65 - BONUS EPISODE Building a More Inclusive World Through Barbering with Henry Tribes

Creating Calm In Spaces That Once Felt OverwhelmingIn this deeply moving conversation, Joanne sits down with barber, educator and inventor Henry Tribes to explore how one simple idea became a powerful act of care for neurodivergent children and their families. What began with a weighted blanket at home slowly evolved into The Weighted Cape, a sensory-informed innovation designed to bring calm, grounding and emotional safety into the haircut experience. Henry shares how his own journey through fatherhood softened his understanding of patience, presence and what it truly means to make someone feel safe in their body.More Than A Haircut, A Sense Of BelongingAs Henry began working with neurodivergent children, everything about the haircut experience shifted for him. No longer focused solely on the final result, he focused above all else on care, trust, regulation and emotional safety. Through compassion, deep listening and sensory-safe environments, Henry explains how even something as everyday as a haircut can become deeply healing, not only for the child sitting in the chair, but for the parents carrying years of stress, fear and exhaustion. This conversation beautifully reminds us that true inclusion is not about fixing people; it’s about creating spaces where they can fully belong exactly as they are.Following The Quiet Inner Nudges Toward PurposeHenry also opens up about leaving behind the expectations of corporate success to follow a path that felt far more aligned with his heart and purpose. From teaching sensory-inclusive haircut techniques through the Sensory Society to building Trimmies, a sensory oasis intentionally designed for neurodivergent families, his work is rooted in the belief that healing often begins with the smallest acts of kindness and human connection. This episode is a powerful reminder that when we slow down, lead with compassion and trust those quiet inner nudges, we create ripple effects far bigger than we could ever imagine.How the Weighted Cape Works Help Fund Sensory-Friendly Haircut Experiences for Neurodivergent ChildrenConnect with Henry Tribes on Instagram Follow Trimmy’s World on Instagram Sensory Society Friendly ResourcesRead About Henry Tribes in Modern SalonWatch Henry Tribes on KERA News, NPR for North TexasChapters00:00 Introduction to Henry Tribes and His Mission03:01 The Journey of Becoming a Barber06:01 The Evolution of Barbering and Personal Growth09:06 The Impact of Societal Perception on Barbering12:03 The Importance of Care in Barbering15:02 Creating Safe Spaces for Neurodivergent Children17:59 The Birth of the Weighted Cape21:04 Understanding Neurodivergent Needs in Haircuts23:32 The Journey Begins: First Experiences with Neurodivergent Clients26:13 Understanding Sensory-Friendly Haircuts31:48 Creating Trimmies: A Sensory Oasis35:00 Fundraising for Sensory-Friendly Haircuts37:10 Lessons on Humanity and Shared Experience41:44 A Call to Action: Supporting the Neurodivergent CommunityLet’s chat! [email protected] Join the Innersense™ Communityhttps://innersensebeauty.com/pages/newsletter-sign-up Let’s Stay Connectedhttps://www.instagram.com/joannestarkman https://www.instagram.com/innersenseorganicbeauty/ https://www.instagram.com/innersensepro/ https://www.facebook.com/InnersenseOrganic/ https://www.youtube.com/c/InnersenseOrganicBeauty Clean hair care & body productsUse code JOANNE15 to save 15% on first purchases at https://innersensebeauty.com/Want to elevate your salon? (New Pro Clean Color Line)https://innersensebeauty.com/pages/salonshttps://innersensebeauty.com/pages/education