How do you react to changes in the industry?   In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, host Alex Thiersch interviews Max Baybak, co-founder of Influx Marketing, a leading agency in aesthetic marketing. They discuss the evolution of the aesthetic industry, the challenges faced by marketing agencies, and the impact of AI on marketing strategies. Max introduces Growth Stack, a new platform designed specifically for medical spas, emphasizing the importance of personalization and effective web design in today's digital landscape. The conversation highlights the need for agencies to adapt to changing technologies and the ongoing relevance of websites in marketing. Takeaways include:

• Influx Marketing's history of specializing in marketing medical aesthetic
• Why they focus on understanding the patient journey
• Challenges and opportunities provided by developments in AI technology
• The development of Growth Stack and how it allows for more personalized outreach
• Business's need to stay competitive in a changing environment
• A preview of the Medical Spa Show and Influx's involvement in the program

 

What good is AI if it doesn't know how to put your data to use?

In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, host Alex Tiersch is joined by Dennis Steele, co-founder of Podium, to discuss the journey of building a tech giant rooted in the success of local businesses. From humble beginnings to becoming a vital tool for the aesthetic industry, Dennis shares insights into why staying close to the customer is the ultimate competitive advantage. The conversation dives into the evolution of the medical spa industry, the importance of streamlining the "in-store" experience, and how they design the Avery AI to bridge the gap between providers and patients. Whether you are a solo practitioner or scaling multiple locations, this episode offers a roadmap for using better communication to drive business growth. Discussion points include:

• The beginning of Podium
• Why the company works with med spas
• Designing for the single-location vs an enterprise
• The implementation of AI as an employee
• How Podium's new operating system connects AI with data and purpose

Where does innovation come from?

In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, host Alex Thiersch sits down with aesthetic industry luminary and renowned facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Steve Dayan. Dr. Dayan shares his unique perspective on the early days of the medical spa movement and how he helped pioneer the business and marketing tracks that are now staples of modern aesthetic conferences. They also preview Dr. Dayan's upcoming keynote presentation at the Medical Spa Show 2026. Discussion points include:

• The Creative Power of Necessity

• Industry Evolution

• The Social and Neurological Aspects of Beauty

• How the XOMD Skincare Brand Was Created

• Respecting History

   

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how medical spas attract and convert new patients—but most marketing strategies still focus on the very end of the buying journey. In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, AmSpa founder Alex Thiersch speaks with Rick Brown, co-founder and CEO of MarketStorm, and Krista Stevenson, head of business development, about how their company and other AI tools are changing the way businesses identify and influence consumers long before they start searching. The discussion includes:

 

• What the “Messy Middle” means for medical spa marketing
• Why most advertising budgets focus too late in the patient decision journey

• How AI can identify potential patients before they start searching

• The role of predictive data in modern marketing strategies

• Why brand awareness early in the decision process matters

• How med spas can expand beyond social media marketing

 

   

How does a medical aesthetic practice scale to a nation-wide brand without sacrificing quality or values?

In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, Alex Thiersch sits down with Jen Seisler, COO of SkinSpirit and George Baxter-Holder, VP of Talent Development, for a conversation about growth, training and leadership in medical aesthetics.

Recorded at AmSpa’s new training center ahead of a hands-on cadaver lab with the Academy for Injection Anatomy, the discussion explores how SkinSpirit has grown from a single clinic in Palo Alto to more than 60 locations while maintaining a strong culture of safety, education and provider-first leadership. Discussion points include:

• Why cadaver anatomy training should become a minimum standard for injectors
• The provider-first strategy behind SkinSpirit’s expansion
• How culture and training reduce turnover in aesthetic practices
• Why responsible growth matters more than rapid scaling
• How corporate partnerships are helping legitimize medical aesthetics
• Why safety and trust remain the industry’s true North Star

In this episode of Compliance is Cool, AmSpa founder Alex Thiersch and General Counsel Patrick O'Brien dive deep into the legislative "flurry" currently sweeping through the medical spa industry. Focusing on Indiana's Senate Bill 282, the duo explores how a seemingly benign licensing bill evolved into a restrictive piece of legislation targeting both medical spas and compounding pharmacies. They pull back the curtain on the "Big Pharma" influence—specifically Eli Lilly’s presence in Indianapolis—and explain why the sudden push to track compounded GLP-1 medications has created a "death by paperwork" scenario for med spa owners. This episode serves as a wake-up call for the industry as similar legislative language begins to surface in states like Florida, Iowa, and Arizona. Discussion points include:

• An overview of the path Indiana SB 282 took from draft to law
• An explanation of the bill's provisions and how they would adversely affect medical providers
• The connection between SB 282 and big pharma's battle with compounding medications
• How Alex, Patrick, and their lobbyist worked with legislators to improve the bill and what it still includes
• The national trends that practitioners should stay aware of, and how AmSpa and its members can be proactive in leading the conversation

AmSpa founder Alex Thiersch introduces a brand-new segment of the Medical Spa Insider podcast: Compliance is Cool. As the medical spa industry reaches a critical inflection point, Alex discusses his transition from CEO to Chairman, allowing him to focus full-time on the legal advocacy and legislative "battles" currently bubbling beneath the surface. From the importance of data-backed safety research to a deep dive into the recent legislative "kerfuffle" in Indiana involving Eli Lilly and GLP-1 compounding, this episode sets the stage for a more vocal, protected, and compliant industry. Email your compliance questions to [email protected] to be answered on future episodes. Key points include:

• The Launch of "Compliance is Cool"
• Leadership Evolution at AmSpa and Alex's new projects
• The legislative challenges looming for med spas
• The Indiana GLP-1 bill and Eli Lilly
• Why the industry must invest in scientific studies
• AmSpa’s New Chicago Home
  

With Alex Thiersch on the ground in Indiana lobbying against pivotal new legislation, AmSpa Digital Marketing Supervisor Derek steps in to break down a whirlwind of 2026 legislative moves. From Big Pharma’s influence on GLP-1 regulations to shifting MSO scrutiny and expanding autonomy for practitioners, this episode explores how new bills in states like Indiana, Florida, and Arizona are reshaping the industry. Learn why "information is power" and how these national trends might be coming to your state next. Key points include:

• The Battle Over GLP-1s
• Stricter State Oversight
• MSOs Under the Microscope
• Expanding Autonomy
• Rising Professional Standards
• New Practice Permissions
• Next Steps for Practitioners and AmSpa

Did you know the average medical spa is juggling FOURTEEN separate vendor deals? With that many balls in the air, it’s easy for something to get dropped. In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, Alex Thiersch talks with Keri Concannon, co-founder and CEO of Beauty Rep, about why ordering, onboarding, and managing aesthetic brand partnership is still far more fragmented than it should be—and how the Beauty Rep B2B platform was designed to make vendor management faster, clearer, and easier for practices of every size. Listen to learn:

• The unique challenges that large brands and smaller brands each face when it comes to selling
• How BeautyRep opens up conversations by making B2B materials readily available
• The way that brands are using the portal to support their sales teams
• The benefits for practitioners and owners of any size when it comes to finding products and managing inventory
• Keri’s journey from sales rep to entrepreneur and plans for expanding the platform

Growing a practice goes far beyond clinical skills; it requires intentional strategy around hiring, retention, operations, and leadership. AmSpa founder Alex Thiersch sits down with Ashley James of DermAesthetic Consulting to discuss why owners often struggle to get their team aligned with their vision — and how they can fix it. Smart recruiting is a practical solution that will strengthen your clinic’s foundation and boost long-term success. Whether you’re onboarding your first hire or preparing for a major growth phase, these insights will help you build a practice that thrives without you being “on the clock” all the time. Discussion points include:

• Why hiring right saves more money in the long run than hiring cheap
• The role of your team in establishing your brand and reputation
• Establishing onboarding procedures and timelines that lead to productivity
• Hiring with culture in mind
• How owners benefit from delegating leadership and operations
• Using strategic people management to boost revenue and patient experience

Are you acting on data or just collecting it? In this episode of Medical Spa Insider, host Alex Tiersch is joined by Alex Lirtsman (CorralData) and Tyler Weinberg (Aviva Aesthetics) to explore how med spa owners can "hire" AI-driven data collaboration to achieve operational excellence. You’ll learn how Aviva Aesthetics utilized CorralData to move beyond fragmented spreadsheets and EMR silos, turning their scattered databases into a central source of truth. Their partnership acts as a case study for turning messy data into a strategic growth engine. Discussion points:

• Avoiding Data Fragmentation While Scaling
• Why Pivot to Automated Reporting
• Adding a Human Face to Data
• The Need to Include Data in Decision-Making
• The Definition of Data Hygiene