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 we explore:

• ADHD and overstimulation
• People pleasing and performative behavior
• Masking in professional spaces
• The pressure to fit in socially
• Learning to unmask safely
• Creativity and neurodivergence
• The emotional fatigue of constantly adapting
• The difference between confidence and performance
• What authenticity actually feels like

This conversation is reflective, honest, and something many people experience without realizing there’s a name for it.

Licensed? Yes. Masking? Less than we used to.

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 still matters
• Car accidents, consequences, and how life teaches lessons
• The rise of car wrapping culture
• Crimes from the past finally coming to light

The conversation also gets deeper as we talk about:

• ADHD and growing up as people pleasers
• Masking in straight-laced environments
• Trying to fit into spaces that didn’t fully feel like us
• How our moms “mommed” us differently
• What it means to be performative vs authentic

And somewhere in the middle of all of it, Naomi tells a story very badly.

Licensed? Yes. Supervised? Definitely not in the 90s.

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 that journey has looked like over time. We also talk about something surprisingly universal — how often people get our names wrong, and how names can carry identity, meaning, and history.

We also discuss:

• High school experiences across generations
• Bullying and fitting in
• Fashion and self-expression as teenagers
• Private school vs public school experiences
• Teen pregnancy and life paths
• How different high school feels today compared to when we grew up
• Why identity evolves — and how we learn to own it

This episode is reflective, honest, and about understanding people beyond first impressions.

Licensed? Yes. Still becoming? Always.

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 get into:

• Men in the hair industry and how that has changed over time
• Confidence — especially for men in a creative space
• Learning hair through print vs learning through YouTube
• The influence of artists like Guy Tang
• Behind the Chair magazine and how we used to learn from print
• How Rian learned through digital platforms
• Working together on set for the Empower shoot and magazine
• Teaching at beauty school and favorite educators
• Trends like the “money piece”
• World records in the hair industry
• And the wild creativity of artists like Dean Banowetz

This episode is about growth, learning, confidence, and how different generations of stylists find their way in the industry.

Licensed? Yes. Supervised? Finally.

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 as models for growth behind the chair.

We also talk about:

• Apprentices and how we support them
• Practicing on real people (including ourselves)
• Why neither of us wants to do perms
• Showing up for clients and students
• Being generalists in an industry that pushes specialization

This one is quick, honest, and very “behind the scenes.”

Licensed? Yes. Anonymous? Not a chance.

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 Sassoon, Paul Mitchell, the tradition of wearing black — and contrast that with today’s world of dopamine dressing and self-expression.

We also talk honestly about:

• Perimenopause and how it affects not just us, but the people around us
• The emotional weight we carry as hairstylists
• How clients often cry in our chairs simply because they feel safe
• Why our salon has become a place where people can be themselves
• Whether we’re “alternative” — or just different
• How the industry shifted after COVID
• Why some stylists left, and why others stayed
• The importance of consent when sharing client images
• How we help people reconnect with their confidence and power

We also reflect on the past — London Calling salon, the Real Big HairBall — and how those experiences shaped who we are today.

This episode is about identity, impact, and remembering what really matters in this industry.

Licensed? Yes. Different? Definitely. Still here? Always.

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 be professional, how people present themselves on social media, and the difference between being a real person and becoming a “character” online.

We also talk about:

• Being some of the older hairstylists in the room
• Realizing your place on a younger team
• Feeling self-conscious about aging
• Why icons like Vidal Sassoon aren’t as recognized anymore
• Mentors like Robert Cromeans and what they represent
• How communication has changed between generations
• The difference between growing up in the 90s and today
• Sleepovers, piercings, and teenage independence then vs now
• Physical wear and tear from years behind the chair
• Hiding pain and pushing through
• The way women support each other (and sometimes roast each other too)

This episode is honest, reflective, and a little funny — about identity, aging, and staying relevant while still being fully yourself.

Licensed? Yes. Young? Debatable. Still showing up? Always.

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 the impact of global beauty outreach
• Dopamine dressing and using style to shift your energy
• Decision paralysis and how creatives get stuck
• Being the oldest in the room and stepping into leadership
• Why hair crews are some of the best (and weirdest) communities
• The competitive nature of the beauty industry
• Simplifying your wardrobe like high performers and entrepreneurs

This episode is about creativity, identity, and learning how to move forward even when your brain wants to overcomplicate everything.

Licensed? Yes. Supervised? Not in Rian’s room.

www.instagram.com/naomitrotto_hairartist

www.instagram.com/beckeeharris

https://hairaid.org.au/

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 understanding a child’s personality and willpower.

Naomi shares what it was like raising babies with colic and living on a NICU schedule, while Beckee talks about working two jobs, managing pregnancy, and navigating the old salon booking systems before everything went digital.

Then the conversation shifts into something bigger: the difference between motivation and discipline.

We discuss:

• Parenting strong-willed kids
• The emotional experience of NICU babies
• Why every child develops differently
• Old salon booking systems and the early beauty industry grind
• The team’s 75 Hard social media challenge
• The movie Inside Out and how accurately it reflects emotions
• ADHD and self-destructive thought patterns
• Rewiring your brain and creating new neural pathways
• Why anything worthwhile is rarely easy

This episode is about growth — as parents, leaders, and humans.

Licensed? Yes. Supervised? Mostly by discipline.