Episode 66

Mentors, Mistakes, and the Messy Middle of Med Spa Ownership

Published on: 17th April, 2025

Welcome to Part 1 of this powerhouse two-part episode featuring the one and only Michelle Langston, NP—top-tier aesthetic injector, Empire Medical Training educator, and solo med spa owner based in La Jolla, California.

In this episode of Beauty & The Brain, Dr. Chris Croley and Jerry Drinkard, NP, sit down with Michelle to unpack the real journey behind building a successful aesthetics career. From early days as an RN injector to launching (and relaunching!) her own practice, Michelle shares raw insights into mentorship, burnout, and what it really takes to thrive in the ever-evolving world of medical aesthetics.


Whether you're a new injector, med spa owner, or aesthetic nurse practitioner, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways on navigating competition, investing in continuing education, and avoiding the “failure to launch” trap so many providers fall into.


🔥 Topics we cover:

– How to break into the aesthetics industry the right way

– The reality of solo med spa ownership

– Building a brand in a saturated market

– Creating community vs. competition among injectors

– Why mentorship matters now more than ever

– Michelle’s journey from burnout to business owner


📌 Stay tuned for Part 2 dropping next Thursday!


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About the Podcast

Beauty & The Brain®
A Deep Dive into Medical Aesthetics
Welcome to Beauty & The Brain, the podcast where we take a deep dive into the fascinating world of medical aesthetics! I'm Dr. Chris Croley, and I'm joined by my co-host Jerry Drinkard, a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Together, we co-own Skin & Tonic, a medical spa that's passionate about providing the latest and greatest treatments to help our clients look and feel their best.

We started this podcast out of our love for medical aesthetics and our desire to share our knowledge and insights with others. Every week, we'll be discussing new trends, sharing our thoughts on controversial topics, and keeping you up to date on the latest technology in the industry. But we won't just be talking to ourselves! We're excited to bring in experts and industry leaders to share their perspectives and insights with our listeners.

Our goal is to provide a podcast that's authentic, informative, and genuinely helpful for anyone who's interested in beauty and wellness. Whether you're a beauty enthusiast or a medical professional, we hope you'll tune in every week to learn something new and join us on this journey of discovery.

So, if you're ready to dive into the world of medical aesthetics, join us on Beauty & The Brain, and let's explore this fascinating industry together!