Hey Beautiful

The Hey, Beautiful podcast is back!Today, Gia chats with beauty influencer Heather Buzzell aka Hand It To Heather. Nail technician of Dunmore's Studio Zodiac (and TikTok star with over 126,000 followers), Heather tells the story of following her creative spirit as she quit her job to enroll in beauty school. Always doodling and drawing since she was a kid, she turned that into the kind of nail artistry she does today. The two also chat about Heather's rise on TikTok and how she gained over 5.5 million likes with her wild designs, interesting storytimes and real personality.They also break down the biggest trends in nail art, how she keeps her signature hair so vibrant and healthy and why she has the most loyal clients.Make sure to check out the Hey, Beautiful blog on thetimes-tribune.com for all of the people, products and more mentioned in this episode. Crave more beauty content? Instagram & Threads: @miss.gia.mTwitter: @gmazurTTEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/hey_beautiful/

In honor of Mother's Day, Gia chats with mom, wife, author and advocate Dr. Nicole Kumi, a perinatal transitional coach who focuses on the mental and emotional health of moms through Kumi Training & Development. Mental health is often one-size-fits-all, but there are incredibly specific mental and emotional changes new moms go through that need specific care. From the more-common-than-you-think mood and anxiety disorders they can face to why new moms might feel like they never want to have sex again, Nicole covers everything that you're probably not talking about in your standard doctors' appointments.Scranton native Nicole shares her own experiences with postpartum depression and how she created her own lane when she found there were so little resources. Gia and Nicole also talk about why self-care is imperative in any mom's well-being, and how isolating and shameful certain aspects of motherhood can feel. Nicole then details the practices she incorporated to feel better, her favorite products to make her feel like herself and how moms can redefine who they are after having kids. Even if you're not a mom or parent, everyone can benefit from a good self-care practice.  Make sure to check out the Hey, Beautiful blog on thetimes-tribune.com for all of the people, products and more mentioned in the episode. Find Nicole's work and Kumi Training & Development here:linktr.ee/nicbur20Crave more beauty content? Instagram: @miss.gia.mTwitter: @gmazurTTEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/hey_beautiful/

Babes, we're back! And it's WrestleMania weekend aka the Super Bowl for pro-wrestling fans!What most people may not know is that glam is a huge part of the wrestling world so, today, Gia chats with fellow fans and beauty lovers Sabrina Hannon and Megan Manley, hosts of the podcast “Helloooo Ladies: Where Feminism Meets ProWrestling." The three talk about wrestling beauty, their favorite looks and how makeup and hairstyles evolve with each wrestler's journey.  Sabrina and Megan share their beauty staples, from the best face and body glitters to keeping silver hair color looking sleek and go-to techniques for bouncy, gorgeous curls. They also discuss why, contrary to popular belief, beauty and feminism go together, and the surprising history behind red lipstick. Gia does a deep-dive to find WWE Superstar Bianca Belair's signature products. Just a note: This episode was recorded over Zoom and the audio clips a few times. I actually also re-recorded a little part on the 14:45 mark to add in what was lost. So, if it sounds a little wonky in some parts, that's why! -GiaListen to Megan and Sabrina's podcast "Helloooo Ladies: Where Feminism Meets ProWrestling" on Spotify, YouTube and more. New episodes drop every Thursday. Make sure to check out the Hey, Beautiful blog on thetimes-tribune.com for all of the people, products and more mentioned in the episode. Find Sabrina and Megan online: Helloooo Ladies: Where Feminism Meets Pro Wrestling links Crave more beauty content? Instagram: @miss.gia.mTwitter: @gmazurTTEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/hey_beautiful/

Gia's back in the studio with a very special jumbo episode, joined by her best friend since kindergarten, Gina Phillips. A speech therapist and short-term rental host of Hidden Gem Homes, Gina is Gia's beauty soulmate, who always gives the best advice and product recommendations. The two chat about their beginnings mixing Bath & Body Works Art Stuff products to make new creations and at-home spray tanning disasters. Luckily, they're all grown up now and spilling their tips and tricks, including how to get the best tan of your life without any harmful UV rays. Both 2022 brides, Gina then recounts what she chose for her wedding day look as Gia tries to figure out her bridal beauty vibe. Then, they discuss how they transition into their summertime beauty routines, Gina's holistic, inside-out approach to beauty and self-care, and dozens of products and treatments they're obsessing over or dying to try.First up, though, Gia gives an update on her newest Botox and filler ventures, her foray into the wellness side of beauty and a liquid blush she can't get enough of.This is a super product-heavy episode so make sure to check out the Hey, Beautiful blog post on thetimes-tribune.com for everything mentioned. Timestamps are below!Interview with Gina begins - 20:30All about wedding beauty - 27:12Product bonanza - 50:41 Crave more beauty content? Instagram: @miss.gia.mTwitter: @gmazurTTEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/hey_beautiful/

Welcome to 2022! To kick off the year, Barbers Krysta Boyarsky and Danielle Barrett of Loyalty Barbershop in downtown Scranton join Gia in-studio! They talk the difference between a barber and a hairstylist and the services you can get in a barbershop versus a salon. Both women also discuss their different journeys into the industry, proving themselves to skeptics and the bonds they form with their clients. Plus, the three chat about what trends Krysta and Danielle are seeing in the shop (mullets, y'all!), the products needed to achieve peak hygge, the best pregnancy-safe skincare, and trying answer the age-old question: why are men so afraid to take care of themselves? The Hey, Beautiful blog has a new home! You can find it on thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/hey_beautiful. It will live there with more than a dozen other blogs and podcasts across an array of topics and interests, in addition to our daily news stories. You have to log in to your subscriber account on the newspaper's website or sign up to be a subscriber to access Hey, Beautiful and the rest of our digital content. We work hard to produce the best possible content and appreciate your support. Remember, day passes begin at $1, and if you end up wanting more, tons of of different subscription tiers and options exist. And don't worry about Access NEPA — it's getting a fresh look and will remain the top free source for the most comprehensive calendar listing of things to do for all ages.Crave more beauty content? Instagram: @miss.gia.mTwitter: @gmazurTTEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/hey_beautiful/

Today, Gia chats with Lindsey Vollrath, a teacher by day and small business owner of the Releafery, 960 Prescott Ave., Scranton, by night. A beauty and wellness shop, the Releafery sells all handmade, sustainable products, including plant-based skin care, refillable jars, and recycled and biodegradable packaging. Lindsey explains what sustainable beauty means and how she got into living more consciously. Then, they discuss  the brands the Releafery carries that share the shop's ethos, what Lindsey crafts by hand and why modern natural beauty produces high-quality products.They also chat about the Releafery's DIY spirit, the best natural deodorant on the market, why customers need to check out the shop's cozy, calming vibe in person and some events coming up at the shop for the holidays.  Also, check out the Sunday, Nov. 21, edition of Life&Times inside The Sunday Times for Gia's interview with Lindsey.The Hey, Beautiful blog has a new home! You can find it on thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/hey_beautiful. It will live there with more than a dozen other blogs and podcasts across an array of topics and interests, in addition to our daily news stories.  You have to log in to your subscriber account on the newspaper's website or sign up to be a subscriber to access Hey, Beautiful and the rest of our digital content. We work hard to produce the best possible content and appreciate your support. Remember, day passes begin at $1, and if you end up wanting more, tons of of different subscription tiers and options exist. And don't worry about Access NEPA — it's getting a fresh look and will remain the top free source for the most comprehensive calendar listing of things to do for all ages.Crave more beauty content? Instagram: @miss.gia.mTwitter: @gmazurTTEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/hey_beautiful/

Gia is back with Maggie McGregor, owner of StyleMag LLC and fashion blog StyleMagDaily.  A fashion stylist, content creator and mental health advocate, Maggie helps people to feel like the best version of themselves through fashion and style. She talks with Gia (via Zoom) about taking a chance in New York City, working backstage at Fashion Week and for top magazines in the industry, before she returned to Northeast Pennsylvania to forge her own path. The two also chat about Maggie's favorite drugstore makeup, the rainbow of hues she's colored her hair, her artistic connection with her late aunt and how beauty and self-care routines tie directly into mental health. Check out the Hey, Beautiful blog post on this episode to find links to all of the people, products and more mentioned in the episode. The Hey, Beautiful blog has a new home! You can find it on thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/hey_beautiful. It will live there with more than a dozen other blogs and podcasts across an array of topics and interests, in addition to our daily news stories.  Please log in to your subscriber account on the newspaper's website or sign up to be a subscriber to access Hey, Beautiful and the rest of our digital content. We work hard to produce the best possible content and appreciate your support. Remember, day passes begin at $1, and if you end up wanting more, tons of of different subscription tiers and options exist. And don't worry about Access NEPA — it's getting a fresh look and will remain the top free source for the most comprehensive calendar listing of things to do for all ages.Crave more beauty content? Instagram: @miss.gia.mTwitter: @gmazurTTEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/hey_beautiful/

In this special solo episode, Gia fills in listeners about the last year of her life. From her experience with COVID-19 to her mental health struggles to pandemic burnout, Gia gets real, raw and even a little emotional talking about the past 12 months. Better days are coming, however, and Gia also reveals some exciting news, and chats about all the good things to look forward to in her life and on the podcast.  Check out the links below to read some of her past stories she mentions in the episode. Column on pandemic burnout with psychotherapist Melissa Loughney: https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/lifestyles/prioritize-your-mental-health-during-stressful-times/article_cbaae62e-473a-53d1-a9c3-5ab673c87d09.htmlColumn on Gia's first Botox experience: https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/hey_beautiful/i-got-botox-for-the-first-time-here-s-what-it-was-like/article_ea0414eb-3328-5ed2-b62a-c8e792b916c8.htmlColumn on Gia's first lip filler experience: https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/hey_beautiful/this-is-what-it-s-like-to-get-lip-filler-for-the-first-time/article_ad3a1a3e-9737-59bb-a6db-b1421a2ede54.htmlCrave more beauty content? Instagram: @miss.gia.mTwitter: @gmazurTTEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/hey_beautiful/

It's a new episode of Hey, Beautiful, and Gia chats (via Zoom) with Anna Cordaro, a hairstylist and makeup artist who got her start in Northeast Pennsylvania before relocating to the Sacramento area. As owner and educator at Coyote Beauty, Anna offers expert beauty services including bridal, balayage, blowouts and more and also works to inspire confidence in her fellow stylists behind the chair through her role as a brand influencer for Eleven Australia and her new IGTV series, Coyote Confidence. Gia talks with Anna about her near decade of industry experience, her love for her home region, her passion for education and why now is the best time to seize a career in beauty. Anna also spilled her favorite products and some pro secrets to optimize your routine.For all of the people, places or products mentioned in this episode, check out the blog post on accessNEPA.com. Crave more beauty content?Twitter: @gmazurTTInstagram: @miss.gia.mEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: accessnepa.com

Gia's back with her first male guest! Northeast Pennsylvania native Michael McIlwee is a dancer and actor now living in New York City. He's trained at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and the New School University in NYC and Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He's also performed all over the country and world. (Though, you may know him from the viral video, "T-Rex does 'A Chorus Line.'") The two chat about his career in the entertainment industry and making his own way in the Big Apple as well as self-care during COVID-19. Michael and Gia also talk about touring and auditions, skin care mistakes in their 20s, the perfect pomade, how to fake a full night's sleep and why men shouldn't be afraid to take care of themselves.Crave more beauty content?Twitter: @gmazurTTInstagram: @miss.gia.mEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: accessnepa.com

Gia is back, recording this special episode from home and joined (via Zoom!) by Alycia James, owner of the Color Bar Salon in downtown Scranton, and Alicia Mecca, hairstylist at the Color Bar. The three chat about the impact the coronavirus has had on individuals in the personal care industry, as well as how the stylists stayed engaged with clients during quarantine. They go over the safety precautions they’re taking and what clients can expect when salons reopen. Alycia and Alicia also talk about their journeys into the beauty industry, the comfortable, creative atmosphere of the Color Bar and their must-have products. Before and after the interview, Gia gives a little reminder about the importance of patience while dealing with our new normal and why we must take time for ourselves, especially now. ***Just a note that this episode was recorded before Gov. Tom Wolf announced Lackawanna County would enter the green phase on Friday, June 26.*** Crave more beauty content?Twitter: @gmazurTTInstagram: @miss.gia.mEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: accessnepa.com

Welcome to 2020 and welcome back to another year of Hey, Beautiful! Gia chats with reporter, copy editor, Access NEPA content editor, pod producer and fellow beauty lover Caitlin Heaney West about their favorite skin care and makeup products of 2019. The two also share their beauty resolutions for the new year. Plus, they discuss how to shop smarter, when to toss your old products and the way beauty is paramount to self-care. Crave more beauty content?Twitter: @gmazurTTInstagram: @miss.gia.mEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: accessnepa.com

It's been a while but Hey, Beautiful is back! Today Gia chats with hairstylist, makeup artist and all-around beauty connoisseur Koni Bennett, who splits her time between working with big names in New York City to her clients in Scranton, where she also owns one of the only salons in the area that caters to multiethnic hair: Vanity, A Boutique Salon. They chat about Koni's grind to break into the industry, working with big names in beauty and making those in her hometown look as good as they feel. Koni also details her favorite products while on the go, the power of karma and why it's important to follow your passion.Crave more beauty content?Twitter: @gmazurTTInstagram: @miss.gia.mEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: accessnepa.com

Ashley Matthews is boudoir photographer and the owner of Simply Lush Portrait Boutique in Plains Twp., where she makes the women in front of her camera look and feel better in their own skin. Ashley talks her beginnings as a lifestyle and wedding photographer, quitting her full-time “day job” to pursue her passion and the importance of being true to yourself. Ashley and Gia also chat about body positivity, self-love and why everyone should try a boudoir session. Crave more beauty content?Twitter: @gmazurTTInstagram: @miss.gia.mEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: accessnepa.com

Hairstylist by day, pro wrestler by night, Brianna Spindler (also known by her ring name Adena Steele) is in the studio. Gia will chat with Brianna about her work as a hairstylist, as well as her move into wrestling and how her two worlds collide. Brianna explains her in-ring look, her main products to achieve it and how she's mastered the art of getting ready in a tiny public bathroom. The two also discuss how beauty remains an integral part of pro wrestling and why your outward appearance should always match how you feel inside.Crave more beauty content?Twitter: @gmazurTTInstagram: @miss.gia.mEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: accessnepa.com

Gia's back in the studio with Keiera Kisel, makeup artist and Lancôme boutique manager with Ulta Beauty. She talks about her beauty beginnings (re: all the blue mascara), the differences between working in retail and with private clients and how the "Instagram face" shaped our beauty expectations. Keiera also shares what everyone should know before they get an in-store makeover or hire an MUA and the products in her kit she reaches for the most.Crave more beauty content?Twitter: @gmazurTTInstagram: @miss.gia.mEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: accessnepa.com

It’s our first official episode. Beauty entrepreneur Carrie Thorne is in the studio to talk natural makeup and skin care, and non-invasive procedures such as eyelash lifts, sub-zero facials and slimming treatments at her store, the Beauty Mark Boutique in downtown Scranton. She also drops an exclusive about her brand, Sexy Stems, a line of organic sunless tan products for legs, and we get real about why beauty is a form of self-care.Crave more beauty content?Twitter: @gmazurTTInstagram: @miss.gia.mEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: accessnepa.com

My name is Gia and I’m a staff writer for the Lifestyles department of The Times-Tribune. I’m a complete beauty obsessive and this podcast will serve as an audio companion to the Hey, Beautiful blog. Get to know me and why beauty is more than skin-deep.Crave more beauty content?Twitter: @gmazurTTInstagram: @miss.gia.mEmail: gmazur@timesshamrock.comWebsite: accessnepa.com