The Go Ham Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Iyonna Elston, who proves that age has nothing to do with ambition. Iyonna found a way to begin cosmetology school at just 17 years old, built a thriving business behind the chair, and by 19, had the opportunity to do hair at Paris Fashion Week. We talk about the experiences that have shaped her into the businesswoman she is today, the lessons she’s taken from both challenges and opportunities, and the role faith plays in keeping her grounded and driven. Iyonna’s story is a reminder that when you stay focused, trust the path you’re on, and choose to learn from every experience, there’s no limit to how far you can go.

In this episode we sit down with Tara Davis and Sara Gardiner, owners of Blu Salons in Raleigh, to hear a story they never could have planned. After years behind the chair, they approached their salon owners hoping to get their blessing to open a salon of their own. Instead, they were handed an opportunity they never saw coming: the chance to take over all three salon locations. And then, just as they stepped into ownership, the world shut down. We talk about what it was really like going from stylists to salon owners almost overnight, navigating COVID as brand-new business owners, and eventually learning how to lead a company of nearly 100 employees. Tara and Sara share the highs, the hard lessons, the unexpected challenges, and everything that happened in between from figuring out leadership and managing a growing team to carrying the responsibility of a business much bigger than they originally imagined. If you’ve ever wondered what really happens when the opportunity you’ve been asking for shows up way bigger than you imagined, this episode is for you.

What if your biggest setback became your greatest opportunity? In this episode, we sit down with Dom Mednick, who shares how her own hair loss journey led her to create a thriving topper business after feeling dismissed by the medical community and realizing extensions were no longer an option for her. We talk about how she turned a personal challenge into a solution that's helped thousands of clients and salons, how she leveraged social media to grow her brand, and what it's really like balancing life behind the chair, salon ownership, her topper business, and educating as a Redken Artist. This episode is packed with inspiration, resilience, and branding insights for anyone looking to turn obstacles into opportunities.

In this episode, we're getting honest about what happens when leadership evolves and many of the responsibilities salon owners once owned are delegated or outsourced. Heather shares her personal story of feeling lost after stepping away from the day-to-day tasks she had always identified with, and the journey of rediscovering where she could make the biggest impact. Instead of trying to hold onto work that no longer served the business, she leaned into what she's always done best: obsessing over the guest experience and viewing every touchpoint through the eyes of the consumer. That ultimately led her to take over leading our front desk team and completely rethink how the guest journey should feel from the very first interaction.

If you've been questioning your place in your own company, struggling to find your purpose as your business grows, or wondering how to reignite the passion that got you here in the first place, this conversation is for you.

Everyone keeps saying you have to become a content creator to grow behind the chair in 2026... but is that actually true? In this episode, we're challenging the idea that social media is the ONLY path to a fully booked schedule. We break down the growth strategies that have consistently worked across our salons, from increasing your rebooking percentage and creating unforgettable guest experiences to generating referrals, word-of-mouth marketing, and turning existing clients into your biggest promoters. If you've been feeling slow, burned out trying to keep up with the algorithm, or wondering if you need to become an influencer to be successful, this episode is your reminder that there are still proven ways to build a thriving business without living on Instagram.

In this episode, we’re talking about the most important person you’ll ever lead in your company: yourself. As leaders, it’s easy to get caught up in the decisions, KPIs, systems, and operational side of running a business. But when we focus only on the logistics, we can lose sight of the energy, frequency, and emotional intelligence required to truly lead people. We dive into what it means to regulate yourself before leading others, how your energy impacts your team, and why creating space for difficult conversations starts with the way you show up. Most of this work has been led through Leadership Lab with Stef Fox, exploring how self-awareness, emotional regulation, and intentional leadership create stronger cultures and more connected teams. If you've ever felt like you're carrying the weight of leadership alone, this conversation is a reminder that the work starts within.

This week on Go Ham, we sit down with one of our own, Gabby Muscatello, to talk about what's possible when talent meets work ethic. At just 19 years old, Gabby earned a promotion, bought a brand-new BMW, and saved over $30,000—all while building her career in the beauty industry. We dive into the habits, mindset, and daily choices that helped her get there, and why this industry can create incredible opportunities for those willing to show up, stay coachable, and put in the work. If you've ever wondered whether a career behind the chair can provide financial freedom, growth, and a future you're proud of, this episode is proof that it can. Tune in for a conversation about ambition, discipline, money, and what happens when you stop waiting for opportunities and start creating them.

Everyone has a business idea after watching a 30 second TikTok. But social media only shows the highlight reel. It doesn’t show the backend chaos, the financials, the team bandwidth, the client experience issues, or whether that idea even works long term. In this episode, we’re talking about the danger of implementing every shiny idea you see online, how social media can create reactive leadership, and why constantly changing systems can actually hurt your business more than help it.

We also dive into:

• How we handle it when team members bring us ideas from social media

• Why some ideas deserve a conversation and others don’t deserve immediate action

• The difference between inspiration vs impulsive decision making

• Why good leadership means protecting the vision, not chasing every trend

Just because it’s trending doesn’t mean it’s sustainable. And just because another business is doing it… doesn’t mean it’s right for yours.

Clean and organic isn’t a trend anymore, it’s taking over. In this episode of, we talk about the shift happening in the beauty industry and why it matters more than ever. With a potential formaldehyde ban from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, things could change fast when it comes to services, products, and how salons operate. We also get into how stylists are thinking more about their health behind the chair, and how clients are becoming way more intentional about where they go and what’s being used on them.

If you’re not paying attention to this shift, you’re already behind.

If you think your mindset doesn’t impact your business… this episode will humble you real quick.This week we’re sitting down with Paige Fisher, and her story is the kind that proves everything can change when you do. She went from feeling stuck, pessimistic, working two jobs, and seriously considering leaving it all behind to move south… to building the career she once thought was out of reach and stepping into a leadership role. We’re breaking down what actually shifted. The internal work, hard conversations, and identity shifts that changed how she showed up behind the chair and in her life.

If you’ve ever felt burnt out, negative, or like your situation isn’t going to change, this is the reality check you didn’t know you needed.