The Go Ham Podcast

Trying to find a salon home? Cool. But are you actually asking the right questions… or just hoping for the best and ignoring the red flags? In this episode, we’re getting real about what stylists should be looking for when they’re interviewing at salons and what most people completely miss. Yeah, we talk about the obvious stuff like schedule, pay structure, and growth opportunities… but that’s the bare minimum. If you’ve ever ignored your gut, taken a job for the wrong reasons, or found yourself in a salon thinking “wait… what did I just sign up for?” this episode is for you.

In this episode, we’re talking about the hiring mistakes that cost salon owners way more than they realize. Not just money, but time, team morale, resources, and a ridiculous amount of energy trying to make the wrong hire work. We break down the red flags we’ve ignored in interviews, why hiring “off the street” can sometimes create bigger problems than it solves, and why promoting from within often leads to stronger culture and better long-term results.

We also dive into how to interview for success instead of just bringing in bodies, what questions actually reveal how someone will perform on your team, and why seamless onboarding is one of the most important systems a salon can build.

If you’re a salon owner who’s ever thought, “I knew this was a bad hire but I did it anyway,” this episode is for you.

Listen in as we unpack the hiring lessons that shaped how we build teams today.

The beauty industry gets a bad rap. Burnout. Drama. Negativity. Comparison. Sure, that exists. But that’s not the whole story. In this episode, we’re talking about the opportunity no one talks about enough... flexible schedules, serious income potential, brand deals, creative freedom, and building a life that most “traditional” careers can’t offer. And bigger than that… the impact. What feels like just another client to you might be someone’s fresh start. Their confidence boost. Their first moment of feeling like themselves again. We don’t just provide services. We change lives, and sometimes without even realizing it. If you’ve been stuck in the negative narrative, this episode is your reset.

In this episode of Go Ham, we sit down with Daniel and Jodi Mason-Jones to talk about what it really looks like to go from being wildly successful behind the chair to building a full-blown salon empire.

Daniel is one of the most sought-after inspirational speakers in our industry, but what makes him different is he’s still in it. He’s consistently running a thriving business behind the chair, seeing up to 30 guests a day, while also scaling three salon locations in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Meanwhile, Jodi is the powerhouse behind the scenes, keeping the business moving, the systems tight, and the vision alive.

If you’re a stylist with big goals or a salon owner trying to grow without burning out, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode, we talk with Robin, a heart attack survivor whose story every woman needs to hear. Robin suffered a SCAD heart attack, a rare and often misdiagnosed type of heart attack that mainly affects women. Like so many of us, she could have brushed off the symptoms or told herself she was fine. Instead, she listened to her body and trusted her instincts, and that choice saved her life. Now, Robin is using her voice to raise awareness around women’s heart health and SCAD. This conversation is powerful, eye-opening, and could truly save your life or the life of someone you love. Please listen and share it.

In this episode, we sit down with Maddie Sweeney, one of the fastest-growing stylists in our company, and break down what it actually looks like to build a business behind the chair in one of the hardest seasons our industry has seen. You’ll hear exactly what Maddie did differently, the habits she committed to, the mindset shifts she had to make, and the uncomfortable decisions that helped her beat the odds while a lot of people are stuck or burning out. If you’re a stylist who feels like growth has been harder than it should be lately, this episode will show you what’s actually possible and what it really takes.

In this episode, we get real about what’s actually going on with retail in salons. Big brands controlling distribution, constant supply issues, Amazon partnering with professional lines, and the disappearance of brand reps who used to support, educate, and show up. We talk about how this is impacting salon owners, stylists, and culture, and why selling retail feels harder than ever.Most importantly, we share how we’ve tried to adapt, what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what we’re still testing to survive in a completely different retail landscape. If retail has felt like an uphill battle lately, this one’s for you.

In this episode, Jennifer Boutwell gets real about the hard seasons of life and how they shape the leader you are. We talk about how trauma doesn’t just stay neatly in the past. It quietly shows up in your decisions, your relationships, your leadership style, and the way you move through the world.

Fight or flight might help you survive for a while, but it can only take you so far. Without self-awareness and real healing, those old patterns keep running the show. Jennifer shares how facing her own trauma head-on changed everything, and why doing the work is the only way to move forward in a productive, grounded, and intentional way.

This conversation is raw, honest, and eye-opening for anyone who wants to lead better, live better, and stop letting unhealed moments dictate their future.

In this episode of Go Ham, we sit down with Nichole Mansi to talk about what really happens when you leave a workplace and things get messy. Nichole shares her experience of walking away, unexpectedly dealing with a lawsuit that was ultimately non-sense, but still incredibly stressful, and navigating the fear and pressure that came with it. We dive into the challenges of starting a business on her own, pushing through uncertainty, and finding confidence along the way.That resilience led her to opening her own studio and building a team she’s proud of. This episode is for anyone thinking about starting over, betting on themselves, and choosing growth even when it’s hard.

Salon shutdowns are happening everywhere right now and nobody wants to talk about it — but we are. In this episode, we break down why so many salons are struggling, the silent factors most owners never see coming, and what you cancontrol to keep your business alive, profitable, and moving forward.

From tightening your systems to leading your team with more clarity, from building a real brand (not just cute Instagram posts) to understanding your numbers before they become a problem, we’re giving you the exact mindset and strategy shifts salon owners need in this season.

If you want to stay afloat, stay relevant, and stay in business while others are closing their doors, this episode is your wake-up call and your roadmap.

Listen in — your salon’s future depends on it.