Rainbow Room International Podcast: Preserving Culture, Sharing Stories and Building a Lasting Legacy.
For nearly 47 years, Rainbow Room International has been recognised for its commitment to education, standards and long-term career development. Over the past year, that commitment has taken a new form through the Rainbow Room International Podcast – an initiative created to protect, share and strengthen the culture that underpins the business.
The idea of launching a podcast had been discussed a number of times by founders Alan and Linda. As the podcast landscape continues to grow, the question was never about adding another voice to an already busy space, but about whether Rainbow Room International had something meaningful to contribute.
“It became clear that this wasn’t about competing with other podcasts,” says Riccardo Corvi, who hosts the podcast and is also director of Rainbow Room Ayr “It was about protecting the philosophy, standards and culture that define Rainbow Room International, and finding a way to share that in a format people genuinely connect with.”
Designed as both an internal resource and an external window into the brand, the podcast supports team members at every stage of their career, from new assistants and front-of-house teams to senior stylists and directors. At the same time, it offers clients, industry professionals, parents of trainees and aspiring hairdressers an honest insight into what it means to be part of Rainbow Room International.
The podcast launched with the Origin Story series, beginning with Alan and Linda and followed by each director sharing their journey from school and early training through to leadership. The conversations are reflective and open, exploring successes, challenges and key learning moments.
“We wanted the stories to feel real,” Riccardo explains. “Not polished or perfect, but honest. Hairdressing is full of incredible careers, but they’re built through hard work, resilience and good decisions over time. That’s what we wanted to show.”
Internally, episodes are now used within training and development, helping to reinforce values, expectations and long-term thinking across the business. For new team members, the podcast provides context and reassurance. For established staff, it strengthens connection and shared purpose.
Externally, listeners regularly comment on the transparency and positivity of the content, describing it as refreshing at a time when the industry can sometimes feel negative or disconnected.
Production has been kept deliberately simple, with the focus placed on clear storytelling, consistency and longevity rather than trends or high-concept formats. Episodes are released fortnightly, with content planned well into the future.
Alongside the Origin Story series, future content will include Salon Stars, spotlighting long-serving and award-winning team members, and the planned WHY series, exploring the thinking behind Rainbow Room International’s systems, methods and consultation-led approach. The Artistic Team will also feature more prominently, sharing insight from their work across fashion, media and major industry platforms.
“The podcast is a long-term investment,” says Riccardo. “It’s about creating a living archive of who we are, while continuing to evolve. If someone joins Rainbow Room International in ten years’ time, they’ll still be able to listen back and understand the culture they’re becoming part of.”
As Rainbow Room International is named a finalist for Innovation of the Year at the British Hairdressing Business Awards, the podcast stands as an example of innovation rooted in purpose – using a modern platform to preserve heritage, support education, and inspire future generations.
The Rainbow Room International Podcast is available on Spotify and YouTube.