#WeGotGoals

We kicked off season 9 of the podcast a bit later than expected. We learned of the untimely and unexpected passing of Ryan Deffet this fall - aSweatLife's friend and the longtime editor of this podcast. We waited to come back until we could mourn Ryan and find a way to properly memorialize him.His friends and band mates from The Space Gators allowed us to use a song that featured Ryan on vocals called "Somewhere To Be" at the upfront of the episode. We hope you'll take the time to listen to that beautiful song in this week's episode.We spend this episode going over what's to come on aSweatLife (including big updates for the Ambassador program) and on our podcast. As we come back this season, you'll hear us talking to experts who we ask to teach us something.We're excited for you to come along with us on this journey.Show notes:Remember Ryan Deffet with us and give his band The Space Gators, a followThe aSweatLife Ambassador programEmail the aSweatLife team if you want to partner for aSweatLife's Studio of the Monththe Ultramarathoner that Kelly fangirled over: Courtney DauwalterOur new community platform, CircleThe Tour du Mont BlancKelly's trip on the Tour Du Mont Blanc, summarizedGet a glimpse at my officiating skills (and the cutest wedding ever) and the moment we all waited forReflections from summer from Jeana's Instagram

It has admittedly been a weird week or so on the Internet. We went from learning that aliens might be super real (told you, Gideon) to moving on. Maybe it was the full moon, who knows.So, we decompressed and talked it over on our monthly tête-à-tête - our podcast episode that we call "Let's Talk About It." Sure, we spent a little bit of time talking about aliens and whether or not they're just tourist, but we also covered which astrology apps we like and what we're saving on Instagram and TikTok.On this week's episode, you'll hear from me, Jeana Anderson Cohen, and from the Senior Director of Communities at aSweatLife, Kelly Matkovich. Joining us is Dana Farber who runs Moonstone marketing and works with aSweatLife on content strategy and social media.Resources:What Dana is saving on social: Snack queen baked potato dip What Dana is saving on social: Women living alone - extra lock What Dana is saving on social: Treehouse glamping in Washington What Kelly is saving on social: Heel hook What Kelly is saving on social: Tour de mont blanc What Kelly is saving on social: Derma planing UFO hearings Therabody smart goggles Mystic Monday Horoscope app: Co-star Horoscope app: Pattern Horoscope app: Sanctuary Astrology app: The chani app Tarot card app: mystic monday Dana's playlists for moods: sad Dana's playlists for moods: stay in bed Dana's playlists for moods: Lazy Afternoon Therabody Smart Goggles

Have you ever seen a small, round sensor on the back of someone's arm? For a long time, those continuous glucose monitors were only used for monitoring the blood glucose of those with Diabetes. My grandfather had diabetes and he would check his blood glucose twice a day using a finger prick. I remember distinctly the sound of the little device - it was like a stapler - I also remember the curse words that would follow.So, I assumed as I was putting the Freestyle Libre on the back of my arm that it would be as painful as the finger pricks. It was not. And for two weeks, I wore it and dutifully trained the January.ai App to help me understand and control my blood glucose.It created something called a "digital twin" which learned which behaviors led to blood sugar spikes and valleys. If creating a digital twin of yourself sounds scary, and like the robots are coming. Well, the robots are coming anyway, so, we might as well team up with them to make our lives better.Joining me today is Noosheen Hashemi, CEO and Founder of January.ai, which uses AI to help manage your glucose and predict the impact of key behaviors on our body's unique metabolism. Resources:Use code "SWEAT25" for 25% off January.ai Follow January on Instagram Abbott will be releasing more sensors Eliud Kipchoge on using the Abbott sensor for marathon trainingExercise and blood glucose (american diabetes association)Noosheen's daughter on Instagram  How blood glucose testing works with testing strips

If we were on TikTok right now, I'd be referring to myself as an “anxiety girlie” and as such, I have tried many, many anxiety coping mechanisms and recently, I discovered the Quiet Mind weighted pillow and I am super in love.And joining me today on the podcast is Mikey Goldman, creator of Quiet Mind. We talk through where the idea came from, and a few of his big backers, like Nick woodman of GoPro and Chad Hurley of YouTube.We also discuss the reasons Mikey created Quiet Mind - a diagnosis of ADHD and managing the symptoms that came with taking multiple medications - and how surprising it was to him that a weighted pillow didn't exist already.References: Quiet Mind - code ASWEATLIFE - gets 15% Off!Thingtesting's take on Quiet MindScholarly article about Deep Pressure Stimulation on AutismThe effects of deep pressure on AnxietyBetter Homes and Gardens on the Launch of Quiet Mind  Hugging a pillow while sleeping - advice from the Quiet Mind blog

I'm the kind of friend that keeps up with people through their posts. And this year, it's been pretty hard to miss what my friend AND yours Gideon Akande is up to: he committed to doing 365 consecutive days of movement. He's calling it Project 365, and it's a lot less daunting than you might think.On this week's episode of the podcast, I asked Gideon to share the rules of his challenge - he didn't love the word "rules," but shared the guidelines nonetheless. Basically, he can do anything for exercise at any time of the day as long as it's "concentrated exercise" for a minimum of 15 minutes. So taking a walk for exercise versus taking a walk to commute and counting the multi-task.At first, I was worried about his recovery. "He'll burn out!" I thought. But on a closer look, he's doing this in a safe and strategic way. (It's almost like he's a personal trainer or something).So we talk about WHY he started and I found it completely relatable. As a new dad, he found himself moving less. And because movement is a big part of his life as a three-time Chicago Golden Gloves champion, trainer, and national winner of the Men's Health Next Top Trainer competition.He lives for movement and wanted to make sure he was walking the walk.I loved this entire conversation, but my favorite part was hearing what Gideon has learned in more than six months of this challenge. I won't spoil it for you, but the key word is JOY.Resources: Gideon Akande on InstagramGet a 7-day trial of the get Fit with Giddy appBody Bar PilatesGideon's favorite Nigerian Foods: Iyan and Efo Riro Restore Hyper WellnessAccording to Live Sciences, you can work out every day IF you're strategic.Train momentLululemon Experiential (where you can find Gideon on the schedule)Rise nationSwish houseCommunities: MovementNorthern Lights visible in Chicago this Wednesday July 12

This week, in passing we mentioned that at the end of the aSweatLife summer intern's time with us we would sit down and tell her everything we had to learn the hard way after college graduation. Then we realized that we should probably record it as it's hot on our minds and is really the only thing we can think about this week.Ever since we had the conversation as a team, I thought about the things that I learned through whisper networks or by falling on my face. They were innumerable. So, we're not going to gatekeep it.Julia had good questions for us:Work relatedHow should I go about getting a job? What's the best advice you could give to someone interviewing for a job? What are your musts when it comes to looking for a job?PersonalWhat's one thing you would like your senior college self to know? How should a 20 year old come about looking for friends after college? How would you advice a 20 year old to get used to a 9-5pm What do you guys think about a hobby as a career?And we prepared a little advice for her:At work -if someone says something IMPORTANT to you with just their voice, follow up with an email asking them to confirm. Get shit in writing.It's okay to quit a job if you don't have another job lined up AND find mentorsOur advice on life:Ask questions.Have the best time with your friends - go out, go to restaurants, travel - do all the thingsOur advice as old married ladiesJeana: In my early 20s, I spent so much time wondering and worrying about whether the person I had been on one or two dates with liked me and very little time on whether I liked them. As soon as I started asking that question, “Do I like them? Have they earned my mindspace?” Things shifted for me. Kelly: I wish I would have dated MORE And live on your ownAnd the aSweatLife Ambassadors shared some guidance:Honestly, this was my favorite part: sourcing guidance from this group of really unique humans. Here's what they said:"Staying in a crappy job too long can let some good jobs get away from you, and can be detrimental to your self esteem." - Mariah B."Know your worth and don't be afraid to negotiate your salary! I was too scared to right out of college and was basically slapped with minimum wage wrapped up as a “salary” because I thought I couldn't ask for anything else." -Sydney M."More for personal life, but do what you want to do, even if it means going for it solo! I spent some years thinking I just wouldn't do things bc my friends weren't also interested in doing them, but now have embraced just going for it. I've gone to things solo and left with acquaintances with the same interests. Or just left solo with a great experience lol." -Sarah S."Work is not who you are, and is not everything. You can always change things if they aren't for you, you can always reinvent yourself, you can always advocate for yourself. Nothing has to be a linear path to the top." - CC"Two things ... One of them is from the Olsen twins… 1. No is a full sentence. (thanks Olsen twins). 2. You don't have to have things figured out. Like ever. There is no point in life at which you need to have the perfect job or be married or have kids or it's too late." -Tahnee L."If you can afford to - you can take vacation even if you don't have paid time off available / used up." -Amy G."2 bits of career advice learned the hard way. 1) Sometimes not getting the job has nothing to do with you. You met the qualifications, you interviewed well, it felt like a fit. There's too many unknowns to you. The company culture, the culture of the team you'd be joining, internal candidates, etc. I spent a lot of time being hard on myself and it wasn't until I became a hiring manager that I realized I could've saved myself some heartache by accounting for the unknowns. 2) At every job you will ever have, even if you own your own business, you are replaceable. It may not be done the same way, or as well even but, there are people who can do what you do to some degree. Keep that mindset and perhaps it'll save you some serious abuse of work/life boundaries and burnout early in your career that I learned the hard way." -Alexis R.Resources:Ladies Get PaidAsk a Manager is a great resource for any question for your careerQuestions that Julia sourced from the InternetJanuary.ai

During aSweatLife's annual event, Sweatworking Week, we met a lot of new people. We love that about Sweatworking Week. And they had questions about where aSweatLife came from and why. We figured we might as well share the story since you're asking.So this week, we turned the tables and Kelly Matkovich, who leads aSweatLife's ambassador program interviewed Jeana Anderson Cohen, founder/CEO of aSweatLife.We talk over the beginning of aSweatLife, where the ambassadorship came from, our first revenue stream and what keeps us going today.References: aSweatLifeaSweatLife ambassadorsPodcast episode from Jan 4th; Ambassador programFrom Fast Company: How Dabbling Helps Your CareerDevil's Thumb RanchOura Ring

At aSweatLife, we always say that everything is better with friends. And because of that, we get to spend time meeting entrepreneurs and tastemakers in the wellness space. Like a lot of them. But when one of the aSweatLife ambassadors mentioned the brand Literally Outside on our private slack channel, we dug into this Chicago-based brand and knew we needed to become friends. Joining us today is Steffan Williams, the Founder and Chief Executive Outsider at Literally Outside! Literally Outside is a lifestyle brand on a mission to empower everyone to feel comfortable exploring the great outdoors. It's black-owned, operated by two cousins, and supported by a team of family.Literally Outside is one of the few Black-owned outdoor lifestyle companies in the US. That brand has transparent values that you'll hear us talk about on the episode. It's conscious, soulful, accessible, and adventurous.Literally Outside wants to change the narrative of what it looks like to be “outdoorsy” so everyone can feel like they belong in the outdoors. On the episode, we talk about the idea of their slogan, “Outsiders Welcome.”Resources:Find Steffan Williams on LinkedInDiscover Literally OutsideFollow Literally Outside on InstagramLearn more about the Collab with Cody Hudson of Struggle Inc.Listen to the Episode of How I Built This Featuring Ty Haney that we talked aboutWe talk about SweatworkingWeek, learn more“A good plan today, is better than a perfect plan tomorrow” the Edge MovieBlack people outsideTortugas hiking clubVery Human SocialFriday Morning Swim Club

To start off the month, we like to touch base as a team and bring whatever we're thinking about to the table. This week, we talked through three big questions:Kelly had a very specific ask for shorts for running. She has a very specific need for shorts that are High waisted, have a brief liner, have a 4 inch inseam, have Storage and come in a neutral color. We didn't have a ton to offer her on that front, so we'd love your help.Dana talked through her co-working needs. She's ready to co-work again and asked for some ideas as to where.As for me? I wanted to know everyone's skincare routine. You'll notice in our resources that we spent a lot of time talking about our favorite brands.We also chatted through a tiny topic: Romcoms. We talked about the best and the worst of the genre as well as some of our favorite movies to rewatch.And a delightful addition: you'll hear from aSweatLife's summer intern Julia who has a lot to say about both skincare and romcoms. References:TracksmithLululemon Align ShortsOn running cloud ultraWorking fromDesk passOutset skin careRare beauty makeupLaneige Lip Sleeping MaskCryo SpoonScratch goods coffee undereyeIndie Lee brightening face washMoonjuice plump jellyIlia lip maskAavrani ITK SkincareCeraVe Rose water spray - NOW foods

At aSweatLife, we always say that everything is better with friends. And that's not just to be cute - high quality bonds are the clearest predictor of longevity. Not to be dramatic, but making friends and spending time with them is a matter of life or less life.Maybe you remember, but the past couple of years have been rough from a friendship perspective - you know what I mean. And many people took the pandemic to be an opportunity to reevaluate their surroundings, their happiness, and their living situations. I can't count how many people I know who moved or took off to become digital nomads. Moving can be a challenge from a connection standpoint.Today, on the podcast, I'm speaking to someone today who took what could have been an isolating experience and she made it friendly.Here's what Maggie Umberger said in her article on aSweatLife about making friends during her digital nomad year.“From my time traveling the country over the last year, I learned an unexpected lesson I didn't set out to receive. When I packed up the car to head west, the itinerary was set for places I'd never been and where I didn't know a soul. I left thinking this was going to be a journey into isolation. I learned it was a journey — one that's only just beginning — towards connection."So we talk about why she and her partner took off for adventure and what they learned along the way.Resources:Follow Maggie Umberger Do yoga with Maggie Maggie's challenge to make friends on the road Un-steal-able bike, Fortified The Book about making friends as an adult, You Will Find Your People by Lane MooreThe book Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Stop for a second and ask yourself the following: if you meet a woman who tells you she isn't drinking, do you assume she's pregnant? Don't lie to me.I spent nearly a year as a mostly sober - ok, fine a California-mostly-sober person. I went on Lexipro last May and I liked not feeling anxious and depressed, but I did not enjoy browning out. So, out with the booze and out with the blues. After nearly a year of the pregnant pauses (that's a lazy pun) that followed explaining that I wasn't drinking, I just started saying, "and no, I'm not pregnant."Christina Heiser, whose voice you'll hear on the podcast this week, stopped drinking in December of 2021 and kept it up. She's a journalist, and so, she's observed and written about how it felt, the impact and why she did it. After she penned 5 Things That Happened When I Quit Drinking for a Year, I knew I'd found a kindred spirit.We spend some time on the episode talking about our gluten *stuff* and she and I connected on how easy it is to accidentally eat gluten while you are impaired.And because she is incredibly prepared at all times, Christina also came with her own links and resources. So don't hesitate to dive into her favorite influencers, products and links.References: 5 Things That Happened When I Quit Drinking for a YearN/A drinks: Boisson - an online N/A marketplaceBetter Rhodes - an online N/A marketplaceGhiaHoplarkMondayCleanCoGiesen Quit Lit (books about drinking less)Quit Like a Woman by Holly WhitakerThe Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine GrayDrinking Games by Sarah LevyThe Dry Challenge by Hilary SheinbaumSober influencers@shestayssober (Sarah Pottieger)@noboozebabes (Shea Gomez)@joinsoberish (Kayla Lyons)@themindfulmocktail (Natalie Battaglia)

A couple of months ago, I saw the signature microweights on the Omorpho gear for the first time in the background of a workout on Bravo's Summerhouse. I thought, "What's that future-wear?" And then went on with my life. (Yes, I watch Bravo, but I wouldn't call myself a Bravo-holic. Except, please ask me about Scandoval if you see me in the wild.)So when I got my Omorpho G-tight and G-tank for myself, I couldn't fathom how this futuristic athletic apparel weighing in at under 2 pounds could enhance my workout. That is until I wore the outfit to an Interval workout at Studio Three. The treadmill inclines and sprints were decidedly more challenging. So, when I sat down to chat with Stefan Olander - former Nike heavy-hitter and cofounder/CEO of Omorpho - I understood the insight the brand was tapping into.On the episode, I reference the CrossFit workout Murph, which was my point of reference for using a weighted vest to increase intensity. You'll hear Stefan share that a Murph workout was actually a big inspiration for the company.But weighted vests were heavy, and I didn't have any burning desire to add 10 percent of my bodyweight or more to my upper body for a workout. But Omorpho weighs much less than a typical weighted vest and its evenly distributes the weight all over your body in the tanks and tights that I tried.On this week's episode, we dive into the science and the design of Omorpho.References: OmorphoFollow Omorpho on instagramMurph, the CrossFit workout that started it allAwe, the book by Dacher Keltner that I'm obsessed with and have talked about on this podcast several timesSimulated hypergravity study (which shows that athletes got stronger and faster with added weight)The Omorpho AppThe study that upended what we know about calories and metabolismDr. Huberman and cold Wim Hof and coldWhat's biohacking?

"When nothing is certain, anything is possible."Heidi Zimmer, founder of Wild Rice Retreat said that on this week's episode of the podcast, and I furiously wrote it down. Because even though she was talking about the uncertainty of breaking ground on the project she'd worked on for years in March of 2020, I felt like it applied to absolutely everything.And today, Wild Rice Rice Retreat is thriving on the shores of Bayfield, Wisconsin. With stunning views of Lake Superior (my favorite Great Lake) and access to miles of trails, this shoreline oasis is as much about being in nature as it is about integrating wellness into your life.And its price point - around $300 a night for meals, lodging, and yoga programming - is staggeringly low compared to some of the options available. Heidi's vision is to make wellness travel accessible - and to do it all in the north woods of Wisconsin.Hear all about it on this week's episode!Resources: Learn more about Wild Rice RetreatFollow Wild Rice Retreat on InstagramMeet Heidi ZimmerThe time I visited Wild Rice RetreatThe book: Braiding Sweet GrassMary Rice of Bayfield, Wisconsin and how her memory lives onWild Rice RestaurantThe architect behind Wild Rice Retreat, David Salmela Chequamegon-Nicolet National ForestThe Apostle IslandsHeidi's recommended book, Unreasonable HospitalityMy recommended book, AweSomething Heidi is loving this week: Kapha Season, a concept in AyurvedaSomething I'm loving this week: Cryospoon

Every month, we hit the record button as a team to talk about what we're loving, eating, watching, and how we're moving. This week, Head of Community at aSweatLife, Kelly Matkovich; aSweatLife's partner Dana Farber, who runs Moonstone Marketing; and I all brought three things to discuss.Here's what came up:Sleep: Kelly wanted to know how we're sleeping, what we use to go to sleep, and she makes a great pitch for the Hatch alarm clockPickleball: Kelly's getting really into it pickleball and she tells us why A Trader Joe's snack that disappointed DanaDana's current favorite workout, P.volveThe Amazon show Jury DutyThe Hoxton's Working Form_ Relay desksI accidentally gave medical advice three times. Please consult your physician before doing anything I tell Kelly and Dana to do.Resources:Crunchy curls from TJ'sRaspberry shortbread sandwich cookiesTrader joe's dried pineapple The cut, People working multiple jobs to afford ErehwonThe cut, outsourcing my orgasmCalm, the magnesium supplementDemon Copperhead - the bookPineapple Street - the bookP.volve - the workoutChunky socks - the necessityErica Marie - the incredible trainerVuori t-shirt - Kelly's go-to workout shirtCotopaxi windbreaker - Kelly's windbreakerJury Duty, watch every second of it.The Hoxton's _workingFromHeyDay facialsA beginner's Guide to Pickleball on aSweatLifeAn entire episode of this podcast about pickleballSeventh heaven tiktok recapsShrinking on Apple TVSuperglue and cuts, guidance from the Mayo Clini

April showers are bringing May flowers, we're also seeing running goals on the horizon. That's why we're running with hundreds of ambassadors from across the nation who are training for for a 5k. For some of us, it's just for the fun of it, for some it's to get faster, and for others it's simply to do the thing.It can be easy to think of running shoes as another accessory for your fit-fit (see what I did there), but we know that for runners, shoes are your equipment for your sport. We brought Todd Falker into the digital studio to talk about shoes, innovation and why it matters for running.Todd is fast, and in the course of this conversation, I invited myself to spectate his next trail race. Because how often do you get to watch someone run fast, far and on trails?!References: Puma Running innovation ft. Todd FalkerYour guide to Running Shoes Ft. Conor CashinThe Cheap Marathon, it costs $26.20Ready for a super science-y review of super critical foaming? Here you go!Puma runner, Annie FrisbiePuma runner, Hendrich PfiefferRC MaldenThe mile high run clubSlow AF Run ClubThe Hansen's Marathon MethodFigure out your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs

As aSweatLife's #GoalForIt running program kicks off, we're bringing together aSweatLife Ambassadors from across the nation to train and run for a 5k. For some of us, it's just for the fun of it, for some it's to get faster, and for others it's simply to do the thing.We always say that everything is better with friends here at aSweatLife. And that especially applies to running. So today on the podcast, we're talking about community and running. We've brought one of our resident community builders, Nimbe Juarez onto the podcast to talk about why community matters for running, where to find it, and how to create it for yourself.Nimbe has a self-proclaimed, "love-hate relationship" with running, but for her the idea of running with friends keeps her coming back. She organizes a monthly event that she calls "friends-running" to bring an all-paces community together to run.On the episode, we talk about our relationship with running, running groups we admire, and running with donkeys.References: aSweatLife ambassadors (people like Nimbe who get cool stuff and programming to do together)Nimbe Juarez on InstagramTORTUGAS Run ClubFamily style Run Clubmidway mile chasers3run2Puma runningYour guide to Running ShoesAlexi Pappa's book, Bravey Alexi Pappas wrote the for Runner's World on the WHY behind communityNimbe's resource on Community, “If you want to go Faster or Farther, Join a Running Group.”Aftershokz HeadphonesBurro racing in Colorado is evidently a thing

It's the first podcast of the month. We're coming at you to share some things we're thinking about. We'll shoot the breeze, share things we love and try to crack each other up.This week, we're catching up on the podcast on food, friendship, fitness and fun. Each of us (Dana, Kelly and I) are bringing two topics we want to chat through to the episode.Here's what we cover:Cottage CheeseTraveling with friendsThe Barbie Movie, marketing, and trailerPassover foodJeana's #30Daysoffriends challengeLove is Blind Season 4And we all talk about our favorite comfort TVResources: Mt lions and what to know about them Good culture cottage cheese, because cottage cheese is trending Splitwise for all of your travel needs The Barbie movie trailer Greta gerwig, the director of Barbie Evan Ross Katz ICYMI, Barbie Girl by AquaFun things to do with leftover MatzoP.volveLove is BlindRewatching TV shows is good for your anxiety Pod meets worldSalty Face Tanning WaterAnd our very important list of comfort TVThe Office 30 RockTed LassoFriends New Girl Parks and Rec Schitt's CreekaSweatLife's TikTokCottage Cheese TikTok RecipesThrillist's Cottage Cheese ideas

It's our favorite time of the breakdown of the State of Fitness - your predictions. We love to hear what you think is coming in the world of wellness and what you're over. First and foremost, this is a fun time for all of us to guess, joke around, and have a great time making wild predictions.This week, we dig into a few things you think are coming for the State of Fitness and we also share what WE think we'll see in the future of fitness.Here's a look at what you think is coming:Read more about the state of fitness predictions here. We talk through each other these and share some of our own thoughts on these.Prediction #1: We'll title this “the robots are coming”Prediction #2: Digital fitness is Dead.Prediction #3: Fitness in gyms and studios will make a full comeback.Prediction #4: People need gyms to connect.Prediction #5: Pickleball.Prediction #6: We'll title this, “In this economy?”Prediction #7: A new love for low-impact fitness.And also, for reference, I misled Dana with such confidence over the pronunciation of the word Harbinger. Turns out that she was right and I was wrong. Please see the pronunciation.References: State of FitnessNetflix and Nike partnershipChat GPTSVB's failure and why it matters to the economyBank collapses and why they matterMindbody's Wellness IndexCasper Ter Kuile and his book The Power of RitualThe Apple TV show ShrinkingPickleball is the fastest Growing Sport in America Toss and SpinWhy consumers are bad at predictors of their own future behaviorChris the founder of Toss and Spin on aSweatLife's podcastMayweather Boxing AcquisitionXponential and princess cruiseWeb3 Swagger Society by Robin ArzonBig questions we're left with:How did our ancestors work out?

So, on the podcast all month, we've been talking about the State of Fitness and this week is no different, but we're delving into the mental health of it all.One thing we're been touching on all month is how venture capital flowed into fitness - which in its purest form is community. And while cash gives things like groeth, cash taketh away when it demands insane metrics.We saw that with connected fitness and talked about it on last week's podcast.This week, I said aloud, "I hope there's not a way that cash can ruin mental health and mindfulness ... except if it becomes a luxury."And then Kristen Geil who used to be our Editor in Chief texted me this profile piece about Peoplehood. That article in the LA Times states, "some experts express skepticism about these new programs, which could be viewed as commodifying human relationships."Fear not, mindfulness can be accessible to all until someone finds a way to charge for breathing.Regardless of the capital of it all, it was important for us to include mental health in this year's state of fitness survey. This week we talk through what you told us about your mental health and mindfulness practices. We share data, correlations, and wild assumptions.Why?A study we love to quote is the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which tells us that the easiest way to predict a long and happy life is the strong social connections one has. Several studies found that people's level of satisfaction with their relationships at age 50 was a better predictor of physical health than their cholesterol levels were.On the flip side, according to the CDC, Social isolation significantly increased a person's risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival things like smoking and physical inactivity. Social isolation was associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia.Friendship and mental health really, really matter for your quality of life and longevity. And that's why we're all here at aSweatLife.So listen to what we have to say about the state of fitness and your mental health.Resource: State of FitnessThe Harvard Study of Adult DevelopmentThe CDC's findings on social isolationStudies on mindfulnessHeadspace fundingCalm fundingOpen Mindfulness Studio fundingAwe by Dacher KeltnerJosie and The PussycatsThe Game, bookThis Works Sleep SpraySpotify ‘00s Rock Anthems PlaylistBack to the beachThe Daily Calm in the calm app

We recorded this podcast while I sat next to my Peloton, a machine that got me through the pandemic - Jess Simms, Tunde, Cody, Alex, Robin, all came at me live into my home while I - like everyone else in the world, looked for some normalcy.But cut to a more normal fitness world and there my Peloton sits, unused by me since July of 2022. And don't get me wrong - I loved that thing while I loved it, but I am a person who uses fitness as a form of social connection.I use in-person fitness for high-fives, for small-to-medium talk - like the “How are you, we've met before, right? I love your set. It's an amazon dupe? No way.” I prefer medium to deep talk if given the choice, But interactions like these are really good for you, according to Discover Magazine. And during the pandemic, I kept describing what I missed - barista interactions, check-out interactions, and yes, the casual, "I love your socks with the funny saying" interactions. So, when the coast was clear, I was back with a vengeance and I moved on from my Peloton. But I'm not everyone. So, we continued to ask big questions of our audience about what they're using in their digital routines and what we found was super interesting. We're digging in on what readers told us about digital fitness and connected fitness this week based on our State of Fitness report.So this week, we're digging into digital and connected fitness - Are you still doing it? And why?References: State of Fitness Lululemon's Mirror Acquisition  Lululemon Q4'22 quarterly earnings report Lululemon Earnings Call Lululemon price drop Peloton commercial Future Fit Peloton Stats Technavio Future of connected fitness Fitt Insider's connected fitness report Discover Magazine on small Talk Presence

This month on the podcast, we're breaking down the intricacies of the State of Fitness Report we published in February. There is a lot to unpack in all of the historical data we're comparing and in all of the incredible insights you share with us.Last week, we talked a lot about your fitness spending habits and this week we're digging into what you're doing with your precious time dedicated to movement.Because we want to evaluate how far we've swung back on the pendulum, we'll be doing a lot of comparison and contrast between 2022 data, our 2021 survey, the mid-2020 pandemic survey, and pre-pandemic numbers.We take data-driven guesses on why walking is the number one fitness format, whether cycling will make a come-back to pre-COVID numbers, and why we're all picking up heavy things again.Hot takes on this episodeYoga Teacher Training is a pyramid scheme. (Don't @ us - we're not the first to say this)"Walking has cauliflower's publicist"a lot of women got into the true crime thing, thus, Dana guesses, there is more interest in strengthWe would welcome men to walk in hoards (like women in groups like Chicago Girls Walk and City Girls Who Walk) if - and only if - they wear crop tops and crocs.References: State of FitnessSweat Fitness Studio (where Kelly taught)CrossTown Fitness (where Jeana taught) The book, The PowerComing Soon, The Power on Amazon PrimeAlo Moves Stoned+Toned STRIDE FitnessThe Hill, what is TikTok's hot girl walkJeana: The CDC's Physical Activity GuidelinesCoworking day @ The HoxtonPuma trail running shoesStudio Three and Foxtrot

We've been collecting consumer data on fitness habits and spending since 2017, so we have numbers that show just how quickly things really did change over the Pandemic.We're be breaking down our State of Fitness survey and its results on our podcast all month, This week, we're starting with spending. We talk about how much we - the hosts - are spending, what you told us you're spending and what percent of you are getting your fitness for free. We also dig into a metric that is purely post pandemic: return-to-gym.I hate to bring it up again, but underlying all of this is the pandemic and its wax and wane. It did something to us and that something was behavior change on a massive scale.It's a fact that behavior change is extremely hard, but it is the underlying principle that drives the fitness industry. Ans along with that, habit adoption is nearly impossible. We all know the stats around New Years resolutions - most people make them and drop them by February. And it's not because we don't WANT to adopt the behaviors we set out to adopt, it's because we are creatures of habit operating on autopilot. From one of my favorite podcasts, Hidden Brain, “About 43 percent of everyday actions are done repeatedly almost every day in the same context." So knocking someone out of autopilot to do something new takes a change in motivation and - depending on the human, some sort of reward.Covid created a petri dish wherein our habits were turned off - we couldn't go to the office, we couldn't go to the gym, childcare was non-existent. That left the human race open for new things in the confines of our homes. Here's what McKinsey had to say on that “When consumers are surprised and delighted by new experiences, even long-held beliefs can change, making consumers more willing to repeat the behavior, even when the trigger (in this case, the COVID-19 pandemic) is no longer present. In other words, this is a unique moment in time during which companies can reinforce and shape behavioral shifts to position their products and brands better for the next normal.”So the data we're talking about this month will dig into what changed, what went back to normal, and what stuck. And this week, specifically, we're talking about the financial side of it all. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Resources:State of FitnessThe theoretical model of behavior changeHidden Brain on behavior change and habitsConsumer behavior change from McKinseyPopsugar - How Pilates Healed my relationship with exerciseMind Body Wellness Index

If you've ever watched Shark Tank or pitched your own business, you're familiar with the concept of addressable market, or total addressable market (TAM). It's an ever important metric to determine whether the thing you're talking about has room for growth or - to put it simply - a way to quantify how many people care or could care about the thing you're selling.I told you that to tell you this: Pickleball is booming.A couple of facts point us in that direction, but most importantly, market size. According to Marketwatch, The global pickleball Paddle market - that's just paddles - was valued at $126.5 million in 2019 and is expected to reach $218.2 million by the end of 2026.People are making pickleball a business and business is booming. But outside of that, regular humans are loving the game: according to the Sport and Fitness Industry Association, it's the fastest growing sport in the US. How big is it? 4.8 million people played it in 2021.There's even a major league of pickleball, which - get this, wants to bring the number of people playing pickleball in the US up to 30 million by 2030.Investors in Major league pickleball include Naomi Osaka, Kevin Durant, Patrick Mahomes, Lebron James, Tom Brady, Heidi Klum, and Budweiser just to name a few. By the way, pro Pickleball is going to be interesting - there's going to be relegation and promotion - if you've watched Ted Lasso (or European football in general), you're familiar with the drama of that.So, on this week's episode of the podcast, we dig in. We talk about how we found the game, Chris shares what led him to build a business in the racket sports space, and we generally just have a fantastic time.References: Toss and SpinToss and Spin on InstagramChris on aSweatLife, Why is everyone you know playing PickleballThe New York Times, Pickleball WarsFrom aSweatLife, A workout to prepare to play pickleballFrom market watch, Pickleball paddle market sizeThe Wall Street Journal, Pickleball investmentsNPR, Inside America's Fastest Growing SportKevin Durant and pickleballForbes, celebrity Pickleball investmentsBloomberg Business of Sports Podcast, Celebrity investors in Pickleball (ft. Jason Kelly who has also been on this podcast) A Global overview of the Pickleball Market SizeBreakpoint on NetFlixTennis player, Nick KyrgiosTyson McGuffin, Pro pickleball player sponsored by Sketcher Kelly's thing she loves Flora Hemp SpiritsJeana's thing she loves, The State of Fitness

Content warning: we talk about sex on this episode.So recently, we started to notice Ashley Martens - a health and wellness writer who lends her pen to aSweatLife as well as Women's Health, Red Book and Delish - covering more of what we'd call "saucy content."It started after some jerk ghosted her. By the way, human adults, don't ghost each other. Have a tough convo and move on. K? And as she pitched article after article that touched on sexual health, we were loving the angles she was exploring. Never before had we seen the word "orgasm" on the site so much. And as she digs into sexual health more and more, we wanted to know what she'd learned.And I think it's important in adulthood to re-educate ourselves. Sex ed focused on reproduction and diseases at best, and at worst, it completely demonized the act. Bad sex ed leaves kids with more questions and no one to ask about them besides the internet or other equally confused teens.But when you think of all of the things that come with sex, like relationships, boundaries, consent, pleasure, and - sure, if you choose - babies, there's so much to learn.So join us as we work through our comfort levels in discussing sex, dating, the $13 billion dollar US sex toy industry, and anything else that comes up.Resources: Ashley Martens on aSweatLifeAshley Martens on InstagramHow to Maintain Your Mental Health While Online DatingSo, You Haven't Had Sex For… Awhile. Here's How to Approach Your (Second) First TimeThe Benefits of Female MasturbationAn Open Letter to the Man Who Jilted MeThe Benefits of Sleeping NakedAll of the different types of orgasmsThe best sexual positions for your lifestyleHow to have multiple OrgasmsKelly's resource, The What's Happening with my Body bookKelly's resource, Big Mouth the TV ShowAshley's source for sex toy industry Jeana's resource, Come as You Are the bookAshley's current fitness obsession, The Rehab Lab Jeana's current puppy necessity, The Roodie

You know that person who reminds you that Mercury is in retrograde and they ask new friends to share their astrological signs? It's me.And we love leaning into the woo-woo in a fun and approachable way around aSweatLife. Each week, aSweatLife ambassadors get an email with everything fun that's happening AND one of the Ambassadors, Mary Kessinger, writes a horoscope.So when Twyla Adkins raised her hand to write a piece for aSweatLife about the right workout for your sun, moon and rising sign, we were all about it. Quick, a primer on sun, moon and rising from Alex Caiola, or the high priestess of Brooklyn, who Twyla interviewed for this piece: "The sun sign gives insight into your personality and what naturally attracts you ... The rising sign also known as the ascendant sets up our first house, which is the house of identity, our body in some respects ... It's how we encounter everything and move through the world. Your rising sign is important when it comes to exercise or how we want movement to fit into our lives. Our emotional needs might impact our workout preferences too. Sometimes your go-to exercise just doesn't align with your current emotional state. That's why your moon sign, representing your emotional self, matters."And so, on the episode this week, we dig into the world of woo-woo and what it means to us.References: By Twyla Atkins, The Best Workout for Your Sun, Moon, and Rising Sign.If you're unfamiliar with your big three, you can find them here or work with an astrologer like CaiolaFrom the NYPost, What are the sun, moon and rising sign? Follow Twyla Atkins on InstagramFollow Kelly's Pic, Veya Coffee, which creates adult pop-tartsFollow Odyssey Elixir, jeana's picMind your Manners on NetflixThe Costar AppThe Flora Pod for plants Astrology for the Soul, Jan Spiller Kim Krans and The WIld Unkown online and on Instagram

On the pages of aSweatLife in 2020, Kensli Diggs penned a piece that called on readers to use friendship to see the perspectives of others from different walks of life. It was titled Why it's so Important to Diversify Your Friend Group.She said, “It's important to diversify your friend group because it's important to develop a familiarization and understanding of other people's backgrounds.”Since, we've seen that piece get more traffic than any other on aSweatLife, which means that people around the world have read the piece that starts with a big question. Kensli writes, “A Reuters poll completed in 2013 and cited by NBC News states that “about 40 percent of white Americans and about 25 percent of non-white Americans are surrounded exclusively by friends of their own race.” The United States still remains very segregated today, and racial prejudice is at the heart of this issue. But how do we break past these barriers to form genuine friendships?“So, this week, nearly three years after publication, we revisit the piece with Kensli to talk through the guidance and what she would update about the piece.This episode was recorded before the murder of Tyre Nichols, but we want to recognize that similar conversations are happening today as those that were happening in June of 2020. Remember to check on each other and to ask before sharing links to videos to avoid traumatizing or re-traumatizing each other.References: Follow Kensli DiggsBy Kensli Diggs, Why it's so Important to Diversify Your Friend Group. Kensli's Project, Diversity in Wellness photo series - a photo from the first shoot, From the second shoot, and from the photoshoot with kidsFrom Pew Research - Data on cancel cultureFree Museum Days in ChicagoMeet Jeana's puppy on InstagramFrom Greater Good at Berkeley, How many hours does it take to make to friendThe Racial Healing HandbookFrom The Huffington Post, It's Time To Broaden Your Friend Group. Here's How To StartFollow: @daniellebayardjacksonThe Dyson Air Wrap

Chances are that if you're reading this, social media was introduced in your lifetime. Whether or not that means you have vivid memories of retrieving the AOL CD ROM from the mailbox and begging your parents to set it up on your Gateway PC (which came in a cowprint box) is another thing.If all of that resonated with you, email me at Jeana@asweatlife.com to commiserate about the series finale of Full House or your lower back pain.A considerable amount of time has passed since connection to the internet came after you endured a minute of dialing-up. And in that time, we've seen wifi prevalence, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. This week, we cover TikTok, which came onto the scene in China (or a version of it, anyway) in 2016. And in the U.S., TikTok was largely popularized as families, COVID pods, and pre-teens danced and danced and danced again during the pandemic.And TikTok has been called addictive, which can be in part to its extremely intelligent Algorithm. It gains a quick understanding of who you are, what you care about, or who you're attracted to. So, if you're watching videos on a topic like weight loss, it could start to serve you dangerous content that pushes you towards disordered eating. On the flip side, if you're looking for motivation to move your body and feel stronger, it could start to serve you exactly what you need. Or you could get nudged into a 75 Hard.That's why we loved aSweatLife writer David Robertson's coverage of fitness challenges and trends on TikTok and how to tell if they're safe. On this week's episode, we talk about his guidance as well as our own personal feelings about the social media we're consuming.Resources:By David Robertson How to determine if a TikTok trend is safe David Robertson on Instagram By Sarah Beerman Mental health TikTok on aSweatLife NYTimes The Egyption revolution that began on Facebook Wikipedia dedicated to Twitter revolutions The history of TikTok according to Wikipedia NBC News: TikTok surpassed google NYTimes: How TikTok's algorithm works What's a 75 Hard? By Chanel Kenner How to do a weekly social media detox She said, the movie

Trigger warning: on this episode, we discuss pregnancy and loss. If you're not in a place to hear that, skip it and come back next week. Take care of yourself.Amanda Lauren, a contributor at aSweatLife and a lot of other publications, has covered a tried and true beat for about five years around here: Wellness and lifestyle. We love reading her take on the way movement bumps up against fashion, self care, and trends.But over the last year, she's been sharing a look inside something really personal - her experience trying to conceive. Last February, she shared the raw feelings around her pregnancy loss. She tackled conversations around infertility in June. Then, in December, she shared how being pregnant now is changing the way she looks at her body and what it can do.And pregnancy loss, pregnancy, and parenting are all such a personal and complicated topics - hello, we're coming to you from the United States in the year 2023. But Amanda's candor on the issue and her willingness to share her own internal monologue feels like it could help other women.Pregnancy loss is fairly common - According to March of Dimes, for women who know they're pregnant, about 10 to 15 in 100 pregnancies (10 to 15 percent) end in miscarriage.Common or not, the emotional toll has often been untreated or undertreated.According to the American Psychological Association, The tragedy of miscarriage has traditionally been private, an event grieved largely by the mother, on her own. Health-care professionals advised these women that the sadness would grow less pronounced over time, especially following a successful pregnancy. But new research suggests that some women may mourn for much longer than expected, even after the birth of a healthy child, although the range and severity of the symptoms may vary. That's also true for men, as new studies have found that men grieve over a miscarriage more than once thought.So we talked through it all on this week's episode, specifically, her most recent piece on the topic - How Getting Pregnant After Miscarriage Changed My Fitness Routine. She's honest, open, and willing to share her thoughts on the subject.Resources:Follow Amanda Lauren on InstagramBy Amanda: How Getting Pregnant After Miscarriage Changed My Fitness RoutineBy Amanda: Here's What No One Will Tell You About Having A Miscarriage By Amanda: How to Have Conversations About InfertilityPodcast on Trying to conceivePodcast episode on Pelvic floor recoveryPodcast on the mental health side of pregnancyPodcast on Roe v. Wade and your access to careBirthrates in the US (census bureau data)Money.com - It's increasingly expensive to raise a child in the U.S.Miscarriage stats - Mayo ClinicDepression and Anxiety Following Early Pregnancy Loss: Recommendations for Primary Care Providers 

Welcome to Season 8 of #WeGotGoals, the podcast by aSweatLife.com. We're doing things a little differently this season, featuring topics from our crew of expert writers, responding to moments in pop culture, or whatever the hell we feel like talking about.This week, we're talking about body image … and since our team is practically all female and a lot of our readers and ambassadors are female, we're going to be referencing body image for women - although we know men deal with their own complicated set of body image stuff too.This week, you'll hear from Amy Potter, an aSweatLife Ambassador, Professional trainer and the author of the article on aSweatLife.com that inspired this week's episode: 7 Steps to Build a Better Body Image. That's the kind of how-to content we need more of in our lives.Resources:How to Improve your body image on aSweatLifeAmy Potter on InstagramLadies Who LiftNEDAA history of body image ideals on Katie Couric MediaWomensHealth.gov resources on body imageHow to compliment a female without saying "skinny"Turkey chili from Ambitious KitchenHalf Days Ski Attire

My mantra going into 2023 in general is "this should be fun." It's meant to be a not-so-gentle reminder that I started aSweatLife for joy - I wanted to fill my own life with joy and hopefully help others do the same too.For me there are too sides to this idea: the first is actively seeking out ways to add fun to my life and the other is eliminating the stuff that is depleting my joy. Don't deplete my joy, you guys.When it comes to aSweatLife's podcast - #WeGotGoals - I've been interviewing people by myself for a while. When thinking about adding more joy to the experience of podcasting, I remembered one of my other favorite catch phrases: Everything Is Better With Friends.So I asked, nudged, pushed - whatever - one of my favorite people on the planet Kelly Matkovich into a co-host position. Kelly is aSweatLife's Head of Community, so she brings with her that experience of what folks in our community want and need. I'm already having more fun.All seasons, you'll hear us diving deeper with authors and experts who were featured on the pages of aSweatLife.com. We'll ask the big WHY behind the pieces that cover fitness, friendship, fun, and food.And on every episode, we'll give you a glimpse into what we're loving, our favorite resources, and what's good in our lives.On this, the first episode of the season, Kelly and I share more about our journeys with aSweatLife, and I shared something new and noteworthy with Kelly (just when she thought she knew everything about me), we also dig into what we're looking forward to this season.Listen and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Resources:Nuuly - Kelly's go-to for clothesThe Vibrant years - out current book club book, and the first book from Mindy Kaling's Mindy's Book Studio on AmazonMovement that brings you joy - the piece on aSweatLife from Sarah Beerman that Kelly loved 

This is the final episode of the seventh season of #WeGotGoals and we're excited to kick off our annual State of Fitness survey with this episode. We've been keeping our fingers on the pulse of what you do to stay fit, recover and how you spend your money on wellness. And this year, we're adding some questions about mental health.On this week's episode, you'll hear references to data from our state of fitness survey.A key number we've kept our eyes on over the years is the trend of our mostly female readers spending more and more time picking up heavy things and putting them back down. We've loved watching strength training grow in popularity. Obviously a few things have led to the ebb and flow of women in the weight room.Historically, women often felt welcome in different spaces in the gym - namely the aerobics studio - and there were a lot of reasons why that is. But the ‘70s were a pivotal time for women in sport and exercise. It was that decade in which we saw the invention of the sports bra, the passing of Title IV, and brands like Jazzercise get women moving in more cardio formats. But backwards beliefs about testosterone, sexuality and the appearance of strength often kept women from lifting. As the decades went on, programs like Les Mills Body Pump which debuted in the ‘90s made strength training a part of that same space where women were already welcome.Cut to today - we've watched strength grow in popularity - even with the pandemic closing down gyms and studios. Strength has been the most popular form of exercise we've seen in our state of fitness survey for the past 4 years running. And aSweatLife readers told us that they invested in equipment to do their own at-home workouts during the pandemic.As I spoke to Jarrod Saracco, the COO at World Gym this week, we talked a lot about the shifting needs of the big box gym consumer. A big box gym is just that, a large physical space with equipment that gives its members the autonomy to choose when and how they work out. So they generally find lots of equipment, cardio machines and some classes.But Saracco said that strength is on the rise at World Gym too, causing the franchisor to create a strength-only model of the gym: World Gym Legacy. Saracco talks us through the embrace of strength and the instagram trends associated with strength at World Gym's strength-forward model - from a glute-only strength area called “booty boulevard” and designated selfie rooms.You'll also hear Saracco and I talk about metrics we've been monitoring since the pandemic: return to gym. I'm excited to see some updated stats in our survey that's live now,, but in September of 2021, 41.1% of respondents told us that they had returned to an IRL gym. Saracco and I talked about what we think that number will be now, but World Gym has seen a high number of customers return to the gym.Resources:Learn more about World GymFollow Jarrod on LinkedInRead the results from the 2021 state of FitnessTake our 2022 state of fitness survey

This week on the podcast, you're going to hear a lot about “the universe” and listening to intuition from Robin Samples, the Founder of Bare Feet Power Yoga.Robin Samples and I both got into business around the same time - about 10 years ago. And over these 10 years it got easier and easier for me to scootch into the territory of woo-woo. I get the feeling that Robin's journey to the spiritual was quicker than mine - she just brought her community along with her when she felt it was ready.And that's the thing about Bare Feet Power Yoga - for Robin, the yoga has always been important, but I've heard her talk a lot about getting beyond the physical practice for years. You'll hear us talk about a few of the ways Bare Feet has tapped into yoga off the mat, from retreats to workshops to programming that revolves around cannabis. Robin's focus has always been on building community and giving that community what it needed, which allowed her to make subtle changes when she needed and big changes when the world demanded it. Robin operates one of the only pay-what-you-can studios, an option that gives more people access to the practice of yoga. Drop-in yogis have the option to pay on a sliding scale - $20 for a little extra assistance, $24 for regular-price drop-ins, and $28 to pay-it-forward, which is a pricing tier that helps to subsidize another person's discounted class.If $20 is out-of-reach, Bare Feet has always had the option of joining the karma crew, which offers an additional way to make yoga a part of your life for the low, low price of karma. Reach out to the studio if you're interested in joining the Karma Crew.And that evolution has also allowed Robin to try things, create space for a range of teachers and develop the kind of studio that not only fosters movement, but also a greater sense of connection to one's self, their community, and - for those who choose to tap into the spiritual side of the practice - the universe.Resources: Bare Feet Power YogaFollow Bare Feet Power Yoga on InstagramAND you can check Bare Feet Power Yoga's workshops to join Cannabliss 12/9Contact Bare Feet Power Yoga if you want to join the Karma CrewDouble Rainbow Guy (who recently passed away)

I've gotten to chat with Brrrn co-founders Johnny Adamic and Jimmy Martin a few times since meeting them in 2018. I'd like to remind you that 2018 was a time before the proliferation of zoom, so our first interview was conducted via freeconferencecall.com. I remember vividly chatting with the pair in 2018. They were equal parts entertaining and excited about a super-specific niche in fitness (cold temperature training). I have a memory of the thought, “it's a shame that I'm the only one listening to this recording” as I wrote the article for aSweatLife.com.Call this take two. I genuinely like these guys. I looked forward to this interview for the past couple of days because I knew it would be a really good time. And I really like every person who comes onto the podcast, but some people make me nervous in a way that Jimmy and Johnny do not. They're a mix of charming, smart and funny that you know endears people to them. And I think that is the essence of the brand they've created. Charming, welcoming and smart. You'll hear them talk about it on the episode, but they're an insanely perfect match for where the world went after they opened their studio in the heart of New York City. Jimmy worked with SNL and studied at the Upright Citizens Brigade - or UCB as it's called in the biz - and cut his teeth on production before the world shut down. He also has that improv-er ability to problem solve through the “yes, and.” They both have it, actually, you'll hear Johnny say, “To yes, and that, Jimmy …”And Johnny studied public health in New York City and worked for Mayor Bloomberg. He can and will throw science at you in an approachable way. So together, they chose to create cold training spaces when the rest of the world was only counting workouts that got them as hot and sweaty as humanly possible. And it was there that they fell in love with training on a slide board and there that they started manifesting their future partner and investor, Apolo Ohno.So when the pandemic hit, I don't want to undervalue the stress they went through, but they accepted it, and built on what was in front of them. They “yes, and” ed the pandemic and build an ecommerce business after finding a US-based partner to manufacture an at-home version of the slide board. And there's a lot to love about Brrrn besides the guys who created it, including their growing list of studios and gyms where you can find their programming as well as certifications for trainers to get Continuing education Credits. We hardly even scratched the surface.Resources:Learn more about training at home with BrrrnSee the Brrrn Board in action (youTube video)Follow @brrrn on InstagramFollow @JohnnyAdamic on InstagramFollow @JimmyTMartin (the quadfather) on InstagramThe first time Jimmy and Johhny were on aSweatLifeA brief introduction to Lateral training by Shape.comThe Study on Cold plunges they reference by Huberman Find the Brrrn Bundle on our Move Holiday Gift GuideJust for fun: The movie we talk about - Nobody, starring Bob OdenkirkJust for fun: the actress I adoringly talk about, D'Arcy Carden

This week on #WeGotGoals, I'm speaking with the woman behind [solidcore], Anne Mahlum. And before that, she started the not-for-profit Back on My Feet, and soon to come, she's heading up her new venture in the fitness space: Ambition. One thing I noticed the first time I met Anne Mahlum on a lobby bench at the opening of Chicago's first [solidcore] is this: She fills up a room with her presence - and the name of that presence is the same name of her coming in 2023 concept: ambition.Ambition. A word that is often spat out of the mouths of those speaking about women along with competitive or loud. In a Harvard Business Review article that featured the findings from interviews with high achieving women, “ambition” was, for these women, associated with egotism, selfishness, self-aggrandizement, or the manipulative use of others for one's own ends. For men? Ambition was considered a necessary and desirable part of their lives.Anne Mahlum is not shy about her ambition, that is one indisputable truth about her. She is not shy about her goals, either. She shared here on this very podcast a few years ago her goal to have 100 [solidcore] locations open by the end of 2020. We all know what 2020 did to business goals, but if you google her, you'll find that same goal listed in a litany of publications.I get the sense from her that she's growing and learning every day, personally and professionally.She's had challenges as she seeks out her big goals - she shares pretty openly about all of it - from disordered eating that followed her family's split. She was injured severely in a 2019 jet ski accident that led to several surgeries that you'll hear about this week. She was sued by Sabastian Lagree, the founder of the Lagree method and that lawsuit (and the countersuit by [solidcore]) was settled privately. She was sued by an ex-boyfriend who claimed to be co-owner of [solidcore]. That was also settled.In our interview this week, Anne also mentions what she calls a “hit piece” by buzzfeed, which shared interviews from 25 current and former [solidore] employees. Through all of it, I get the sense that her ambition is more her blessing than her burden. So why not name your business that: Ambition.With all of that said, I know one thing for sure, she's a human with a singular focus. She has her sights set on a goal probably two or three goals ahead of what she tells me in this interview, and she absolutely believes in her ability to achieve it.Resources:Anne on Instagram[solidcore][solidcore] on InstagramAmbition's websiteWomen and ambition, HBRFundraising for Ambition by Anne MahlumA photo of Anne as founder of Back on My FeetBack on my feetOne of the success stories from Back on My FeetHer reaction to a piece about stepping down as CEO from [solidcore]

On this week's episode of the podcast, you'll hear a lot of references to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I'm an alumna and our guest - Sam Karl, co-founder and president of Kamps Fitness - is an alumnus. You'll hear a lot about the campus and its hot spots.And I have never really cared that much about sports, which is sort of the thing that ties alums to their universities for years and years. I experience no pang of guilt if I don't know the Badgers' standing in the Big 10 or wherever else standings matter. I do, however, feel a sense of attachment to a place on campus, which was very much connected to my routine: The SERF, or the Southeast Recreational Facility. Aka, my campus gym.You'll hear on the episode that I just learned that the SERF was demolished (and they didn't even call to let me know) and replaced with an even bigger facility, The Nick. I think the new, bigger and better facility is incredibly representative of the increasing value that college students are placing on wellness.Meanwhile, Kamps Fitness, opened its first location on a strip of campus known for its bars, restaurants and general debauchery - State Street, right across from the bar that I remember being "tough on IDs," State Street Brats.And Sam shares what it took to open that fitness hot spot and why he and his brother and co-founder Ari Karl chose the campus. You'll hear about their creative go-to-market strategy, how they've created a flat org chart within Kamps Fitness and why Sam decided to leave his career as a lawyer behind to pursue this business.We talk about the highs and the lows, including closing for COVID, learning when a location just isn't going to work, and what it's like to work with family.Resources:Get your classes at a Kamps Fitness location near youFollow @KampsFit on InstagramMore about the demolition of the SERFMore about the Nick at the University of Wisconsin-MadisonClassPass Best studio in Madison in 2019KAMPS fitness is offering you, aSweatLife listeners a discount. Use code "ASWEATLIFE20" to get 20% off all packages and drop in classes 

On this week's episode of the podcast, you'll hear a lot of references to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I'm an alumna and our guest - Sam Karl, co-founder and president of Kamps Fitness - is an alumnus. You'll hear a lot about the campus and its hot spots.And I have never really cared that much about sports, which is sort of the thing that ties alums to their universities for years and years. I experience no pang of guilt if I don't know the Badgers' standing in the Big 10 or wherever else standings matter. I do, however, feel a sense of attachment to a place on campus, which was very much connected to my routine: The SERF, or the Southeast Recreational Facility. Aka, my campus gym.You'll hear on the episode that I just learned that the SERF was demolished (and they didn't even call to let me know) and replaced with an even bigger facility, The Nick. I think the new, bigger and better facility is incredibly representative of the increasing value that college students are placing on wellness.Meanwhile, Kamps Fitness, opened its first location on a strip of campus known for its bars, restaurants and general debauchery - State Street, right across from the bar that I remember being "tough on IDs," State Street Brats.And Sam shares what it took to open that fitness hot spot and why he and his brother and co-founder Ari Karl chose the campus. You'll hear about their creative go-to-market strategy, how they've created a flat org chart within Kamps Fitness and why Sam decided to leave his career as a lawyer behind to pursue this business.We talk about the highs and the lows, including closing for COVID, learning when a location just isn't going to work, and what it's like to work with family.Resources:Get your classes at a Kamps Fitness location near youFollow @KampsFit on InstagramMore about the demolition of the SERFMore about the Nick at the University of Wisconsin-MadisonClassPass Best studio in Madison in 2019KAMPS fitness is offering you, aSweatLife listeners a discount. Use code "ASWEATLIFE20" to get 20% off all packages and drop in classes 

Content warning: In this episode of the podcast, we mention the concept of suicide in the context of prevention and raising awareness. If you're listening with young ears or if you're just not in a place to hear that today, skip this episode and come backI've never met Kacee Must, founder of Citizen Yoga in real life. We met during the pandemic and have zoomed through our relationship. We talked in February of 2021 when she'd been teaching yoga online for almost a year. We talked in April, when I was on her podcast and both of us were sitting in makeshift offices - me in my parents' basement, and Kacee somewhere warm. We talked shortly after she gave birth to her daughter this spring and again just recently to record this week's episode of #WeGotGoals.Kacee Must is the kind of person who shares openly about the good, the bad, and how she sees the world. And it's that kind of open sharing that led to me feeling like I understand who Kacee is as a person even though the two of us have only talked on Zoom a total of four times. Like, I don't know how tall she is, but I would consider her a friend, if you get what I'm saying.That's because one of the ways to fast-track human connection is to share something you've been through and to listen intently to the things being shared by the person you're speaking to. For Kacee, every time she speaks about her business and why it came to be, she has to open up about one of the worst things that happened to her family - and often that leads to a “I've been through that too” moment.Because the loss of her sister Miya to suicide was the impetus to creating Citizen Yoga. And today, she exists to create community and connection for people to prevent anyone else from living that. That's because loneliness has been found to be linked to an increased risk of suicide and self harm, studies that I've linked to in the show notes have shown. And, conversely, researchers from Brown and George Mason University found that social support is associated with decreased likelihood of a suicide.Kacee and her team live that mission - most businesses start with what they do online, but Citizen starts with why. And that kind of commitment has led to serious community support. Each year, they pack The University of Michigan's Big House - what the college football stadium is known as - with a thousand people who are there to talk about and give money to suicide prevention.And on today's episode, you'll hear that Kacee is currently working on solving another crisis of community she saw in her own life - she felt a disconnect and loneliness as she went through postpartum recovery. She envisions a place where birthing parents can heal, connect and learn from each other. Honestly, the way she described her project she's creating with two other co-founders, makes me - someone very much riding the fence about parenthood - a little less hesitant.That's the kind of effect Kacee wants to have on the world - she exists to make hard things less so and bring into the light the moments of our lives that were often relegated to the shadows.Resources: Want to try Citizen Yoga for yourself? Get 1 month free of the on-demand platform with promo code "asweatlife" and 5 classes for $25 in-studio at the Bloomfield, Mi, Detroit, MI, Royal Oak, MI or live online with the same code.Learn more about Citizen YogaFollow Citizen Yoga on InstagramFollow Kacee Must on InstagramWe mention Zingerman's and the book on Servant Leadership by ZIngerman's Kacee talks about using FitGrid for streaming classesThe link betweenn lonliness and suicide (Research conducted at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom)Social support as a protective factor in suicide prevention (Researchers from Brown University and George Mason University)You also hear from Citizen Yoga Community member Samantha Foon

Content warning: In this episode of the podcast, we mention the concept of suicide in the context of prevention and raising awareness. If you're listening with young ears or if you're just not in a place to hear that today, skip this episode and come backI've never met Kacee Must, founder of Citizen Yoga in real life. We met during the pandemic and have zoomed through our relationship. We talked in February of 2021 when she'd been teaching yoga online for almost a year. We talked in April, when I was on her podcast and both of us were sitting in makeshift offices - me in my parents' basement, and Kacee somewhere warm. We talked shortly after she gave birth to her daughter this spring and again just recently to record this week's episode of #WeGotGoals.Kacee Must is the kind of person who shares openly about the good, the bad, and how she sees the world. And it's that kind of open sharing that led to me feeling like I understand who Kacee is as a person even though the two of us have only talked on Zoom a total of four times. Like, I don't know how tall she is, but I would consider her a friend, if you get what I'm saying.That's because one of the ways to fast-track human connection is to share something you've been through and to listen intently to the things being shared by the person you're speaking to. For Kacee, every time she speaks about her business and why it came to be, she has to open up about one of the worst things that happened to her family - and often that leads to a “I've been through that too” moment.Because the loss of her sister Miya to suicide was the impetus to creating Citizen Yoga. And today, she exists to create community and connection for people to prevent anyone else from living that. That's because loneliness has been found to be linked to an increased risk of suicide and self harm, studies that I've linked to in the show notes have shown. And, conversely, researchers from Brown and George Mason University found that social support is associated with decreased likelihood of a suicide.Kacee and her team live that mission - most businesses start with what they do online, but Citizen starts with why. And that kind of commitment has led to serious community support. Each year, they pack The University of Michigan's Big House - what the college football stadium is known as - with a thousand people who are there to talk about and give money to suicide prevention.And on today's episode, you'll hear that Kacee is currently working on solving another crisis of community she saw in her own life - she felt a disconnect and loneliness as she went through postpartum recovery. She envisions a place where birthing parents can heal, connect and learn from each other. Honestly, the way she described her project she's creating with two other co-founders, makes me - someone very much riding the fence about parenthood - a little less hesitant.That's the kind of effect Kacee wants to have on the world - she exists to make hard things less so and bring into the light the moments of our lives that were often relegated to the shadows.Resources: Want to try Citizen Yoga for yourself? Get 1 month free of the on-demand platform with promo code "asweatlife" and 5 classes for $25 in-studio at the Bloomfield, Mi, Detroit, MI, Royal Oak, MI or live online with the same code.Learn more about Citizen YogaFollow Citizen Yoga on InstagramFollow Kacee Must on InstagramWe mention Zingerman's and the book on Servant Leadership by ZIngerman's Kacee talks about using FitGrid for streaming classesThe link betweenn lonliness and suicide (Research conducted at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom)Social support as a protective factor in suicide prevention (Researchers from Brown University and George Mason University)You also hear from Citizen Yoga Community member Samantha Foon

Free MVMT Shop is a concept Ashley Rockwood conceived after retiring from dancing professionally - she wanted to create a space for herself in fitness that she didn't see. She got a really good deal in a former dry cleaning location and viola, her first pop-up featuring dance, cardio, yoga, and sculpt had popped.You'll hear her speak to it, but since 2018, Free Mvmt Shop has lived in 6 different homes across Chicago. And through all of that Ashley achieved most of her goals that she shared on episode 85 of the podcast (we're close to 300 now) and came out of the pandemic more profitable than before.For her, like many others, the pandemic was a time to streamline and get in touch with what resonates with your community. And Free Mvmt Shop's community was looking for JOY. That's because the way Ashley and her crew teach is intuitively tied to happiness. A smile will stay on your face as you take a class virtually or IRL. I can attest to that as an untrained dancer - I used to say “not a dancer,” but everyone with a body is a dancer.The first time I took a class at Free Mvmt Shop, I was intimidated and worried that I would get the movements wrong, or look like an idiot. I did get the movements wrong, and who knows what I looked like, but I had an incredible time.Ashley also gets real about how the pandemic and doing everything digitally eventually took a toll on her mental health. I think we all can resonate with that feeling.Resources: The first time Ashley was on the podcastLearn more about Free Mvmt ShopLearn more about BASH Kid's clubFollow Free Mvmt Shop on InstagramFollow Ashley on InstagramWatch Ashley dance with BeyonceThe Joy Workout From The New York TimesFollow the ambassador your hear from in the episode, Anchisa Pipatpinyopong, on InstagramAnd, for your entertainment, here's me doing Ballet for Runners with AshleyAnd listening to this week's episode featuring Ashley Rockwood gets you a totally free class at Free Mvmt Shop. Use code FREESWEAT for a free class at freemvmtshop.com.The book I referenced, PlayThe running team with great apparel that Ashley referenced, Tin Man Elite

The indoor rowing machine - or erg - has been in use since the fourth century when an Athenian Admiral created a rudimentary version to train his army. And since, innovators from Concept2 helped to commercialize the indoor rowing machine and CrossFit got millions of people across the world onto the erg in their intense workouts.And this week on the podcast, I spoke with two innovators who helped take rowing from the corner of the gym floor to the center of a workout.Debra Strougo and Eric Von Frohlich, are the husband and wife team who created Row House in 2014. Their mission was to bring the sport of rowing to the masses and make it accessible. They saw the sport as accessible to all entry points into fitness, whether you're just starting out on a fitness journey or whether you're an olympic rower looking for somewhere to practice. And to hear them tell it, they crafted their own education to learn the ins and outs of studio fitness after writing down what would become the plan to build Row House on a napkin. They dug into studio management and operations in a way that they hadn't learned when they met working at Equinox in New York City.And this week on the podcast, they take us through that whole journey of ideating, building the brand in New York City, and inevitably selling their business to Xponential Fitness - the franchising brand that also owns Pure Barre, Rumble, Cycle Bar, AKT, Stretch Lab, Stride, Yoga six and Club Pilates. And, just for listening, you can get a free first class at your nearest Row House, simply download the Row House app and click try a class. Or visit this link.Resources:Take your First class at Row House for freeRead more about the Acquisition in 2018Invention of the Erg (rowing machine) Learn more about Concept2

This week I interviewed Todd Wadler, CEO of Box Union and Title Boxing Club, and Felicia Alexander CRO of Box Union and Title Boxing Club, and it was clear that their partnership plays on both of their strengths. This pair is bold and thoughtful, which you'll hear throughout the episode. And if you're wondering how you missed that Box Union, which had three locations before the pandemic, acquired Title Boxing Club, you'll hear all about it in the episode. Luckily, or because Todd had the foresight that Box Union needed to raise as much money as possible, Box Union was extremely well capitalized before the pandemic. So, when opportunity came knocking, they were ready to acquire it. And overnight, they were the largest boxing brand in the United States. More on that from Club Industry here. There's a saying in boxing that the punch you don't see coming is the one that knocks you out - I think we can safely say no one saw that gigantic move coming. They also give incredible guidance for leading a team that I took notes on during our interview, because I never want to forget it. So, if you hear a little clickity clack when they're explaining their playbook on culture that's why. You'll hear more on this later, but be ready to open the notes app on your phone to write down "Freedom within a framework," having a "Growth mindset" and the idea of "we not me." We also spend some time talking about an organization that is close to my family's heart: Rock Steady Boxing, a boxing program that was created to provide a uniquely effective form of physical exercise to people who are living with Parkinson's Disease. My father-in-law was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the past few years, and he found his way to Rock Steady Boxing, which helps him in innumerable ways. One tangible way Rock Steady Boxing helps folks with Parkinson's, according to The New York Times is this: “Boxing's varied and high-intensity workouts offer a blend of strength and cardiovascular conditioning that improves agility, coordination and balance, and which may be especially beneficial for people with neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease.”Felicia recently joined the board at Rock Steady Boxing and is helping to bring the organization to even more locations.Resources:Box UnionBox Union on InstagramTitle Boxing ClubTitle Boxing Club on InstagramMore on Box Union's acquisition of Title Boxing ClubRock Steady BoxingThe New York Times, For Some Parkinson's Patients, Boxing Can Be TherapyAnd because we LOVE giving listeners a little something special, you can get a totally free month of membership to Title Boxing Club OnDemand. Use code aSweatLife to get 30 days for free, after that, the membership rate goes up to $19.99 monthly. 

New York City has the same thing going for fitness that it has for every other industry: if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. I mean, granted, something that's on the fringes of woo-woo and cult-fitness may not do great in Fargo. But for the most part, if New Yorkers will pack a class, it has a certain mile-a-minute effectiveness and cool factor that the rest of the country can get on board with.Fhitting Room stood out for a few reasons that you'll hear come out on this week's episode of #WeGotGoals featuring its founder Kari Saitowitz.I was lucky enough to take class with Eric - Fhitting Room's Head Coach - in 2017. I reset my account password so I could confirm that fact for sure. And when I took my first class, Fhitting room used to have two coaches in every single class. It was like a workout and a show - Eric and Jason (his co-teacher) - bantered the entire class. I remember feeling expertly coached and entertained. Here's a photo for evidence.I can still picture that flatiron studio and I haven't been there in five years. Kettlebells, assault bikes, TRXs, Ski ergs - honestly anything you can think of to spike your heart rate and get you stronger with heavy reps. And you'll hear Kari talk about this in the episode, but I also felt incredibly safe moving through that room. When space is limited as it often is on the island of Manhattan, you have to make every inch count. Twist! Fhitting Room coaches LOVE kettlebells - the gym is sort of built around making that little heavy friend accessible. When you're swinging a ballistic object around like a kettlebell, packing people in like sardines can compromise that safety.Fhitting Room makes sure every piece of equipment has a home and every class participant does too. When I walked in, I was given a number and that number corresponded to a spot on the ceiling. I stood under my number like a good little Fhitter.Kari also digs into the nitty gritty of her passions around this concept - she learned to love Kettle bells with a personal trainer and didn't let go of it. She knew she needed to make it easier for time-crunched people like her to pack more efficient workouts into their days. And she built it, taking her love of branding and diving in with a team. Fhitting Room caught the attention of New York City's fitness enthusiasts and elites - getting coverage in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Well and Good, and was included in my favorite piece that covered boutique fitness in 2017. The Wall Street Journal included Fhitting Room in its round up of “Fitness Studios Too Tough for Mere Mortals.”For the record, that Wall Street Journal piece defined a burpee for the reader as “dropping to the floor in a squat/push-up move called a burpee.” But I bring that up to set the tone for a thriving studio that very much needed to adapt and evolve quickly as soon as COVID-19 hit New York City. Kari recalls her studio's quick action in creating a plan, “that could sustain the business even if COVID lasted a year.” Her foresight likely saved the business as they never did a single class for free - allowing them to keep trainers employed and their community working out together.Pivoting quickly also earned FHitting Room even more press as Kari appeared on New York Time, The Today Show, Cheddar TV and so many others. Kari shares how the business is coming out of COVID. She shares some of the cost efficient ways they're growing and her vision to bring kettle bells to even more people. We can't wait for you to hear the episode.Resources:Get your free first class from Fhitting Room. Use the code SWEATLIFEFHIT at checkout to redeem your first class free for an in-studio or at-home!Follow @FhittingRoom on InstagramFhitting Room in The Wall Street JournalFhitting Room in Vanity FairFhitting Room in VogueFhitting Room in Well + GoodFhitting Room in The New York TimesFhitting Room on The Today ShowFhitting Room on Cheddar NewsYou'll also hear from aSweatLife ambassador Nimbe Juarez, follow her on Instagram

Ask anyone who's been on a Versa Climber what they think of the machine and the first reaction will be a look that you'll recognize quickly as a combo of fear and respect. It's a machine that earns the title of love/hate. You might love how much you can get done so quickly, but you might hate how much you have to do so quickly. You know what I'm saying.Today, on #WeGotGoals, we'll be spending a lot of time talking about the Versa Climber, a machine that's featured prominently at the center of Rise Nation's studios' 30-minute classes. Jason Walsh, the founder of Rise Nation, brought the Versa Climber to his clients after seeing them get injured on more traditional cardio equipment. The Versa Climber had been a fixture in weight rooms, but it hadn't yet hit the celebrity-trainer and everyday-athlete circuits. Seeing success in his one-on-one sessions with celebrity clients, Jason brought it to a room full of people - enter Rise Nation Los Angeles. And now Rise Nation - with locations in New York City, Cleveland, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas - counts itself as one of Mark Cuban's investments.But before there was a Rise Nation, someone had to create the Versa Climber. Before developing the Versa Climber, Dick Charnitski, patented the technology to track your heart rate in a wrist watch. Investors were like, “Nah. Pass. We don't think anyone will care.” Rejected, but not deterred, Charnitski went back to the garage to create something else. Enter the Versa Climber. That brings us about up to speed as we meet Meg Flynn, who has been a part of the Rise Nation family since it expanded from its first studio to Cleveland. Meg, whether by luck or cosmic force, lived above that Rise Nation studio as she pursued a career as an orthopedic surgeon. Yes, DOCTOR Meg operates the Chicago Rise Nation studio as well as practicing as an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Meg, Like Jason Walsh, Like Dick Charnitski, is never satisfied with the status quo. So you'll hear from her what it was like to find this machine, this method, and this community. And she'll also explain why it was so important for her to bring Rise Nation to Chicago.She shares the effort it took to open the studio through the pandemic and how this method taps into the athlete in her. Resources: Learn more about Rise NationFollow Rise Nation and Rise Nation Chicago on InstagramFollow Meg Flynn on InstagramMeet the founder of the Versa ClimberMeet the founder of Rise Nation, Jason WalshLearn more about Mark Cuban CompaniesGet a free first class at Rise Nation. Use code ‘freeclass'. to get a free first class at rise-nation.com.

We could talk all day about the pressure of being discovered as a teenage model like Erin Heatherton, co-founder of Chicago-based studio Resistance Chicago, was. She was scouted on the street at 17 and would go on to walk in high fashion shows as well as Victoria's Secret Fashion shows. The pressure comes from being expected to stay that way - a teenage girl - for your foreseeable future.Erin recently wrote about it, and I'll quote her instead.“At the peak of my career, there was constant pressure to stay very thin. Even early on, maintaining industry standards was a full time job, but it was possible for my body type at the time. I took my fitness seriously and was motivated by the validation I received … As I got older, I continued to work hard, but the “fit” version of my body looked different. I built my career and my self image on positive feedback that came naturally when I was younger and the foundation crumbled when that feedback turned negative. Shoots and agency meetings that were once fun and rewarding felt depleting and incredibly taxing on my self esteem. I was training twice a day and religiously monitoring the quality of my diet, but my body would simply not return to its 18-year-old shape.”We gloss over this on this week's episode of #WeGotGoals, but before leaving New York City and moving back to Chicago, Erin started to hate fitness. It had become a thing she had to do to whip her body into the shape that was being demanded of her. It was not a thing she enjoyed anymore. So she spent a year not working out, not smoking and getting back in touch with herself.So when she went to her first Lagree class, it was - as she describes it - humbling. I would say that a humbling experience can knock you off your path, but for her, it was the beginning of a couple of special things: a new relationship with fitness that was healthier and a new relationship with her person. In the middle of her journey to rediscover fitness in a more joyful way, Erin also found Karol Kocemba, who would become her co-founder at Resistance and her fiancé.They dated, they Lagree'd, and he fell for the fitness modality too and started nudging her to making this passion a business.I've taken a couple of classes at resistance and the environment is comfortable, small and attentive. The focus is on form and Erin is a born instructor. On the episode, you'll hear her describe the nerves she felt before teaching, but I think she does all of the things that are very important for a good class. She makes you do hard things with a smile. She praises loudly, but corrects quietly. She greets new students at the door instead of waiting for them to wander in. She tells me on the episode that feels empowered now by serving people and making them feel good about their bodies and the strength they feel. Contrast that with making herself miserable to maintain an impossible standard that's sold as “beauty.”I'm excited for you to hear the story of Erin and Karol's studio and of finding each other. Resources:Learn more about Resistance ChicagoFollow Resistance on InstagramRead more on Resistance's blogGet a discount on classes at Resistance Chicago. Select "Intro 3-Pack $59" here and enter the Promo code "asweatlife" to get 50% off.You'll also her from Jasmine Ruschmann on the episode who tried class at Resistance too.

Conik Runyon's education in culture started as a kid, going to the Anytime Fitness conferences with his dad and seeing people who loved that brand so much that they tattooed the logo on their bodies. And today, he's the owner of Basecamp Fitness Chicago, a newer entrant into the fitness scene. And I don't even really want to mention his dad except to say this: Conik was born into a world of fitness culture as the son of Chuck Runyon, Co-founder of Anytime fitness and CEO of Self-Esteem Brands (which owns and operates franchise brands like Anytime Fitness, The Bar method, Waxing the City and Basecamp Fitness). Conik graduated from college in 2021 and lobbied to open the first Basecamp fitness location in Chicago.The education in culture under his dad served him as he set off to learn on his own and operate his own business. To read between the lines, Conik appreciates what he's learned, but has a fire in his belly to create something for himself. You'll hear him share how he builds culture among the members at the newest Basecamp Fitness in Chicago. And honestly, it's like a textbook in community building that flows out of him, but at the heart of his methodology is making members the center of the universe at Basecamp, celebrating them and never letting them feel alone in class.For example, I went to a class last week - I'm kind of there a lot - and in my class, there was a woman who was new to class on the bike next to me.The manager, who was also taking class, singled me out and said, don't let her get lost. And then said, “Ellen, stick with Jeana.” I felt responsible for her - I really did - so I checked in with her throughout class to make sure she was ok. And that might feel like a small thing, but it's actually a really, really big thing if you're new to class. The management team made sure that someone checked in on her, learned her name, and had her back while she experienced something new. And all of that was happening while Conik wasn't even there - he talks about how he leads in a way that empowers his time to try new things, solve problems on their own and be accountable for the members in the space. For listening, you'll also have access to a special offer, which is good for one free week at all Basecamp locations nationwide. Check our show notes for the link and for more information on where you can find basecamp.Resources:Get a free week at Basecamp Fitness (any location) here.Learn more about Basecamp FitnessFollow Basecamp Fitness on Instagram Follow Basecamp Fitness Chicago on InstagramFollow Conik on InstagramOn this episode, you'll also hear from Brooke Daniels, an aSweatLife ambassador who is loving Basecamp right now. 

[This episode is supported by Athletic Greens. You can get an AG1 subscription and a free gift: a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs with your first purchase at athleticgreens.com/asweatlife.]I've come to know Bonnie Micheli and Tracy Roemer, co-founders of Shred415, as a package deal. I can't actually remember seeing one without the other. I've also learned to look at them as eager collaborators and mentors, but I'm willing to bet a lot of people in fitness do.On this episode you'll hear a lot about the workout at Shred415, and the business of running a franchise. But what's more inferred is the most important part about this pair - their relationship. It's clear that their bond keeps them connected as leaders, allowing them someone to celebrate with when things are good, and someone to lean on when things aren't going as planned. Read: a global pandemic.This duo explain their origin story on this week's episode of #WeGotGoals, but more than that, you'll hear them get real about what it takes to open a studio and scale it. You'll hear about the long days, and the hard parts - like those first few months when they were hoping they were onto something at Shred415, but didn't have the sign-ups to prove it yet. You'll also hear about the good times, like seeing their big dreams come to life, and taking their concept from corporate-only to franchising. They're masters of bootstrapping, which they talk about, going from one studio to a second when they literally could not support another human in class. In the early days, when there was no room for a marketing budget, they figured it out, leveraged the power of Facebook before we all met and learned to loathe *the algorithm* and, even more importantly, they learned to leverage the power of moms who loved the kids room and were building friendships in the walls of Shred415. They've also created, by the way, a workout people love that gets them moving on treadmills and lifting weights on benches. As a workout, it has introduced so many people to strength training who maybe wouldn't have lifted heavy weights otherwise.You'll hear on the episode from aSweatLife ambassador Cathy Mekondo who shares why she's taken more than 100 Shred415 classes.And before recording this episode, I looked back through the archives for this piece of history on aSweatLife, but I took my very first Shred415 class early in the days of aSweatLife, September 11, 2012, to be exact. And I wrote about it at-length, I'm pretty sure I described every single movement we did in that class.Here are a few of my favorite takeaways:“Maybe it was me, but the last set on the benches had me counting the minutes until the end as the instructor threw in burpees.” I can read my sneer through the lines, listener. I had just met burpees before I took shred, and I did not like them.“The instructor had to work as hard as the class to keep it going, keeping time and calling out the changing exercises. He also had to adjust the TRX straps between sets. It didn't look easy, but he did a great job.” And that's true - instructors in SHRED415 classes have to do a lot of work to manage their classes, especially when they're full. Remember, you can get 2 free SHRED415 classes to use in a week in Chicagoland, Indianapolis and St Louis. Just email info@shred415.com to redeem.Resources: Find a Shred415 near youFollow Shred415 on InstagramaSweatLife: The first time I took SHRED415EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2015Shred415's announcement of franchising

We're using our 7th season of our podcast to celebrate fitness - its creators, innovators and everything in between. We made sure to include goodies from the studios and brand we're chatting with for you, so make sure to listen, share with a friend and try something new.And a HUGE thanks to Athletic Greens for its support for this episode. You can get an AG1 subscription and a free gift: a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs with your first purchase at athleticgreens.com/asweatlife. On now, here's why we love POMSQUAD Fitness.Cheerleading wasn't really a part of my life growing up - I mean it was and it wasn't. In Minnesota, I don't remember there being an insane cheer competition culture with all of the things that come with that.And maybe I don't remember because I've blocked it out. I've never uttered this aloud, but I actually really wanted to be a cheerleader. Where I grew up in Anoka, Minnesota, there was a specific set of cheerleaders who I considered to be elite. The Hockey Cheerleaders. They'd sit in the student section, leading the crowd in PTA-approved cheers. But they really shined between the second and third period, when they'd lace up their figure skates and do a little ice performance.And on home game days, they wore their uniforms to school. That maroon and white uniform - swoon. I wanted it so badly, but I was terrified of the tryout process. So I never put myself out there. I know now that the experience I just described is uniquely Minnesotan, but the experience of not trying something because you're worried you'll be left out is not.So when Matthew Hollis, cofounder of POMSQUAD Fitness explained that he received a grant to study cheerleading for a year, he came at it from a dance and performance background. And as he tells it, he spent his adolescence as a gay teenager wishing he didn't have to play a sport with a ball and that he could hang out with the cheerleaders instead. I didn't try out for cheer because I didn't want to be rejected and Matthew didn't try because he didn't feel like he could without being rejected.So, in adulthood, Matthew studied cheer and his knowledge and appreciation for the sport only grew. That earned him a spot in a dance showcase where he shared his newfound craft. That's when what would become POMSQUAD Fitness caught his cofounder Jena Ertel's eye. She offered to run all of the non-choreography pieces of the business.If you've ever had the opportunity to experience this duo together, they are electric. They teach with a thread of comedy and a sense of authenticity that makes it clear that they're EXACTLY 100 percent themselves. POMSQUAD Fitness, as they've created it, is a world that gives you, a functioning adult the opportunity to take all of the fun parts of cheer - like dancing, having fun, and yelling - and reject any of the pieces that may have left you out in the past, like a tryout, what other people will think, and uniforms in limited sizes. And their teaching style gives you the permission to be exactly 100 percent yourself too. On this week's episode, you'll hear from Matthew and Jena about how they're perfecting the model of scaling themselves to train cheer captains across the world. You'll hear the genesis of their captain names - and that piece might surprise you.I can't wait for you to hear where they plan to take the brand next.Resources:Learn more about POMSQUAD Fitness where to find classes online and near youFollow @POMSQUADFitness on InstagramLearn more about the self-paced training and get 15% off with code ASL15Chicago: Join POMSQUAD Fitness IRL August 14, 2022 at 10:30 am - listeners and readers get $5 off with code ASL5

This episode of #WeGotGoals marks the start of our seventh season of the podcast. Because we're celebrating the 10th anniversary of aSweatLife, we made sure to include goodies from the studios we're chatting with for you, so make sure to listen, share with a friend and try something new.And also, make sure you don't miss a single episode by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.When I started aSweatLife, I felt like I was constantly doing research. I would walk down the streets of Chicago with my head on a swivel, exploring new studios opening their first location or expanding to the market. If you remember, 5 to 10 years ago, it was an insane time for studio fitness. New concepts, new hybrids, and star instructors were building brands with no end in sight. I remember walking down Erie street in Chicago's River North neighborhood in 2015, and seeing this beautiful, old brick building wrapped in billboards that told us Studio Three was “coming soon.” After an extensive rehab of the building and buildout, it opened with three different fitness offerings in its walls. The interval studio had strength, rowers, and treadmills for all sorts of heart-racing workouts. The yoga studio was light, airy and heated. And the cycle studio was an arena of bikes, so everyone had the best seat in the house. This week on the podcast, we're speaking to David Blitz, co-founder and CEO of Studio Three. You'll hear from David about what led him to become obsessed with studio fitness and inevitably to open the first location.And that first location is where I discovered Studio Three, taking classes as a general participant and hosting events with aSweatLife. I have memories of incredible, restorative yoga, intervals on a rower with some of my favorite instructors and workouts on the bike - both back when Studio Three was a Peloton production studio and after it broke away and created its own unique technology. For aSweatLife, Studio Three was a dream location for events. It was the perfect place to do our favorite kind of event: the crawl - or three 30-minute versions of classes, generally strength, cardio and yoga. We specifically loved that we didn't have to worry about concocting a rain plan there. And this balance that we sought for a crawl was the same balance David and team wanted to create for athletes like you and me (yes, we're all athletes) to cross train for whatever goals we're chasing. From that first location in Chicago's River North, Studio Three expanded to Lincoln Park, Fulton Market and has locations planned for Austin, Texas and Miami, Florida.And, you'll hear us speak to the way Studio Three pivoted during the ongoing global pandemic to keep its staff employed and its community moving. You'll also hear about the launch of the Studio Three app (on both iOS and Android) as well as some exciting new features coming soon. Resources:Listen to the episode to get access to the studio's offer!Find Studio Three online and check when its coming to youFollow Studio Three on Instagram on TikTokFollow David Blitz on InstagramFollow Priya Shah on Instagram

[Trigger warning: in this episode, we mention pregnancy loss]So, every year on my birthday, I get a reading from a psychic, she's the High Priestess of Brooklyn. She does my tarot cards, my astrology, and tells me an outlook for the year - it's a whole thing. Two years ago, she gave me a timeline of when a baby could come into my life. It was the middle of a pandemic, I had just gone through an insane medical thing - so all signs should have pointed to, “no, thank you” for me. However, my first reaction was, “what else are we doing?” So I went to an OBGyni, took out my IUD and bought some pre-natal vitamins. Meanwhile, I neglected to tell my husband the plan from the cosmos and the doctor until I came home with those gigantic pills. We, of course, had a discussion, during which we realized that our timing was not aligned with the timing of the stars. But I come back to those pre-natal vitamins, time and time again. Sitting in a giant container in my cupboard. Doctors tell us to take them before trying to conceive, and while pregnant, but why and which vitamins really matter?Then a few months ago, I met the co-founders of WeNatal, Ronit Menashe and Vida Delrahim. They met while working at Nike and became fast friends. They bonded over the shared experience of pregnancy loss and Ronit did what a nutrition-obsessed human does. She started looking at studies and consulting with experts like Dr. Mark Hyman to try to figure out how to optimize her chances of having a successful pregnancy.And she came to find that the sperm of it all is often left out of the nutrition equation for people trying to conceive. Often, the burden of fertility and infertility is put on the human giving birth, but that's really only one piece. So here's the lunacy: sperm regenerates around every 70-ish days, but it could as quickly as every 40 days according to new studies. That means prenatal vitamins for men can have a real impact on the quality of sperm, and quickly.So together, the pair created a prenatal vitamin that's meant to address this, creating vitamins for both men and women who are trying to conceive that address the very unique needs of each side of the coin.And I want to acknowledge that all sorts of families are bringing life into the world, with two mommies, two daddies, or just one loving parent. And WeNatal serves those needs too - now we just need to get men's prenatal vitamins into sperm banks …It's also important to note that as a human or a couple is trying to conceive they can do absolutely everything "right" and still need help with fertility. That's more than OK.Ronit, Vida and I discuss a lot of pregnancy nutrition questions I have as well as what it took to formulate these vitamins. I'm excited for you to hear this interview, no matter if you never want kids, are riding a fence, or are trying to conceive right now. Resources: Learn more about WeNatal and learn more about the research they'd doneFollow @We_Natal on InstagramStats and facts on sperm regeneration here.Woman is born with all of the eggs she'll ever haveFolate Study: You'll hear the pair discuss folate on the episode. Here's more about why: In a 2018 study - Thirty couples with fertility problems lasting for at least 4 years were included in this program. At least one of the partners was a carrier of the MTHFR genetic mutation which we know 40-50% of people have. The couples were given 600 micrograms of folate per day for 3 months, Thirteen of the couples were able to conceive.Extensive research has been conducted to study the effect of antioxidant therapy in improving male fertility. .Taking the right amount of nutrients for women AND men before pregnancy assists in the growth, development, and long-term health of future children. Antioxidants may increase male fertility four-fold and can increase the chance of a successful pregnancy by up to five times.Men's health tied to pregnancy lossSperm counts have dropped 60% since 1973 and could reach zero by 2045.New research suggests that sperm plays a greater role in pregnancy success and healthy offspring than we ever realized. Scientists observed sperm "communicating" with the female immune system with triggered changes in gene expression of the female's immune signaling molecules. This supported acceptance of the new embryo and reduced risk of pregnancy loss.

[Trigger warning: in this episode, we mention pregnancy loss]So, every year on my birthday, I get a reading from a psychic, she's the High Priestess of Brooklyn. She does my tarot cards, my astrology, and tells me an outlook for the year - it's a whole thing. Two years ago, she gave me a timeline of when a baby could come into my life. It was the middle of a pandemic, I had just gone through an insane medical thing - so all signs should have pointed to, “no, thank you” for me. However, my first reaction was, “what else are we doing?” So I went to an OBGyni, took out my IUD and bought some pre-natal vitamins. Meanwhile, I neglected to tell my husband the plan from the cosmos and the doctor until I came home with those gigantic pills. We, of course, had a discussion, during which we realized that our timing was not aligned with the timing of the stars. But I come back to those pre-natal vitamins, time and time again. Sitting in a giant container in my cupboard. Doctors tell us to take them before trying to conceive, and while pregnant, but why and which vitamins really matter?Then a few months ago, I met the co-founders of WeNatal, Ronit Menashe and Vida Delrahime. They met while working at Nike and became fast friends. They bonded over the shared experience of pregnancy loss and Ronit did what a nutrition-obsessed human does. She started looking at studies and consulting with experts like Dr. Mark Hyman to try to figure out how to optimize her chances of having a successful pregnancy.And she came to find that the sperm of it all is often left out of the nutrition equation for people trying to conceive. Often, the burden of fertility and infertility is put on the human giving birth, but that's really only one piece. So here's the lunacy: sperm regenerates around every 70-ish days, but it could as quickly as every 40 days according to new studies. That means prenatal vitamins for men can have a real impact on the quality of sperm, and quickly.So together, the pair created a prenatal vitamin that's meant to address this, creating vitamins for both men and women who are trying to conceive that address the very unique needs of each side of the coin.And I want to acknowledge that all sorts of families are bringing life into the world, with two mommies, two daddies, or just one loving parent. And WeNatal serves those needs too - now we just need to get men's prenatal vitamins into sperm banks …It's also important to note that as a human or a couple is trying to conceive they can do absolutely everything "right" and still need help with fertility. That's more than OK.Ronit, Vida and I discuss a lot of pregnancy nutrition questions I have as well as what it took to formulate these vitamins. I'm excited for you to hear this interview, no matter if you never want kids, are riding a fence, or are trying to conceive right now. Resources: Learn more about WeNatal and learn more about the research they'd doneFollow @We_Natal on InstagramStats and facts on sperm regeneration here.Woman is born with all of the eggs she'll ever haveFolate Study: You'll hear the pair discuss folate on the episode. Here's more about why: In a 2018 study - Thirty couples with fertility problems lasting for at least 4 years were included in this program. At least one of the partners was a carrier of the MTHFR genetic mutation which we know 40-50% of people have. The couples were given 600 micrograms of folate per day for 3 months, Thirteen of the couples were able to conceive.Extensive research has been conducted to study the effect of antioxidant therapy in improving male fertility. .Taking the right amount of nutrients for women AND men before pregnancy assists in the growth, development, and long-term health of future children. Antioxidants may increase male fertility four-fold and can increase the chance of a successful pregnancy by up to five times.Men's health tied to pregnancy lossSperm counts have dropped 60% since 1973 and could reach zero by 2045.New research suggests that sperm plays a greater role in pregnancy success and healthy offspring than we ever realized. Scientists observed sperm "communicating" with the female immune system with triggered changes in gene expression of the female's immune signaling molecules. This supported acceptance of the new embryo and reduced risk of pregnancy loss.

I remember the praise Heidi Klum received when she walked the runway a mere 5 weeks after giving birth to her third child. As much as the internet could go crazy in 2009, it did, praising her for being back to work and having her pre-baby body back for the Victoria Secret Fashion show that fall. There's this phrase “bounce back” that has been a part of the postpartum vernacular for as long as I can remember. It's a standard that women have long held themselves (and each other) to - that your body should be exactly what it was before you cooked a human inside of it. In the past few years, we've seen a rejection of the bounce-back culture - for so many reasons including allowing your body to heal. Because mere mortals are comparing themselves to the Heidi Klums or the Instagram highlights of the world, we are destined to neglect the actual care our bodies need after a major change like pregnancy.We're continuing our deep dive into the decision to grow your family. This week, we spoke with two different doctors of physical therapy who are both expecting at the time of recording.For this episode, I wanted to focus on two key elements of recovery - recovery to return to athletic pursuits and recovery of the muscles that make up your pelvic floor. To do that I tapped two experts that I trust with these big questions. Alexis Griffin is a doctor of Physical Therapy and managing partner at the Kollective, in Austin, TX. She and I discussed the changes that your body experiences during pregnancy, how they impact performance, and getting back to your training objectives after baby. Specializing in the pelvic floor, Erin Conroy is a doctor of physical therapy and the owner of West Town Physical Therapy in Chicago. Erin is an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and Pelvic Floor physical therapist. She and I talk about why the pelvic floor matters. Before, during and after pregnancy. Whether you're currently expecting, if you're postpartum or if you're never expecting to grow your family, I want you to walk away from these conversations with compassion for yourself and others who have been through childbirth. I want us to create more realistic goals for the next generation of humans, like allowing for healing and returning to the gym in a way that allows you to be pain-free for life. Resources: Follow Alexis Griffen, DPT on Instagram and find her at The Kollective in Austin, TXFollow Erin Conroy, DPT on Instagram and find her at West Town Physical TherapyLearn more about the pelvic floorLearn more about the musculoskeletal changes your body goes through during pregnancy hereMore on postpartum recovery from What to Expect