Whiskey Tango Foxtrot with @mattyconrad

English brothers Martin & Ollie Nobbs might be most well known for founding one of the UK’s most successful barbershop chains HEADCASE. But, their next creative move just might change the whole industry completely. Listen in this week ad we talk about the ever changing role of technology and social media systems in barbering.

John Mosley is the hardest working man in the industry. He is a regular go-to for A-Listers, music moguls, and in some cases entire ball clubs... but you’ll never hear him talk about that. You’ve seen his work before even if you’ve never seen his face or heard his name... which is why he calls himself “POPULAR NOBODY”. But don’t be fooled by the moniker my friend John is a great big somebody and he got that way by making every client that sat on his chair feel like somebody too. Listen in on our conversation this week where we examine what it takes to build a brand, the real issue of racial inequality in the Industry, the damage that enhancements has done to our perception of ability vs reality.

This week we are taking a break from quarantine, from pandemics, from news that is inundated with anger, outrage, and fear. This week we are delving into the past and sharing a conversation that I recorded 8 months ago with one of the most likeable people in the industry. Sam Wall is a brilliant men’s stylist, a product line owner, a gifted educator, and above all else is always the life of the party. His approach to life is light and fun and something I think we could all use a bit more of right now... ENJOY.

Joth Davies is a barbershop legend. The principle educator for Wahl clipper company, Owner of Copacetic men's grooming products, and the founder of the world renowned Savills Barbers has achieved more in his 32 year career than most dare to even dream of... His attention to detail is second to none. However, like most brilliant and successful people he is his own harshest critic and this week we talk about the very real physical toll that comes at the expense of chasing perfection.

TYRIK JACKSON is the teachers teacher and the southern baptist preacher of barbering. With a personal moto of "meet your own needs by serving the needs of others" this incredibly dynamic and deeply likeable individual has devoted much of his time to doing just that. Owner off multiple successful barbershops and proprietor of the PREMIER BARBER INSTITUTE where he regularly shares his wisdom and experience with his students and where he started the now industry IG famous "Tyrik Talk Tuesdays". This may be one of my favourite conversations I have had in a while with someone who genuinely inspires me ...so you really don"t want to miss it.

He’s arguably one of the most iconic hairstylists on the planet but his quick witt, sharp tongue, and great big heart have made him a bonafide legend. This week I get to inteview someone who has become a dear friend, a leader in the hair industry and the man that Vidal Sassoon called “one of the greatest showman he’s ever seen” . No matter who you are in this industry Robert Cromeans will entertain and inspire you.

Jason Schneidman has a Hollywood A- List clientele, a successful shop in Venice Beach, and a life that most stylists and barbers would envy. But the rocky road to sobriety and stardom has left him with a desire to pay it all forward. Listen to his inspiring story this week on the podcast.

Tabatha Coffey is known for her straight forward, no-nonsense, raw honesty when it comes to the hairdressing industry, the business off beauty, and all the hairstylists and shop owners she's trying to help survive and thrive in this competitive industry. International Barbering icon Matty Conrad interviews this industry business guru to find out how thousands of shops that are facing tough times can survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mark Jason Solofa is undoubtedly a legend in barbering. At the age of the 36 he found himself laid-off from his career in finance due to a crippling recession. Opting at that point to change careers to be able to provide for his daughter he became a barber and trained under some seriously old school characters that taught him the importance of impeccable service. Now the proud owner of 3 Bay Area barbershops shares his secrets to success.

Hairdressing industry icon Sam Villa has been an inspiration to hundreds of thousands of hairstylists around the globe. I was lucky enough to sit down with Sam to talk about what he sees as huge opportunities that most people are missing out on behind the chair, why he doesn’t make collections anymore, and what it means to be an educator. Sam is truly one of the greats and I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did

They say that if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together... Lo Wheeler-Davis & Jason Davis have mastered the art of going together and they make it seem like more fun than anyone else has. Listen into our conversation about life, love, and what it’s like to be living with your business partner.

Lanza Global Creative Director Matt Swinney grew up in a hair salon... but as a teenager his 6ft 295lb frame had its sights set on a career in football... even though he admits to fading up his friends in the locker room. When an unfortunate knee injury during an all star game pushed his life off course he eventually found his way back into his parents salon and found fulfillment behind the chair. Now as an industry leader Matt shares his heart and his wisdom with the rest of us... demonstrating that nothing can be a failure of your whole heart is in it, giving every bit of yourself to your goals is it’s own success, and the power of focussing on what really matters for even just 10 mins. Enjoy the podcast.

Winner of the first ever Barbarella competition Taylor Leven is wise beyond her years... Having since travelled the globe on stage along side industry icons, this rising star in barbering is without a doubt destined to be a global superstar. But it’s not just her cutting that is exceptional, it’s her perspective on why we do this job in the first place and her determination to find her purpose that is so captivating. If you listen to only one episode of this podcast... let it be this one.

Like many other creative industries hairdressing has a huge number of awards and award shows to honour those few that dedicate their lives to pushing the creative envelope and spend both time and money creating elaborate photographic collections. I have been lucky enough to win some of these fabled titles and my guest this week has won sone of the biggest including the current International Women’s Hairstylist of the Year. But what happens after that? Most people would be suprised to learn about the struggles and even the low level depression that can hit after you have achieved your biggest goals.... not to mention the toll it can take on your life, your family, and your shop in the quest for notoriety. Steven Smart (@smartest73) knows them all too well and is fortunately open enough to talk about them with us on this weeks podcast.

Frank Rimer ( @frank_glorified ) is one of my favourite barbers. I’ve been following him on social media since the early days before the “barber boom”. He is one of the people I consider to be an original pillar of new market barbering so I was excited to sit down in his Shoreditch shop Thy Barber and talk to him about how far the industry has come and some of the growing pains it is going through. Listen to this incredibly candid conversation between two barbers / educators /shop owners that are trying to survive the trend of barbering, dealing with a new generation of barbers, and struggling to find balance in the midst of it all.

At the age of 21 it seemed that Leah Hayden Cassidy’s life was destined for a promising career in professional football until an unfortunate slide tackle left her with a broken leg, months of rehab, the loss of her scholarship, and a childhood dream ripped away. Thanks to a childhood friend she discovered an affinity for barbering that has helped her rise from the perverbial ashes. In just 4 short years she has become a global superstar travelling the world and wowing crowds from Berlin to Brazil... but sometimes that kind of meteoric rise comes a whole wealth of it’s own struggles and challenges.... listen to her inspiring story and her refreshingly level headed approach to fame.

My guest this week is my buddy @chrisjones_hair . Two years ago he was a self proclaimed technophobe and social media skeptic... 2 years later this small town Texan has built a following that boast over 200k and travels the world sharing his tips with y’all. (See what I did there?) . Listen to his inspiring story and his unique perspective and insights on how to take the Insta-Bull by the horns! #applepodcasts #hairstylist #haircut #barber

Undoubtedly the pride of Irish barbering , Ryan Cullen is one of the most fun and light hearted people I know... but that doesn’t mean he isn’t deadly serious about his craft. Listen in as he shares some of the wisdom that he’s gained behind the chair and on stages around the globe.

After only a few years in the hair industry Mark Bustos has it all... a big league New York City clientele, a sterling reputation, and a premium ticket price for his services... but still... he didn’t feel successful. But, on a trip home to the Philippines Mark has an experience that changed his life and gave him An entirely new sense of purpose... listen to his remarkable story on this weeks episode.

My friend @alexdlevine has led a pretty extraordinary life. Early on his plans of getting into the hair industry took a bit of a backseat while he became the bass player of critically celebrated band The Gaslight Anthem. Now he has travelled the world and rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest rockstars in the world while secretly keeping his hair cutting chops strong by practicing his craft backstage on some of his high profile colleagues.... now he’s trying to help other barbers get an opportunity to have the same incredible backstage experiences that he’s had...

If you haven’t heard of Menspire they are a men’s grooming education program that started out of a shop in the UK with their sights set on world domination. Some people think it is the evolution of men’s grooming and some feel like it is hurting the industry and detracting from what traditional barbering is all about. I’ll admit as a barber I’ve had my reservations about it. But, I’ll also admit that most of my experiences that I judged it by have stemmed from the relative arrogance of people I run into who have taken the course... not from the people who have created it. Kind of like judging a religion by its followers instead of its doctrine.... So I decided to sit down with Charlie Gray one of the co-creators of Menspire and asked him what all of the fuss is about...

Sophie Pok and I have been friends for a while now. Despite her tiny stature I have come to realize that she is a MASSIVE force in barbering. Over the years we have shared some incredible conversations on many different continents and on this occasion. We got into the nuts and bolts of photography, photoshop, and how to stand out from the pack in a sea of talented individuals by carving your own path.

We have all dreamed about making it big. Being celebrated in our field, and working at the highest level... travelling the world... surrounded by famous atheletes, fashionistas, and supermodels. Sounds great right? But the toad to that kind of success is seldom an easy one as my friend Harry Josh can tell you. He is one of the most celebrated hairstylists in fashion and is responsible for some of the most iconic looks and supermodels in recent history but the road to get here was marked with so many failures and he took so many blows to his ego that at one point he had just given up completely... every stylist or barber that dreams of “making it big”. Needs to hear this story.

Almost a year ater the suicide of a close friend left him reeling, KEUNE’s Global Men’s Creative Director Tom Chapman helped create THE LIONS COLLECTIVE. An international group of barbers committed to making a difference in men’s mental health and suicide prevention. Hear his story and the conversation that we recorded LIVE on stage at the Community Barber Showcase in Vancouver BC.

Part 2 of our epic conversation with @ANDREWDOESHAIR. Couldn’t wait until the weekend for this one!

@andrewdoeshair is a force in our industry. From the very early days on Instagram he has built a solid following by sharing his tips, tricks, and opinions with everyone that would listen. By sharing a lot of things other people won’t, focussing on the things he feels helped him actually succeed and steering clear of corporate sponsorships, he has created a niche for himself in the Indie hair education community. Join us for part one of a two-part conversation that covers everything from the state of the industry to why he doesn’t consider himself an influencer but still preaches the importance of social media and content creation in today’s market.

Panasonic’s global creative director @kevinluchmun is a creative powerhouse with an avalanche of awards and titles under his belt. He has created some iconic looks for top male models like @rickyhall and @whoiselijah , worked on stages around the world, and has recently built one of the best online education platforms available. Long story short... Kevin is impressive... but I know him as something else... a completely loveable goofball that I have shared more than a few laughs and crazy experiences with. Listen to his story and learn about how he has built his brand and why he keeps pushing himself to be better than he was yesterday.

Larissa love is undeniably a huge influence in the beauty world. She is an artist who started building her Instagram following early on and re-defined what it means to be an influencer. But sometimes things are not always what they’re cracked up to be. Listen in as we talk to Larissa about what it means to be an influencer and the toll it can take on your personal life.

Mari De Monte is a rising star in the education side of the hair industry. After slugging it out in the competitive world of NYC hair salons and training under some of the worlds best... her approach to customer service, personalized style, and building relationships has allowed her to keep her single chair studio in Brooklyn packed with clients who will pay a premium for her talents. She is changing the conversation about women in the “male dominated” industry of men’s grooming.

Buddy Porter is a well known celebrity hairstylist whose client roster boasts names like Halle Berry, Justin Theroux, Olivia Holt and many more (but he’d never let you know that). His passion for music and his impressive collection of tattoos makes him seem more at home at a hardcore concert than behind the chair of a fancy Beverly Hills salon but his work ethic and his tireless commitment to his craft has made him one of tinsel towns most sought after stylists. Listen to his career journey and his advice on how to survive in one of the most competitive hair styling markets in the world where the “wash-out” rate does not leave the odds in your favour.

Former refugee Farzad Salehi and his wife Shelley run a 2 chair barbershop in Vancouver B.C. It’s modest business with a sterling reputation that regularly opens before 6 in the morning. He is humble and charming and funny and just from meeting him in person you would probably never suspect that he has videos on YouTube with over 20 million views, and is regarded around the world as one of the best cutthroat shavers on the planet. Listen to his amazing journey of fleeing his homeland, his down to earth wisdom about customer care, and his level headed approach to “fame” while we tilt back a glass of bourbon together.

International men’s grooming Icon Matty Conrad has collected some seriously interesting friends along his 25+ year career in The hair industry. He wants to introduce you to some of the incredible people he has met and let you listen in on some of the amazing conversations they have. Some are inspiring, some are controversial, and some are just plain funny. If you are a hair industry professional You won’t want to miss out on the weekly instalments of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.