Tell Me About It

What happens when your dream career doesn’t work out… and you’re forced to start over?

In this episode, I sit down with Gareth Philpott - entrepreneur, educator, and founder of multiple successful businesses (including The Hair Hair Academy Australia, The Barber Academy Australia, The Crispy Club, and & Barber Academy and The Educator Academy).

Together, we unpack his journey from aspiring professional athlete to building a multi-business empire in the hair, barbering, and education industry.

Throughout his journey, Gareth found himself navigating uncertainty, career pivots, and real-life pressure - eventually turning a simple skill into scalable businesses.

Tune in to discover:

✅How Gareth accidentally got into the hair industry (and built an empire from it)
✅The reality of building multiple businesses at once
✅Why “work smart not hard” isn’t always the answer
✅Lessons from managing hundreds of staff (and making tough decisions)
✅How he built connections with professional athletes & NRL players
✅Why subscription models (like Crispy Club) are the future of business

Key moments:

00:00:00 Intro
00:01:00 Meet Gareth Philpott
00:05:50 Soccer Dreams to Australia
00:11:00 Working at Body Science
00:17:00 The Hard Lessons of Education
00:21:00 Teaching NRL Players Barbering
00:29:00 Making 200 People Redundant at 24
00:41:00 The Origin of Crispy Club
00:49:00 Hustle Culture and Hard Work
00:54:00 The $400K Debt Discovery
01:06:40 How COVID Saved the Business
01:22:00 Tall Poppy Syndrome in Australia
01:26:00 The Pricing Problem in Hair
01:43:50 Advice to His Younger Self

If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, business growth, barbering, hairdressing, or building a brand from scratch - this episode will give you real insights, practical lessons, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to succeed.

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👉Connect With Gareth Philpott

https://www.instagram.com/garethphilpott/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-philpott-24343365/

Support the show

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👉Here’s how to connect:

https://www.instagram.com/tellmeaboutit__podcast
https://iconiccoaching.com.au

If you’re a strong, successful woman who feels like men are threatened by your success… let’s break down the reality of alpha males vs real men AND masculine vs feminine energy.

This episode breaks down the truth about so-called “alpha males,” why insecure men sabotage powerful women, and what real masculinity actually looks like in a healthy relationship.

If you’ve ever felt like you had to shrink, dim your light, or carry the entire relationship just to keep the peace, you’ll find out why (and what to do about it).

Tune in to discover:

✅The real difference between “alpha males” and secure, masculine men
✅Why successful women trigger insecure men
✅How to balance masculine energy in business vs feminine energy in relationships
✅The truth about the male loneliness epidemic
✅Signs you’re in a toxic or emotionally abusive relationship
✅What a healthy, supportive partnership actually looks like
✅Why women are raising their standards… and NOT settling anymore

Key moments:

00:00:00 Intro
00:02:00 Masculine Energy in Business
00:04:00 Feminine Energy at Home
00:07:20 Truth About “Alphas”
00:12:00 How Insecure Men Gaslight and Belittle
00:15:20 What Toxic Relationships Do to Your Body
00:17:40 What Real Partnership Looks Like
00:22:00 Women No Longer Need Men
00:23:20 The Male Loneliness Epidemic Explained
00:28:20 Stop Shrinking for Small Men
00:34:20 Be Unapologetically Picky

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👉Find out more about how we can work together:

https://iconiccoaching.com.au/coaching/

Support the show

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👉Here’s how to connect:

https://www.instagram.com/tellmeaboutit__podcast
https://iconiccoaching.com.au

Why are so many high-earning women still financially stuck - earning more every year but building nothing?

In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Conrick - CPA, wealth strategist, and creator of the SF15™ framework (Self-Funded in 15 years).

Jess has helped thousands of women move from income reliance to genuine financial independence.

And her own story… from high school dropout and single mom to building a wealth framework changing women's financial futures… is a genuine ride.

Together, we unpack the income trap that catches even smart, successful women, why earning more won't fix it, and how to start converting income into income-producing assets using her three-phase SF15 system.

You'll also hear why your home might be a liability before it's an asset, the identity shift from consumer to investor that changes how every dollar moves through your life, and how to calculate your "freedom number".

Tune in to discover

✅Why high income does NOT equal wealth
✅The “income trap” that keeps women financially stuck
✅How lifestyle creep is silently draining your future
✅The powerful shift from consumer → investor mindset
✅What “self-funded freedom” actually means
✅How to start building wealth (even if you feel behind)
✅Why most people are unprepared for retirement
✅The first step to creating financial independence in 15 years

Key moments:

00:00:00 Intro
00:03:00 Meet Jessica Conrick
00:10:21 Sidecar Racing and Pattern Interrupts
00:25:40 High School Dropout to CPA
00:32:12 Surviving a Bushfire
00:39:00 The Income Trap Explained
00:43:15 Consumer vs Investor Identity
00:49:00 Birth of the SF15 Framework
00:55:57 The Three Phases of SF15
01:04:00 Your Home Is Not an Income Asset
01:10:43 Raising Financially Literate Daughters
01:15:29 Mindset Is 80% of the Game

This episode is for you if you're earning good money but still feel like there's too much month at the end of it.

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👉Connect with Jessica Conrick:

https://www.instagram.com/jessica.conrick/
https://www.facebook.com/selffundedin15years/
https://www.sf-15.com/get-started

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👉Find out more about how we can work together:

https://iconiccoaching.com.au/coaching/

Support the show

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👉Here’s how to connect:

https://www.instagram.com/tellmeaboutit__podcast
https://iconiccoaching.com.au

What if losing everything was the best thing that ever happened to you? This is PART 2 of my journey to where I am today.

I’m continuing the story behind my journey - from rock bottom, toxic relationships, and nearly $300,000 in debt… to building multiple 6 and 7-figure businesses, selling my salon, and creating a life I actually love.

This episode highlights the reality of small business, resilience, and what it really takes to succeed when everything feels like it’s falling apart.

If you’re a salon owner, small business owner, or entrepreneur stuck in the messy middle - you can avoid the mistakes I made, just by listening.

Tune in to hear about:

✅How I went from $300K in debt to financially free
✅The harsh truth about running a salon business
✅Why toxic relationships can hold you back in business
✅The moment everything changed after hitting rock bottom
✅How I rebuilt my business into a 7-figure success
✅The power of becoming a solo operator (independent stylist)
✅How to attract better clients and charge premium prices
✅Why systems, leadership, and boundaries are everything

Key moments:

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:40 Rock Bottom
00:04:20 Staff Walkout
00:09:20 The Plot Twist Month
00:12:00 Solo Operator Era
00:12:40 The $300K Debt Breakdown
00:15:20 Creative Colorist Evolution
00:18:00 Debt Free and Focused
00:21:00 Coaching Business Launch
00:22:00 The Million Dollar Salon
00:26:20 Domestic Violence and Cancer
00:29:00 Selling the Salon
00:31:40 Going All In on Coaching

This episode also covers rebranding lessons learned the hard way, the power of removing your safety net, and why small businesses are only for the brave.

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👉Find out more about how we can work together:

https://iconiccoaching.com.au/coaching/

Support the show

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👉Here’s how to connect:

https://www.instagram.com/tellmeaboutit__podcast
https://iconiccoaching.com.au

I became a salon owner at 19 years old. Within a few years, I was running two hair salons, drowning in debt, and making every mistake a young entrepreneur could make.

Everyone loves to talk about success.

But almost nobody talks about the chaos, debt, burnout, toxic workplaces, and mistakes that happen before success.

In this episode, I share the raw, unfiltered truth about my career journey and making every possible business mistake along the way.

Tune in to hear about:

✅ The reality of starting a business young
✅ Why success is never luck… hear what success REALLY takes
✅ The dark side of the beauty and hair industry that few talk about
✅ How toxic workplaces can impact mental health
✅ The leadership mistakes I made as a young salon owner
✅ Why systems and structure are critical in business
✅ The brutal financial reality of running a salon

This is the messy, painful, and brutally honest story of how entrepreneurship actually looks behind the scenes.

Key moments:

00:00:00 The Real Story Begins
00:02:00 Basin B*tch at Thirteen
00:04:40 The Hustle Gene
00:07:40 Walking Into the Fire
00:10:00 The Brutal Schedule
00:13:20 Three Years of Bullying
00:17:40 Salon Owner at Nineteen
00:20:00 Chaos and No Leadership
00:22:20 Buying a Second Disaster
00:28:20 The Motorbike Accident
00:32:00 Everything Crumbles
00:35:40 Loyalty Is a One-Way Street

If you run a salon, own a small business, or feel like you're holding everything together with sheer willpower… this episode will make you feel less alone.

Press play now because Part 2 drops next week, and you need the full picture.

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👉Find out more about how we can work together:

https://iconiccoaching.com.au/coaching/

Support the show

-

👉Here’s how to connect:

https://www.instagram.com/tellmeaboutit__podcast
https://iconiccoaching.com.au

What happens when a successful career collapses, and you have to start again from scratch?

In this episode, Kirsten Harris, founder of BDB Agency, joins Cait Muir to talk about the messy, unpredictable reality of entrepreneurship.

From leaving school at 16 to running international logistics companies, becoming a CEO, losing a franchise network, and eventually building a digital marketing agency in her late 40s - Kirsten shares her powerful story of business failure, resilience, reinvention, and starting again.

This conversation dives into the real side of business ownership that rarely gets talked about - financial pressure, leadership responsibility, and the courage it takes to rebuild when everything falls apart.

If you’re a salon owner, service-based business owner, or entrepreneur navigating uncertainty, this episode will resonate deeply.

Tune in to hear about:

✅ The reality of running a business when everything goes wrong
✅ Lessons from building and losing a franchise network
✅ Why many business owners hide financial stress
✅ How failure can shape stronger entrepreneurs
✅ Starting a new business in your late 40s
✅ The power of surrounding yourself with the right people
✅ Why non-linear career paths often lead to the biggest opportunities
✅ The mindset needed to rebuild after major setbacks
✅ How automation and smarter systems are changing service businesses
✅ Why it’s never too late to start again

This episode will change how you think about failure, reinvention, and what's actually possible on the other side of rock bottom.

Key moments:

00:02:00 Kirsten's Non-Linear Career Path
00:07:16 International Logistics at 16
00:12:40 Investing in a Global Company at 23
00:19:40 Pivoting Into Franchising
00:23:00 The Co-CEO Disaster
00:27:20 Pouring Money Into a Failing Business
00:36:00 The Power of Sharing Failure
00:40:20 Rebuilding at 47
00:45:00 The 80/20 Launch Rule
00:54:20 Automation and AI in Business
00:57:40 Automate Tasks Not Relationships
01:05:38 It's Never Too Late to Pivot
01:11:00 Sleep, Health, and Body Clocks
01:17:55 The Future of BDB Agency

If you've ever felt like it's too late to start, too scary to pivot, or too shameful to ask for help - press play.

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👉Connect with Kirsten Harris

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-harris-bdb/
https://www.instagram.com/bdb.agency

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👉Find out more about how we can work together:

https://iconiccoaching.com.au/coaching/

Support the show

-

👉Here’s how to connect:

https://www.instagram.com/tellmeaboutit__podcast
https://iconiccoaching.com.au

Fully booked… working nonstop… and clients love you. So why does tax time always feel like a crisis - and why does your bank account always feel empty?

If you’re a hairdresser, beauty therapist, barber, salon owner, or creative business owner who is making money but constantly stressed about it - you’re not broke because you don’t earn enough.

In fact, you’re probably earning more than enough

The truth is, you’re broke because you don’t know where your money is going.

In this episode, I’m diving into the overspending epidemic in small businesses - especially in the hair and beauty industry.

I’m also breaking down the exact financial habits that quietly destroy profitable businesses (and what to do about it).

Tune in to discover:

✅ Why earning more money won’t fix your financial stress

✅ How overspending sabotages profitable businesses

✅ The real reason tax time feels like an emergency

✅ How to properly set aside GST, PAYG & income tax (Australia)

✅ The first step to getting out of business debt

✅ How to do a full expense audit (step-by-step)

✅ Why outsourcing bookkeeping doesn’t remove your responsibility

✅ How to stop the debt spiral before it buries you

Key moments:

00:00:00 The Tap and Pray Method
00:03:00 Where Your Money Actually Goes
00:05:20 Hidden Subscriptions and Waste
00:08:40 Tax Debt Destroys Businesses
00:13:40 The Dangerous Debt Spiral
00:17:00 Outsourcing Without Oversight
00:22:00 The Education Gap
00:23:20 Compassion Ends, Accountability Starts
00:24:40 Tactical Steps to Fix It
00:28:00 Invest in Financial Education

If you're a salon owner, stylist, barber, or beauty professional who's tired of working nonstop and still stressing about money - hit play and start sorting your spending today.

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👉Find out more about how we can work together:

https://iconiccoaching.com.au/coaching/

Support the show

-

👉Here’s how to connect:

https://www.instagram.com/tellmeaboutit__podcast
https://iconiccoaching.com.au

What if scaling your business didn’t require more hustle… more hours… or more burnout?

What if the real growth strategy was better leadership, stronger systems, and trusting your intuition in business?

If you’re a female entrepreneur, salon owner, coach, creative, or working mum juggling way too much - you can’t afford to subscribe to the ‘hustle culture’.

In this episode, Cait sits down with Grace Kirk - serial entrepreneur and co-founder of multiple businesses.

Together, they discuss what it really takes to build six and seven-figure businesses without burning your life to the ground.

From tax debt in her early 20s to leading almost 40 staff across three companies, Grace shares the honest lessons behind scaling sustainably, trusting your intuition in business, and why your self-worth directly impacts your net worth.

Tune in to hear about:

✅ What no one tells you about building multiple businesses from scratch

✅ The curious link between self-worth and income (is this capping your earning potential?)

✅ Subtle signs your workplace culture is quietly killing your growth

✅ Why hiring slowly and firing quickly protects your profit, your peace, and your team

✅ The truth about running a business with your husband (and how to not let it destroy your relationship)

✅ How to balance motherhood and entrepreneurship without chasing the myth of “perfect balance”

✅ When to trust your intuition over spreadsheets… and why data alone can stall your growth

✅ The gut health and energy optimisation habits high-performing female entrepreneurs swear by

Key moments:

00:00:00 Intro
00:04:07 Grace Kirk's Empire
00:09:01 Money as an Ick
00:13:40 Self-Worth Meets Pricing
00:17:35 The Hot Mess Era
00:20:46 Business Partnerships Done Right
00:25:23 Apprentice to Salon Owner
00:35:20 Walking Away on Principle
00:41:56 Clients Found Her
00:51:47 The Carpet Cleaner Connection
00:53:15 Starting Traffic Management
00:59:06 Self-Worth Equals Net Worth
01:04:17 Taking Radical Responsibility
01:07:02 Gut Health and Workplace Performance
01:19:22 Intuition Over Spreadsheets
01:23:08 When Fun Stops, Pivot

If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or career-driven person who feels like you're holding it together on the outside but drowning behind the scenes - this conversation will give you permission to do things differently.

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👉Connect With Grace Kirk:

https://www.instagram.com/gracekirk
https://www.gracekirk.com.au/

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👉Find out more about how we can work together:

https://iconiccoaching.com.au/coaching/

Support the show

-

👉Here’s how to connect:

https://www.instagram.com/tellmeaboutit__podcast
https://iconiccoaching.com.au

Success is lonely. Entrepreneurship is isolating. And no one warns you that building a business will cost you relationships.

As you grow, your circle gets smaller - and the emotional cost of success can hit harder than you expect

In this episode, I’m sharing why entrepreneurship feels lonely, why you outgrow people as you evolve, and how to stop performing for people who were never your audience in the first place.

Tune in to hear about:

✅How building a business changes your relationships

✅Why some friends don’t support your business (and what that really means)

✅The emotional cost of entrepreneurship that very few admit

✅How to stop exhausting yourself trying to be understood

✅The sacrifices required to build something meaningful

✅What real support for business owners actually looks like

✅Practical ways to support a friend who is starting or growing a business

Key moments:

00:00:45 The Lonely Side of Success
00:02:25 The Hardest Part
00:05:25 Why Business Demands Evolution
00:07:25 You Can't Explain Vision to the Unhungry
00:09:05 Spotting Unsupportive People
00:10:45 Benefits Of A Smaller Circle
00:13:05 Stop Making Everyone Understand
00:17:25 How to Support a Friend in Business
00:22:45 The Sacrifices Nobody Warns You About
00:27:05 Business Is a Sport, Not a Hobby

Hit play now if you've ever felt unseen, misunderstood, or alone in your business journey.

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👉Find out more about how we can work together:

https://iconiccoaching.com.au/coaching/

Support the show

-

👉Here’s how to connect:

https://www.instagram.com/tellmeaboutit__podcast
https://iconiccoaching.com.au

If you’ve ever loved someone whose brain works COMPLETELY differently to yours, this conversation will resonate with you.

Cait is joined by her husband, Cam, for a no-filter conversation about love, neurodivergence, fitness, failure, grief, and what it really takes to build a strong relationship.

From long-distance dating and miscarriage, to CrossFit gym ownership, COVID burnout, and learning how two very different brains can thrive together - you’ll hear it all.

Tune in to hear about:

✅Life inside a neurodivergent relationship (ADHD & autism)

✅How routine vs spontaneity impacts marriage

✅Miscarriage, grief, and rebuilding emotional connection

✅Fitness identity, body image, and unhealthy relationships with food

✅Owning a CrossFit gym… and losing it during COVID

✅The curious reason why love actually gets stronger after hardship

Key moments:

00:02:20 The Pumpkin Trauma Origin Story
00:09:40 Autism vs ADHD in Marriage
00:15:00 Long Distance and Moving In
00:17:40 Owning a CrossFit Gym
00:19:00 COVID Destroys the Business
00:27:00 Reconnecting on Tinder
00:34:20 From Fat Kid to Fit
00:44:00 The 100kg Wake Up Call
00:47:20 Helping Others Transform
00:52:00 CrossFit Is Not a Cult
00:56:00 The Nerd Side of Cam
01:05:00 The Wardrobe Makeover

If you want to hear a real couple talk about real life with zero filter, hit play on this one.

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👉Find out more about how we can work together:

https://iconiccoaching.com.au/coaching

Support the show

-

👉Here’s how to connect:

https://www.instagram.com/tellmeaboutit__podcast
https://iconiccoaching.com.au