[315] When David Popham first opened his salon in 1981, he didn't set out to build a legacy business. And Shirley certainly didn’t set out to work in or manage a salon—she grew up intimidated by them.

In this episode, Shirley and David Popham of Popham Hairdressing (@popham.salons) reflect on decades of hair and life stories. Stories of long, imperfect journeys, humble and unlikely beginnings, chance encounters, love, bold decisions, closing chapters, starting over and everything in between.

Most of this year’s PhorestFM conversations and stories have, in one way or another, connected to leadership, and in that way, this episode is no different. But here, leadership isn’t loud or perfect. It’s people-centered, creative, humble, built by curiosity and carried by integrity.

To find out more about Popham Hairdressing, click here.

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This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

[314] In Part 2 of this conversation, co-hosted by Luke Doolin (UKI Managing Director at Phorest), we pick up where we left off with Sarah Abel — CEO of TNB Skills Training (@tnbskillstraining) and proudly known in the industry as the Funding Godmother.

The topic of mindset as a strategic tool for growth remains a constant throughout, but in this episode, we spend more time exploring how salon owners can access funding, develop their teams, and build businesses that aren’t just bigger, but stronger and more resilient in the face of change.

We get into:

💷 The importance of having a strong brand positioning

To learn more about Sarah and TNB Skills Training, click here. To watch her podcast interview on Susan Routledge's podcast Beauty Business Matters, click here, and to order her book The Power of Funding, click here. You can also find Sarah on Instagram @sarahabelfundinggodmother @sarahhairbeautyfunding.

Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

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This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

[313] Sarah Abel, also known as the known as the Funding Godmother, is the CEO of TNB Skills Training (@tnbskillstraining) and author of The Power of Funding, is an award-winning entrepreneur and funding strategist with a fierce passion for helping beauty businesses grow, secure funding, and develop accredited and regulated programmes, all without getting buried in bureaucracy.

In Part 1 of this conversation, co-hosted by Luke Doolin (UKI Managing Director at Phorest), we explore Sarah’s experience of overcoming adversity, her first steps into the industry, and the core skills, ideas, and mindset that have helped her build resilient businesses, no matter the economic climate. Find out about:

💸 Sarah's early days in the industry: buying a nail salon without any experience as a beauty business owner or nail tech/artist

As the industry continues to lobby the government, our hope is that this conversation leaves you seeing new possibilities, not just for your salon but for your team, yourself, and the way you lead and run your business.

Watch "There won't be a Hair Industry in the UK without change," by the Salon Employers Association here, and read the British Hair Consortium report here.

To learn more about Sarah and TNB Skills Training, click here. To watch her podcast interview on Susan Routledge's podcast Beauty Business Matters, click here, and to order her book The Power of Funding, click here. You can also find Sarah on Instagram @sarahabelfundinggodmother @sarahhairbeautyfunding.

Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.

This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

David Colonna (@thedavidcolonna) joins Shauna O'Halloran (Head of Brand & Communications at Phorest) in the Phorest Lounge at the Data-Driven Salon Summit for a catch-up that leads to hearing about how Calligraphy Cut came to be, the circumstances that led David to a career in the industry, and some thoughts on technology. Learn more about Calligraphy Cut here, and about The Maven and The Muse Salon here.

Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter: https://bit.ly/3WvQiI7

This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

Leave a Rating & Review: http://bit.ly/phorestfm 

Read the transcript, or click here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.

[312] Co-founder of the neurodivergence community and training platform I Am Paying Attention (@iampayingattention), Jess Joy, along with best friend and business partner Charlotte Mia, is championing change in the way we all work, one radically honest conversation at a time.

This episode is no different, featuring vulnerable shares of lived experiences and an exploration of how the pace, pressure, unspoken expectations or the structure of businesses might be pushing some of the most talented and creative team members into quiet survival mode, shame and/or burnout. We get into:

🧠 Commonly used terms, concepts, their definitions and why understanding them matters

 🔍 How masking, burnout, and sensory overwhelm often go unacknowledged in professional work settings

⚙️ Why many “difficult” or “high maintenance” behaviours might actually be indicative of the invisible labour of being “fine” at work

Bold, affirming, and full of practical reflection, this conversation is your invitation to rethink inclusion not as a perk, but through the lens of universal design..

Learn more about and access I Am Paying Attention's toolkit, course, training offerings and free resources here. Purchase 'How Not to Fit In,' co-authored by Jess Joy and Charlotte Mia, here.

Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.

This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

Noah Warren and Sydney Berry (@HairToStay) join Shauna O'Halloran (Head of Brand & Communications at Phorest) in the Phorest Lounge at the Data-Driven Salon Summit for a short catch-up. Learn more about HairToStay and donate here if you can!

Click here to revisit PhorestFM S08E300 with Noah, Sydney, and many more guests!

Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter: https://bit.ly/3WvQiI7

This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

Leave a Rating & Review: http://bit.ly/phorestfm 

Read the transcript, or click here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.

[311] With over 30 years of experience at all levels in the hairdressing industry and as the longest-running president of the Irish Hairdressers’ Federation, David Campbell (@davhoc) has a passion, drive and determination to improve the industry and raise standards. As the Director of both the House of Colour Salon Group (alongside partners Susan Byrne & Catherine Campbell) and The Salon Edge (one-to-one coaching for salon owners), David has always been a visionary leader, designing and implementing innovative systems for growth, leadership, and staff empowerment.

In this episode, David pulls back the curtain on the strategies that have driven his success, including:

Learn more about House of Colour (@houseofcolour) here, and The Salon Edge (@thesalonedge) here. Purchase 'Headstart: How to Get Your Dream Salon Job and Keep It,' authored by Aisling Kenny and David Campbell, here.

Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.

This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

[310] Have you ever considered entering the Salon Today 200? Or want to know more about this industry-leading program that showcases salon business success? Behind every honoree's recognition are pages of essays. Stories of innovation, vulnerability, resilience and transformation.

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the competition and celebrate the grit and vision of two 2025 Salon Today 200 honorees in the Technology best practice category: Soleil Salon & Spa and Eric Fisher Salons.

From navigating crises with creativity to reimagining systems, these salons discuss the real-world decisions that shaped their transformation. Alongside Stacey Soble, Director of Brand Content Strategy at Salon Today, we also unpack the judging process, reveal tips and strategies for submitting essays that stand out, discuss the power of storytelling, and why authenticity always wins.

Guests: Bobbi Springer (@beautybar_allure), Maggie Di Falco (@maggiethesalon), Stacey Soble (@salontodayofficial), Luisa Gladymir Garcia (@soleilsalonspanh), Eric Fisher & Cathy Salas (@efsalon) and Veronica Ballard (Phorest).

Click here to learn more about the Salon Today 200.

Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.

This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

[309] In the dynamic and ever-evolving hair and beauty world, where passion, creativity, and connection make for a truly rewarding career, neurodiversity often remains an unspoken part of the conversation. This panel discussion, recorded live at International Beauty Show NY 2025 (click here for the abridged video version), recognizes that many neurodivergent beauty professionals face barriers—from misunderstanding to a lack of tailored support— pulls back the curtain on these layered experiences and explores how we can show up with more curiosity and understanding to experiences of neurodiverse staff and clients alike.

Expect candid stories from the salon floor, shared laughs, and some profound "aha!" moments as we address the gap between what's expected and what's possible and engage in a curious inquiry of what new ways of working could look like. Hosted and moderated by Keya Neal (@keyaartistically on Instagram), Founder of Kolour Kulture & Texture VS Race, Color Educator, DEI Consultant.

Panelists:

• Dawn Bradley (@dawnbradley on Instagram), Rock Your Business & The Anxious Creative Podcast

• Kitt Spata (@kittspata on Instagram), Youphoria Studios

• Kate Owens Heins (@kateilovehair on Instagram), CEO & Founder of The Sensory Safe Solution

Produced by Questex and presented by American Salon, International Beauty Show New York is the longest-running professional beauty event in the country. Connecting beauty professionals with the best in the industry, the show brings hundreds of top beauty brands together under one roof for free educational classes by industry legends, workshops, and exclusive show-floor discounts. For more information, visit ibsnewyork.com.

Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.

This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

[308] In this episode, Terra Harvell (@theterraharvell) shares her entrepreneurial journey and the crucial role mindset, determination, and having the right people around you play in turning aspirations into reality. Co-hosted by Phorest Founder & CEO Ronan Perceval, this conversation dives into the lucrative world of hair extensions, why having a clear vision is essential for business growth, and how grit and bold goal-setting can help beauty professionals create opportunities for themselves and others, build wealth and create a lasting legacy.

Terra is an 8-figure entrepreneur — CEO/Founder of Harper Ellis Hair Co. and Harper Ellis Salon — with a 7-figure real estate portfolio, and a business mentor to thousands of stylists worldwide. You can find out more about Harper Ellis Hair Co. and their education offerings here.

Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts!

Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.

This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.