If you haven’t heard of Menspire they are a men’s grooming education program that started out of a shop in the UK with their sights set on world domination. Some people think it is the evolution of men’s grooming and some feel like it is hurting the industry and detracting from what traditional barbering is all about. I’ll admit as a barber I’ve had my reservations about it. But, I’ll also admit that most of my experiences that I judged it by have stemmed from the relative arrogance of people I run into who have taken the course... not from the people who have created it. Kind of like judging a religion by its followers instead of its doctrine.... So I decided to sit down with Charlie Gray one of the co-creators of Menspire and asked him what all of the fuss is about...

Sophie Pok and I have been friends for a while now. Despite her tiny stature I have come to realize that she is a MASSIVE force in barbering. Over the years we have shared some incredible conversations on many different continents and on this occasion. We got into the nuts and bolts of photography, photoshop, and how to stand out from the pack in a sea of talented individuals by carving your own path.

We have all dreamed about making it big. Being celebrated in our field, and working at the highest level... travelling the world... surrounded by famous atheletes, fashionistas, and supermodels. Sounds great right? But the toad to that kind of success is seldom an easy one as my friend Harry Josh can tell you. He is one of the most celebrated hairstylists in fashion and is responsible for some of the most iconic looks and supermodels in recent history but the road to get here was marked with so many failures and he took so many blows to his ego that at one point he had just given up completely... every stylist or barber that dreams of “making it big”. Needs to hear this story.

Almost a year ater the suicide of a close friend left him reeling, KEUNE’s Global Men’s Creative Director Tom Chapman helped create THE LIONS COLLECTIVE. An international group of barbers committed to making a difference in men’s mental health and suicide prevention. Hear his story and the conversation that we recorded LIVE on stage at the Community Barber Showcase in Vancouver BC.

Part 2 of our epic conversation with @ANDREWDOESHAIR. Couldn’t wait until the weekend for this one!

@andrewdoeshair is a force in our industry. From the very early days on Instagram he has built a solid following by sharing his tips, tricks, and opinions with everyone that would listen. By sharing a lot of things other people won’t, focussing on the things he feels helped him actually succeed and steering clear of corporate sponsorships, he has created a niche for himself in the Indie hair education community. Join us for part one of a two-part conversation that covers everything from the state of the industry to why he doesn’t consider himself an influencer but still preaches the importance of social media and content creation in today’s market.

Panasonic’s global creative director @kevinluchmun is a creative powerhouse with an avalanche of awards and titles under his belt. He has created some iconic looks for top male models like @rickyhall and @whoiselijah , worked on stages around the world, and has recently built one of the best online education platforms available. Long story short... Kevin is impressive... but I know him as something else... a completely loveable goofball that I have shared more than a few laughs and crazy experiences with. Listen to his story and learn about how he has built his brand and why he keeps pushing himself to be better than he was yesterday.

Larissa love is undeniably a huge influence in the beauty world. She is an artist who started building her Instagram following early on and re-defined what it means to be an influencer. But sometimes things are not always what they’re cracked up to be. Listen in as we talk to Larissa about what it means to be an influencer and the toll it can take on your personal life.

Mari De Monte is a rising star in the education side of the hair industry. After slugging it out in the competitive world of NYC hair salons and training under some of the worlds best... her approach to customer service, personalized style, and building relationships has allowed her to keep her single chair studio in Brooklyn packed with clients who will pay a premium for her talents. She is changing the conversation about women in the “male dominated” industry of men’s grooming.

Buddy Porter is a well known celebrity hairstylist whose client roster boasts names like Halle Berry, Justin Theroux, Olivia Holt and many more (but he’d never let you know that). His passion for music and his impressive collection of tattoos makes him seem more at home at a hardcore concert than behind the chair of a fancy Beverly Hills salon but his work ethic and his tireless commitment to his craft has made him one of tinsel towns most sought after stylists. Listen to his career journey and his advice on how to survive in one of the most competitive hair styling markets in the world where the “wash-out” rate does not leave the odds in your favour.