Licensed & Unsupervised with Beckee and Naomi

In the final episode of our series with Rian DeVeer, we talk about ADHD, masking, and the exhausting experience of trying to perform “normal.” We discuss the ways people learn to adapt socially — especially in creative industries, school, professional environments, and relationships — and how masking can sometimes become so automatic that you lose track of what actually feels authentic. Together w...

In this episode of License & Unsupervised , we talk about growing up in Michigan in the 90s — when Shelby Township still felt like the sticks, bonfires at Eisenhower were normal, and kids were basically feral. We discuss: Car culture and growing up near the Motor City Graduation memories from the 90s Old-school pranks and the chaos of growing up before social media Customer service and why it...

In this episode of License & Unsupervised , we welcome back our “supervisor,” Rian DeVeer, for a conversation about identity, high school experiences, and how we all became who we are today. We talk about growing up in different decades — the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s — and how those environments shaped us. Rian shares his experience as a trans man, including how he chose his name and what tha...

In this episode of License & Unsupervised , we’re joined by our first official “supervisor” — Rian DeVeer. We start with origin stories — how we all got to where we are today, how we first met Rian, and the impressions that stuck. From there, we talk about his experience in beauty school as both a student and a teacher, and how education in the hair industry has evolved across generations. We...

This is a shorter episode of License & Unsupervised while we catch up from a couple missed weeks. Today we’re talking about something simple but real — what it’s like trying to walk into a hair salon anonymously… and why that’s basically impossible where we live. We share stories from our time as educators, what it was like teaching and learning at the same time, and how we’ve used ourselves a...

This is our first guest and he will be on the pod we couldn't be better!

In this episode of License & Unsupervised , we continue the conversation about being older in the room — and what that really means in today’s culture. We talk about pop culture gaps between generations, how apprentices seem to know everything, and how quickly things change when you’re not paying attention. But this episode goes deeper. We revisit the foundations of the industry — Vidal Sassoo...

In this episode of License & Unsupervised , we talk about what it really feels like to get older in an industry that constantly celebrates youth. We start with something simple — dress codes — and how Beckee had to enforce one in beauty school, even though we don’t personally believe in strict dress rules in the salon. From there, the conversation turns into something deeper: what it means to...

In this episode of License & Unsupervised , we’re recording from Rian’s room (because… why not), dealing with technology issues, and diving into the reality of being highly creative professionals. We talk about the Chromadaddy tour , the lessons that come with meeting your heroes, and how the beauty industry continues to evolve through education and community. We also get into: Hair Aid and th...

In this episode of License & Unsupervised , we talk about parenting, discipline, and the mental rewiring that happens when you decide to change your life. We start with childhood stories — Naomi being a biter, Mia going through a biting phase, and the reality that every child develops differently. From potty training to parenting NICU babies, we talk about how much of parenting comes down to u...

In this episode of License & Unsupervised , we talk about everything from Diet Coke addiction to what it really means to grow up. We start with Beckee’s legendary Diet Coke habit and Naomi bringing Mountain Dew to Guatemala before diving into what it was like growing up feral in the 90s — no cell phones, no internet, and very little supervision. From there, the conversation moves into parentin...

In this episode of License & Unsupervised , we finally get our sound together — and then immediately start talking about why stylists are rock stars. We dive into the legacy of Vidal Sassoon and how he revolutionized modern hairdressing, branding, and the idea that the stylist is an artist. Why did stylists traditionally wear black? Because the guest is the rock star — not us. We talk about: W...

In this episode of License & Unsupervised , we open up about motherhood, cancer, friendship, and what happens when your children grow into adults. Both of our sons are seniors in high school, and we talk honestly about what it feels like to watch them step into their future. From tux fittings and milestone moments to the quiet emotional shifts that come with parenting teenagers, this season of...

In this episode of License & Unsupervised , we’re talking about DIY hair, color theory, and the very different types of salon guests we meet behind the chair. We kick things off with Chromadaddy and how creative color education and product innovation are changing the way stylists approach vivid and corrective color. From there, we dive into the wild world of at-home hair experiments — the DIY...

This episode starts with hydration — or more accurately, Naomi’s complicated relationship with water. What begins as a casual conversation about drinking enough water quickly spirals into college memories, short-lived academic ambitions, and how neither of us exactly followed a traditional path before ending up behind the chair. Then we take a turn to Hawaii. Beckee shares the story of the moment...

In this first episode, we pull the curtain back on why this podcast needed to exist. We talk about what it really means to start something new after 40—especially in an industry where you’re expected to always be “on,” always giving, and rarely supervised. Being a hairstylist means working independently while holding space for everyone else’s emotions, stories, milestones, and trauma. Over time, t...