Be Powerful with Liz & Lee

Latest Episodes:

61. The Truth About Getting Cosmetic Work Done With Dr. Guarav Bharti, MD, FACS Aug 04, 2022

Show notes

We're so happy to have our friend and fellow wellness expert on the show today! That's right, plastic surgeon Dr. Guarav Bharti, MD, FACS, joins us to discuss his perspective on the intersection of healthy living and plastic surgery. In this episode we want to remove the taboo of cosmetic surgery even further and have Dr. Bharti answer common questions about when someone might want to pursue it, why it's not a replacement for investing in yourself through healthy habits, and how to find a good plastic surgeon.

Dr. Gaurav Bharti MD, FACS is a board certified plastic surgeon and co-owner and partner at H/K/B specializing in cosmetic surgery. Dr. Bharti believes that plastic surgery requires a balance of compassion, understanding and technical skill. As a plastic surgeon doctor, Dr. Bharti performs a full range of cosmetic procedures under both general and local anesthesia, including breast augmentation, breast lifts, breast reductions, mommy makeovers, breast revision surgery, body contouring, liposuction, tummy tucks, facial surgery, and vaginal rejuvenation surgery.

Connect with Dr. Bharti:

Some key takeaways on getting cosmetic surgery done are:

A healthy diet and exercise (ahem, Hilliard Studio Method classes) are crucial for your overall health and wellness and feeling your best, but there are some instances where you might want plastic surgery to reach a certain aesthetic you want. And that's okay!
If you're looking for a plastic surgeon, make sure you find someone who has integrity, listens to you and communicates well, and has a personality you vibe with. They need to be board certified and have a strong staff behind them.
Certain aesthetics go in and out of style frequently, like exaggerated lip fillers or larger buttocks. A good surgeon will help you differentiate from what's trendy vs. what would be flattering on your body and still help you reach your goal.

Be Powerful with Liz & Lee, formerly Hilliard Studio Podcast, is focused on helping you find your inner power and for us to share our thoughts on society, culture, and current events. As the team behind Hilliard Studio Method in Charlotte, North Carolina, we love all things wellness and will also share info on how to live your healthiest life mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Liz Hilliard is an author, motivational speaker, personal & group trainer, podcast co-host and owner & creator of Hilliard Studio Method (HSM) – an internationally-renowned, core-centric, Pilates-based workout that uses the latest techniques to get the heart rate pumping and sweat dripping – uses "Be Powerful" as a daily mantra to empower and encourage women of all generations and fitness levels to accept themselves as they are and keep moving.

Lee Kennelly is the second half of the podcast and the Director of Training at Hilliard Studio Method. She is happy to be living life unabashedly with Liz and adores her teenage children who have probably never listened to the podcast! Lee is passionate about movement and teaching and loves being on the sports fields watching her children, making her line of Love Sauce salads, or going out to dinner for date night with Liz. While behind the mic and on the screen aren't necessarily her comfort zone, she loves podcasting with Liz and has enjoyed the opportunity to share her story with the hope of inspiring others to live more joyfully.

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60. Growing Up Gay in the South with Philips Wood Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

If you're listening to this interview on your podcast app of choice, you need to hop over to our YouTube channel to watch the animated, entertaining delight that is Philips Wood! Philips is one of our dear friends, and in this episode he's sharing his experience and opinions as a gay man growing up in the South. Plus, his favorite movies of the summer, refreshing cocktail ideas, and living in New Orleans.

Follow Philips over on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/philipswood/?hl=en!

Some key takeaways from our amazing conversation with Philips are:

Let your son have the princess cookie! Meaning, let your kids express themselves and create an environment where they feel comfortable sharing what they like with you. It'll save you both a lot of heartache.
We often take for granted the generations that came before us and fought for us the rights we have today (that are currently being threatened). It's so important to recognize our elders and show our respect.
Practice removing your political labels when you're discussing politics with people who disagree with you. When you focus on your core values and what you believe, you might find a lot more common ground than you think.

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59. Let's Take the Stigma Out of Talking About Sex Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

This episode took a few tries to get just right… kind of like learning how to have great sex! In this episode, we're going there! We have some key points about learning your body, ditching the shame and guilt around enjoying sex, and talking openly about sex with our partners, friends, and kids. That's right, our kids deserve a safe space to talk about their bodies and learn about safe sex from the people who love them most. We hope this episode empowers you to start the conversation.

Some key takeaways from this episode are:

We need to take shame and guilt out of the equation when it comes to enjoying sex! Sex feels good and no one should feel bad about that, but it can be hard to let go of messaging we hear our whole lives about what "good girls" do and don't do.
It's important to talk to our kids often about sex and their bodies. If kids grow up feeling safe asking you questions about sex and their bodies, they're less likely to feel that shame and more likely to have safe, consensual, pleasurable sex when they're ready.
Being able to talk to your partner about what you both enjoy when it comes to sex is crucial for having great sex, and both men and women deserve to feel safe and comfortable enough to be vulnerable and communicative with their partner.

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58. The Stories That Shape Us Jul 14, 2022

Show notes

Do you ever think about how much our stories shape who we are? From the fun interactions we had in Italy to how Liz's dad modeled what a strong partner looked like, in this episode we're sharing the stories that have shaped us in childhood and adulthood and why it's so important for you to share your own stories. Oh, and we do have an in-depth discussion about how Tom Cruise has still got it. If you haven't seen Top Gun: Maverick, that's a story worth watching too!

Resources mentioned:

Sea View Inn at Pawleys Island

Some key takeaways on the stories that shape us are:

It's so important to use your voice and speak from a place of authenticity. Regardless of your beliefs, you should share what's important to you, making sure to be kind about it.
Treasure the moments you have with your loved ones. Ask them lots of questions about the lessons they've learned and hold on to the precious things they give you to remember them by.
Model what it looks like to lovingly disagree with your partner or friends. Liz grew up seeing both of her parents respectfully speak their minds and disagree with each other and it shaped how she expresses and discusses her views in a very positive way.

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57. Ciao From Italy! A Recap of Our Italian Adventure So Far Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

We are almost to the end of our adventure in Italy and wanted to share all the amazing experiences we've had and lessons learned so far! From our favorite places we've stayed to our favorite excursions, this is a casual chit chat to hopefully inspire your future travel plans. We've linked some of our favorite spots below!

Resources mentioned:

Lucy Williams, our travel agent
Villa Cora in Florence
Colle Bereto Vineyard

Some key lessons from our trip so far:

When you're traveling (and always, really) treat people well and be of service to the people you meet. Especially when you're in a different country with different customs, be friendly and you'll make impactful connections wherever you are.
We highly recommend working with a travel agent to make sure you get to do all the excursions you want to do, especially if you're looking for an elevated experience!
Seek to learn on your adventures. Leave whatever notions you have behind and open your mind and heart to new people and experiences and let them teach you new things.

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56. What It Was Like to Get an Abortion Before Roe v. Wade Jun 30, 2022

Show notes

In light of Roe v. Wade being overturned on June 24th, we decided to record this episode. Liz is sharing her story of getting an abortion at age 17, in 1971, before Roe v. Wade was put into effect just two years later. As Liz says in the episode, this is a story of two strong women: a 17-year old with a bright future of impact and empowerment in front of her, and a strong mother that moved mountains to secure that future for her.

Some things you'll hear in this episode:

Liz's brave and vulnerable story of getting an abortion in 1971, and what it was like to go through the process of getting an appointment, included how she was treated by medical staff, before Roe v. Wade.
How the overturning of Roe v. Wade affects everyone, not just women and girls or people of a certain background. It affects absolutely everyone.
Nearly 1 in 4 women in the United States will have an abortion before age 45. (Source: Guttmacher Institute)
Chances are, you know someone who has had an abortion. There is such a stigma and so much shame around it that so many people don't tell their stories. Be kind with the language you use to talk about this issue, you never know who's listening and what their story is.

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55. How We're Finding Mindfulness, Adventure, and Wonder This Summer Jun 23, 2022

Show notes

It feels like summertime! We are sweating through this heat wave and counting down the days until our two-week trip to Italy! In this episode, we're sharing all the ways we're looking to find and add more mindfulness, adventure, and child-like wonder to our summer. Whether you're going on a luxury trip abroad or spending the summer at home, there are so many ways to find adventure wherever you are!

Some key takeaways on getting the most out of this summer:

Indulge in whatever you want to indulge in while you're on vacation. If you love the process of traveling like us, splurge on your flights and hotel accommodations. If you want to save on those things so you can go all out on excursions, do that! Make your vacation yours!
If you catch yourself saying "I need to be more mindful," or "I need to be more present," just do it! Don't make mindfulness a project, just stop what you're doing, center your breath, and come into the present right where you are.
One of the most amazing parts of traveling is to initiate that childlike wonder of experiencing a new culture, new people, and even a new language firsthand. Those adventures are often the least fancy ones. (Though we like the fancy trips, too!)

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54. Self Acceptance, Aging, Coming Out, and What It Truly Means to Be Powerful | LIVE Episode Jun 16, 2022

Show notes

This week, we hosted our first ever LIVE in-person podcast recording at the studio! We had such an amazing group of women in the audience that shared their stories, questions, and lessons learned. We chatted about everything from the Be Powerful motto and when Liz realized it was a rallying cry, fears of aging and everything we've gained from getting older, and details of our coming out journeys that we've never shared before… until now.

Some key takeaways from our first ever LIVE episode:

We share A LOT about what "Be Powerful" means to us, and our audience members share their thoughts as well. One of the key takeaways was how power and peace are connected. Hilliard Studio Method was founded to be a peaceful place for people to feel empowered and be led with love, not fear.
Being in "communion" (AKA exchanging energy with members of your community) with people helps you to learn so much about yourself, and you also help others learn more about who they are when you interact with them. Exploring ourselves allows us to deepen our self love and self acceptance.
Don't live your life behind a facade. It's really easy to think we have authenticity figured out and use all the right words to describe it, but even Liz has things about her book she would change now that she's fully stepped into her most authentic self.

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53. Putting Love, Joy, and Patience Out Into the World, Even When It Feels Really Heavy Jun 09, 2022

Show notes

We got a ton of feedback on last week's episode, which was definitely more of a heavy hitter (though hopefully we still made you smile at some points!). This week, we're mentally preparing for vacation and discussing what we think is within our power to control when the world gets heavy. We truly believe if you put love, joy, and some patience out into the world, it can create an amazing ripple effect that creates a whole lot of good.

Some key takeaways from today's episode:

You are much smarter and more capable than you think you are. Don't think you need to have everything figured out or know as much as someone you look up to in order to strike up a conversation with them. You are totally worthy of owning that space.
At the end of the day, people want to feel seen, loved, and protected. If there's an injustice or lack of equality that you feel strongly about, lending your time and talents in a way that will make someone feel seen and loved is sometimes the best thing you can do to help.
Enjoy yourself this summer. It can be hard to let yourself relax and enjoy vacation when there's so much hurt in the world, but if you care for yourself and spend intentional time with your loved ones, you will be able to create a really positive ripple effect.

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52. Fired Up About Freedom: Our Opinions on Gun Control, Abortion, and Voting In the 2022 Election Jun 02, 2022

Show notes

Just when you thought the topics we cover couldn't get more controversial… here we are! After the elementary school shooting in Texas last week, we had to record something about our thoughts around all the freedoms being challenged in the U.S. over the last few months. It's been a dark week, but after processing it we feel fired up and ready to share our feelings on abortion, gun control, racism, and voting. Buckle up!

Call for guests!:

We are looking for a couple of guests for the podcast in the next few weeks. Send us a DM over on Instagram if you'd like to put your name in as a potential guest.

Firstly, we'd like someone who disagrees with our views on gun control to share their opinion on the show.
Second, we'd love to feature a member of the LGBT+ community on the podcast to share their story! If you or someone you know might be interested, please send them our way!

Join us for the Be Powerful Power Hour live podcast event on Monday, June 13th, at 12 PM EST at Hilliard Studio Method in Charlotte! Register for your free tickets today!

Some key takeaways on freedom from this episode:

Vote. Vote. Vote. There is so much at stake, from gun control laws to abortion rights, and we can't vote for our pocketbooks anymore. Pay attention to all the candidates in this election and their policies and vote accordingly.
It's fine to hold personal beliefs about what you feel is right vs. wrong, but it's not fine to vote so that those beliefs are imposed on everyone. You can be personally pro-life and still vote in favor of abortion rights to protect the rights (and lives) of women in the U.S.
Be proud of who you are and show up as your most authentic self in every space. If you're surrounded by people who make you feel uncomfortable just being yourself, ditch those folks. You don't need 'em!

Liz Hilliard is an author, motivational speaker, personal & group trainer, podcast co-host and owner & creator of Hilliard Studio Method (HSM) – an internationally-renowned, core-centric, Pilates-based workout that uses the latest techniques to get the heart rate pumping and sweat dripping – uses "Be Powerful" as a daily mantra to empower and encouage women of all generations and fitness levels to accept themselves as they are and keep moving.

Podcast contact info:

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