BUILDING & BREAKING with Nina L. Kovner

In this episode, Nina dives deeper into an Instagram post shared last week on being mindful about creating content drenched in justification around the value, worth, and pricing of your brand services and products. Whether you are a stylist, a salon, a fitness trainer, a massage therapist, a lash artist, or a content creator, always remember your content is your marketing. When you find yourself s...

Bestie of Passion Squared and the beauty industry Gordon Miller recently launched a new podcast, Social Beauty Makers, and invited Nina on his pod. From Social Beauty Makers A renowned coach, marketer, and thought leader in social and digital media, Nina Kovner, Passion Squared CEO, gives us a 15-minute master class on the fundamentals related to 'brand' and 'branding' -two words too often used in...

In this episode Nina shares insights into why it's essential to understand your brand values, what those you serve value, and the difference between brand values and brand value. With the recent decision Amazon made to end their Smile program they chose to abandon a part of their brand that was of value for some, and in doing so, moves folks to question Amazon's actual brand values. Your brand sto...

In this episode, Nina shares insights and examples of why it's important to align your words, language, communications, and content with your brand purpose, promise, people, voice, values, and vibe. Your words have energy, meaning, and impact. You want the words you choose to help you move toward the outcome you're seeking while ensuring they are in the language of your client, customer, or consum...

In this episode Nina shares some insights into how you can double down on caring, building trust, and delivering value for your clients, teams, and tenants this year. Whether you believe a recession is here or on the way, getting back to the fundamentals of building relationships, referrals, retention, and revenue is very much in style. What's out of style is client shaming, blaming, and being inf...

Welcome back to the podcast, lol! It's been a minute. In this episode Nina shares some wisdom and thoughts around the feelings and hopes of new days and how that can translate into any day of the year. Whether you spend your New Year's Day in silence and reflection, or out playing in nature, or binge watching your favorite show, prioritizing your self-care is essential to feeling more grounded, pr...

In this episode, Nina shares their frameworks for both decision making and creating awesome client agreements, two critically important tools for you to simplify your life as a leader and creative small business owner. The truth is you likely spend way too much time, energy, and stress not making decisions, avoiding problems, and feeling resentful when clients show up late, cancel at the last minu...

In this episode, Nina share's some insights into why some brands stand up publicly and fight injustices in our world and why some choose not to. This episode is not about politics, it's about clarity of brand story, vision, and values. It's about the choices you make as a brand in relation to what your people value, whether it be clients, team members, or tenants if you are leading a lease-based b...

The awesome news is your clients are respecting your Safe In Our Salon Agreements + Protocols and canceling their reservations if they feel ill or have been exposed, the not so awesome news is you may be having a trauma response to your 2020 experience. If this feels relatable, you are not alone. In this episode, Nina shares some thoughts on how to navigate the current cancellation surge you may b...

In this all-new episode of the pod, Nina shares their experience with the recent 33-day social break they took. At Passion Squared, we've been sharing with our clients and community for years about the importance of taking breaks, however, during this break, Nina saw the need for even more time off, and when you are on, remembering your purpose for being there, focusing on who you serve and the so...

(This episode originally aired on December 24, 2019) In this episode, Nina shares her experience around navigating the holidays when you struggle to find joy in them, a little but super important rant on Britney memes and mental health, along with reading a few pages from her NEW My AwesomeAF Boundary Book that touches on clients demanding to be squeezed in and talking politics with family. You ca...

(This episode originally aired on February 13, 2020) In this episode we sit down with Danielle Green of Radically Curly to talk about the Hair Love book, the recent Oscar win for the Hair Love animated short film, and the CROWN Act. It is currently LEGAL in all but three states (now 14 as of this encore episode) in the US to discriminate against Black people who wear natural, protective and braide...

In this episode of the pod, Nina shares fifty five life and business wisdoms and lessons on their 55th birthday with special guest and bestie Gordon Miller of Hairbrained. Grab your favorite beverage and snack, get cozy, take a listen and if you feel inspired, share some of your wisdoms and lessons with us on the socials. You can find Nina + Passion Squared on the gram @passionsquared @ninakovner...

In this What's On My Mind episode we are back with Nina sharing what's been on their mind the last couple weeks. Nina share's their thoughts on business integrity and ethics, business agreements and how they align with your own brand vision and values along with your brand purpose, promise and people. This applies to all aspects of your business and the daily decisions you make as a leader and sma...

In this episode we talk (again!) with Kristin Rankin, hairdresser, owner of Fox & Jane Salon in Toronto + Founder of Dress Code Project. As we celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride this month, our discussion with Kristin is super relevant as you reflect on how you can be a more inclusive, affirming salon for both your clients + team members. We talk about all the things; salon closures, mental health, pronouns...

Content Warning: Depression, Suicidal Ideation & Traumatic Experience In this comeback episode Nina brings back her therapist, Dr. Nancy Sobel, to talk about all the things mental health. Dr. Nancy Sobel is a psychologist in private practice in West LA specializing in the treatment of trauma and compulsive disorders and has been Nina's personal therapist for the past 14 years. Dr. Sobel has worked...

In this episode Nina chats with Dr. Nancy Sobel, a psychologist in private practice in Los Angeles California specializing in the treatment of trauma and compulsive disorders and Nina's personal therapist for the past 13 years. Dr. Nancy shares her expertise, experience and some tools to help you understand and navigate all the stages and feels of this global pandemic. We talk anxiety, fear, guilt...

In this episode Nina shares her thoughts around navigating the anxiety, fear and uncertainty around COIVD-19 for salons + small business owners. If you are seeking guidance and support with your client + team communications, click to read Clear Communication Is Kind . Please use TRUSTED news sources for information in your country, state, county and city and be very careful of what you are sharing...

In this episode we sat down with Rebecca Taylor, salon owner, colorist, educator, influencer and mental health advocate. We talked about all the things; her recent departure from a brand she helped create, paying artists, opening her second salon, navigating mental health and so much more. You can find Rebecca on the gram @rebeccataylorhair Thank you Rebecca for sharing your passion, truth and jou...

In this LIVE from ISSE with Hairbrained episode we have Keya Neal of Texture vs. Race back with us for round two! We talk about ALL THE THINGS, from the reality of independent education, Keya's journey in becoming an awesome public speaker, and the recent problematic Blackish episode on black hair and salons. For even more context and education, please listen to Keya's first episode on the podcast...

In this episode we sit down with Danielle Green of Radically Curly to talk about the Hair Love book, the recent Oscar win for the Hair Love animated short film, and the CROWN Act. It is currently LEGAL in all but three states in the US to discriminate against black people who wear natural, protective and braided hairstyles both in schools and in the workplace. This is racism. Period. Danielle shar...

In this episode I sit down with Kristen Peckich, stylist, leader, bridal specialist and owner of Lapomponnee Salons + MEC Modern Barbering. Kristen has been a salon owner for 28 years and happens to be the same generation as my, Gen X, when the Internet did not even exist to help empower small businesses. Kristen shares her experience around discovering the power of social media, and how, after 28...

In this episode I share my experience, wisdom and context around getting paid as a speaker, educator, platform artist and influencer. After 30 years of being an educator, education director and VP of Marketing, Education and Events, I have negotiated hundreds of contracts and today help our clients at Passion Squared understand their value and worth. This is not a black and white one size fits all...

In this extended episode Nina sits down with her bestie Gordon Miller, CEO of Hairbrained.me to talk about the decade in social, digital, the beauty industry, highlights, proud moments along with some predictions of where they see the future of social, digital and more. Buckle up loves, this is a long yet loaded with so much wisdom episode. You can find Gordon on the gram @gordnm @hairbrained_offi...

In this episode Nina shares her experience around navigating the holidays when you struggle to find joy in them, a little but super important rant on Britney memes and mental health, along with reading a few pages from her NEW My AwesomeAF Boundary Book that touches on clients demanding to be squeezed in and talking politics with family. You can get your copy of My AwesomeAF Boundary Book in the P...