BUILDING & BREAKING with Nina L. Kovner - podcast cover

BUILDING & BREAKING with Nina L. Kovner

Nina L. Kovnerpassionsquared.net
BUILDING & BREAKING with Nina L Kovner is a podcast about how brands are built, how trust is broken, and what it all means for salon owners, hairstylists, small business creatives and brands who give a damn. Each week, Nina takes you behind the scenes of brand strategy, leadership decisions, and real-world examples from inside and outside the beauty industry. With decades of experience building brands (and witnessing heartbreaking downfalls), Nina breaks down the moments that define a brand: the bold moves, the missed opportunities, the trust built, and lost. Whether you’re leading a team, growing behind the chair, or navigating the noise of modern marketing, this podcast will help you slow down, get clear, and make aligned decisions that build trust and higher lifetime client and team value. No fluff. No BS. Just truth, context, and clarity from someone who's been behind the chair and inside the brands.
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Katie Tellor on Salon Ownership + Growing Assistants + Social Media

In this episode Nina talks with Katie Tellor, salon owner, leader, educator and owner of Abstrakt Studio in Frisco Texas. Katie shares her story about finding the beauty biz, making the leap into ownership and leadership, how she grows her assistants, how social media has helped empower her biz and so much more! You can find Katie on the gram @katietellorhair @abstraktstudio

Aug 09, 201928 min

Nina L Kovner On Reading Online Reviews + Gratitude

In this episode Nina takes it all the way back to the beginning of the podcast and reads the reviews our awesome listeners have shared along with the wisdom, power and intel that comes when you take the time to dig deep into the experiences your clients are sharing online. This is a must listen episode for all creative small biz folks, in particular, if you are one that fears review sites. You can find Nina on the gram sharing on behalf of her company @passionsquared Thank you so much for listen...

Aug 02, 201914 min

Brenda Amaral on Leadership + Self-Awareness + Inclusivity

In this episode Nina chats with Brenda Amaral, leader, salon owner, educator, board member of ABCH and all around awesome human being. Brenda shares her story about how she discovered her love for the pro beauty biz, why she opened a salon, how she handles team members that leave, the importance of inclusivity and integration in the salon biz, and SO much more. You can find Brenda on the gram @brendolah @gwenmirellesalon and here at Texture vs. Race on Facebook. Thank you Brenda for sharing your...

Jun 27, 201931 min

Gina Bianca on Salon Ownership + Social Media + Purpose

In this episode Nina chats with Gina Bianca, salon owner, educator, coach and beauty influencer. Gina shares her story about becoming a hairdresser and salon owner along with what inspired her to open and most recently close her first salon. Gina also shares her thoughts on social media, purpose, burnout and more. You can find Gina on the gram at @iamginabianca + @thenetworksalon Thank you Gina for sharing your story with us. We love you!

Jun 20, 201941 min

Lisa Walker On Self Awareness + Priorities + Social Media

In this episode Nina chats with Lisa Walker, colorist, educator, mama and founder of Balayage Boot Camp + Hairbangers Academy. Lisa shares her inspiring story of how she went from being an excuse maker to taking responsibility for her career, and in doing so, discovered her gift for empowering hair colorists through her honest, tough love style of education and how she finds her rhythm as a working colorist, educator, biz owner, wife and mama. You can find Lisa on the gram @lisalovesbalayage and...

May 11, 201931 minEp. 35

Stacey Rackham On Growth + Inclusivity + Leadership

In this episode Nina chats with Stacey Rackham, owner of Mint Hair Crafting salon. Stacey shares her journey on becoming a salon owner, leader, why inclusivity became a brand promise at Mint, and how growth can sometimes be super uncomfortable, and we even hear the sweet story of how Stacey found her fur baby Walter! You can find Stacey (and Walter) on the socials @minhaircrafting @staceyrackhair

Apr 22, 201926 min

Riawna Capri + Nikki Lee on Leadership + Communication + Respect

In this episode Nina sits down with the leaders and co-owners of Nine Zero One Salon, Academy, Beauty Coach TV, In Common Beauty and BeYOUtiful Foundation. Riawna + Nikki share their story of the early days of being salon owners, the lessons they learned, how they have remained awesome business partners and friends, along with why communication and respect have become the foundation for the brands they have created. This is a must listen for anyone thinking about becoming a small business owner ...

Apr 12, 201933 min

Alicia The Alchemist on Leadership + Judgement + Finding Her Rhythm

In this episode Nina sits down with @alicia.the.alchemist owner of two salons, educator, new mama and super awesome human! Alicia shares her story of finding the beauty biz, lessons on leadership, delegation, releasing judgement and how she finds her rhythm. You can find Alicia on the gram @alicia.the.alchemist Thank you Alicia for sharing your inspirational story with us!

Mar 30, 201924 min

Caron On Finding her Passion + Lessons from the Military + Mental Health Advocacy

In this episode Nina sits down with Caron, an Army and Navy veteran, hairdresser, makeup artist, small biz owner and mental health advocate. Caron shares her story about discovery the beauty biz as a child, entrepreneurial lessons learned in her military training, and the importance of erasing the stigma of mental health and wellness. You can find Caron on the gram @caronsim and @yesdaaahling and on the web at caronism.com Thank you Caron for sharing your story with us and thank you for your ser...

Mar 21, 201935 min

Tina DeSeta on Purpose + Community + Mental Health

In this episode Nina sits down with Tina DeSeta, salon owner, colorist, community builder and mental health warrior. Tina shares about why she became a hairstylist and how her purpose fuels her passion for people to feel seen. You can find Tina on the gram @tinadesetahair and on Facebook at Deseta Hair Design. Thank you Tina for being awesome and sharing your story with us! We love you.

Mar 12, 201935 min

Nina L Kovner on 3 Ways To Show You Care + Grow Consistently

In this episode Nina shares three simple ways you can show your clients you care and grow your business long term. These basic fundamentals are not fancy, new or revolutionary, but if you are not doing them consistently, you will find yourself on the struggle bus more often than not. You can find Nina on the gram @passionsquared and on the web at passionsquared.net

Mar 01, 20199 min

Nina L Kovner on Courage + Being Brave + Walking The Talk

In this episode Nina shares a recent experience she had getting stuck on a highway, alone, at night, in the mountains, in a snowstorm, and all the lessons she learned about being brave, our capacity for strength in scary situations, and the incredible kindness of strangers. Warning: this story may cause some fear and anxiety, but the lessons shared may be worth the temporary discomfort you may feel. You can find Nina on the web @passionsquared and at passionsquared.net

Feb 21, 201931 min

J Ladner on Living Out Loud + Purpose + Influencers

In this episode we sit down with J Ladner, salon owner, educator, artist, influencer, husband and father. We talk purpose, leadership, LGBTQ rights, influencer marketing and OMG all the feels and more. You can find J on the gram @itsmrjladner and at salonjladner.com

Jan 07, 201940 min

2018 Thoughts and 2019 Insights with Nina L. Kovner

In this episode I share some thoughts about 2018 and what I see coming for creative small businesses, online and off, in 2019. On a personal level, I share some raw and oh so honest thoughts about mental health, courage and faith. Thank you so much for listening and for all the love and support in this first year of our podcast. We love you!

Dec 27, 201826 min

Keya Artistically Neal on Texture + Race + Diversity + Inclusion

In this episode, I sit down with the beautiful and passionate Keya Neal, artist, educator, master colorist, and founder of Kolour Kulture and Texture Vs. Race. Keya shares her story of how she became a hairdresser and why she has created a movement designed to break barriers and open up important conversations to empower artists and help them see that hair is a texture and not a race. You can find Keya on the gram @keya_artistically @texturevsrace @thekolourkulture on Facebook in the Texture Vs ...

Dec 04, 201839 min

Benjamin Jay on Online Marketing + Recruitment + Passion

In this episode I sit down with my long time friend Benjamin Jay, Salon Owner, Marketer + Leader at the Hair Loft LTD in Chicago. Ben shares his wisdom about marketing, social & digital media, recruitment, retail, passion and more. You can find Ben on the gram @bnjmnjy and his salons @thehairloftltd

Nov 21, 201829 min

Dre Demry-Sanders on Vulnerability + Discrimination + Women of Color

In this episode, I have the honor of sitting down with Dre Demry-Sanders, session stylist, hairdresser + passionate activist. We talk about inspiring Dre’s story, women of color, hair, discrimination, inclusion, mental health and so much more! You can find Dre on the gram at @dre_on_hair and on her website at dreonhair.com

Oct 02, 201819 min

Kellyn Anderson on Brand Vision + Purpose + Leadership

In this episode we sit down with Kellyn Anderson, Leader + Educator at Bow and Arrow Collective in Boston. We talk about Kellyn’s journey as a salon owner, developing and staying true to her purpose and brand, what leadership looks like, and the emotional journey of being a small business owner. You can find Kellyn on the gram at @kellyn.bowandarrow and @bowandarrow.collective

Aug 29, 201823 min

Danielle Green on Finding Her Voice + Purpose + Empowering Women

In this episode we sit down with Danielle Green, activist and creator of the Radically Curly brand, whose purpose is to empower women to embrace and celebrate the hair texture they were born with. We talk purpose, brand, society’s twisted notion about how women of color should wear their hair, where the name Radically Curly came from, and more. You can find Danielle on the gram @radicallycurly and on the web at radicallycurly.com

Aug 15, 201834 min

Gordon Miller On Disruption + Amazon + Retail

In this episode Gordon Miller, CEO (Chief Engagement Officer of Hairbrained shares some thoughts on digital disruption, the rise of Amazon in beauty, it’s effects on salon retail, retail in general and what we can do about it. You can find Gordon on the gram @gordnm and Hairbrained at @hairbrained_official + hairbrained.me + hblive.me

Aug 08, 201858 min

Nina Kovner On Perseverance + Comparison + Social Media

In this What’s On My Mind episode Nina shares the truth behind her current state of mind, why it’s so important to acknowledge the lows as well as the highs and how to pull through it all. She also shares a little riff on comparison, knowing your brand, finding time for social and content creation. You can find Nina on the gram @passionsquared

Jul 15, 201821 min

Kristin Rankin on Gender Free Haircuts + Safe Spaces + The Dress Code Project

In this incredibly emotional and inspiring episode we talk with Kristin Rankin, owner of Fuss Hair Studio in Toronto + Founder of The Dress Code Project and Gender Free Haircut Club. This is a must listen to any small business that offers services traditionally defined by gender, specifically, salon owners + hairstylists. As Kristin so powerfully shares… “fluidity of our gender is the future of our society”. You can find The Dress Code Project online at dresscodeproject.com, @thedresscodeproject...

Jun 19, 201836 min

Gordon Miller On Online Learning + Digital + Inspiration

In this episode we bring back our bestie Gordon Miller and talk online learning, education, context (yes, again!), voice, digital, social, inspiration and more. You can find Gordon at hairbrained.me, @hairbrained_official + on his personal Insta @gordnm

May 18, 201843 min

Nina L. Kovner on Insta Experts + Context + Why

In this What’s On My Mind episode I share my thoughts context, Insta experts, Insta education and importance of understanding and using The Celery Test as shared by the awesome Simon Sinek in the book Start With Why when both giving and getting advice. You can find me on the gram @passionsquared Thank you so much for listening.

Apr 29, 201821 min

Erica Santos On Commitment + Growth + Career Paths

In this episode Erica Santos of House of Cabelo Salon talks about how she handles the tough stuff of salon ownership, lesson of working with a business partner, career paths, growth, opening a second salon location + more. You can find Erica on the gram @hairbyericasantos Thank you so much for listening.

Apr 15, 201822 min

Nina L. Kovner on Control Issues + Perspective + Social Media Breaks

In this What’s On My Mind episode I share some insights on control issues, finding perspective when plans go sideways, and why and how consistent social media breaks are critical to being an awesome leader. You can find me on the gram @passionsquared Thank you so much for listening.

Apr 08, 201815 min

Nina L. Kovner on The Meaning of Social + the Vero App

In this extended What’s On My Mind episode I share some social media 101, why it’s time to get back to the fundamentals of social and my thoughts on the Vero app. You can find me on the gram @passionsquared Thank you so much for listening.

Mar 04, 201820 min

Shurie Saxelby on Content Creation + Millennials + Empathy

In this episode Shurie shares her journey from photographer to studio owner, her thoughts on understanding the millennial generation + what it takes to create awesome content to build awesome engagement on Instagram. You can find Shurie on the gram @shurie

Feb 25, 201825 min

Noelle Weatherwax on Community + Overcoming Adversity + Leadership

In this episode, Noelle Weatherwax of Concrete Rose Salon in Santa Cruz, shares her journey from being homeless to becoming an unexpected salon owner, why she chose the name Concrete Rose for her business along with the little things that fueled her passion for growing people. You can find Noelle + Concrete Rose Salon on the gram @noelle.concrete.rose and @concreterosesalon

Feb 18, 201825 min

Mahogany Plautz on Salon Studios + Equality + Purpose

In this episode Mahogany Plautz, owner of Carve Salon in Minneapolis, shares her journey into becoming a salon suite owner, how being an educator has empowered her as a leader, and stepping into her purpose of inspiring more equal representation of people of color in pro beauty. You can find Mahogany on the gram @mahoganyhairstylistmpls Thank you!

Feb 11, 201820 min
Hosted on Libsyn
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android