What happens when life throws you the unimaginable and you’re still responsible for a business and a team?
In this raw and deeply moving episode, Samara sits down with Brodie, owner of Smooth Hair in Alstonville, who opens up about the most challenging year of her life.
What began as a five week family holiday turned into a nine month stay in Perth after her 2 year old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. From that moment, Brodie was thrust into balancing motherhood, cancer, and running a salon from 4,000km away.
She shares how she kept her business not just afloat, but thriving. The loyalty and dedication of her team, and the perspective shifts that have transformed how she leads.
💡 In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How Brodie's salon stayed afloat while she was away for nearly a year
- The raw reality of parenting a child through chemotherapy
- Lessons in leadership, loyalty, and letting go
- The importance of building a business with deep roots and real relationships
This is more than a business conversation, it’s a powerful story of resilience, perspective, and the strength it takes to lead in your hardest season.
Timestamps
00:00 Episode Summary
01:27 Meet Brody from Smooth Hair
02:20 The Journey to Smooth Hair
07:12 Building a Supportive Salon Family
12:52 The Decision to Move to Perth
15:10 Maxie's Health Crisis
19:50 Facing Leukemia: A Mother's Perspective
24:05 Navigating Business and Personal Challenges
28:10 The Struggles of Parenting a Sick Child
29:01 Finding Community in Unexpected Places
30:31 Returning Home and Resuming Normalcy
33:00 Balancing Work and Personal Life
37:28 A Surprise Engagement
38:44 Expecting a New Baby
42:16 Managing a Business Through Personal Challenges
48:17 The Importance of Support and Resilience
52:20 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
Mentioned in this episode:
💛 A Limited Time Offer From Our Amazing Sponsor, Timely 💛
➡ Timely is the easy to use booking and payments system that puts salon owners in control of the whole client experience from the first booking to final payment.
➡ Salon Rising listeners get a 14 day free trial plus 50% off their first 3 months.
➡ And when you activate with Payments, you'll also get a free Touchscreen terminal, worth $349 + GST.
Use the code SALONRISING at checkout or click the link below to get started. Once you're set up, your Timely contact will take care of the rest. 👇
Timely
Timely
https://www.salonrising.com
💖 Celebrating Our Podcast Partner – Christophe Robin, proudly distributed by McM Imports
We’ve partnered with Christophe Robin and MCM Imports to bring you something beautiful:
➡ Experience the Christophe Robin Discovery Box — curated by pro ambassador Monique McMahon.
➡ Inside, you’ll find her handpicked favourites — the hero products she swears by in the salon.
It’s your invitation to explore the range and discover why Christophe Robin has become a quiet obsession among stylists who know their craft.
Click the link below to request your FREE Christophe Robin Discovery Box, exclusively through McM Imports. 👇
MCM
💛 A Limited Time Offer From Our Amazing Sponsor, Timely 💛
➡ Timely is the easy to use booking and payments system that puts salon owners in control of the whole client experience from the first booking to final payment.
➡ Salon Rising listeners get a 14 day free trial plus 50% off their first 3 months.
➡ And when you activate with Payments, you'll also get a free Touchscreen terminal, worth $349 + GST.
Use the code SALONRISING at checkout or click the link below to get started. Once you're set up, your Timely contact will take care of the rest. 👇
Timely
