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Episode Description
What if the person most likely to spot early signs of domestic violence isn’t a police officer, clinician, or counselor—but your hairstylist? In this episode of the 1in3 Podcast, Ingrid sits down with salon owner and advocate Susanne Shepherd Post to reveal how Shear Haven is transforming everyday salon appointments into potentially life-saving interactions through a free, 20-minute domestic violence training.
Susanne shares how a short news clip about an Illinois law sparked a statewide movement in Tennessee. Starting with in-person trainings through the YWCA, she discovered a powerful truth: stylists often hear the earliest indicators of abuse—sudden schedule changes, love-bombing, isolation from friends, controlling partners—long before physical signs ever appear.
The Shear Haven training teaches beauty professionals how to listen without judgment, recognize warning signs of domestic violence, and offer safe, appropriate resources. It emphasizes clear boundaries too: stylists are not therapists or mandatory reporters—just trusted, consistent humans who can hold space and guide someone to help.
When the pandemic halted in-person workshops, Shear Haven partnered with Barbicide to launch a short, accessible online course with global hotline resources. The impact was immediate and worldwide: 160,000+ learners across 100+ countries, with training now offered in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Susanne also breaks down recent policy wins, including Tennessee’s requirement that keeps the training free, fast, and accessible, plus the bipartisan federal effort helping other states adopt similar laws.
You’ll also hear how teen-led advocacy, including Burd Beauty’s bottles printed with a QR code linking directly to the training, is helping spark conversations about teen dating violence.
If you’ve ever sensed something was “off” but didn’t know how to interpret it, this episode gives you the signs to watch for, the language to use, and the confidence to support someone safely without causing harm.
If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review—your one conversation might change a life.
Susanne’s Links:
https://www.1in3podcast.com/guests/susanne-shepherd-pos/
https://shearhaventraining.org/
https://www.instagram.com/shearhavenywca?igsh=NHN6MDR4cTZnY2Zr&utm_source=qr
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sushepherd/
Burd Beauty:
1 in 3 is intended for mature audiences. Episodes contain explicit content and may be triggering to some.
If you are in the United States and need help right now, call the national domestic violence hotline at 800-799-7233 or text the word “start” to 88788.
Contact 1 in 3:
- Send your emails to 1in3podcast@gmail.com
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- Check out the website https://www.1in3podcast.com/
Thank you for listening!
Cover art by Laura Swift Dahlke
Music by Tim Crowe