PODCAST · business
Cutting Through The Noise
by Cutting Through The Noise
Join Australian business women, Stephanie Mason, and Hayley Mears as they explore the new business landscape in a post-pandemic world. They will take a deep dive into the disruption and changes across digital marketing, the supply chain, the influence of culture in business and the latest news in tech. https://cuttingthroughthenoisepodcast.au/en-aud
Episodes
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Episode Twelve. S4: Winning WA Hairdresser of the Year, Beating Chronic Fatigue & launching a new brand. Nicole Lamers unpacks her 2026 so far.
What does it truly take to back yourself in the hair and beauty industry? In this episode of Cutting Through The Noise, Hayley Mears sits down with Nicole Lamers—fresh off her massive win as Western Australian Hairdresser of the Year at the AHIA Creative Awards. Nicole opens up about the raw...
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Episode Eleven. S4: Scaling Brands and Demystifying AI — A Founder Catch-Up with Stephanie Mason
In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears catches up with co-host Stephanie Mason for a candid, unscripted check-in on a huge year for both of them — from brand scaling and business exits to the AI education boom reshaping the salon industry. Stephanie shares what's been…
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Episode Ten. S4: Beyond the Tool: Building a Better Future for Hairdressers
Recorded live at HairCon 2026, this episode of Cutting Through the Noise features host Stephanie Mason in conversation with Marie Nieuwoudt, Group Education Manager at Cloud Nine and a passionate advocate for innovation, education, and the future of the professional hair industry. With more than…
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Episode Nine. S4: Future-Proofing Distribution: Building Brands, Relationships & Revenue
Recorded live at HairCon 2026, this episode of Cutting Through the Noise features host Stephanie Mason in conversation with Jo Robertson, founder of Wonderful Brands and one of the professional beauty industry's most respected distribution and brand-building experts. With extensive experience...
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Episode Eight. S4: Salon AI has landed, and it’s more than just a game-changer. It’s a revolution.
In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears is joined by Phil Taylor — hairdresser, brand builder, and co-founder of VybeAI — for a future-focused conversation on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the salon industry, and why this shift is happening faster than most people...
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Episode Seven. S4: Method and Mindset: JOICO Global artist, Olivia Thompson, is bringing her signature blonding techniques to Hair Festival.
Host Hayley Mears welcomes Olivia Thompson, also known as OMG! Artistry, who joins the podcast from Fort Lauderdale ahead of their first trip to Australia for Hair Festival. The discussion covers Olivia's extensive career, their commitment to education, the development of their viral social media...
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Episode Six. S4: Choosing Courage Over Comfort with Natalie Chadwick
In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears sits down with Natalie Chadwick, Creative Director of CPR Hair, for a conversation about intuition, creativity, and the mindset required to build something meaningful in the hair industry. Nat reflects on the role intuition has played...
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Episode Five. S4: Sheridan Rose Shaw on Motherhood, Mindset & Salon Growth
In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears sits down with salon owner and entrepreneur Sheridan Rose Shaw for a deeply honest conversation about growth, motherhood, and redefining leadership during major life transitions. Sheridan shares what the past year has looked like as her...
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Episode Four. S4: Andrea MacKellar & Ash Lennan on Motherhood, Partnership & Salon Leadership
In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears is joined by Soul Hair co-owners Andrea MacKellar and Ash Lennan for an honest conversation about career growth, partnership, motherhood, and building a values-led salon in regional New South Wales. Andrea shares her journey from starting...
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Episode Three. S4: From Pulp Riot to Danger Jones: A Candid Conversation with David Thurston (The Hairdressing Startup That Sold for USD $100 Million in 23 Months… Meet David Thurston)
In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears sits down with industry disruptor, founder, and author David Thurston to unpack the release of his book The Spiral Staircase and the seismic shifts shaping the global hair industry. David reflects on the deeply personal journey behind the...
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Episode Two. S4: Discomfort, Change & Sustainable Success with Tabatha Coffey
In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears is joined by industry icon Tabatha Coffey for a wide-ranging and deeply honest conversation about growth, discomfort, and the realities of building a sustainable career in the hair industry. Drawing from salon forum discussions and…
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Episode One. S4: From Olaplex to Goddess: Jordan Alexander on Building Brands That Serve Hairdressers
In this kick-off episode for 2026 of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears sits down with Jordan Alexander — co-founder of Goddess — to unpack what it really takes to build a global hair brand without losing sight of the hairdresser. Although recorded in late 2025, this conversation looks…
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Episode Thirty Eight. S3: Ascension: Lisa Vitale’s Return to Creative Greatness
In this episode, Hayley Mears is joined by two industry icons — Emiliano Vitale and Lisa Vitale of the award-winning é Salon. Celebrating 25 years in business, é Salon is built on a core philosophy that has shaped every part of their success: “We see people first, hair second.” Emiliano shares…
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Episode Thirty Seven. S3: Building a Regional Powerhouse: How Bonce Hair Boutique Wins Through Community & Culture
In this episode, Hayley Mears sits down with Vince Saunders, owner and founder of Bonce Hair Boutique in regional South Australia — a salon known for its sharp branding, strong culture, and clever community-led marketing. Vince opens up about the recruitment crisis facing salon owners, why fewer...
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Episode Thirty Six. S3: Whatever It Takes: The Power of Intention with Chrystofer & Hannah Benson
In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears sits down with Chrystofer Benson and Hannah Benson — the creative forces behind CBC Productions — for an honest conversation about purpose, partnership, and the power of intention. The discussion opens with a shared appreciation for...
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Episode Thirty Five. S3: Cloud Nine to Cutting Through the Noise: Stephanie Mason and Hayley Mears on Growth, Change & What’s Ahead
In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears and Stephanie Mason finally reconnect after a whirlwind year of global events, career milestones, and industry evolution. Steph shares her journey stepping into her new role as Global Managing Director of Cloud Nine, reflecting on...
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Episode Thirty Four. S3: Everything Is Figureoutable: The Hair Candy Story with Shakira Dickinson
In this episode, Hayley Mears sits down with Shakira Dickinson, the founder of Hair Candy, an award-winning hair extensions business with three salons across Queensland and an e-commerce education brand. Shakira shares her 18-year journey from working out of a spare bedroom to building one of...
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Episode Thirty Three. S3: Beyond Price: Redefining Value in the Hair Industry with Sonia Thomas
In this episode, Hayley Mears chats with Sonia Thomas, also known as The Salon Dr, who brings over 37 years of experience in the salon industry. From salon owner to corporate sales leader, Sonia shares the mindset, strategies, and communication skills that help salon professionals elevate their...
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Episode Thirty Two. S3: Just Start: The Foil Me Story with Emily Ciardiello
In this episode, Hayley Mears chats with Emily Ciardiello, entrepreneur and founder of Foil Me, the Australian brand that revolutionised pre-cut foils for hairdressers. Emily shares her journey from being a school teacher to launching Foil Me alongside her husband, growing it into an...
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Episode Thirty One. S3: Flexibility, Innovation & Independence in Hairdressing with Gavin Hinton
In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears sits down with Gavin Hinton, co-founder of Freedom Suites and long-time contributor to the Australian Hairdressing Council (AHC), to explore the changing landscape of the hair and beauty industry. With 25 years of experience spanning...
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Episode Thirty. S3: The Unfiltered Evolution of Sophia Hilton: Courage, Coaching, and Cutting Through the Noise
In this episode, Hayley Mears welcomes Sophia Hilton, who discusses her business's transformation from a salon owner to a holistic business and life coach with "Not Another Club," already boasting 320 members and aiming for 1,000 within two years. They delve into Sophia's organisational…
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Episode Twenty Nine. S3: GODDESS - the NEXT big thing! Simon and Megan Pitt talk about the NEXT super product in the market following in the footsteps of Olaplex and k18
In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, host Hayley Mears is joined by Simon Pitt and Megan Pitt to discuss their shared mission of bringing cutting-edge innovation to both hair and skin. Together, they unpack the stories behind two standout brands—Goddess, a dual-peptide hair repair and...
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Episode Twenty Eight. S3: Coachella Vibes, Salon Tech & the Future of AI: Vagaro at HairCon
In this special episode recorded live at HairCon in Manchester, Hayley sits down with Jason and Charity from Vagaro—the tech company making serious waves in salon software. With a stand that stole the show (think Coachella meets hair tech), Vagaro didn’t just bring innovation—they brought vibe....
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Episode Twenty Seven. S3: How Phenix Salon Suites Is Redefining Independence in the UK Hair Industry
In this exciting live episode from Manchester, we sit down with industry veteran and entrepreneur John Gillespie, whose work with Phenix Salon Suites is shaking up the UK hair and beauty scene. A hairdresser by trade with deep roots in the industry, John has gone from sweeping floors in his...
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Episode Twenty Six. S3: Made for Originals: Behind the Scenes with O&M
In this special episode, Hayley welcomes back the inspiring Josie Bryce Smith—founder of Original & Mineral (O&M)—alongside creative powerhouse Jay Edwards and international educator Kindale Godbee from the United States. Together, they take us behind the scenes of one of the most anticipated...
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Episode Twenty Five. S3: Bridging the Gap Between Science and Style: A Chat with Dyson’s Demetri
In this special HairCon edition of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears sits down with the vibrant and passionate Demetri Deacon-Jones, EMEA Beauty Experience Training Manager at Dyson, for an energetic chat on the intersection of engineering and creativity in professional hairdressing. Set...
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Episode Twenty Four. S3: Why is ADHD so prevalent in the Hairdressing Industry? We unpack it all with ADHD coach Caroline Beresford
In this episode, host Hayley Mears sits down with ADHD coach Caroline Beresford to explore the fascinating links between ADHD and the hairdressing industry. With a background in science and business, Caroline now works with clients to better understand and manage the unique ways ADHD shows up in...
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Episode Twenty Three. S3: How Luke Benson Turned Industry Wins Into a Global Career
In this episode, Hayley Mears chats with UK-based stylist, educator, and salon owner Luke Benson, who joins the podcast fresh off a 24-hour flight to Australia for Keune’s 30th anniversary event. Despite jet lag and timezone chaos, Luke dives into a high-energy, no-holds-barred conversation about...
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Episode Twenty Two. S3: Jules Tognini, From Fashion Start-Up to Hair Education Trailblazer
In this episode, we sit down with none other than Jules Tognini—a creative force in the hair industry whose career has taken unexpected turns and exciting pivots. Jules is known for being a fearless educator, an innovator in the salon space, and a dynamic presence behind the chair. But before the...
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Episode Twenty One. S3: Where You’ll See Us Next – HairCon Manchester and Hair Festival Sydney
In this episode, Hayley and Stephanie dive into what’s new behind the scenes and where you can find them next. From major industry events to candid conversations about what’s really happening in the hair and beauty world, this episode is all about staying visible and staying honest. Upcoming…
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Episode Twenty. S3: Joico's Golden Celebration: 50 Years of Dynamic Hair at Hair Festival's Illume!
Get ready for a deep dive into the dazzling world of Joico! In this special episode, host Hayley Mears sits down with the incredible team from Joico to spill all the details about their highly anticipated Hair Festival show, "Illume." This year marks a momentous occasion as Joico celebrates a...
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Episode Nineteen. S3: From Session Work to AI: Nicole Kae on the EVO-lution to her role as Creative Director
In this episode, Hayley catches up with creative powerhouse, Nicole Kae. From editorial styling and education to AI tools and the organised chaos of mum life—nothing’s off the table. Nicole reflects on 20+ years in hairdressing—starting from learning every technique in the book, to now directing...
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Episode Eighteen. S3: Natalie Anne is Reinventing Education, Mentorship and Changing the Trends.
In this powerful episode, Natalie Anne shares how she is changing the trends—not just in hair, but in how we learn, teach, and lead. She opens up about launching her mentor program, how she’s adapting to the new landscape of education, and the journey of growing a brand that’s deeply connected to...
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Episode Seventeen. S3: Lucas Tucker from CLUB & Tucker Browne changing online education for Barbers
In this very first episode of our Zoom Room series, Hayley Mears chats with Lucas Tucker, the founder of Tucker Browne and CLUB men's grooming ranges. Lucas shares his inspiration behind developing his brands and his love for product formulation and development. CLUB are launching their own…
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Episode Sixteen. S3: Antony Whitaker takes us behind the curtain to talk about his platform “Grow My Salon Business”
In this episode, Hayley and Antony dive into the evolving landscape of the hairdressing industry, sharing their own journeys and perspectives on education, employment models, and the state of creativity in the salon world. From perm trends and the rise of online learning to the decline of…
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Episode Fifteen. S3: Errol Douglas MBE – The State of the UK Hair Industry & His Journey
Errol Douglas MBE is one of the most respected names in modern hairdressing. Recognised throughout the world and known for his ever-evolving brand of glamorous hair that has no boundaries – creatively, or in its origins – he’s simply one of the best. Globally award-winning, Errol has run his...
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Episode Fourteen. S3: The Power of Specialisation: Reds, Coppers, and Brand Ambassadorship with Kristina Russell
Kristina Russell is a highly accomplished and dynamic hair colourist and educator with over two decades of experience at the forefront of the industry. Renowned as the go-to expert for reds and pastel hair, and the author of 'The Ultimate Guide to Hair-Painting for Redheads', Kristina's expertise...
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Episode Thirteen. S3: After 28 years at Kao Corporation, Rita shares her next exciting chapter with us
In this episode of "Cutting Through the Noise," Hayley Mears introduces Rita Marcon, who returns to share updates on her life and career. This career journey is an empowering message about growing your career and pivoting roles to explore and grow into new skill sets. This evolution of skills has...
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Episode Twelve. S3: The Future Salon - Combining Holistic Hair and Beauty Offerings with Hayley May from BLC Cosmetics
In this episode, we sit down with Hayley May, General Manager (Sales) at BLC Cosmetics, to explore how salons can thrive through strategic sales, brand partnerships, and innovative business models. With experience at KEVIN.MURPHY, Showpony, and Rationale, Hayley brings a no-nonsense…
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Episode Eleven. S3: Cracking the Code with Sharlene Lee: The TikTok Queen
In this episode, we sit down with the one and only Sharlene Lee, widely known as the TikTok Queen. Sharlene has built a massive following by leveraging her unique content, creativity, and deep understanding of how TikTok works. We dive into her journey, the strategies that propelled her success,...
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Episode Ten. S3: Texture reimagined: Debut of Michelle and Chrissy Leading Education at Organic SUKU
UNDERSTANDING THE AUSTRALIAN LANDSCAPE WITH TEXTURE | STATS & STORIES 67% of the world’s population has textured hair. Textured hair is defined as hair that does not grow out of the follicle bone straight—categorized as coily, curly, and wavy. Australia is seeing a demographic shift with more...
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Episode Nine. S3: Scaling Success: Sheridan Rose Shaw on Growing Mama West Salon to 20 Chairs
In this episode, Sheridan Rose Shaw from Mama West Salon joins us to share how she scaled her salon to a 20-chair powerhouse while many others in the industry are downsizing. She reveals the key strategies behind her success, the pivotal decisions she made, and the mentors who guided her along…
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Episode Eight. S3: Building a Salon Empire: CJ Morello's Journey from 2 to 3 Locations, Hybrid Models, and the Power of Salon Culture
CJ returned to the podcast with exciting updates on AH Salons' expansion from two to three locations, now with 55 team members. Despite industry challenges, their unique hybrid salon model has fueled their success, blending traditional services with flexible work conditions. The Hybrid Model:...
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Episode Seven. S3: Peter Thomsen: A Brand Ambassador’s Journey
Award-winning salon owner, educator, and editorial hairdresser Peter Thomsen has built a global reputation not only for his mastery in blonde, balayage, and textured colour work but also for his ability to elevate brands through education and innovation. As a Global Brand Ambassador, Peter...
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Episode Six. S3: Sharon Blain disrupts the industry with her three day education event “Hair The Movement”
In this episode, we're catching up with Sharon Blain to talk about what's really going on with education in the hairdressing world these days. We dig into the struggles and opportunities new stylists are facing and how that's sparked Sharon to kick off Hair The Movement. Trust us, this is the...
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Episode Five. S3: We Go Behind The Scenes With Everyone's Favourite Hair Influencer Kaine Vakai
In this captivating episode of "Cutting Through the Noise," host Hayley Mears sits down with the innovative hairdresser Kaine Vakai to discuss the exciting rebrand of his salon, from Kaine Vakai Hair to Haus of Vakai. Get an inside look at Kaine's ambitious mission to reach 500K followers on…
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Episode Four. S3: Hayley Mears, Interviewed by Stephanie Mason. Unpacking 25 years in the industry.
Hayley is the cohost of the Cutting Through the Noise Podcast, the owner of Six Underground Media, and the co-collaborator on Watch This Space Education. Her life is BUSY and there are always multiple projects on the go. Steph returns to where it all began in Newcastle in the late 90s as a tea…
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Episode Three. S3: Meet the British Hairdresser bringing his signature Britannia cuts to Australia, Tom Warr from Blue Tit London.
Discover this incredible British talent that is reinventing classic British looks with a bespoke and modern twist. Tom is famous for his underground street looks reminiscent of the punk, and brit-pop subcultures. His unique fusion of shapes and cuts has made him insta-famous and marked a turning...
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Episode Two. S3: Stephanie Mason, interviewed by Hayley Mears. Lets talk all things past, present, and future.
Tune in to this exciting episode of "Cutting Through the Noise" as co-hosts Stephanie Mason and Hayley Mears switch roles, with Stephanie stepping into the guest seat to unveil her groundbreaking new venture, Global Brand Connect. Dive deep into Stephanie's inspiring career journey, from being…
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Episode One. S3: A Journey with Belinda Mills of Pipsqueek In Saigon
Join us on this episode of Cutting Through the Noise as we sit down with Belinda Mills, the creative force behind Pipsqueek In Saigon. With 26 years in the hairdressing industry under her belt, Belinda opened her first salon at the tender age of 21. Now, 20 years later, her name is synonymous…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join Australian business women, Stephanie Mason, and Hayley Mears as they explore the new business landscape in a post-pandemic world. They will take a deep dive into the disruption and changes across digital marketing, the supply chain, the influence of culture in business and the latest news in tech. https://cuttingthroughthenoisepodcast.au/en-aud
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Cutting Through The Noise
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Cutting Through The Noise have?
Cutting Through The Noise currently has 97 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Cutting Through The Noise about?
Join Australian business women, Stephanie Mason, and Hayley Mears as they explore the new business landscape in a post-pandemic world. They will take a deep dive into the disruption and changes across digital marketing, the supply chain, the influence of culture in business and the latest news in...
How often does Cutting Through The Noise release new episodes?
Cutting Through The Noise has 97 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Cutting Through The Noise?
You can listen to Cutting Through The Noise on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Cutting Through The Noise?
Cutting Through The Noise is created and hosted by Cutting Through The Noise.
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