BUILDING & BREAKING with Nina L. Kovner

By Nina L. Kovner

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Category: Marketing

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Subscribers: 4
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Episodes: 144

Description

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.

Episode Date
GUEST EPISODE: A Conversation with Katie, The Walmart Hairstylist
Jan 11, 2026
The Internet: When Trust Was Traded for Attention
Dec 28, 2025
ENCORE Madison Reed: Filling the Gap Between Box Color and Balayage with Clarity of Brand Story and Market Position
Nov 16, 2025
The Walmart Hairstylist: A Personal Brand Story of Care, Trust, and Value
Nov 09, 2025
The Brand Lesson Beauty Pros Need To Understand from Costco, Trader Joe's & In-N-Out Burger
Nov 02, 2025
Sundance Film Festival: How A Place Built A Brand and Why Leaving Changes Everything
Oct 26, 2025
Apple: How Brand Clarity and Experience Design Built Trust and Reinvented An Industry
Oct 19, 2025
Why I Resisted Creating My Personal Brand (And Why I Can't Anymore)
Sep 18, 2025
GAP: A Legacy Brand Finds Its Relevance Again by Reclaiming Its Soul
Aug 28, 2025
e.l.f. Cosmetics Revisited: The Broken Brand Promise We Didn't Expect
Aug 21, 2025
Red Lobster: Losing and Rebuilding Brand Trust, One Decision at a Time
Aug 14, 2025
Rihanna & Fenty: The Power of a Personal Brand in Business, Leadership, and Building Trust
Aug 07, 2025
Southwest Airlines: What Happens When You Abandon What Made Your Brand Different
Jul 31, 2025
Madison Reed: Filling the Gap Between Box Color and Balayage with Clarity of Brand Story and Market Position
Jul 24, 2025
e.l.f. Cosmetics: Low Price, High Value, and The Possible White Space in Pro Beauty
Jul 17, 2025
The Fundamentals of Brand Story and Building Trust From Costco to Taylor Swift (and Beyond)
Jul 10, 2025
Drybar: How Simplicity Built A Brand And Inconsistencies Are Testing Its Promise
Jul 03, 2025
Olaplex: How a Brand Built on Bonds Can Rebuild Trust with Salons and Hairstylists
Jun 26, 2025
ENCORE Costco: A Masterclass In Trust, Brand Promises, and Lifetime Team and Member Value
Jun 19, 2025
In-N-Out Burger: The Power of Simplicity, Brand Strategy, and Staying in Your Lane
Jun 12, 2025
Trader Joe's: How Brand Story Creates Connection & Builds Trust Through Every Decision
Jun 05, 2025
Starbucks: How Losing Focus On The Brand Experience Cost Them Barista & Customer Trust
May 29, 2025
Taylor Swift: How Storytelling, Emotional Connection, and Healthy Boundaries Built A Personal Brand
May 22, 2025
Target: How Knee-Jerk Decisions Break Trust and Erode Lifetime Customer Value
May 15, 2025
Aveda: From Salon Experience and Relationship Building Innovator To Fracturing Lifetime Customer Value
May 08, 2025
Costco: A Masterclass in Trust, Brand Promises, and Lifetime Team and Member Value
May 01, 2025
The End, The Beginning, and Everything In Between
Apr 22, 2025
ENCORE EPISODE: What To Do When Your Salon Business Is Slower Than You'd Like
Dec 22, 2024
ENCORE EPISODE: Online Discourse and Its Impact On The Salon Industry
Dec 15, 2024
ENCORE EPISODE: 2024 The Year of Perspective for The Salon Industry
Dec 12, 2024
Calico Hair: Your Salon Brand Content Is Your Marketing
Oct 22, 2024
Let's Catch Up: Finding New Rhythms
Oct 15, 2024
Special Guest: David Thurston of Butterfly Loft Salon + Danger Jones
Aug 18, 2024
Client Shaming, Building Trust, and Your Salon Brand
Aug 04, 2024
Independent Stylist + Educator Insights: Amanda Harsche, Forma Collective Salon + Danger Jones
Jul 28, 2024
Growing Your Salon Business Without Relying Solely on Social Media
Jul 21, 2024
Salon Owner Insights: Brenda Amaral of Gwen Mireille Salon & Spa + True Hair Education
Jul 14, 2024
Let's Catch Up: Creative Slumps, Content Creation, Seeking Context
Jul 03, 2024
Salon Owner Insights: Sean Paisant of Entrust Hair
Jun 19, 2024
ENCORE EPISODE: What To Do When Your Salon Business Is Slow
Jun 12, 2024
Salon Owner Insights: Stacey Rackham of Mint Hair Crafting Salon + Melt Head Spa
Jun 05, 2024
The Year of Perspective for The Salon Industry: Adapting to New Salon Realities
May 29, 2024
Salon Owner Insights: Danielle Green of Radically Curly Salon
May 22, 2024
Elevated Salon Prices Require Elevated Salon Experiences
May 15, 2024
Salon Owner Insights: Kristen Peckich of La Pomponnee Salon
May 08, 2024
Online Discourse and Its Impact on Your Salon Brand and The Salon Industry
May 01, 2024
Non-Competes, Building Trust and Your Salon Brand
Apr 24, 2024
Generational Discourse: A Tale As Old As Time
Apr 17, 2024
The Trouble with Comparing Your Salon Brand To The One Down The Street
Apr 10, 2024
How Salon Clients Find You Online and The Missing Context of Charging Your Worth
Apr 03, 2024
Let's Catch Up: Repurposing Content, Healthy Boundaries, Walls, Salon Service Discounting And More
Mar 27, 2024
ENCORE EPISODE: The $100K Email: Building Care, Trust, and Value with Your Existing Salon Clients
Feb 28, 2024
Your Salon Social Media Content Is Your Marketing
Feb 21, 2024
SPECIAL GUEST Candice Moore On Emotional Fitness and Stepping Into Your Truth
Feb 14, 2024
ENCORE EPISODE: Justifying Your Value, Worth and Price
Feb 07, 2024
Things To Look At When Your Salon Business Is Slow
Jan 31, 2024
SPECIAL GUEST Ira Pope Sage On Becoming A Hairdresser, Educator, Navigating Fears and Healthy Mindsets
Jan 24, 2024
ENCORE EPISODE: Dismantling The 'Professional Salon Products Aren't Profitable' Myth
Jan 18, 2024
Salon Client Education, Haircare Myths and Lifetime Client Value
Jan 10, 2024
2024: The Year of Perspective for The Salon Industry
Jan 03, 2024
SPECIAL GUEST Roxan McDonald On Storytelling, TikTok, Not Being Nice and So Much More
Sep 01, 2023
Navigating Difficult Conversations with Salon Clients
Jul 03, 2023
Dear Salon Industry, We Need To Talk About Home Care Solutions for Your Clients
Jun 20, 2023
The $100K Email: Building Care, Trust, and Value with Your Existing Clients
Jun 05, 2023
ENCORE: A Different Look at Team Handbooks and Client Agreements
May 29, 2023
Healthy Boundaries: Conversation Framework for Pricing Discussions with Clients
May 07, 2023
Not Everyone Goes To A Salon: A Lesson In Marketing & Your Mindset
Apr 24, 2023
It's Time To Dismantle The Salon Retail Narrative
Apr 03, 2023
Here Comes The Sun: Lessons About Trauma, Determination, Healing & Hope
Mar 20, 2023
My Take On Independence and Interdependence from 2013
Mar 06, 2023
Commission Percentages vs. Compensation Programs
Feb 21, 2023
A Different Look At Team Handbooks and Agreements
Feb 21, 2023
A Different Look At Team Handbooks and Agreements
Feb 13, 2023
Justifying Your Value, Worth and Price
Feb 06, 2023
BONUS Episode Nina Kovner on Branding
Jan 31, 2023
The Difference Between Brand Values and Brand Value
Jan 23, 2023
Aligning Your Words with Your Brand
Jan 16, 2023
Care, Trust and Value in 2023
Jan 09, 2023
What We Can Learn from New Year's Day
Jan 02, 2023
Making Decisions and Creating Awesome Client Agreements
Jul 12, 2022
Where You Stand As A Brand and How You Decide
Jul 05, 2022
The Not So Great Cancellation, Focusing On What You Can Control + Being Where Your Feet Are
Jan 15, 2022
Getting Back To What Matters On Social Media
Jan 04, 2022
ENCORE: Nina L. Kovner On Holidays + Boundaries + Britney Spears
Nov 18, 2021
ENCORE: Danielle Green On The Hair Love Book + Animated Short Film + The CROWN Act
Nov 11, 2021
Fifty Five Lessons + Wisdoms from 55 Years of Living
Oct 09, 2021
Nina L. Kovner On Business Integrity & Agreements + No Shows + Lifetime Client Value + Venmo Drama
Jul 09, 2021
Kristin Rankin on Pride + Creating Inclusive Salons + Pronouns + The Dress Code Project
Jun 08, 2021
Dr. Nancy Sobel on Mental Health + Wellness As We Enter Our Post Pandemic World
May 23, 2021
Dr. Nancy R. Sobel On Mental Health + Hope + Resilience with COVID-19
Mar 27, 2020
Nina L. Kovner On Communication + Community + Compassion In Crisis
Mar 14, 2020
Rebecca Taylor On Paying Artists + Salon Ownership + Mental Wellness
Mar 03, 2020
Keya Neal On Independent Education + Representation + Blackish
Feb 19, 2020
Danielle Green On Hair Love The Book + Animated Short Film + The CROWN Act
Feb 13, 2020
Kristen Peckich on The Power of Social + Digital Marketing for The Holidays
Jan 21, 2020
Nina L. Kovner On Exposure Doesn't Pay The Bills
Jan 16, 2020
Gordon Miller + Nina L. Kovner Decade In Review + Ramblings + Predictions
Dec 30, 2019
Nina L. Kovner On Holidays + Boundaries + Britney Spears
Dec 24, 2019
Andi Scarbrough on Energy + Serving Beyond The Service
Nov 14, 2019
Nina L Kovner On Instagram Hiding Likes + The Purpose of Social Media
Nov 09, 2019
Nina L Kovner On My Year of Daring Greatly
Oct 09, 2019
Melanie Guzzo on Brand Values + Leadership + Community
Oct 04, 2019
Tracy Ftacek on Building A Brand + Culture + Communication
Sep 06, 2019
Celeste Gonzalez on Advanced Education + Persistence + Finding Her Rhythm
Aug 27, 2019
Nina L Kovner On Client Shaming On The Socials
Aug 15, 2019
Katie Tellor on Salon Ownership + Growing Assistants + Social Media
Aug 09, 2019
Nina L Kovner On Reading Online Reviews + Gratitude
Aug 02, 2019
Brenda Amaral on Leadership + Self-Awareness + Inclusivity
Jun 27, 2019
Gina Bianca on Salon Ownership + Social Media + Purpose
Jun 20, 2019
Lisa Walker On Self Awareness + Priorities + Social Media
May 11, 2019
Stacey Rackham On Growth + Inclusivity + Leadership
Apr 22, 2019
Riawna Capri + Nikki Lee on Leadership + Communication + Respect
Apr 12, 2019
Alicia The Alchemist on Leadership + Judgement + Finding Her Rhythm
Mar 30, 2019
Caron On Finding her Passion + Lessons from the Military + Mental Health Advocacy
Mar 21, 2019
Tina DeSeta on Purpose + Community + Mental Health
Mar 12, 2019
Nina L Kovner on 3 Ways To Show You Care + Grow Consistently
Mar 01, 2019
Nina L Kovner on Courage + Being Brave + Walking The Talk
Feb 21, 2019
J Ladner on Living Out Loud + Purpose + Influencers
Jan 07, 2019
2018 Thoughts and 2019 Insights with Nina L. Kovner
Dec 27, 2018
Keya Artistically Neal on Texture + Race + Diversity + Inclusion
Dec 04, 2018
Benjamin Jay on Online Marketing + Recruitment + Passion
Nov 21, 2018
Dre Demry-Sanders on Vulnerability + Discrimination + Women of Color
Oct 02, 2018
Kellyn Anderson on Brand Vision + Purpose + Leadership
Aug 29, 2018
Danielle Green on Finding Her Voice + Purpose + Empowering Women
Aug 15, 2018
Gordon Miller On Disruption + Amazon + Retail
Aug 08, 2018
Nina Kovner On Perseverance + Comparison + Social Media
Jul 15, 2018
Kristin Rankin on Gender Free Haircuts + Safe Spaces + The Dress Code Project
Jun 19, 2018
Gordon Miller On Online Learning + Digital + Inspiration
May 18, 2018
Nina L. Kovner on Insta Experts + Context + Why
Apr 29, 2018
Erica Santos On Commitment + Growth + Career Paths
Apr 15, 2018
Nina L. Kovner on Control Issues + Perspective + Social Media Breaks
Apr 08, 2018
Nina L. Kovner on The Meaning of Social + the Vero App
Mar 04, 2018
Shurie Saxelby on Content Creation + Millennials + Empathy
Feb 25, 2018
Noelle Weatherwax on Community + Overcoming Adversity + Leadership
Feb 18, 2018
Mahogany Plautz on Salon Studios + Equality + Purpose
Feb 11, 2018
Gordon Miller On Entrepreneurship + Leadership + Self-Awareness
Feb 04, 2018
Jason McDonald on Ownership + Recovery + Passion
Jan 28, 2018
Nina L. Kovner on Positivity
Jan 21, 2018
Nina L. Kovner on Anxiety
Jan 21, 2018
Aura Mae on Burnout + Self Care + Purpose
Jan 21, 2018
Nina L. Kovner on Finding Your Rhythm
Jan 14, 2018
Ash Fortis on Early Career Lessons + Social Media + Creative Courage
Jan 14, 2018
Nina L. Kovner on Algorithms
Jan 07, 2018
Amber Ohara on Perseverance + Self Care + New Beginnings
Jan 07, 2018