There’s nothing quite so delicious as sharing joy! And that’s exactly what Dr. Kevin Brenner’s guest on this episode of Beyond the O.R. does on a daily basis. Sparked by a passion for all things culinary, Head Chef and Event Coordinator Michael Montilla’s career has been nothing short of a love letter to food and the five human senses. This successful entrepreneur and raconteur is unspooling lively stories, from the random mango salesman who changed his life to the unexpected way he wound up as a student chef at Le Cordon Bleu. “It’s a career that chooses you,” says Michael, whose high-end catering morphed during pandemic into a thriving home meal delivery business that offers comfort foods made of fresh, quality ingredients (launched as Montilla Meals). Dr. B. and Co-Host Elizabeth Morales tease out the fascinating details of Michael’s journey, from making and selling his first pot of rice as a child in Puerto Rico to the colorful frontlines experience he had while training at Spago, Wolfgang Puck’s famous flagship eatery. With his signature creativity and charisma, Michael will inspire you to get started cooking up something delicious (or maybe just pick up the phone and order a meal?) 

At the zenith of his reign at the Playboy Mansion, Hugh Hefner and his world were presented as glamorous, liberating and fun – words you’ll never again use to describe the shady, shadowy and disturbing actuality. This episode of Beyond the O.R. with Dr. Brenner offers an insider’s portrait of depravity and intimidation as witnessed by Stella Tetenbaum and her husband, Stefan, author of  "The Dark Secrets of Playboy." which served as inspiration for a powerful 10-part A&E docuseries released in 2022. Silenced for four decades, the couple have joined scores of other former employees in speaking out against sexual and physical violence, alleged unexplained disappearances and other dysfunction that characterized an empire that served many of the most well-connected politicians, business moguls and celebrities of the era. Dr. Brenner and Elizabeth are inviting this fascinating pair to pull back the curtain on not only what went on at the fabled Playboy Mansion but why for so many years no one dared to come forward. You’ll learn about the origins of “Hef” (“a nerdy intellectual). As we point out: “At the time (we) were blinded to all this. We thought he was so charismatic and a revolutionary when really what he was was a predator.” With a nod to #MeToo, buckle up for a glimpse of the world once navigated by Bunnies and Playmates, many of them alleged barely into their teens. The high-flying 1970s and 1980s that took the Hefner empire to its peak will never again look the same once you’ve heard these first-hand accounts of the sinister activity once tolerated inside.Find out more about and purchase Stefan Tetenbaum’s fascinating book at this link. And if you’d like to watch the 10-part A&E docuseries it inspired, just click here. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darksecretsofplayboy/Want to reach out to Dr. Brenner? You can make an appointment here or call his office directly at 310-777-5400 to open a conversation about whatever cosmetic, reconstructive or related issue is on your mind!

Looking for real esthetic vision in a sea of amateur online influencers? Then you’ll want to get the scoop from Dr. Kevin Brenner’s guest on this episode of Beyond the O.R. A triple-threat celebrity makeup artist, photographer and image maker, Troy Jensen is perhaps best described simply as an artist. With an old-school sense of glamor and contemporary approach to styling, posing, lighting, and eliciting emotion, Troy has an intuitive ability to capture the essence of his subjects. That’s why his diverse roster is perennially full of high-profile personalities and professionals looking their best! His clients over the years have included everyone from reality TV stars like Kim Kardashian to legendary beauty icons like Catherine Deneuve to Academy Award winners like Gwyneth Paltrow. He's worked with many of the world’s most famous and recognizable faces including Elle Macpherson, Jennifer Lopez just to name a few.  But Troy is no less intrigued by the doctors or business people he enhances and shoots. It’s all part of the dream for a kid who ran away from home at 15, hitchhiking to Los Angeles to pursue big dreams. Learn how Troy stays creatively fresh and what he sees on the horizon for himself as well as the beauty industry at large. Website:                                    https://www.troyjensen.com/Instagram:                                https://www.instagram.com/itstroyjensen/Troy's Makeup Brushes:  https://troyjensenbeauty.com/collections/all 

From the family ambiance and tight relationships at Craig’s on Melrose to the colorful murals that animate an unlikely new vegan ice cream shop in the middle of a Las Vegas casino, restauranteur Craig Susser’s big heart is on display wherever his food can be found. On this episode of Beyond the O.R., Dr. Kevin Brenner and co-host Elizabeth Morales get to the bottom of what makes their friend such a fixture on the Los Angeles food scene. Loyal customers of the past decade+ of course already know Craig’s secret recipe: Tireless attention to everything – creative, high-quality food, customer dining experience and his community at large. Craig’s is just one of those great – often hard to find – neighborhood joints that happens to be in an interesting neighborhood whose regulars happen to be Hollywood A-listers! You’ll learn all about Craig’s backstory and where he and his team are headed going forward, including a new restaurant in Nashville and growing availability of his delicious nondairy vegan ice cream (the flavors are amazing!) nationwide through restaurants, grocery stores and online shopping. Get 10% off the delicious, Craig's Vegan Ice Cream with the code: DrBrennerWebsite:         https://craigs.la/Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/craigsla/Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/craigsvegan/TikTok:           https://www.tiktok.com/@craigsla?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

You've probably heard of hernia meshes – the surgical mesh used for hernia repair. But do all hernia patients require them? In today's episode of Beyond The OR, you'll hear from Dr. Shirin Towfigh, a top-of-the-game Hernia Specialist and the Founder of Beverly Hills Hernia Center. Dr Brenner and Dr Towfigh discuss the use of hernia meshes and the problems that can happen around them. Over time, she's treated hernia patients with a wide variety of complications and has become one of the most sought-after doctors in her field. We're discussing her inspiring journey – the experience, challenges of certain cases, research, recovery, and the future of hernias and hernia meshes. We're also getting into another health condition, breast implant illness. You'll learn about the similarities and differences between hernia and breast implant illness. For the record, Dr. Shirin's has recently obtained a patent for gender-specific hernia meshes for the groin! She's revealing some interesting findings from her research, so stay tuned!Connect with Dr. Shirin! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herniadoc/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Herniadoc/ Website: http://beverlyhillsherniacenter.com Patient Discussion Forum: http://herniatalk.com

In this episode, we have invited SNL veteran Hugh Fink, an Emmy Award-winning writer, producer, and comedian. Hugh has established himself as one of the leading voices of cutting-edge humor in late night television and has earned a reputation for his fearless lampooning of pop culture. He's written many of your favorite sketches for people such as Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell, Lenny Kravitz, Will Ferrell, Jimmy Fallon and so on. Today, Hugh tells us about his journey to becoming a comedian, writer, and producer. Not to mention, teaching the first ever comedy sketch writing course at Harvard. He also shares his present happenings and thoughts on the current era of comedy. Dr. Brenner shares one of his favorite sketches on SNL, “El Nino”, starring Chris Farley and discovers Hugh wrote it. This episode is full of laughs and little gold nuggets that can help you tap into your humor, figure out what makes you funny and help develop that talent in a real way. AND if you need help, Hugh also talks about his private comedy writing classes and consulting for corporate and personal events. You don’t want to miss this one!|Go to https://hughfink.com/ to start your private coaching or join new workshops with Hugh Fink.Get in touch with Hugh Fink through his email [email protected]

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Beyond the O.R. podcast, featuring Dr. Kevin Brenner. A double board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Brenner is offering us a front-row glimpse of what he sees every day at his highly successful Beverly Hills practice. Even more than his expertise and insights, Dr. Brenner brings a human touch. You’ll enjoy the rapid-fire banter with Elizabeth Morales, who has come to know Dr. Brenner’s many facets first as a patient and now as his co-host and producer of the show. They talk about what inspired Dr. Brenner to start a podcast and what to expect in the coming shows. He will introduce you to all the latest hot topics in the world of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery as well as to some of the compelling characters Dr. Brenner has gotten to know through his practice. We’ll be hearing from attorneys, actors, comedy writers, Navy SEALS and many other fascinating, inspiring people with stories to share. So join us to find out what goes on inside Dr. Brenner’s world of plastic surgery – and beyond!