Monday Muse: Elizabeth Kendig
If you don’t already know Elizabeth Kendig, you’re truly missing out! She’s the author of the award winning beauty blog Beauty Bets, has a Pinterest following of 5+MILLON followers, loves JCrew and anything stripes, her dog Molly is the sweetest girl around, loves to dive into the “woo” on her podcast Healers and help you connect with your higher self to heal in unconventional ways, and recently launched her website Healers Wanted to make healing accessible to everyone, no matter what stage they are at. She is a force to be reckoned with and one of the most honest, down to earth, outgoing woman I know. When you meet her, it’s like you’ve just met a long lost friend. She immediately makes you feel at ease and is able to get you to open up about just about anything. She truly has a gift for making you feel like you matter. It was such a joy to be able to learn more about her journey and how she got to where she is today. Grab a cup of coffee (or tea!) and read on to learn more about this amazing woman.
Let's start at the beginning - what did you want to be when you grew up and what did that look like when you were starting out?
I honestly wasn’t sure. Being a magazine editor was high on the list. I interned at a fashion magazine in London and fell in love with retail. That led to working for Target as a merchant out of college but the writer in me found my way back to journalism—both as a magazine editor and in corporate communications. When blogging happened, it was a way for me to broaden my platform and tell more stories about the things I cared about most: beauty and wellness and now healing.
How did you decide to start Beauty Bets? Were you always a beauty junkie? Was it a side hustle to start or did you go all?
I was a lifestyle editor at the time, so started the blog as both a creative outlet for all of my beauty opinions and expeditioners. It also felt imperative to understand what was happening in the content space. At the time, facebook had just happened and people were talking about this little blue bird. Yes, some of us still remember a time before social medial!
I was definitely born with a beauty gene, from raiding my grandmother’s Aquanet and Revlon cherries in the snow lipstick to whipping up homemade face masks from a very young age. In retrospect, beauty was self-care for me and a way to get out of my head and into my body.
Was there a specific "WOW" i've made it moment, or pinching yourself because you attained one of your huge goals?
Never. I’m not sure there ever will be. I’m always moving the goal post! And working on being more present with the good that’s right in front of me instead of trying to get to the next place. There is no there-there. But I have had some pretty otherworldly experiences like going on safari in Africa or equine therapy in the desert. Being a writer has opened a lot of doors and windows.
When did you start thinking about starting the Healers Podcast? Were you always interested in holistic/alternative healing?
I’ve spent the last decade immersed in holistic and metaphysical experiences, partly as a writer but mostly for my own healing. I often call it a self-help bender but it was a necessity, to get to the bottom of a lifetime of depression, perfectionism and an autoimmune disease. Healing eventually became a way of life because it saved my live. So when PodcastOne approached me a couple years ago about doing a podcast, I knew it was an opportunity to transition into the space. The producers were expecting me to pitch a show about beauty and I presented a fairly impassioned argument for Healers. They said “We don’t know what you’re talking about but you have to do this show.”
You just launched your healers community/website. Congrats! I love the concept so much - tell us more about it, why now, and what do you hope to attain through it.
Thank you so much! My goal has always been to make healing more accessible. The podcast was a start, and revealed that people are ready for more woo, particularly in an un-weird way. They’re also craving more wisdom, tools and resources to support them on their healing journey. We created Healerswanted.com to help demystify the work of holistic practitioners and practices, help our community easily connect with trusted healers (a directory was the #1 request I got from listeners) and offer virtual healing experiences so that regardless of resources or location, you have access to support. What’s been really beautiful is introducing real healing stories from our community, to show what happens when people incorporate everything from acupuncture to spirituality into their lives. I’m open to whatever is in the highest good for this platform, the more people we help feel better, the better!
If you could tell your younger self anything, what would it be?
You’re here to know yourself. The rest will follow.
Rapid Fire Questions:
3 words to describe yourself: sensitive, empathetic, loyal
Morning person or burn the midnight oil: morning, but I usually wreck my chances by staying up too late!
Spa or adventure vacation: both in the same trip!
Go to crystal: citrine, which connects you to your higher self and brings in abundance. My engagement right is midcentury citrine.
Your sign and top characteristic: Cancer. I’m a nester.
East or West Coast Girl: bicoastal!
Thank you so much Elizabeth for sharing your journey with us! Check out Elizabeth’s podcast and website to learn even more.