Friends in Beauty Podcast

In this episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I’m opening up about something that isn’t talked about enough in our industry — the not-so-pretty side of meeting your mentors.

I recently hosted my first event for someone else, and it reminded me how much I love community, connection, and growth. I’m so grateful for all the beautiful opportunities that keep flowing my way. But as much as I love highlighting the positive moments, I ...

In this episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I’m diving into a topic that I know so many of us can relate to: fear. Whether it’s the fear of showing up online, raising your rates, hosting your first class, or being truly seen, I want to help you understand how to stop letting fear take over and start taking your power back.

As we step into the last quarter of the year, I’ve been reflecting a lot, not just on what I’ve accomplis...

In this episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I’m sharing how I spent the month of September fully immersed in community, connection, and creativity. 💕

I’ve noticed that so many beauty pros and creatives — myself included — have been feeling a little uninspired lately. In this episode, I open up about what’s been happening in our industry, why so many of us are losing our spark, and most importantly, how to get it back.

From att...

On this week’s episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I’m bringing back one of our most inspiring rewind conversations with Shennel Patrick, also known as Nelli — a powerhouse Makeup Artist, Beauty Educator, Content Creator, and Serial Creative. ✨

Nelli’s artistry goes far beyond makeup brushes and palettes. She is deeply committed to beauty as a holistic practice — mind, body, and spirit. Her mission is to help women connect the...

On this REWIND episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome back the legendary Crystal Wright—a true powerhouse for freelance beauty professionals. Known as the “Industry Bible” author and founder of The Crystal Agency, Crystal has spent 25+ years opening doors for photographers, makeup artists, hair stylists, and fashion stylists to work with A-list celebrities and top global brands.

But this episode goes far b...

On this week’s episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I’m joined by Danielle Hayden, Co-Founder and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc. Danielle and her team are on a mission to help six-figure (and beyond) women entrepreneurs finally take control of their numbers through bookkeeping, financial analysis, and strategic support so they can grow profitable, sustainable, and enjoyable businesses.

With over 15 years of experience in fin...

This week on the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I’m bringing back one of my favorite conversations with Joy Fennell. Joy is a fashion enthusiast turned tech innovator, with over 20 years in the industry as a sought-after Makeup Artist and later as a creative director. Now, she’s pioneering the use of AI, AR, and 3D design to push fashion and beauty into new digital dimensions.

In our chat, we dive into how AI is reshaping the bea...

On this episode of the Friends in Beauty podcast I welcome Maude Okrah Hunter to the Friends in Beauty guest chair. Maude is an entrepreneur who is passionate about bringing solutions to underserved markets. She has over 12 years of experience working in strategy with startups and Fortune 500 companies. She is the Founder and CEO of BBR (Black Beauty Roster). Black Beauty Roster is a digital DE&I platform that connects the TV, ...

On this week’s solo episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I’m keeping it real with you. This is my last episode before I take a much-needed pause, and I want to share why.

I’m opening up about what burnout really feels like as a beauty pro and entrepreneur, and why it’s so important for us to prioritize our health for longevity in this industry. From setting and honoring boundaries with clients, to living in Washington, DC durin...

Former Senior Director of Marketing at Creme of Nature, Beauty Marketing Strategist, and Founder of Texture Crush + Gholston Strategy Group — Teneya Gholston is not your average beauty professional. She’s led marketing strategies for powerhouse brands like Revlon, Lottabody, and Arosci, and is best known for revitalizing the iconic Creme of Nature brand within Black beauty culture.

In this episode, Teneya shares her incredible journ...

Today marks Kim Baker’s third visit to the show—because her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and transformation. From facing a chilling sentence of 65 years to life, Kim emerged to become a pioneering plus-size model with Wilhelmina, working alongside icons like Kevyn Aucoin and Way Bandy.

She went on to launch Glamazon Beauty, a brand that celebrates inclusive beauty. Now, her story is moving in front of the camera: she’s ...

In this week’s episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, we're joined by Lindsay Nahmiache—CEO of Veriphy Skincare, founder of award-winning agency Jive PR + Digital, and investor in over 13 startups, including a double unicorn. Lindsay is a branding expert and strategic investor who’s helped companies scale from seed to Series E—and she recently added beauty brand rescuer to her résumé.

We dive into the real story behind her ac...

In this week’s episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, we’re joined by Tomara Watkins, the powerhouse President of Buttah Skin. Tomara has been shaping the brand since 2020—first as a strategic growth consultant, and now as the executive leading its continued expansion and innovation.

We dive into what it truly takes to run a fast-growing beauty brand from the inside—from managing operations and scaling strategy to staying rooted ...

In this week’s episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I’m sitting down with Emily Prince, Founder of the luxury loc studio Privacy Parlor, to talk about what it really means to take up space as a beauty pro. We cover everything from grieving while running a business, to the emotional labor of being a Black woman in the beauty industry, to why locs are still not fully included in mainstream beauty conversations. Plus, Emily share...

What does it really take to build a multi-million dollar skincare brand from scratch—without outside investors?

In this episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I’m joined by Dimitra Davidson, co-founder of Indeed Labs—the clean beauty brand behind viral hits like Nanoblur and pH-In Skin, the world’s first microbiome-certified acne solution.

Dimitra shares how a personal skin issue turned into a mission, how she bootstrapped the bra...

On this week’s episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I’m joined by Jenn Harper, the trailblazing Founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty—an Indigenous-owned, B-Corp certified beauty brand that’s redefining what it means to be sustainable and socially conscious in the beauty industry.

We dive into how her grandmother’s resilience after residential schools shaped the brand; the Seven Grandfather Teachings in every step—and how ...

In this episode, I’m joined by Olga Parno, Founder and CEO of Masktini, a clean skincare brand that’s redefining what self-care looks—and smells—like. After leaving behind a successful career in corporate finance, Olga launched Masktini with the mission to empower women through indulgent, effective, and intelligent beauty.

We chat about:

• Her leap from Wall Street to skincare

• Launching a business while raising a newborn

• Clean beauty...

In this episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, we’re joined by Moira Frazier, the Emmy-nominated, award-winning Hair Department Head behind the hit ABC series Abbott Elementary. With two consecutive Emmy nominations and Hollywood Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist Guild Awards, Moira is behind some of the most beloved hair moments in modern television.

During our chat we dive into:

• Her creative process for transforming character...

In this episode of Friends in Beauty, we sit down with Blake Arsenault, the brilliant Hair Department Head behind Overcompensating, Amazon Prime’s new coming-of-age series starring Benito Skinner. Blake shares how hair became a tool for storytelling—from Carmen’s natural hair transformation to Benny’s understated look that mirrors his inner conflict. Blake opens up about styling celebrities and how he collaborates with directors, a...