Podcast Summary

Podcast: Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan
Episode: Confidence Classic: Being Yourself Is Your Biggest Advantage with Cody Rigsby
Date: August 27, 2025
Host: Heather Monahan
Guest: Cody Rigsby, Peloton Master Instructor

Main Theme

This episode centers on the power of authenticity, personal growth, and confidence, spotlighting Cody Rigsby, a standout Peloton instructor renowned for his ability to connect, inspire, and uplift. Heather and Cody explore lessons from their careers, challenges of the pandemic, evolving business realities, and the deep value of simply being yourself—even (and especially) when it sets you apart.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Heather’s Intro: Navigating Hardship & Growth (00:57–22:19)

• Personal Updates: Heather shares personal struggles, including her son's dog's passing and adapting to the challenges of working and parenting during COVID-19. She emphasizes vulnerability and the need for community.
• Mentoring Program Evolution: She describes launching a virtual mentoring program with uncertainty, which, through risk-taking and iteration, evolved into a collaborative and supportive community.
• Lessons from Chris Voss: Highlighting a recent team session with FBI negotiator Chris Voss, Heather recalls the importance of “leading with your objections,” i.e., proactively naming potential objections or biases to create trust (16:12).
  • Quote: “Lead with what your objections are, put them front and center.” — Heather Monahan, sharing Chris Voss’s advice (13:45)
• Firing Your Villains: Heather stresses the necessity of cutting ties with toxic clients or colleagues to open space for positivity and growth, encapsulated by her “fire your villains” mantra.
• Navigating Change: She recounts guiding clients to let go of low-value relationships as their businesses grow, reinforcing that boundaries and communication are critical to healthy evolution.

The Power of Authenticity: Interview with Cody Rigsby (22:20–49:04)

Cody’s Backstory & Becoming His Authentic Self

• Early Life: Raised in the South, Cody explains how growing up as a young gay man made it challenging to be himself, leading to years of “dialing it back” for acceptance.
  • Quote: “I remember being in high school in my car...pulling up into the parking lot and being like, I gotta turn down this Britney Spears. ’Cause I don’t want anybody to think that, like, I’m gay or this is too much, like, this is girly music.” — Cody Rigsby (25:17)
• Authenticity as a Mission: Cody sees showing up as his full, unapologetic self not only as the key to his joy but also his way of inspiring others to do the same.
  • Quote: “When you don’t live in truth, you’re impeding your happiness. So I just love to show up and be exactly who I am…in hopes to inspire other people…” — Cody Rigsby (24:54)
• Professional Lessons: In his earlier dance career, Cody often felt pressure to “network” or “kiss ass” to fit in, but found it alienated him from his own happiness—he now sees embracing his uniqueness as his greatest strength.

Owning Your Flavor = Success

• Unique Instruction Style at Peloton: Cody’s singular teaching voice and personality (“beyond be yourself!”) stand out in the virtual fitness world, even when others fall flat online.
  • Quote: “He really is himself—beyond, like, be beyond.” — Heather Monahan (21:37)
• On Having Opinions: Cody emphasizes that it's important for instructors (and everyone) to have and express opinions, even if they’re “polarizing,” because connection comes from strong, specific points of view.
  • Quote: “Stand for something or fall for everything, you know?” — Cody Rigsby (27:17)
• Corporate Lessons: Heather relates that, after years in corporate America dimming her authenticity, she now sees “the magic” is in embracing what makes you different.

Professional Growth and Seizing Opportunity

• Transition from Dance to Peloton: Cody recounts hustling through bartending and other jobs, initially taking the Peloton role just to earn money, but then channeling his passion and determination to excel.
  • Quote: “Sometimes you just…opportunities just come and you have to be ready…or fake it till you make it.” — Cody Rigsby (32:19)
  • Timestamps: Cody details this hustling-to-dream-job journey around 32:17–34:28.
• Taking Leaps: Both Cody and Heather discuss stepping stones in careers—sometimes you aren’t ready, but past experience and faith in yourself let you make the leap.

Connection During the Pandemic

• Cody describes the responsibility and privilege of lifting people up through Peloton during isolation:
  • Quote: “What kind of gave me hope was just like, what can I control?...I know that I have the strength and ability to create joy.” — Cody Rigsby (36:52)
  • Peloton’s community is reciprocal: “We want to lead, but we’re just as dependent on our members to show up for us…” (38:18)
• Both discuss the escape, connection, and hope that music, movement, and storytelling provide during tough times.

Meditation, Dance, and Personal Expansion

• Cody shares how meditation and dance are authentic passions, not performative pivots, and how sharing those (with certifications and hard-won practice—including a week-long silent retreat!) lets him bring new joy to his audience.
  • Quote: “I started my training as a [meditation] teacher about two and a half ago, and that was like a six month teacher training…and I also did a week long silent meditation retreat outside of Seattle…” (41:06)
• They explore growth during hardship and the evolving “new normal” in New York (pandemic era), highlighting gratefulness for intimate, quality time with friends and community.

Looking Forward, Staying Grounded

• On Fame and Next Steps: Heather jokes about Cody joining Bravo (“behind the scenes reality show!”), but Cody is clear that inspiring others—not reality TV drama—is his guiding light.
  • Quote: “If I can find something where I’m like inspiring people…and all that sort of good vibes, I’m here for that.” — Cody Rigsby (48:07)
• Cody’s closing advice: chase opportunity, stay open, and trust in the foundation of your accumulated skills—even if you don’t feel 100% ready.

Notable Quotes and Moments

• “The magic—the freaking uniqueness—is the magic.” — Heather Monahan (21:55)
• “You have to trust that you have the foundation. And all these skills you’ve learned…are going to give you that foundation to take that leap.” — Cody Rigsby (35:26)
• “When you bring your real flavor, even when you’re wondering, holy cow, people are going to make fun of me…that’s how you set yourself apart…that’s how you really start to shine your light.” — Heather Monahan (21:55)
• “It’s okay that certain people don’t like you or that you don’t click with everybody…The sooner that we accept, we can just live in our truth…” — Cody Rigsby (28:19)
• On Peloton’s pandemic pivot: “We didn’t know what was going on. Let’s keep everyone safe, stay in it…but I think the more Peloton could gather the information…that, for me, took any sort of fear out of it.” — Cody Rigsby (44:08)
• “Nothing like this lasts forever. We’re going to get out of it. We’re going to persevere. We always do.” — Cody Rigsby (46:16)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:57–22:19 — Heather’s monologue: pandemic challenges, business pivots, confidence coaching, “firing your villains,” Chris Voss lessons
• 22:20–24:27 — Introduction to Cody Rigsby, personal and career background
• 24:27–29:09 — Cody on authenticity, growing up gay in the South, lessons in visibility and joy
• 29:09–32:19 — Heather and Cody: attracting “your people” by being real, times they weren’t authentic
• 32:19–35:26 — Cody’s dance-to-Peloton career leap; learning from every stepping stone
• 36:38–38:46 — The weight and privilege of leadership/connection during the pandemic
• 39:37–41:06 — Heather’s Peloton journey; Cody on diversifying with meditation and dance
• 42:53–43:44 — Cody’s week-long silent meditation retreat experience
• 44:08–47:38 — NYC’s “new normal,” pandemic adaptations, building community
• 47:38–48:40 — Heather on Cody’s future and platform; Cody’s commitment to inspiration over drama
• 49:04–end — Heather’s Q&A segment: public speaking tips, more confidence insights

Memorable Moments

• Cody’s high school story about hiding his Britney fandom (25:17): A vivid example of the psychological cost of hiding oneself—and the joy found in letting go of that fear.
• Heather’s “fire your villains” advice (19:10): A rallying point for listeners stuck in draining business or life relationships.
• Cody’s affirmation about opinions (27:17): “Stand for something or fall for everything”—a rallying cry for self-confidence and individuality.
• Cody’s first Peloton audition (32:19): “Let me go collect…another opportunity to make a little coin…” — a humble beginning to a new chapter.

Flow, Tone & Takeaways

• The episode is upbeat, honest, funny, and deeply personal. Heather’s confessional style sets the tone for a down-to-earth, motivational conversation. Cody brings humor, warmth, and unwavering authenticity—his playful, campy energy is matched by powerful insights about growth, inclusion, and leading with heart.
• Main takeaway: Authenticity isn’t just desirable—it’s your greatest professional advantage. Whether you’re going through hardship, evolving your business, or stepping into the spotlight, your “crazy, unique flavor” is what will ultimately set you apart and light the way for others.

For New Listeners

Even if you’ve never taken a Peloton class (or spun up a mentoring group), this episode is brimming with wisdom on handling adversity, trusting your gut, communicating boundaries, and leveraging your real self as your superpower in every part of your life.