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