EmpowHer 2026 Recap: Celebrating One Year of Gunz & Bunz Podcast in Fort Mill
Thank you to every woman who showed up and made EmpowHer 2026 an unforgettable night of strength, sisterhood, and celebration!
On Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Triumph Fight Academy in Fort Mill, SC, we gathered to mark the official 1-year anniversary of the Gunz & Bunz Podcast. What started as an idea to highlight strong, successful women turned into a full evening of rolling, learning, connecting, and giving back.
What Went Down at EmpowHer
The night was packed with exactly what we love — movement, mindset, and community:
- Yoga flows to center and strengthen with Rachel Behn (Bodhi Love Yoga)
- Powerful self-defense and jiu-jitsu technique sessions led by 15x World Champ Dr. Jen Case (Case Complete Nutrition and Fitness), Toro Cup Champion and purple belt Melissa Sheppey, and new black belt Veronica Douglas
- High-energy sports fitness class with Hannah Preservati from Tenacity Strength Co — building explosive power, endurance, and unbreakable tenacity
- Open mat sessions for light, fun rolling
- Vendor showcases from incredible women-owned businesses
- Live music, great food & drinks, raffles, prizes, and nonstop good vibes
It was raw, real, and exactly the kind of energy we talk about on the podcast: women showing up, doing hard things, and lifting each other up on and off the mats.
Giving Back
A huge highlight of the night was the fundraising for Safe Alliance. 100% of the proceeds from the raffle and donations went directly to this local nonprofit that supports survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area (including right here in Fort Mill). Their work — from the 24/7 Hope Line to emergency shelter and counseling — makes a real difference every single day.
Special Thanks
None of this would have happened without:
- Our amazing guest instructors — Rachel Behn, Dr. Jen Case, Melissa Sheppey, Veronica Douglas, Hannah Preservati, and the rest of the crew who poured into the women that night
- All the women-owned vendors who brought their products and energy
- Our sponsors and partners (Elite Sports, Triumph Fight Academy, Tenacity Strength Co, and more)
- Every single attendee who rolled, trained, laughed, learned, and celebrated with us
You showed up and proved what we already knew — when strong women come together, magic happens.
Videos and full photo gallery coming soon! I’ve been editing footage from the night (yoga flows, self-defense drills, sports fitness class, open mat rolls, and those big group smiles). As soon as the best clips and photos are ready, I’ll drop them here and on the podcast page so you can relive the night or see what you missed.
What’s Next?
EmpowHer was the perfect launch into year two of the Gunz & Bunz Podcast. We’ve got more powerful episodes coming, more community events on the horizon, and plenty of ways for you to stay involved.
Want to be the first to know about EmpowHer 2027 and future women’s events? Join our email list (we just imported all 2026 attendees — you should already be tagged if you came!).
In the meantime:
- Catch up on all episodes → Gunz & Bunz YouTube Playlist
- Rep the brand and support the pod → Shop Gunz & Rollz Gear
If you attended EmpowHer 2026, drop a favorite moment in the comments below. We’d love to hear what stood out to you — whether it was a technique you learned, a drill from the sports fitness class, a conversation that hit different, or just the overall vibe of women supporting women.
Here’s to year two — stronger, louder, and even more connected.
— Bethany Guthard & the Gunz & Rollz / Gunz & Bunz team Fort Mill, SC