Alopecia Life

Welcome to this episode of Alopecia Life.

What happens when a new diagnosis turns into a global mission for change?

When Sage was diagnosed with alopecia early in 2026, she and her mom, Nicky, found themselves facing a complete lack of local awareness in South Africa. But instead of letting isolation take over, Sage looked at the global alopecia community and decided to build that same support at home. Together, they founded the Brave Crown Foundation - an initiative born out of a desire to celebrate alopecia, share stories, and bring that iconic Christie Valdiserri wig-snatch energy to South Africa!

It’s rare to meet someone so young who steps up so quickly to make a difference. In our conversation today, Nicky and Sage join me to talk about honoring those initial moments of not being heard, and immediately pivoting to the practical 'now what?' of an alopecia areata diagnosis.

Here is my conversation with Nicky and Sage.

A huge thank you to Nicky and Sage for sharing their story today.

What stands out most about their journey is how they took inspiration from the global alopecia community and used it to ignite something meaningful at home. Where silence and lack of awareness once existed in South Africa, they created a vibrant space - inviting voices and stories to finally be heard and celebrated.

They remind us that advocacy isn't just about finding your own path; it's about opening the door so others don't have to walk theirs alone.

Be sure to check out the show notes to learn more about the Brave Crown Foundation and follow all the great work Nicky and Sage are doing. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll catch you next time. 

https://thebravecrown.co.za/

Brave Crown Foundation Facebook

Brave Crown Foundation Instagram

Support the show

Alopecia Life provides free resources for school and home education, including a growing list of alopecia books, education videos on YouTube, links to support groups within the US, UK, Canada and more. You will also find access to Head-On, Stories of Alopecia, the Alopecia 101 free course, paid Alopecia Roadmap course for parents of children living with alopecia, and personalized coaching. Together, we can make a difference. To find out more, https://www.alopecialife.com/

My guest today is Sherry Schaefer, a wig specialist and educator with more than two decades of experience supporting hair loss clients. Sherry was running a busy salon when she developed alopecia areata at age 39. That personal shift inspired her to open her own wig salon and launch My Wig Coach. Today, through her training programs - Wig Essentials for the Hairstylist and The Ultimate Wig Stylist Bootcamp, she teaches stylists how to integrate wig services into their practice and build their own wig businesses.   

Thank you for sharing your time with us today. In our conversation, Sherry mentioned Michele Cushatt’s words, 'If you can lose it, it's not who you are'. For anyone in the alopecia community navigating hair loss, that reminder hits close to home. It challenges us to separate our self-worth from what's in the mirror and grounds us in the truth that our true identity remains intact, no matter what changes externally. I've included the link for Michele's book here in the show notes.

If today’s conversation resonated with you, whether you're a hairstylist curious about bringing wig services into your practice or you just want to learn more about Sherry's story, head over to the show notes. We’ve included all the ways you can reach out and get connected with her there.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.wig.coach/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mywigcoach/

Website: https://www.mywigcoach.com

Courses: https://www.mywigcoach.com/wig-classes-online

Email: [email protected]

Michele Cushatt's Book

Support the show

Alopecia Life provides free resources for school and home education, including a growing list of alopecia books, education videos on YouTube, links to support groups within the US, UK, Canada and more. You will also find access to Head-On, Stories of Alopecia, the Alopecia 101 free course, paid Alopecia Roadmap course for parents of children living with alopecia, and personalized coaching. Together, we can make a difference. To find out more, https://www.alopecialife.com/

Season 8 of Alopecia Life is almost here! The new season officially launches on Thursday, September 17th, and I am so grateful to be kicking off another year with this community.

Behind the scenes, I’ve been working on some big projects that I hope to announce very soon. Alongside those updates, we have a fantastic guest lineup and meaningful topics scheduled this season. We're opening up conversations that dive deep, offer grounded support, and honor what it really means to live with hair loss.

Mark your calendars for this Thursday, and welcome to Season 8!

Support the show

Alopecia Life provides free resources for school and home education, including a growing list of alopecia books, education videos on YouTube, links to support groups within the US, UK, Canada and more. You will also find access to Head-On, Stories of Alopecia, the Alopecia 101 free course, paid Alopecia Roadmap course for parents of children living with alopecia, and personalized coaching. Together, we can make a difference. To find out more, https://www.alopecialife.com/

Back-to-school season brings up some very specific questions - how to introduce alopecia in the classroom, supporting your child's comfort, what to share and how, or even deciding what to wear. Whether school is starting soon or you're already a few weeks in, having answers to these everyday details makes a big difference.

You don't have to map it out by yourself. School dynamics are one of the biggest topics families navigate after a diagnosis, but having the right tools and simple resources early on takes off so much weight.

If you're looking for practical ways to handle the school year or just want a sounding board to build your game plan, let’s connect. Drop 'BTS' in the comments or scan the QR Code, and we can set up a time and day for a free call to talk through what your family needs.

https://calendly.com/alopecialife/schoolstuff

Support the show

Alopecia Life provides free resources for school and home education, including a growing list of alopecia books, education videos on YouTube, links to support groups within the US, UK, Canada and more. You will also find access to Head-On, Stories of Alopecia, the Alopecia 101 free course, paid Alopecia Roadmap course for parents of children living with alopecia, and personalized coaching. Together, we can make a difference. To find out more, https://www.alopecialife.com/

Today, we’re doing something a little different. We’re kicking off our very first Inspiration Spotlight -a series of shorter episodes designed to give you a moment of connection and perspective. Whether you're driving to work, running errands, or just need a gentle reminder that you’re not alone in this, these mini-episodes are here to give you that extra lift.

And I’m so glad to have Ella Kedilerli joining me as our very first spotlight guest. Ella is actively using her stage to change the conversation around representation, confidence, and what it really means to show up as yourself with hair loss.

*A Little more about Ella: Ella Kedilerli is the author of Presley the Peacock’s Adventure to Find Her Feathers, a children’s book inspired by her personal journey with alopecia areata. After experiencing hair loss as a child, she wanted to create a story that helps young readers build confidence, embrace their uniqueness, and know they are never alone. Ella is also the founder of Teens Pursuit of Excellence, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering teens through leadership, volunteerism, mentorship, and educational opportunities. She is currently pursuing a degree in nursing and is passionate about using her experiences to inspire and uplift others. 

Thank you so much for joining us today. No matter where you're at on your path, hearing Ella's take is such a good reminder that we get to decide how we show up in the world. To connect with Ella, and to check out her new book, Presley the Peacock's Adventure to Find Her Feathers, check out the show notes for those links. 

https://www.instagram.com/ella.ked/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560840361100

Presley the Peacock's Adventure to Find Her Feathers

Support the show

Alopecia Life provides free resources for school and home education, including a growing list of alopecia books, education videos on YouTube, links to support groups within the US, UK, Canada and more. You will also find access to Head-On, Stories of Alopecia, the Alopecia 101 free course, paid Alopecia Roadmap course for parents of children living with alopecia, and personalized coaching. Together, we can make a difference. To find out more, https://www.alopecialife.com/

In past years on Alopecia Life, our back-to-school episodes have focused on expert tips, 504 accommodation plans, and advice from educators. This year, I'm doing something different: I want to hear from you!

As you prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, what’s top of mind?

What are you most worried or curious about? What do you want school staff or classmates to know about alopecia? How do you help your child talk about hair loss with their peers?

I'll be answering your questions and sharing your stories in the upcoming Back-to-School episode.

Send your questions, ideas, or voice notes via DM or email to: [email protected]

Support the show

Alopecia Life provides free resources for school and home education, including a growing list of alopecia books, education videos on YouTube, links to support groups within the US, UK, Canada and more. You will also find access to Head-On, Stories of Alopecia, the Alopecia 101 free course, paid Alopecia Roadmap course for parents of children living with alopecia, and personalized coaching. Together, we can make a difference. To find out more, https://www.alopecialife.com/

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to scroll through a dating app where alopecia was simultaneously not a big deal... and yet the main thing everyone already understood?

Our guest today is Göran Persson, and he wondered the exact same thing. Instead of just thinking about it, he decided to do something more. Today, we’re diving into love, connection, dating with hair loss, and the inspiration behind creating a space designed specifically with our community in mind.

More about Göran: I live in a small town in northern Sweden with my two daughters. I work as a creative copywriter at a communications agency, but I’ve also spent many years building my own businesses and digital projects.

If this resonated with you and you want to give it a try, head on over to to be one of the first 100 members!  Since Göran and I originally recorded this conversation, the number of members has already doubled - so the momentum is definitely building! 

 This platform is built as an accessible web app. No need to hunt through the App Store or Google Play. Just open your browser and head straight to https://alopeciadating.com/ to learn more. All of the links are located here in the show notes.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alopeciadating/
Facebook: AlopeciaDatingFacebook
Website: https://alopeciadating.com/

Support the show

Alopecia Life provides free resources for school and home education, including a growing list of alopecia books, education videos on YouTube, links to support groups within the US, UK, Canada and more. You will also find access to Head-On, Stories of Alopecia, the Alopecia 101 free course, paid Alopecia Roadmap course for parents of children living with alopecia, and personalized coaching. Together, we can make a difference. To find out more, https://www.alopecialife.com/

Welcome back to Alopecia Life. Today’s episode is a really special one for me, and I feel incredibly grateful that this family chose this space to sit down and share their story together for the first time.

It’s a unique conversation because all four of them are living with alopecia areata. They've walked through some heavy chapters together, and the struggles around alopecia are real. But what blew me away was listening to them speak their truth. It felt like they were discovering their own strength in real-time—sharing their wisdom almost as if they were hearing how empowered they truly are for the very first time.

Through it all, they just have so much humor. They laugh, they joke, and they remind us of what, at the end of the day, truly matters.

https://www.instagram.com/itsrachelregal/

https://www.instagram.com/raisingregals/

Support the show

Alopecia Life provides free resources for school and home education, including a growing list of alopecia books, education videos on YouTube, links to support groups within the US, UK, Canada and more. You will also find access to Head-On, Stories of Alopecia, the Alopecia 101 free course, paid Alopecia Roadmap course for parents of children living with alopecia, and personalized coaching. Together, we can make a difference. To find out more, https://www.alopecialife.com/

Welcome to this episode of Alopecia Life. I'm super excited to have our guest, Caleb Runyon, with us today. We talk about a variety of topics throughout our episode, and as you listen, I believe you'll fall in love with his energy and passion for the people he serves. Caleb is a board-certified dermatology nurse practitioner, speaker, and founder of the Closer Look Project, an initiative focused on advancing early skin cancer detection through community education and interdisciplinary collaboration. With a passion for preventive dermatology and public health outreach, Caleb works to bridge the gap between healthcare providers, beauty professionals, and underserved communities to improve recognition of suspicious skin lesions and increase awareness surrounding melanoma and other skin cancers.

You may be wondering how relevant today's topic is for you as someone living with alopecia or have a loved one with it? When we talk about the skin, our exposure to the sun is sometimes a secondary thought. I know it is for me. We chat a little bit about that today, but the bigger discussion happens around healthcare accessibility, and working together with hair dressers and other professionals and clinicians to make the experience one that allows for better overall care, including those of us with alopecia areata. It's a big topic that I'm excited to be part of and to share with all of you. 

As the founder of the Closer Look Project, Caleb has led educational programs and outreach efforts in partnership with salons, healthcare professionals, and advocacy organizations to promote skin health awareness and early detection initiatives. His work has gained recognition for its innovative approach to community-based dermatologic education and patient advocacy.

Caleb has served as a speaker and collaborator with organizations including Fuck Cancer, Less Cancer, Society of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners, and the Dermatology Nurses’ Association, where he has presented on topics related to skin cancer prevention, dermatologic education, and expanding access to dermatologic care. He has also collaborated with various healthcare, nonprofit, and community organizations to advance educational initiatives and foster interdisciplinary partnerships in dermatology and public health.

Thank you so much for sharing your time with Caleb and me today. I look forward to the day when we are all working together to make this a successful model of person-centered healthcare. When you want to connect with Caleb and find out more about the Closer Look Project, you'll find all those links here in the show notes. When he encouraged questions at the end of the podcast, he really wants to hear from you. Feel free to leave those in the comments on social media, and/or to reach out to him at [email protected] 

Facebook: TheCloserLook
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/closerlookproject/
Website: https://www.closerlookproject.com/

Support the show

Alopecia Life provides free resources for school and home education, including a growing list of alopecia books, education videos on YouTube, links to support groups within the US, UK, Canada and more. You will also find access to Head-On, Stories of Alopecia, the Alopecia 101 free course, paid Alopecia Roadmap course for parents of children living with alopecia, and personalized coaching. Together, we can make a difference. To find out more, https://www.alopecialife.com/

Today's guest is Zara Nicholls, the founder of the Power of None, a campaign focused on increasing bald representation in media, fashion, advertising, and children’s books. After her own experience with alopecia, she wanted to turn something personal into something positive by helping others feel seen and included. She is passionate about challenging beauty standards, raising awareness, and creating a world where baldness is seen as normal.

Thank you for sharing your time with Zara and me today to learn more about the Power of None campaign. It's empowering to see someone working to create such a difference in the world. For those who would like to sign the change.org petition, I've included that link along with ways to reach her on social media.Let's help her reach her goal of 1000 signatures. She is so close. 

• Petition Link - https://c.org/ySjrfxrbLQ 
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/powerofnonecampaign/ 
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578128984775

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Support the show

Alopecia Life provides free resources for school and home education, including a growing list of alopecia books, education videos on YouTube, links to support groups within the US, UK, Canada and more. You will also find access to Head-On, Stories of Alopecia, the Alopecia 101 free course, paid Alopecia Roadmap course for parents of children living with alopecia, and personalized coaching. Together, we can make a difference. To find out more, https://www.alopecialife.com/