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

Have you ever wondered what goes into owning and operating some of the BEST restaurants in Charlotte? I’d say it’s our personal opinion that Supperland is the best, but Bon Appétit agrees, naming Supperland one of the “Best New Restaurants” of 2022! In this episode, we sat down with our friends and restaurateurs Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown of the Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group, the minds behind Supperland, Haberdish, and more! We talked about entrepreneurship, how they got into the restaurant business, and their newest dining concept!

 Restaurants mentioned:

• Supperland
• Haberdish
• Ever Andalo
• Growlers Pourhouse
• Reigning Doughnuts

In this episode, we talk about…

• How we serendipitously ran into Jeff & Jamie in Rome, Italy (what are the odds??)
• The inspiration behind Supperland and reimagining the steakhouse restaurant concept
• Jamie & Jeff’s passion for salvaging old buildings (Supperland is in an old church building!)
• What it was like to be a restaurant owner during the pandemic
• Their philosophies around taking great care of people that work for them
• How they became restaurateurs after deciding to quit their jobs and travel full time
• Their next restaurant endeavor coming soon!

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

Big news!! Liz recently wrote an editorial piece for the Huffington Post, boldly titled “I Was Married to My Husband for 37 Years. Then I Fell In Love With My Best Friend.” While you’ve heard some of this story on the podcast, this article is even more vulnerable and detailed than what she’s shared on the show. In this episode, Liz reads an excerpt from the piece and dives into a discussion on why you should share your own truth with the people around you.

Read Liz’s article in the Huffington Post here! 

Some key takeaways on telling your story are:

• If something makes you anxious to share, that’s a good sign that you’re doing something brave and important. You might be scared of offending someone or saying the wrong thing, but just trying is worth what’s on the other side.
• When we tell our stories, other people trust us with their own stories. Showing our own authenticity and vulnerability often makes us safe people to be vulnerable with.
• Sometimes you need to ask yourself what is more important: what others think of you, or the truth that you’re living today? People might not like you or understand you, and that’s okay.

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

Climate change. Social injustice. Human rights. Every day we hear more and more news that paints a bleak picture of our futures. We know it’s important to stay informed about what’s going on in the world while staying on top of our busy personal lives, but how do we do this responsibly without harming our mental health? In this episode, we’re sharing how we balance watching and processing the news without letting it consume us entirely. 

Resources mentioned:

• Julia Ainsley - Journalist for MSNBC
• Andrea Mitchell - Correspondent for MSNBC
• David Muir - Anchor on ABC News Tonight

Some key takeaways on staying informed are:

• It’s really easy to fall into the trap of ignoring the news altogether, or cherry picking the news sources you personally align with or agree with. Both keep us from being fully informed about the events that affect us everyday.
• When we go to the polls, a lot of what we’re voting on is dependent on what’s going on in the news. When we ignore the news, we take a very individualistic approach to voting rather than voting on what will benefit our society as a whole.
• Do your best to consume unbiased news sources for a few minutes each day. The news develops quickly and often, but catching the highlights keeps you informed without doom scrolling through the details.

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