Happy Thanksgiving! We wanted to release a short episode today to express everything we’re grateful for, from the things we’ve been able to share on the podcast to the support of listeners and HSM clients. We hope wherever you’re spending the holiday today, you’re feeling the love and gratitude, too!

Sakara offers sleek and science-backed nutrition products that will help you feel your best and hit all your wellness goals! Get 20% off at Sakara with promo code “XOLIZHSM”

‘Tis the season for spray tans! Get a beautiful glow right in the comfort of your home with Holly from No Shade Spray Tanning in Charlotte!  

Resources mentioned:

• Donate to St. Jude Children’s Hospital - Team Cameron Gray
• Ted Lasso Christmas Special - Season 2 Ep. 4 - Apple TV

Some key takeaways from today’s episode include:

• We have shared a lot of very vulnerable thoughts and stories with you this year, and we have gotten so much support and love for them! We hope that our podcast has helped you realize that no matter what you’re going through, you are not alone.
• If you are spending Thanksgiving alone, please reach out to your community if you’re feeling lonely. Our DMs are always open, and we encourage you to make the best of this alone time. 
• Also if you happen to be alone, please do yourself a favor and watch the Ted Lasso Christmas Special, from season 2 episode 4. It’s all about the family you choose and has all the good feelings! The rest of Ted Lasso is amazing, too!

Hilliard Studio Method takes working out to the next level to produce results that are nothing short of a total mind-body transformation. If you’re ready to get in incredible shape, you can work out with us in-person at our Charlotte studio, join classes from home via Zoom, or sign up for our on-demand streaming service!

• HSM In-Person Classes
• HSM At Home (Via Zoom)
• HSM Streaming

Be Powerful with Liz & Lee 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.

Podcast contact info:

• Liz’s Instagram 
• Lee’s Instagram
• Hilliard Studio Method
• HSM Facebook
• Liz & Lee’s YouTube

If you’ve ever wanted more out of life, and you have big dreams for your career, relationships, and health, this episode is for you! Life and business coach Lauren Widrick has built a business and community that challenges people to stop living a vanilla life. With humor and zest, Lauren Widrick walks us through her transformation from an investment banker to a life coach who has helped hundreds of clients Grab Life by the Goals. Come take a deep dive with us today as we discuss the courage, failures and joy you’ll find when you live true to yourself. 

Connect with Lauren!

• Join the Grab Life By the Goals SQUAD
• Grab Life By the Goals Podcast
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Get tickets to the Grab Life By the Goals Summit Jan. 7-8, 2023 in Charlotte, NC. In case you need another reason to attend, Liz is speaking at the summit!

Sakara offers sleek and science-backed nutrition products that will help you feel your best and hit all your wellness goals! Get 20% off at Sakara with promo code “XOLIZHSM”

‘Tis the season for spray tans! Get a beautiful glow right in the comfort of your home with Holly from No Shade Spray Tanning in Charlotte! 

Some key takeaways from our conversation with Lauren include:

• Create a “Paper of Possibility” for yourself. Write down what’s not working for you, figure out a way to rid it from your life, and voilà! You now have a blank page. Now write your biggest dreams and expand to your truest self! 
• There is a very real mind-body connection that we need to honor. If you want to reach your goals, take really good care of your physical body. Lauren had her best revenue months ever when she was the most disciplined with nutrition and exercise - that’s not a coincidence!
• You don’t have to jump ship to change your life. There’s no need to quit jobs, move cities, or end marriages to get where you want to be. Sometimes all you need are strategic changes that let you live more fully. 

Hilliard Studio Method takes working out to the next level to produce results that are nothing short of a total mind-body transformation. If you’re ready to get in incredible shape, you can work out with us in-person at our Charlotte studio, join classes from home via Zoom, or sign up for our on-demand streaming service!

• HSM In-Person Classes
• HSM At Home (Via Zoom)
• HSM Streaming

Be Powerful with Liz & Lee 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.

Podcast contact info:

• Liz’s Instagram 
• Lee’s Instagram
• Hilliard Studio Method
• HSM Facebook
• Liz & Lee’s YouTube

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… right? Well, not always! Family dynamics, end of year work stress, and stale traditions might have you dreading the holidays instead of feeling excited to spend time with your favorite people. In this episode, we’re sharing some tips to get you back into the holiday spirit by prioritizing rest, only saying “yes” to the gatherings and traditions you actually want to do, and combating the negativity that might pop up at family gatherings.

Thank you to our sponsors! 

• ‘Tis the season for spray tans! Get a beautiful glow right in the comfort of your home with Holly from No Shade Spray Tanning in Charlotte! 
• Sakara offers sleek and science-backed nutrition products that will help you feel your best and hit all your wellness goals! Get 20% off at Sakara with promo code “XOLIZHSM”

 Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Prioritize resting your body and mind this season. We know it’s the busiest, craziest time of the year, but even just 20 minutes of closing your eyes and putting your feet up will rejuvenate you! 
• Reevaluate your annual holiday traditions. Right down the things you aren’t looking forward to that are stressing you out. What will you simply not do this year? Who do you actually want to spend time with? What traditions can you change to bring more joy?
• Do something out of your comfort zone this season. If you’ve been glued to your phone lately, challenge yourself to put it away while you’re with loved ones. Play a game you haven’t tried, work out in a different place, or take a long break.

Hilliard Studio Method takes working out to the next level to produce results that are nothing short of a total mind-body transformation. If you’re ready to get in incredible shape, you can work out with us in-person at our Charlotte studio, join classes from home via Zoom, or sign up for our on-demand streaming service!

• HSM In-Person Classes
• HSM At Home (Via Zoom)
• HSM Streaming

Be Powerful with Liz & Lee 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.

Podcast contact info:

• Liz’s Instagram 
• Lee’s Instagram
• Hilliard Studio Method
• HSM Facebook
• Liz & Lee’s YouTube

We get asked this pretty often: what’s it like being in a same sex relationship with another woman? It’s totally fair for people to be curious, so today we decided to share our experiences as two women in a same sex relationship who are both brand new to it. In this episode, we reflect on what’s different in our current relationship vs. our heterosexual relationships, how communication leads to passion, and the roles we were able to release with each other. Plus, do we think our relationship is better because we’re both women, or because we’re us? Tune in to find out!

Some key takeaways from this episode include: 

• A lot of our favorite things about our relationship stems from our friendship. It makes a world of difference when your romantic partner is your best friend, and something about female friendships hits different than friendships with the opposite sex.
• Keep trying to make communication better between you and your partner. Be aware of the energy you’re giving out. When communication is flourishing, then romance and passion can follow - and who doesn’t want more of that? 
• Calling all women: when it comes to pleasure, it's not all about giving. You deserve pleasure and need to own that! Be open to pleasure and claim your right to it!

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:

• Liz’s Instagram 
• Lee’s Instagram
• Hilliard Studio Method
• HSM Facebook
• Liz & Lee’s YouTube

There are moments in life that knock you down so hard they challenge your entire identity. Losing a beloved parent is one of those moments. How do you navigate forward and embrace life when this happens? In this episode, Liz and Lee talk with Sarah Catherine Garvin about her decision to put her three businesses on hold to move to Paris for two months by herself after the passing of her father.  Sarah, using her father as inspiration, once again found her joie de vivre - a French phrase for the enjoyment of life - and embraced the art of living during her solo trip. 

Connect with Sarah:

• Sarah Catherine Collective
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Three ways to embrace joie de vivre after a difficult time:

• Stop delaying your life by getting ready to get ready. Just go and do what you want without overthinking it. Sometimes you just have to jump in with both feet to embrace life. 
• Get out of your comfort zone. In order to live life on your own terms, you often have to take a leap of faith and ignore the judgments of others. This takes courage and strength. As they say, the only way forward is through. 
• Use your life experiences to grow beyond the constraints that try to define you. Don’t go back to living small. Embrace the changes you’re making to continue living true to yourself. Once you do, you won’t be tempted to go back. 

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:

• Liz’s Instagram 
• Lee’s Instagram
• Hilliard Studio Method
• HSM Facebook
• Liz & Lee’s YouTube

What It Was Like to Get an Abortion Before Roe v. Wade

In light of the Midterm elections, we’ve chosen to republish this episode from earlier this year. In case you missed it, Liz is courageously 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.

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:

• Liz’s Instagram 
• Lee’s Instagram
• Hilliard Studio Method
• HSM Facebook
• Liz & Lee’s YouTube

There is lots going on this season and it all shows up in this episode. We discuss a little bit of everything from studio news to supporting health and one another. Hilliard Studio Method is expanding into Winston-Salem and possibly several other cities as we continue to support and empower women and men. Health and gratitude reign large on our radar this month as we support breast cancer, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Liz’s grandson at #TeamCameronGray. We also weigh in on tequila and ranch water, grammar rules, and more, including a PSA on why people should stop having phone conversations in public places. Tune in to hear about all of this including Liz’s past history as a Concord Spiderette. 

Resources mentioned:

• St. Jude Fundraiser 
• #TeamCameronGray 
• Stream Hilliard Studio Method Classes

3 things to note in this episode:

• Fitness and Entrepreneurship- Does this sound enticing to you? This is the perfect time to become an entrepreneur and open your own Hilliard Studio Method. Contact us to find out more. 
• Curious about the Hilliard Studio Method? Try our live streaming classes. We have people from all over the world tuning in to harness their power. 
• The season of gratitude and philanthropy is here. We are here to support and empower women, men, and their health. Reach out if there is a wellness and health topic you’d like us to cover. 

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:

• Liz’s Instagram 
• Lee’s Instagram
• Hilliard Studio Method
• HSM Facebook
• Liz & Lee’s YouTube

Everyone is going through a lot these days and it takes courage to bring it to the surface and start to dig through it.  Sometimes this untangling of thoughts and feelings is just what we need to find clarity and strength. In a departure from our usual episodes, Lee and I sit down to have an honest, hard conversation about the struggles of raising teenagers, navigating life as a single mom and finding acceptance in unconventional relationships. Tune in as we get vulnerable discussing fears, strong feelings, and shedding a few tears along the way. 

3 Key takeaways from this podcast include:

• Being a parent is an emotional time. You’ll have worries and doubts at every stage, but all you can do is be the best parent you can.
• Be authentic. It is easy to doubt yourself. Choose to engage with the hard work that comes from sifting through your thoughts and feelings to find your true self. Use courage to live as your true self. 
• A good cry goes a long way. Never underestimate the power of letting those emotions out in order to find the way 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:

• Liz’s Instagram 
• Lee’s Instagram
• Hilliard Studio Method
• HSM Facebook
• Liz & Lee’s YouTube

This has truly been a whirlwind summer of travel and exciting changes for us, and last week was no exception as we flew to NYC to be on the Tamron Hall Show! In this episode, we’re sharing all the details of our experience in the city, from being on the show, to our run-in with a hilarious celebrity and our favorite spots in NYC. We’re also sharing our thoughts on the autumnal equinox and embracing the opportunity for balance after a super busy season. 

Resources mentioned:

• Watch our segment on the Tamron Hall Show!
• Liz’s Huffington Post Article

3 key takeaways from our impromptu NYC trip:

• At times it feels as if we’ve shared our love story a million times, but as long as it inspires others to live and love as their most authentic selves, we will continue to tell it. 
• The entire crew that runs the Tamron Hall show is amazing! Our hair and makeup artists were incredible, the on set crew made us feel so comfortable, and we were in awe watching Tamron herself transition from segment to segment with so much grace. We’re so so grateful to have been a small part of the show! 
• The autumnal equinox is a time of balance: 12 hours of dark and 12 hours of light per day for a few days. It's a time to rest and reestablish your roots as we get ready for the dark winter season, Liz’s favorite season for all the cozy vibes.

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:

• Liz’s Instagram 
• Lee’s Instagram
• Hilliard Studio Method
• HSM Facebook
• Liz & Lee’s YouTube

Our society is obsessed with staying young but we keep getting older. How does a modern badass woman handle that? Growing older can’t be stopped, but understanding our bodies using wisdom and strength is something that Liz (68 years young) has mastered. In this episode, Liz and Lee discuss the way Lee’s body is changing at 43 years young and what this means as she creeps closer to menopause. We cover everything from chin hairs to belly fat, why you need to let your vanity run a little wild, and how looking at yourself naked in front of the mirror and loving what you see is key.  

Some key takeaways from this week’s episode…

• If something is hard, then you probably need to do it -  whether that is meditation, exercise or using positive self talk. 
• Moderation is the key to health. You don’t need to cut out your favorite snacks or wine but you do need to have less. Try cutting that portion in half. Shave a little bit more off each week. 
• Listen to what makes your body feel good. Most likely these are things you need to keep doing. If something doesn’t make you feel good, like sugar in your coffee or your favorite snack chip, maybe it's time to remove it. 

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:

• Liz’s Instagram 
• Lee’s Instagram
• Hilliard Studio Method
• HSM Facebook
• Liz & Lee’s YouTube