In this greatest hits episode, we revisit a conversation between AmSpa President and CSO, Cathy Christensen, and top leadership coach and bestselling author Sohee Jun, PhD. They discuss the myth of balance, Jun’s journey into leadership coaching and her advice for overcoming challenges as a business leader. Their conversation includes: Why she’s al…

This week, AmSpa President and CSO Cathy Christensen speaks with Cy Wakeman, drama researcher, New York Times bestselling author of No Ego, and 2023 world's number one leadership guru, to discuss reality-based leadership. They talk about common leadership challenges in medical spas, including managing diverse teams, implementing standardized proces…

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with RealSelf CEO Minou Clark to discuss the platform’s transformation into a dynamic, consumer-first destination for aesthetics. Clark shares how RealSelf is evolving to meet the needs of today’s beauty consumer by embracing med spas and amplifying the human side of aesthetics. Clark’s …

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Nena Kallopoulos, PA-C, founder of Drip Medi Spa in Englewood, New Jersey, to explore the realities of practicing aesthetic medicine as a physician assistant. With nearly two decades of clinical experience, Nena shares the challenges of building a compliant aesthetic practice and r…

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO Alex R. Thiersch, JD, sits down with Chris Suchánek, founder and CSO of Firm Media and creator of Ailm Atelier, a new online platform showcasing aesthetic doctors and their stories. They talk about Chris’s journey from the music business to specialty medical marketing, and how authenticity, storytelling, and innovat…

In this greatest hits episode, we revisit an empowering keynote recorded live at AmSpa’s inaugural Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference (WALC) in 2023. Listen in as Carrie Strom, senior vice president of AbbVie and president of Global Allergan Aesthetics, chats with Sara Blakely, founder and executive chairwoman of SPANX. Following a brief int…

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO Alex Thiersch, JD, speaks with Lisa Lickstein, MSW, MBA, co-owner and COO of Lickstein Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa. She previews her upcoming talk at the 2025 Women in Aesthetics Leadership Conference and shares how the concept of “unreasonable hospitality,” inspired by Will Guidara’s renowned book, has reshaped…

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Lori Werner, founder and chief marketing whiz at Medical Marketing Whiz, a woman-led marketing agency that specializes in marketing for wellness and medical aesthetics practices. They talk about her path from medical device sales to entrepreneurship and how her team helps med spas g…

This week, AmSpa President and CSO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, celebrated entrepreneur, founder of BrainTrust and author of The Beauty of Success: Start, Grow and Accelerate Your Brand. They discuss her entrepreneurial journey from building brands to owning in the beauty space, how she evaluates opportunities, and the w…

In this Medical Spa Show edition of Medical Spa Insider, AmSpa’s Alex Thiersch, JD, speaks with Shannon Blake, director of medical spa partnerships at Podium. They chat about what makes MSS her favorite aesthetic conference and trade show, along with the exciting new voice capabilities Podium is building into its AI-powered lead management and clie…

“For med spas, it’s so important to know who you are, what you stand for, and deliver on that with discipline.” This week, AmSpa’s Alex Thiersch sits down with Lowinn Kibbey, President of North America at Cynosure Lutronic, to discuss the landmark merger of two global energy-based device leaders and what it means for the future of medical aesthetic…

What if your med spa data could talk? This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Alex Lirtsman, founder and CEO of CorralData, to explore how medical spas can unlock real-time, HIPAA-compliant insights without changing their existing systems. CorralData integrates everything from your EMR to marketing, payroll, and finance …

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Emma Snowball-Robinson, APRN, founder of PURE Medical Aesthetics and PURE Evolution Academy. They chat about her incredible journey from modeling and marrying a rock star to putting herself through nursing school and founding a thriving aesthetic practice. Emma opens up about her r…

In this special MSS edition of Medical Spa Insider, Michela Bailey sits down with AmSpa State Chapter leaders from California and Utah, recorded live at Medical Spa Show 2025! Meet California co-chair Sahar Saghezchi, of Cupertino Facial Esthetics; Utah co-chair Terri Hancock, DNP, ACNP-BC, of Bellissima Medical Aesthetic; and Utah co-chair Amanda …

Join AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, as he discusses with Courtney Smith, account executive, and Jon Romano, SVP of sales at Darwill, how med spas can leverage data-driven direct mail to overcome digital fatigue and achieve significant growth. Recorded at AmSpa’s Chicago headquarters, this episode explores the evolution of traditional …

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, sits down with Dr. Christopher C. Surek, DO, FACS—board-certified plastic surgeon, internationally recognized facial anatomist, and founder and director of the Academy for Injection Anatomy (AIA)—to discuss the new AIA Alumni Reunion and Refresher course. Designed exclusively for advanced cada…

In this episode, AmSpa’s Alex R. Thiersch, JD, and Cathy Christensen join Dr. Kay Durairaj, internationally recognized facial plastic surgeon and founder of Beauty by Dr. Kay live from Las Vegas at the Medical Spa Show 2025 to talk about Biohacking Beauty: The science shaping the future of biohacking and regenerative aesthetics. From GLP-1s and “Oz…

In this special MSS edition of Medical Spa Insider, Michela Bailey sits down with the Tennessee, Georgia and Florida state chapter leaders, recorded live at Medical Spa Show 2025! Meet Tennessee chair Courtney D. Walker, Esq., of Smiley Aesthetics; Georgia chair Martina Kolovich, NP, of Altera Aesthetix; Florida co-chair Michael Zanetti of Erasable…

“All medical providers just aren't taught the skills to own and operate a business successfully.” This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Mary Smiley Ford, MSN, APRN, CRNA, and Carla Pierson, DNP, MBA, RN, identical twins and co-founders of Smiley Aesthetics in Nashville, Tennessee. They explore how their mission to empo…

In this special MSS edition of Medical Spa Insider, Michela Bailey sits down with the leaders of the Texas State Chapter, recorded live at Medical Spa Show 2025! Meet Texas co-chairs S. Alexis Gordon, MD, FACS, of Renew MD Facial Aesthetics, and Celeste Cisneros, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, of Solas Health and Wellness; and secretary Tammy Pendygraft, CLHRP…

This week on the podcast, AmSpa Membership Advocacy and Engagement Coordinator, Michela Bailey, speaks with Victoria “Vicki” Senyk, MSN, AGNP-C, LE, founder of Aesthetics Temple in Northbrook, Illinois. They talk about centering patient wellbeing in this conversation that includes: How she found AmSpa’s compliance education; Teaching kids skin care…

This week, AmSpa President and CSO, Cathy Christensen, speaks with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Linder, founder of Linder Health and former owner and chief scientific officer of PCA Skin. They chat about her entrepreneurship journey with skin care science, the benefits of noninflammatory chemical peels and hot topics in longevity medi…

This week AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Bobbi Bullock, NP-C, founder of Bobbi Bullock Medical Esthetics. They talk about how she got her start in medical aesthetics, the unique health challenge that led her to groundbreaking research on facial asymmetry, and how she builds community to grow stronger together. Listen to he…

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, sits down with Tyler Weinberg, CEO of Aviva Aesthetics, and Dan Hosler, chairman of the board at Aviva and managing partner of DuneGlass Capital. They discuss how Aviva is implementing an innovative approach to business growth that provides med spa owners a pathway to long-term success—offerin…

In this Medical Spa Show speakers series, we hear from Sara Cole, AGACNP-BC, CANS, Siren Medical Spa; Chakika Williams, DNP-L, MBA/HCM, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, FPA, SkyRose Rejuvenation Clinic & Spa; Alexander Rivkin, MD, Westside Aesthetics; Alyssa Rapp, Empower Aesthetics; Georgia Cirese, RN, CANS, CLT, Gorgeous Aesthetic Bar; Jenna Hilton, PA-C, Vibra…

Would you learn another fine injection technique to access a patient population of 30 million? This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Keetha Hanlin, RN, LME, senior clinical advisor at Methapharm, distributor of sclerosing agent Asclera. Drawing on her 20 years of experience, Hanlin discusses sclerotherapy as a treatmen…

In this Medical Spa Show speakers series, we hear from Gretchen Frieling, MD, of GfaceMD; Christal Parker, FNP-C, APRN, of Savvy Beauty and Wellness; Blakelee Paige Smith, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, NP-C, of Skin + Aesthetics; Rana Kennelly, AGNP-C, CANS, of The Confidence Bar; and Molly Bailey, PA-C, of Face Forward Aesthetics. They share their biggest wins…

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex Thiersch, JD, speaks with Kiiyonna Jones, PhD, FNP-C, founder of Luxe Beauty and Wellness Boutique. They chat about how she uses artificial intelligence to reclaim her time and how AI automations are transforming the future of medical spas. Everybody needs to know and understand AI, Dr. Jones says—start here! …

In this Medical Spa Show speakers series, we hear from W. Chistopher Croley, MD, of Skin & Tonic; Cary Deuber, CRNFA, CANS, of Lemmon Avenue; George Baxter-Holder, DNP, APRN, CANS, of SkinSpirit; Katie Duke, NP-BC, of KD Creative; Riley Worth, NP, of Elase Medical Spa; and Nicole Gregory of Urban You. They describe their wins and lessons learned, a…

This week, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Randi Boyette, PhD, CEO of Spark Medical Marketing and CMO of NewBeauty, to explore her inspiring career journey and vision for the future of the medical aesthetics industry. As Corporate Development Advisor at AmSpa, she shares her passion for elevating the industry by focusing on compliance, culture, a…

In this Medical Spa Show speakers series, we hear from Kim Burke, APN, FNP-C, of Kiss Aesthetics; Julie Bass Kaplan, FNP-BC, CANS, of Disappearing Act Medical Aesthetics; Kiiyonna Jones, PhD, FNP-C, of Luxe Beauty and Wellness Boutique; Josie Tenore, MD, of Trevi Longevity & Aesthetics; and Audrey Neff, of PatientNow. They describe their wins and l…

What is a realistic investment from seed to success? This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Ashley James, CEO of DermAesthetic Consulting and MedSpa Mobile Solutions. They discuss the financial must-knows when opening a medical spa for the first time. Their conversation includes: The unique challenges of running an aest…

In this Medical Spa Show speakers series, we hear from Erika Barry, NP-C, of Resculpt Aesthetics; Savanna Boda, LE, of Savanna Boda Aesthetics; Jacklyn Halpin, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, of Aesthetic Couture Medical Spa and Skin of Color Aesthetics; Rana Kennelly, AGNP-C, CANS, of The Confidence Bar; and Steven Sorr, NMD, of Source of Health. They describe …

In this special milestone episode, we’re celebrating over 300 episodes of Medical Spa Insider, a journey that started in 2018. AmSpa’s Alex R. Thiersch, JD, Cathy Christensen, and Michela Bailey reflect on their favorite moments, from their very first episode to unforgettable conversations with guests who’ve gone on to achieve incredible success in…

In this Medical Spa Show speakers series, we hear from Dr. Kay Durairaj, of Beauty by Dr. Kay; Leslie Fletcher, NP-BC, of InjectAbility; Sahar Saghezchi, LPN, of Cupertino Facial Esthetics; Grace McLaurin, DMSc, PA-C, of Vitality Anti-Aging Center; and Suzanne Munshower, RN, of Beauty Marx Aesthetic MedSpa. They describe their wins and lessons lear…

How do we build a culture where ideas have a fighting chance? This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, and AmSpa president and CSO, Cathy Christensen, speak with Kyle Scheele, author and upcoming keynote speaker at Medical Spa Show 2025. Deemed “the patron saint of crazy ideas,” Scheele shares his entrepreneurial journey, the power o…

In this Medical Spa Show speakers series, we hear from Adam Haroun, founder of Aesthetic Altitude; Mary Smiley Ford, MSN, APRN, CRNA, founder of Smiley Aesthetics; Carl Clarke, MHS, RPA-C, founder of Diamond Works MedSpa; and Kacie Avey, RN, CANS, founder of Tailored Aesthetics. They describe their wins and lessons learned, along with what conferen…

This week we return to a conversation between AmSpa CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, and two leaders of Operation Mend, a nonprofit UCLA Health program that provides specialized surgical and psychological care to post-9/11 military members, veterans and their caregivers. Executive Director Jo Sornborger, PsyD, and Christopher Crisera, MD, plastic surgeon…

In this Medical Spa Show speakers series, we hear from Jennifer Hartley, ACNP, founder of Skin Synthesis Clinic & Spa; Amie Martin, RN, founder of Aesthetic Mentor; and Erica Crawford, president of Influx Marketing. They describe their wins and lessons learned, along with what conference attendees will learn from their classes at Medical Spa Show 2…

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Taylor Siemens, NP-C, vice president of operations at Vitalyc Medspa and clinical advisor to AmSpa. They discuss the nuances of laser safety and the need for proper training and education in medical aesthetics. Their conversation includes: How combining laser with other aesthetic t…

In this Medical Spa Show speakers series, we hear from Annie Hockey, president and head of consulting at Skytale Group; Kimberly L. Evans, MD, FACOG, founder of Sugar Land Med Spa; Patrick Blake, MD, co-founder and chief medical officer at Portrait; and Amy Anderson, co-founder of BrinsonAnderson Consulting. They describe their wins and lessons lea…

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Erica Crawford, president, and Max Baybak, co-founder and chief growth officer of Influx Marketing. They discuss the community response to recent devastating wildfires in California, and how to adapt your marketing plan for 2025. Their conversation includes: The impact of recent wi…

In this Medical Spa Show speakers series, we hear from Kate Dee, MD, of Glow MediSpa; Linné Linder, ND, of SkinSpirit; Cameron Hemphill of Growth99; and Jessica Nunn of Maven Financial Partners. They describe their wins and lessons learned, along with what conference attendees will learn from their classes at Medical Spa Show 2025, from April 10 - …

This week on the podcast, AmSpa Membership Advocacy and Engagement Specialist, Michela Bailey, speaks with Danielle Oyasu, NP, founder of Beautifully New Med Spa in Park Ridge, Illinois. They talk about the importance of community, their shared love of the city, and more in this conversation that includes: How she was introduced to AmSpa; The commu…

In this Medical Spa Show speakers series, we hear from Gilberto Saenz III, PA-C, of Austin Plastic Surgeon; Bree Black, Co-founder of JobSnob; Johnny Franco, MD, FACS, of Austin Plastic Surgeon; and Judy Kozlicki, Head of Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery at Skytale Group. They describe their wins and lessons learned, along with what conference attendee…

What can microneedling remind us about keeping the medical in medical spas? This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Molly Muecke, RN, MSN, APRN, NP-C, founder of Astra Aesthetics in Knoxville, Tennessee. They discuss the risks associated with microneedling, the importance of safety protocols in medical aesthetics, and th…

In this Medical Spa Show speakers series, we hear from Taylor Siemens, NP-C, vice president of operations at Vitalyc MedSpa; Christopher Balbi, director of marketing at Meesha Aesthetics; Rebecca McAbee, practice manager and chief operating officer at Disappearing Act Medical Aesthetics; and Kelly Choi, NP, founder of The Beauty Collective. They de…

In this 300th episode of Medical Spa Insider, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Jodi Faustlin, chief compliance offer, and Chad Schiffman, director of risk management at Healthcare Compliance Pros. They talk about fundamental compliance policies and procedures for your organization, why the OCR and FTC are getting more involv…

In this episode, we revisit a conversation between AmSpa President and CSO, Cathy Christensen, Shawna Chrisman, NP, CEO and founder of Destination Aesthetics, and Maegen Kennedy, PA-C, co-founder and clinical director of Windermere Medical Spa & Laser Institute. They spoke about the current stage of their medical spas, the details of scaling a busi…

This week, AmSpa founder and CEO, Alex R. Thiersch, JD, speaks with Jonathan Kaplan, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of BuildMyHealth. They chat about DrWell by BuildMyHealth and how it simplifies medical weight loss treatment for both patients and medical aesthetic practices. Listen in to learn: Evolving from price transparency sol…