In today's episode, recorded LIVE!, I'm joined by my longtime friend, Australian hairdresser, and salon owner David Bamford—a man who once rocked twin blue mohawks, won international awards by surprise, and opened a gorgeous River Oaks salon… five weeks before the world shut down. We trace his wild path from architecture student to behind-the-basketball-court barber, London and Aberdeen detours, a green-card saga complete with Farrah Fawcett's endorsement, and building Therapy—the salon—brick by brick.
We talk about grief and grit: losing his father, a beloved 18-year-old pup, and a marriage to his business partner—then deciding not to be the victim. David shares the very practical ways he kept the lights on during COVID (hello, color curbside and Zoom-hair tutorials), what real luxury looks like (hint: not Crocs), and how positive affirmations and parenting re-wired his priorities. Plus: an Hermes caper, the Inside the Actors Studio–style lightning round (I had 22 questions; we are big Swifties), and yes… the Westheimer ghost story that still gives me chills.
If you're in a season of detours, this one's a masterclass in designing a life you love, even when the blueprint gets ripped up. Perfect is good, but done is better.
Chapters
00:00 – Meet David Bamford (and why I skipped the formal bio)
04:30 – From architecture to blue mohawks
13:55 – London → Aberdeen → Europe (hostels are a no)
22:10 – Houston, Jose Eber, and the green card (Farrah Fawcett, WorldFest)
30:45 – Building therapy and curating real luxury
37:25 – Opening the River Oaks space… then COVID
43:10 – Pivoting: color kits, Zoom hair, partitions, outdoors
49:05 – Divorce, loss, and choosing not to be the victim
56:00 – Parenting, affirmations, and dating after 20 years
1:02:30 – Hermès adventures and the Westheimer ghost
1:09:00 – 22-question lightning round
1:13:30 – One 5-minute action to move forward (affirmations)
