SPA HIVE

The days are long... but somehow summer still flies by.

This week on the SpaHive Podcast, Julie and MaryAnn are checking in halfway through summer and asking a simple question:

Are you tired... or fulfilled?

From spontaneous adventures and sunrise hikes to pumpkin spice debates and boat trips, the conversation explores why some days leave us energized while others leave us completely drained.

They also unpack fascinating research on why trying something new changes how our brains experience time and why novelty can actually make life feel fuller.

Check out Julie Pankey’s Leadership must read list! https://a.co/d/06O7OCfq

In this rapid fire episode, Julie Pankey answers real world leadership questions on communication, feedback, team culture, trust, accountability, and managing employees. From handling difficult conversations to avoiding micromanagement, you'll walk away with practical leadership strategies you can apply immediately.

Whether you're a spa owner, manager, entrepreneur, or team leader, this episode is packed with honest advice, actionable insights, and a behind the scenes look at what great leaders actually do and say.

Topics include:

Check out Julie Pankey’s Leadership must read list! https://a.co/d/06O7OCfq

Are you leading your team...or accidentally becoming the bottleneck?

Many business owners and managers believe being the person everyone depends on is a sign of great leadership. But what if it's actually holding your team and your business back?

In this episode of SpaHive Business + Life Unfiltered, Julie Pankey and MaryAnn explore why the best leaders make themselves less needed by building confident, capable teams instead of becoming the constant problem solver.

Whether you're leading a spa, managing a team, running a small business, volunteering in your community, or even raising a family, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership, delegation, and accountability.

Check out Julie Pankey’s Leadership must read list! https://a.co/d/06O7OCfq

:Last week, we bought your spa.

This week... we're buying into your leadership.

Every business eventually reflects its leader. If your team depends on you for every decision, problems keep resurfacing, or you constantly feel overwhelmed, this episode is for you.

Julie Pankey and MaryAnn continue their leadership series with a practical leadership audit designed for spa owners, entrepreneurs, and managers who want to build businesses that thrive without constant firefighting.

Inside this episode:

If you're ready to stop managing every detail and start leading a stronger team, this conversation is for you.

#SpaOwner #Leadership #SmallBusiness #BusinessOwner #Entrepreneur #Management #SpaBusiness #TeamLeadership

n this episode of SpaHive Podcast, Julie Pankey and MaryAnn walk through the exact process they'd use to evaluate a spa from the moment they pull into the parking lot.

From curb appeal and client experience to team culture, retention, operations, and profitability, they're sharing the hidden signs that separate thriving spas from struggling ones.

Whether you're an independent esthetician, spa owner, medical spa manager, or salon leader, this episode will help you evaluate your business through a fresh lens and identify opportunities for growth.

✔ Why the "Parking Lot Test" matters more than you think

✔ The first reports every spa owner should review

✔ What your spa environment says before clients walk inside

✔ Common operational mistakes hurting profitability

✔ How client retention impacts long term success

✔ The leadership habits that build stronger teams

✔ Small improvements that create a better guest experience

If you're ready to grow your spa business, improve operations, and become a stronger leader, this episode is your practical starting point.

This month for SpaHive Book Club, we read You Deserve To Know by Aggie Thompson and let's just say... Julie and MaryAnn had very different reactions.

From shocking plot twists and suburban secrets to unreliable narrators and friendship dynamics, we're unpacking everything that kept us turning pages.

Did the ending work?

Spoiler alert: if you haven't read the book yet, hit pause now and come back after you've finished.

Book Club Picks

Feeling busy but not fulfilled?

Julie and MaryAnn explore the 3 simple things that make life feel bigger: new experiences, creativity, and real human connection. A thoughtful conversation about happiness, presence, and creating a life you'll actually remember.

Don't Forget to join the Spa Hive Book Club- pick up your copy of our latest pick! https://a.co/d/03DK9zR6

This week, Julie and MaryAnn explore whether modern life, constant scrolling, AI, content creation, and convenience culture are making us less curious, less creative, and more disconnected from the experiences that spark innovation and joy.

Check out the Spring Spa hive Book Club Pick - https://amzn.to/4ob8EeS

Would YOU book your own business right now?

In this episode, Julie and MaryAnn walk through a simple 5-step online presence audit to help business owners identify the hidden website, branding, social media, and AI-related mistakes that may be costing them clients. Learn how to build trust, improve your digital first impression, and create an online presence that actually reflects the experience you deliver.

Are Millennials really too emotional… or did Gen X just teach everyone to “tough it out”?

In this hilarious and surprisingly relatable episode, Julie and MaryAnn unpack the real differences between Gen X and Millennials—from burnout, parenting, and workplace culture to trauma talk, email etiquette, wellness trends, and why everyone suddenly has an Oura Ring.