The Great Friends Podcast

Dive into the latest episode of "The Great Friends Podcast" where host John Wheeler, CEO of Alpha Aesthetics Partners, invites Carly May, CEO of Esthetics Center, for a candid discussion on leadership and organizational strategy. Recorded in-person, John and Carly share tangible insights from their time managing the Esthetics Center together, providing a rare glimpse into the practicalities of lea...

In this episode of The Great Friends Podcast , join John Wheeler, the CEO of Alpha Aesthetics Partners, as he revisits his enlightening talk from the Mac in August 2023. Wheeler delves deep into a lesser-discussed realm of the aesthetics industry: the rise of non-providers as thought leaders. Discover his journey from being an outlier to a renowned figure in the industry. Key takeaways include the...

Join us in this enlightening episode as we delve deep with Rebekah Brannon, a luminary in aesthetic medicine with her foundational roots at Skin Spirit, and later as the transformative COO at Esthetics Center. Now, as the Director of Strategic Growth for Alpha Aesthetics Partners, Rebekah's journey offers invaluable insights into building a thriving med spa and the nuances of optimizing operationa...

In this enlightening episode of The Great Friends Podcast, host John Wheeler sits down with Christin Trujillo, a financial powerhouse and Partner at Maven, who specializes in guiding aesthetic, dental, and healthcare practices, as well as small businesses, towards financial success. With experience in consulting for Fortune companies and a lineage of four generations of small business owners, Chri...

In this captivating episode, John Wheeler, CEO of Alpha Aesthetics Partners, sits down with Dr. Reginald Rice, MD, FACS, a double board-certified ENT and facial plastic surgeon with nearly three decades of experience in the esthetics industry. Dive deep into "where it all began" as the duo recounts the humble beginnings of Esthetics Center, their pioneering venture before launching Alpha Aesthetic...

In the latest episode of The Great Friends Podcast , host John Wheeler welcomes John Rodriguez, an accomplished professional with a rich background. Formerly an executive pastor and the Chief Operating Officer for Joyce Meyer Ministries, Rodriguez has also served as a senior advisor to prominent US churches. With over 25 years of hands-on business experience, he's passionate about helping individu...

In this episode, John Wheeler sits down with Mike Guelcher, a seasoned corporate leader and managing partner at Prism Consulting Partners. With over 25 years of experience and key roles in two Fortune 500 companies, Mike brings a wealth of knowledge in practice culture, leadership and succession planning, and transition advising. The episode dives deep into the nuances of servant leadership and th...

In this episode of The Great Friends Podcast , John Wheeler, CEO of Alpha Aesthetics Partners, takes listeners into the heart of a topic he's profoundly passionate about: culture. Recorded live in San Diego at The MAC 2023, a gathering hosted by Randy Waldman, Wheeler shares his "life's message" on the importance of fostering a positive work culture. He emphasizes that leadership isn't just about...

On this episode of  The Great Friends Podcast , host John Wheeler sits down with the dynamic Jeff Tatarchuk, a true trailblazer in the business realm and one of his great friends of many years. Returning to their seminary days, filled with dreams and aspirations, John and Jeff walk down memory lane, sharing stories of their early entrepreneurial endeavors. Jeff, a co-founder of VM Excel and a nota...

Join podcast host John Wheeler and Executive Advisor at Culture Index, Adam Larkin, as they delve into a crucial aspect of employee management—driving factors. Adam, a seasoned authority in this domain, specializes in partnering with CEOs, business owners, and executive teams to elevate their top and bottom-line goals. In their enlightening conversation, John and Adam unravel the significance of u...

Drew Leahy, a distinguished figure in the field of content creation and marketing, is celebrated for his profound expertise in writing and generating copy. A professional writer for 13 years, Drew's educational journey began at Cal State Long Beach, where he pursued his passion for writing. His career has seen him contribute substantially to various organizations, notably as the founder and head o...

In this riveting episode of The Great Friends Podcast, host John Wheeler, CEO of Alpha Aesthetics Partners, sits down with the trailblazing Sarah Safa, founder of Refined Aesthetics in Leesburg, Virginia, and the newest Alpha Aesthetics Partner. Known for her extraordinary ability to generate $250,000 monthly in injectable and laser revenue, Sarah shares her strategies for success in the competiti...

Great Before & After photos in the aesthetics industry is a MUST. And just like the results providers give patients, the technology and techniques used to take photos are also integral parts of top-notch B&As. Join us for an informational episode featuring industry expert and President of Sales & Marketing at TouchMD, Tyler Terry, as he shares his best B&A tips, game-changing equipment, future tec...

Today's episode includes clips from a marketing session Alpha CEO, John Wheeler, moderated at VCS 2023. Although he was the moderator, he still dropped a few gold nuggets in there for the VCS audience and our listeners. In this episode, John gives his best tips for marketing your med spa to its fullest potential. He discusses winning with influencers and the ah-ha moment that allowed his program t...

The buzz surrounding private equity in aesthetics is widespread, with many med spas opting to join a platform or form partnerships. Before making a crucial decision, there's plenty to uncover, and Mike Pisani is more than qualified to enlighten us on this very topic. Mike has truly seen it all and been as deep in the weeds with M&A as you can possibly be, working as a private equity investor for 2...

While at VCS, Alpha CEO, John Wheeler sat down as the honorary guest on the Influx Marketing Panel with Max Baybak, Adam Daniells, and Erica Crawford, and today's episode includes our favorite clips from John sharing his hot take on the future of marketing. John discusses the importance of being an early adopter, why you should be "nimble" when it comes to new platforms, and gives his prediction f...

Anyone struggling with sales at their med spa, this episode is for you! Our recent guest on The Great Friends Podcast and sales genius, Moises Chacon, explains how we can go from "dispensing" to "prescribing," shares his three layers to questioning, and illustrates the importance of eliciting an intrinsic motivation within our patients during the consultation process. Moises is a Senior Partner at...

If there was ever a time to sell your aesthetic practice and partner, it is NOW. Our CEO, John Wheeler, put it best when he described choosing the right partner as being "the second most important decision of your entire life, after who you marry" during his talk at Vegas Cosmetic Surgery 2023. And there is a lot of truth to this statement. Because when you enter a partnership, you're hitching you...

John Wheeler sits down with our newest Alpha partner, Katie Martin, MSPAS, PA-C, to discuss the vital role culture plays in your practice and how  firing can be critical to maintaining a healthy culture. Katie also gives tips for streamlining your interview process, what you can do to become a KOL or a brand trainer, and even tells us the single thing that's been a game changer in her consultation...

You're in for a real treat with this week's episode! Our host, John Wheeler, interviews world-renowned practice management consultant and international speaker, Terri Ross, on all things data and KPIs, the importance of RPH, and the idea that we sell TIME. Terri also explains the ONLY thing that will increase the lifetime value of a patient (and it's so simple)! Terri is a true wealth of knowledge...

Knowledge bombs were dropped left and right in this week's episode! Join our host, John Wheeler, and this week's guest, Jay Shorr, as they discuss the importance of middle management, tips for buying devices while getting the biggest bang for your buck, and offer topic suggestions for increasing your chances of being asked to speak at events. Jay is an accomplished public speaker with 30+ years of...

Becoming an industry thought leader IS an achievable aspiration! Alpha Partner, Amanda Holden, joins our host, John Wheeler, to discuss how to become a KOL and what it means to "go pro" in your aesthetics career. Amanda is an exceptional injector, a KOL, and owner of Holden Timeless Beauty, a premier medical spa in the Southern California region with 5 locations. With over 15 years of medical expe...

Ready to start public speaking but unsure where to start? Join our host, John Wheeler, and international speaker and Director of Marketing at PatientNow, Audrey Neff, in an episode tailored to launching your public speaking career. Audrey is an expert in presenting, as she speaks at 25-30 conferences/events per year, totaling her impressive lecture count to about 40 annually! In this episode, John...

Today's episode of The Great Friends Podcast interviews a good friend and marketing master, Max Baybak. Max is the Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer at Influx Marketing, a company he founded almost 9 years ago that specializes in marketing for aesthetics practices. Prior to starting Influx, he was the Chief Product Officer at Pavemint and the Marketing Associate for Michael Baybak & Co. In this...

Today's episode of The Great Friends Podcast interviews good friend and sales guru, Josh DeBlasio. Josh is a seasoned vet in the aesthetics world, with over 20 years of experience. He worked for big names like PCA Skin, ClarityRx Clinical Skincare, and Medicis Aesthetics until starting his own aesthetic consulting company, Blaze77, in 2022. Here, Josh shares his proven methods for success when it...