Activate Your Greatness with Alex Toussaint

Summary

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Keep It Positive, Sweetie – "Activate Your Greatness with Alex Toussaint"

Release Date: January 9, 2024
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Alex Toussaint

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Episode Overview

This episode of Keep It Positive, Sweetie is a raw and uplifting deep-dive into the journey and mindset of Alex Toussaint—renowned Peloton instructor, Puma athlete, and founder of the Do Better Foundation. Host Crystal Renee Hayslett and Alex explore themes of purpose, faith, self-worth, overcoming adversity, and the power of movement as therapy. They reflect on Alex's upbringing, transformative moments, and how he uses his platform both to inspire and to bring about positive change.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Activating Greatness: Alex’s Philosophy

• Signature Quote:
  “Feel good, look good, do better.” (00:49, Alex Toussaint)
  • Crystal opens with this mantra as a guiding principle throughout Alex’s life and work.

2. Early Connections, Community & Support

• Their Bond:
  Alex and Crystal recall their first virtual connection during the pandemic and how it turned into a supportive friendship.
  • “There’s people who come into the community and become members, but there’s some people who come in and become family members outside the platform. And obviously you’re one of those people…” (02:19, Alex Toussaint)
• Lesson: True community sometimes grows from unexpected platforms and shared experiences.

3. Family, Upbringing & Childhood Adversity

• Parental Influence:
  • Alex credits his parents—Haitian immigrants, a Navy engineer father and educator mother—for their constant sacrifice despite his struggles with authority and rebellion as a youth.
  • “I just never understood it and always took it as resistance versus assistance.” (03:41, Alex Toussaint)
• Discipline & Pain:
  • Sent to military school at 12, which Alex describes as one of his darkest, most formative periods.
  • “I felt as if I wasn’t...I don’t want to use the word abandoned...But it did feel like a sense of, I’m not even worthy enough.” (05:14, Alex Toussaint)
  • He now reframes this pain as fuel for achievement and validation of his parents’ sacrifices.

4. Processing Dark Moments & Using Movement as Therapy

• Therapy and Movement:
  • “From mopping floors to cycling...movement of the mind and the body has allowed me to have a new perspective of life.” (06:44–07:38, Alex Toussaint)
  • Alex emphasizes that cycling became a form of healing, helping him develop purpose and emotional resilience.
  • Notable memorable moment: "Sometimes I don’t teach for y'all. I teach for me. You just happen to be there." (07:25, Alex Toussaint)

5. Career Breakthrough: From Janitor to Instructor

• Beginnings at Flywheel:
  • Lost, broke, and sleeping on a friend’s floor, Alex started as a janitor. The company CEO, Ruth Zuckerman, noticed his dedication.
  • He asked for the opportunity to instruct:
    "Closed mouths don’t get fed." (12:10, Alex Toussaint)
  • Ruth gave him two weeks. He rose quickly, teaching up to 25 classes/week.
  • Message: Every day is an audition for greatness. Honoring “mopping season” set the tone for future success.
    “You can’t shrink yourself in environments you’ve outgrown.” (17:40, Alex Toussaint)

6. Breaking Barriers: The First Black Peloton Instructor

• Representation & Responsibility:
  • At first excited to be the “token,” Alex felt a growing sense of burden and realized the importance of authenticity and honesty. Having other Black instructors (Alli Love, Tunde, Jess Sims) lessen the weight and add richer perspectives.
  • Crystal highlights the importance of seeing instructors who reflect her — “I always wanted to see something that reflected myself.” (18:56, Crystal Renee Hayslett)
  • The gravity of his role sharpened after George Floyd’s murder:
    “That was the point where I realized how important this job was and I had to take it that much more serious at that point.” (22:08, Alex Toussaint)

7. Turning Career into Business & Broadening Scope

• Success & Visibility:
  • Alex discusses brand partnerships (e.g. Movado, Smartwater, Puma) and celebrity fans (LeBron, Steph), expanding from cycling to Peloton Tread.
  • “We made it to a billboard at Times Square before we made it to the police blotter in our local town.” (24:35, Alex Toussaint)
• Entrepreneurial Spirit:
  • “It all working the way it’s supposed to work. And it never feels like actually work. That’s the best part.” (25:51, Alex Toussaint)

8. Mindset, Identity & Vulnerability

• Learning from Failure:
  • “To succeed and grow, you gotta fail...Fail fast, fail now, fail here, fail forward.” (29:34–30:55, Alex Toussaint)
  • Alex stresses the role of vulnerability, especially for Black men, and the importance of trying new things even if failure is likely.

9. Navigating Scarcity Mindset & Trusting the Journey

• Letting Go:
  • Early in his career, Alex clung to roles out of fear of loss; mentor support enabled him to move forward.
  • “When it’s never been done and you’re the one doing it, it’s so scary...I have to create [the path].” (32:33, Alex Toussaint)

10. Parallel Experiences & Social Justice

• George Floyd, Race & Law Enforcement:
  • Alex recounts growing up as one of the only Black kids in a predominantly white area, being profiled, and how military school ironically equipped him to survive police encounters (33:26–37:33).
  • “I’m not exempt from this. Just because I ride a bike, just because I’m on a platform, because people know me, does not mean I’m exempt from the everyday struggles of black men in America.” (35:51, Alex Toussaint)
  • His message to allies: “I need you to move within your household...If I could reach one, I could teach one.” (37:06, Alex Toussaint)

11. Giving Back: The Do Better Foundation

• Purpose:
  • Inspired by family roots and social justice events, the foundation provides underserved youth with access to wellness, mentorship, resources, and opportunities.
  • “Those who can, must...Within those overflowing gifts and blessings, you got to provide it to other people. Otherwise, they go wasted.” (38:12–39:18, Alex Toussaint)

12. What’s Next for Alex?

• Openness to Possibility:
  • “I don’t know what’s next...But I can tell you that my aperture has opened up for me to test new things...I just want to take time to accept those blessings.” (40:15, Alex Toussaint)

13. On Relationships & Protecting Inner Peace

• Qualities Sought:
  • Integrity, alignment of values, ability to care for herself and others, inner strength akin to his mother.
  • “In order to be present with me, you got to be present with yourself.” (42:23, Alex Toussaint)
• Privacy:
  • Alex shields personal life to protect his peace.
  • “What you give people, they can take away.” (42:47, Alex Toussaint)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Closed mouths don’t get fed.”
  — Alex Toussaint (12:10)
• “You can’t shrink yourself in environments you’ve outgrown.”
  — Alex Toussaint (17:40)
• “Gratitude cancels out my negativity and fear.”
  — Alex Toussaint (07:51)
• “Break down to break through.”
  — Alex Toussaint (44:59)
• “If I could reach one, I could teach one.”
  — Alex Toussaint (37:06)
• “In order to be present with me, you got to be present with yourself.”
  — Alex Toussaint (42:23)

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Segment Timestamps

• Intro & Alex’s Arrival: 00:09–01:14
• Philosophy – "Feel Good, Look Good, Do Better": 00:49
• Upbringing, Parents & Military School: 03:00–06:18
• Therapy & Movement for Healing: 06:33–07:37
• Path from Janitor to Instructor: 08:40–14:51
• Outgrowing the Past & Growth Mindset: 17:22–18:11
• First Black Instructor at Peloton, Race, & Representation: 18:26–22:14
• Dealing with Grief, George Floyd, & Social Responsibility: 22:46–23:38, 33:26–37:33
• Brand Success & Entrepreneurship: 24:08–26:44
• Vulnerability, Failure & Identity: 29:27–31:34
• Do Better Foundation: 37:33–40:05
• On What’s Next: 40:15–41:05
• Relationships, Privacy & Inner Peace: 41:09–43:05
• Listener Letter & Advice – Self-Esteem and Healing: 43:42–46:46
• What We’re Going/Growing Through: 46:46–48:31
• Final Positivity & Outro: 48:52–end

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Listener Letter: Healing, Self-Esteem & Finding Balance

(43:42–46:46) Host Crystal reads a listener letter about struggling with self-worth, weight, and overwhelming responsibilities.

• Alex’s advice:
  • “Break down to break through...Identify the feel good aspect before the look good."
  • "Find accountability partners that are going to help uplift you and not outshine you.” (45:59)

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Final Thoughts: Growth, Faith, and Keeping it Pushing

• Both Crystal and Alex reflect on embracing uncertainty with faith, the power of breakdowns leading to breakthroughs, and moving forward with gratitude and purpose.
• Closing Mantras:
  • “Keep it pushing, sweetie.”
  • “Keep it pure.” (48:52–48:57)

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Summary Takeaways

• Embrace the process: Accept the challenges, appreciate humble beginnings, and honor every “season.”
• Be present, be vulnerable: Open up to failure and seek growth through discomfort.
• Use what you receive to uplift others: Acknowledge responsibility, give back to community, and be intentional with your platform.
• Protect your peace: Guard certain aspects of your life as sacred, and choose your inner circle wisely.
• Gratitude is grounding: Start each day with thankfulness to dissolve fear and negativity.

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Books, Foundations, and Social:

• Alex Toussaint’s book: Activate Your Greatness — available everywhere.
• Do Better Foundation: Supporting wellness, opportunity, and mentorship for underserved youth.
• Connect: @alextoussaint25

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Closing encouragement:
“Every day is an audition for greatness. Move with intent. You may be saving lives and not even realizing it. But you got to save your life first.” (31:34, Alex Toussaint)

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Transcript

[Alex Toussaint]

Foreign.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Hi, and welcome to this episode of keep it positive, sweetie. I'm Krystal Renee Hayslett, and today we are talking about activate your greatness with my dear friend Alex Tucson.

[Alex Toussaint]

I can't believe I'm here. I'm so honored to be here with you.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I can't believe you're here.

[Alex Toussaint]

I told you I was making the promise like I wasn't going to flake on you. I'm had to come through for a real one. I had to come through.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

You did that. You got up early this morning, caught a 6am flight to be here with us today. Wow.

[Alex Toussaint]

You know why? Because you would do the same.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Absolutely.

[Alex Toussaint]

Without question. Anybody that knows you know you would.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Do the same without heartbeat, you know I got you.

[Alex Toussaint]

So you got to return the blessing. That's it.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love you. I appreciate that.

[Alex Toussaint]

I appreciate you. I love you, too. You know that.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Period.

[Alex Toussaint]

Period.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

So we start every episode with a song or a quote.

[Alex Toussaint]

Okay.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

And I can't start this episode without your quote. Feel good, look good, do better. That's what you live by. And for those who do not know, Alex is a peloton instructor, which most of the world knows him as. You are a puma athlete. You're a businessman. You work in the fitness, tech, music, sports, and entertainment industry. And off the bike, you have a foundation, the Do Better Foundation.

[Alex Toussaint]

Yes, ma'.

[Co-host or Guest]

Am.

[Alex Toussaint]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I met you virtually in 2020 during the pandemic. I didn't have any workout equipment in my house, and I was like, I need something. So I purchased a peloton bike.

[Alex Toussaint]

Thank God you did. Yes, thank God you did.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Listen, I got the peloton bike, and from there, I fell in love with the way you instruct. I was like, this guy lights a fire under my ass. Like, you don't take no mess with anybody.

[Alex Toussaint]

We ain't wasting time out there. We ain't wasting time out there. Yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

And to learn your background, having a military background, it made me understand your way of training and how you talk to us through that bike. But you touched so many lives through that. And then we met personally. We connected on Instagram. Then we met personally at a Hawks game. We share a common love for sports. I feel like we always run to each other.

[Alex Toussaint]

Hawks, Heat.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Heat game.

[Alex Toussaint]

Yep.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Heat is your team.

[Alex Toussaint]

That's for sure. That's for sure.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yes.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Hawksheet game. And literally the rest has been history. And I'm just so happy that I passed across. You are such an amazing human being. Appreciate it. And I'm lucky to get to know you beyond the bike.

[Alex Toussaint]

Nah, not lucky blessed. 0% lucky, 100% blessed. You know that. That's why I say I'm thankful that you purchased Peloton bike because there's people who come into the community and become members, but there's some people who come in and become family members outside the platform. And obviously you're one of those people that became a family member instantly for me. So I'm honored you joined the peloton community for sure.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Thank you so much. Thank you. Going back to your childhood, you talk about in your book Activate youe Greatness. I'm so proud of you for this as well. You talk about your upbringing and the journey to getting to the Alex Tucson that we all know today and that we admire so much. Tell us a little bit about your childhood and what really molded you to be who you are today.

[Alex Toussaint]

First off, my parents, I got to start off with the two people like the pioneers of this, my mom and dad, my dad being an oil engineer and almost faced off for a second. What branch did my dad serve? Navy. Had so many military family members, it's so hard to keep up sometimes. My dad served in the Navy and my mother was a doctor, a teacher for 30 something years. So all I've ever known in my entire life has just been family sacrificing, always sacrificing for the better of others around you. As a kid, I was an extreme knucklehead, though. I've been kicked out of every school I've ever been to, including military school. Almost got kicked out of high school as well. And that's just because I wasn't a bad kid. I just had an issue with authority and to be honest with you, the most authoritative figure in my household being my father, just that clashing nonstop. But I tell people all the time I'm a product of somebody whose father went above and beyond, same with my mother, to make sure I was put in a position to win life and thrive in life. I just never understood it and always took it as resistance versus assistance. That's just due to my perspective of life. I think to myself all the time, like how fortunate I am to have two parents that were extremely present. I just never was able to live to the excellence that they demanded. Being two Haitian immigrants coming to the United States without knowing the language of how we speak, let alone being able to like economically wise, like just so many different things back in the 70s and 80s. And I'm like, how did you even accomplish that, let alone thrive in that Space.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

And I look back now and I fast forward as a young adult and I'm like, all right, I understand it. I understand that you guys did the best you could with the resources you had. I never lived up to that growing up as a kid. So what I'm trying to do right now is rewrite that and trying to validate my parents sacrifices every single day. So this book is like one of the steps of me validating everything they implemented for my brothers and myself growing up.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

You did a really good job with this and telling the story. Once you got, you went to, you got kicked out of school and your parents were like, we're fed up. And it's really your dad.

[Alex Toussaint]

It really my dad? Yeah, it's really my dad. Mom was like, let's keep him closed. Like, I'm the baby of the family. I got two older brothers. So my mom was like, let's keep him close. My dad was like, nah, I'm shipping you out of here.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right.

[Alex Toussaint]

Sixth grade, it was either Haiti or military school. And I mean, I think I got the good end of the stick. I think I got the good end of the stick.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Oh, yes. Haiti or military school for sure.

[Alex Toussaint]

It was one of those things in life that like, I felt as if I wasn't. I don't want to use the word abandoned because there's people who go through that actual stage in life. But it did feel like a sense of I'm not even worthy enough. So instead of my dad leaving, he was like, you're not worthy, you gotta go.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

And at the time, that broke my heart.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

And you talk about that in the book, about how to this day, when you really think about it, you feel pain.

[Alex Toussaint]

There's just something about it that I was so young at the time. I was in sixth grade, I was 12 years old, going on 13, getting shipped into the middle of nowhere, isolated, completely distant from friends, family, anything that I knew, that was like the normal scene for me.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right.

[Alex Toussaint]

So when I think about it, I'm just like, damn, I went through a rough stage. 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th grade. That like, unless you were there with me at military school, you have no idea what it's. You know what I mean? Like, the only people that know are the people that were with me.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

And those things you just keep close to the heart just because like, they're dark moments in life.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Absolutely.

[Alex Toussaint]

But we've been able to obviously push through and break through to get where we are today. So I've been able to use the same things that were somewhat dark moments in life as positive moments to inspire the world with. For sure.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

You've done an amazing job with that. How does Alex work through those dark moments? Because I know, like me in therapy, I've learned that those things that happened to little Crystal, I'm still dealing with those as an adult. How do you deal with that?

[Alex Toussaint]

Two things. Therapy, like actually speaking to somebody. And thankfully, my job is a form of therapy for me as well. As somebody who's been in the industry now 11 years. I joined for Mopping Floors to cycling.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Say that again.

[Alex Toussaint]

From mopping Floors to cycling. We're gonna talk about the story, too. We gotta talk about that story.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Because people see all the.

[Alex Toussaint]

They don't realize where it started.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

They don't, you know? Yeah, we gotta talk about that, too.

[Alex Toussaint]

Through movement, though, movement of the mind and the body has allowed me to have a new perspective of life. And I didn't understand that until I started moving my body on a bike that went absolutely nowhere. But mentally and emotionally, I went so far.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

So every day that I was pushing pedal strokes from the day one, 11 years ago till now, I tell myself, like, push these pedal strokes with an intent and with a purpose because it allows you to carve out who you want to be every single time. And if you miss a pedal stroke due to you negotiating with yourself or you doubting yourself, you could be missing an opportunity to carve out who you want to be long term. So I try every single day. Like, even within the classes that I teach now, I tell people, like, sometimes I don't teach for y'. All. I teach for me. You just happen to be there. You know what I mean? I'll be honest with you, because it's been such a form of therapy for me for so long.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

So I would say the movement. Movement of the body and the mind has allowed me to have a new perspective of life for sure.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That's amazing. I know we've talked about some mornings where you, like, I just. You don't always feel like, yeah, absolutely. But we never can tell on that bike.

[Alex Toussaint]

The minute that red light clicks on, there's just something like gratitude. I'm not trying to quote myself out of the book, but, like, gratitude cancels out my negativity and fear, and I'm just like, damn, I get to do this for a living, right? I get to get on a platform with thousands of people show up to listen to my crazy self talk and like. Or just unscripted, Unfiltered. Just like, if I'm in a bad mood. I could tell people I'm in a bad mood and move like that, but also break through with people in real time. That is a blessing. That's why I'm so thankful for the peloton community and the people that support every single day. Because as an instructor, you get a lot of the. Thank you. Changed my life. Thank you. You changed my life. And for a lot of the members that read this book, now, they're like, oh, it makes sense. I'm like, no, thank you, because this has helped me change my life. So it's reciprocated at all times.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love that. Let's talk a little bit about the journey. Walk us through the steps that it took to get to where you are today. Because I think it's so important.

[Alex Toussaint]

Yeah. I went to school for audio and video production. My dream job, if you look at my high school yearbook, was to be a ESPN cameraman.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Wow.

[Alex Toussaint]

That was my dream job. So I always loved audio and video. I loved film. And I went to school and I applied myself for the time that I was there. I truly did. And that was to try to being that. My mother was an educator, my brother's an educator, and my dad was like, if you don't work or go to school, you ain't living in this house. It was no option. Yeah, I. I went through a dark period in college. I don't remember exactly what just happened, but it just wasn't clicking. It felt like I was just buying time and existing to, like, make my parents happy. But I really didn't find what was making me happy. Car gets stolen in college, and I hit, like, an ultimate rock bottom. But I still don't tell my parents that I'm not going to school. So, like, every day I'm faking, like, I'm going to class. I'm so scared to, like, disappoint mom and dad.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

One day, mom calls and she says, how's class going today? And it was the way she said it, which I. Oh, my God. All the mothers out there have a Mother's Day. The way she said it, it was like she was waiting for me to lie to her.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

And I was like, class is going great. And she just stops. She goes, lex, don't lie to me. And I didn't know that once you stopped going to school, your student loans kick in.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Oh, yeah. Oh.

[Alex Toussaint]

I didn't know she financially knew I wasn't in school. So she called me. She said, listen, I'm not gonna be mad at you. I'm not gonna curse at you. I'm not gonna flip out on you, but you're gonna have to tell your dad. And that was like. I was like, all right, reality. Just said it. Now life starts today. Cause I know the minute that he finds out my dad's so. He's the. There's a method to the madness, but sometimes the madness is just madness. You know what I'm saying? And I come back home, we get into a big fight. He. He said some hard words to me that I want people to read in the book, but those words were what I personally needed. And he said those words as. He said, get out the house and kick me out the house. So I lived in my best friend's floor for about a year and a half, and I got a job at a company called Flywheel Sports. Now this company is indoor cycling. So I'm coming to work every single day, mopping the floors, just trying to get a check, because I'm like, I can't be broke and sleeping on my best friend, so I got to bring something like, you know what I mean? So I'm going. I'm walking to work, jogging to work, just to mop floors every single day. And I'm sitting outside of the studio, and there's like, a fish hole in between the door, and I'm peeping my head in. I'm just listening to instructors teach every single day. So the same information, the same inspiration a lot of the members were getting on the opposite side, I'm getting while I have the mop in my hand.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Wow.

[Alex Toussaint]

So as the days start to go, as the week start to go, I start to be like, all right, let me start mopping with more of a purpose versus, like, this is just, like, a temporary moment, not knowing what could occur long term. Thank God for this lady named Ruth Zuckerman, who's an angel in my life till this day. One of my life mentors.

[Co-host or Guest]

Wow.

[Alex Toussaint]

CEO of the company at the time. And every day she would walk in, she would acknowledge every single person in that building. She would never let somebody feel like they were less than. No matter if you mop floors, no matter if you were an instructor, she acknowledged you. So that always made me feel special. Somebody of power and status noticing me in a time where I really didn't even notice myself. I was dark. Dark mentally.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

One day, I'm just in the room and I'm playing. I'm playing my music, mopping. And my boy goes, yo, you know you could be an instructor, right? And that's why it's always critical to have these friends that believe in you when you don't believe in yourself. And I was like, oh, wait a minute. Like you, right?

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I can do this.

[Alex Toussaint]

I love music. I play music. I was in a marching band in military suit, so I could count. Well, I have a military background, and I think I know how to motivate people. I don't know how to motivate myself, but others, for some reason, felt a little bit easier.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah. Wow.

[Alex Toussaint]

So I gained confidence. One day, I'm mopping the floors. Ruth comes in. I say, ruth, I have a random question to ask you. I don't think anybody's ever asked you, but I have a random question. Can I be an instructor? And I was somewhat joking, but I'm like, closed mouths, don't get fed. You never know what could happen, period. Closed mouths, don't get fed. I have nothing to lose in this moment right now. And she looks at me and takes a pause and goes, give me two weeks of your time and let's see what we can do.

[Co-host or Guest]

Wow.

[Alex Toussaint]

And I look back and I tell people now, the reason she even gave me that opportunity is because I mopped the floors with a purpose. I didn't mop as if I was a janitor. I mopped with a certain purpose where she was like, if I provide him an opportunity, I know he's going to.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Run with, he's going to honor it.

[Alex Toussaint]

He's going to honor it.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yes.

[Alex Toussaint]

So she locked in with me for two weeks. I did somewhat of an audition with her, and she was like, yo, you're going to change the game. So I started teaching. It was like, day and night. Like, I went from mopping floors to teaching, but it didn't happen. It happened so weird because I'm teaching the class, I'd get off the bike, I'd run to the computer, I'd clock in, I'd mop the class up. Because my identity was in the mop for so long that I was like, I didn't know how to let it go.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

In all honesty, wow.

[Alex Toussaint]

There was something about it that, like, I couldn't let it go. It kept me humble, it kept me grounded, but it kept me inspired for more. I didn't feel less than, what a mop. I truly didn't. And because of the opportunity she gave me was one of those reasons why I was like, why should I leave the mop? I could get paid to mop floors and teach class. Let's double up. Let's double up. I'm going from broke to a little bit of money. Like, all right, let's, let's, all right, let's double up. She calls me one day, she says, you got to stop mopping. I'm just end the story. For you to execute this career the way you need to, you gotta stop mopping. I told her, in order for me to put this mop down, I go, what's the industry standard of classes? She says, 15. I go, I need 25.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

You better know your way.

[Alex Toussaint]

I need 25.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

She goes, why? I was like, you don't understand. I got like, I gotta prove my dad wrong because of what he said to me on the walk out. I still got the mopping floors. Was just the stepping stone. He. I got a job, great. Mopping floor is great. But what you gonna do with your life? What career can you build out of your life? So when she said 15, I go, I need 25, because that's the only way I'm gonna be able to. I got catching up to do.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

So many people been in the career for five, six, seven years. I gotta catch up somehow. I gotta outwork. So that's been the mindset. Outwork every single capacity possible. The first two years of my career, there were 8, 30, 9, 30 East Hampton. Class hop on a jitney, two hour bus ride to the city, take a train uptown, 4:30 upper east side, take a train back downtown, 7:30, 8:30 flatiron. And I would do that every Monday and Wednesday. Mind you, people are teaching 12 classes a day in one location, right? I'm teaching five in three locations, you know what I'm saying? So I'm bouncing around crazy, but I'm starting to find my purpose. Yeah, I'm moving pedal strokes. I'm starting to find my identity. I'm moving mentally, emotionally. I'm starting to find my light, my inner light that feel good. This is where the feel good starts.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Okay?

[Alex Toussaint]

So like now I'm like, wait a minute. I'm able to identify myself as a different individual because of the movement of the body and the mind. Now I'm able to look good from an internal perspective, which allows me to shine externally. People think that look good is like the, yo, let's get. Let's put a diamond chain on to get flies. Like, no, no, no. It's your energy, it's your attraction. It's that top tier compliment when somebody's like, you glowing today. Yeah, that's. That look good. So once I started to be able to identify the Feel good and look good. I was like, to do better is like, oh, let's just run with it now. Let's just go, wow. So I taught there for two and a half, three. Two and a half years. Three years. And I tell people all the time that every day is an audition to be great. Those 25 classes a week provided me an opportunity for Peloton to recognize who I was. This is Peloton as a startup in 2015.

[Co-host or Guest]

Wow.

[Alex Toussaint]

Because I bounced around the city and they were doing recruitment, it allowed them to go to different studios and see how I teach.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yes.

[Alex Toussaint]

Upper west side, different demographic than Upper east side. Upper east side, different demographic than Flatiron. And I'm myself in all these spaces. But I didn't realize they were coming to class and taking it behind the scenes to see, should we hire this guy? Wow. So 2016 comes around. Peloton calls. They call Ruth. They don't call me directly. They go through Ruth. She pulls me aside and says, yo, there's a company that's gonna change the game of fitness, and I think you should go. I'm looking at her like, yo, you just changed my life. What you talking about? I'm like, I'm in motion right now. I'm thriving. Everything is working perfect. Why should I go? She's like, listen, you've reached somewhat of a ceiling here. This is the next chapter in your life. And I didn't realize what Peloton was gonna be. I had no idea at all. She understood I was gonna be the first black man in a lot of these people's homes across the country. I had no idea at all. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I didn't know what could have come, what was gonna occur out of it. But she always said, if you need someone to come back home to, you could always come back. So that gave me the opportunity to be like, you know what? Let me take that leap of faith. If you tell me I could come back home and this don't work out, I'm gone.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

And sure enough, we're here eight years later, and it's been the craziest ride, but, like, the biggest blessing by far. Crazy. But that's why I say it's not lucky.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yes. Blessings.

[Alex Toussaint]

All blessings. All blessings for sure.

[Co-host or Guest]

Wow.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

First of all, shout out Ruth. Everybody in their life. That's my grandmother's name, Ruth. But there's so many nuggets that I took from that that I don't want you guys to miss. One is how you honored the mopping season. You know, a lot of people look down when they doing something they don't feel. They feel like, I'm better than this. I shouldn't be doing this. You honored that. And then when you got there, you spoke about. You did like me. I told Tyler, hey, I really want to do this. You had the guts to tell Ruth, this is what I want to do. Sometimes you had to speak up.

[Alex Toussaint]

Got to speak up. Close your eyes, don't get fed. Somebody may not know to provide you an opportunity unless you actually want it.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah, yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

And then even when you got that position, you were still eager to mop afterwards. But it comes up point in your life that once. You have to know when to let the past.

[Alex Toussaint]

You have to know when to let it go.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I took a lot from that. Goodness gracious.

[Alex Toussaint]

It's one of those, like, so many quotes pop up in my mind when me and you have conversations. And like, within that, just now, like, it's. You can't shrink yourself in environments you've outgrown. I was put in a position to continue to evolve and grow, and part of me wanted to keep that left foot in while the right foot was going.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

And I was like you to let that go. In order to step into that new shell, that new alignment, the new you, you got to remove yourself from environments you've outgrown. And it's not to say outgrowing the mop is a bad thing. It was just more, though, like, yeah, you did that.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

You did it and you got it. That season's over.

[Alex Toussaint]

It's over. So no, no one. No one to change seasons is a big key. Oh, no one to change seasons is a big key in life. Okay, thank you for that. I'm going home with that.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

We always leave something every time we talk, it's like, yo, that was good. I'm gonna use that.

[Alex Toussaint]

I'm using that one. Wow. I'm using that one.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love that. And from being a peloton, being in everyone's home, we talked about you being the first black. You know what I'm saying? So what was that like? And what weight does that carry? Because I know for me, it was important when I got on that bike to see a black man and a black woman. You and Alli Love and Tunde were my favorites. I always wanted to see something that reflected myself. And what was it like? I do want to know, because I'm sure being at that was a startup company, and you were the first black man to be on that bike. What Was that. Did that carry any weight for you?

[Alex Toussaint]

It carried weight. The weight shifted throughout the years. When I joined, it was more of excitement, of, like, yo, I'm the token black guy. And, like, it's like, you think it's a cool thing to be, like, the only black person. And you sooner realize that, like, wait a minute. I don't have all the information and the knowledge to provide this community, the understanding of the black community solely by myself. I'm a black man. I can't speak from the black woman's perspective.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

You know what I'm saying? Like, that's not something I could relate to.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right.

[Alex Toussaint]

So I realized early, early on that, like, yo, I'm in for uphill battle. A lot of resistance because I'm unapologetic. You know, I'm raw. I'm straight with it. I don't. Yeah, I'm very like, I'm gonna take my durag off to go on the clown. You know what I'm saying? But I wanted people to understand that, like, listen, I come from a certain level of respect, integrity, the foundation of my family, the morals, the principles are so pure that it's hard for me to allow somebody else to be like, yo, what you're doing is crazy. Somebody's gonna take that offensively. I'm like, well, that's them. Because I know where my heart is. I know how pure it is. And when you're playing these songs, like, I'm trying to give them that real atl, Hip hop, New York hip hop, to let people know, yo, we here. In order for my community to be here, I gotta showcase that we are here. Representation matters. I didn't realize how important me being the first black instructor was until Ally Love joined. And I say that because when she joined, it felt like one of the biggest weights off of my shoulder because I'm like, cool. I don't have to do this by myself now. And in the same space, we're going to be running together. And you, being a black woman, excuse me. Has a completely different perspective of life that I could actually learn from in real time.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

Now, Ali also is a different individual. She is one of the most badass people I know on this planet. She's, like, one of the most inspirational, most loving, like, heartfelt people that I know. But she don't play about her business. So she helped me understand that, like, yo, this isn't a job. This is your career. Like, turn this into a career out of this.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

Then Tune A comes along. Then Jess Sims comes along. And I truly didn't realize the responsibility or. Sorry. I don't say I didn't realize. I got a little bit lost in the hustle of what we were doing until George Floyd got killed. And, like, the world stopped.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

And I still got to go to work.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

As a black man. And people are like, what are you going to say? What are you going to do? Like, I'm like, wait a minute. I didn't realize how it all fell on me in that moment.

[Co-host or Guest]

It did.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

I'm trying to. I'm trying to call my dad. Like, yo, dad. This is crazy what's going on right now. Like, as a black man, I'm trying to call my dad for, like, safety and peace and, like, yo, provide me understanding.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right.

[Alex Toussaint]

And I felt like people were knocking at my door like, yo, like, what are you gonna say? I'm like, bro, I don't know what the hell to say.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

So that was, like, the point where I realized how important this is and how much responsibility I do have to show up. Because in that moment, I'm like, how I interact on that camera, how I articulate on that camera, the stories that I tell will allow people in their households and their communities to be like, that's Alex Toussaint's perception as a black man. That may be everybody's reality. And that's not the case. That's why I was so thankful for Allylove Tunde. Jeff Simpson walked through the door. Cause it's like, we need to tell our stories in all different perspectives.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yes.

[Alex Toussaint]

That's how we organically build our community here at Peloton.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

So that probably was the turning point, me realizing how important this job was, and I had to take it that much more serious at that point.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

For sure.

[Alex Toussaint]

For sure.

[Co-host or Guest]

Wow.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

And, I mean, I watch you. You, like, whenever you're preparing, you're like, I'm getting my playlist together. How many times you listen to it, and you really take it very seriously.

[Alex Toussaint]

Absolutely. Absolutely.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

It shows. It definitely shows. I remember in 2020, when George Floyd died and we had to sit in that and. Because you were one of the people that we watched every day just to, like, be active and do something. We were looking like, what are you going to say? And that falls on us sometimes. And celebrities, like, we want to hear, why aren't you speaking up about this?

[Alex Toussaint]

That moment helped me understand how much responsibility I had. Those who can must. In that moment, I realized I was like, all right, this is a call of duty. Like, yes, this is my career. This is my job. But I have to. I have to organically remain myself and inspire others that don't look like me so they can communicate with me. That has to be the key. That has to be the key. I don't need you to love my classes. I actually don't like. Some of the biggest top tier compliments that I receive is, hey, at I take Monday night hip hop. I'm like, you do? And they're like, yeah. I don't take it for the music, though. I take it for the message. And when I walk away from that, I'm like, they don't understand how much of a validating top tier compliment that is. Yes, that means that we could have a difference of music, but the understanding of love and the purpose and the intent of the message is received for that. Hey, I'm doing my job. I'm doing my job.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Speaking of how you turned this into a business, Ali told you, hey, this is your career. This is a business. I remember I took my family to last year for my mom's birthday, we went to New York. We went to the Brooklyn game. I saw you there.

[Alex Toussaint]

I'm gonna catch you courtside. If there's one thing about you, I'm gonna catch you courtside. No matter what city you in, I'm gonna catch you courtside.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

And I remember waking up. Cause we stayed at the audition in Times Square. Cause my family hadn't been to New York, so you gotta stay in Times Square. The first time we know where to stay after you've been here. We gonna tell y' all that.

[Alex Toussaint]

Don't do it again.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Okay? It's too loud. But I remember waking up, opening up my window, and there was this huge Movado ad. And I see your face pop up. Then I look to the left, it's a huge Smart water ad. And your face pops up. And I'm like, vidi. I'm like, alex, you're everywhere.

[Alex Toussaint]

And I didn't see it yet. So you said it to me was the first time I saw it.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

And I was like, yo, it was crazy. Then you drive past Peloton, you see your face. What is that?

[Alex Toussaint]

Like till this day, it doesn't get old. I'm just like. We made it to a billboard at Times Square before we made it to the police blotter in our local town.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Hello.

[Alex Toussaint]

You know what I'm saying? In all honesty, stuff like that. Like, it seems crazy still to be honest with you. All from pushing pedals on a bike.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

But then when it occurs, I'M like, it's not crazy. You feel sore. Like, it was supposed to happen like this the entire time.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

But yeah, seeing your face on a billboard in Times Square, I'm not gonna lie. That don't get old.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah, I was blown away.

[Alex Toussaint]

And it's more importantly, like, it gives me, like, hope to be like, yo, keep going. Like, think bigger. Like, keep open up your aperture for other things that you didn't even think were possibly in your scope of vision. I never thought I was gonna be getting paid to drink water. Like, logically speaking, literally.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Let me honestly, something that you should be doing anyway.

[Alex Toussaint]

I asked my friend one day, my manager, I was like, yo, can you just do me a favor? Can you grab cases of water for the house? Like, you drink it as much as I do, like. And he was like, yeah, I got you. A couple of days goes by, he's like, yo, I got the cases of water. But, like, I thought about it. We should had a water deal. I reached out to Smart Water and I was just like, oh, my gosh, bro. So to see it go from that to then, like a global partnership to then helping me announce me getting on the tread at peloton to now, it's like, it all working the way it's supposed to work. And it never feels like actually work. That's the best part.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Wow. Speaking of tread, I remember you called me, you were like, don't say nothing yet, but I'm about to be on track. I was like, oh, my goodness. Like, you literally have taken over everything.

[Alex Toussaint]

Unreal.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

It's unreal. Like, to. And people don't understand that to be a trainer the way you are, you have to keep your body top tier as well. You wake up every morning, you're in your gym working out before you go work. I'm about to die on the bike and on the chair. I'm like, oh, God. To think that you're doing something before that, to even prepare for that is insane.

[Alex Toussaint]

The mindset has always been outwork. That's all we've ever known. But the tread, you know what it is? The tread has helped me 11 years into cycling. 11 years in the fitness industry. This feels like a rookie all over again. This feels like a new battery, a new, like, jumpstart on the cables of being like, I have to learn. I'm not. I'm not the top tier tread instructor. I'm not, like, I'm learning every single day, every single class. So it feels great. It feels great.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love that. What does a morning from For Alex.

[Alex Toussaint]

Tucson look like there's no two days out of the same because I wake up. I wake up every single day at like 6, 7am that's probably the one thing I do. But depending on the day, depending on my energy, I may knock out a workout right when I wake up, I may be like, you know what? I'm a chill, reset, walk outside, take time to be with the dogs, knock out my meetings and then do a workout. But if any, every morning that I wake up starts with gratitude. Gratitude cancels out my negativity, my attitude. That's. I'm a firm believer of that. So wake up. Eyes open up, feet touch the ground. I do this. Inhale your. Inhale your confidence, exhale your doubt.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yes.

[Alex Toussaint]

And I do it three times just to like mentally reset and emotionally reset for the day. Whether it's class in the morning or meetings, there's got to be a workout before 12 o' clock somehow. Like just I got to get into the gym before 12 o' clock because I know I'm going to get back into the gym at 4 or 5 o' clock because two workouts a day right now is my regimen. But there's no two days out of the same. My peloton schedule bouncing crazy. Me working with Puma has me flying out crazy right now. So there's the only thing that's the same every single day is the gratitude check.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That's so amazing. I saw where LeBron and Steph take your classes. What is it? Because you're a huge basketball fan. Huge basketball fan. And you. Let's go ahead. Let me give you your flowers. You play in the all star game? Two. Two years.

[Alex Toussaint]

Two years back.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Then the MVP. 2022. 2222, yeah. Like baller crazy.

[Alex Toussaint]

Listen, can I tell you something about that?

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

As somebody who grew up playing basketball, like I'm a die hard basketball fan, that was the first form of therapy my entire life. When they offered me the opportunity to play in the game, Peloton will tell you this flat out. All the members that were in class, I looked into the camera. I was flying out on Thursday, I taught on Wednesday night and I said, yo, I'll see y' all back next week with the trophy.

[Co-host or Guest]

Wow.

[Alex Toussaint]

And it wasn't to be cocky. It was, it was more so of stay ready so you don't have to get ready.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right.

[Alex Toussaint]

I play basketball behind the scenes and stay in physical shape. And I told myself if I ever had the opportunity to play on the NBA floor, it's non negotiable I'm going all for it. Not to be like, hey, I could play basketball, but to always let kids know, yeah, you could have a dream of being a pro athlete. You could have a dream of being a rap, whatever the case may be. But where you are today could be the platform to where you're trying to take it. And because I taught every single class with the mindset of moving like a pro athlete, it attracted the pro athletes, which put the NBA in my. In my scope, in my vision, which allowed me then to have that opportunity. So that wasn't by accident. That was more so like, because I taught every single class as an athlete with that mindset, it attracted the athletes with a. Allowed me to play on that floor.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right.

[Alex Toussaint]

For sure.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That's good.

[Co-host or Guest]

That's good.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

You talk about how you found your identity on the bike. What did you discover in that time?

[Alex Toussaint]

I discovered in order to succeed, in order to grow, you got to fail. My dad, like I said, my dad had a different method of madness. All growing up, he never accepted failure. It was always looked down upon. So because the failure was looked down upon, I was scared to even attempt.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

So I did a lot of just existing. I never really was able to live my true childhood and attempt things because I was scared to fail. Knowing the repercussions of my dad. Now where I am as an adult, I realize I've only learned. I've only became successful. I've only evolved through failure. The first attempt in learning, fail. I got this from Will Smith. Fail fast, fail now, fail here, fail forward. I realized everything that I do is a failure that's turned into a lesson, which has turned into a blessing. I'm rapping right now. I shouldn't be doing that. That's one thing that I realized from my career on, moving on a bike, is attempt new things because you're gonna learn about yourself in ways that you never thought you could. I never thought I would write a book. I'll be very transparent with you. I failed English in 11th grade. Not cause I can't read or write, because I just didn't apply myself. So the scope of me writing a book was never. I never even thought about that. So when the opportunity presented itself, at first I was like, yo, nah. But then I was like, you know what? I'm okay failing. I'm okay being vulnerable because I realized that's my ultimate strength.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right.

[Alex Toussaint]

I'm okay being in that space of like. I guess for a lot of people, they're like, Especially the black men that Take peloton classes. They're like, yo, thank you for your vulnerability. And I'm like, I didn't realize I was being vulnerable.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right.

[Alex Toussaint]

But I'm just like, you know what? If that's what's received. Yes, then let's teach with that space. Because I see a lot more people now of color, especially the older black men, that, like, really didn't focus on their mental.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

Focusing on it a lot more now. And to have any sort of, like, role in that space, it does mean everything to me. So I learned that you may be in a position to inspire a lot of other people and not even know it.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

So as long as you wake up every single day and keep your faith forward and move with the purpose and execute with an intention, you could be saving lives and not even realizing it, but you got to save your life first.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love that we talked about you still being on the bike, but still having to mop as well or feeling like you had to mop. Did you deal with a scarecy mindset in that moment? Because I know you're still sleeping on your friend's floor, and you're like, I gotta prove this to my dad.

[Alex Toussaint]

I just didn't. I thought that the cycling thing was too good to be true. I was like, there's no way that an opportunity could present itself so fast and get executed. And, like, my life change. And I'm a firm believer of as fast as things come into your life is as fast as it can go. That part I. Yeah, actually, part of it was the scarcity of being like, let me not let this go in case this doesn't go right and I have something to fall back onto. I think Ruth being like, listen, I got you. You straight. Like, was the level of comfort that I needed to be like, all right, I can let this thing go. But there was definitely a sense of, like, yo, don't let it go. Because, like, nobody's ever went from mopping floors to teaching before.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right, right.

[Alex Toussaint]

So, like, when it's. When it's never been done and you're the one doing it, it's so scary because you're like, I'm creating the path in front of me. There's no path to follow. I have to create it. So sometimes it's definitely scary in that space. But having people like Ruth that provide a level of comfort, provide you assistance instead of resistance. Such a key in life.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Such a key in life, man. Ruth is the goat, too.

[Alex Toussaint]

The goats. The goat, for sure.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Oh, my goodness. So you became the first black instructor at Peloton. And then we have the George Floyd death happened, which affected everybody in the world in that moment. What parallels and what did you feel? Similarities from your childhood being the mainly the only black, which is a predominantly white town where you were mainly the black and only black in school. Were there any similarities there where you felt like, I'm living this all over again?

[Alex Toussaint]

There was one thing in particular. I want to give a lot of credit to the East Hampton community, to be honest with you, because they accepted my family and a lot of the black families out there with open arms and love. I want to be very clear about that. I came to East Hampton in 1998. My dad bought a plot of land and built the house up. And my mom was working out there for seven years at the time. I was going to school out there for a little bit. So they definitely welcomed us with open arms. The teachers, the community, my friend's parents. But there was one person in particular who did not, and that was our next door neighbor, the person who lived right next to us all growing up. She would call the cops on us for the most outrageous. It was one of those, you know when you have a neighbor, like one of those people?

[Co-host or Guest]

Yep.

[Alex Toussaint]

Like me walking in the neighborhood. Durag on Cops called me coming down the block. Car music. Cops called me playing basketball outside. And the cops called to the point that the East Hampton police would come by the house and be like, yo, what up at you? Good. Like, you're good. It became that relationship where the cops are like, yo, we just have to do our due diligence and drive by, but we understand what you're dealing with. So they actually would give me grace. So that's why, honestly, I shout out all the cops out there because they understood what I was dealing with. I was the only black kid on my block. My mom would be like, do not go to the mailbox with your durag on. And I'm like, why are we not. What you talking about? I'm getting the mail, right? The neighbor's gonna see us. And I'm like, mom, you worked your entire life, you sacrifice to build this entire beautiful home, raise us here. To not feel comfortable in your own environment because somebody else doesn't want you to live here. And I remember when the George Floyd happened. The only way I could explain it to the Peloton members is hypothetically speaking. I get into an interaction with a police officer. He's having a bad day. I may be having a bad day. That tension can cause a Little bit of escalated. An escalated situation. And now my ego gets in the way of me making it home safe. And now the only way you're gonna understand that is when you click onto the bike on Friday morning and it's like, yo, where's at? Oh, that. Oh, I didn't even think that could. I'm not exempt from this. Just because I ride a bike, just because I'm on a platform, because people know me, does not mean I'm exempt from the everyday struggles of black men in America. Black people in general in America. And I use the example of. At the time, I lived in Brooklyn. When I started peloton, I drive across the bridge in Brooklyn, I'm viewed as a drug dealer due to my nice car and because I wear sweats and I have a durag. Go on. But the minute I crossed the bridge into Manhattan, oh, you're an athlete. You're good.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

So I tell people all the time, like those, like, I've been pulled out of my car driving across Brooklyn at gunpoint, not because I did anything wrong, because the cop thought I had something in the car. Thankfully, due to my training in military school and understanding how to talk to authority, the minute a cop pulls up on me, I know how to make him aware that I respect the rank, I respect the situation, and I want to make sure that I'm safe and you're safe. So certain things like that, that, like my dad, that's why I give credit to him sending me to military school because I was super hot headed as a young kid where, like, I could say the wrong thing and it could go up, right? And because of military school, when you sit, when you spend so much time with somebody yelling in your face telling you what to do and you can't do a damn thing about it, it allows you to be disciplined in a space where it can make you, allow you to get home safe. So to just bring it all back, that was the only way I could articulate it to the peloton community to help them understand what I go through on an everyday basis, which means that's what other black individuals go through on an everyday basis. And honestly, the community was extremely receptive to it. Yeah, because for me, I don't need you to. People are saying, I stand with you. I stand with you. Nah, I'm moving. Move with me. We ain't got to stand. No, I'm trying to move somewhere and I need you to move. I need you to move within your household. Move your kids mind, Help them help change their Perspective. So when they deal with somebody in their school system that looks like me, they're comfortable because their parents provided them information. Help them understand that, like, yo, that's 80. They good. Yeah, if we can do that. If I could reach one, I could teach one. So that's why I show up to work every single day with that level of I have to, because I understand that for somebody out there, I may be the first interaction with a black person, which may be the difference in them raising their kids and interacting within their community. So that was that moment for me, for sure.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love that. And speaking of community, you started a foundation. Yes, I want to talk about that. Because you started in 2020. Did this have anything to do with what was going on, or do you have more downtime? Is that why you.

[Alex Toussaint]

It was a combination of downtime. It was also a combination of I like. After my grandmother passed away in 2018, I went to Haiti for the first time as an adult. I was able to identify where I came from. I was able to identify in real time the sacrifices that were implemented. I was able to identify I was one sacrifice away from growing up in Haiti, to be honest with you. But then I also understood that once again, those who can, must. I've been provided so many blessings, so many opportunities, so many connections, so many resources. What's the point of holding those in? The goal is to extend your hand to do better. The feel good, the look good, to do better. This is the part where you've reached a certain space in life where you're moving at a frequency in a space where your cup is overflowing. And within those overflowing gifts and blessings, you got to provide it to other people. Otherwise they go wasted. So the Do Better foundation was founded 2020 with two of my best friends who are my managers. One Nigerian American, one Korean American, and I'm Haitian American. We all have the immigrant mindset and that level of understanding of how we grew up. And we just came to this conclusion of being like, yo, we're so fortunate to be raised. How we were raised, to have the parents that we have for the sacrifices that they did. We gotta look out for the kids that look like us from the environments that we come from and from the environments that we don't come from.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

Whether that's kids of the inner city community, kids from Haiti, kids from Korea, kids from Nigeria, people that are in the military, that's close to my heart. The Do Better foundation was created to provide people opportunities to wellness, resources that they just truly may not have.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

Everything that I was afforded, therapy, after school programs, nutrition, mentors, guidance, like, everything that I realized that, like those small details which all compiled in to make me who I am today, I'm just trying to give that to other kids. Simply put. Simply put. And it feels great to do with your friends, who are your managers, but friends, family first.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

You know what I'm saying? So it's definitely a validating thing to wake up and be like, yo, on Thanksgiving, we got to go give out turkeys to the kids in Brooklyn. But we're going to make sure we do it with the public school system that way. There's a, like, things like that feel so purposeful because then when we go yellow coach courtside at the Nets game, it feels validating to be like, yo, we're courtside. We chilling now. But look at all the purposeful things that we did together.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right.

[Alex Toussaint]

So it makes the friendship purposeful as well. So I love the fact I get to do it with my boys.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I know it's different. You love them?

[Alex Toussaint]

Yeah, I love them.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love them. I love that you've accomplished all these things. What is next for Alex? Tucson.

[Alex Toussaint]

Oh, man. I don't know what's next. Cuz one of the hardest things for me to do is think that forward being that I never thought I would be where I am today. I don't know what's next. But I can tell you that my aperture has opened up for me to test new things.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That's good.

[Alex Toussaint]

So I'm not gonna block a blessing due to pride and ego. I'm not gonna tell myself what I can't do. I'm more gonna tell myself what I should try to do. So I don't know what's next. I actually can't even tell you, like, even off camera, I can't tell you what's next. Cause I'm in a space right now being like, we dropped the shoe, we dropped the book, we did the foundation. I just want to take time to just like, accept those blessings and then have an understanding of where we want to go next without rushing it. So I truly don't know. And like, that's okay not knowing.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

But I know that I'm not going to block the blessing once it presents itself.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That's good.

[Alex Toussaint]

Yeah.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

So my last question, this is for my ladies because everybody be asking, they want to know. I've had people like, literally hit me. You know him, Is he single now? You're very private about your personal life. So we don't have to get into that. But I do want to know, what does Alex look for in a woman?

[Alex Toussaint]

I mean, to be very transparent with.

[Co-host or Guest]

You.

[Alex Toussaint]

I don't want to say my mother, but I was raised from a woman that did everything. Pops got sick, diagnosed with colon cancer. Mom went back to school, got a PhD, became the breadwinner of the family, became like, a boss ass woman, but always had family time. So you gotta. Oh, man, I never had this question. I gotta look at you and be able to know that you could raise a family on the same morals and principles, and even if they're different, they're still aligned. I have to know that even on my worst days, you're gonna treat me like it's my best days. And I gotta know that you take care of yourself. Because in order to be present with me, you got to be present with yourself. You got to do all the invisible work to make sure you arrive every single day feeling like the best version of you.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Right.

[Alex Toussaint]

And that way, that would allow me to take care of you the best way that I know possible.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

All right, well, there you have it. That's what he's looking for in a woman.

[Co-host or Guest]

All right.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Because they. I've literally had people, like, DM me and ask me, like, you know him, And I'm like, yeah, that's my dog. They're like, what's up?

[Alex Toussaint]

You know? You know what, though? We give so much of ourselves publicly that, like, there's parts of my life that I'm like, I just keep private because it protects my peace.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yep.

[Alex Toussaint]

So I try to tell people, like, yo, I'm all for sharing your relationships and whatever you got going on social media, but, like, just because I know how much my peace means to me, I want to be able to go home at night and know that my peace is protected. So whether that's, like, family relationships, girlfriend relationships, whatever, like, there's just certain things that I keep close to the heart, because what you give people, they can take away.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

So, you know, I learned the hard way.

[Alex Toussaint]

Yeah.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah, that's.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That's really good. That's good, Alex. Thank you.

[Alex Toussaint]

I appreciate you. Queen, come on. You know that I love you. I love you. It's an honor to be here with you today.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Your story is phenomenal. Thank you for sharing it with us. Guys, make sure you go get his book, Activate youe Greatness. It is available everywhere. We want to make this a New York Times bestseller. I already know you're well on the way to that, but definitely want to make this.

[Alex Toussaint]

I appreciate you so Much.

[Co-host or Guest]

Thank you.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Success.

[Alex Toussaint]

Thank you for having me, Queen.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yes, absolutely. So at the close of our show, we do what's called positive outcomes, where our listeners write in to us and we give them advice.

[Alex Toussaint]

Love it.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

All right, so this one says, dear Crystal, I've battled with so many demons in my life, but as I heal through all the traumatic life experiences, I have triggers and I'm still working on myself. I am dealing with something that I have never experienced in my 46 years of life. Self esteem issues. I have gained weight in my stomach area, lost a front tooth, and just feel so unpretty and unattractive. I hate looking in the mirror and getting dressed. It's too much for me. I feel like a whale in everything I've been there, girl. Like, nothing is fitting right now. So I know where you are. I don't have the motivation and discipline to do anything about it because I'm a stress eater. I am overwhelmed with being the breadwinner of my family, taking care of my sick parents as best I can, and I'm working a job with a team who relies on me for everything. Self care is very important. But what do you do when everyone thinks you are the shero and the fixer, like Olivia Pope? What do you do when you are smiling on the outside and drowning in darkness on the inside, but masking it all because you can't change the purpose God placed on you to be the fixer? How do you balance? How do you find balance? Because you can't question God's plan for.

[Alex Toussaint]

You definitely can't question God's plan. Wow. Wow. You want me to provide feedback on that?

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

I'm a firm believer of breakdown and breakthrough. If you're going through that dark space instead of trying to avoid it, honestly accept it. But hear what I'm saying, though. Break down to break through. A lot of the times, it's hard for a lot of people. When you look into the mirror and identify yourself from that external, this goes back to feel good look or do better. When you identify yourself from that external look, you forget what's inside of you. I think for that young queen, I don't say soul searching is the right word, but going back to that internal perspective and understanding how beautiful you are on the inside. She just said that God put her in a position. There's a reason as to why she's a chosen one. You got to go back and look at yourself internally and find that internal light of being like, I am the chosen one before you look into the mirror because If I look into the mirror first thing in the morning, I'm not going to be proud of what I see. Regardless of what's going on in life. You got to identify the feel good aspect.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yes.

[Alex Toussaint]

Then you could go from to the look good aspect. Within that space, though, while you're identifying that internal light, I would say find accountability partners that are going to help uplift you and not outshine you. I realize in my darkest of all days, for the days that I can't get up, for the days I don't feel motivated, for the days that I'm like, yo, exactly what she's saying. That, like, you look into the mirror and you, like, question yourself.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

The people around me keep me floating when I feel like I'm drowning. Like, to quote Jay Z, if everybody in your clique is rich, your clique is rugged. Nobody would fall because everybody would be each other's crutches. Rich with integrity, rich with perspective, rich with love, rich with purpose. If the people around you understand what you lack, they can help provide it for you when you can't provide it for yourself.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That accountability, that is so good.

[Alex Toussaint]

Dang. That one hit me. That one hit.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That is so good, Alex. All right, now I got a good friend I can call when I need some help. The next thing we threw is what I'm going through and what I'm growing through. And I'll start this one. I am going through really seeing what else is for me, because I'm asking you, what's next for Alex. I'm trying to figure out what's next for Crystal, you know, and making sure that I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket. I'm growing through, walking through seasons of uncertainty, you know, and it's kind of hard when I like to control things. I like to know, okay, this is where I'm going. This is what's next. This is what I'm doing. But walking and having faith is what I'm growing through right now.

[Alex Toussaint]

So it's going through, going through and growing.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

And sometimes it's the same for people. Sometimes whatever you're going through, you're growing at time, the same. Same time.

[Alex Toussaint]

So to piggyback, I'm going through an evolution stage that I don't even know what's happening. I just, in all honesty, every workout that I did last week, I cried in my workouts.

[Co-host or Guest]

Really?

[Alex Toussaint]

I don't know. Break down and break through. I don't know what evolution is happening, but God is like, yo, you gonna take this next step? But in order to take it, you have to shed some weight throughout the process. I'm gonna have you break down, and I'm gonna have you break through. So I have no idea what this evolution stage is. I just know it's happening in real time.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah. Ooh.

[Alex Toussaint]

So that's what I'm going through. I guess that's what I'm going through too. Yeah, the same.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Yeah, absolutely. That's amazing. I have moments where I literally, like, break down in my workouts, too, and.

[Alex Toussaint]

Like, tears of joy. Like, not sad tears. I'm talking, like, tears of joy, where.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I'm just like, gratefulness.

[Alex Toussaint]

Gratefulness. Like, really thankful for the opportunity. I don't even see, but I feel it's coming.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yep.

[Alex Toussaint]

You know what I'm saying?

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That's good.

[Alex Toussaint]

I don't even see it, but I feel it. God's like, yo, you have to keep moving towards it. Get up and get out. Keep executing. I'm gonna give it to you, but you just can't. I'm not gonna throw it in your lap. You gotta go get it.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love that. I love that. The next thing we do is keep it blank, sweetie. And I'm gonna say for this episode, keep it pushing, sweetie.

[Alex Toussaint]

Okay.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yeah.

[Alex Toussaint]

Keep it pushing. Keep it pure.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love that.

[Alex Toussaint]

Keep it pure.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love it. That's good. Alex, this has been amazing honor. Seriously, thank you.

[Alex Toussaint]

Thank you.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Thank you guys so much for tuning into this episode of Keep It Positive, Sweetie. If you want to write into our positive outcomes listener letter, you can write into keepitpositivesweetiemail.com and that's Sweetie with an IE. You can follow Kips on all platforms at Keep It Positive, Sweetie. And you can follow me on all platforms at lovechrystalrenae. And that's L U V. Alex, tell the people where they can find you.

[Alex Toussaint]

AlexTousont25 on Instagram and all social media platforms as well.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That's right. And, guys, do not forget to get his book.

[Alex Toussaint]

Make sure you get your copy.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

That's right. You will not be disappointed. Alex, as always, I'm so proud of you.

[Alex Toussaint]

Thank you.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I love you, my friend.

[Alex Toussaint]

I love you.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Thank you. Thank you for coming.

[Alex Toussaint]

Come on, come on. We gotta do this again next season as well.

[Co-host or Guest]

Yes.

[Alex Toussaint]

When we go through the next chapter of life and evolution, I can sit down and be like, remember, here's what I went through.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

This is what I want, and here's.

[Alex Toussaint]

What I'm on right now.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

I would love to. I know the audience would, too. Thank you.

[Alex Toussaint]

Thank you, Queen I appreciate it.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Love you so good.

[Co-host or Guest]

Love you.

[Krystal Renee Hayslett]

Dear God, thank you so much for this fellowship. Thank you for letting Alex get here safely. Thank you for him keeping his promise to come on this episode. I know that's going to touch many lives. He's already done that. And I ask that you continue to watch over him, watch over everyone that has their hand on this podcast. I ask that everything that we talk about today just help somebody in some type of way. In your name we pray. Amen.

[Alex Toussaint]

Amen. Let's do.