The Connector, the official podcast of Intercoiffure America Canada, is designed to connect salon owners and professionals with the leaders, artists, and innovators shaping the future of professional salons. Each episode brings listeners into thoughtful conversations with some of the most interesting voices from across the industry—from salon owners and rising leaders to educators, artists, brand innovators, and technology pioneers.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/11/10/16/8e97be31-4ff3-4971-84bf-71a52a43b619_tc-33-shanalie_wijesinghe_v3.mp3

ICA welcomes Boulevard’s Content Strategy Director, Shanalie Wijesinghe, to explore what salon data reveals about booking habits, client expectations, and loyalty. From easier online booking and personalized service to rebooking, retail, and gift cards, discover practical ways to strengthen client relationships and turn industry insights into better business decisions.

33. Patterns of Performance: What Beauty's Data Reveals with BLVD's Shanalie Wijesinghe

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/11/2/16/6ee84197-4a68-4069-9b82-859c594dbac5_ucation___the_salon_workforce___penny_burns_v2.mp3

Cosmetology education is facing major changes. Penny Burns, founder and CEO of Beautycast Network, joins us to discuss the challenges facing cosmetology schools, the growing role of public education, and why stronger connections between schools and salons are essential to developing the next generation of beauty professionals.

32. The Future of Student Education & the Salon Workforce | Penny Burns

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/10/27/0/0058d70d-15ec-44c4-af03-94730191fe15_port_salon_data_demystified_w_gordon_miller_v2.mp3

ICA&#39;s Gordon Miller explores five trends shaping the salon industry, drawing on the KIM Report’s transactional data. This episode connects the ever-changing data to business trends, plus a look at changing consumer behavior and what it means for salon owners.

31. 5 KIM Report Update: Pricing, Client Visits and What Comes Next

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/10/20/14/627b7554-7ca0-4bc3-8ec8-d7de6406363e_tc-30-chop_safil_v2.mp3

Salon owner and employment-based salon evangelist Phil Santos joins Gordon for a candid conversation about commissions, leadership, and growing stronger businesses. Passionate and outspoken, Phil challenges industry narratives and explains why investing in people creates opportunity for everyone.

30. Phil Santos (@chop_safil): Making the Case for Employment-Based Salons

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/10/12/0/a778067e-71d9-42f6-ad79-d8c2c6551563_tc-30-jenna_noel_v1.mp3

What does the next generation of salon leadership look like? Jenna Noel of NYC’s Sam Brocato Salon joins Gordon to talk about mentorship, building a team that stays, and putting AI to work. From her front desk beginnings to becoming a director and partner, Jenna shares how technology creates more time for people.

29. The Future of Salon Leadership: AI & Culture with Jenna Noel, Sam Brocato Salon

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/9/28/14/fae83819-5c0c-4af2-ae4a-6f41d9a7a98e_tc-28-bumble_and_bumble_v2.mp3

Sheri Doss, VP of Global Education for Bumble and bumble., joins Gordon to talk about education as a driver of salon growth, culture, and careers. She shares how professional education has changed over the past decade and what stylists and salon leaders need from it today.

28. Can Education Build a Better Salon? | Bumble Pro’s Sheri Doss

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/9/20/19/7805598c-0bae-4aa6-96e7-acb21a0dd258_ow_more-_a_conversation_with_heather_harris_v2.mp3

Heather Harris, founder and CEO of Spark Pro Global, joins Gordon to explore how strategic delegation can transform salon ownership. From virtual assistants and smarter systems to stronger leadership and increased profitability, Heather shares how salon owners can reclaim their time, empower their teams, and focus on growing their businesses.

27. Delegate More, Grow More: A Conversation with Heather Harris

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/9/16/12/bbc3bbbe-edce-45c8-8790-2f586a31aab0_eat_salons_do_differently_with_stacey_soble_v2.mp3

Salon Today’s Stacey Soble joins Gordon to explore what sets great salons apart. They discuss 30 years of the Salon Today 200, changing business trends, recruitment and retention, culture, technology, profitability, education, &amp; the power of community. Plus, Stacey shares what today’s most successful salon owners are doing to build stronger, more sustainable businesses.

26. Salon Today 200: What Great Salons Do Differently with Stacey Soble

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/9/8/17/7e735962-c99a-444e-842e-5c84ad5ef3e2_fit___client_retention_with_antony_whitaker_v2.mp3

Renowned salon business educator and coach Antony Whitaker returns for a practical conversation about the numbers every salon owner should understand. Drawing on Zenoti’s 2026 Beauty &amp; Wellness Benchmark Report: Salon Edition and Antony’s recent @GrowMySalonBusiness podcast episode, “The Numbers Don’t Lie,” we explore profitability, rebooking, and client retention, plus how existing clients are driving much of the industry’s growth and why that second visit matters so much.

25. Salon Business Benchmarks: Growth, Profit & Client Retention with Antony Whitaker

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/8/31/13/2daad477-3149-4065-aa32-6121638e7d63_tc-24_ruth_v1.mp3

What does great education look like in an industry increasingly shaped by social media, independent work, and fewer opportunities for mentorship? Seven-time NAHA winner and 22-time NAHA nominee Ruth Roche joins us for a candid conversation about the future of education and why mastering the foundations still matters. Drawing on four decades in professional beauty, Ruth shares her perspective on mentorship, creativity, social media, and the importance of understanding the “why” behind great hairdressing.

24. Ruth Roche on the Future of Hairdressing Education: Mentorship, Skills & Staying Creative

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/8/24/23/d7528def-d7c7-4a3f-a836-74bfe71e6cb5_tc-23.mp3

Sudheer Koneru, founder and CEO of Zenoti, joins Gordon for a forward-looking conversation about AI, data and the changing salon business. At the center of the conversation is a bigger idea: AI isn’t about replacing the human side of beauty. It’s about removing friction, strengthening teams and giving salon leaders new tools to build better businesses.They also dig into Zenoti’s industry benchmark data, including slowing guest traffic, the surprising growth of salon membership models, changing consumer behavior and the importance of protecting the lifetime value of every client.

23. How AI Is Changing the Salon Business with Zenoti CEO Sudheer Koneru

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/8/4/16/8eb2e7cc-8ce5-4696-b1d0-a81e28837b42_tc-22-kim_report_v2.mp3

Alain Audet of SalonInteractive and The Kim Report unpacks the latest salon performance data (through June 30, &#39;26). Together with host Gordon MIller, they explore the trends, benchmarks, and KPIs that matter most to salon owners, and discuss how actionable data can help leaders coach their teams, improve performance, and build more profitable businesses.

22. Alain Audet on The Kim Report, the Power of Salon Data & the KPIs Driving Profitability

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/7/28/18/d6783300-3fa8-4943-829f-9390cd19f44a_tc-21v1.mp3

What really happens to all the hair, foils and unused color salons throw away? Sarah Babington of Green Circle Salons joins Gordon for an eye-opening look at where salon waste goes and what it can become. They explore how smarter waste practices can strengthen culture, attract talent, build client loyalty and even reduce costs. Sustainability is good for the planet, but it can also be very good business.

21. Waste Less, Lead More: The Business Case for Sustainable Salons

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/7/22/2/e9d55884-e820-48f7-bf09-5ec7db6e698c_tc-20v3.mp3

John Harms, founder and chairman of Meevo by Millennium, has helped shape how salons use technology. He joins host Gordon Miller to discuss innovation, the growing role of artificial intelligence, and the business practices that drive salon success. It’s a forward-looking conversation grounded in John&#39;s nearly four decades of industry experience.

20. Meevo Founder John Harms on Salon Technology, AI & Business Success

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/7/14/13/97a5495b-ff47-425d-ac10-d7ca134bba86_tc-19-wafaya_abdulla_v2.mp3

Curly Oasis Salon owner Wafaya Abdallah joins Gordon Miller to discuss compensation plans, productivity, workplace culture and specialization—and how salon owners can build stronger, more successful businesses in today’s changing industry.

19. Building a Stronger Salon with Wafaya Abdallah

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/7/7/18/354aba5c-708e-4846-a167-f8f71bea5317_tc-18-base_one_debbie_penzone_v2.mp3

For nearly six decades, Penzone Salons + Spas has been recognized for its commitment to education, innovation, and culture. President &amp; CEO Debbie Penzone shares how those values continue to shape the organization and introduces Base One, the company&#39;s new education and event space designed to foster learning, collaboration, and connection across the professional beauty community.

18. Debbie Penzone | Inside Base One and Building Culture Through Education

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/30/13/dc4ff0f2-8b6f-4efe-9c68-01a0a2a0bbe5_tc-17-anthony_v2.mp3

Antony Whitaker, founder of Grow My Salon Business and host of the Grow My Salon Business podcast, joins Gordon to explore 10 powerful trends shaping the future of salons. From shifting workforce dynamics and changing consumer expectations to the impact of demographics, the economy, and the environment, Antony shares sharp insights on the forces reshaping our industry.

17. Antony Whitaker: 10 Trends Shaping the Future of Salons

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/23/13/66b7a4fd-797d-4e05-bc51-7468af755c1c_tc-16-sam_villa_v2.mp3

By any measure, Sam Villa is one of the most renowned educators in the world. Sam joins us to discuss the power of connections and collaboration as well as his hopes for the future. We dig into the state of education for professionals as those with &#34;influence&#34; take to platforms and the front of classrooms throughout the industry.

16. Icons & Masters: Heart to Heart with Sam Villa

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/16/1/22535925-8742-4c27-a4ea-b6858d86c09b_tc-15v2.mp3

At just 30 years old, Ameet Kallarackal is quickly becoming one of beauty&#39;s rising leaders. Gordon talks with the Glammatic co-founder about building a company straight out of college, learning leadership without a traditional mentor or boss, and his perspective on innovation, AI, and the future of salon technology.

15. Ameet Kallarackal: Leadership, AI and the Future of Salon Discovery

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/1/20/2d4c68c4-3f15-4346-9aaa-9463f10f4bfb_tc-14-phorest_v3.mp3

As the founder and CEO of Phorest, Ronan Perceval has spent nearly two decades helping salons better understand their clients, their businesses, and the opportunities hidden within their data. In this episode, Gordon and Ronan discuss the evolving beauty tech landscape and its impact on salons - including how AI is NOT “changing everything”.

14. Tech + the Salon with Ronan Perceval, Founder & CEO of Phorest

The Connector, the official podcast of Intercoiffure America Canada, is designed to connect salon owners and professionals with the leaders, artists, and innovators shaping the future of professional salons. Each episode brings listeners into thoughtful conversations with some of the most interesting voices from across the industry—from salon owners and rising leaders to educators, artists, brand innovators, and technology pioneers.