Episode 37. Brisbane to Birkin: Ghosts, Glam, Grit: LIVE! with David Bamford

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)