Fitness in Color

Advocating for racial representation, equity, and inclusion in the running community. Carolyn Su first got into running to try and control an eating disorder. She used it as a weight loss tool and spent her early running days counting calories against miles run. It wasn't until much later that she started to enjoy the sport and find other runners she could connect with. As Carolyn became deeply immersed in the online running culture, she started to notice a pattern; most of the runners featured and reposted on Instagram pages, interviewed for podcasts, reported in publications, and amplified across social channels were White and from affluent neighborhoods and backgrounds. She started exploring hashtags like #asianrunners, #myrunninghair, #nativewomenrunning, and #latinosrun to find runners who looked like her and that she could relate to. The more she researched the more people she found that inspired her. In 2018, Carolyn started featuring runners of color, first on her own Instagram account, tagging the posts under #diversewerun (a play on “united we stand”). Positive comments and messages rolled in and she decided to create the platform Diverse We Run as its own IG handle.  Carolyn uses the platform to write weekly features of Black, Indigenous, and Runners of Color, to advocate for racial representation, equity, and inclusion in the running community. Carolyn's goal with Diverse We Run is to broaden perceptions of social norms, to challenge runners to discover new runners to follow and share about, and to connect with runners whose life experiences hail from different cultures. We also talk about the current rise in Hate crimes in the Asian American & Pacific Islander community. Donate to Stop AAPI Hate @diversewerun @irunfortheglory @fitnessincolor_ @sidbap @PYNRS_

Bringing premium wellness experiences to marginalized communities. What started in the basement of a lower Manhattan gym with a few classes, has turned into a Black wellness phenomenon. After discovering the world of exclusive boutique fitness studios in New York City, in 2016 Briana Thompson created Spiked Spin - a hip-hop-inspired soul-cleansing physical sermon moonlighting as a high-intensity spin class and Brooklyn's first Boutique Cycling Studio. Bri grew up in Queens, NY where she danced and ran track competitively before moving to Maryland and then to Georgia. She graduated from Hampton University, an HBUC in Virginia, and landed a job in Digital Advertising back in NYC. It was during her time in this world that she found her love for boutique fitness experiences. While she loved attending the high-end and high-priced classes, paid for by her clients, she rarely saw other people who looked like her in these spaces. Bri found her love for high-intensity cycling and combined it with her passion for rhythmic movement and hip-hop culture. She became an instructor by night while maintaining her corporate job at CBS by day. One class led to two classes, which led to a full schedule as she slowly built Spiked Spin. Spiked has grown into a space that welcomes and represents 'the majority' of those who do not fit the perfect frame and picture that has come to define wellness in our time.    @bri.monee @spikedspin @fitnessincolor_ @sidbap @PYNRS_

Be Intentional...  In an age of excessive consumption, Chef Beanz encourages you to add intent to the energy that you ingest.  Born to teen parents in Camden, NJ, once the murder capital of the country, Chef Beanz (Quan) grew up in a violent environment and was emotionally unbalanced. He had the opportunity to go to school in a different district and started playing an instrument but still had one foot in his old, violent neighborhood. It wasn't until he was literally yanked off of a stage by a mentor while trying to show off for his friends that his life took a different turn. He started focusing on his school work and became a wrestler. It was the stability he needed to find his footing. Charting his own path, Chef Beanz lives in Los Angeles where he spreads his love and knowledge for being present and intentional about what you consume; mind, body, soul, and spirit.  He's a creator and creative, an entrepreneur, and overall optimist that lives to inspire you to find what brings you inexplainable joy. @Chef_Beanz @Transparency.Series @fitnessincolor_ @sidbap @PYNRS_

'Girls are strong and we're only getting StrongHER' In college, Sal Nakhlawi weighed about 200lbs. She ended up hiring a nutritional coach who helped her lose 50+lbs, and in that process, found a love for powerlifting. Sal's personal experience with health and fitness led her to create StrongHer Girls to coach womxn to be the strongest version of themselves, inside and out. Part of Sal's coaching philosophy focuses on the relationships between a positive self-image, mindful exercise, and their effects on the brain. @StrongHerGirls @fitnessincolor_ @sidbap @PYNRS_

This is a heavy episode. We didn't edit much of it because we felt it was important for you to hear and feel the pain and experiences that Black Americas feel when Black people are senselessly murdered.  The 2:23 Foundation is an organization formed in memory of Ahmaud Arbery that was created to prepare young people for social justice advocacy through establishing a scholarship fund in Ahmaud's memory. Today is the anniversary of Ahmaud's murder. The 2:23 Foundation is hosting a virtual event for members of the global running community to come together and run 2.23 miles in Maud's memory. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE VIRTUAL EVENT AND CONTRIBUTE TO AHMAUD'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND I am joined on today's episode by two co-founders of the 2:23 Foundation Coach Jason Vaughn and Demetris Frazier Sr. @223fdn @fitnessincolor_ @drf_xiii @coachjasonvaughn @sidbap @PYNRS_

BBC Newshour freelance reporter Paige Sutherland joined two groups in Boston, MA who are working to normalize running and Black people enjoying nature.  This is a replay of two BBC Newshour radio stories covering the Boston chapter of Outdoor Afros and PIONEERS Run Crew. Both stories aired separately around the world in January and February of 2021.  Special thanks to freelance reporter Paige Sutherland for producing these powerful segments. Support the PYNRS Performance Streetwear Launch at www.fundblackfounders.com/pynrs

4% of Physical Therapists are People of Color. That number is even smaller for Men of color.   Dr. Kenneth Nwosu is the Managing Partner and Clinical Director of Bay State Physical Therapy Boston. And there aren't many others that look like him. Kenneth discovered the field of Physical Therapy after breaking his ankle in high school and spending 8 months in a cast. He progressed aimlessly through college in the Kinesiology program until he failed a class in his final semester of Senior year. He was forced to take a year off between undergrad and grad school to retake the class the following spring semester in order to receive his degree. This was a pivotal moment in his life that allowed him to put into perspective what it meant to apply himself fully to what he does. You can expect to hear: - Kenneth's childhood growing up in Nigeria - Kenneth's experience coming of age as a teenager in the City of Boston as a Black man - How he became the first man of color to receive a doctorate degree from Sacred Heart University  - Why he decided to give up an opportunity to work as a traveling Physical Therapist to work at a location in his neighborhood.  - How Kenneth turned around a struggling location and became a Managing Partner - How his walking group program attempts to address the 30-year difference in life expectancy between Roxbury and Back Bay residents  The percentage of African Americans in physical therapy education programs has hovered around 3% throughout the past decade (according to a report from UCS) Bay State Physical Therapy @fitnessincolor_ @sidbap @PYNRS_ www.pynrs.com

The first African-American male to represent the US at the Summer Olympics in the sport of rowing.  Aquil Abdullah has been “the first” and “the only” for most of his time in the sport of rowing. The only Black kid on his rowing team throughout high school and college. The first Black man to win the Diamond Sculls race at the Henley Regatta and the first to qualify for the Olympics. Aquil signed up for rowing because he wanted to “goof-off” during the last semester of his senior year at Woodrow Wilson High School, the only public school in DC with a rowing program. He quickly realized that rowing was HARD and he enjoyed the challenge. In just a few short months he made it onto the Varsity boat. He got the attention of the George Washington University Rowing coach setting in motion a journey that led him to the Olympics.  But not without grit, hard work, and hustle. You can expect to hear: - What it takes to make it to the highest level - Living in motels and sleeping on sofas as an Amateur pursuing the dream - Missing qualification for the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia by 0.33 of a second - Battling back from qualification heartbreak  - Opening himself up to new opportunities that led him to the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens - What the Olympics After Party is like  - Finding his dream job as a Software Engineer and Rowing Instructor at Hydrow Connect with us: Aquil Abdullah, OLY @fitnessincolor_ @sidbap @PYNRS_

The first Black Woman in Canada to become a Nike Trainer Moving from Jamaica to Western Canada with her mother at a young age, Rebeckah Price was the only Black girl in her entire high school. She had to navigate understanding Black and what Black meant while being the only one. This led to Rebeckah intentionally failing her high school English class in protest of the curriculum because it portrayed Africans as cannibals.  After high school, Rebeckah moved to Toronto for college, in search of community and more people who looked like her. Rebeckah's first experience practicing yoga was a prenatal meditation and visualization class. She struggled to stick with it because she could not identify with anyone in her classes. It was only later that she learned about the origins of yoga in South Asian and African cultures.  You can expect to hear: - How Rebeckah learned to navigate white spaces while code-switching - How the universe and stars aligned to provide a path for Rebeckah to become a yoga instructor - How she incorporates Rastafarian culture into her yoga teaching in practice - Why she decided to create classes exclusively for BIPOC - Why knowing and understanding your body is imperative for advocating for yourself as a Black woman. Connect with us: @rebeckahprice @thewellcollectiveto @fitnessincolor_ @sidbap @PYNRS_

"The overnight success is created by years of work" Geoff Janey has built JET Boston into a successful boutique fitness studio over the last several years. But it wasn't always easy! Struggling with weight for most of his life, Geoff abandoned a salary based accounting position to learn more about the human body and transform his life.  He first needed to hire himself as his own trainer before starting on his journey of creating a brand that has led him to where he is today. You can expect to hear: - How Geoff started renting space by the hour on Boylston St to meet clients which eventually led to him take a lease on a 200 SF office space  - The importance of taking your time while building a team for your small business   - Why building a community-first business was the difference between making it or going under in a year like 2020  Connect with us: @Punchiito @Jet.Boston @SidBap @Fitnessincolor_ @PYNRS_

Is Health & Wellness accessible for communities of color in Boston? We tackle this question and many more with Boston-based fitness instructors Liz Rock, Dre Neita, and Ashley Mitchell. Liz, Dre, and Ashley live in 3 different worlds when it comes to fitness in Boston and we dive in on what these experiences look like.  This episode was originally recorded as a live panel discussion for the Fierce Urgency of Now Festival, a five-day series of events hosted by local businesses and organizations geared at highlighting the experiences, challenges, and opportunities for young professionals of color in our city with the ultimate goal of creating community. You can expect to hear the panel discuss: - The challenge of finding diverse fitness experiences  - Thoughts on if Boston fitness is inclusive - How can we serve communities of color while trying to make a decent salary  - Racism was declared a public health crisis in Boston, but what is Boston doing to get well? Connect with us: Liz Rock Dre Neita Ashley Mitchell @SidBap @Fitnessincolor_ @PYNRS_  

Running is a lifestyle, and Olympian Ruben Sança LIVES to run!  Moving to the US from the Cape Verde Islands at the age of 13, Ruben loved to play soccer. He suffered from asthma as a kid but soon found himself running track for his middle school team. It wasn't until a friend convinced him to join his high school track team that he started to see a promising running career in his future.  In this episode, Ruben recounts how a series of small decisions fueled by his internal motivation led him to represent his home country in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. You can expect to hear: - The difficulty in navigating a new country and a new language - What fuels Ruben's internal motivation - Why it's important to have mentorship and coaches that believe in you - How through consistency and determination Ruben finally achieved the success that he always saw in himself Connect with us: @RubenSanca @SidBap @Fitnessincolor_ @PYNRS_

D1 College Football. 2x New England Golden Gloves Champion. Top 10 in USA. Undefeated Professional Career. On this episode, we follow the journey of undefeated professional boxer Julian Pollard who competed from 2009 to 2015.  Julian began boxing after a successful college football career at Syracuse University, where he served as team captain. What started as a fitness hobby, quickly morphed into something more.  Julian picked up the sport at an alarming rate. Within months, he was sparring and competing in local boxing tournaments, including the New England Golden Gloves. He represented Massachusetts and competed in the National Golden Gloves tournament in 2008 and 2012. He fought at the Super Heavyweight (250+) weight class and took home the bronze medal both times. We dive into his childhood as Julian opens up about how the death of his father affected him and pushed him to abandon the football plan for the dad plan. Today, Julian leads Team Pollard, an Adult and Youth BoxFit training and conditioning program, teaching boxing fundamentals, discipline, work ethic, and a “never quit mentality” Connect with us: @teampollard @fitnessincolor_ @sidbap @PYNRS_

It's been a very interesting year, to say the least. I want to take this time to say THANK YOU for supporting the show and for supporting all of the work we have been doing.  Please take this time to either catch up on previous episodes that you may have missed or write us a review! Happy Holidays and Merry Everything. See you in 2021 @sidbap @fitnessincolor_ 

Achieving and maintaining weight loss can be a stress-inducing and mentally exhausting activity, especially during a pandemic. This week we are talking to my friend Liz Rock, a fitness instructor and run coach who embarks on this journey daily. We talk about her active battle with maintaining weight loss during quarantine and the effects that it has on her mental health. Liz also opens up about the constant external pressure she feels from society to maintain her weight loss although many think it is “harmless encouragement”. What you can expect to hear: - How Liz dealt with catching COVID-19 & pneumonia - How finding a running group changed and potentially even saved her life. - Finding a sibling via Facebook - Becoming a marathon runner with no experience - How to run 4 marathons in two years - How to understand and acknowledge the signs your body gives you to slow down or take a break - How changing your lifestyle can save your life This is a platform where we encourage and normalize fitness in POC communities. Please share this with a friend, it might LITERALLY save their life. Connect with us: @Lizzy_rockz @SidBap @Fitnessincolor_ @PYNRS_

COVID changed the way many of us workout. For our guest this week, it led her to doing pull ups at a light pole with a bike in between her legs.  Yeah, New York City Blue bicycle in-between her legs! In this week's episode, we are joined by Shannon Spaulding AKA The Fit Therapist. We chat about her journey to becoming an occupational therapist and how her love for fitness and health guides everything she does. We also chat about her experience as a cross-country runner and the lack of diversity within that space. Connect with us:  @Sha_BangBang @sidbap @fitnessincolor_

“Teach the youth to play Chess not Checkers, and coach them to be better than you!” - Gavin  Welcome back family! This week I am joined by Jamaican born and Uniondale, NY raised Gavin Smith.  Educator • Agitator • Activist • Runner.  He's an ambassador for Lululemon, Vice Principal at Fenway High School, and always championing life.  Join us as we discuss how he left what no longer served him and actively steps into his greatness every day through fitness.  You won't want to miss how he is navigating predominately White spaces to reallocate resources and give back to the community!  In this episode you can expect to hear:  • The mental health effects of a kid from a lower-middle-class family in an EXTREMELY wealthy school system. • How ONE decision changed Gavin's life trajectory • How parting from your past can be the most fruitful decision • What it looks like when people highlight talents within YOU that you don' see in yourself  • Gavin's role in restructuring a traditional school system Connect with us:   @fitnessincolor_  @sidbap  @gav0h  ——————————————————  Every day you have a choice. Choose wisely. “Roxbury is the Black Mecca of Boston and it is an honor to get to run past such rich Blackness everyday” - Gavin --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fitness-in-color/support

Check out the Runners World feature: Sidney Baptista Is Working to Normalize Running in the Black Community Share/Post/Tweet and tag: @sidbap @fitnessincolor_ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fitness-in-color/support

On today's episode we are using a different format. I originally planned to host Claudia Thompson to talk about her experiences as a Black woman running in and around Boston.  As we did a pre-interview for an episode, I realized that I wanted to listen and learn without interjecting myself into the conversation. And so I felt that this episode should about Black women having this discussion while the rest of us listen.  I invited my friends and Co-founders of TrailblazeHers Run Co, Lizzy Rock, Frances Ramirez, and Abeo Christa to join Claudia on this episode to talk about their experiences.  TrailblazHers Run Co. is an organization that is committed to building and nurturing the diversity in sisterhood. They host monthly meet-ups called Self Care Sunday's and an annual Bra Run used to empower women of all shapes and sizes to feel comfortable in their bodies while running in a sports bra.  Claudia is the president of Claudia Connects, a personal and professional training, development, and networking events company. She is a dancer, runner, and all-around fitness enthusiast. I hope you enjoy the episode --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fitness-in-color/support

On this episode, I had the pleasure of hosting Ngozi Musa, a Speaker, Writer, Women's Empowerment Advocate, and Athlete. From a young age, Women in sport had been a large focus and source of enjoyment and empowerment for Ngozi. After being an athlete for 13 years and attending two all-girls high schools, Ngozi's mission is to inspire and empower women of all ages to recognize the power of their voice, their mind, and their story. Ngozi is an Ivy League Champion, 3X Academic All-American, and former Harvard University Track and Field Captain. She is also the founder and CEO of Aesthetics and Athletics, LLC a podcast and platform to inspire and empower the athlete in every woman. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fitness-in-color/support

On this episode, I had the pleasure of hosting Ashley Mitchell who is a fitness instructor in Boston. Formally working for Orange Theory, Soul Cycle, and more recently Barry's Boot Camp. We dive in and discuss: Ashley's childhood growing up in New Jersey Her journey to becoming a fitness instructor and her experiences in the fitness industry Her first experience with inequity and how that led to her discovering her activism, and Ashley's work with city youth through her nonprofit organization, The Courage Campaign  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fitness-in-color/support

On this episode, I have the honor of hosting #1 New York Times Bestselling Author and America's leading scholar on Anti-racism research, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. We dive in on topics ranging from how Dr. Kendi balances his health and well-being in the midst of becoming one of the most influential people in America, the accessibility of running and fitness in communities of color, and on how brands and running organizations can contribute to diversifying and growing the sport of running in communities of color.  The grand jury news of Breonna Taylor's case broke just as our call was scheduled to start and so our time was cut short. We didn't get to all of my questions or get a chance to expand upon his thoughts and ideas, but his responses about the importance of policy change and brands reassessing their standards are powerful and worth unpacking. Please visit www.morethanarun.org to register for our Virtual 5K and to help us meet our fundraising goal! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fitness-in-color/support

Join us LIVE at the 2020 Boston Marathon Expo. We dive in on topics ranging from understanding how to grow the sport of running, stigmas associated with running on Black and Brown communities, running accessibility, and how we can continue to use our voices for social change.  Panelist: -Dominique Burton, Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer at RUNGRL -Aliese Lash, Captain of PIONEERS Run Crew -Jarick Walker, Formally Nike Running --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fitness-in-color/support

Welcome to the Fitness in Color Podcast. I'm your host Sid Baptista. Join me on this journey to amplify black voices as we follow and highlight the experiences of People of Color in the Wellness and Fitness industry. I interview leaders and entrepreneurs who tell inspiring stories of their journeys to where they are today and break down the steps for how the next generation can follow. Alongside my guests, I dissect the inequities that the industry reflects and perpetuates while discovering how to tackle the issues of access, diversity, inclusivity, and intersectionality. We are launching the first season in just a few weeks. Please subscribe and follow our channel on Spotify, Apple Podcast, or whichever platform you use to listen to your favorite podcasts. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fitness-in-color/support