The Internet: When Trust Was Traded for Attention

Social media and the internet didn’t just become part of our lives; they became a brand we were asked to trust.

In this end-of-year episode of BUILDING & BREAKING, I step back from the noise to look at the internet and social platforms through a brand lens: the promise they made, why that promise mattered, and what happens when trust slowly erodes.

This isn’t an episode about blaming technology or opting out. It’s about perspective.

I reflect on how the shift from connection to performance, chaos, and comparison has changed how many of us experience the internet and why many salon owners, hairstylists, creatives, and even pro beauty brands are feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, overstimulated, and disconnected.

In This Episode

  • The original promise of the internet and why it earned our trust
  • How attention quietly replaced care as the primary metric
  • The human cost of constant noise, comparison, and rage baiting
  • Why we’re seeing a growing pull toward slower, quieter, more intentional ways of connecting
  • How salons, hairstylists, and pro beauty brands can regain perspective by putting social media back in its proper role as one tool of many

This episode is both a reflection on the year behind us and a preview of what’s ahead. It sets the context for my ongoing Trends & Outlooks work, focused on helping business owners zoom out, see the entire picture, and make aligned decisions that build trust, relationships, and higher lifetime client value.

As always, this conversation comes back to the BUILDING & BREAKING fundamentals:
care, trust, value, and the promises that build our brands, or break them.

Thank you for listening. Your time and attention mean the world to me. And so do you!

Gordon Miller Nina L Kovner people passion purpose podcast Passion Squared hd

Gordon Miller + Nina L. Kovner Decade In Review

In this extended episode Nina sits down with her bestie Gordon Miller, CEO of Hairbrained.me to talk about the decade in social, digital, the beauty industry, highlights, proud moments and all the things. They also share some predictions of where they see the future of social, digital and more. Buckle up loves, this is a long yet loaded with so much wisdom episode. You can find Gordon on the gram @gordnm @hairbrained_official and Nina @passionsquared Thank you Gordon for being our special guest and to all of our listeners who have been with us the last two years. We are so grateful for you. Happy New Year!

You can also listen to our podcast on:
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Your experience matters. We would be so grateful if you shared your experience with our podcast by leaving a review. It matters to us, and so do you. Thank you- Nina

Celeste people passion purpose podcast Passion Squared hd

Celeste Gonzalez on Advanced Education + Persistence + Finding Her Rhythm

In this episode, Nina talks with Celeste Gonzalez, hair + make up artist, salon owner, educator and mama! Celeste’s story is a must listen as she shares her wisdom around being a newer stylist in the pro beauty biz and how her passion for advanced education has propelled her success in just two short years along with how she navigates finding her rhythm and staying out of the comparison game on social media. Thank you, Celeste, for sharing your story with us. We love you! You can find Celeste on the gram @celestethestylist.

 

You can also listen to our podcast on:
Apple Podcasts
Google Play
Stitcher

Your experience matters. We would be so grateful if you shared your experience with our podcast by leaving a review. It matters to us, and so do you. Thank you- Nina

Brenda Amaral people passion purpose podcast Passion Squared hd

Brenda Amaral on Leadership + Self-Awareness + Inclusivity

In this episode, Nina chats with Brenda Amaral, leader, salon owner, educator, board member of ABCH and all around awesome human being. Brenda shares her story about how she discovered her love for the pro beauty biz, why she opened a salon, how she handles team members that leave, the importance of inclusivity and integration in the salon biz, and SO much more. You can find Brenda on the gram @brendolah @gwenmireillesalonandspa and here at Texture vs. Race on Facebook. Thank you, Brenda, for sharing your story with us. We love you!

You can also listen to our podcast on:
iTunes
Google Play
Stitcher

Your experience matters. We would be so grateful if you shared your experience with our podcast by leaving a review. It matters to us, and so do you. Thank you- Nina

Gina Bianca_people passion purpose podcast Passion Squared hd

Gina Bianca on Salon Ownership + Social Media + Purpose

In this episode, Nina chats with Gina Bianca, salon owner, educator, coach and beauty influencer. Gina shares her story about becoming a hairdresser and salon owner along with what inspired her to open and most recently close her first salon. Gina also shares her thoughts on social media, purpose, burnout and more. You can find Gina on the gram at @iamginabianca + @thenetworksalon Thank you, Gina, for sharing your story with us. We love you!

You can also listen to our podcast on:
iTunes
Google Play
Stitcher

Your experience matters. We would be so grateful if you shared your experience with our podcast by leaving a review. It matters to us, and so do you. Thank you- Nina