SPA HIVE

Are you leading your team...or accidentally becoming the bottleneck? Many business owners and managers believe being the person everyone depends on is a sign of great leadership. But what if it's actually holding your team and your business back? In this episode of SpaHive Business + Life Unfiltered, Julie Pankey and MaryAnn explore why the best leaders make themselves less needed by building conf...

:Last week, we bought your spa. This week... we're buying into your leadership. Every business eventually reflects its leader. If your team depends on you for every decision, problems keep resurfacing, or you constantly feel overwhelmed, this episode is for you. Julie Pankey and MaryAnn continue their leadership series with a practical leadership audit designed for spa owners, entrepreneurs, and m...

n this episode of SpaHive Podcast, Julie Pankey and MaryAnn walk through the exact process they'd use to evaluate a spa from the moment they pull into the parking lot. From curb appeal and client experience to team culture, retention, operations, and profitability, they're sharing the hidden signs that separate thriving spas from struggling ones. Whether you're an independent esthetician, spa owne...

This month for SpaHive Book Club, we read You Deserve To Know by Aggie Thompson and let's just say... Julie and MaryAnn had very different reactions. From shocking plot twists and suburban secrets to unreliable narrators and friendship dynamics, we're unpacking everything that kept us turning pages. Did the ending work? Did we see the twists coming? And did we actually read the same book? Spoiler...

Feeling busy but not fulfilled? Julie and MaryAnn explore the 3 simple things that make life feel bigger: new experiences, creativity, and real human connection. A thoughtful conversation about happiness, presence, and creating a life you'll actually remember.   Don't Forget to join the Spa Hive Book Club- pick up your copy of our latest pick! https://a.co/d/03DK9zR6

This week, Julie and MaryAnn explore whether modern life, constant scrolling, AI, content creation, and convenience culture are making us less curious, less creative, and more disconnected from the experiences that spark innovation and joy.   Check out the Spring Spa hive Book Club Pick - https://amzn.to/4ob8EeS

Would YOU book your own business right now? In this episode, Julie and MaryAnn walk through a simple 5-step online presence audit to help business owners identify the hidden website, branding, social media, and AI-related mistakes that may be costing them clients. Learn how to build trust, improve your digital first impression, and create an online presence that actually reflects the experience yo...

Are Millennials really too emotional… or did Gen X just teach everyone to “tough it out”? In this hilarious and surprisingly relatable episode, Julie and MaryAnn unpack the real differences between Gen X and Millennials—from burnout, parenting, and workplace culture to trauma talk, email etiquette, wellness trends, and why everyone suddenly has an Oura Ring.

Feeling overwhelmed, scattered, or stuck in reactive mode lately? This SpaHive throwback episode from 2023 is your reminder that successful entrepreneurs don’t rely on motivation alone — they rely on habits, structure, routines, and systems that actually support their life and business. In this episode, Julie dives into: • Entrepreneur mindset shifts that reduce overwhelm • Why structure creates m...

What if the reason you’re exhausted… isn’t your schedule — but the invisible load you’re carrying? In this honest, funny, and deeply relatable episode, Julie and MaryAnn unpack the mental and emotional weight women carry every single day — from decision fatigue and overplanning to being the default problem solver at work and at home. After recapping Julie’s whirlwind New York City trip filled with...

In this episode, Julie and MaryAnn unpack why May feels like December’s chaotic little sister—and how that “everything at once” energy shows up in your business, your schedule, and your life. From last-minute cancellations to packed calendars and stretched-thin owners, they’re breaking down what’s really happening beneath the surface. More importantly? They’re sharing simple, realistic shifts to h...

This week on SpaHive Podcast: Business + Life Unfiltered, Julie and MaryAnn are saying the quiet parts out loud. From entrepreneurship myths like “busy equals profitable” to why not everyone should own a small business, they’re diving into the conversations many entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders avoid—but need to hear. They unpack real truths about leadership, team dynamics, business gro...

What if your next level of growth isn’t inside your business… but outside of it? In this episode, Julie and MaryAnn unpack why community connection is the most underrated strategy for both business growth and personal fulfillment. From local collaborations to real-life visibility (not just social media), they share how getting out of your building can build trust, deepen relationships, and actuall...

Summer is coming—and if you’re already feeling the pressure, you’re not alone. In this episode, Julie and MaryAnn break down how to hire smarter, set clear schedules, and avoid the burnout spiral before it starts. Because the truth is… busy season doesn’t burn you out—lack of planning does. Julie’s top FOUR Interview questions:  What pulled you to apply to this position, what made you interested?...

Are you overlooking the next leader already on your team? In this episode, Julie and MaryAnn unpack how to recognize who’s truly ready to grow, why autonomy matters more than control, and how leaders unintentionally hold people back. If you’re struggling to hire, retain, or develop your team, this conversation might shift your entire perspective on leadership.    READY to turn your spa dreams into...

 In this episode, Julie and MaryAnn break down the biggest wellness trends of Spring 2026 and decide in real time: are we keeping them… or cutting them? From ear seeding and head spas to $22 wellness drinks, snail facials, and even bee venom skincare, nothing is off limits. If you’re in the spa, wellness, or beauty space and wondering what’s worth your energy this season (and what’s just hype), th...

Feeling overwhelmed, busy but not productive, or stuck in burnout? This episode breaks down how to spring clean your business, energy, and mindset—so you can simplify, realign, and grow with clarity this season.   The Spring Reset Framework, For Life and Work  Step 1: Audit “What feels heavy, forced, or outdated?” Step 2: Eliminate “What can you remove immediately?” Step 3: Simplify “What can be e...

Feeling calm on the outside but overwhelmed inside? Julie Pankey and MaryAnn Sessine explore nervous system stress, leadership energy, burnout signals, and simple ways to reset your vagus nerve.   OSEA Vagus Nerve Oil - https://oseamalibu.com/products/vagus-nerve-oil?_pos=1&_sid=3886400b7&_ss=r   READY to turn your spa dreams into a thriving reality? The Spa Startup course is your hands-on...

What changes when business partners finally get in the same room together? In this episode of the SpaHive Podcast, Julie Pankey and MaryAnn Sessine explore the power of in-person collaboration, creative breakthroughs, and why proximity still matters in a virtual world. Plus, they share a candid luxury spa experience review—the good, the awkward, and the tiny guest-experience details spa profession...

In this live, in-person Besties Roundtable, Julie Pankey and MaryAnn Sessine reflect on growth, leadership, boundaries, and the things they simply don’t do anymore. From letting go of hustle culture to redefining success in the spa and wellness industry, this honest conversation is your reminder: you’re not behind — you’re just editing your life.

Are pizza parties and bonuses actually fixing burnout — or are they missing the point? In this episode, we break down the Five Love Languages in the workplace, why most leaders think they’re showing appreciation (but teams don’t feel it), and what Gallup data reveals about recognition, engagement, and profitability. If you lead a spa, wellness business, or team across multiple generations, this co...

Hosts Marianne and Julie explore the hidden cost of always being the dependable person at work, home, and in friendships. They discuss how chronic reliability can lead to exhaustion, resentment, and even physical signs of stress tracked by devices like Oura rings. The episode covers practical ways to protect your energy—setting boundaries, saying no, asking for support, and consciously putting one...

Julie and MaryAnn discuss Valentine’s Day strategies for spas—what to keep, what to skip, and how to create authentic experiences that drive return business. They cover gift‑card tips, team buy‑in, duo (not "couples") services, Galentine’s ideas, and simple value‑adds that feel caring instead of gimmicky.

At the end of January, Julie and MaryAnn check in on the reality of goals versus expectations and why so many resolutions lose momentum. They break down SMART goal setting, the power of identity-based growth, and why redefining success can feel more supportive than starting over. This episode is a reminder that adjusting your goals isn’t failure — it’s alignment, awareness, and forward progress.  ...

Julie Pankey and MaryAnn break down what sustainable growth really looks like in 2026, from building a business that supports your life to avoiding burnout, over-scaling, and constant reinvention. This episode focuses on intentional strategy, consistent marketing, and smart education to help spa owners and entrepreneurs grow steadily, profitably, and with longevity.   READY to turn your spa dreams...