Volume Up by The Tease

The Tease Media
  • 4.2 (24)
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Updated Weekly

Volume Up is an extension of TheTease.com hosted by The Tease founder and agency owner, Kelly Ehlers and VP of Digital, Jeffrey Lunnen. Every Monday, Kelly and Jeffrey will be sharing headlines of our favorite articles on the site, our rants about what’s going on in the salon pro world, and interview founders, tastemakers and industry icons.

  1. 4d ago

    What Were You Taught to Accept in the Salon That You Refuse to Pass On? Kelly Ehlers on Why Nice Girls Win

    Nice Girls Win: Boundaries, Self Worth, and Success Behind the Chair with Kelly Ehlers You can care deeply about your clients and still say no. You can love your work and want to earn more. And you can build a successful career without becoming a salon owner. In this special episode of Volume Up by TheTease.com, cofounder and executive producer Monica Hickey steps behind the mic to interview our own Kelly Ehlers about her book, Nice Girls Win: How Kind Women Can Create the Lives They Deserve. Together, they bring the book’s lessons into the salon, exploring how to set boundaries around client communication, stop overexplaining your no, communicate pricing clearly, and charge your worth without guilt. They also discuss moving beyond mean girl culture, walking away from relationships that compromise your wellbeing, and defining success on your own terms. Kelly opens up about the private struggle that inspired the book and why she paired personal stories with practical exercises readers can revisit. Whether you’re building your clientele, leading a team, or figuring out what comes next, this conversation invites you to get specific about the life you deserve and start making room for it. Plus, Monica and Kelly spotlight Michelle O’Connor’s texture education work and weigh in on fall beauty launches, from blurring bronzers to the wet dry shampoo debate. Purchase Nice Girls Win: https://www.nicegirlswin.com/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H8S2H7JC?lv More From Nice Girls Win: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicegirlswinofficial News from TheTease.com: https://www.instagram.com/p/DesEVVmur5I/ Beauty News: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/a74108402/best-new-beauty-products-october-2026/ More from TheTease.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readthetease/ (readthetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volumeupbythetease/ (volumeupbythetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers/ / (KellyEhlers) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eljeffreycraig/ (eljeffreycraig) Web: https://www.thetease.com (TheTease.com) Email: VolumeUp@TheTease.com   Episode Chapters 00:11 — Welcome: Monica Steps Behind the Mic 04:26 — Beauty News: Michelle O’Connor and Texture Education 05:51 — Fall Beauty Finds and the Wet Dry Shampoo Debate 09:10 — Meet the Author: Turning the Mic on Kelly Ehlers 15:01 — Setting Boundaries Behind the Chair 17:45 — Clear Expectations, Consultations, and Pricing 22:25 — Nice Girls Make Bread: Charging Your Worth 23:21 — Expanding What a Beauty Career Can Look Like 30:51 — Turning the Book’s Lessons Into Action 35:26 — Why Kelly Wants Nice Girls Win to Become a Movement   Credits: Volume Up is a Tease Media production. This episode was produced by Monica Hickey and Madeline Hickey. James Arbaje is our editor and audio engineer. Thank you to our creative team for putting together the graphics for this episode.   Thank you to the team who helped create our theme song. Show them some love and check out their other work! •Josh Landowski https://www.instagram.com/josh_landowski/

    What Were You Taught to Accept in the Salon That You Refuse to Pass On? Kelly Ehlers on Why Nice Girls Win

  2. Oct 13

    It's Time to Fix the Barber Industry's Hiring Problem with Drew Le

    Sponsored by Hello Salon Pro & Milk_Shake Interview with  What if finding your next barber or your next chair could be easier? Kelly Ehlers sits down with Drew Lee, founder of Barber Recruit and owner of Original Sharp Barbershop and Shave Parlor in New Jersey, to explore a more connected, professional future for barbering. Drawing on 20 years behind the chair and a decade of shop ownership, Drew shares how his own hiring frustrations inspired a platform that brings portfolios, career experience, shop opportunities, and compensation information together. They discuss building strong teams, supporting barbers’ career growth, and finding a shop that fits beyond the paycheck. Plus, Kelly and Jeff discuss beauty news, transformative haircuts, curtain bangs, and the balance between charging your worth and communicating prices clearly. In The Fine Print, Kelly challenges the idea that women have an expiration date on their ambitions. Timestamped Chapters: Host Recording 04:33 — Welcome Back: Carnations and Catching Up 06:31 — Nice Girls Win: Reader Feedback and Recording the Audiobook 09:34 — Obsessed or Over it  10 Years Younger Child Stylists Are built Different Hair contouring  1ksewin 27:37 — The Fine Print: Challenging the Career Timeline for Women 32:05 — Beauty News  https://www.thetease.com/undone-old-hollywood-curls-took-over-vivienne-westwood-ss27-at-pfw/ https://www.thetease.com/lina-lennox-founder-angela-d-muth-on-why-hair-protection-is-haircare Timestamped Chapters: Drew Lee Interview 00:00 — Meet Drew Lee: Celebrating 10 Years of Shop Ownership 00:37 — From High School Haircuts to a Career in Barbering 02:57 — Building Original Sharp and Stepping Into Ownership 06:52 — What Professionalism Looks Like in a Barbershop 10:28 — Why Finding the Right Barbers Is Still So Difficult 12:11 — Retaining Talent Through Structure, Support, and Career Growth 13:17 — Turning a Hiring Challenge Into Barber Recruit 15:47 — How the Platform Works: Profiles, Portfolios, and Visibility 17:11 — Finding Nearby Shops and Comparing Opportunities 18:16 — Projecting Earnings Before Choosing Your Next Chair 19:16 — Compensation Transparency and Finding the Right Pay Model 20:23 — Growing the Network: Connecting Shops and Barbers 22:08 — Drew’s Vision for the Platform and Finding the Right Shop Culture 24:39 — Why Changing Shops Can Mean Rebuilding Your Clientele 25:22 — Technology and the Future of Men’s Grooming 28:24 — Getting Started and Building With User Feedback 29:38 — The Tease Quick Takes: Public Speaking, Podcasts, Perms, and Justin Bieber 31:45 — Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Barber Recruit   Links: https://barberrecruit.com/about https://www.instagram.com/barberrecruit https://www.instagram.com/originalsharp/ More from TheTease.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readthetease/ (readthetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volumeupbythetease/ (volumeupbythetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers/ / (KellyEhlers) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eljeffreycraig/ (eljeffreycraig) Web: https://www.thetease.com (TheTease.com) Email: VolumeUp@TheTease.com   Credits: Volume Up is a Tease Media production. This episode was produced by Monica Hickey and Madeline Hickey. James Arbaje is our editor and audio engineer. Thank you to our creative team for putting together the graphics for this episode.   Thank you to the team who helped create our theme song. Show them some love and check out their other work! •Josh Landowski https://www.instagram.com/josh_landowski/

    It's Time to Fix the Barber Industry's Hiring Problem with Drew Le

  3. Oct 6

    You Know How to Do Hair But Do You Know the Why? with Brandon Bal-Lance

    Interview with Brandon Bal-Lance Brandon Bal-Lance is the Owner and Creative Director of Bal-Lance Salon & Academy in Saratoga, California, as well as an award-winning hairstylist, professional educator, and editorial artist. His career spans color, cutting, styling, hair health, education, and salon development. As a Schwarzkopf Professional National Educator and Advanced Vidal Sassoon Artist, Brandon has traveled across the country educating beauty professionals while continuing to work behind the chair and mentor emerging talent. At Bal-Lance Salon, he has made developing the next generation of artists a priority through structured education, mentorship, and a junior artist program designed to bridge the gap between beauty school and the salon floor. From artist to educator to salon owner, Brandon brings a unique perspective on building a sustainable career in beauty and preparing the industry’s next generation for success. Links: https://www.instagram.com/itsbrandonballance/ https://www.instagram.com/ballancesalon/  https://events.zoom.us/ev/AtGmoI3aMs3CVxbl1-R4oh7ao884QCBt-tGL2vhX6MeugGHRA-7y~ArVHBtMkUJeGrN9FCPHDWDuQ28-mgKFXBburD41szx-yYHnQ2m_A4AcN6Q?lmt=1790703700000 https://www.vagaro.com/ballancesalon/book-now?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAac-jfkzUiE4lBOoufvu-88H6Dw604_eibidzfu1Gh7YtHMg5F00HCC6Rl-2Ow_aem_Yu8I94vsdVBVPnt88SR2yQ News from TheTease.com: https://www.thetease.com/exclusive-julia-garners-2026-vmas-hair-bobby-eliot-breaks-down-her-madonna-inspired-look/ Obsessed or Over It? Very Pregnant Anne Smoky Eyes Fall Routine Snakes and snakeskin More from TheTease.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readthetease/ (readthetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volumeupbythetease/ (volumeupbythetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers/ / (KellyEhlers) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eljeffreycraig/ (eljeffreycraig) Web: https://www.thetease.com (TheTease.com) Email: VolumeUp@TheTease.com   Credits: Volume Up is a Tease Media production. This episode was produced by Monica Hickey and Madeline Hickey. James Arbaje is our editor and audio engineer. Thank you to our creative team for putting together the graphics for this episode.   Thank you to the team who helped create our theme song. Show them some love and check out their other work! •Josh Landowski https://www.instagram.com/josh_landowski/

    You Know How to Do Hair But Do You Know the Why? with Brandon Bal-Lance

  4. Sep 29

    Is This Cult Haircare Brand Still Fighting to Break Through? with Dina Rosenbloom

    Interview with Dina Rosenbloom Dina Rosenbloom is a C-Suite Executive and beauty industry veteran that joined Hairstory in June 2023 and quickly became CEO. Before this, she served as Senior Vice President at Creed Fragrances North America for 11 years and prior roles include leadership marketing positions at Unilever, Carol’s Daughter and Bumble and bumble.   Interestingly, Dina arrived in the US (Minnesota) as a toddler, after her family immigrated from the Soviet Union with just $8 to start their new life! She knuckled down and worked her way up, meaning that today looks quite different; a CEO of an incredible brand that is fully led by women. Links: https://www.instagram.com/dinarosenbloom/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dina-rosenbloom-9a72681 https://www.instagram.com/hairstorystudio/  News from TheTease.com: https://www.thetease.com/bobbi-brown-the-person-attempts-make-good-with-molly-simms/ https://www.thetease.com/glow-recipe-just-dropped-the-lip-blur-balm-your-feed-has-been-asking-for/ Obsessed or Over It? Brownie Points Morning Alarms Product or Gas More from TheTease.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readthetease/ (readthetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volumeupbythetease/ (volumeupbythetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers/ / (KellyEhlers) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eljeffreycraig/ (eljeffreycraig) Web: https://www.thetease.com (TheTease.com) Email: VolumeUp@TheTease.com   Credits: Volume Up is a Tease Media production. This episode was produced by Monica Hickey and Madeline Hickey. James Arbaje is our editor and audio engineer. Thank you to our creative team for putting together the graphics for this episode.   Thank you to the team who helped create our theme song. Show them some love and check out their other work! •Josh Landowski https://www.instagram.com/josh_landowski/

    Is This Cult Haircare Brand Still Fighting to Break Through? with Dina Rosenbloom

  5. Sep 22

    Why Ceremonia Refuses to Follow Beauty’s Playbook With Babba Rivera

    Sponsored by OLAPLEX X Hello Salon Pro https://thetease.shop/products/hello-salon-pro-subscription-box https://olaplex.com/  Sponsored by Nice Girls Win https://www.amazon.com/Nice-Girls-Win-Create-Deserve/dp/B0H8S2H7JC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=387LHIK1YA7IK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KDuAsqdk0_19R2v77dhuxr_rh7pkQCpECBzXVfjaGYXGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.B_m5YYlgSmBmUFGniJ8Z9ZHwjq-xN-4_TMbHeyPhX0k&dib_tag=se&keywords=nice+girls+win+kelly+ehlers&qid=1784841714&sprefix=nice+girls+win%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1  Interview with Babba Rivera Babba Rivera is an award-winning entrepreneur, brand builder, and the founder and CEO of Ceremonia, a clean haircare brand rooted in Latin American heritage. Born and raised in Sweden to Chilean parents, Rivera began her career in tech and marketing, helping launch Uber in Sweden before moving to New York and joining Away. She later founded her own brand marketing agency before launching Ceremonia in 2020, inspired by her personal journey with her hair, her family’s beauty rituals, and a desire to bring greater Latin American representation to the beauty industry. Rivera has been recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and continues to champion a more inclusive and culturally authentic approach to beauty and entrepreneurship. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaracanales/  https://latinness.com/en/babba-c-rivera-i-felt-a-strong-sense-of-responsibility-to-propel-change/ https://mykita.com/en/journal/in-conversation-babba-c-rivera-force-of-nature?srsltid=AfmBOorkRcfA3RqPvaJFYsrYEpAqVlyfxGkt_P2w3oDm9jB1Vlvui0RE https://babbarivera.substack.com/ https://en.ohmycream.com/blogs/journal/interview-babba-rivera-ceremonia News from TheTease.com: https://www.thetease.com/jacob-dillon-on-creating-ayo-edebiris-dreamy-26-emmys-updo/ https://www.thetease.com/meg-starter-was-an-actual-emmy-at-this-years-award-show/ Obsessed or Over It? 2027  Spooky Season Trade Perfect Hair More from TheTease.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readthetease/ (readthetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volumeupbythetease/ (volumeupbythetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers/ / (KellyEhlers) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eljeffreycraig/ (eljeffreycraig) Web: https://www.thetease.com (TheTease.com) Email: VolumeUp@TheTease.com   Credits: Volume Up is a Tease Media production. This episode was produced by Monica Hickey and Madeline Hickey. James Arbaje is our editor and audio engineer. Thank you to our creative team for putting together the graphics for this episode.   Thank you to the team who helped create our theme song. Show them some love and check out their other work! •Josh Landowski https://www.instagram.com/josh_landowski/

    Why Ceremonia Refuses to Follow Beauty’s Playbook With Babba Rivera

  6. Sep 15

    Stop Being Busy, Start Building At From Chair to Boss with Mireya Villarreal

    Sponsored by Nice Girls Win https://www.amazon.com/Nice-Girls-Win-Create-Deserve/dp/B0H8S2H7JC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=387LHIK1YA7IK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KDuAsqdk0_19R2v77dhuxr_rh7pkQCpECBzXVfjaGYXGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.B_m5YYlgSmBmUFGniJ8Z9ZHwjq-xN-4_TMbHeyPhX0k&dib_tag=se&keywords=nice+girls+win+kelly+ehlers&qid=1784841714&sprefix=nice+girls+win%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1  Interview with Mireya Villarreal Mireya is a distinguished hairstylist with a rich professional background, whose journey has taken her from a modest 600-square-foot salon to the helm of Pink Pewter, a globally recognized beauty brand. Her passion lies in inspiring others through her own story of triumph, challenges, and unwavering determination. Mireya blends her personal and entrepreneurial experiences to share a proven formula for success, offering an authentic look behind the scenes of building a business from the ground up. As the creator of From Chair to BossTM, including the live event and online course, she equips beauty professionals with the mindset, financial literacy, and business strategy to confidently transition from behind the chair to ownership. In addition to her business achievements, Mireya leads The Pink Pewter FoundationTM, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides grants and scholarships to aspiring beauty professionals. Through these platforms, she continues to fuel a movement that empowers the next generation to build sustainable, independent careers in beauty. Links: https://education.mireyavillarreal.com/  News from TheTease.com: https://www.thetease.com/the-infinite-knot-karim-belghiran-breaks-down-cult-gaias-ss27-nyfw-runway-hair/ https://www.thetease.com/diane-von-furstenberg-ss27-runway-hair-is-an-ode-to-the-70s-and-80s-party-girl/ Obsessed or Over It? Edible Application Post Embarrassed Blowout arms More from TheTease.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readthetease/ (readthetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volumeupbythetease/ (volumeupbythetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers/ / (KellyEhlers) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eljeffreycraig/ (eljeffreycraig) Web: https://www.thetease.com (TheTease.com) Email: VolumeUp@TheTease.com   Credits: Volume Up is a Tease Media production. This episode was produced by Monica Hickey and Madeline Hickey. James Arbaje is our editor and audio engineer. Thank you to our creative team for putting together the graphics for this episode.   Thank you to the team who helped create our theme song. Show them some love and check out their other work! •Josh Landowski https://www.instagram.com/josh_landowski/

    Stop Being Busy, Start Building At From Chair to Boss with Mireya Villarreal

  7. Sep 8

    Why We Treat Aging Skin but Ignore Aging Hair with Allison Conrad

    Sponsored by Nice Girls Win https://www.amazon.com/Nice-Girls-Win-Create-Deserve/dp/B0H8S2H7JC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=387LHIK1YA7IK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KDuAsqdk0_19R2v77dhuxr_rh7pkQCpECBzXVfjaGYXGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.B_m5YYlgSmBmUFGniJ8Z9ZHwjq-xN-4_TMbHeyPhX0k&dib_tag=se&keywords=nice+girls+win+kelly+ehlers&qid=1784841714&sprefix=nice+girls+win%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1  Interview with Allison Conrad Allison Conrad is the co-founder and CEO of Arey, a functional beauty brand pioneering a proactive, science-backed approach to aging hair. When Allison spotted her first grey hair, she started looking for a solution beyond endless dye appointments. That search led her to discover that genetics are only part of why hair goes grey, factors like oxidative stress, nutrient depletion, and environmental exposure can also play a role. Together with her longtime stylist and certified trichologist Jay Small, Allison co-founded Arey, an anti-aging haircare brand designed to address aging hair at the root. Working alongside leading scientists and medical advisors, they developed a solution clinically proven to reduce grey hairs,* powered by the patent-protected Mela-9® Complex and proprietary Arey® Compound. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonconrad/  https://arey.com/pages/our-story?srsltid=AfmBOoop-s5zsVtHWDgS5j9mqVGCRMer7raV9f77lO9bnpdeCPYrCexN https://oakessentials.com/blogs/the-essentialist/arey-allison-conrad-grey-hair-longevity?srsltid=AfmBOornFZZbH8gfnQWx3fShzqHsm0YzH3fd0sl-yYOKUGcTW8SpVprq https://karagoldin.com/podcasts/allison-conrad/ News from TheTease.com: https://www.thetease.com/pros-have-safe-space-to-get-real-at-beauty-unfiltered-event/ Obsessed or Over It? Salon Backdrop A Little PhotoShoot Bedazzle More from TheTease.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readthetease/ (readthetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volumeupbythetease/ (volumeupbythetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers/ / (KellyEhlers) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eljeffreycraig/ (eljeffreycraig) Web: https://www.thetease.com (TheTease.com) Email: VolumeUp@TheTease.com   Credits: Volume Up is a Tease Media production. This episode was produced by Monica Hickey and Madeline Hickey. James Arbaje is our editor and audio engineer. Thank you to our creative team for putting together the graphics for this episode.   Thank you to the team who helped create our theme song. Show them some love and check out their other work! •Josh Landowski https://www.instagram.com/josh_landowski/

    Why We Treat Aging Skin but Ignore Aging Hair with Allison Conrad

  8. Sep 1

    The Leadership Mistakes That Nearly Destroyed Her Salon with Jenna Bowden

    Sponsored by Nice Girls Win https://www.amazon.com/Nice-Girls-Win-Create-Deserve/dp/B0H8S2H7JC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=387LHIK1YA7IK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KDuAsqdk0_19R2v77dhuxr_rh7pkQCpECBzXVfjaGYXGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.B_m5YYlgSmBmUFGniJ8Z9ZHwjq-xN-4_TMbHeyPhX0k&dib_tag=se&keywords=nice+girls+win+kelly+ehlers&qid=1784841714&sprefix=nice+girls+win%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1  Interview with Jenna Bowden Jenna Bowden is the Founder of Delta Crown Hair Extensions, an emerging leader in premium hair extension services. In her first four years as a salon owner, she experienced three team walkouts while cycling through three ineffective leadership styles: hiring friends over fit ("The Idealist"), leading with rigid control ("The Dictator"), and becoming too hands-off once the business stabilized ("The Semi-Absentee"). Those experiences led her to develop a "leading the leaders" approach, which helped grow the business into an acquisition by a platform company. Delta Crown then launched its franchise opportunity in March 2026 and signed its first three franchise agreements within two months. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-bowden-2b473a166/ https://www.instagram.com/jenna.ceo/?hl=en https://www.beautylaunchpad.com/products/extensions/news/22962519/delta-crown-hair-extensions-goes-franchise-betting-big-on-the-booming-extension-economy https://franchise.deltacrown.com/ News from TheTease.com: https://www.thetease.com/meet-the-2026-emmy-hairstyling-nominees-before-the-september-14th-ceremony/ https://www.thetease.com/the-broccoli-seed-supplement-backed-by-science-and-kim-kardashian/ Obsessed or Over It? Mika Abdalla Urban Decay Partnership DITL GONE WRONG VOICEMAIL VIDEO More from TheTease.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readthetease/ (readthetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volumeupbythetease/ (volumeupbythetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers/ / (KellyEhlers) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eljeffreycraig/ (eljeffreycraig) Web: https://www.thetease.com (TheTease.com) Email: VolumeUp@TheTease.com   Credits: Volume Up is a Tease Media production. This episode was produced by Monica Hickey and Madeline Hickey. James Arbaje is our editor and audio engineer. Thank you to our creative team for putting together the graphics for this episode.   Thank you to the team who helped create our theme song. Show them some love and check out their other work! •Josh Landowski https://www.instagram.com/josh_landowski/

    The Leadership Mistakes That Nearly Destroyed Her Salon with Jenna Bowden
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4.2
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Volume Up is an extension of TheTease.com hosted by The Tease founder and agency owner, Kelly Ehlers and VP of Digital, Jeffrey Lunnen. Every Monday, Kelly and Jeffrey will be sharing headlines of our favorite articles on the site, our rants about what’s going on in the salon pro world, and interview founders, tastemakers and industry icons.

Information

  • Creator
    The Tease Media
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    257
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 The Tease
  • Show Website
    Volume Up by The Tease

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