In today's episode, recorded LIVE!, I'm joined by my longtime friend, Australian hairdresser, and salon owner David Bamford—a man who once rocked twin blue mohawks, won international awards by surprise, and opened a gorgeous River Oaks salon… five weeks before the world shut down. We trace his wild path from architecture student to behind-the-basketball-court barber, London and Aberdeen detours, a green-card saga complete with Farrah Fawcett's endorsement, and building Therapy—the salon—brick by brick.

We talk about grief and grit: losing his father, a beloved 18-year-old pup, and a marriage to his business partner—then deciding not to be the victim. David shares the very practical ways he kept the lights on during COVID (hello, color curbside and Zoom-hair tutorials), what real luxury looks like (hint: not Crocs), and how positive affirmations and parenting re-wired his priorities. Plus: an Hermes caper, the Inside the Actors Studio–style lightning round (I had 22 questions; we are big Swifties), and yes… the Westheimer ghost story that still gives me chills.

If you're in a season of detours, this one's a masterclass in designing a life you love, even when the blueprint gets ripped up. Perfect is good, but done is better.

Chapters

• 00:00 – Meet David Bamford (and why I skipped the formal bio)

• 04:30 – From architecture to blue mohawks

• 13:55 – London → Aberdeen → Europe (hostels are a no)

• 22:10 – Houston, Jose Eber, and the green card (Farrah Fawcett, WorldFest)

• 30:45 – Building therapy and curating real luxury

• 37:25 – Opening the River Oaks space… then COVID

• 43:10 – Pivoting: color kits, Zoom hair, partitions, outdoors

• 49:05 – Divorce, loss, and choosing not to be the victim

• 56:00 – Parenting, affirmations, and dating after 20 years

• 1:02:30 – Hermès adventures and the Westheimer ghost

• 1:09:00 – 22-question lightning round

• 1:13:30 – One 5-minute action to move forward (affirmations)

Ever worn a label that felt perfect—until it started itching like a bargain-bin T-shirt? Same.

In this episode, I unwrap the identities I've collected (and returned) over the years:

• The week I was German, Lebanese, Egyptian, and Irish—no layovers required.

• How we manage to keep othering one immigrant group after another—same script, new accent.

• Growing up Independent Fundamental Baptist (picture Footloose, minus Kevin Bacon), and why I'm now spiritually "between addresses."

• A Post-it-note challenge to see which of your own labels actually deserve closet space.

Because we're all handed identities; the real work is deciding which ones get to stay.

Hit play for stories, questions, and just enough self deprication to keep everyone honest.

Finished listening?

1. Forward this episode to a friend who's outgrown their box.

2. Rate, review, and share if it made you laugh, think, or text your bestie an apology.

Connect & Subscribe

• Watch the video version on YouTube → youtube.com/@itsdavidpeck

• Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

• Follow me @itsdavidpeck

Chapters

What do fashion tariffs, Blake Lively's alleged text-message nuclear codes, and Instagram's sneaky Discover feed have in common? They all escalated—fast.

Welcome to the inaugural "Well, That Escalated…"—the once-a-month segment where I drag my favorite opinion-sharpshooter Laura Max Rose out of our group-chat bunker and into the studio. It's basically the audio version of us texting "WAIT, DID YOU SEE THIS?" at 1 a.m.

This round we unpack:

• Why my "Made in America" dream factory sometimes feels like DIY textile purgatory.

• The Blake-vs-Baldoni legal soap opera and Taylor Swift's strategic sphinx routine (recorded before any surprise masters-deal plot twists—guess we'll need another debrief).

• The single rogue tap that turned Laura's IG into a pyramid-scheme carnival—and the one-button fix.

• My love affair with long-form YouTube (because dopamine-scroll fatigue is real).

Connect & Subscribe

• Watch the video version on YouTube → youtube.com/@itsdavidpeck

• Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

• Follow Laura on IG @lauramaxrose and me @itsdavidpeck

• #WellThatEscalated #InsideTheDesignStudio #DesignYourLife