StarrCast

What if the pressure to reinvent yourself every January is actually pulling you further away from who you already are?

In this episode of StarrCast Podcast, host Lisa Starr sits down with Jennifer Walsh to explore why remembering your natural intelligence matters more than optimizing your life, your body, or your productivity. Together, they unpack how presence, ancestral wisdom, and human connection offer a more sustainable path to wellbeing in an increasingly artificial world.

Why the "new year, new you" mindset can create unnecessary guilt and burnout

How natural intelligence...

In this inspiring episode of The StarrCast Podcast, host Lisa Starr travels to the breathtaking Austrian Alps to explore how strategic wellness development is transforming mountain destinations. Against the dramatic backdrop of Leogang's limestone peaks, Lisa visits Puradies eco-resort and sits down with owner Michael Madreiter to discuss the property's stunning Heaven Spa expansion and the remarkable story of how this region has achieved consistent double-digit growth through thoughtful spa and wellness investment.

Michael shares the 185-year family farming legacy that informs Puradies' authentic approach to hospitality, revealing how a modest guesthouse evolved into a...

What happens when darkness becomes the environment for insight, recovery, and self regulation?

In this episode of the StarrCast Podcast, we explore the rise of structured darkness retreats and why they are gaining traction across wellness, hospitality, and performance focused audiences. Guests Ananda Jey (AJ) and Diederik van Middelkoop unpack how controlled sensory deprivation is being reinterpreted as a tool for nervous system regulation, psychological clarity, and long term wellbeing.

Listeners will gain a grounded, experience driven understanding of why darkness retreats are moving from fringe experimentation into serious wellness programming, and what this shift...

What happens when four of the most respected voices in global wellness hospitality gather in Milan to dissect the future of spa, hotel, and guest experience design?

This episode brings together Matteo Brusaferri, Emlyn Brown, Lynn Curry, and Laszlo Puczko for a rare, insight-packed conversation recorded live at the Wellness Hospitality Conference. From evolving guest expectations to seismic shifts in design, investment, and operational strategy, this dialogue explores how wellness is redefining the fabric of hospitality worldwide.

Listeners will walk away with a sharper understanding of the forces shaping wellness travel, the rise of new...

What happens when one of the world's leading snowmaking innovators brings winter indoors, and transforms wellness in the process?

In this episode, I sit down with Sara Brenninger, the visionary shaping the future of indoor snow experiences at TechnoAlpin. We explore how engineered snow, biophilic design, and cold-contrast experiences are reshaping wellness architecture, guest rituals, and the business models behind next-generation spa environments.

How indoor snow technology evolved from slope-making to multisensory wellness environments

Why soft-cold modalities are becoming the preferred alternative to cold plunges and cryotherapy

How...

What happens when four global leaders in wellness, integrative health, and spa innovation come together to discuss the future of wellbeing?

This week, The StarrCast is proud to bring you an amazing roundtable of experts, live from The Global Wellness Summit in Dubai:

Dr. Kathryn Dundas is a leader in integrative health and clinical wellbeing, known for her evidence-based, assessment-driven approach to personalized care.

Kirsty MacCormick is a global spa and wellness strategist recognized for building operational systems, signature experiences, and high-performing teams across luxury hospitality.

Rod Derifield is a senior...

What happens when luxury hospitality, holistic wellness, and human transformation intersect?

In this conversation with Magdy Abdelaty, we explore how modern wellness leaders are redefining the guest journey through emotional intelligence, culture-driven design, and deeply personalized experiences.

This episode reveals why wellness is shifting from a service to a philosophy, and what the next generation of spa and wellness leadership must embrace to stay relevant, regenerative, and meaningful.

Why wellness no longer belongs in a silo, and how to embed it across the entire guest experience.

The emotional...

Can a spa director also be a systems thinker, a creative artist, and a human performance strategist?

In this episode, Arnaud Dieutegard, Senior Director of Wellness, Spa & Retail at Four Seasons Costa Rica, shares how he's reimagining resort wellness, from creative leadership and culturally rooted experiences to peak performance programs grounded in science. Listeners will hear how one property is using data, design, and disciplined creativity to move beyond "amenities" and build a truly transformational wellness ecosystem for guests.

Arnaud traces his journey from a wellness-focused childhood in France to leading multi-property spa operations for...

What happens when science meets soulful healing?

In this episode of the Starrcast Podcast, Dr. Jason Culp, Director of Research & Development at Chiva-Som International Health Resort, reveals how integrative wellness is evolving beyond luxury into a global movement rooted in evidence, empathy, and everyday choices.

From Thailand's pioneering Chiva-Som to the rise of holistic health leadership, this conversation redefines what it means to live well, and lead well, in a world driven by change.

How naturopathic medicine bridges the gap between science and self-awareness

Why "lifestyle...

What if wellness could be scaled like culture?

In this episode of Starrcast, host Lisa Starr sits down with Adam Bamba-Tanaka, Chief Operating Officer of Therme Group U.S., to explore how the global company is redefining bathing culture for the 21st century. From Bucharest to Dallas, Tanaka unpacks the intersection of urban design, sustainability, and social wellness, revealing how Therme is creating civic-scale wellness destinations that merge architecture, technology, and community.

How Therme Group is transforming ancient bathing rituals into modern wellness infrastructure.

The strategy behind scaling...

The future of wellness is global, collaborative, and human-centered.

In this Starrcast Podcast episode, host Lisa Starr sits down with Diego Carrete, Professor Meng-Mei "Maggie" Chen, and Dr. Jiri Dvorak to preview the Global Wellness Summit 2025, where science, culture, and leadership converge to redefine the meaning of wellbeing.

Together, they explore how innovation, education, and empathy will shape the wellness economy of tomorrow, from precision medicine and hospitality transformation to cross-industry collaboration.

How corporate wellness programs are evolving from benefits to business strategy.

The new role...

What if aging could be redefined, not as decline, but as evolution?

In this episode, Nancy Griffin, founder of Glowing Older, joins host Lisa Starr to explore the emerging longevity movement and what it really means to age with vitality, purpose, and community. From wellness innovation to anti-ageism in the spa industry, Nancy shares how we can transform aging into an empowering, joyful stage of life, one grounded in self-care, connection, and balance.

How the wellness industry can reclaim its original mission: nurturing mind, body, and spirit, not just beauty.<...

The fitness and wellness revolution is transforming Saudi Arabia, and FIBO Arabia 2025 is at the center of it.

In this episode of the Starrcast Podcast, host Lisa Starr takes you behind the scenes at the first-ever FIBO Arabia event in Riyadh to uncover how vision, entrepreneurship, and cultural transformation are reshaping the region's wellness economy. From boutique studios and luxury health clubs to female empowerment and data-driven innovation, this conversation reveals how the Middle East is redefining what "wellness for all" truly means.

From law to Pilates: How Dina Elshurafa...

How is China redefining wellness travel and reshaping the global spa industry?

In this episode of the Starrcast Podcast, host Lisa Starr sits down at the Spa China Summit with Michael Branham, General Manager of the Four Seasons Suzhou, and Jonas Schurman, Board Member of Reformosa and longtime Mandarin Oriental executive. Together, they unpack how wellness has evolved from spa treatments to a lifestyle driver that shapes hospitality strategy, guest experience, and revenue performance.

Listeners will gain a first-hand look at how second-tier Chinese cities are setting global wellness trends, why younger Chinese travelers are...

Wellness travel is no longer a luxury; it's a movement.

In this episode of the Starrcast Podcast, host Lisa Starr explores the rise of boutique wellness retreats with industry veterans Sallie Fraenkel and Wendy Bosalovage, the co-founders of Redbird House in the Catskills of New York.

From building a three-story retreat property during COVID to curating transformative guest experiences, Sallie and Wendy share how they turned a plot of land into one of the most buzzworthy destinations in wellness travel, and what their story reveals about the future of retreats, hospitality, and community-driven health.

Microplastics aren't just an environmental problem; they're a hidden human health crisis.

In this eye-opening episode of the Starrcast Podcast, host Lisa Starr speaks with Dr. Gerry Bodeker (Oxford public health researcher and Global Wellness Institute leader) and Trent Munday (Senior Vice President International, Mandara Spa) about the alarming presence of microplastics in our air, food, water, and even our brains. Discover how these invisible particles impact mental wellness, what new science reveals about Alzheimer's and inflammation, and how AI-powered tools are helping track and fight this global threat.

The...

STARRCAST IS BACK for Season 9! We are thrilled to return to bring you more insights and fresh perspectives to help your spa business thrive!

Thinking about opening a sauna or bathhouse, or scaling the one you've got?

To kick things off, we're replaying an incredibly informative webinar that unpacks the operating math behind the hydrothermal business: capacity planning, MEP-first ("engine room") design, admissions-led pricing, and the real bottleneck no one budgets for: laundry throughput.

Expect candid lessons from operators and designers shaping the U.S. market, including Bathhouse (NYC) and leaders from the...

In this immersive live episode, host Lisa Starr brings listeners into the heart of the first-ever U.S. Aufguss World Masters Trials, recorded on-site at the newly expanded Bathhouse Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY. As the ancient European tradition of Aufguss—a multisensory, storytelling sauna ritual—makes its competitive debut in America, Lisa interviews several key figures shaping this cultural movement.

From competition judges and spa innovators to passionate sauna performers, including a dynamic sister duo with Cirque du Soleil experience, this episode highlights the artistry, athleticism, and emotional resonance of the Aufguss ritual. Listeners will gain insight into...

This compelling episode of StarrCast comes to you live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where host Lisa Starr sits down with the dynamic Dr. Ebtissam AlMadi, co-owner of the Kadoon family of businesses, wellness visionary, and cultural bridge-builder. Together, they explore the remarkable evolution of spa and wellness in the Kingdom—from the first medical spa in 2003 to the creation of the Kadoon integrated ecosystem including a spa, beauty school, and wellness product distributorship.

Dr. AlMadi shares her personal journey from dentistry to becoming a national leader in wellness, highlighting how global standards are being harmonized with Saudi cu...

Host Lisa Starr sits down with Leah Crump, founder of Leah Crump Consulting and author of the forthcoming book Be Well, Do Well, in this inspiring episode of the StarrCast Podcast. A trailblazer in spa consulting, Leah shares her unique path from the treatment room to global wellness consulting and authorship.

With a deep focus on healing, authentic leadership, and sustainable business practices, Leah opens up about the realities of the consulting world, the burnout epidemic in wellness leadership, and how she's helping shape the next generation of consultants through her mastermind course. She also offers an...

In this powerful episode of The StarrCast Podcast, host Lisa Starr sits down with Lindsay Madden-Nadeau, Senior Director of Wellness Strategy for Red Sea Global, to explore one of the most ambitious hospitality and wellness developments in the world. From her beginnings in luxury hospitality to leading wellness vision for giga-projects like Amaala and Red Sea, Lindsay offers insights into the massive transformation taking place in Saudi Arabia's wellness tourism sector.

With candor and vision, Lindsay shares how Saudi's Vision 2030 is reshaping global tourism, why Amaala is set to become the world's most comprehensive wellness destination, and h...

In this enlightening episode of The StarrCast Podcast, host Lisa Starr welcomes wellness visionary Belgin Aksoy, the founder of Global Wellness Day. From her beginnings in the Turkish hospitality industry to the creation of a worldwide movement touching over a billion lives, Belgin shares the deeply personal journey that led to the birth of Global Wellness Day—and the unstoppable passion that continues to drive it.

Listeners will hear how a cancer diagnosis at age 29 sparked a transformation not only in Belgin's own life but in the wellness journeys of people around the globe. With a mission rooted in gratitude, simplicity, and service, Belgin reveals the surprising origins of Global Well...

In this insightful episode of The StarrCast Podcast, host Lisa Starr welcomes two industry leaders—Tony Nicastro, Senior Global Manager of Spa & Fitness at Marriott, and Derek Hofmann, Senior Director of Spa & Wellness at Four Seasons— for a deep dive into the evolving practice of yield management in spas. Once a foreign concept in wellness, dynamic pricing is now gaining traction as spas seek to balance rising demand, staffing challenges, and revenue growth.

Drawing on years of leadership in global hospitality, Tony and Derek explore how spas can apply airline-style pricing to spa appointments, the technology that supports this shift, how to implement it...

In this inspiring episode of The StarrCast Podcast, host Lisa Starr sits down with Vivienne Tang, founder and CEO of Destination Deluxe, a luxury wellness and travel company, to explore the dynamic world of wellness retreats. Vivienne shares her journey from fashion publishing to becoming a global thought leader in wellness travel, offering insider perspectives on the evolution of wellness experiences, the essential elements that make retreats transformative, and how travelers are seeking more profound, meaningful experiences beyond traditional spa services.

Whether you're a spa professional, wellness entrepreneur, or simply wellness-curious, this episode offers a compelling deep...

In this episode of The StarrCast Podcast, Lisa Starr speaks with James Gu, Director of Spa and Wellness for Equinox, and Greg Kasparian, founder of The Creek Retreat in Serenbe, Georgia. The episode, recorded live at the We Work Well spa event at Chateau Elan, offers a dual perspective on the future of wellness. 

James discusses how Equinox is evolving its spa offerings across over 90 properties with a focus on performance, biohacking, and accessibility. Greg shares his journey from the supplier side of the industry to launching a cutting-edge wellness facility based on intention, technology, and personal reinven...

Live from FIBO Part 2 of 2; Longevity Center CEO Joanna Bensz discusses her Center's focus on expanding preventive health and lifestyle optimization and László Puczkó, Hospitality and Wellbeing Strategist, advises on incorporating true wellness activities into your business model. Event organizers Andrew Gibson and Sven Huckenbeck comment on the many innovative takeaways of the Spa & Wellness International Day.

Live from FIBO, the largest fitness show in the world, we're sharing excerpts from the Spa & Wellness International Day, where expert speakers shared innovative business models integrating longevity and wellness with hospitality and membership. This episode, part one of two, features Andrew Gibson, Oliver Patrick of Pillar Wellbeing, and Claire Bourne of Eden One.

Live from LEC Innovation Summit: industry veteran operators Maggy Dunphy and Tammy Pahel share thoughts on the current state of the wellness industry and future innovation, including touchless wellness options.

Live from the Health & Fitness Association's annual conference, three panelists from different corners of the world discuss how their innovative business models are redefining what it means to be well, and why they're quickly becoming the go-to destinations for individuals seeking comprehensive, transformative health experiences that promote physical recovery, mental clarity, and emotional well-being. Featuring Emili Hernandez, of Inner Flow, Daniel Stickler of The Covery, and Matthew Riemann of ShaeFit.

Every year, wellness is included on more trend lists from popular publications and thought leaders, but it can be difficult to discern a trend from a fad. Business management has to navigate these forecasts to ensure their business is providing options that are sought after, but not too far ahead of the curve. Jessica Shea, VP of Wellness, Retail and Leisure Operations for Hilton Americas, helps us to find the practical applications in the haystack.

Africa is a continent rich with indigenous wellness rituals and unique botanicals, but growing the wellness industry within Africa is a challenge on many levels. Mariane Akwenye of NomadSpa and Michelle Saudan of Amanzi Wellbeing, Chair and Vice-Chair of the African Wellness Initiative from GWI, are passionate about the continent's history and culture and determined to spread the word globally.

Chiropractor and Concierge Wellness Doctor Jonathan Leary recognized the need among patients for an opportunity to participate in holistic healing activities that did not feel isolated, and the idea for Remedy Place was born. On the cusp of opening their 4th location, Dr. Leary discusses the journey so far and his vision for the future of this new and exciting business model.

Entrepreneur Jennifer Pahl took a yoga class and said, I can do this too! Using a practical approach, Jennifer shares her journey from idea to studio owner, yoga instructor, and yoga studio business coach, creating a vibrant Twist-Yoga community along the way.

What's ahead this year in wellness? The eagerly awaited annual Global Wellness Summit Trend report, released live in NYC, sheds light on how to position and market our wellness businesses for the future. We spoke with journalists and attendees Heather Mikesell, Jennifer Walsh, Sandra Sadowski, Francisco Lugo and Sallie Fraenkel for their expert opinions and first impressions. Learn more details here on the GWS site.

The world watched in horror as the recent L.A. wildfires engulfed neighborhoods, businesses and lives. Local wellness professionals Kim Marshall, Catherine Dambrosia and Sparrow Harrington share their first-hand stories of destruction and sorrow, with hope for the future. For ideas on how to help, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/wildfire-relief/california, https://www.gofundme.com/f/berosygofundme, https://www.lafoodbank.org/donate/disaster-relief, www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html

Charging ahead with continued 7% growth, the global wellness economy continues to roll along. Global Wellness Institute Senior Research Fellows Ophelia Yeung and Katherine Johnston share some of the stories behind the numbers, and what is fueling this continued growth and consumer interest in wellness.

Yoga has never been more popular, and yet many studios still struggle to survive. International yoga business consultant and Yogapreneur Josh Biro shares some of the tactics and strategies required for long-term success in a class-based business model.

Wellness is difficult to define, and yet global brands build their reputations on standards and consistency. The visionary Michael Newcombe, VP of Wellness for Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts globally, shares some of the unique elements that define Four Seasons spa and wellness experiences across 100+ properties in 44 countries.

Music is an important component of everyday life for many of us, pacing our actions and accompanying our activities, and has always been a crucial component of a well-rounded spa experience. We are fortunate to hear from Freddie Moross, Founder of Myndstream, which has made playing a wide assortment of purpose-built and royalty-free music easy for spa and wellness businesses globally.

Live from the Global Wellness Summit, the premier global gathering of wellness professionals, industry leaders Cathy Chon, Dr. Marc Cohen, Don Genders, Erin Lee and Charles Davidson share their insights on the wellness industry for 2025.

Recorded live at the We Work Well Spa hosted buyer event in La Jolla, CA, Spa Gregories owner Scott Duncan and Spa Director of Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf & Spa Resort Tracy Harper discuss market conditions they are seeing in their regions, and what they think the next year will bring.

Sauna and bathhouses are the hottest (pun intended!) topics in spa & wellness right now, and no business is hotter than Othership. Co-founder and CEO Robbie Bent shares the story of the amazing growth of the business, from his back yard to the newly opened 3rd location in Manhattan, and what he sees as the future of contrast therapy.

Have you incorporated generative AI into your life yet? We'll dive into how AI is being incorporated in the design, operations and fitness realms of the spa and wellness industry. Listen in as Vishal Patel of Sensei, Toby Ward of DFL and Enrico Manaresi from Technogym share how they are using AI to help their businesses work smarter and face the future. Hosted by the Consulting Initiative of the Global Wellness Institute.

China's growth may have slowed recently, but it is still a force to be reckoned with. Second in the world in both population and economic might, the growing middle class in China is continuing to fuel interest in spa & wellness. Recorded live at the 2024 Spa China Summit, Johnny Chang of Spa Solutions TM, Laura Gamboa of Natura Bisse, and Yvonne Cheung of PA Wellness Consultancy share their first-hand views of the domestic spa industry.

Technology evolution continues; the long-awaited Aescape system for robotic massage is coming soon to a spa or wellness center near you! Join us to hear about the 7+ years behind the development of this amazing device from SVP of Product Alex Linde and Paul Nunez, Director of Partnerships. Meant to augment hands-on treatments, the Aescape system gives a remarkably human massage. And it never calls in sick!

This global capital of 9 million is revered as a bastion of tradition and is home to some of the most iconic hotels in the world, but the recent strong growth in hospitality and wellness facilities brings more new properties and modern concepts to the marketplace. Hattie David-Wilkinson, Director of Spa for Claridges Hotel, and Taffryn Ellis Kinsey, Director of Wellness for Six Senses London, share their insights on the local market, trends and outlook post-Brexit.

Spa and wellness businesses have been operating at capacity since post-pandemic, but is there an economic slow-down on the horizon? We gain insights from Patrick McDirmit, VP at Trilogy Spa Holdings, Lynn Curry of Curry Spa Consulting, and

Now that the pandemic is in the rear-view mirror, and touchless wellness and recovery services are steaming ahead, we check-in with renowned architect Robert Henry, Founder and Principal of wellness architecture firm RDHA, and spa, wellness & leisure facility designer Bryan Dunkelberger of S3 Design, for tips on the latest design trends and concepts in the field.

Leading teams in any discipline requires energy. But so often, our reserves are depleted by the demands of daily living. As the spa & wellness industry strives to create relaxing havens for guests and fulfilling work for staff, we have to be the masters of creating balanced energy in the workplace. Five leaders from across EMEA share their tips and strategies for maintaining the energy level of both themselves, and their teams, while creating serene environments. Recorded live at We Work Well Spa EMEA; Sardinia May 2024

While it may be a gaming mecca, Las Vegas is also a spa & wellness mecca, home to many of the largest and most elaborate facilities in the US. Current Director of Spa & Wellness for Fontainbleau Las Vegas, local spa maven Jennifer Lynn, has helmed many of these world-class locations and shares the method behind the magic of wowing clients in a city with a wow a minute.

How does one become a saunameister, and what is involved in that role? We visit with the world-renowned Lasse Eriksen, Development Manager for FarrisBad, who not only leads a team of 10 sauna masters at FarrisBad, he also heads up the Norwegian Sauna Association, is Vice President of Aufguss WM, a Board Member of ISA, and a global spokesperson for the many health benefits of sauna culture.

You know those beautiful spreads of spas and hotels in glossy magazines? We speak with Angelina Villa-Clarke and Nicole Trilivas, who are writing many of them for Forbes, Travel & Leisure, The Robb Report, and more! These women have the job of a lifetime; they travel the world visiting luxury properties and trying out the amenities. We gain their perspective on what they look for in their spa and wellness experiences, what is a turnoff, and what trends they are seeing across the globe.

Scandinavia is often equated with saunas and contrast therapy, but it was always done individually; it is only of late that communal experiences have become more common. Travel with me to Norway as I visit the amazing water palace spa & hotel The Well and chat with Asst. GM Annete Ose, survive a Celtic Sweat Lodge ceremony at Farris Bad with Tim Jago, and meet with Ragna Marie Fjeld, a founder of the Oslo Sauna Association, 

As the worlds of hospitality, fitness and wellness continue to converge, we welcome the first fitness hotel, SIRO, from Kerzner International, debuting in Dubai. A hotel created for both leisure and business travelers who want to maintain their healthy routines while traveling, the five pillars of SIRO, fitness, nutrition, sleep, recovery and mindfulness, are evident throughout the property. We talk with the Recovery Lab Manager, Julie Amos, and Staff Clinical Dietician Heeral Shivnani about what makes SIRO special.      

With so many digital business promotion methods available, is it really necessary to have a website anymore? Connie Holen, Owner and Founder of Pixality Design, designs websites for wellness, fitness and yoga businesses, and shares her tips and tricks for effective web design and SEO practices, resulting in business promotion for both known and prospective clients.

Calculating the value of 11 different wellness industry sectors which total $5.6Trillion is no easy feat! Meet the knowledgeable leaders of the Global Wellness Institute research team, whose experience and determination make this feat a reality. Ophelia Yeung and Katherine Johnston have spent the last 10 years providing perspective and scope so the rest of us can better understand our specific sectors, and the multitude of business possibilities before us, as the industry is forecast to grow another 52% by 2027!

No wellness industry trend report carries more weight than the GWS Future of Wellness. Recorded live at the press event unveiling in NYC, hear the 2024 trends accompanied by illuminating thoughts and opinions on the trends from some of the attending journalists and experts. You'll hear from Jonathan Leary, Remedy Place; Sara Jones, Spa & Wellness Mexicaribe; Erica Huss, All Too Well Media; Joe Holder, GQ Magazine;

Sven Huckenbeck earned his Masters in Sports Science before venturing into the spa & hospitality world, so he possesses a unique skill set as both a business operator and a body technician. Currently the Spa Director at Inspiration Spa at Das Konig Ludwig Hotel in Bavaria, Sven discusses the creation of his BioBalance system for maintaining optimal physical and mental health.

We know consumers seek wellness in the general sense, but decided to dig down into trenches to learn how those desires are manifesting within the treatment room. We speak with celebrity esthetician and skincare expert Pietro Simone, massage expert Nicole Chryst, and Alisa and Mike McGlothlin, award-winning owners of an Ageless Fitness franchise, on what they're hearing from clients.

Among the estimated 180k spas in the world, massage therapy is universally the #1 requested service. And yet, post-COVID, few spas are operating with the desired number of massage therapists. John Morris, Corporate Director of Wisconsin's Sundara Spa, and Service Director Cassandra Stratton from Chicagoland's Mario Tricoci chain of spa/salons, share some innovative approaches to this ongoing challenge to revenue and profits.

From personal trainer to CEO/Owner of IDEA, the world's leading membership association for fitness and wellness professionals, powerhouse Amy Thompson shares her inspirational career path story, launching and growing numerous brands and programs. But she's not finished yet; hear about her exciting vision for the continued convergence of wellness and fitness and the debut of World-Active.

Recorded live at the fall '23 North American Spa edition of We Work Well, Tania McCorkle of Garden of the Gods Resort & Club, and Lynne Hite of Four Seasons Westlake Village

Everyone wants to be in the wellness business, but not everyone thinks ahead about the end game. Luckily, there is an expert in that too! Mitch McGinley, MBA, has both bought and sold a wellness business personally, and now advises buyers and sellers in the process of valuation, due diligence, sales prep and all of the fun paperwork! Listen to Mitch's sound advice on what to look for when buying, and how to prep your business for your next chapter.

An early love of nature and the outdoors has infused every aspect of Jennifer Walsh's entrepreneurial career path. From founding Beauty Bar to roles as an on-air beauty expert, wellness journalist, published author, strategic advisor, co-host of Biophilic Solutions Podcast and creator of Wellness Walks®, Jennifer has literally been "walking the walk," demonstrating the connection between nature and mental wellness, touching the lives of thousands along the way.

Seems like everyone is doing yoga today - and there are almost 50k studios, just in the U.S. But owning a studio is not as easy as it looks. Sure, your yoga class is busy, but then what? You still have to pay rent on the other 22 hours a day! Verge Yoga owner Carole McKeon shares her journey from fitness guru to yoga instructor and studio owner, and the joys and challenges along the way.

Now that one of the world's largest spa & beauty markets is finally reopened post-COVID, hear from SVP of Mandara Spa Trent Munday, Director of Spa Development for Natura Bisse Laura Gamboa, and Paul Keegan, Senior Int. Trainer for AlfaParf, on the current challenges and opportunities of business in China. Recorded live at the 15th annual Spa China Summit.

Turning her back on a successful career as a financial analyst, Myriam Giri created a future for herself in wellness, first beginning a product company HolyBlends, with healthy snacks and supplements made in France, and then moving to Riyadh and starting a consultancy for wellness businesses. She is particularly focused on nutrition and its impact on overall health, and is finding much opportunity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where the citizens are embracing healthy lifestyles.

Patrick Tighe realized after personal experience that spa and wellness businesses needed an option to mitigate the already minimal risk for both client and business from non-invasive procedures. Coverwell by InjectSure® provides an easy and frictionless solution which helps to propel growth of these high-demand procedures.

Recorded live at the Medical Wellness Congess in Vienna, Austria, hear from 3 global experts on how the integration of spa, wellness and medicine is anticipated to evolve. We'll chat with Laszlo Puczko, Andrew Gibson and Emlyn Brown on their global perspectives and future vision for this growing field.

Entrepreneur and health-advocate Ross Bloom seized an opportunity to create something missing in the market; a wellness business that focused on individual care and treatment with a hospitality approach and beautiful environment. Almost 10 years into the journey, the biostation™ is flourishing and expanding. Bloom shares the story of the brand creation and growth, and the bright future ahead.

As the world continues to be obsessed with all things "wellness," it makes sense that the money will follow. Over the last several years, investment company CI Capital has purchased a string of high-profile wellness businesses and united them as Arch Amenity Group. We speak with Senior Vice Presidents Chris Griebe and Susan Grey on why CI Capital is so bullish on the wellness industry.

Often the future is best seen by those who benefit from the lens of past experience. Wellness Pioneer Anna Bjurstam shares her journey from celebrity fitness trainer to spa & wellness guru, creating global spa brands and most recently driving the renaissance of Six Senses Resorts. Anna enlightens us on radiesthesia, biohacking, biogeometry and energy healing, as well as what it means to be a pioneer, along the way.

Everyone is interested in mindfulness practices, but we don't always know where to start. What is meditation, exactly? And how do I know if I'm doing it "right?" Dr. Nina Smiley, Director of Mindfulness Programming at Mohonk Mountain House, walks us through the process, and supplies some excellent tips and tricks to get started.

When world-renowned wellness resort Chiva-Som decided to open a second location, they settled on a beautiful spot on the tip of Qatar, surrounded by the breezes of Arabian Gulf. Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som is a pioneer in Middle East wellness destinations and features full immersion of wellness services dedicated to promoting physical, mental, and emotional health, fully embracing the philosophy of Traditional Arabic & Islamic Medicine (TAIM). Director of Health & Wellness Sandie Johannessen shares the opening journey with us.

As spas, wellness, medical and fitness modalities continue to converge, business leaders need new strategies to stay ahead. Open a window into the future as Emlyn Brown, Global Head of Well-Being for Accor, Sara Codner, Senior Director of Spa & Wellness at Mandarin Oriental, and Kent Richards, Corporate Operations Director for Six Senses, share their insights and and plans for this competitive landscape for the coming year. This was recorded live during a webinar for We Work Well industry events in January 2023.

Spas play an important role in relaxation and stress relief for their guests, but sometimes we forget to focus on the mental wellness needs of our staffs and ourselves. Our guest, Professor Gerry Bodeker, is a public health researcher and academic specializing in lifespan wellness and integrative healthcare, who has worked over the decades with several UN organizations as well as global associations. Dr. Bodeker shares some insightful strategies to optimize selfcare for spa & wellness professionals.

Music is certainly a universal language, and we've all experienced how certain music can elicit a strong personal and emotional response. Researchers have continued to study the science behind the emotion, and Freddie Moross, the MD of Myndstream, explains how and why the company is using the research to enhance the artistic process, creating music designed to support wellness businesses and their clients.

Imagine spending 10-20 minutes per day to improve your brain function, lower stress, and improve creativity! Dr. Patrick Porter and team have created an effective and easy-to-use system, utilizing both software and optional hardware, that does just that. Listen in to the science behind BrainTap, and learn about the many ways this tool can be effective in spa and wellness settings, as well as for home use.

Massage is the most sought-after service in any spa, but that wasn't always the case! Join us as industry veteran C.G. Funk, former massage therapist and instructor, and current Senior Vice President of Culture and Industry Relations for Massage Heights, shares the evolution of massage within spa and wellness businesses, and sheds some light on the current therapist hiring challenges.

Many people dream of starting their own business, but this busy NYC marketing executive made her dreams become reality. Lisa Bare created and ran a very successful day spa in the Hudson Valley for almost twenty years, through financial downturns and pandemics, and the usual daily dramas, and still came out smiling! Listen in as Bare shares the lessons learned along the way.

We hear much talk about sustainability, but the concept of Wellness Architecture is less well-known. The Founder of Apostoli Studio, Alberto Apostoli, is a global leader in the field, having designed dozens of hospitality and spa projects around the world, including the multi-award winning Lefay Resorts. Apostoli discusses what defines wellness architecture, and how it contributes to a successful wellness business.

Is the wellness bubble doing more damage than good? Tune in to hear wellness industry veteran Lisa Henry Jacobs delve into this and other questions for wellness professionals to consider. Jacobs brings a unique perspective amidst her own health challenges, and urges that we consider how wellness is baked into our business models, and the true impact we are having on our communities. We need to perpetuate the need to give back, but of course wellness is still a business at the end of the day.

Supply chain issues are still impacting businesses across the globe; at the We Work Well Hospitality event in Malta, we took a deep dive into the challenges this is creating for hospitality operators and suppliers in the EMEA market. Denis Karalic, Diderick Woltering, Mirko Habek and Rich Burden share their management strategies for the moment.

Since its 2014 inaugural report, the Global Wellness Economy Monitor has become the go-to source of comprehensive global wellness economy data for business leaders, researchers and the media. We visit with the brilliant researchers behind the data, who share their insights behind the post-pandemic findings in the eleven wellness sectors.

With so much interest in wellness from consumers, this might be the right time for you to open your own wellness business, or to consider selling one you have built. We are joined by the very knowledgeable CPA April McDaniel from financial advisory firm Kopsa Otte, who shares many useful and informative tips and strategies on how to structure your business and handle your accounting to avoid unpleasant surprises at sale time!

The unique Healing Summit, an initiative of Healing Hotels of the World, gathers leaders from the worlds of business, hospitality, and non-profits to explore a holistic approach to life and business, with the aim to create a global community of influencers who commit to doing good in the world. We've collected brief contributions from a few of the world-class presenters including Paul Polman,  Gina Diez Barroso and others, recorded live in the Algarve, Portugal in September 2022.

With the opening of their newest Medical Resort on the German resort island of Sylt, the Lanserhof Group continues to raise the bar in their genre. Everything from architecture, decor & design, food and staff training has been intentionally created to support a detoxification, cleansing and centering journey for its guests. Group CMO Nils Behrens and Medical Director Dr. Jan Strikze share the purpose and thought behind the business model during my visit.

Natural thermal springs and "taking the waters" have been hallmarks of communal wellness for hundreds of years, and the recent pandemic has renewed interest in this health practice. In advance of World Bathing Day on June 22, we hear from Charles Davidson, visionary entrepreneur and CEO of Peninsula Hot Springs in Victoria, Australia, on the latest developments in hot springs resorts, and how they can become a launching pad for regional tourism. https://www.femteconline.org/    https://www.hotsprings.org/

Long-time professionals in the spa world know the U.S. roots came from the salon industry, but the product and education supplier networks that existed 25 years ago have been completely up-ended by consolidation and the worldwide web. The process of delivering products and training is both easier, and harder, than ever! Distribution expert Brian McGee, General Manager of the nail supplier Dazzle Dry, shares his insights on what it takes to grow a beauty product business today.

Jim Chenevey left the world of top-five consulting and international business to take ownership of Living Earth Crafts/Earthlite 20 years ago, and has never looked back. In our conversation, Chenevey reflects on owning and managing this global leader of massage & wellness equipment and product manufacturing, with annual sales of over 37k products across 193 countries. Chenevey's passion for wellness, people and the planet is evident throughout all aspects of company operations, and despite the challenges of operating across international borders and in the internet era, he believes the positive momentum for wellness will continue to grow.

In the U.S., not only are massage therapists and estheticians licensed by different boards, these boards have different requirements for licensure in each of our 50 states, making it very difficult for therapists to work beyond their initial licensed area. However, change is looming; Deirdre Strunk, VP of Spa, Beauty, Fitness & Retail for Canyon Ranch, and a member on the Compact for Licensure task force, reports on the movement underway to update these generations-old regulations. 

In spring of 2022, much of the world is receding from an active pandemic, although the results still linger. We check in with two spa leaders, Aldina Duarte-Ramos of Accor and Four Seasons' Christelle Besnier on how the spa and wellness industry is recovering in Europe and the Middle East. Recorded live at We Work Well EMEA 2022.

Wellness is in big demand, attracting developers who want to create projects with wellness elements; but the first question always is, where is the data? While we have excellent broad numbers on many wellness-related silos courtesy of the Global Wellness Institute, at the intersection of wellness and hospitality there is a dearth of detailed data on how spa and wellness components affect ADR or occupancy, or which particular services or experiences are in most demand. National Director of Hospitality Analytics for CoStar Jan Freitag, and Laszlo Puczko, Wellness Tourism expert and Co-founder of HTWW, share their insights on why...

Consumers today want wellness at every turn, including while traveling, and hotels are always promoting their wellness offerings, which may or may not be relevant to that guest. But did you know that in German-speaking Europe you could stay in a qualified "Wellness Hotel?" Wellness Hotels & Resorts has been certifying hotels for their quality of stay, food & environment for over 25 years! Managing Partner Michael Altewischer and Brand Ambassador Wilfried Dreckmann explain how a property becomes a Wellness Hotel, and what to expect.

Now that "wellness" is front and center, you can find the term everywhere. While that's probably a good thing, it can also create confusion for those seeking information online. Julie Keller Callaghan and Heather Mikesell of Well Defined discuss how they position their website, and the process of sifting through information to provide content that is relevant for both consumers and professionals.

The world has approximately 160k spas, so what makes one more special than the next? Tune in to hear highly-regarded spa consultants Tracy Lee and her colleague Michael Lahm share their process behind the vision and planning that goes into the creation of a unique spa and wellness retreat.

Hotel spas were among the hardest hit during the pandemic, but their recovery looks bright. US leaders of spa & wellness for both Hilton Worldwide and Marriott join us to share their current operations status, and future growth plans and projections, which are very positive! After a 40% revenue decline in 2020, many are beating 2019 revenues, and experiencing strong pricing power and momentum.

Consumers are seeking businesses that can deliver personal wellness while acknowledging the greater needs of a healthy planet. We chat with Michael Stusser, Co-Founder of GSNPlanet, and Lucy Brialey, Co-Founder and Director of the Sustainable Spa Association, about the mission of their organizations, and the extensive tools they provide to guide wellness businesses on sustainable operations.

Wondering what it would look like to merge Traditional Medicine with Holistic Health? Statera Integrated Health & Wellness successfully combines primary care, spa, movement, integrative health & counseling in a comprehensive and unique business model in the American midwest.