiring episode of Beyond The Technique , host Kati Whitledge welcomes salon owner, educator, and L'Oréal Professional Artist, Daniel Mason-Jones for a powerful conversation about the trends shaping the salon industry in 2026. Daniel shares how purpose and passion can transform not just a career, but an entire community. You will discover how building culture, offering education, and pri...

Happy Thanksgiving! Today we talk about how gratitude and greed shape the culture of a business and the mindset of its leaders. We break down how greed, which is often disguised as ambition, can cause burnout, discontent, and competition, while gratitude restores joy, collaboration, and purpose. Kati shares personal and professional examples, from lessons with her child to experiences in leadershi...

Kati welcomes celebrity stylist and educator Jill Buck to share how she took control of her career and built a high-value, high-demand business model—both behind the chair at 901 Salon in West Hollywood and as a traveling stylist for A-list clients. Jill opens up about her 22-year journey from Oregon to LA, how she transitioned to on-location work during COVID, and the strategies she uses today to...

In this short and powerful Beyond The Technique podcast episode, Kati Whitledge shares a framework for sustaining your energy and purpose as a leader. She reveals why rest is a discipline, not a luxury—and how to build it into your routine to prevent burnout and boost creativity. You'll learn how to delegate for growth, align daily work with your deeper mission, and shift from exhaustion to endura...

Get ready to be inspired by the incredible journey of Leysa Carrillo—global artistic ambassador for Redken and founder of Forever Curls Academy—as she sits down with Kati to share how her passion for textured hair transformed her career and the industry. From growing up in a strict military family in Cuba to performing in Cirque du Soleil, Leysa's path to beauty was anything but traditional, yet h...

Today we are going to look at key questions every leader needs answer to in order to grow and develop themselves as a leader. These lessons are inspired by The Making of a Manager by Julie Zhuo, emphasizing the importance of leaning into strengths rather than obsessing over weaknesses. Kati opens up about breaking limiting self-beliefs, sharing her own journey of overcoming childhood narratives an...

Today, Kati welcomes Zac Miner and Dan Schmidt from Best 365 Labs to uncover how optimizing your mitochondrial health can transform energy, skin vitality, and longevity from the inside out. Designed for salon, spa, and med spa professionals, this introductory conversation simplifies the science behind biohacking and reveals why mitochondria—the body's "powerhouse cells"—are the key to improved wel...

What makes a leader truly empowering instead of overbearing? In this episode, Kati reveals ten traits of leaders who build trust, delegate with confidence, and inspire with vision and empathy. You'll learn practical strategies for active listening, respecting boundaries, and supporting your team's autonomy while still holding them accountable. Tune in to discover how empowering leadership can unlo...

Get ready for an inspiring conversation with hairstylist, salon owner, and Masters of Balayage, stage educator, Emily Jones! She is here to share her industry journey that went from styling Barbie dolls to becoming a balayage, blonding, and hair extension expert. In this episode, Bringing Back the Why , Emily opens up about her passion for teaching, her transition from medical school to hair schoo...

In this episode, Kati breaks down the ten traits of overbearing leaders, from micromanaging and excessive control to guilt-tripping and lack of empathy. She shares personal stories of struggling with one of the overbearing traits and highlights how these behaviors can stifle creativity, trust, and growth in a salon setting. Kati emphasizes the importance of balancing constructive feedback with enc...

In this episode, Kati Whitledge welcomes Danielle Anderson, a seasoned salon leader and hiring expert, to share her journey and insights from managing teams in the beauty industry. Danielle opens up about her rapid career growth, the challenges she faced post-COVID, and the leadership strategies that helped her build thriving salon cultures. She highlights the importance of hiring for values and c...

This episode explores the psychology of suggestion in marketing and its impact on consumer behavior. Kati shares how strategies like priming, social proof, and sensory cues influence clients to book, buy, and return. She highlights the importance of building trust through reviews, visuals, and in-person recommendations, while creating memorable luxury experiences through ambiance. Listeners will a...