Conversations with Cody Rigsby

last moment, like it's time to hit it. Yeah, you're actually so right, because I remember coming back from like summer vacation basically and starting right away. That's insane. Well, I didn't even do an intro. We got thrown into this right away. I have Cody Riggsby on my podcast today. He is one of my favorite people. We were on Dancing with the Stars together, and if you guys don't know who he is, I'm gonna let him give his own introduction so you can really make it perfect. Take

it away. Oh wow, Like you know, when you're like doing an intro of yourself, it's like it's like shouting your resume and it is a little narcissistic. But listen, I worked hard So, my friends, I'm I'm Cody Riggsby, former Dancing with the Stars contestant and uh Peloton instructor for over eight years now. And maybe you've seen some of my videos clipped on TikTok for a nice uh laugh a little l O L here and there, um, and I'm excited to be here and reunited with the

beautiful Olivia Jan. I'm so happy you're here. What have you been up to recently? Like, what's the last year that you that I haven't really seen you? What's it had in store? Um? A lot, you know, Like I left Dancing with the Stars and I took a little time for myself on the holidays, but then it was just like a lot of work being brand deals or stuff at Peloton, um pr stuff like that. I'm working on some stuff this summer that I can't necessarily talk

about right now. But like when people do that, a bitch can't like hurt a contract or like gout a contract that's coming up. I know. I hating like that. I also hate when people are like just wait, I have this coming on, or like you guys can't handle what I'm about to do. I'm just like okay, but you know what, Honestly, um, this summer, I've been really just kind of focusing on myself. I think I came to a moment where I was like, all right, work is great, and I love working and I love building

whatever I'm building here. But for a very long time, probably like two or three years, I've been so focused on work that I've taken I've kind of lost a little bit of myself. So I think for the past like three months, I've really been focused on healing and like find doing things that nourish me, even if that

means like not chasing a dollar. If that makes right, Okay, I wanna I want to come back to that because I think that's an important conversation, but just to kind of kick off the episode, I kind of want to hear about like where you're from, how you got started.

I know that you were a background answer before Peloton, and can you just explain a little bit about like how you even got into this space, how you started with Peloton, and like kind of if somebody was listening and they want to have a similar trajectory or like a similar career path, how somebody that's not in that position to do so, could I mean, that's a that's a great, a great question, and I'll kind of get into my story of it. And I think I think

the more before I even tell the story. I think the moral of the story is a lot of success. Sometimes it's just being at the right place at the right time. But you've got to make sure that you're the right person that's going to be at the right place at the right time. So if you're not like prepared for an opportunity that's going to hit you in the face, uh, you might not get that opportunity. So I think it's always good to be doing the work,

even if you don't know what's next. So that's kind of a moral story or where where I hit it. But you know, I was born in Los Angeles. I lived there until I was about eight. Me and my mom and like three cats and two dogs packed into a Chrysler and like moved across the country in the nineties and we settled into Greensboro, North Carolina, where I grew up from eight to twenty two. Um, in like high school and college, I was very much like into musical theater. But um, I was like a really good

dancer on my own. So a friend told me to go um intern at Broadway Dance Center here in New York. So I did that the summer of my freshman year of college, and that's where I really fell in love with New York City. And I honestly this I got to express myself as a gay man, and I knew that I wanted to, like really come to this city and be able to live the life that I wanted to. So through college, my focus was always to come to New York. So I moved to New York in two

thousand nine. I've been here thirteen years. I can't believe it. UM and I started kind of just doing a bunch of odd end jobs. I worked in fashion, I worked in I worked at restaurants, I worked retail. I was just really doing anything to make a buck. And then I kind of I got into the commercial dance world for about five years, where I got to do some really cool stuff. I dance for Katy Perry and Humanna do SNL like. I love that. I loved that because

it had so much passion. But I think I was missing was purpose and in all honesty, when you're a backup dancer, you're kind of doing You're doing things to elevate another person. You're doing things to make other people look great, and you're not really creating a foundation for yourself. So I became kind of unhappy and didn't really have purpose. And one, you know, one summer, I was like, all right, I'm gonna like pump the brakes on the dance world.

I'm gonna manifest that something great is gonna come. I don't know what it's gonna be, but honestly, I'm just gonna put my head down do a but like too many odd end jobs as I can to make a dollar and find financial stability. And honestly, like six months later, Peloton landed in my lap. Um. How Yeah, I was working at this club called The Box. I'm sure you do, and it has a very like risk Abe or Less show,

But I wasn't actually dancing in it. Um. I was just working in front of the house, helping the bottle service girls at night. And the chore the choreographer of that show knew I was a dancer and he had a connection to Peloton, and so he was like, Hey, this company, this like startup is looking for, you know, people that are into fitness, and I kind of gotten I got into fitness to book dance shops because you gotta look a certain way. And I was an entertainer

and that's what they were looking for. So I sent my head shot in resume and I got an email back and went in for an interview and I got the job, and I was I was really lucky because it was a new company. They were they were figuring themselves out. I kind of had the ability to fake it till I make it, you know. They were just like, here's this cute boy, and he's fun and fun and has a personality, so like, let's give him a shot.

And I was really lucky that I started Pelton at kind of in the infancy because I got to really make a lot of mistakes. I got to figure myself out. I got to um observe and watch some really fierce people like Robin Urson, like Jess king Um and kind of just absorb their fierceness and how they discovered themselves. And for a while, I feel like I was trying

to be robbing and I'm not robbing. I'm not an ultramarathon r. I'm not a bad asspictch like she is, Like I'm just I'm not her and so I think once I started to embrace who I was and let that shine in my classes, people started to resonate with that and connect with that. And I'm glad I had that period of time to like not know what I was doing, so that, you know, when the pandemic hit

and Peloton blew up, I was ready. I was ready for prime time and I knew who I was and I knew what my classes were, and that's kind of where I was able to connect with people throughout the pandemic. And so that goes back to the world story, like kind of two occasions where it's like the right place, the right time, but be the right person, right. So was the long winded answer, was that what you were looking Yeah, That's exactly what I was looking for. I

loved it. It was perfect. Um, So when you would say that, would you say that because of the pandemic? That's where you're like, I'm just so curious how somebody that's a Peloton instructor can just absolutely blow up on social media then go on Dancing with the stars, Like how the hell did that happen? Like how did you get such a following? Like obviously I know you and your personality is infectious. But how did so many strangers that get forty five minutes of your time on a

bike or however long it is, Like, how did that translate? Yeah? I always like pinched myself like I got so lucky, like I won the lottery. When it comes to a job, A profession that keeps me rooted in purpose, allows me to help other people, allowed me to like really discover

myself and my best self. Um, you know, I think I think there's the stereotype of a fitness instructor and they're always like super high energy and always super positive, and they have everything figured out and they have this perfect body, and that's sometimes not relatable. And I could I I would watch other instructors, not a peloton, but just other instructors in the industry, and I kind of like cringe or be like, oh, you're being so kind

of fake. And so I just treated every class like I was in a in a I was on a zoom call, or in a room full of like my besties, and like we're shooting and I'm going to talk about, you know, messy stories in my life. I'm gonna talk about nostalgic things about songs, I and just going to like be an open book. And I think people really connect and relate to just someone who's you know, pushing them,

but also showing their messiness and showing who they are. Um, I think when we try to be perfect, it's boring when we show our messiness, our flaws are you know, I don't want to say stupidity, but like we're all kind of stupid. So like when I can make fun of myself when I'm stupid, like people relate to that and we'll connect to that. And that's also like my purpose. Like fitness is a scary space if you're starting fitness, if you're starting something new, you can feel intimidated because

you don't want to look them. And I purposely kind of get on the bike and active, fool and act um so people are not scared to try something new.

I actually was having a conversation with a friend recently just about how like just if you're in any sort of I think media space, or you're like a public figure of any kind, how important it is to be relatable and with these like I think recently on my podcast, with the guests I've had on I've tried to like maybe teach the listeners something, not me personally, but the person I'm interviewing. Would you say that you have like

one thing? Because if someone were to ask me, like, what would you say, Like you're an expert in I don't actually mean like expert literally, but I would say, like, the thing that I probably know most about and can talk most about confidently would be like makeup and skincare. What would yours be? That's interesting if you have one? No, I think it's a little obscure. I think I'm I think I'm an expert at loving myself and allowing myself to be who I am, um, and that means accepting

accepting who I am. I think for a long time, in multiple stages of my life, I tried to change or omit parts of me and that wasn't fully loving myself or or honestly so, I think loving myself and doing it in such a radical public facing way is what I'm an expert at. And I hope to inspire people to love themselves radically and to accept themselves and to express themselves as radically as they can with no apoli. And that that includes the flaws, That includes the stuff

that we don't like about ourselves. How did you get to a place of loving your flaws then, because I think that's something I mean, I struggle with that. I'm sure so many people listening struggle with that of just like wholeheartedly. Because I think I can sit here and be like, yeah, I love myself, I'm proud of myself, like whatever, But there are so many times and moments in my day where I'm just sitting there like just to be really real, like I'm just so hard on myself.

If I'm filming, if I'm filming a YouTube video and I have if I'm if I'm positioned a certain way, if I feel like, oh that angle must look bad. I haven't even seen it yet, just in my head, just constant like that's probably bad. It ruins my day. And then I'm like in a constant like I hate myself this day, Like why did I even try? Like how did you get to a point where you're just like, Okay, even if it is a flaw or something that I'm not, we're proud of because it's me. Yeah, it's It's definitely

been a big process. I think also think about the world that we live in. Everything is super curated, everything is position perfectly. We're constantly consuming social media or news or TV or film or magazines, and it's always this perfectly curated thing. So of course in our head we're

constantly aware of these things and we're constantly judging ourselves. Um, for me, I think what really started my journey was probably six years ago, going through a really hard breakup and that feeling of having what they call like the rug pulled underneath you, where you literally fall on your face, you fall down, and it is it's not worth it to stand back up and be the same person that you were when you fell down. Oh I love that.

It's not it's you're not. There's things that happen in life, like breakups, like grief, like disappointment, like failure that can really bring us down, and we have to be aware that those moments are teachable lessons and those are moments to be grateful for because that is the opportunity, that's the door opening to you becoming an evolved, a more

evolved version of yourself, a new version of yourself. And so that moment for me was like laying the foundation for the next evolution of who Cody was, and I

really leaned into like a meditation and mindfulness practice. So that allowed me to really observe my thoughts and just see them as thoughts instead of letting those thoughts run wild, instead letting them pass and not getting so attached to them and that I know that's like a little obscure and a little bit like but that's the whole practice of meditation, right, yeah, yeah, And that was really powerful for me, um, And that kind of really started my

journey of like self love. And so then you develop you kind of developed that school of allowing the thoughts to pass. But then you start to be aware of who you are and the things that you do, and then you can't help but laugh at yourself. You can't help but laugh at the same repetitive thought or the or the same action that you're doing, and you're like, wait, why are you doing that? Like you you said you

want to stop that. So, like you can get frustrated with it, you can get mad at it, or you can kind of laugh at it and treat yourself a little bit a little bit of kindness and love. Um. And so I think it's just like building that that. I think it's building that relationship with yourself and making time within your day that you are developing a relationship with yourself, which is really hard, really hard in the practice, but also like you know, it's it's yeah, no, but

that's great advice. I also feel like I just resonate a lot with what you say about, like how we're in a world where we see such a curated perspective and that can make it a little bit more challenging to be easy on yourself and forgive yourself for certain things because you see everybody else what seems to be a perfect life and I'm sure some people see us online and think like wow, that like success and that's

great and whatever. And it's like, also, we can probably both just sit here in a test that we've gone through in our heads as well. Yeah, you gotta have a little bit of grace. Like grace is a thing that I'm I'm really focused on right now. Is you kind of you only know what you know at the moment, and so you've got yourself the grace and forgiveness of the mistakes that you made that you make and try to do better. But yeah, let's just laugh at like

Instagram is not real, TikTok is not real. News is not real um, and then laugh at ourselves when we're trying to fit in that in that box, we're not meant to fit in that box. So make a relationship with yourself. Let's laugh at the world, and like also laugh at ourselves so we're not taking it so seriously. I kind of love that too, because it's like, if you are in a moment of sadness, if you can think to that and be like, Okay, I still feel

like I'm gonna laugh at it right now. I think you can genuinely convince your mind to think that, like like at a certain point, it's literally fake it till you make it where it's like at a certain point you will start to find the things that you maybe we're hard on yourself, like a little funny. So I'm going to try that, Thank you so much. And also it's also like giving yourself, giving yourself space to be sad though like don't fight it, Like go be sad

for a little bit. If you're going through a break up, if you've lost your job, if you are having fights with your friends, like okay, to be sad, like have those moments, but after a while, you're gonna heal from it. You're going to grow from it. And then once those kind of let's start to pop up more so Okay, like I'm gonna laugh at myself for like dwelling on this a little bit too much, right, I love that. Okay, let's transition into Dancing with the Stars because obviously we

were both on the same season, season thirty. I honestly feel like we had a great cast. Like it was a great cast, yes, yeah, And I loved it because even though it was a competition, like I think we genuinely like we never wanted any anybody to go home. We wanted everyone to do their best, and it really support group. Yeah, and like it was it was sad when anybody went home. And also like we were the only people that knew what was going on, and that was just I look back and I'm like, wow, I

did that, like so crazy. I still think back to it and I'm like, I was dancing on national TV with zero dance experience. Who let me you had? Okay, you had zero dance experience, never danced before, not even like a ballet. Asked like nothing nothing, you know, maybe I took ballet when I was like one years old and I ended out one and a half. But like, no, not in any time I can remember in my life.

I am so gagged by that because I was like, I think this girl is lying, like I know more dance than she is giving away because I love dancing though, Like I remember growing up like around my family and stuff, and we'd play like music in the kitchen at night and I'd be dancing around the kitchen with my dad. But like that's as far as my dance experience. But sometimes it is better to like, like, for me, ballroom was hard because I danced in such different ways that

it felt so foreign. So maybe being so fresh and no experience it was almost better because you could just absorb it and like move into it totally. That's kind of what I was talking to Amanda Clutes about when I had her on the podcast a while back. I was like, really, was it tough for you because you had a lot of dance experience. She was like, it was harder because like I had to learn, like this a completely new thing from something that I already kind

of knew before. Yeah. Well she all always looked flawless too, So Lade absolutely slate everybody slate. Everybody was so good. Um, How did you get the offer? Who called you? Was it like, did somebody reach out directly? Was it a d M? Did it go through your team and did you say yes right away? Um? It went through my team, And it was something that we've been talking about kind of all summer. We're like, hey, I've been kind of pitching.

My agent was kind of like pitching me for it, but like Jamesmen Stars, wasn't like completely on board, but like it was kind of always happening, And honestly, I don't even remember getting that. I think I didn't really get the final offer, like Okay, this is happening until like mid August, so maybe three or four weeks before

the show was actually happening. I think. So. I think that's how it was, because I remember having conversations about it probably in June of last year and be like, Okay, that's cool, and then by the time August got around, I was like, okay, I'm giving I'm kind of just like I'm assuming that it's not happening. Um, And then it happened, and there was kind of a few days where I was like, am I sure I want to do this? Because the thought of it really really created

a lot of anxiety in me. I was like, that's gonna be so new and so challenging and so different. Um so I'm glad. I'm glad. I like took a breath and told myself I could do it. But there was a lot of anxiety, And you know, once I committed to I was like, all right, here we go. Do you feel like you had? I mean, obviously it's so different being in a ballroom dance competition than being on a bike, But do you feel like you had

because you were used to maybe performing? I guess you could say, like in some degree publicly with Peloton, that it made the nerves a little less intense or just so different. No know, I like I was nervous every nervous every week. You know what I was really nervous

is like camera blocking on Sunday. I was always so nervous. Actually, I feel like I put more pressure on that than even the show because if I didn't have a good camera blocking, it made me really nervous for the show because I was like, well, if I messed it up here, I'm not gonna have enough time to get it right on Monday. So it was I was a nervous wreck

the entire time. There was so much anxiety, but I worked through it and battled through it, but there was there was sometimes that it was just like that whole show is it's something you can't explain. No, It's like, I, no, I don't I don't think that. I don't think people

understand the amount of pressure that that we're under. Um it's mental and emotional gymnastics, and yousually gotta really like fight through it because it's like it's the dance, it's your partner, it's the judges, it's the media, it's people online trolling you. Like as much as you don't want to look at it, like you look at it and then like you let these thoughts gin in your head. It is. It's one of the toughest things I've ever done. And as as grateful as I am for it, I

was so happy when it was done. I was just like, Okay, I'm ready, I'm so glad it's over. Like I was just like, thank God. And you also had like a really crazy start because if you guys watched it, you would remember this. But Cody had COVID in the really early stages of the show, and nobody knew what to do, Like we were like, how does and he had to perform on fucking Zoom Zoom. Essentially it was zoom And

so we did a jazz number from my house. I was doing it from my place in New York, Chirl was doing it from her place in l A. And honestly, though, like I feel like we slayed it and they did play it. The hat the hat come on. We did the best with what we had. It was. It was an initial and you know what, I remember getting that call and I was just like there was a moment I was like I might quit. I might just like I just might bow out because this seems so complicated.

I'm so glad that I didn't. I'm so glad that you made it to the finals. So I'm really glad you didn't tap out of it because that was so

fun to watch. And I feel like, also what was really cool about the whole experience was like kind of seeing everybody grow into themselves, Like like I just feel like I remember like between like I can say for myself, I feel like I grew into myself so much more than watching like Joe Joe and Sunny and like all these people that just really like found themselves because of the show. Was like, I don't know, it's actually really

impactful and cool to see. Absolutely when we had like our cat like the cast was rooting for each other, and I think when we saw like great dances or a moment of growth, like we're like yes, yeah, it was a really loving environment. So what have you been up to after the show? Now we can get into it. I want to hear about what you were saying in the beginning about your healing journey a little bit and just kind of focusing on you and alright, right right right, um, yeah,

I think you know. I got back in November, so it was like the holiday season. After that, I was spending time with friends and family, and then January. January hit and it was like really focused on Peloton, working with different brands, um, a little bit of travel, and UM, I was just doing so much, like all my days were packed. My calendar was like I would like look two months in advance. I was like, oh my god, every week is so much, so many things going on

and I love to be busy. Um, but I think I hit a marking probably like February, where I felt really disconnected for myself, and I remember talking to my therapist and just being like, I'm not depressed, but I'm not. I don't feel like myself, and there's moments of sadness.

And I think when I analyzed it a little bit, you know, coming from Dancing with the Stars, you have, like all of you have so many like adrenaline, adrenaline, emotional spikes and these highs that when that's removed, I don't think your body in your mind know what to do after after that process. It does that make sense?

And so I just felt like really off, probably in February and March and recently I kind of hit a space whereas like I need to press pause or like pump the brakes on some of my work and and really tapping into the power of know of being like no, I don't I don't need to do this right now, Like this isn't this isn't important to me, or I

there will be another opportunity. I don't need to take this one right now, um, and instead coming back to my roots of that self love and taking care of myself, because even in the past two years, I might I was going to therapy, but I remember being kind of like super exhausted at points where I wasn't going into that space and maybe like really working through or talking through or figuring things out, and so like I was showing up, but I was going through the motions, and

my meditation practice had gotten less and less and less and less, or just wasn't a lot more infrequent, And so I kind of hit a mark in in May where I was like, all right, I need to get back to myself, create a morning routine where I'm where I'm finding time every day to meditate, to journal, to take care of myself, do things that I love, like

listen to music. Um. Even like one thing right now, which I was talking to a friend is like getting dressed and looking cute and feeling cute, like even if I'm just going to get coffee or going for a walk, and it's it's literally for nobody else but me, but that's something that brings me joy. Is just like looking cute and having a fierce outfit, and that is like healing and selfish me. Um. And so for me, that is what I've been focus is focusing on this summer

and enjoying time with friends. I'm gonna I'm going to Europe. Next week for two weeks. So that's that's gonna be really good. And I'm glad to kind of take this season of taking a break, taking a breath, and then going into September putting my head down and working on some some new content at Peloton, working on some other projects.

I know you want me to say what it is like, I won't ask a girl, Like you know, there's always a season for everything, and right now that season is taking care of myself, enjoying life, breathing, laughing, dancing, and then I think going into the fall back to school season, it's like, put your head down, do some work and work on new stuff that's exciting. Yeah, what's it like? A day in your life? Look like in Cody Race World?

It's so it's so random. But like I wake up every I've been trying to set my alarm for seven am. I know it's not super early, but it's early. Wake up. Yeah, I wake up. I go have a glass of water, I have a cup of egg whites, I go meditate. Do you eat really healthy? No? Okay, because I'm like, do all fitness instructors are they on like some strict, amazing clean diet? I mean listen if I it's summer and I want to eat more clean so that I feel cute and all that sort of stuff. But I

think just balance. Yeah, I guess it's balanced. It's like I have my routine probably Monday through Friday or Saturday, and then I give myself a little bit of grace to like indulge have fun. I also just don't drink that much. It's not my favorite thing. So I think drinking is one that really affects people more than they think. And so over the years, I've kind of just like

lessened my relationship with alcohol. Not that I'm so over or don't drink at all, but I just I'm really intentional about when and if I drink um, and then I usually go to the gym, I slay my workouts, I have meetings on zoom or in person. I teach a class um. It's it's crazy. Last week I was putting in like I'm like twelve hour days, like seven to seven. It's just NonStop with how many classes do

you do in one day? In one day, usually only one, maybe two, and usually if it's two, it's two shorter ones. But I'm I'm teaching for to five classes a week. Wow, not crazy, not not too much, but you know it does take its toll on the body. Yeah, because you also have to be like on when you're doing You can't just be in the back of the class like I'm working out, I'm doing it today, Like You've got to be the one that's hyping everybody else up in

the class. Yeah, And I think that's the most challenging parts, Like physically my body. I've been doing it for eight years now, so like my body is so conditioned to it. But it is really like turning on being like being a personality, like bringing the energy to a class, especially on those days when I don't want to do it. And there's plenty of those days where I'm like, I love my job, but I am not in the mood to like be happy Smiley Cody right now. But figure

it out, you know, figure it out. Do you feel like from Dancing with the Stars or maybe not even cousin Dancing Stars, but just in general of like social media being a thing and then you obviously having such a presence on social media because of Peloton and people loving you on there, like it's presented so many new opportunities in just like a different space for work. Oh absolutely, Like I'm so grateful for the platform that Pelton has given me. Um, you know, I've I've gotten to doing

with the stars. I do speaking engagements, which I have a few few this fall and I'm excited about. And that allows me to kind of share my story and in a in a different way and like in more in depth way. Um. You know, I've got to work with with with amazing brands. And honestly, the time that I invest outside of Peloton is actually like I try to invest more outside of the fitness world. Like I'm not. I don't try to do more fitness things outside of Peloton.

I try to find opportunities and skill sets that I have and opportunities that will be in alignment with that. So yeah, I've got to do some some really cool stuff. And um, I'm like forever grateful for the platform and what it what it gives me because you know, I grew I grew up so broke, like so poor. It was just me and my mom, and I never thought that I would have this level of level of success and so it yeah, you look back and I'm just

grateful for it. Yeah, It's really like life changing. Huh. Absolutely. Um, well, I won't keep you because I know you're busy, But thank you so much for coming on the podcast today and honestly just being so real and so open. It's one of the things I love about you. I think that people are really going to resonate with this episode because of your realness, and I really appreciate it. Thank you so much for having me. I love this little reunion.

I know me too. Hopefully I'll be in New York soon so I can come see you and say, hey, let's do dinner or something. I might be I might be in l A. I think like middle of October, so I might try to go to Dancing with the Stars. Oh my god, please tell me. If you go, I will come with you. Yeah, let's go on a date to Dancing with the Star. I would love that. Okay, we'll have the best day. You're the best, and I'll talk too soon. All right, Hi, everyone,