Lisa Lopez joins us for a conversation about education, competition, mentorship, and finding your place in the grooming industry.

Although she grew up helping in her mother's grooming salon, Lisa's path wasn't always headed toward grooming. After years pursuing a medical career and earning both Bachelor's and Master's degrees, she ultimately chose the profession she loved most.

Lisa shares how growing up in a grooming family, showing dogs, and competing helped shape her approach to education, breed standards, and continuous growth.

We also discuss mentorship, overcoming career ruts, and why learning never truly stops in the grooming industry.

This is one of those shear stories that reminds us that growth often begins when we're willing to see things from a new perspective.

Jay Batista joins us for an honest and inspiring conversation about accidentally discovering a career in grooming that would completely change the course of his life.

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Jay never planned on becoming a groomer. While studying communications and trying to make ends meet, everything shifted after attempting to groom his girlfriend’s schnauzer at home using a Wahl clipper kit and tutorials on a broken laptop.

What started as survival quickly turned into a passion that led to over 22 years in the grooming industry and more than a decade educating groomers around the world.

We also dive into competition grooming, the importance of the grooming community, humble beginnings, and how unexpected opportunities can completely reshape your future.

This is one of those shear stories that reminds us the careers that define us are not always the ones we planned for.

Tina Clem joins us for an honest conversation about how an unexpected late-night skunk emergency sparked a 35-year grooming career.

What started with searching for help for her terrier eventually led Tina to Nash Academy, where watching groomers at work completely changed the direction of her life.

Tina reflects on learning grooming before feeling fully ready, working in vet clinics, building a home grooming setup, raising a family, navigating divorce, and rebuilding her business from scratch in South Georgia.

We also dive into burnout, confidence, raising children around the grooming industry, and the resilience it takes to keep moving forward through every stage of life.

This is one of those shear stories that reminds us life-changing careers are not always planned, and sometimes the moments that shape us happen completely by accident.

Judi Thacker joins us for a conversation about legacy, education, competition grooming, and the family-like connections found throughout the grooming industry.

Raised around trade shows and the grooming world from a young age, Judi shares how her journey unexpectedly shifted from pursuing aeronautics engineering to building a life and career within the industry instead.

Judi reflects on competition grooming, mentorship, teaching, raising three children as a single mother, and eventually helping lead the Lone Star Groomers Conference after the passing of her father.

We also dive into the importance of growth through failure, keeping an open mind in education, and why every groomer has something valuable to offer.

This is one of those shear stories that reminds us how deeply connected the grooming industry truly is.

We sit down with creative groomer Monica King for an honest conversation about burnout, mental health, loss, and the moments where she questioned whether she wanted to keep grooming at all. She also shares a life-altering experience, suffering a heart attack at 44 and driving herself to the hospital without realizing what was happening.

Throughout the episode, we talk about the bond between groomers and their competition dogs, the reality of aging in the ring, and the difficult decisions that come with it.

This episode is about resilience, identity, and learning how to keep moving forward, one of those shear stories that goes far beyond grooming and into real life.

In this episode of Shears & Stories, we sit down with Donald Buckenmeyer for a raw and honest conversation about his path into the grooming industry.

After serving 7 years in the Army, Donald struggled to find purpose in civilian life until discovering dog grooming through his wife. What followed was a journey filled with challenges, growth, and hard-earned perspective.

Donald opens up about addiction, rebuilding his life, and the reality of navigating both personal struggles and business ownership. From being fired from jobs to shifting into entrepreneurship, he shares the mindset and resilience it takes to keep moving forward.

This is a story about purpose, growth, and figuring things out when the path isn’t clear.

This episode of Shears & Stories features Elli in an honest conversation about what it really takes to grow in the grooming industry.

From starting out at PetSmart to building her own business, she shares the highs, the setbacks, and the lessons that come with both.

Elli opens up about the early struggles every groomer faces, the risks behind the work, and the mental side of grooming that often goes unspoken. From competition and business growth to imposter syndrome and balancing life outside the salon, this conversation offers a real look behind the scenes.

This is a story about growth, resilience, and what it actually takes to keep moving forward in this industry.

We sit down with Adamaris “Ada” Lopez, owner of Dog Groomer Academy, for an honest look at a journey that almost didn’t make it through.

After 15 years as a dog trainer, Ada stepped into grooming by taking over an education facility (without knowing the craft herself). What followed were long drives to learn, limited Spanish-speaking resources, and moments where everything nearly fell apart completely. But she didn’t quit.

Through persistence and a commitment to doing things the right way, Ada built a thriving grooming school focused on proper education, safety, and accessibility for the next generation.

This episode is about risk, resilience, and the power of creating opportunity. A story that proves success isn’t about where you start, but how you keep going.

From her start in Conway, South Carolina to becoming a respected judge, educator, and creative grooming artist, Adriane shares the real experiences that shaped her career.

She reflects on her early days as a mobile groomer, working with high-profile clients—including grooming the dogs of Anna Nicole Smith—and the reality of chasing success in a competitive industry.

Adriane also opens up about setbacks, missed placements, and the perseverance it took to keep showing up until she finally broke through.

This episode is about resilience, passion, and what it truly takes to grow in the grooming world—one of those true shear stories every groomer can connect with.

We sit down with Wayne Hartley for an honest conversation about the evolution of his grooming career and the path that led him to where he is today.

From starting out as a mobile groomer to building a brick-and-mortar salon and stepping fully into business ownership, Wayne shares the pivotal decisions, challenges, and lessons that shaped his journey.

We also dive into an unexpected chapter… how COVID, despite its challenges, ultimately created growth and opportunity within the grooming industry.

In this episode of Shears & Stories, we sit down with LaTonya Smith to talk about her journey through the grooming industry, the experiences that shaped her, and the heart behind her nonprofit work.

From real-life challenges to the impact she’s making beyond the grooming table, LaTonya shares a story that’s honest, inspiring, and deeply rooted in purpose.

In this episode of Shears & Stories, we sit down with Scott Wasserman, known to many as Mr. Terrier, for an honest conversation about a life spent in the grooming industry.

With 40 years behind the table, Scott reflects on the moments, lessons, and experiences that shaped his career and shares where he is today.

Whether you have been in grooming for years or are just getting started, this is a story worth hearing.

 In this heartfelt conversation, Elli sits down with Shyanna—a groomer navigating life while facing serious health challenges.

Through it all, her love for grooming, her coworkers, and the animals she cares for never wavers.

This is a story about resilience, empathy, and continuing forward—even when things feel uncertain.

 If you know Jess Adorno, you know she’s a force in the grooming industry—educator, innovator, and mentor.

But beyond all of that, she’s someone who shows up when it matters most.

In this conversation, Elli sits down with Jess to talk about passion, perseverance, and the moments that test us in ways no one else sees.

This episode is about strength.
About community.
And about standing beside the people who have always stood for others.