The Modern Hairstylist ™ Podcast

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hunter Donia and Jodie Brown wrap up their two part series on trending service niches by breaking down the pros and cons of toppers, men's toppers, gray transformation, and trichology. If you have not listened to part one yet, Hunter strongly recommends starting there first. This episode gets into some of the more complex and emotionally heavy niches in the industry right now, and Hunter is as honest as ever about what the opportunity actuall...

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hunter Donia and Jodie Brown dig into a conversation that comes up constantly at the higher levels of business: you have hit a glass ceiling, you know you want more, and suddenly you are looking left and right at every possible next move instead of figuring out how to keep going up. Hunter shares a real story from a current Mastermind student who is making incredible money working three days a week, has strong demand, and is still feeling cap...

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hunter Donia and Jodie Brown get into a topic Hunter feels strongly about: the ways hairstylists and beauty professionals are misusing AI right now, and why it is quietly doing more damage than good to their brands, their businesses, and their client relationships. Hunter is clear that this is not an anti-AI episode. He uses it extensively in his own business and with his students. But there is a big difference between using AI smartly and us...

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hunter Donia and Jodie Brown dig into a pattern Hunter kept seeing on calls with stylists who, on paper, have everything figured out. They're booked out, making six figures, and have built a loyal client base over a decade or more. But they're stuck, and they can't figure out why. Hunter breaks down what's really going on for these stylists, and it has nothing to do with talent, work ethic, or how good their business actually is. This episode...

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hunter Donia and Jodie Brown have the honest, unfiltered conversation that so many beauty professionals need to hear before they go down the road of creating a digital product or online education business. This one started as an off-the-record rant between the two of them and turned into something too real not to share. Hunter breaks down what it actually takes to build a digital product that works, who it is genuinely a great fit for, and wh...

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown get into the money conversation most stylists either avoid entirely or stress about at the wrong time. If you are an independent hairstylist or salon suite owner who has crossed or is approaching the six-figure mark and you want to actually understand what is happening with your money, this episode is for you. Hunter and Jodie walk through what financial management as a stylist entrepreneur actually loo...

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia breaks down the exact four phase process he uses inside his Mastermind program to help fully booked hairstylists work a day less without sacrificing their income. If you have built a steady clientele, you are grossing six figures or close to it, and you still feel like you are hitting a wall, this episode is specifically for you. Hunter shares real results from two Mastermind members, Steph and Alyssa, and then walks through...

Sign up for the Client Experience Glow-Up Party here: https://www.hunterdonia.com/party In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia shares a personal story from a recent luxury spa trip that turned into a masterclass in client experience. If you are trying to attract and keep high-ticket clients, this episode breaks down why the smallest overlooked details can quietly chip away at perceived value, even when everything else about your service is excellent. Hunter walk...

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown get honest about what it actually looks like to run a beauty business with ADHD. Hunter shares what he has learned over years of working with his own diagnosis, why the standard advice never quite works for neurodivergent brains, and how approaching ADHD as a design consideration instead of an excuse changes everything. This episode is for any hairstylist who has great ideas that never get finished, thi...

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown break down why the traditional referral program has stopped working for independent hairstylists, and what the modern version of word-of-mouth growth actually looks like in 2026. Hunter shares his own experience watching a single well-connected client organically post about her hair on Instagram and send him more new clients than any referral incentive ever could. That moment became the foundation for s...

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hunter Donia revisits one of the most debated topics in the industry over the past few years: pre-booking. For decades, stylists were taught that pre-booking was the key to predictable income and a full schedule. But after the pandemic, many hairstylists began questioning whether it actually created real stability or just the illusion of it. Hunter originally challenged the traditional approach to pre-booking, arguing that it could create fal...

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown break down how to attract new clients in ways that do not rely on constant posting, endless DMs, or putting all of your energy into one platform. If you feel like marketing takes too much effort just to maintain consistent inquiries, this conversation walks through the most automated strategies stylists can use to bring in new requests while doing less manual work day to day. Hunter explains that automa...

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown get into a problem that drains time, energy, and momentum fast: attracting clients who DM forever, ghost after you send pricing, cancel last minute, or simply are not a great fit for your chair. If you feel like you are constantly dealing with non ideal inquiries and it is making you resent the process of booking new clients, this conversation gives you a clear framework to change the type of clients yo...