WEBVTT - Ride Like The Wind 0:00:04.519 --> 0:00:08.360 Hey, everybody, welcome to Amy and TJ and Majokamo today. 0:00:09.600 --> 0:00:12.399 I'm saying that because we have a very special and 0:00:12.560 --> 0:00:14.960 very poor guest that a lot of people know. And 0:00:15.080 --> 0:00:17.239 right before we started, he was like, y'all got my 0:00:17.320 --> 0:00:18.400 name right? 0:00:18.600 --> 0:00:21.400 I was like, yes, of course, Matty Majakamo, who doesn't 0:00:21.400 --> 0:00:22.160 know how to say his name. 0:00:22.400 --> 0:00:23.040 But I got. 0:00:22.880 --> 0:00:24.960 Nervous because I screwed up vander Plump. 0:00:25.239 --> 0:00:28.000 Right, this wasn't long ago, right, I guess it's true. 0:00:28.080 --> 0:00:30.319 And he kept saying vander plump. Once you say it 0:00:30.360 --> 0:00:33.440 wrong and we tease each other, you keep saying it. 0:00:33.440 --> 0:00:34.520 I don't know. It's pretty funny. 0:00:34.680 --> 0:00:36.720 Home with Jakamo was fresh on my mind, so I 0:00:36.840 --> 0:00:39.840 keep saying that. I keep saying it. Everybody knows this dude. 0:00:40.320 --> 0:00:42.040 I was asking you, what's the right way to put it? 0:00:42.400 --> 0:00:44.080 A beloved Peloton. 0:00:43.680 --> 0:00:46.200 Instructors, I would say he is one of the most 0:00:46.280 --> 0:00:51.360 beloved Peloton instructors because he just radiates joy and positivity 0:00:51.720 --> 0:00:56.160 and he makes people actually enjoy running on the treadmill. 0:00:56.320 --> 0:00:58.960 Okay, well, you needed that motivation this morning because we 0:00:59.040 --> 0:01:00.800 were we were set for what today. 0:01:01.080 --> 0:01:04.200 We're supposed to do a five miler today. Yep, it 0:01:04.240 --> 0:01:07.600 got cold again, So back on the treadmill. And you 0:01:07.720 --> 0:01:08.919 went this morning? 0:01:08.920 --> 0:01:11.360 And I punted, Why did you punt? 0:01:11.880 --> 0:01:14.000 Because we had a really late night last night? 0:01:14.120 --> 0:01:14.440 Okay? 0:01:15.440 --> 0:01:18.319 Is that really what you're going with? One hundred percent? Okay, 0:01:18.560 --> 0:01:20.319 that is absolutely why I punted. 0:01:20.440 --> 0:01:21.160 What's a late night? 0:01:21.920 --> 0:01:23.480 We went to bed at two thirty in the morning. 0:01:23.560 --> 0:01:28.080 Okay, that's a late night for me especially. I haven't 0:01:28.120 --> 0:01:29.760 done that in a very long time. 0:01:29.880 --> 0:01:32.840 It sounds very we I Actually we got home and 0:01:33.000 --> 0:01:36.880 I fired up the stovetop grill at like twelve thirty 0:01:36.920 --> 0:01:40.800 and I started cooking. I grilled chicken, I grilled salmon, 0:01:40.959 --> 0:01:43.880 made some dope salads. What was the what movie did 0:01:43.920 --> 0:01:44.400 we put on? 0:01:45.080 --> 0:01:47.120 I it was delicious and I don't remember which we 0:01:47.200 --> 0:01:49.040 In fact, it's funny. I pulled up my phone because 0:01:49.080 --> 0:01:50.800 I was checking into my daughter, and I saw that 0:01:50.800 --> 0:01:53.000 I was searching horror movies to stream. 0:01:53.120 --> 0:01:55.560 The good friend of mine is in town every week, 0:01:56.000 --> 0:01:58.520 and I had a meeting last night at seven o'clock. Yep, 0:01:58.520 --> 0:02:00.520 and used to I had a busy day. Are getting 0:02:00.520 --> 0:02:02.840 ready and I saw the note from him, and I 0:02:02.920 --> 0:02:05.000 almost and I sawry brother, but I saw a text 0:02:05.040 --> 0:02:07.680 from him, and I went, ugh, he's gonna want to 0:02:07.680 --> 0:02:08.200 go out. 0:02:09.760 --> 0:02:12.120 And you said, babe, change of plans. We're gonna have 0:02:12.120 --> 0:02:12.799 to go out. Yes. 0:02:12.960 --> 0:02:15.119 So one meeting ended at nine and then we made 0:02:15.120 --> 0:02:17.880 our way up to kick it with my boy, and 0:02:17.880 --> 0:02:19.480 that's why we ended up with the late night we had. 0:02:19.600 --> 0:02:20.359 It was a fun night. 0:02:20.480 --> 0:02:21.079 It was a fun night. 0:02:21.120 --> 0:02:21.920 It was a lot of fun. 0:02:22.000 --> 0:02:24.520 It was a very good night. So that's why you punted. 0:02:24.639 --> 0:02:28.240 And you could have used some Maddie Majocamo motivation this morning, 0:02:28.240 --> 0:02:30.640 because it wasn't enough with me nudging you. You wouldn't, I 0:02:30.720 --> 0:02:31.360 know I. 0:02:31.639 --> 0:02:34.680 And that's honestly, it's rare. I usually suck it up 0:02:34.680 --> 0:02:35.320 and go anyway. 0:02:35.400 --> 0:02:35.840 That's true. 0:02:36.160 --> 0:02:37.880 Today was a rare day. But I just figured I 0:02:37.919 --> 0:02:40.760 could do it later, and I can you know. I 0:02:40.800 --> 0:02:43.960 actually thought it'd be really fun after talking with Maddie 0:02:44.040 --> 0:02:46.600 to then use like to go and use one of. 0:02:46.560 --> 0:02:49.480 His treadmill runs with me. So I'm gonna try it 0:02:49.480 --> 0:02:49.919 out today. 0:02:49.960 --> 0:02:52.000 Okay, Mattie, Mattie, tell tell, what would you tell a 0:02:52.040 --> 0:02:54.680 person who or this one who just went out, had 0:02:54.720 --> 0:02:57.200 a hard night, was going at it, and this morning 0:02:57.240 --> 0:02:59.280 you're supposed to get up and run the five? Do 0:02:59.400 --> 0:03:02.880 you punt or what motivation would you give to that 0:03:03.040 --> 0:03:05.400 person to go ahead and still make it happen. 0:03:05.400 --> 0:03:11.000 This morning, I'm standing in full counterpoint to you, whipper snappers. 0:03:11.480 --> 0:03:13.799 Was I was in bed with PBS News Hour at 0:03:13.800 --> 0:03:17.880 eight pm last night, so I need to really reevaluate 0:03:17.880 --> 0:03:22.320 my life. But no, I would say get up and 0:03:22.360 --> 0:03:24.440 do it, unless, of course, you're feeling such a level 0:03:24.440 --> 0:03:27.440 of fatigue that it's just not going to be worth it, 0:03:27.480 --> 0:03:29.640 because people people really want to push through it. But 0:03:29.760 --> 0:03:33.520 I will tell you, if you are tired and you 0:03:33.600 --> 0:03:36.920 are not feeling right and you go hit it, sometimes 0:03:36.960 --> 0:03:40.560 it works in the opposite direction. So it's o'll get 0:03:40.560 --> 0:03:42.400 you punted. See for the sports. 0:03:42.760 --> 0:03:47.160 I will do it later this afternoon, yes, and possibly 0:03:47.200 --> 0:03:47.800 tomorrow morning. 0:03:47.840 --> 0:03:49.440 I have to do the five. I'll get it in. 0:03:50.440 --> 0:03:52.760 I love that though, because you're right. I didn't want 0:03:52.760 --> 0:03:53.280 to do it either. 0:03:53.480 --> 0:03:56.200 But I was up at five this morning and started 0:03:56.200 --> 0:03:57.920 working and prepping, and I'll say, you know what, let 0:03:57.960 --> 0:03:59.800 me just go ahead and do this thing. And she 0:04:00.280 --> 0:04:02.640 I thought you would get motivated by you know I. 0:04:02.640 --> 0:04:03.600 Usually do yeah, you know. 0:04:03.720 --> 0:04:06.360 Once I put the socks on and then the shorts 0:04:06.400 --> 0:04:07.880 got on, and I'm like, Okay, this will do it. 0:04:07.920 --> 0:04:09.720 Oh, the shirt's on, now, this will get it. 0:04:10.000 --> 0:04:14.760 The shoes are coming, She's still. 0:04:14.000 --> 0:04:17.080 I sometimes get tempted and then say all right, I'm 0:04:17.080 --> 0:04:18.840 gonna do it. And I never regret a run, That's 0:04:18.839 --> 0:04:22.200 always what I say. But today I do not regret 0:04:22.279 --> 0:04:23.119 not running this morning. 0:04:23.320 --> 0:04:25.720 Man, you do it for a living, but you have 0:04:25.839 --> 0:04:27.800 to have days where you don't want to get on 0:04:27.839 --> 0:04:28.560 that treadmill. 0:04:28.600 --> 0:04:29.280 Are you kidding? 0:04:29.440 --> 0:04:29.640 Yeah? 0:04:29.680 --> 0:04:34.400 Of course, Oh my god, Like sometimes daily and GJ, 0:04:34.520 --> 0:04:38.080 I've heard you talk about this dreadmill, and there are 0:04:38.200 --> 0:04:40.760 days where I feel like it is a dread mill. 0:04:41.320 --> 0:04:43.320 But I always say, like, no matter what, Like I 0:04:43.680 --> 0:04:47.520 could probably count on one hand in almost forty years 0:04:47.880 --> 0:04:51.400 of workouts that I'm like, oh, yeah, I regretted that 0:04:51.520 --> 0:04:55.880 work Yep. Obviously we have to be honest with ourselves 0:04:56.120 --> 0:04:59.160 and our bodies. If there's an injury, that is a 0:04:59.320 --> 0:05:02.080 mistake that people make. And and I think it's actually 0:05:02.120 --> 0:05:05.440 the fitness industry's fault because for a really long time 0:05:05.440 --> 0:05:08.360 it's very trendy to be like, work hard, play hard. 0:05:08.839 --> 0:05:13.880 It doesn't count a lesson. Yeah, that real like radio 0:05:13.920 --> 0:05:20.720 poison w W and obviously a peloton. That's that's that's 0:05:20.800 --> 0:05:22.720 not what we preach. I mean, if you need to 0:05:22.760 --> 0:05:25.320 take the rest, to take the rest. That being said, yeah, 0:05:25.640 --> 0:05:28.760 challenge yourself a little bit and sometimes okay, get out 0:05:28.760 --> 0:05:32.400 of that discomfort. You gotta put the batsuit on. It's 0:05:32.400 --> 0:05:34.440 your socks. That's what gets you in the mood. 0:05:36.640 --> 0:05:38.479 He thought I was gonna get me like, I was like, 0:05:38.520 --> 0:05:40.039 oh god, he's actually really running. 0:05:40.080 --> 0:05:40.520 I should go. 0:05:42.240 --> 0:05:46.960 I was taking my time. I was noticing that you. 0:05:47.080 --> 0:05:49.200 Took a lot of time making always like I heard 0:05:49.240 --> 0:05:52.200 you open the drawer. I'm getting the running drawer open. 0:05:52.440 --> 0:05:53.760 Yeah, put on the watch. 0:05:54.200 --> 0:05:55.279 Yes, I'll go now. 0:05:56.480 --> 0:05:59.039 It gets the day star. I I too, ran on 0:05:59.080 --> 0:06:01.520 the tread today and it just gets it just it 0:06:01.800 --> 0:06:06.800 just it flicks that switch. I am on, I am ready. 0:06:07.400 --> 0:06:09.400 And the reason why is I knew that for today, 0:06:09.400 --> 0:06:12.200 for this conversation, I needed to get on that tread 0:06:12.680 --> 0:06:14.880 just to get the juices flow and just to get going. 0:06:14.920 --> 0:06:17.760 And I will say, since typically when I have a 0:06:17.800 --> 0:06:20.920 microphone and maybe a camera on me, it's very nice 0:06:20.960 --> 0:06:24.159 to be sitting stationary while I do this versus because 0:06:24.240 --> 0:06:26.880 usually I'd be walking or running when I have a 0:06:26.920 --> 0:06:27.520 microphone on. 0:06:27.640 --> 0:06:31.920 So how your job not only is to you know, 0:06:32.000 --> 0:06:35.840 inspire people, but to motivate them. How do you motivate yourself? 0:06:36.200 --> 0:06:38.640 You know, because that's something I'm always in awe of. 0:06:38.720 --> 0:06:41.680 If I'm on the dreadmill dreadml and I'm not feeling it, 0:06:41.839 --> 0:06:44.919 I don't have to be all happy and spunky and 0:06:45.000 --> 0:06:47.560 letting everyone else, you know, come into the joy of 0:06:47.640 --> 0:06:50.280 running when I'm not feeling How do you motivate yourself? 0:06:50.400 --> 0:06:54.240 Sure? Sure, I mean you kind of step away from 0:06:54.240 --> 0:06:58.560 it and you understand that there's a bigger picture. And 0:06:58.760 --> 0:07:02.000 I know that in other parts of my life, I 0:07:02.040 --> 0:07:04.800 want to be alert and focused and present, and I 0:07:04.839 --> 0:07:08.320 know that there's nothing else that gets me there unless 0:07:08.320 --> 0:07:11.800 I've taken that thirty minutes, sixty minutes, sometimes ninety minutes 0:07:11.840 --> 0:07:15.760 a day where because it's my job where I'm like, okay, 0:07:15.840 --> 0:07:18.400 I'm giving this back to myself now. I'm not an 0:07:18.480 --> 0:07:24.000 innate lover of the physical activity or even sports. My father, 0:07:24.320 --> 0:07:29.440 My father was like all star sports, baseball, basketball. My father, 0:07:29.480 --> 0:07:31.720 all he wanted me to do was like, He'll play 0:07:31.760 --> 0:07:39.480 some kind of ball. But I hope you have a 0:07:39.520 --> 0:07:40.880 soundboard for some sound effect. 0:07:41.080 --> 0:07:46.320 I just looked over. 0:07:42.400 --> 0:07:50.440 I even dropped off the cross country team in high 0:07:50.480 --> 0:07:54.200 school after two weeks. I just it's not innate within me. 0:07:55.240 --> 0:07:58.960 And until I really trained and like really taught myself 0:07:59.120 --> 0:08:01.480 to love it. And I really didn't fall in love 0:08:01.480 --> 0:08:05.040 with it until about college, I mean twenty years ago maybe, 0:08:05.600 --> 0:08:06.960 and now it's my life. 0:08:07.040 --> 0:08:08.960 But you said didn't fall in love with fitness or 0:08:09.400 --> 0:08:12.760 were you gifted in some way in athletics in any 0:08:12.800 --> 0:08:13.680 particular sports. 0:08:13.760 --> 0:08:16.680 I'm tall, I got long legs. They move. 0:08:17.800 --> 0:08:18.520 That's about it. 0:08:19.080 --> 0:08:23.160 That is, it doesn't translate all wait, basketball player, were 0:08:23.200 --> 0:08:23.720 we dance? 0:08:23.880 --> 0:08:26.400 No coordination? 0:08:27.920 --> 0:08:28.560 A little bit? 0:08:28.680 --> 0:08:29.920 Okay a little bit? 0:08:30.200 --> 0:08:32.960 And so you know my message to that is, like, 0:08:33.040 --> 0:08:35.040 you know, and that's why I think I found the 0:08:35.080 --> 0:08:38.640 audience that I have found. And I don't think it's 0:08:38.720 --> 0:08:41.800 much of a surprise that it's you know, women ages 0:08:41.960 --> 0:08:44.720 thirty five plus all the way up through my mother's 0:08:44.720 --> 0:08:47.080 age and into seventies and some eighty year olds. I mean, 0:08:47.200 --> 0:08:51.280 you know, the Peloton platform is so inclusive, which is 0:08:51.320 --> 0:08:52.080 why we love it. 0:08:52.200 --> 0:08:52.440 Yeah. 0:08:52.480 --> 0:08:54.600 I teach a lot of walking classes too. As much 0:08:54.600 --> 0:08:57.240 as I love, love, love to run, there's just something 0:08:57.240 --> 0:09:01.520 about walking. Where are my walking shoes today that people. 0:09:01.720 --> 0:09:05.280 It's just so accessible and it's the thing that we 0:09:05.320 --> 0:09:07.160 all know how to do, especially in New York City, 0:09:07.160 --> 0:09:07.600 that's for sure. 0:09:07.600 --> 0:09:09.120 That's all we do well. 0:09:09.160 --> 0:09:12.640 And I wanted to tell everyone I fell in love 0:09:12.679 --> 0:09:15.160 with you doing some of your workout classes. You do 0:09:15.200 --> 0:09:17.360 strength training and you do the treadmill. I did some 0:09:17.400 --> 0:09:20.360 of your strength training classes. But I was like, who 0:09:20.520 --> 0:09:24.360 is this guy? He is just so beautiful, like you 0:09:24.480 --> 0:09:25.760 just have a beautiful soul. 0:09:26.040 --> 0:09:26.959 Day's right there. 0:09:31.600 --> 0:09:33.679 I almost stopted when she said I fell in love 0:09:33.720 --> 0:09:36.160 with you, and then I remembered, Okay, he has a 0:09:36.240 --> 0:09:39.760 fiance that's a dude, so might be okay, just fine, 0:09:39.800 --> 0:09:41.160 all right, But I. 0:09:41.200 --> 0:09:44.920 Posted something on Instagram because your workout was so amazing. 0:09:44.960 --> 0:09:46.680 I just wanted to share it with everyone else. And 0:09:46.679 --> 0:09:50.200 then you DMed me and we started dming back and forth. 0:09:50.240 --> 0:09:52.439 But it was what three years ago, we figured. 0:09:52.120 --> 0:09:54.480 Out years ago. I looked for the time stamp. I 0:09:54.520 --> 0:09:56.360 was like, wow, I honestly thought it was maybe a 0:09:56.440 --> 0:09:58.680 year ago or so, and this is how I've fallen 0:09:58.720 --> 0:10:02.840 in love with both of you and even your extended family. 0:10:02.880 --> 0:10:04.960 Like Nikki, I'm like, okay, so I know the I 0:10:05.000 --> 0:10:08.440 know all the casts of characters. I know who you 0:10:08.480 --> 0:10:11.800 work out with, and you know, I know where you run. 0:10:14.120 --> 0:10:16.239 Well, my uh my cousins. 0:10:16.280 --> 0:10:19.120 I saw that you said you're a gunkle. I would say, 0:10:19.120 --> 0:10:23.120 they're my cousins. But they love you and we had 0:10:23.160 --> 0:10:27.839 brunch with them last weekend and they were just saying 0:10:27.880 --> 0:10:31.720 to me, is there any way you can get Maddie Mujokamo. 0:10:31.600 --> 0:10:32.280 On the podcast? 0:10:33.559 --> 0:10:38.920 Yes, But then I texted him and said he said yes, 0:10:39.520 --> 0:10:40.360 and they are. 0:10:40.640 --> 0:10:41.560 They were so excited. 0:10:41.559 --> 0:10:43.960 But you have such an impact on people, and I 0:10:44.000 --> 0:10:46.080 know you you get a lot of feedback obviously with 0:10:46.120 --> 0:10:48.120 Peloton because you're seeing real time. 0:10:48.440 --> 0:10:51.840 What Oh is it all good? It is it all positive? 0:10:51.880 --> 0:10:52.440 It's a mix. 0:10:52.720 --> 0:10:55.920 It's a mix, you know, and you both are privy 0:10:55.960 --> 0:10:57.720 to this. People like to tell you how to do 0:10:57.760 --> 0:11:04.040 your job unsolicited and live your life unsolicited. But no, overwhelm, 0:11:04.080 --> 0:11:07.880 it's overwhelmingly positive. I always say working for a Peloton 0:11:07.920 --> 0:11:11.600 and being a Peloton instructor is the coolest job in 0:11:11.640 --> 0:11:15.480 the world, full stop, period. There's not another better job 0:11:15.520 --> 0:11:19.440 out there, because I mean, how many jobs do you 0:11:19.559 --> 0:11:23.000 do that you go to work on a daily basis, 0:11:23.040 --> 0:11:25.840 sometimes a minute by minute basis, and you are immediately 0:11:25.920 --> 0:11:31.280 validated by the people who you've just taught or connected with. Right, 0:11:31.360 --> 0:11:33.560 it's oh, I love you, Oh my god, that joke 0:11:33.679 --> 0:11:35.200 was so funny, and oh my god, I love that 0:11:35.360 --> 0:11:37.440 song and like, your hair looks great today. 0:11:38.760 --> 0:11:44.480 Tell me, well, we're talking about you said, you're getting 0:11:45.880 --> 0:11:48.959 I haven't done Peloton, So you guys are getting real 0:11:49.080 --> 0:11:52.440 time feedback as you're doing your classes, right, and you said, oh, 0:11:52.480 --> 0:11:56.599 it's overwhelmingly positive, But does do you ever allow it 0:11:56.679 --> 0:12:00.439 might be ninety percent when it comes to positive negative 0:12:00.559 --> 0:12:02.720 any of the negative ones get to you? Do you 0:12:02.760 --> 0:12:06.960 find yourself disappointingly even sometimes like I can't believe I'll 0:12:07.000 --> 0:12:07.720 let that one get. 0:12:07.559 --> 0:12:10.920 To sure, it's taken some time, taking some time. I'm 0:12:10.960 --> 0:12:14.280 outspoken in a way. And again, kudos to Peloton for 0:12:14.400 --> 0:12:15.640 letting us be individuals. 0:12:15.679 --> 0:12:15.960 We're not. 0:12:16.120 --> 0:12:20.520 We're not two dimensional cardboard cutouts of fitness instructors. You 0:12:20.559 --> 0:12:23.400 know that we're just like fitness memes. Walking fitness means 0:12:23.559 --> 0:12:28.040 we're real people and again similar to you all, like 0:12:28.080 --> 0:12:32.280 we live our lives on camera and when you've done 0:12:32.320 --> 0:12:34.760 it for now, I've been with Pelotons six years and 0:12:34.760 --> 0:12:37.600 and you have a following that has watched your ups, 0:12:37.640 --> 0:12:41.600 your downs, your your they can tell, they can almost 0:12:41.640 --> 0:12:46.360 tell when you're just not yourself. And that's funny when 0:12:46.360 --> 0:12:49.280 that comes in, they say, you weren't yourself today? What 0:12:49.440 --> 0:12:52.959 is wrong? Sheila in Oha, Iowa says, You're like, wow, 0:12:53.120 --> 0:12:56.120 okay again the four agreements. You don't take it. You 0:12:56.120 --> 0:12:58.920 don't take it personally right, You're just like they're just 0:12:58.960 --> 0:13:02.000 seeing and they are invested. And that's sort of how 0:13:02.120 --> 0:13:05.120 we always kind of deal with it. And it always 0:13:05.240 --> 0:13:08.120 pushes yourself, pushes you to just be a little bit better. 0:13:08.200 --> 0:13:10.840 We say, right, one percent better, just a little bit 0:13:10.960 --> 0:13:12.240 better every day. 0:13:12.720 --> 0:13:14.760 But the pressure to be on I mean, I'm asking 0:13:14.800 --> 0:13:17.760 for a friend here, but what you just talked about, 0:13:17.840 --> 0:13:20.120 somebody can tell when you're having an off day. How 0:13:20.160 --> 0:13:22.800 do you handle that feeling that you always need to 0:13:22.840 --> 0:13:27.360 be totally the the best you that people recognize and know. 0:13:27.640 --> 0:13:30.520 You use it. You use it just like a performer 0:13:30.559 --> 0:13:33.719 would on Broadway, just like a TV journalist would use it. 0:13:34.120 --> 0:13:37.960 You you use it what I love because I am 0:13:38.000 --> 0:13:41.880 a former journalist. I started my career in TV news 0:13:41.880 --> 0:13:43.880 and broadcast. It's all I ever wanted to do as 0:13:43.920 --> 0:13:46.880 a kid. Was to do what you guys do. And 0:13:48.240 --> 0:13:53.960 I realized that, you know you, you can allow yourself 0:13:54.040 --> 0:14:00.040 to really be genuine and be true and actually have 0:14:00.080 --> 0:14:01.960 an opinion. It took me a really long time at 0:14:02.000 --> 0:14:04.040 Peloton to have an opinion because I was so trained 0:14:04.040 --> 0:14:06.719 as a journalist that literally I remember my producers. I 0:14:06.760 --> 0:14:08.960 think I was teaching like a It was something like 0:14:08.960 --> 0:14:12.839 a nineties class and I was talking about who did 0:14:12.880 --> 0:14:17.000 you love more? In Sync or Backstreet Boys? And I 0:14:17.040 --> 0:14:19.440 didn't pick a side. I was like, I love them both. 0:14:19.480 --> 0:14:21.120 They were like, Maddie, you really need to work on 0:14:21.160 --> 0:14:23.200 having an opinion about things, and boy, do I have 0:14:23.280 --> 0:14:24.440 my opinions now. 0:14:25.320 --> 0:14:27.280 So wish one in Sync or back I'm a. 0:14:27.200 --> 0:14:31.720 Backstreet Boys fan. I'll be honest with you and curious. Again, 0:14:31.800 --> 0:14:34.040 like I said, kudos to Peloton. They allow us to 0:14:34.040 --> 0:14:36.960 have our opinions. You know, I'm a member, a proud 0:14:37.000 --> 0:14:40.480 card carrying member of the queer community, and it's very 0:14:40.480 --> 0:14:43.960 important to talk about queer issues, especially at this point 0:14:44.000 --> 0:14:48.280 in our culture, history and time. And they let me. 0:14:48.440 --> 0:14:50.840 We're doing a just a few weeks trans Day of 0:14:50.920 --> 0:14:53.040 Visibility is coming up. We always do a national coming 0:14:53.040 --> 0:14:56.440 Out Day class pride comes around, and girl, I am 0:14:56.480 --> 0:14:57.600 a walking rainbow. 0:15:08.320 --> 0:15:10.960 I want to go back to the beginning. You you 0:15:10.960 --> 0:15:14.200 said you dreamed your whole childhood of being a television journalist. 0:15:14.320 --> 0:15:15.320 The dream came true. 0:15:15.680 --> 0:15:16.280 What happened? 0:15:17.840 --> 0:15:20.200 It was the hustle. It was really the hustle. I 0:15:20.280 --> 0:15:24.000 was kind of at I got out of college. Gosh, 0:15:24.040 --> 0:15:26.600 at a time where it was two thousand and eight, 0:15:26.640 --> 0:15:29.480 I mean, like the economy would just crushed and as 0:15:29.520 --> 0:15:32.680 you know, everybody was just grabbing for their jobs. I 0:15:32.760 --> 0:15:34.640 was like, well, let's see how we can do this. 0:15:34.680 --> 0:15:38.240 I started the NBC Page Program after like interning everywhere, 0:15:38.280 --> 0:15:41.800 I mean, I entered into GMA. My first internship, this 0:15:41.920 --> 0:15:45.400 is funny, was with a short lived show on MSNBC 0:15:45.480 --> 0:15:46.760 when it was in Secaucus. 0:15:46.960 --> 0:15:51.040 Oh, I've worked there in Seacock Seacock in Secock, Seaclocks 0:15:51.560 --> 0:15:57.320 in the right Where am I going weekends with Maury 0:15:57.520 --> 0:15:58.360 and Connie? 0:15:58.520 --> 0:16:01.720 Oh my gosh, I was there when that was going 0:16:02.800 --> 0:16:08.480 when for Olderman all the time. That is so, so 0:16:08.520 --> 0:16:10.600 we were probably walking down the hall at the same time. 0:16:10.720 --> 0:16:13.360 I was just like a little geek there with my 0:16:13.640 --> 0:16:17.000 you know, with my little suit on whatever, making copies. 0:16:17.160 --> 0:16:18.760 So that was my very first I was like, oh wow, 0:16:18.840 --> 0:16:21.480 I really like this. And Connie Chunk couldn't have been 0:16:21.520 --> 0:16:23.760 like better. She was like the best person in the world. 0:16:23.760 --> 0:16:26.160 Oh she oh and Marey the two of them together. 0:16:26.200 --> 0:16:32.840 It was a short lived show, but yeah, no so 0:16:33.240 --> 0:16:34.840 and and I just had this love of TV. 0:16:36.440 --> 0:16:38.880 I got into the NBC Page program and I found 0:16:38.880 --> 0:16:41.560 myself on air after I was I was shooting for 0:16:41.560 --> 0:16:44.560 New York one my very first week. I was just 0:16:44.640 --> 0:16:48.520 learning the gear and Hurricane Sandy happened, so they were 0:16:48.560 --> 0:16:50.840 like all hands on deck. I was like, I don't 0:16:50.920 --> 0:16:53.640 even know if you can use this thing, and like 0:16:53.720 --> 0:16:57.240 we didn't go home for like ten days and it 0:16:57.320 --> 0:17:00.640 was just you know, Manhattan in a full blackout, fires 0:17:00.680 --> 0:17:03.440 and water, and so I was like, oh wow, this 0:17:03.600 --> 0:17:07.240 is really cool. And then trying to like make the 0:17:07.560 --> 0:17:10.960 money was a really hard thing. And so you as 0:17:11.000 --> 0:17:14.360 you know, you one man banned it. But I'm also gigging. 0:17:14.400 --> 0:17:17.280 I'm like, okay, I'm also personal training and I'm doing 0:17:17.280 --> 0:17:20.080 boutique fitness and it was bartending. At one point I 0:17:20.200 --> 0:17:22.520 was talking about the hustle. I mean, not to like 0:17:22.640 --> 0:17:25.879 toot my own horn, but like I would go downtown 0:17:25.960 --> 0:17:28.879 teach boutique fitness at five am, five am, six am, 0:17:28.920 --> 0:17:31.199 get in my car, put my suit on, drive out 0:17:31.240 --> 0:17:34.240 to wherever my story was, either in Long Island or 0:17:34.440 --> 0:17:37.240 in Jersey. This is when I was working for WRNN 0:17:37.960 --> 0:17:42.200 and file my story as like fast as I could, 0:17:42.720 --> 0:17:44.560 and then I would go to the bar and work 0:17:44.560 --> 0:17:46.280 at the bar. Wow, I was bartending. 0:17:46.320 --> 0:17:47.440 How long did you do that rutin? 0:17:47.600 --> 0:17:50.840 Not long because it wasn't sustainable. It just wasn't sustainable. 0:17:51.160 --> 0:17:52.920 And as a freelance reporter, I mean I was making 0:17:52.920 --> 0:17:56.439 one hundred and forty bucks like a day, Like it 0:17:56.520 --> 0:17:57.680 wasn't it wasn't much. 0:17:57.720 --> 0:18:00.400 But did you make a determination like that this this 0:18:00.480 --> 0:18:03.960 path is the one that's going to work better than journalism. Yeah. 0:18:04.680 --> 0:18:06.160 I just sort of fell in love with I was like, oh, 0:18:06.160 --> 0:18:10.920 fitness really and as you know, local news, oh wee drums, 0:18:10.920 --> 0:18:13.199 you know, you're just like, oh no. I got to 0:18:13.200 --> 0:18:15.640 a point where I was like, wait, how is this 0:18:16.320 --> 0:18:20.120 story affected how I was telling the story? Affecting anybody? 0:18:20.359 --> 0:18:23.840 Like when it comes down to like really grasping for 0:18:24.080 --> 0:18:26.960 a story where there's no story or. 0:18:27.119 --> 0:18:32.560 Just something that scause we both came up through local news, 0:18:32.600 --> 0:18:34.280 so you survived. 0:18:34.320 --> 0:18:37.000 I don't know how it was. It was awful. 0:18:37.000 --> 0:18:39.120 I mean, ninety hour weeks and I made twenty two 0:18:39.119 --> 0:18:41.240 thousand dollars a year I think, and after four years 0:18:41.240 --> 0:18:43.239 I was making twenty eight thousand dollars a year. 0:18:43.280 --> 0:18:44.960 If we did have sound effects, that would be the 0:18:45.000 --> 0:18:46.120 slide whistle right there. 0:18:47.720 --> 0:18:47.920 Yeah. 0:18:48.040 --> 0:18:50.240 Not good. Yeah, it was really not good. And I 0:18:50.280 --> 0:18:52.960 felt and I felt like my executive producer really didn't 0:18:53.040 --> 0:18:55.000 understand me. Oh, I even changed my name. It was 0:18:55.040 --> 0:18:57.439 really like my last name too hard to say. So 0:18:57.480 --> 0:18:59.080 I changed my last name to Thomas. And I got 0:18:59.080 --> 0:19:00.800 to a point I was I on that through Thomas 0:19:01.000 --> 0:19:03.760 what I really Yeah, I know, I know BOO want 0:19:03.920 --> 0:19:09.480 Matthew Thomas boring, so boring, and so nobody knew me. 0:19:09.960 --> 0:19:11.320 And then I was like, now I have to do 0:19:11.359 --> 0:19:14.639 something a little bit more like genuine, to authentic to 0:19:14.680 --> 0:19:16.840 who I am. And then I just started like teaching 0:19:16.960 --> 0:19:19.919 boutique fitness full time. I was like, wow, I can 0:19:20.000 --> 0:19:22.720 make money, started to get personal training clients and I 0:19:22.760 --> 0:19:27.040