This is StRest! Maria McCool—founder of Calista, longtime stylist, salon owner, product developer, and mom of three—joins Kerstin Lindquist to unpack what “beauty brave” really means: going from hiding to being willing to be seen. They talk about why the salon chair becomes a safe place for truth, how touch builds trust, and how small outward changes can spark deeper inner confidence.

Maria shares how she knew at 12 she wanted to do hair, how she fought pressure to “go to college,” and how she built a salon and a product line by listening to real women who couldn’t recreate their looks at home. The conversation turns to purpose, faith, and self-love—plus practical “reset” habits, boundaries, and non-negotiables that keep Maria grounded as she heads into a new season of growth.

SPONSORS

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PROGRAM

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Power of touch and why clients open up

05:17 Who Maria is and why she matters

05:53 Age 12: the perm that changed everything

09:02 Fighting to choose beauty school

11:20 From salon owner to product builder

15:37 “Beauty Brave” = being willing to be seen

17:37 Faith and how to access confidence daily

27:41 Why hairstylists become “therapists”