Be Powerful with Liz & Lee

Latest Episodes:

51. What Your Life Could Look Like If You Ditched Being a Perfectionist with Erin McDermott May 26, 2022

Show notes

Is perfectionism holding you back? You might not think so at first, but so much of our headspace can be consumed by what others think of us, and the fears of others can seep into our own thoughts. But what if you were unapologetically fearless? Erin McDermott, the Owner & Designer of Erin McDermott Jewelry in Charlotte, is on the podcast this week to share her fearless and free upbringing that inspired her creativity and spirit to do incredible work and live a full life. Follow her advice and your life could feel just as free!

Connect with Erin!

Some key takeaways from one of our favorite people:

Surround yourself with people who love and embrace you for all your quirks and the things that make you YOU! The people who try to shame you for it are not your people.
Live every day like Erin rolling up to carpool with ice cream all over herself: confident, unapologetic, and positively upbeat.
Don't let perfection hold you back from starting or showing up. Who cares if you wear the wrong outfit or don't have all the answers? Start anyway. It's the only way to get the momentum going so you can move forward.

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.

Podcast contact info:

50. The One Thing Liz Feels Shame About In Her Coming Out Story | Accepting People Who Live In Shades of Gray May 19, 2022

Show notes

We are often raised to look at things as black or white, meaning we can put a clear and comfortable label on what we do, who we love, and how we live. But what if your love - or anything you do - isn't black or white, but shades of gray (no, not that shades of gray, just somewhere in the middle of black of white)? In this episode, we're sharing more of our coming out journey and how challenging it was to define our relationship to our loved ones when we finally accepted that our love was meant to be. Plus, how to live your life with radical acceptance of yourself and others.

Resources mentioned:

Some key takeaways on accepting people living in shades of gray:

Sometimes there simply aren't words to explain how you feel or the nature of your relationship with somebody else. If your love makes someone else uncomfortable because it challenges their black or white thinking, that's not on you!
Be confident that if you're taking steps forward toward an authentic, safe, and loving relationship, no one else can touch you. If you accept yourself, whether or not other people accept you won't matter (it might still be painful as hell though, and that's okay!).
We don't have to agree with everything someone does, but we should accept them no matter what. If you can have respectful communication with someone, you can absolutely accept them just as they are.

Podcast contact info:

49. Quit Forcing It and Let Your Authenticity Flow with Windy O'Connor May 12, 2022

Show notes

So many of us are out here forcing it. We're comparing ourselves to others, presenting a certain way on social media that isn't true to reality, and avoiding creativity because we know it won't be perfect on the first shot. In this episode, we're interviewing our great friend, artist, and entrepreneur Windy O'Connor on how to let that shit go so your authenticity can flow. We talk about how to quit forcing it when it comes to art, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and so much more!

Shop Windy O'Connor Instagram

Windy's Personal Instagram

Windy's Website

Contact & Visit Windy's Shop

704-891-1151, info@windyoconnor.com

Camp North End, 1824 Statesville Ave., Suite 107, Charlotte, NC 28206

Resources mentioned:

Listen to our Self-Expression episode: Lee Has Been Hiding Her True Self
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

Some key takeaways from Windy on living authentically:

Art can be incredibly healing and powerful. You don't have to be the best artist, just allow yourself to create and express yourself freely. Liz puts her art on the fridge, and you should too! Be proud of what you create (even if it's not great!).
As mothers, we truly are just a person helping our kids navigate their way through childhood and into adulthood. It's our job to love them and support them, but we need to stay out of their way so they can truly shine.
Don't look at other people's businesses and assume you know what's going on behind the scenes. Entrepreneurship is really hard, but it should also be fun. Continually evaluate and ask yourself "is this really working for me?"

Podcast contact info:

48. Lee Has Been Hiding Her True Self, Have You? May 05, 2022

Show notes

Our self-expression can be impacted in so many ways, from how we're raised to the groups we spend time with. In this episode, we're exploring all the different ways we express ourselves, including Lee's transformation from Pollyanna princess to sexy sequin queen, and Liz's ability to speak her mind on a dime (Lee could never!). If you've been hiding your true self from the world, this episode is for you!

Resources mentioned:

House of Jade Sky
Jaclyn at Salon 8

Some key takeaways on self-expression are:

Fashion is an expression of who you are. Whether that's bold, colorful, and polished like Liz, or traditional and feminine like Lee, your outfits exemplify who you are and what you love. Don't use your fashion to hide who you are.
Look in the mirror and give yourself compliments. Rather than waiting for someone else to compliment your looks, talk to yourself the way Liz talks to Lee when she's wearing a tight sequin dress ("My jaw is on the floor right now lookin' at you!").
When you're having a hard time affirming yourself, affirm others. Really focus on those core feelings of admiration, love, or respect so the other person really feels where your affirmation is coming from. Eventually you'll be able to be just as affirming to yourself.

Podcast contact info:

47. Should We Get Married? Our Thoughts on Marriage, Commitment, and Celebrating Love Apr 28, 2022

Show notes

People constantly ask us, "So… are y'all getting married?" And the short answer is, mind your business. Just kidding! We're open books here. Honestly, we're not sure yet! Marriage shouldn't be taken lightly, and we have a lot of thoughts on how society views marriage as the biggest way to "legitimize" your relationship. In this episode, we're diving into the topic of our relationship and how we feel about this next possible step, what commitment means to us, and how much we LOVE celebrating all of life's beautiful moments… marriage included.

Resources mentioned:

What Mental Health Care Can Learn From Dental Health Care Strategies by David Kouba

Some of the many thoughts we share on marriage:

If you're thinking about getting married, but you're not sold on the idea, that's okay! There is no one "right" way to express and celebrate your love.
As a part of making a marriage commitment, you should commit to regular "check-ups" in your marriage, just like you see a dentist twice a year (although we hope your relationship doesn't feel like going to the dentist). Let a third party walk you both through what's working and what's not to ensure you're continually strengthening your relationship.
If you absolutely want to get married and you understand all the responsibilities wrapped around it, go for it! We love celebrating love and if a marriage and wedding are how you want to celebrate, do it and go all out!

Podcast contact info:

46. How We Define Spirituality In & Out of the Church Apr 21, 2022

Show notes

Have you ever thought about how you define spirituality? Maybe you're a part of a church or religion to seek it out, or maybe you define spirituality as any time you're fully present in your body and observing the world around you. In this episode, we're diving into all the places where we've found spirituality, how you can grow stronger in your faith (no matter what it is), and why community is such an important part of spirituality.

Resources mentioned:

Barefoot on Sacred Ground by Gloria Karpinski

Some key takeaways from us on spirituality are:

There is more than one way to practice spirituality. You don't have to practice in one religion to experience spirituality all around you, from the precious relationships we build and nurture, to the hope that comes from the changing of the seasons.
Questioning traditional spiritual teachings does not make you a bad person. If anything, you have the opportunity to grow even stronger in your faith and spirituality because you've worked hard to find answers to define your faith on your own terms.
Your definition of communion can be anything that connects you to others. Whatever makes you feel like you're in a strong community of people is communion. Whether that's the Hilliard Studio Method community, or your church community, our connections to others are a huge part of our spirituality.

Podcast contact info:

45. Getting Curious as Adults About Our Beliefs, Feelings, and Routines Apr 14, 2022

Show notes

We're super inspired by the themes of rebirth that happen this time of year. From the trees blooming again, to spring cleaning around our homes, to Easter traditions, there's a lot of rebirth around us! Have you thought about the things in your life that could use some new life? Maybe you're questioning some of your beliefs, or want to shake up your daily routines. In this episode, we're talking about getting curious about all the aspects of our lives, and how to instill and support that curiosity in your children so they feel safe to explore themselves and the world around them.

Some things you can get curious about are:

We weren't born with our beliefs, we learned them. Allow yourself to get curious about your beliefs and stay open minded as you learn more about the world around you. It's okay to change your mind about things as you hear new perspectives.
Also stay curious about your daily routines. How can you make the things we need to do every day feel less mundane? Is it doing those things with loved ones around? Listening to music or a podcast while you do it? We don't have to stay stuck in feelings of boredom or resentment if we choose not to.
We often let ourselves be defined by what others think of us. Following accolades and praise from others feels good, but we can lose ourselves in that. Get curious about redefining yourself to figure out who your authentic self really is.

Podcast contact info:

44. Thriving Through Change & Introducing the Be Powerful Podcast Apr 07, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to Be Powerful with Liz & Lee! Making a big change and claiming something different for your life can be scary, vulnerable, and just plain tough. Trust us, we know! From starting Hilliard Studio Method to falling in love with each other to pushing ourselves in a workout, we've made lots of changes in pursuit of incredible joy and fulfillment. In this episode, we're sharing how you can embrace change and hold space for yourself to thrive through it.

A few powerful reminders to help you thrive through change:

Find things to keep you grounded when you're going through changes. Everyone has something that makes them feel calm, safe, and powerful. For Lee and her son, they take three deep breaths together before bedtime, for Lee it's quality time and cuddling with Liz, and for Liz it's connection with her loved ones.
Use movement to cope with change. Not only are you training your body to take on physical challenges and build strength, you're also allowing your mind to release the stress and tension that comes with tough seasons of life.
Don't avoid change. Change is inevitable, and it challenges us to grow in ways we never thought were possible for us. It can be scary, but there can also be so much joy and fulfillment on the other side.

Connect with us!

43. Getting Real About Death and Sexuality - Not Necessarily in that Order Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

Liz and Lee remain an open book through meltdowns, tough talks and especially the laughs. They leave no stone unturned in this lively episode discussing fear and death, pride and sexuality, and identity and impact.

42. Ebbs and Flows Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

Back with a January recap, Liz explains why the first month of the year is the best and why hibernating now and then is necessary for the soul. Being grounded certainly isn't easy during life's ebbs and flows, but L & L explore some tips and tricks for supporting each other and how our different reactions either build us up or break us down.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Be Powerful with Liz & Lee

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected