{Best of 2025} I Can’t Believe This Happened to Lee… | Winning Best Podcast, Lee’s Solo(ish) Trip to NYC, and Rapid Fire Q&A
Release Date: 12/25/2025
210. We’re Taking a Break…
Be Powerful with Liz & Lee
This one’s a little different, so we’re just going to say it straight: We’re taking a break from the podcast. Not because anything is wrong, and not because we’ve run out of things to say, but because after six years of showing up every week, we’re listening to our own advice and making space for what’s next. There are other things we love that need our energy right now, like growing the studio, speaking, writing, traveling, and honestly just taking a breath – and this podcast, which started during COVID as a way to connect, has been one of the most meaningful parts of our...
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209. When to Lock In & When to Rest | The Truth About Working Out Smarter
Be Powerful with Liz & Lee
This week we’re talking about something that sounds simple but is actually one of the hardest things to figure out in wellness: when to lock in and push… and when to pull back and rest. We get into biorhythms (why Liz will never be a 5 a.m. workout person), why more exercise isn’t always better, and how to challenge your body without burning it out. We also talk about the difference between movement and workouts, why sweating buckets doesn’t automatically mean you had a great workout, and why every day should really be a core day. And of course, we go a little deeper into body image,...
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208. The Sky Might Be Falling… Now What? | Finding Power in the Noise
Be Powerful with Liz & Lee
This episode starts with a ghost story (yes, really) and quickly turns into a very real conversation about what so many of us are feeling right now: a constant low-grade stress from the chaos and noise of the world. We’re talking about the fatigue of nonstop information, the pressure of modern wellness advice, parenting through uncertain times, and how easy it is to feel overwhelmed by it all. But instead of pretending everything’s fine, we’re leaning into honesty, humor, and connection – reminding us that we’re not powerless. Sometimes the most powerful things we can do are simple:...
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207. The Liz and Lee Love Plan™ | Consistency vs. Intensity in Long-Term Relationships
Be Powerful with Liz & Lee
In this episode, we take “consistency over intensity” out of the gym and straight into relationships. Because if it’s intense all the time, you burn out. If it’s consistent all the time, you get bored. So what’s the sweet spot? We talk about respect as the real baseline, convenience vs. connection, why lifelong marriage might need a rethink (yes, we went there), and how finances, in-laws, religion, and resentment erode connection faster than lack of chemistry ever could. We unpack how to approach hard conversations without triggering defensiveness, why movement helps when words get...
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206. Consistency Beats Intensity in Fitness | Why Fitness Feels So Complicated Right Now (And How to Simplify It)
Be Powerful with Liz & Lee
Pilates is trending. Protein is trending. Two-week abs are trending. And we have thoughts. In this episode, we break down the “Pilates wars,” what Pilates actually is (and why real certification matters), and how social media has turned fitness into something performative instead of powerful. We talk about Megaformers, weekend certifications, protein without obsession, and why chasing numbers – on the scale, in your macros, or in your workout streak – is exhausting your brain more than building your body. The truth? Consistency beats intensity. Every time. Whether it’s strength...
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205. Creating Community as an Entrepreneur (and Refusing to Sell Out)
Be Powerful with Liz & Lee
Eighteen years in, and we’re still in the middle of reinvention. From starting Hilliard Studio Method in borrowed spaces to navigating real estate pressure and big-city change, this conversation gets honest about what it takes to build a business rooted in community; not ego or profit. We talk about aging without apology, trusting yourself when the noise gets loud, and why protecting the people who make your business what it is will always come first. If you’re building something from the heart and refusing to let fear run the show, this one’s for you. Local Charlotte Businesses...
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204. Put Yourself First (Like, Actually) | The Self-Care Habits That Actually Build Strength & Emotional Resilience
Be Powerful with Liz & Lee
You’ve heard “self-care” a million times, but what does it actually mean to put yourself first when the world feels heavy, everyone needs something from you, and burnout is practically a badge of honor? In this episode, we flip the script: self-care isn’t a luxury, a mani-pedi, or something you “earn.” It’s the foundation of presence, emotional resilience, and the only way to sustainably show up for others. We share what real self-care looks like (from morning silence to intuitive breaks), why boundaries matter, and how vulnerability, not perfection, builds trust, health, and...
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203. Rewriting the Rules of Exercise | How to Rebuild Your Mindset Around Movement
Be Powerful with Liz & Lee
Strength is in… so is softness, and so is listening to your body. In this episode, we talk about rewriting the rules of movement: from dopamine workouts and heavy weights to inflammation, burnout, and why “long and lean” isn’t the goal anymore (if it ever was). Liz gets honest about choosing ease over intensity on the Reformer, Lee talks rest, and we both share why resistance training is about remembering how powerful you already are – not punishing your body to become someone else. Resources mentioned: Some key takeaways from this episode: Your body is...
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202. What We're Bringing Into 2026 | Liz’s Book, Lee’s Travel Biz & Fire-Breathing Horses
Be Powerful with Liz & Lee
2026 is here, and we are galloping into it with clarity, humor, and a few dragons. We are kicking off the year by sharing what we’re letting go of from 2025 (comparison, pressure, scarcity) and what we’re calling for in 2026 (creativity, presence, joy, money, and more). Expect Celine Dion skating routines, Stranger Things finale tears, birthday reflections, and a reminder that the blessing of age is knowing what lights you up, and where to give that light back. From travel plans and business expansions to confidence, calendars, and career shifts, this is a joyfully honest look at...
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201. Why Women Need to Feel Really Good (and How to Get There) with Sarah Wragge
Be Powerful with Liz & Lee
It started with a late-night “pantry party” and ended in a total life transformation. If you’ve ever wondered why you constantly feel bloated, fatigued, or like your workouts just aren’t working, Sarah Wragge has some answers, and a method that makes real change stick. After years of inflammation, prescriptions, and chasing results that never came, Sarah discovered a truth most women are never taught: we’ve been under-fueling, over-pushing, and completely disconnected from what feeling good actually feels like. In this episode, we talk about movement as medicine, the emotional...
info_outlineWe’re wrapping up the year by replaying the episodes you loved most in 2025 while we spend time with our friends and family over the holidays! AKA the episodes you guys streamed the most! Thank you so much for your support of the podcast in 2025. We hope you have an amazing holiday surrounded by loved ones, peaceful moments, and memories in the making. Cheers!
May is a big month! Lee’s birthday is just around the corner (May 19th, mark your calendars!), and we’re celebrating an exciting win: we’ve officially been named Best Podcast in Charlotte by the BOB Awards! THANK YOU to all our listeners for your support—we love y’all.
In this lighthearted episode, we’re catching up on recent adventures: traveling, running into Bobby Lee (yes, really), and making memories with our kids and grandkids. Liz shares a hilarious story from her days as a young basketball player (let’s just say the ref definitely remembers her), and Lee reflects on a recent NYC workout class that sparked some thoughts on industry trends, self-awareness, and innovation. Then, we dive into a round of rapid fire questions—from where we’d open our next studio to the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to Lee while teaching a class.
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
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Stay curious about your industry. See what others are doing, learn from them, and evolve your own methods to stay fresh and effective. It’s great to look to others for inspiration, but being your original authentic self is always going to pay dividends.
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Press pause more often! You don’t need a magic button to reflect, reset, and respond with intention in life and relationships. Take some time to reflect before you respond.
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Celebrate the people you’ve helped raise. We can get so caught up in the day-to-say shuffling kids around in our busy schedules, but take a moment to feel proud of the influence you’ve had on them.
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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!
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.
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