The Charleston Chicks

The Charleston Chicks

Two women. Zero filters. Life after 45. Nothing is off limits. Friendship, relationship, midlife and so much more. The honest conversations women 40+ rarely hear. Bold, funny and unapologetically real.

  1. Aug 5

    Chelsie Ravenell: Charleston's Man of Style

    What happens when Charleston style, personal legacy, and a little well-dressed swagger come together? In this episode of The Charleston Chicks, Lisa and Melanie sit down with Charleston native, designer, stylist, model, father, and founder of Kenneth Beatrice, Chelsie Ravenell. Chelsie shares his unexpected journey from college basketball to fashion design, including teaching himself to sew by taking apart thrifted jackets and figuring out how to rebuild them. He also shares the deeply personal story behind the name Kenneth Beatrice and the signature rose featured throughout his designs. We talk about: ✨ Building a fashion brand in Charleston ✨ Why men need to step outside their style comfort zones ✨ Personal style, confidence, and dressing for your body ✨ How his wife inspired him to return to his creative roots ✨ Designing for men and women ✨ Styling Grammy-winning artists and Charleston talent ✨ Fatherhood, marriage, Disney—and why that trip practically requires a mortgage ✨ The new Kenneth Beatrice Rose Collection And yes, Chelsie brought clothes—so naturally, we played a little dress-up. A special thank-you to Live Oak Charleston for allowing us to film in their beautiful space. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Welcome to The Charleston Chicks 00:32 Live Oak Charleston 01:34 Growing up in Charleston 02:21 From basketball to fashion 03:06 Teaching himself to sew 03:31 The story behind Kenneth Beatrice 04:42 Building a lifestyle brand 05:20 Charleston Fashion Week 06:03 Working at Gwynn’s 07:20 Rediscovering his creativity 08:25 Marriage and designing together 09:22 A Charleston Fashion Week connection 11:55 Charleston’s creative community 12:15 The Kenneth Beatrice aesthetic 14:54 Style advice for men 16:48 The upcoming women’s collection 18:24 How to purchase Chelsie’s designs 19:37 Dressing Grammy-winning talent 21:51 How Chelsie met his wife 22:42 Fatherhood and the Disney surprise 24:14 The Kenneth Beatrice clothing showcase 31:33 Where to follow and shop Follow Chelsie Ravenell on Instagram: @chelsieravenell Follow The Charleston Chicks for more honest conversations, Charleston personalities, local culture, dating, lifestyle, and plenty of opinions nobody asked us to keep to ourselves. If you enjoyed this episode, like, comment, and subscribe—and tell us: How important is personal style when you’re attracted to someone? #CharlestonChicks #ChelsieRavenell #KennethBeatrice #CharlestonFashion #CharlestonSC

  2. Jul 9

    Can We Cure Type 1 Diabetes? MUSC Scientist Explains the Future of Medicine

    🧬 Can we actually cure Type 1 diabetes and cancer in our lifetime? This week on Charleston Chicks, we sit down with Dr. Leonardo Ferreira, immunologist at MUSC and Founder & CEO of Torpedo Bio, to talk about engineering immune cells, the future of medicine, entrepreneurship, venture funding, and what it really takes to build life-changing science from the ground up. Leo shares his journey from Portugal to Charleston, his TEDx experience, launching a biotech company, and why the future of medicine may look very different than it does today. ✨ Topics we cover: • The future of Type 1 diabetes treatment • Engineering immune cells to fight disease • Cancer breakthroughs and immunotherapy • Starting a biotech company in Charleston • Raising venture capital • TEDx Charleston • Innovation, resilience, and taking risks • Building a life around purpose ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Welcome & Introduction 00:40 Meet Dr. Leonardo Ferreira 01:05 What happens if we cure Type 1 diabetes? 03:00 How immune cell engineering works 05:45 Fighting cancer with immunotherapy 08:30 Leo's path from Portugal to Charleston 11:00 Building a biotech startup 14:20 Venture funding and entrepreneurship 17:30 Why Charleston is becoming an innovation hub 20:00 The realities of scientific breakthroughs 23:30 The future of medicine 26:40 Final thoughts and what's next 📍 Guest: Dr. Leonardo Ferreira Founder & CEO, Torpedo Bio Immunologist at MUSC 🔗 Learn more: Torpedo Bio TEDx Charleston MUSC 🎙 Charleston Chicks is where bold women, founders, creators, and changemakers share their stories, expertise, and experiences shaping Charleston and beyond. 👍 Like this episode? Please LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to help us continue highlighting incredible people doing meaningful work in our community. #CharlestonChicks #CharlestonSC #MUSC #Biotech #Immunotherapy #CancerResearch #Type1Diabetes #TEDxCharleston #WomenInPodcasting #CharlestonPodcast #Innovation #StartupLife #MedicalResearch

  3. Jul 1

    Male Loneliness S2 | E8

    Men's mental health, modern dating, and the male loneliness epidemic: are men lonely because the world changed, or because they refused to change with it? On this episode of The Charleston Chicks, hosts Lisa and Melanie break down what's really behind the rise in male loneliness, and they don't sugarcoat it. They trace the term back to its source (a 2023 U.S. Surgeon General declaration on loneliness and isolation), unpack the data, including rising numbers of men reporting zero close friends, declining male workforce participation, and stagnant wages, and ask the question most people avoid: is male loneliness something that happened to men, or the result of choices men have made? The conversation covers the "comfort trap" of phones, gaming, and streaming replacing real connection, why so many men struggle to build close friendships with other men, the difference between needing a partner and wanting one, and why women are no longer willing to carry the emotional labor in relationships by default. It's a candid, unfiltered take on masculinity, emotional growth, accountability, and what it actually takes to break the cycle, for this generation of men and the next. The Charleston Chicks is a weekly podcast where Lisa and Melanie talk relationships, personal growth, and modern womanhood with zero filter and a lot of honesty. If this episode resonated with you, leave us a rating and review, it helps more people find the show. Follow us on social media to keep the conversation going.

  4. Jun 24

    Calm in the Chaos: A Police Lieutenant on Leadership, Viral Fame & Staying Grounded S2| E7| E

    Lieutenant Renate on Breaking Every Barrier What happens when a dancing cop goes viral — and not everyone's cheering? In this episode of Charleston Chicks, hosts Lisa Nicole and Melanie sit down with Renate, a Police Lieutenant with the North Charleston Police Department and one of the highest-ranking women in her agency. After a video of Renate dancing at a Flo Rida concert at Riverfront Park went viral — drawing a wave of gendered criticism despite two decades of decorated service — she's here to set the record straight. Renate opens up about what it's really like to climb the ranks in one of the most male-dominated professions in America: from becoming a field training officer, active shooter instructor, and Mobile Field Force member, to earning Officer of the Year after talking a woman off the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge — and eventually being promoted to lieutenant. She also shares how she manages burnout (hint: six days a week in the gym), what it's like being married to a fellow officer, and why emotional intelligence isn't a weakness — it's a superpower. This is a conversation about leadership under pressure, the double standards women face in uniform and online, and what it means to stay fully yourself even when the world tells you to fall in line. In This Episode: The viral dancing video — what really happened and why the backlash stung Breaking into law enforcement inspired by a military mom What it takes to lead a shift when no one wants to listen The biggest misconception about female officers (spoiler: it's not what you think) How two police officers keep their marriage — and their sanity — intact Advice for women who want to wear the badge

  5. Jun 17

    30 Years, 3 Career Pivots: Stylist Andrea Serrano on Fashion & Reinvention in your 50's S2| E6

    Wardrobe stylist and creative director Andrea Serrano has spent 30 years dressing photo shoots, TV shows, and ad campaigns — from an MTV Latino internship in Miami to styling luxury hospitality brands like The Ritz-Carlton and Saint Regis. On this episode of Charleston Chicks, she walks us through her wildest career pivots: opening one of Charleston's first streetwear and sneaker boutiques in 2004, surviving the 2008 crash, landing a costume-shopping gig on "Army Wives," and eventually building a full-service styling career that takes her from the Caribbean to New Orleans. We also get into manifestation, the abundance mindset, Human Design, fashion advice for every age, and why she believes your 50s might be the best decade of your life. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: - Andrea's 30-year journey from MTV Latino intern to celebrity-level wardrobe stylist - Opening one of Charleston's first streetwear & sneaker boutiques - The 2008 financial crash and her pivot into costume shopping for "Army Wives" - Styling campaigns for The Ritz-Carlton and Saint Regis across the Caribbean - Manifestation, Human Design, and being a "manifesting generator" - Why your 50s might be your best decade yet - Charleston style vs. other cities — and why "overdressed" beats "underdressed" - Shoutouts to local Charleston designers worth knowing - The upcoming Hearth Summit, a new women-in-leadership event in Charleston [00:47] What wardrobe styling actually involves [01:43] Miami → New York → Charleston: how she landed here [05:15] Opening Charleston's first streetwear & sneaker boutique (2004) [08:31] The 2008 crash and closing the store [09:51] The pivot: costume shopping for "Army Wives" [13:18] Styling The Ritz-Carlton & Saint Regis + her psychic's wild predictions [18:10] Fashion advice for dressing in your 50s [19:07] What "Charleston style" really means [24:18] Shoutout to her favorite local designers [27:17] Human Design & manifesting generators [31:01] "Storytelling through style" + advice for aspiring stylists [35:01] The Hearth Summit: Charleston's new women-in-leadership event [37:50] Why your 50s might be the best decade of your life [44:56] What's next: New Orleans, family time & a trip to Croatia [47:17] Manifestation, abundance mindset & who you surround yourself with CONNECT WITH ANDREA SERRANO: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreaserranocurates/ Website: https://andreaserrano.com/ CONNECT WITH CHARLESTON CHICKS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecharlestonchicks/ New episodes of Charleston Chicks drop regularly — subscribe and leave us a rating and review to help more women find our show!

About

Two women. Zero filters. Life after 45. Nothing is off limits. Friendship, relationship, midlife and so much more. The honest conversations women 40+ rarely hear. Bold, funny and unapologetically real.