The Journey of Glow Girl Spray Tan Salon: Stacey's StoryIn this episode of the Hood Homesteading podcast, the host welcomes Stacey, the lively owner of Glow Girl Spray Tanning Salon in Houston, Texas. Stacey shares her journey from being a tanning enthusiast in her teen years to becoming a successful spray tan salon owner. She recounts her career progression, including working as a lead therapist at Nordstrom and the challenges she faced while building her business. Stacey also discusses her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the difficulties of operating a business during lockdowns and her passionate views on education and public health policies.00:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:05 Meet Stacey: The Glow Girl01:20 Stacey's Journey: From College to Nordstrom02:33 The Birth of Glow Girl Tanning04:04 Challenges and Triumphs of Running a Business08:21 Impact of COVID-19 on the Business11:22 Reflections on Education and Society20:12 Conspiracy Theories and Government Critique26:41 The Role of Faith and Resilience

Cultural Identity, Empowerment, and Resilience: Urmi's Inspiring JourneyJoin us as we delve into the remarkable story of Urmi, a finance professional, blogger, and polyglot based in Montreal. Urmi shares her experiences growing up in an Italian and Bengali household, the challenges of finding her cultural identity, and how moving to Canada expanded her perspective. She discusses her involvement with Toastmasters and Women in Leadership, the importance of stepping out of comfort zones, and her aspirations to give a TED Talk. Urmi also touches on her love for travel, languages, fitness, and the significance of resilience in personal and professional growth. This episode is an empowering conversation about embracing diversity, learning new skills, and uplifting voices in the community.00:00 Introduction to Urmi00:45 Cultural Identity Struggles01:29 Finding Community in Canada02:27 Public Speaking and Leadership05:44 Blogging and Raising Awareness08:11 The Importance of Diversifying Skills09:52 Travel and Language Learning12:50 Hobbies and Personal Interests14:16 Aspiring to Give a TED Talk15:39 Empowerment and Social Media18:07 Resilience and Overcoming Challenges19:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Our first guest, Dianda Cerda, has been a hair dresser for over 20 years, and entrepreneur for about 12 years. She shares with us about life as a busy mom of 3 boys while balancing her two businesses as a hair dresser and real estate agent.