PhorestFM: Building a Stronger Industry, Together
by Phorest Software
The salon industry has a lot to be proud of. Phorest has always been in awe of it. The energy. The camaraderie. The creativity. Being a business owner takes courage, but it can sometimes become an isolating, all-consuming reality. Amidst the daily whirlwind of tasks, there’s still the challenge of thinking ahead, of carving a path forward.The PhorestFM podcast celebrates innovative ideas, methods, and perspectives on business management and growth, marketing, leadership, and building great teams and cultures. Launched in 2017, it is hosted by Alex Bélisle-Springer (he/they), Global Education Content Lead at Phorest Salon Software. As of Season 9 (2025), new episodes air every second week, with occasional bonus drops on ”off” weeks.
Episodes
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Building a Beauty Business: Alec Neville on Knowing What You Bring, Who You Need on the Bus & How You Want to Grow
[340] Building a beauty business calls for more than a compelling idea. It takes an understanding of the market, people who can turn ambition into action, and a clear-eyed view of what growth will demand. Alec Neville has worked at the intersection of ideas, markets, and execution. In this candid...
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From Stats to Story: Lou DeCola, Stacey Steffes and Danielle Moniz on Building a Strong Salon Today 200 Entry
[339] A Salon Today 200 entry is more than a chance to earn recognition. The process can help you take a step back, see what’s working in your business and spot where you want to grow next. In this episode, past honorees Lou DeCola, Stacey Steffes and Danielle Moniz share what it's really like to...
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Every Yes Comes at a Cost: Michelle Tanner on Building a Business for the Life You Want
[338] Michelle Tanner is an Australian multi-salon owner, business coach and international speaker based in Switzerland. Driven by an appetite for learning, problem-solving and building better systems, she’s turned lessons from growing her own businesses — from profitability and team development…
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10 Years of the Phorest Summit: A Retrospective & Look At Where the Event Is Headed Next
[337] When Phorest announced the 2027 Summit earlier this year, it marked a major shift for the brand: next January 24th and 25th, the flagship event moves from its long-time home in Dublin to the breathtaking landscapes of Killarney, County Kerry. Formerly known as the Salon Owners Summit, the...
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What We Make Possible Together & For Each Other: Scott J. Buchanan on Purpose, Connection & Community
[336] From the salon floor to industry leadership, Scott J Buchanan has been a dream builder for over 35 years. He is the president and owner of Scott J Salons and the current president of Intercoiffure America/Canada, but he’s held leadership positions in other industry organizations, such as…
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Jordan White BSN, RN, LSO, CNI on Building Medical Aesthetic Practices That Last Beyond Trend Cycles
[335] Jordan White, known on Instagram as The Murse Injector, is a pioneering leader in aesthetic medicine and the founder and owner of URBAN Medical, a practice that has earned an impeccable reputation for delivering safe, natural, and effective results. A highly sought-after provider with a...
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Results May Vary: Ildi Arlette on Receding Trust and the Capacity to Keep Going
[334] Ildi Arlette is a business consultant, certified coach, and former clinic owner with 24 years of experience working with over 450 medical aesthetics clinics, spas, salons and wellness businesses across Canada and the US. She's known for helping owners go from second-guessing and making it…
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What's Next: A Dialogue on Facing Industry Shifts and Opportunities in the UK & Irish Markets
[333] Hair, beauty and aesthetics businesses are built on the promise of transformation, and today, the industry at large is being asked to evolve in ways that more than just grit, demand creativity, collaboration, community and intention. In this episode, we explore the foundational shifts...
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The Bot-tom Line: Jules Molina & Ashley Prowell on Turning the Front Desk Into a Profit Center
[332] Jules Molina — Guest Experience Team Leader, Consultant, and Shareholder — and Ashley Prowell — Phorest North America Education Specialist — share a deep passion for operational systems developed over years of hands-on experience in the hair and beauty sector. In this episode, they stand...
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Raquel Merlini on Building a Broader System of Care & World of Integrity in Aesthetics
[331] Raquel Merlini is the founder of R SKIN Aesthetics in Michigan. As a seasoned Registered Nurse and Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist with over 14 years of experience in the plastics industry, she offers a real-world model of collaborative care and ethical practice for those who, like…
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Leading In Alignment With Joanne Starkman: A Continuous & Conscious Return to Self
Greg and Joanne Starkman started Innersense Organic Beauty out of a genuine concern for people's health, hair, and the planet. Built on a shared belief that beauty could be both high-performance and deeply intentional, her work as Chief Visionary Officer is a natural extension of Joanne's…
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Jennifer Jade Alvarez on Where AI & Automation Can Drive Impact in an Industry Built on Human Connection (w/ Rich Cullen)
[329] AI is soon coming to Phorest, and this serves as officially non-officially the first conversation in a string of ones to be sprinkled into the podcast’s schedule during Season 10. A version of this conversation could easily live in extremes, but this one does not. Rather, it asks a valid…
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Juliann Upton on Change As an Invitation to Come Alive
[328] Thinking about change can often bring up questions about readiness. Are we ready to move into this bigger space, to move cities, to grow the team? Juliann Upton, the founder and driving force behind Mesh Hair Studio, Nail Bar & Head Spa, would probably tell you the distinction between…
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Live From the Salon Owners Summit 2026 with Davina Devine
In this second (and final) bonus episode from the Salon Owners Summit 2026, more on-the-floor reactions from salon, spa, and clinic owners attending the event, an overview recap of the 2026 lineup and a candid conversation with Davina Devine, one of Ireland’s most recognizable drag queens and...
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Heather Harris on Strategic Delegation: Survival Mode Has an Expiry Date
[327] You’re booked and busy; what every business owner wants. But has over-functioning ever felt safer (or at the very least more familiar) than to say, “I feel like I’m drowning”? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. In fact, Heather Harris — nationally recognised stylist, salon owner,...
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Live From the Salon Owners Summit 2026 with Calvin Stovall
Calvin Stovall, customer experience and leadership keynote speaker, joins the show live from the Salon Owners Summit 2026, shortly after his main-stage talk on the art of the 'WOW' experience. In this conversation, Calvin shares the story behind his own “why,” how his book Hidden Hospitality:...
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S10 Launches on February 23rd, 2026
For the past nine seasons, the PhorestFM podcast has been steadily putting down roots. Growing slowly, but steadily, like the trees in the Phorest forest. And every episode’s been its own brand of fertiliser, carrying insight, knowledge, lessons, new ideas, and stories. Many, many of those. From...
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Love Letters to the Industry and Its People: End of Year Gratitude and Reflections
When Phorest salons shared, in early 2025, that "growth" was their number one priority this year, we got busy. On Season 9 of the PhorestFM podcast, we brought you insightful interviews, case studies, episodes with special guest co-hosts, and bonus live content! Sourced directly from the…
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Tom Kuhn on What Top-Performing Salons Do Differently: Benchmarks & Data-Backed Profitability Insights
[325] In 2024, Qnity’s research arm, the Qnity Institute, conducted a study. At the heart of it was one core question: ‘What does a financially successful salon look like?’ In this episode, Tom Kuhn, CEO of Qnity—an organisation offering education and tools for economic empowerment in the beauty...
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Lance Courtney on How Opportunity Lies Ahead of Co-Creation and Collaboration
In this episode, keynote speaker, business coach, and educator Lance Courtney explores what salon leadership looks like in an era shaped by Gen Z, shifting values, and rapid cultural change. Drawing on themes from his Salon Owners Summit 2026 workshop and blending real-world salon examples with...
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Experience the Difference: A Case Study in Turning Service into Predictable, Consistent Retail Sales
[323] Featuring Derrick Rutherford (Co-Owner, Valentini’s), Arif Isikgun (CEO & Founder, Ai Beauty Consultancy), and Cole Marker (Founder & Builder in Chief, thync.c), this episode reimagines retail not as a “pushy add-on," but as an essential part of sustainable business growth, driven by client...
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Wafaya Abdallah on Leading With Heart and Becoming Fluent in the Silent Language of Energy
[322] For Wafaya Abdallah, owner of Oasis Curl Salon (@curlyoasis), real growth happens when we let go of control, release the need for perfection, and create a safe space for others to rise. In this episode, we explore the salon as a space for transformation and how her journey into energy...
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Grief as a Teacher: Luis Miguel Bujia on Lessons in Honourship and the Power of Sharing
[321] Every now and again, there’s an episode that asks us to slow down, sit with what’s real, and see what it has to teach us. This is one of those episodes. Becoming who we are — as people, friends, as community and team members, leaders — is a lifelong, multifaceted journey. Growth is tender,...
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The Work of Happiness: Heather Bagby on Transforming Leadership and Life
[320] When approached with intention, leaning into happiness can become a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. In this episode, Heather Bagby (@heatherbagby on Instagram) — the visionary behind the Summit Salon Business Centre’s Happiness Project and the recently announced keynote...
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Live From the 2025 Aesthetic Extender Symposium With Dr. George Baxter-Holder
Get a glimpse of the energy and people at the 18th Annual Aesthetic Extender Symposium in Boca Raton, Florida! Hosted by Shauna O'Halloran (Head of Brand & Communications at Phorest), this short episode has it all: her on-the-ground observations, short clips from some of the conference’s live...
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Dave Evans & Debbie Halls-Evans on 'Being More Kid' and Building Curious Cultures
[319] If you’ve ever sat down for a chat with Dave Evans and Debbie Halls-Evans, founders of and. coaching (@andcoachme), you know you’re in for a bold and disarmingly honest one. High off a year so far defined by intentionality, bravery, and play, Dave and Debbie share: How fear can manifest and...
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Stefanie Fox on How Lasting Teams Are Built With Intention, Not Found
[318] At Phorest, we know that the magic happens when you get the team right. Clients feel it. Reviews show it. Your bottom line reflects it. Building a strong team is an advantage, but great teams don’t just “happen.” In this unearthed conversation from late 2023, Stefanie Fox (@stef_fox)…
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Anne Butterly & Kelly Swann on Harnessing the Power of Business as a Force for Good (w/ Daniel Johnson)
[317] It’s one thing to say your business stands for something, and it’s another to prove it. Certified B Corporations around the world are doing just that. Featuring Anne Butterly, Founder of Easydry, along with Kelly Swann, the driving force behind Denver’s Let Em Have It Salon — both Certified…
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Betsy Morem on Burgers, Botox & the Power of Community-Rooted Businesses (w/ Joe DiFalco)
[316] CPA and co-founder of Morem & Waller CPAs, med spa co-owner, and now steward of Austin, Minnesota’s 87-year-old beloved Tendermaid burger joint, Betsy Morem (@heavenstobetsss) wears many hats. And her unique ability to balance big-picture strategy with daily operational insight makes her a...
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David & Shirley Popham on the Heart, Art and Business of Paying Attention
[315] When David Popham first opened his salon in 1981, he didn't set out to build a legacy business. And Shirley certainly didn’t set out to work in or manage a salon—she grew up intimidated by them. In this episode, Shirley and David Popham of Popham Hairdressing (@popham.salons) reflect on...
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Sarah Abel on Ditching Survival Mode and Leading With Vision (w/ Luke Doolin), Part 2
[314] In Part 2 of this conversation, co-hosted by Luke Doolin (UKI Managing Director at Phorest), we pick up where we left off with Sarah Abel — CEO of TNB Skills Training (@tnbskillstraining) and proudly known in the industry as the Funding Godmother. The topic of mindset as a strategic tool…
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Sarah Abel on Ditching Survival Mode and Leading With Vision (w/ Luke Doolin), Part 1
[313] Sarah Abel, also known as the known as the Funding Godmother, is the CEO of TNB Skills Training (@tnbskillstraining) and author of The Power of Funding, is an award-winning entrepreneur and funding strategist with a fierce passion for helping beauty businesses grow, secure funding, and...
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Live From the Data-Driven Salon Summit 2025 With David Colonna
David Colonna (@thedavidcolonna) joins Shauna O'Halloran (Head of Brand & Communications at Phorest) in the Phorest Lounge at the Data-Driven Salon Summit for a catch-up that leads to hearing about how Calligraphy Cut came to be, the circumstances that led David to a career in the industry, and...
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Jess Joy on Creating Systems and Cultures That Don’t Mistake Coping for Success
[312] Co-founder of the neurodivergence community and training platform I Am Paying Attention (@iampayingattention), Jess Joy, along with best friend and business partner Charlotte Mia, is championing change in the way we all work, one radically honest conversation at a time. This episode is no...
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Live From the Data-Driven Salon Summit 2025 With HairToStay
Noah Warren and Sydney Berry (@HairToStay) join Shauna O'Halloran (Head of Brand & Communications at Phorest) in the Phorest Lounge at the Data-Driven Salon Summit for a short catch-up. Learn more about HairToStay and donate here if you can! Click here to revisit PhorestFM S08E300 with Noah,...
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David Campbell on Leading with Vision, Growing Talent and Being a Keeper of Dreams
[311] With over 30 years of experience at all levels in the hairdressing industry and as the longest-running president of the Irish Hairdressers’ Federation, David Campbell (@davhoc) has a passion, drive and determination to improve the industry and raise standards. As the Director of both the...
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Built to Last: Two 'Unicorn' Stories From the 2025 Salon Today 200
[310] Have you ever considered entering the Salon Today 200? Or want to know more about this industry-leading program that showcases salon business success? Behind every honoree's recognition are pages of essays. Stories of innovation, vulnerability, resilience and transformation. In this…
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Neurodiversity in the Beauty Industry: Beauty Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All (Live Panel Discussion)
[309] In the dynamic and ever-evolving hair and beauty world, where passion, creativity, and connection make for a truly rewarding career, neurodiversity often remains an unspoken part of the conversation. This panel discussion, recorded live at International Beauty Show NY 2025 (click here for…
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Terra Harvell on the Lessons and Mindset Shifts That Drive Salon Success and Build Wealth (w/ Ronan Perceval)
[308] In this episode, Terra Harvell (@theterraharvell) shares her entrepreneurial journey and the crucial role mindset, determination, and having the right people around you play in turning aspirations into reality. Co-hosted by Phorest Founder & CEO Ronan Perceval, this conversation dives into...
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Live From the Salon Owners Summit 2025 With Ryan Power
Ryan Power — UK-based award-winning salon coach and mentor — joins podcast host Alex Bélisle-Springer after his workshop at the Salon Owners Summit 2025 for a 5-year catch-up highlighting the vital role of connection, community and solidarity in the industry. Get your tickets to the next Salon...
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Ross Loveland on Why Many Salons Make Money but Still Struggle to Survive
[307] In an episode packed with both insights & anecdotal examples, Ross Loveland (@trueprofitsalons) shares what true financial transformation looks like (hint: there's a 5-pillar framework for it), dispels common financial myths that hold salon owners back and speaks to the mindset shifts...
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Live From the Salon Owners Summit 2025 With Daniel Mason-Jones
Daniel Mason-Jones — Celebrity Stylist and Motivational Speaker — joins podcast host Alex Bélisle-Springer after his keynote at the Salon Owners Summit 2025. They discuss overcoming insecurity, the intrinsic link between authenticity and stepping into your power, belonging and uplifting others....
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Breaking Barriers: Black Beauty & Redefining Excellence (Live Panel Discussion)
[306] In 2022, a report by McKinsey & Company estimated addressing racial inequity in the beauty industry to be a $2.6 billion opportunity. Two years later, despite a more-than-welcome surge in conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion, Black hair and beauty professionals…
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Live From the Salon Owners Summit 2025 With Ken Hughes
Ken Hughes — Leading Consumer Behaviouralist, The King of Customer Experience — joins podcast host Alex Bélisle-Springer after his keynote at the Salon Owners Summit 2025 to further discuss how focusing on authenticity, connection and relationship building in your salon, spa, or clinic business…
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Keya Neal on the Power Authenticity Holds for Growth & Fulfillment
[305] PhorestFM Season 9 is officially underway! This first episode of 2025, featuring Keya Neal (@keyaartistically), is a rich tapestry of wisdom that underscores the multifaceted nature of authenticity, its power for growth and fulfillment, and the inevitable costs associated with honoring the...
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S09 Launches on February 3rd, 2025
We asked Phorest salons their priorities for 2025, and "GROWTH" was the number one response globally. So, after rerunning many important conversations, reaching 300 episodes, and doing a lot of shadow work last year, we decided it was time for the podcast to, once more, grow with you. In Season…
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Kati Whitledge on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Solving the New Client Retention Problem
[304] Kati Whitledge (@katiwhitledge on Instagram), speaker, podcaster, and the Founder and CEO of mya, is a marketing guru for the beauty and wellness industry who equips owners with no-fluff business and marketing strategies. She’s here to change how you are supported in your business with…
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Peigín Crowley on Transformative Wellness, Connecting Inwards and the Birth of GROUND
[303] In the second to last episode of the PhorestFM podcast's eight season, Peigín Crowley, celebrated founder of GROUND Wellbeing, recounts the early days of her business and shares her vision for making transformative wellness accessible. Sharing her personal journey throughout the…
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Stories & Smiles Across Miles: Hand-Delivering The Client Experience Awards 2024 (Part 2)
[302] The Client Experience Award is an annual celebration of salons, clinics, and spas that consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional services and unforgettable experiences. More precisely, it recognizes the Phorest salons that have reached and maintained a specific criteria for...
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Stories & Smiles Across Miles: Hand-Delivering The Client Experience Awards 2024 (Part 1)
[301] The Client Experience Award is an annual celebration of salons, clinics, and spas that consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional services and unforgettable experiences. More precisely, it recognizes the Phorest salons that have reached and maintained a specific criteria for...
About this show
The salon industry has a lot to be proud of. Phorest has always been in awe of it. The energy. The camaraderie. The creativity. Being a business owner takes courage, but it can sometimes become an isolating, all-consuming reality. Amidst the daily whirlwind of tasks, there’s still the challenge of thinking ahead, of carving a path forward.The PhorestFM podcast celebrates innovative ideas, methods, and perspectives on business management and growth, marketing, leadership, and building great teams and cultures. Launched in 2017, it is hosted by Alex Bélisle-Springer (he/they), Global Education Content Lead at Phorest Salon Software. As of Season 9 (2025), new episodes air every second week, with occasional bonus drops on ”off” weeks.
Hosted by
Phorest Software
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