In this premiere episode of Storytellers: Benicia Life, host Bernadette Hill sits down with Cindy Robertson—hairstylist of 40 years, owner of Shear Artistry Salon, and a woman whose story embodies courage, reinvention, and radical honesty.

After addiction nearly cost her everything—her health, marriage, business, and identity—Cindy made the decision to rebuild her life from the inside out. In this deeply personal conversation, Bernadette also shares her own eight-year recovery journey, revealing the intimate parallels between their paths.

Set inside Benicia’s historic Tannery Building, this episode explores what it really takes to start over: one choice, one habit, one honest moment at a time.

Topics in this episode:

• Navigating addiction and rebuilding your life

• Recovery as a daily practice

• Running a local business through personal transformation

• Reclaiming identity after years of silence

• The power of community in healing

Connect with the Guest — Cindy Robertson

Shear Artistry Salon (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=shear%20artistry%20benicia

(Use updated link if you have a direct one.)

Connect with Savage Simplicity wherever you already are →

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savagesimplicity

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@savagesimplicity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savage.simplicity.with.bernadette/

LinkedIn – Bernadette Hill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettehill/

Savage Swag Shop: https://savageswag.printful.me/

Website / Community (Circle): https://circle.so/c/savagesimplicity

Keywords: recovery, women in business, reinvention, sobriety, benicia california, small business owner, healing out loud, resilience, storytelling, bernadette hill podcast