word. with Gordon Miller
Episodes
3. Context: A Deeper Dive
29 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when context is incomplete or missing? Gordon expands on Episode 2 to dig deeper into what he sees as a profoundly important topic, this ...
2. Context
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when context is missing? Gordon explores how context shapes meaning—and why misunderstandings often happen when pieces of the story are...
1. WORD
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Word by Gordon Miller. Each episode begins with a word — but it never ends there. Gordon explores the ideas, language, and narratives shaping the pr...
135. The Final SBM Episode
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week marks the end of one pod and the birth of another! Thanks to all who have listened in for 135 episodes of this title -and be sure to come ba...
ENCORE: "It's the Economy Stupid"
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A quick episode offering some context on the uncertain times we find ourselves in. Reading the consumer press, it's hard not to be concerned about...
ENCORE: "Whatever the question is, the answer is education!" - Antony Whitaker
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm excited to welcome back @growmysalonbusiness founder Antony Whitaker to discuss the state of the industry during what I consider to be 'fu...
134. Text Messages to Myself: 2025 Lessons Learned
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As 2025 begins to quickly wind down, i take a look at texts i've sent myself over the last month or so - all connected to what i view as important...
133. Getting Serious about Business (and Your Life) with Neill's Debra Neill
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Debra Neill Baker is CEO of the Neill Education company, an iconic organization with an 80-year history of innovating in the categories of distributio...
132. Salon Tech Talks, Pt 12: Salon Tech Thought Leader Paul Tate
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the final episode of my series on salon tech, Paul Tate, a leading figure in pro salon tech, digs into the value of data to brands, salons, and pro...
131. Bad Coaches Are Back?? Oh f.... yes they are!
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When “certain coaches/podcasters" call brands "parasites", I have to fire back with truth and experience based logic. In this episode, I...
130. Salon Tech Talks, Pt 11: Gordon's Take
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Gordon's goes solo with his take on highlights from our last 10 episodes featuring leaders in the salon tech space, as well as sharing ...
129. Salon Tech Talks, Pt 10: Kimi Bennett, co-founder, Sole Business Solutions, Pro Beauty’s 1st 24/7 AI Powered Coaching platform
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kimi Bennett, co-founder and CEO of Sole Business Solutions, the pro beauty industry’s first 24/7 AI-powered coaching platform, is a longtime workin...
128. Salon Tech Talks, Pt 9: Sudheer Koneru, founder & CEO of Zenoti on AI and Pro Salons
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sudheer Koneru. a former Microsoft Engineer and successful tech entrepeneur, is the founder and CEO of Zenoti, an AI powered, platform of salon manage...
127. Salon Tech Talks, Pt 8: Vish’s Tim Howard on Tech Transforming the Business of Color
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Vish’s Chief Innovation Officer Tim Howard joins Gordon to dive into the story behind the creation of the innovative and powerful salon color manage...
126. Salon Tech Talks, Pt 7: SalonInteractive's Alain Audet
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SalonInteractive's Alain Audet joins Gordon to discuss their latest initiative focused on the power of data to empower brands, distributors, and p...
125: AI & Beyond: The Digital Revolution & Salons
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gordon shares highlights from his recent AI sessions at the Moroccanoil Collective, exploring why tech can’t be ignored, how it fuels efficiency and...
124. Random Notes (Gordon Style)
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Gordon for a rapid-fire mix of insights on the biggest challenges facing many salon pros today. From social media shifts and smart pricing strate...
ENCORE: Salon Tech Talks, Pt 1: Paul Tate on the State of Technology for Pro Beauty
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the premiere episode of Salon Tech Talks, a 10-part series featuring conversations with innovators and leaders in the pro beauty tech space...
123. Salon Tech Talks, Pt 6: BeautyDeskAI founder Universe Walker on the digital front desk
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tech Talks is a 10-part series featuring conversations with leading innovators in the pro salon tech space. In this episode, Gordon is joined by Unive...
122. Salon Tech Talks, Pt 5: Vagaro Founder/CEO Fred Helou on the future of Pro Beauty Salon Tech
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tech Talks is a 10-part series featuring conversations with leading innovators in the pro salon tech space. In this episode, Gordon is joined by Fred ...
121. Salon Tech Talks, Pt 4: Digital Marketing with Ameet Kallarackal, Glammatic.com
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Salon Tech Talks is a 10-part series featuring conversations with innovators in the pro salon tech space. In this episode, Gordon is joined by Ameet K...
120. Salon Tech Talks, Pt 3: Phorest’s Paddy Monaghan on the State of Pro Beauty Tech
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Salon Tech Talks is my 10-part series featuring conversations with innovators in the pro salon tech space. In this episode, Gordon is joined by Phores...
119. Salon Tech Talks, Pt 2: Meevo's John Harms on the State of Tech for Pro Beauty
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Salon Tech Talks, a 10-part series featuring conversations with innovators and leaders in the pro beauty tech space. In this episode, Gordo...
118. Salon Tech Talks, Pt 1: Paul Tate on the State of Technology for Pro Beauty
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the premiere episode of Salon Tech Talks, a 10-part series featuring conversations with innovators and leaders in the pro beauty tech space...
ENCORE: The Robots Are Coming (?!?)
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My first recording of the new year is about looking forward - and sharing my thoughts on where technology could be taking our industry. I also check ...
ENCORE: Civics Lesson - How American Government Works & Why It Matters
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Taking a break from the usual to talk about a topic few of us know enough about - Civics. Per my office buddy Chat GPT, "Civics is all about unde...
117. The Trouble with AI
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Regular listeners know that I'm obsessed with Artificial Intelligence (due to its potential to revolutionize the pro beauty industry....across cat...
116. Smart Phones: Business Tool or Distraction?
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I love to talk tech + beauty -in large measure because of the amazing efficiencies the right tech can bring to salons and pros. But what we don't ...
115. Innovation in Tech: The Trouble with Ecommerce + Pro Beauty
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
E-commerce continues evolving across America, but here's the reality: most retail still happens in physical stores, and that's not changing dr...
114. NEWS FLASH: CONGRESS TACKLING TAXES ON TIPS
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, I break down the latest developments from Congress on tipping and taxes. Both the Senate and House have introduced bills aimi...
113. Tech Update: The AI Just Keeps Coming
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Getting this podcast back more solidly focused on tech - starting with an update this week on what I see going on around - and within - the industry. ...
ENCORE: Words Really Do Matter!
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Words are so powerful! They can inform, inspire, and/or elevate- or they can confuse, crush and/or diminish. In this episode, I share context aroun...
112. "It's the Economy Stupid"
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A quick episode offering some context on the uncertain times we find ourselves in. Reading the consumer press, it's hard not to be concerned about...
111. Keya Neil (@keyaartisticallyneal) on #Progress (Part 2)
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to Part Two of my conversation with NAHA award-winning educator and our industry's most prominent social activist Keya Neal. We've all ...
ENCORE: Artistry vs Service (or Creativity + Compassion)
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today perhaps more than ever, there is tension by many (inside of the industry) between the ideas of artistry and service. Most concerning is what se...
110. Keya Neal(@keyaartisticallyneal): #Progress?
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning educator and social activist Keya Neal joins Gordon to share her backstory before we dive into a serious conversation around race, textu...
109. "Whatever the question is, the answer is education!" - Antony Whitaker
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm excited to welcome back @growmysalonbusiness founder Antony Whitaker to discuss the state of the industry during what I consider to be 'fu...
ENCORE: Economics and the Salon
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to Chat GPT, Economics is "the study of how people use resources and make decisions about money. It looks at how goods and services are ...
ENCORE: A Truth About the Six-Figure Hairdresser
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The pro salon industry talks a LOT about the "6 figure hairdresser" but rarely with clarity about what it takes to get there. In today's e...
108. Tatum Neill, Elevate Hair, Neill Education
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tatum Neill's Elevate Hair is turning 10 this year - and true to its name, the popular event has helped to ELEVATE the careers of more than a fe...
107. Civics Lesson
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Taking a break from the usual to talk about a topic few of us know enough about - Civics. Per my office buddy Chat GPT, "Civics is all about unde...
106. Hot Topics: Pre-booking, Retail, Growing Inflation and Experience vs Transactions
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I tackle several topics including the Pre-Booking/Re-Booking "controversy", an update on rising inflation and tariffs and how...
ENCORE: The TROUBLE with Suites
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last 10 years, Suites have arguably been the #1 disruptor of the professional salon industry. The tremendous growth in suites has led to hiri...
105. "Deep Research" Takes AI to a New Level
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The fast pace of innovations in Artificial intelligence is like nothing we've ever seen - including the release last week of the exponentially pow...
104. The Salon Economy and Pending Tariffs
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Although there is much uncertainty around the plan to put tariffs on Mexico, Canada, China and the E.U., the ongoing threat makes this a topic perhaps...
103. Evolve or Die: Tech Edition
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My quick tour around the various digital and social platform categories and tools with my added take on how to consider each in building your career a...
102. The Robots Are Coming (?!?)
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My first recording of the new year is about looking forward - and sharing my thoughts on where technology could be taking our industry. I also check ...
Bad Coaching Anthology, Pt. 5: #80. The Destruction Continues: The Bad Idea App Edition
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is re-shared for a 5-part Anthology of 2024's most-listened to episodes -all focused on "Bad Coaching" and the misinformation...
Bad Coaching Anthology, Pt. 4: #98. The Bad Coaching Continues
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is re-shared for a 5-part Anthology of 2024's most-listened to episodes -all focused on "Bad Coaching" and the misinformation...
Bad Coaching Anthology, Pt. 3: #87. WARNING: DON'T LET BAD COACHING DESTROY YOU!
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is re-shared for a 5-part Anthology of 2024's most-listened to episodes -all focused on "Bad Coaching" and the misinformation...
Bad Coaching Anthology, Pt. 2: #78. Destroying More B**LS**T (Sorry!)
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is re-shared for a 5-part Anthology of 2024's most-listened to episodes -all focused on "Bad Coaching" and the misinformation...
Bad Coaching Anthology, Pt. 1: #76. DESTROY THE B**LS**T
25 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is re-shared for a 5-part Anthology of 2024's most-listened to episodes -all focused on "Bad Coaching" and the misinformation...
101. Year-End Pet Peeves (and my Glimpse at 2025)
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I am wrapping up 2024 with a quick rant on the continuing flow of misinformation hijacking too many businesses and careers - for all the wrong reasons...
100. The Evolving Events Space: The Power of Conferences
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As a follow-up to a recent episode featuring Debra Neill (Neill Education and Serious Business conference) and our talk about the big picture of where...
99. Year-end Musings: 2025 -2030
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I've been thinking a lot about this year and the pro beauty industry and what it all might means for the longer term - which led me to look instea...
98. The Bad Coaching Continues
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
My quick update on the continuing challenge of bad coaching (fueled by misinformation and clickbait). Sadly, careers and salons continue to be DESTRO...
97. The Ongoing Evolution of Our Events Space
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The evolution of events (of all kinds) is an important topic given their significant role in our industry. Debra Neill is CEO of Neill, an iconic, ed...
96. A Truth About the Six-Figure Hairdresser
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The pro salon industry talks a LOT about the "6 figure hairdresser" but rarely with clarity about what it takes to get there. In today's e...
95. Words Really Do Matter!
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Words are so powerful! They can inform, inspire, and/or elevate- or they can confuse, crush and/or diminish. In this episode, I share context aroun...
94. Working Less to Make More?
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
My quick take on the "work less to make more" conversation I see going on across the industry - too often without the proper context from whic...
93. The Grey Matters of Business: Why They Matter
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Although we are very passionate as an industry about the need to understand the foundational rules of the craft, business & career best practices ...
92. Context, Community, Collaboration
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In thinking about the future of our industry and how best to tap into the many and varied opportunities around us all, these are 3 of my favorite word...
91. Artificial Intelligence & the Salon: A Deep Dive (& Update!)
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded on my way to Intercoiffure North America's Fall Atelier (to do a presentation on AI) this episode digs into some new 'aha's' ...
90. The TROUBLE with Suites
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last 10 years, Suites have arguably been the #1 disruptor of the professional salon industry. The tremendous growth in suites has led to hiri...
ENCORE: #11 Tabatha Coffey on Mindfulness
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Part 2 of a talk that began with Mindset, @TabathaCoffey digs into the meaning and importance of Mindfulness as a follow-up and a bit...
89. Future Vision, Pt 2: the Musings Continue
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A quick episode on some big topics: the ongoing move to part-time work (driven, in part, to misconceptions about the too often romanticized "Gig E...
88. Future Vision: More Musings
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
My short take on what i view as the realities around where we've come from, where we are today, and where we just might be headed as an industry -...
87. WARNING: DON'T LET BAD COACHING DESTROY YOU!
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Following another DTH podcast sharing MORE bad advice(on how to leave a salon as an employee), I'm inspired to react to it - and a lot more. I'...
ENCORE: #78 Destroying More B**LS**T (Sorry!)
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Apologies in advance for going down this rabbit hole but hearing the anti-retail coaches suddenly promote in-salon retail stopped me in my tracks - fo...
86. Economics and the Salon
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
According to Chat GPT, Economics is "the study of how people use resources and make decisions about money. It looks at how goods and services are ...
85. Coaches Update: I've Been Blocked!
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I've been talking about the challenges faced by hairdressers and owners looking for competent coaches for 3+ years. Many have been surprised that ...
ENCORE: #70 A Big Idea: Your Productivity vs Capacity
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If time truly is money in our pro lives, then our 'capacity' represents the maximum amount of time that we have to generate revenue. Productiv...
84. Artificial Intelligence: Mid Year Roundup
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
AI has been top of mind for many since late 2022 - and certainly through much of 2023 the same has been true for the press, pundits, and regular folks...
83. 2024 Mid-Year Musings
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's hard to believe we have just passed the midway point of 2024...but here we are! Given the ever-hastening speed of change in our world, this f...
ENCORE: #73 The Nobility of Service
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
So much destructive coach chatter across the industry trying to diminish the value of 'service' - weirdly saying to the press: 'We are sic...
82. "Learn the Rules Before You Break Them": Business Edition
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Given the rush to independent businesses by so many, this feels like great advice for anyone looking to go out on their own (as a business of one or m...
81. A Brief History of the Salon (with some help from Chat GPT4o)
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I believe deeply that "knowledge is power "- and that history is a special form of knowledge that elevates us all. In that so much misinformat...
80. The Destruction Continues: The Bad Idea App Edition
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Apologies for remaining in the bad coaching lane but they are at it again - this time recommending salons spend $2500 on building a custome app that w...
ENCORE: #76 DESTROY THE B**LS**T
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode (and follow-ups #77 & #78)has created much buzz about the bad side of coaching in beauty. The resulting feedback has been overwhelmin...
ENCORE: #49 Fact vs Fiction
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our larger world, the idea of facts vs fiction and/or truth vs opinion seems to be a very murky concept that too many are using to not only create ...
79. AI + the Salon: The Future Has Never Been Closer
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This was recorded the evening before I presented a talk on AI to Intercoiffure America Canada members at their spring conference in Montreal this week...
78. Destroying More B**LS**T (Sorry!)
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Apologies in advance for going down this rabbit hole but hearing the anti-retail coaches suddenly promote in-salon retail stopped me in my tracks - fo...
77. Post ABS tech talk plus recap of feedback from Destroy the B**l S**t episode
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A post-Americas Beauty Show episode (translation: I'm worn out!) talking a bit of a tech update in advance of a coming deep dive as well as some c...
76. DESTROY THE B**LS**T
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Change" is more often than not a good thing - and is essential for any business to thrive in the long term. Having said this, with change com...
75. Pro Beauty: Who's in Charge(and more!)
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
My riff on recent social media posts by salons, pros, & coaches mistakenly calling out the 'men running the beauty industry'; my defense o...
ENCORE: #64 AI and the Salon in 2024 with Sam Brocato
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Iconic salon owner, educator, artist, and thought leader Sam Brocato joins Gordon to share his take on the impact of AI upon professional salons (as w...
74. "Your Hair Looks Gorgeous... It Cost What?!" - Washington Post, 3/19
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Washington Post recently ran a feature story about the rising costs to clients of salon services and the negative reactions by many - including so...
73. The Nobility of Service
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
So much destructive coach chatter across the industry trying to diminish the value of 'service' - weirdly saying to the press: 'We are sic...
72. Your Productivity vs Capacity, Part 2, with @michaelcole_summit
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a rare break from my solo chat model for this podcast, business educator and coach extraordinaire Michael Cole joins me to 'geek out' in re...
71. Foundations: Success Drivers
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A key success driver of most of the successful people I know is their good fortune to have built a strong foundation from which to grow. In prep for ...
ENCORE: #40 Search is Changing. Are you?
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Google search is now 25+ years old -and, for the first time, has competition that could drive innovation in how consumers and businesses use the web a...
70. A Big Idea: Your Productivity vs Capacity
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If time truly is money in our pro lives, then our 'capacity' represents the maximum amount of time that we have to generate revenue. Productiv...
69. Tech + Your Brand
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A quick take on the ever-growing need by salons and pros to stand out in a meaningful way from the competition - and how your use of tech can add valu...
68. Artistry vs Service (or Creativity + Compassion)
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today perhaps more than ever, there is tension by many (inside of the industry) between the ideas of artistry and service. Most concerning is what se...
67. Inflation: It's COMPLICATED
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Part 3 of my look back at 2023 - and how we too often seem to be our own worst enemies coming out of the dysfunction of the pandemic era. Inflation is...
66. 2023 Rehash Continued (+) the Math of Independence (and More)
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I continue where i left off in Episode 64 - plus dig into how to think about the math of independence and setting prices. Arguably these two topics ar...
65. The Year that was 2023: What Happened & Why
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
2023 was a crazy year: Lots of success stories but perhaps even more failure (and mostly confusion over what it all might mean). My take relative to ...
ENCORE: #46 The Power in Choices (Independence vs Employment)
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Perhaps one of the most important questions any professional can ask themselves today is "Which business model is best for my career?" The ans...
64. AI and the Salon in 2024 with Sam Brocato
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Iconic salon owner, educator, artist, and thought leader Sam Brocato joins Gordon to share his take on the impact of AI upon professional salons (as w...
ENCORE: #14 David Thurston, Trailblazer & Danger Jones Creative, Co-founder/CEO
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Here to talk about pushing past the 'shackles' that hold most of us back in career and life, @DavidThurstonOfficial is known as an innovator. ...