Revel In It: Peloton Pro Robin Arzón

Summary

Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson

Revel In It: Peloton Pro Robin Arzón

Release Date: October 8, 2025
Guest: Robin Arzón (VP, Head Instructor at Peloton; Author of Eat to Hustle)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into Robin Arzón’s remarkable journey from a studious, type-A lawyer to a celebrated Peloton instructor and executive, touching on themes of trauma survival, immigrant family hustle, work-life balance, and her philosophy behind movement, nutrition, and inspiration. Hosted by Oliver Hudson (Kate is absent on-mic), the conversation is light, personal, and often hilarious, but punctuated with raw and moving accounts of resilience. Robin shares openly about pivotal transformations, her family roots, the founding scrappiness of Peloton, and what motivates her new cookbook.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Robin’s Upbringing and Family Influence

• Roots in Hustle:
  • Robin grew up in Philadelphia. Her mother immigrated as a Cuban refugee, her father a Puerto Rican from the Bronx. Both parents self-made: her mom became a doctor and her dad a lawyer (even working as a janitor while sneaking into college classes).
    • “It was very much like an immigrant story where family is everything. ... I think is common for immigrant, at least, first generation born in the US, that's a pretty common story, I think, feeling like you're bridging a bunch of worlds.” (09:14–10:13)
• Siblings and Family Dynamics:
  • She has a sister five years younger; family gatherings often meant 10+ people "just showing up."
• Work Ethic Perspective:
  • “Watching your parents sort of hustle ... to sort of say, oh, well, this is how shit gets done.” (10:13–10:23)

Academic Life and Law Career

• Type-A School Life:
  • Robin was an "A student, type A, love a good syllabus, love a scholastic book fair."
    • “I literally have like a caboodle's pencil case from the 90s with like highlighters and I am like that chick.” (11:41)
• Practiced Law:
  • Practiced 8 years as a corporate litigator at a top NY firm, finding satisfaction in hustle but not in subject matter.
  • “The topics were pretty mundane.” (36:23–36:31)

The Trauma That Changed Everything

• The Hostage Situation:
  • At 21, Robin was taken hostage at gunpoint in a NYC wine bar, survived as the main target (22:48–26:49):
    • “He grabs me. I was closest to the door... I became his main hostage. ... We were there for a few hours, but I was his. Literally. I was so close to him. Like, he was breathing on me.” (23:12–24:15)
  • She used Spanish language and humanizing tactics to deescalate.
• Aftermath and Healing Journey:
  • Intensive therapy and medical triage followed; the trauma manifested physically (“exhausted, nightmares, digestion issues”).
  • First run was not for fitness, but survival: “It was already hard living in my body. So I was like, there's gotta be another hard physically. And then that's when I just started running.” (25:38–26:49)
  • Recovery and normalcy took nearly a decade, involving journaling, third-person storytelling, meditation, and later, movement as therapy. (29:23–30:48)

From Lawyer to Fitness Leader

• Pivot to Fitness:
  • Initially no athletic background, found movement as an adult post-trauma:
    • “As a kid who was not into sports … I had to really unpack [my relationship with movement] for myself as an adult. But once I did, ... I gotta figure out how I can pay my rent and like, still do this most of the day.” (13:16–14:55)
  • Robin did agency work (Nike Women social media), then realized storytelling and representation for underrepresented athletes was her calling.
• Career Shift Practicalities:
  • Took a leave from her law firm to network, then quit and flew to the London Olympics to job-hunt, eventually landing a sports marketing job with Nike Women.
• Parental Support:
  • Parents supported the change with the condition that she wouldn’t ask for money:
    • “They were incredibly supportive because I was so, I mean, I was so passionate about it. ... That was freedom. That was worth any amount of money.” (37:40–38:30)

Building Peloton: From Startup to Phenomenon

• Robin’s Peloton Origin Story:
  • Cold-emailed the then-tiny startup in 2013 after reading about it in a magazine:
    • “I auditioned. I was the second. No, I was the third instructor hired at Peloton.” (44:30)
  • The early days involved “duct tape and a dream”—classes taped in a curtained office corner, CEO forced to take calls at Starbucks, no proprietary bikes yet, friends filling out class background.
• Growth and Evolution:
  • Early membership: 200-odd bikes sold via Kickstarter.
  • Robin became both instructor and executive (eventually, VP of Fitness Programming and Head Instructor):
    • “I have a hybrid role where I'm an executive and an instructor.” (50:41)
• Content and Branding:
  • Instructors curate their own playlists (with licensing help)—the “X-factor” is being yourself on-camera rather than playing a character.
  • “It's not a role ... because after a thousand classes, you can see that. So ... you have to have a point of view.” (48:17–49:22)
• Member Connection:
  • Peloton’s unique connection is a parasocial but intimate one:
    • “It's a very specific, intimate, parasocial relationship, which is a very odd thing to negotiate.” (53:18–54:33)
    • “What job do I get to ... get stopped by somebody being like, holy crap, like, you got me through my divorce ... celebrated graduating college by taking your run?” (55:08)
  • Acknowledges that while members change themselves, instructors provide the spark.

Philosophy of Movement, Trauma Healing, and Spiritual Curiosity

• Toolkit Approach:
  • Robin built her “toolkit” for life: movement, journaling (even in the third person), meditation, and metaphysical healing (past life regression stories).
    • “Journaling was huge, huge for me ... meditation was big ... physicality thing ... now so crucial.” (30:48)
• Body Stores Trauma:
  • On trauma manifesting physically:
    • “That shit is real. There's no world where we can't tap into certain energies.” (32:35–35:26)
    • Oliver and Robin swap stories about deep tissue massages and metaphysical healing (e.g., pain disappearing after past life regression).
• Spiritual Openness:
  • Both hosts and Robin express a belief that everyone can access intuition/psychic energy, not just a gifted few:
    • “Everyone has the ability ... it's not just for the gifted.” (35:26–35:44)

Daily Life and Wellness: Food, Strength, and New Book

• Strength Over Cardio:
  • Robin’s fitness philosophy: “I believe that strength training is the fountain of youth. … If we're looking at a fitness pyramid, … actually it's strength.” (62:08)
• Plant-Based Nutrition:
  • “I've been plant based for over 12 years … I wanted to simplify plant based eating for people.” (62:08–62:49)
  • Her upcoming book, Eat to Hustle, includes 75 high-protein plant-based recipes, each rated with a “dumbbell score” (difficulty), plus meal prep and pantry tips.
• Meal Prep Essential:
  • Robin preps on weekends (“making it harder to make the wrong choice”), keeps proteins/veggies handy for grab-and-go eating.
• Food Relationship & Kids:
  • Mindful of modeling both balanced eating and movement habits to her children—no perfection, no harsh dietary restriction.
    • “I want my kids to see some balance.” (66:37)
• Indulgence Without Guilt:
  • “I don't consider it a cheat, but yeah, sure. Like, I … literally ate birthday cake for breakfast.” (65:57–66:08)
• Alcohol:
  • She's sober, as is her husband; “clean, clean, clean.” (66:53)

Peloton Logistics and Culture

• On-Camera Routine:
  • Robin teaches live four days a week, often multiple classes/day—“I'm live four days a week.” (51:30–51:34)
• Member Events:
  • The NYC and London studios welcome live classes and member visits, fostering community and celebration.
• Cultural Shift:
  • Peloton instructors are now celebrities, but their impact is emotional and empowering rather than just entertainment.
    • “You've changed my life, man. ... That's never gonna happen [to actors].” (55:39)

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Memorable Quotes

• On Trauma Fuelling Change:
  • “I was already kind of living a nightmare, so it [running] was better than that.” — Robin (26:49)
• About Her Parents’ Hustle:
  • “My dad was literally a janitor at a CUNY school in the Bronx and just started showing up to college classes ... he was just like the Latino Good Will Hunting.” — Robin (10:23–11:03)
• On Changing Careers:
  • “For two years I was like, all right, what's my escape hatch? ... And when I realized there was no route, I was like, all right, so I just gotta like, quit and force myself to do something else.” — Robin (36:43)
• On Peloton’s DIY Early Days:
  • “It was like duct tape and a dream.” — Robin (45:28)
• On Member Impact:
  • “That's a wild cascade of impact that I don't think many, certainly not many wellness jobs have.” — Robin (55:08)
• On Food Philosophy:
  • “You need a layer of muscle underneath all of it ... I believe that strength training is the fountain of youth.” — Robin (62:08)
  • “I don't consider it a cheat, but yeah, sure. … I ate birthday cake for breakfast.” — Robin (65:57)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Upbringing & Family: 07:20–11:27
• Law Career, School: 11:37–12:50, 35:53–36:31
• Hostage Trauma & Aftermath: 22:48–30:12
• Journal, Meditation, Spirituality: 29:23–35:44
• Fitness Discovery & Career Pivot: 13:16–14:55, 36:06–37:39
• Founding Peloton: 44:06–47:22
• Instructor Role & Content: 47:22–52:02
• Parasocial Fame & Member Connection: 52:11–55:39
• Food, Strength, & Book: 61:39–67:14

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Notable Moments

• Robin recounts her harrowing hostage ordeal and details her rebuilding process using running and journaling as healing mechanisms. (22:48–30:12)
• Discussion about how trauma maps onto the body, leading to stories about metaphysics, past life regressions, and personal healing experiences. (32:35–35:44)
• Robin shares hilarious and poignant insights about immigrant family expectations, law-firm life, and the practicalities of quitting a stable job. (09:14–11:27, 36:06–38:30)
• Behind-the-scenes stories about Peloton’s earliest days—a studio taped off in startup office, hand-picking friends to fill out classes, and the first few hundred bikes. (45:18–47:22)
• A deep dive into food philosophy, meal prep hacks, plant-based eating, and Robin's new book designed to keep both families and athletes energized. (61:39–65:50)
• Endearing closing as Robin invites Oliver to take a live class and admits to never having had a “cheat day” mentality: she models food balance for her kids. (66:37–67:58)

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Language & Tone

The episode is candid, funny, and energetic, with Oliver’s self-deprecating parental humor meeting Robin’s passionate, open, and often vulnerable storytelling. While the chat dives into deep, difficult topics (trauma, healing), it never loses warmth or optimism; both Robin and Oliver reflect a down-to-earth, relatable vibe even when discussing high performance, celebrity-like recognition, or wellness best practices.

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Conclusion

A must-listen for anyone interested in personal transformation, healing from trauma, family hustle, career pivots, or the behind-the-curtain world of Peloton. Robin Arzón’s journey is as inspiring as it is instructive—she demystifies work ethic, movement, nutrition, and spirituality, offering practical insight and motivation for listeners at any stage of their own stories.

Transcript

[Robin Arzon]

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[Oliver Hudson]

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[Oliver Hudson]

Is such a great season to travel with my family, so we've been talking about a trip to Switzerland because I actually have never been to Switzerland. Hiking in the Alps, taking those scenic trains, tasting all the chocolate. So when we travel, I love staying in an Airbnb. If you're heading out this fall, consider hosting your home on Airbnb. With a co host network. You can have someone local take care of everything while you're gone. Find a co [e-mail] host.

[Maggie Freeling]

The murder of an 18 year old girl in Graves County, Kentucky went unsolved for years until a local housewife, a journalist and a handful of girls came forward with a story.

[Oliver Hudson]

America, y' all better wake the hell up. Bad things happens to good people in small towns.

[Maggie Freeling]

Listen to Graves county on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And to binge the entire season ad free. Subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Robin Arzon]

Sami Gente It's Ana Ortiz and I'm Mark and Delicato. You might know us as Hilda and Justin Ugly Betty. Welcome to our new podcast, Be My Bad Bee.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yay.

[Robin Arzon]

We're rewatching the series from start to finish and getting into all the fashions, the drama and the behind the scenes moments that you've never heard before.

[Oliver Hudson]

But you were still bartending.

[Robin Arzon]

I didn't know that. The bar pack is like, is that you? And I turn around and it's a commercial for Betty and I was like, I gotta go.

[Oliver Hudson]

I quit.

[Robin Arzon]

Listen to Viva Betty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you want to hear the secrets of psychopaths, murderers, sex offenders? In this episode, I offer tips from them. I'm Dr. Leslie, forensic psychologist. This is a podcast where I cut through the noise with real talk. When you were described to me as a forensic psychologist, I was like, snooze. We ended up talking for hours. And I was like, this girl is my best friend. Let's talk about safety and strategies to protect yourself and your loved ones. Listen to Intentionally disturbing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or. Or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Oliver Hudson]

Hi, I'm Kate Hudson and my name is Oliver Hudson.

[Robin Arzon]

We wanted to do something that highlighted.

[Oliver Hudson]

Our relationship and what it's like to be siblings. We are. A sibling rivalry.

[Robin Arzon]

No, no.

[Oliver Hudson]

Sibling revel for free.

[Robin Arzon]

Don't do that with your mouth.

[Oliver Hudson]

Sibling revelry.

[Robin Arzon]

That's good.

[Oliver Hudson]

Believe it or not I'm walking on air I never thought I could Feeling so free Flying away on a wing of prayer who could it be? Believe it or not yeah, I was Saturday night, no, Friday night, I was, you know, having a few cocktails and I was texting with my friend Hayes and we were just going back and forth with all of the, you know, old school theme songs for TV shows like Hill Street Blues, Greatest American Hero, you know, like Silver Spoon, all that. And it just got stuck in my head. They were good, man. Those theme songs were good. Very nostalgic. Anyway, Oliver Hudson here, reporting live from Rio Hudson's bedroom. If a clip is provided, you'll be able to see, but, you know, she's got all the stuff on her tour and it's like I'm constantly finding rooms to do this podcast in because my kids are occupying all of my space and I don't have a proper office either. But I'm not really an office kind of guy. But anyway, I am in the princess's room and, yeah, and it's nice, you know, I'm just surrounded by 12 year old femininity. So I think this should add an entirely different element to this interview. Anyway, we have a guest in the waiting room. Someone who has been around the peloton since 2014, I think. Not sure when it actually came out, but I think she's one of the pioneers. I know she's one of the head trainers there. Now, the Peloton is something that I have been using for years and years and years, and the evolution of it has been extremely impressive. And it doesn't seem to want to go away because it is so much fun and it allows you to challenge yourself in ways that you know, you normally can't if you don't have a personal trainer to push you along. And so we have waiting in the waiting room, Robin Arzon, who, if any of you are listening, have enjoyed the Peloton, you know who she is. She's one of the more Badass. Figures. It's fun. They all have. There's different personalities, there's this, this and that. But Robyn has definitely been a staple in the peloton world. She has a very interesting story. She has a book coming out. I think it's a cookbook coming out. It's called Eat the Hustle. Let's bring her on right now. Robin, come on in, lady.

[Robin Arzon]

Hello.

[Oliver Hudson]

How are you?

[Robin Arzon]

I'm great. How are you guys?

[Oliver Hudson]

I'm good. I'm just hanging out in my daughter's room because that's the only space that I have to do this fucking podcast in right now.

[Robin Arzon]

You gotta pivot. You gotta pivot Sometimes.

[Oliver Hudson]

It's usually in one of my kids rooms, you know, because school's all different. One goes to school at this time, so this one's in that room. I don't have a proper office. So my son, this morning, he stayed up too late. He was talking to this girl for three hours and he's like, dad, I only have filmed this morning. Can I skip it? I'm like, yeah, fuck. All right, fine. But now you've taken away my podcast space and I'm in my daughter's room.

[Washable Sofas Advertiser]

All right.

[Robin Arzon]

I mean, that's the classic parent juggling act.

[Oliver Hudson]

No, I know, I know. Were you a unny?

[Robin Arzon]

Yeah, yeah. On the west side in Hudson Yards.

[Oliver Hudson]

You are. So where did you grow up, though?

[Robin Arzon]

Philly.

[Oliver Hudson]

You grew up in Philly? So are you still a Philly girl at hard?

[Robin Arzon]

Yes. But my husband's like, a massive jets fan and my family is like hardcore Eagles, so that is my cross to bear.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, that's. That is.

[Robin Arzon]

In this life that is difficult because.

[Oliver Hudson]

I'm a massive football fan, so I understand that. And I get the jets fan very well. It's a very. It's a. It's a. It's very sad, but one of my best friends is a Jets fan and he's just. There's a devastation there. But the Jets. The jets look all right, though.

[Robin Arzon]

But there's also a loyalty that you have to admire.

[Oliver Hudson]

Of course.

[Robin Arzon]

I'm like, you know what? Life is long. And we became really good friends with the owners of the jets. So, like, it was meant to be that, you know.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. Are you an Eagles fan?

[Robin Arzon]

I'm an E. I mean, I grew up cheering for the Eagles. That's my team. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

No, I know. It's. It's fun, though. Sports are the best. God, I love sports.

[Robin Arzon]

That's so unifying, I think, ultimately.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. I mean, even. Even between Rivalry is unifying, you know, because the passion that you have for a team that you're actually not playing for, but you have some sort of allegiance to, it's as if you are in the game yourself, you know?

[Robin Arzon]

Sure.

[Oliver Hudson]

It's just so great. So growing up, then, in Philly, you know, I've read a little bit about you. You have a very interesting story on how you became sort of where you are. I mean, you were. You wanted to be a lawyer, you studied law, right?

[Robin Arzon]

I practiced law, yeah. For eight years.

[Oliver Hudson]

Practiced law. I mean, you know, and then that. There's been a big pivot in your life. But even before we get to that sort of growing up, you know, did you have brothers and sisters?

[Robin Arzon]

First of all, I have a younger sister.

[Oliver Hudson]

A younger sister?

[Robin Arzon]

Five years younger.

[Oliver Hudson]

Okay, and you grew up in Philly, and how was that upbringing?

[Robin Arzon]

Well, you know, my mom's a Cuban refugee. My dad is, you know, a boricua from the Bronx, born in Puerto Rico. So it was very much like an immigrant story where family is everything. And it was, you know, we might have 10 people just show up at the door for dinner one night, and you just, like, make it work. But because my mom basically put herself through medical school, my father put himself through law school. So we had means, grew up middle class. But it was also like feeling like you had one foot in one world and one foot the other, because I'd go to school and I'd see wealth, but then I knew we were sending, like, powdered milk to Cuba to my uncle, you know, so it was like a very interesting, you know, which I think is common for immigrant, at least, first generation born in the US That's a pretty common story, I think, feeling like you're bridging a bunch of worlds. So, yeah, that. That was. That definitely shaped my work ethic and my idea of a family.

[Oliver Hudson]

Watching your parents sort of hustle and do all of that has to leave sort of a great impression upon you to sort of say, oh, well, this is how. This is how shit gets done.

[Robin Arzon]

Definitely. And also for me, it was an interesting observation on penetrating class levels. Like, they were very clearly and intentionally being like, I am the first Cuban Latina doctor in this practice. Like, or in my graduating class or in my. You know, my dad was literally a janitor at a CUNY school in the Bronx and just started showing up to college classes because he kept being denied at the community college because he was so bad at standardized tests. And he just, like, started showing that's how he started his School journey, not even being matriculated. He was just like the Latino goodwill hunting.

[Oliver Hudson]

Right.

[Robin Arzon]

So hearing those stories and then being in a place where it's like my starting line looks a lot different. And I think I had an awareness of that even as a kid. Yeah, my dad was definitely an inspiration. Like he was a law professor when I was growing up. So he was. I was kind of observing him grade papers and whatever. But it wasn't coming from a place of obligation at all. I think I just thought, okay, these are two paths.

[Oliver Hudson]

I'll pick one.

[Robin Arzon]

I didn't really think too much about it and until, you know, I was in my law career and then I was like, okay, maybe this isn't it.

[Oliver Hudson]

Were you a good student? Generally straight A student.

[Robin Arzon]

I was like, I am as like type A. I literally have like a caboodle's pencil case from the 90s with like highlighters and I am like that chick.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh my God. And what about you? What about your husband? What about your husband?

[Robin Arzon]

Oh God. Drew is not that way.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, yeah, I was going to guess that.

[Robin Arzon]

That way, you know, opposite the track for sure. I was like, I was rage organizing the junk drawer in the kitchen yesterday and he said when I have these like laser beams, he just gets out of the way.

[Oliver Hudson]

No, no, it is. I get that because it's like my wife too is more type A ba ba ba. Things got to get fucking get done. And I am. Let's figure. We'll figure it out. I don't know. Well, we'll see what happens. Like, you know, just. But. But it works.

[Robin Arzon]

He's much more of that energy.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So you were just a great student.

[Robin Arzon]

I was, yeah. Really hardworking student. And it came naturally to me. Like, I just love school. I love a syllabus, I love a book list. I love a scholastic book fair. Like, that's my vibe for sure.

[Oliver Hudson]

That's so interesting. I mean, I want to get into a lot of the stuff, but sort of, you know, I'll go, we'll work backwards, but the pivot then right from, from practicing law to all of a sudden saying, you know what, I'm going to put the pencils down, so to speak, and start, you know, leaning into my fitness. How did that all come about? How did you just say, you know what, I'm going to fuck it, let's go do this?

[Robin Arzon]

I really didn't know. I mean, I just knew. I was obsessed as a kid who was not into sports growing up. I did not have any kind of Physical movement practice at all, casual or otherwise, not even. I was like, intimidated to even like play pick up ball or soccer, like with my cousins, you know. So it was like super. It was something I really had to unpack for myself as an adult. But once I did, once I found like, oh, I can lift weights, I can run, I can do all these things with my body. Like, how cool I. Once that spark was lit, I was like, I gotta figure out how I can pay my rent and like, still do this most of the day. But I had no clue what that was gonna look like. And initially when I left my law practice job, I thought it was going to be kind of in the marketing realm or I was going to be doing like social media and representing or like having like these athletic brands as either work for that, like go work at Nike or something. And I ended up working on the agency side where Nike, the social media account for Nike women, was my client. So I was basically like behind the scenes putting out the tweets and whatever for. For the brands. And it was closer to what I wanted to do, but it wasn't really what I wanted to do in terms of storytelling. I felt like I had a story to tell in this space. And people who felt traditionally under or unrepresented by sports media and the conversation, especially around Latinas and women in sports, and for the athlete, everyday athlete, that is like, oh, cool, I'm still doing the thing. I'm not going to go to the Olympics, but where is my realm?

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

And I think that we built that together both on social media and then later with, with companies like Peloton.

[Oliver Hudson]

That's. That's okay. So going back just a little bit, when you started to run, when you started to understand what physical activity with athletics meant, with pushing your body, you know, beyond where you thought it could go, what that gave you, you know, from a. Even from an energetic sort of philosophical standpoint, of course we know that it's good for your body, it's good for your heart, it's good for just life force. But in order for that to sort of pivot you in such a way, it must have sort of really deeply affected you to where you're like, oh, shit, I need and want to do this every day and have to make my life about this. So what, what is it? What was it initially where it was like, I need this?

[Robin Arzon]

Well, initially it was because I love to work out.

[Oliver Hudson]

I mean, I'm trying. I'm fucking almost 50, and it's like, I have a peloton I've had one since I think 2014 or 15.

[Robin Arzon]

Amazing.

[Oliver Hudson]

I run, I try to live. Yes, I like it when I see results, but I fucking hate it all at the same time. You know what I mean?

[Robin Arzon]

Yes. I mean that is a common story. I think I initially did it out of need and then later did it out of want. And the need actually came from a trauma that I experienced before law school, the stress of law school. And I had no idea that was one thing as much as my parents set me up for success and modeled work ethic and made me deeply aware of like my ancestors and my history and like from a point of pride and necessity they left on the table like they weren't athletes. And I like, I remember being in my 20s, being like, how did y' all not tell me that we could move our bodies and not feel like crap all the time? And that like lethargy at 3pm is not normal just because it's common. Right. And I had no idea. I had to really discover that for myself. And when you add layers of trauma and stress and just like life, I didn't have, I didn't have a toolkit. I knew how to redline, I knew how to work till the wheels fell off, but I really didn't have a toolkit. So I dedicated my 20s and early 30s to developing my own toolkit so I could advocate for myself and like listen to that voice in between my ears and know what to pick out of my toolkit. And obviously a central piece of that is movement for me. But it started out of, out of need. Like I think I was like, it was like an out of body experience, you know, because I was like, I can't sustain, sustain this output without something to balance it.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyone else have that nagging feeling that your dog is bored and just sits there looking at you and you feel super guilty about it? Well, one way I combat that is making meal time everything it can. Before my dog, Donut Nom Nom does this with food that actually engages your pup's senses. With a mix of dog approved smells, textures and ingredients, Nom Nom offers six unique recipes that keep things interesting, all while delivering real health and wellness benefits. And the meat, it looks like meat. And the veggies, they look like veggies because shocker, they are. Their recipes are crafted by vet nutritionists. So I feel good knowing it's designed with my dog's health and happiness in mind. You can serve Nom Nom as a complete and balanced meal or as a tasty addition to your dog's current diet. So if you're like me and your dogs are like your kids, you should give Nom Nom a try. It's a healthy, high quality choice that my guys seem to love. So keep meal time exciting with Nom Nom. Available at your local pet smart store or at chewy. Learn more at trynom.com Hudson spelled try n o m.com Hudson so yeah, I'm a golfer. I golf. It's what I do. And Arizona has incredible golfing. Especially Scottsdale. And the fall is the best time to go golf in Scottsdale and Arizona. You know what? If you're looking for a serene escape, fewer crowds than that time of year and the weather is amazing. So the city is always bustling during the major event season like spring training or the WM Phoenix Open, which I've.

[Robin Arzon]

Been to Sometimes you want a more relaxed getaway and in fall, Scottsdale can be all about you. It's perfect for hiking, yoga, guided meditations, horizon horseback riding, and did you know.

[Oliver Hudson]

Scottsdale is home to more than 200 area golf courses? Yeah. Told you. This is why I'm going Go play golf. World class golf.

[Robin Arzon]

There's also Scottsdale's Old Town district, all walkable with world class shops and restaurants. You won't be bored.

[Oliver Hudson]

There's still tons to do there in the fall. Dreamy Draw Music Festival is always a good vibe. Canal Convergence is a cool annual art event at the Scottsdale waterfront and it gets decked out for the holidays, including Scott's Dazzle when Old Town gets all festive and all lit. So you gotta go visit unwindinscotsdale.com today. October is one of my favorite times to travel with my family. You know, it's not too hot, it's not too cold, and the crowds are lighter. So this year we've been talking about heading to Switzerland because I know the kids would love hiking in the Alps, riding those mountain trains, and of course trying every kind of chocolate they can find. When we do trips like this, I love need to stay in an Airbnb. You get that local vibe. It feels like you actually live there for a little while, which makes the memories that much richer. So if you're traveling this fall, it's also a perfect time to think about hosting your own home on Airbnb. And the best part? You don't have to do it all by yourself. With Airbnb's co host network, you can hire a local co host to manage everything from your listing, guest communications and even making sure the place looks amazing. Find a co [e-mail] host time for a sofa upgrade.

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[Oliver Hudson]

So you're pretty open about your experience, right? I mean, talking about that situation. So explain it. I don't, I don't know the story. I mean I know the, the basics of it. But what happened and then what did that do to you as far as, you know, the traumatization of that. And then. Yeah, the third part is how did you find that first sprint, that first run, that first sort of exertion of energy to where you thought and felt okay, this is it. This is the outlet that I need. Yes, therapy is good. Yes, talk is good. But physical activity for me is my true therapy.

[Robin Arzon]

You know, it really ended up being. So I'll start at the beginning of the story. So I was living in New York City. I was entering my senior year at nyu and I was meeting my girlfriends at a law firm job at the time, like as a paralegal. I was meeting my girlfriends in the East Village at this wine bar called Barbeloche. It's still there now. They have like locations everywhere in New York. But tiny little wine bar, like 10 little stools very charming. And I heard. We heard gunshots. A man walks in, and he says, I've been shot. And. But we didn't see, like, blood or anything. And then, like, maybe a minute later, the guy with the gun walks in behind him and then proceeds. I mean, it was just a melee. He grabs me. I was closest to the door, so there was no, like, running away. I was immediately in this guy's grips. And it was really the thing where, like, time slows down. You feel like you're in a horror movie, but also you're super focused, obviously. Like, adrenaline is pumping. And then I became his main hostage. There were probably 20 people there, and we were there for a few hours, but I was his. Literally, I was so close to him. Like, he was breathing on me. You know, we were having, like. It was. It was intimate, even though it was horrifying. And so it was like, trying to unpack and humanize. Like, why are you doing this? What do you need? Let's get to your goal, whatever it may be.

[Oliver Hudson]

Were you having this conversation with.

[Robin Arzon]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he was Afro Latino. And so he started speaking to me in Spanish. And then I started speaking to him in Spanish, and I was like, I just want him to. I just had this impulse. And later, when I spoken about this, like, professional hostage negotiators, I realized, like, on instinct, I ended up doing the right thing, which is to kind of humanize and make vulnerable the people, you know, you name the people like that. Sally, that's Jim. You're who? I'm this person. Right. So it's, like, to bring them back into, like, a groundedness. And obviously, he was not well and really angry. I mean, it was him. He shot, like, while holding me. He shot out at the poor person who, like, ran the laundromat next door, like, this Asian guy, you know? So it was scary as shit. But so that experience. Thankfully, nobody died.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

We ended up getting the NYPD end up ending the takeover when somebody there was, like, a struggle with the gun. They rush in, arrest him. And you'd think, like, okay, cool. Like, I'm alive.

[Better Picks Advertiser]

We're good.

[Robin Arzon]

And I did the therapy, and I did all the. I literally checked the box. I was like, I do not want to be a shell of. I don't want to be 50. And, like, can't get. Leave the house.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

So I was like, just. And I was very good with the list. Very good with, like, you know, Virgo. Robin took over. And, yes, it was, like, quote, healing. But I was living with that in my body. And now you can read. You know, the body keeps the score a lot. There's tons of research around, like the embodiment of trauma, but I wasn't aware of that. At least nobody told me about that then. And I felt such a physical. It was like stomach stuff, digestion stuff. I couldn't, I couldn't fall asleep or I couldn't wake up. Like I was having so much such. I was so exhausted during the day, during law school because I was up all night with these nightmares and I was like, I just gotta like physically run. I just had to like choose a different heart. Like, it was already hard living in my body. So I was like, there's gotta be another hard physically. And then that's when I just started running. I literally ran to loss, ran to classes one day, which is like a mile. And it was horrible and I hated it. But I was like, well, if I'm focused on this, I'm less focused on that. And then obviously the more you train, the better you get at it and you build an endurance base and all that. But initially it was like just horrific. But I was already kind of living a nightmare, so it was better than that.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. Wow. Going back to that, you know, you hear obviously, you know, there's a lot of stories of trauma and situations that are gnarly like that. But what's it like that night? You know what I mean? Like, okay, it happens, we're done. It's like, all right, you're free to go. What do you do in the hours preceding something like that? You know, it's like, do you have a drink? Are you just like, all right, like, I have an appointment at 6 that I got to. Still fudgeing go to. Like, how do you exactly.

[Robin Arzon]

Like, I remember the next day my mom coming up from Philadelphia, she, you know, she's, she's a doctor. I had to call her. And there was another thing that I don't always have time to talk about when I tell the story. But he had HIV and or his wife had just died from hiv. So with HIPAA and stuff, they could only disclose so much. But they were like, so I'm basically at the hospital, they're checking me for blah, blah, blah. And they're like, you have about like an hour to decide whether you want to take this AZT cocktail to like minimize your exposure. And I was like, so I called my mom like five in the morning, like, hi, I'm fine. I have about 55 minutes now to make this life altering decision. Apparently so it was like intensity upon intensity. And so the few weeks after, I still had this, like, lingering question mark of, like, my own health. And thankfully, everything ended up being okay. But it was kind of, like, less focused on that and refocusing now on, like, the medical stuff. So I would say, like, things settled. Settled maybe a month later. And it was just this cavernous feeling, like, you're sitting in your house and you're like, how. What's normal? Am I just gonna put on friends? Like, you know what I mean? Like, am I just really gonna open a book and go to class? You just go through the motions until the motions feel more normal again. And thankfully, because it was my senior year, there's a lot of excitement. You know, I'm going.

[Washable Sofas Advertiser]

I'm.

[Robin Arzon]

I'm going to law school. And you refocus.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

But there is this. I mean, I just accelerated into adulthood in such a fast way during that time that I think later, in retrospect, I was able to, like, mourn that version of myself that just couldn't have that levity anymore because it was like, I just know what's really fucking out there now.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. Yeah. Wow. And how long did it take? Or does it still. Is it still a part of you? Or how long does it take before you can actually become clear and understand that that was a part of your life? You. You know, I can. I can not detach from it, but I've worked through it enough to where it's. It's not affecting me.

[Robin Arzon]

I think it took, like, a good 10 years, and I had to really start storytelling. This is when I started journaling a lot. And I started journaling sometimes, like, in the third person, like, that story. Like, I literally would, like, write it out, like, as if Robin was another. As, like, a character in a story. And I had to, like. And it was during a time where. After the incident, where I was, like, I was anxious to even go on the subway, and I had to write little scenarios like, Robyn leaves her house. She's safe going on the subway. She gets on the C train at West 4th Street. And this wasn't a prompt from a therapist. I was just like, I need to get out of the house, and I've got to tell myself a different story because I'm scared that somebody's gonna jump me from behind.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

And I wanted to stay living in New York, and that was critical, obviously, to, like, being in the city. So the storytelling piece of it, the movement piece of it.

[Oliver Hudson]

What about meditation practice? Mindfulness? Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

Yeah. So meditation and breath work came in. Another tool in the toolkit came in about four years into my, when I was practicing law. And that was clutch. So I think obviously they all go hand in hand. They're all like, you know, essential pieces of the puzzle. But yeah, it was, it was a good 10 years before I felt like, okay, yeah, that's behind me.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's funny because the, all of these things you talk about, you know, breath work, meditation therapy, you know, physicality, I think they're just such a necessity, you know, for everyone, no matter what your situation is. I mean, I've, you know, I've been an anxious person. I've had anxiety since my 20s, probably much, much younger. And you know, journaling was huge, huge for me to get through it. Meditation was big for me, of course, therapy. And I didn't find sort of the physicality thing, the physical, just the. Until a little bit later on. But it's just so cruel. It was, it's now so crucial for me, you know, and as far as that body holding trauma. Holy shit, is that true? I mean, I was going through some shit in my 20s, and then in my 30s, 40s, whatever, but specifically in my 20s when it hit me so hard that I didn't understand, I didn't know what to do with it. I thought I was dying half the time. Throwing up on the street, couldn't breathe, trying to live my life. I mean, it was so gnarly. And my mom had me do this deep tissue, crazy deep tissue massage with this like, healer, masseuse woman. And my mom's all about that, and I'm in, but I'm always a little skeptical. And she starts pushing down on my solar plexus, like so hard. And I'm like, I mean, I'm in like pain, pain. And then she moves up sort of close to my rib cage. I'm like, ah. And then finally she moves in and I lose it, like crying like a baby, like, sobbing, sobbing, sobbing. And I'm apologizing, I'm sorry. I got to know where it was coming from. And it was really an amazing experience, you know, because we hold that shit in our bodies physically. You know what?

[Robin Arzon]

I believe it. And I, I, I'll, I'll like, I take it even further. Like I'm into like all kinds of metaphysical stuff, all kinds of spiritual stuff. I did a past life regression, just essentially like therapy. Plus they met it. You go into like a meditation.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

And then you basically talk through what you're seeing and it Was like, this whole thing, and I was, like, this spy in World War I. I ended up getting shot in my sternum. And the physical manifestations of my body now were, like, related to the story that I was telling to this therapist in the moment. And, like, in this vision, I was shot, like, in my sternum. And then she had me do this visualization where it was, like, healing and a healing circle and whatever. And, like, whether you think it's mumbo jumbo or not, like, I haven't had those physical sensations since I did that. And then she took me through another one where I was, like, an indigenous person and I was living in this hut and whatever, and I was at a spear. An arrow went into my left heel. And let me tell you, for 20 years, I have had pain in my plantar fascia, in my left foot. After birth, it got worse. I've done every pt, everything. When I tell you, ever since this experience, I have not had a single. There's not a sensation, not a pain, nothing. But my. My physical therapist was like, what do you mean your left foot doesn't hurt anymore? Like, I've been treating you for 15 years.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

So I don't know whether that was, like, psychosomatic, but, like, listen, baby, I didn't care. I was like, I don't care if it's fake.

[Oliver Hudson]

No, no. Feel better 100%. But I do think that you have to have some sort of belief in order for that shit to actually work, you know? I mean, my mother is all about it, you know, And I've had moments where she's like, you need to see this channeler. And it's incredible. You know, we just had this guy John Edward on our show who, you know, is an incredible clairvoyant who can love it, see beyond. I mean, see the people in your life who have passed away who are. It's just there are things that this dude says that there is no world where he could know any of it unless he's actually experiencing it. You know what I'm saying? That shit is real. There's no world where we can't tap into certain energies. And everyone that I've talked to, because we've a big psychic family, just generally, my mom and my sister, it's. Everyone has the ability. That's what everyone says to us. It's like, you have the ability to go there. You know, it's not just for the gifted. Yes, there are the gifted, but there are. We all have that ability. We all have that psychic ability. You know, I Believe that.

[Robin Arzon]

And I definitely. My husband is really like, kind of tuned in. We're noticing like my daughter is really tuned in. And those are like, you know, those are gifts that I would love. You know, I'm into the physical, I'm into the breath work, but like, there's like kind of that metaphysical piece that I'm so curious about. I would love to develop those. Those things.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, yeah. Oh, for sure. Okay. So you get through all this, you go to law school, you practice eight years of law. What kind of law were you practicing?

[Robin Arzon]

Corporate litigation. So I was at a law firm called Paul Hastings.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

And we had just a bunch of corporations as our clients and like high net worth folks.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. And. And was it fulfilling for you at the time?

[Robin Arzon]

It was because I made it about the hustle. I was like, I'm just, you know, I got my cute little suit, you know, living this like New York City girly life.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

But it was, you know, eight years in and really hard work, you know, like 80 billable hours a week.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

So it scratched that, like, work ethic itch, which I think I will have till the day I die. But the topics were pretty mundane.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. And so then how did this all transition? I know we sort of touched upon it, but, you know, was it a scary moment to say, you know what, I'm going to stop this and I'm going to go into this. When you started into the marketing world anyway.

[Robin Arzon]

Yeah. Well, it was a slow burn. I think for two years I was like, all right, what's my escape hatch? Like, what's my route? And when I realized there was no route, I was like, all right, so I just gotta like, quit and force myself to do something else. So I initially had taken a leave of absence from my law firm, where they don't. I still have a job, but they don't pay me for that period of time. And that's when I started making contacts, like in the agency world and with athletic brands and, and their CMOs and DA DA da. And then the London Olympic Games were coming around and I thought, okay, this is like my moment. How am I going to meet these athletes? How am I going to storytell around sport in my way if I'm not physically there to. To have that experience? So that was when I quit. And I was sleeping on my friend's couch in London for three weeks, and I left the London Games with a job with a sports marketing agency doing that Nike women's gig. Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

And how are your parents?

[Robin Arzon]

How did they take this They, I. Well, I made a vow to them that I was never going to ask them for a cent. And I made good on that. And they, you know, I mentioned, you know, the immigrant story. Normally there's a lot more. There's a lot of pressure like you got.

[Oliver Hudson]

Of course. Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

And they were incredibly supportive because I was so, I mean, I was so passionate about it. I was like, lit on fire. And having gone through this, this traumatic stuff in my early 20s, they just wanted me to feel like I was impassioned and feeling. Coming from like a really safe place. And I felt like, oh, okay. Like this, this story that I'm writing for myself feels not only empowering, but it feels safe. And that was freedom. That was worth any, any amount of money.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

So they were supportive. My OG Wolf pack was.

[Washable Sofas Advertiser]

Was down.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. Good. That's what you need. You know, you need pushback, but you need support, you know, And I am.

[Robin Arzon]

My own worst critic. So I didn't. My mom and my dad knew. They didn't need me any finger wagging, you know, it was like, I'm gonna look at myself in the mirror and probably be harsher than anybody else.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, I'm a golfer. I golf. It's what I do. And Arizona has incredible golfing, especially Scottsdale. And the fall is the best time to go golf in Scottsdale and Arizona. You know what, if you're looking for a serene escape, fewer crowds than that time of year. And the weather is amazing. So the city is always bustling during the major event season, like spring training or the WM Phoenix Open, which I've been to.

[Robin Arzon]

Sometimes you want a more relaxed getaway. And in fall, Scottsdale can be all about you. It's perfect for hiking, yoga, guided meditations, horseback riding.

[Oliver Hudson]

And did you know Scottsdale is home to more than 200 area golf courses? Mm, yeah. Told you. This is why I'm going. Go play golf. World class golf.

[Robin Arzon]

There's also Scottsdale's Old Town district. All walkable with world class shops and restaurants. You won't be bored.

[Oliver Hudson]

There's still tons to do there in the fall. Dreamy Draw Music festival is always a good vibe. Canal Convergence is a cool annual art event at the Scottsdale waterfront. And it gets decked out for the holidays, including Scottsdazzle when Old Town gets all festive and all lit. So you gotta go visit unwindinscotsdale.com today. October is one of my favorite times to travel with my family. You know, it's not too hot, it's not too cold and the crowds are lighter. So this year we've been talking about heading to Switzerland because I know the kids would love hiking in the Alps, riding those mountain trains, and of course trying every kind of chocolate they can find. When we do trips like this, I love need to stay in an Airbnb. You get that local vibe. It feels like you actually live there for a little while, which makes the memories that much richer. So if you're traveling this fall, it's also a perfect time to think about hosting your own home on Airbnb. And the best part? You don't have to do it all by yourself. You with Airbnb's co host network, you can hire a local co host to manage everything from your listing, guest communications, and even making sure the place looks amazing. Find a co [e-mail] host tired of.

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[Better Picks Advertiser]

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[Robin Arzon]

All I know is what I've been told and that to have truth is a whole lie.

[Maggie Freeling]

For almost a decade, the murder of an 18 year old girl from a small town in Graves County, Kentucky went unstable.

[Robin Arzon]

Solved.

[Maggie Freeling]

Until a local homemaker, a journalist and a handful of girls came forward with a story.

[Robin Arzon]

I'm telling you, we know Quincy killed her.

[Maggie Freeling]

We know a story that law enforcement used to convict six people and that got the citizen investigator on national tv.

[Better Picks Advertiser]

Through sheer persistence and nerve, this Kentucky housewife helped give justice to Jessica Curran.

[Maggie Freeling]

My name is Maggie Freeling. I'm a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist producer, and I wouldn't be here if the truth were that easy to find.

[Better Picks Advertiser]

I did not know her and I.

[Oliver Hudson]

Did not kill her or rape or.

[Better Picks Advertiser]

Burn or any of that other stuff.

[Oliver Hudson]

That y' all said.

[Robin Arzon]

They literally made me say that I took a match and struck and threw it on her. They made me say that I poured gas on her.

[Maggie Freeling]

From Lava for good. This is Graves County, a show about just how far our legal system will go in order to find someone to blame.

[Oliver Hudson]

America, y' all better wake the hell up. Bad things happens to good people in small towns.

[Maggie Freeling]

Listen to Graves county in the Bone Valley. Feed on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And to binge the entire season ad free, subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Oliver Hudson]

Okay, so how did Peloton come in to your life?

[Robin Arzon]

Peloton came in. It was before the studio had opened in 2013. 13. I read about the company in, like, a magazine, and I sent a cold email to the company. It was infoeltoncycle.com like, the alias doesn't even exist anymore. And I just was like, I gotta work with y'.

[Oliver Hudson]

All.

[Robin Arzon]

Like, I just came off this gig, you know, doing social media for this brand. And, you know, I want to do global storytelling, and I do vision boards a lot. And I did a vision board where? In the business quadrant. It was like some type of intersection between storytelling and technology. I had no idea what that meant. I had a picture of, like, a little Apple computer. I really, truly didn't. I was like, what is that thread that I need to pull on? And it wasn't until I read this article that I was like, oh, that's the thread. So I auditioned. I was the second. No, I was the third instructor hired at Peloton. And that then we was like, full steam ahead. Let's open up a studio. Let's start filming classes to, like, the 20 bikes that are off the, you know, bars from Taiwan or whatever. And that was it. That was 12 years ago.

[Oliver Hudson]

Wow. So you were one of three. The first three hired. And initially, how was it set up? You know, it was. It. How did it work?

[Robin Arzon]

Like duct tape and a dream.

[Oliver Hudson]

It was, right?

[Robin Arzon]

Yeah. So our office, literally, where, like, the CEO, the founders were, it was. There were probably 25 people total at the headcount of the company at the time, including Those new instructors and we just, they just like put up a black curtain in the corner of a Chelsea office space. And when we were recording classes, like the people on the floor couldn't do conference, like phone calls. Like, it was like 1pm we're filming classes. The CEO, you're gonna have to get investor month. Go to Starbucks.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

And it was like quiet on set. And the chief technology officer was the one who was cutting our classes. Like we didn't have. There was no pa. There was no grip. There was not. It was literally like a camera. A bike that wasn't even a peloton bike. It just had peloton branding. Because we didn't even have bikes yet when we started filming content. And I would beg my friends to come and be like extras in the class.

[Oliver Hudson]

Holy shit. Wait a minute. So then how was it streamed? Or how in the beginning, in the.

[Robin Arzon]

Beginning, we, you know, we had the infrastructure to stream, so I had a little rudimentary leaderboard. So I could see there were like seven people.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. I was about to say, like how many people were subscribers at that point?

[Robin Arzon]

I mean, I think we had like 200. We had sold like few hundred bikes. Yeah, with the, Initially, it was, with that initial, it was like the first fundraising round was one of those online Kickstarter. And so there were like some bikes sold with the Kickstarter. So we kind of had a built in base, but it was minimal. And you know, finally we started getting the hardware on site and then, you know, we had a few months to ramp up content before our 23rd street studio opened.

[Oliver Hudson]

Right. And so initially, because here's again, I told you, I've had a peloton forever. And it's just so unique in that you can curate. Especially now, there's so much curation. But even in the, even in the, in the infancy of it, you know, at least when I got my peloton, which I don't exist exactly remember when it was. And it was like, oh, shit, like you can listen to these playlists and, and go through the playlist and sort of see what you want to listen to, you know, and that was so unique to me and the attitude of all of the instructors, sort of how you wanted to work out, you know, if you wanted someone to beat your ass. Okay. If you wanted, if you wanted something like nice and easy. Okay, so was there anyone in sort of like head of marketing or who was explaining like, this is how this is our vision? Or were the trainers themselves sort of saying, hey, you know what this is what we want to do, I think.

[Robin Arzon]

It was a little bit of both. I say it was like the rocket ship left the station and we were like, oh, shoot, we got to put a window here. We got to fix this thing here. And it was just scrappy. And it still is in many, many ways, just scrappy mentality of like, we will build it, we will build it. And there is an innate sense of self, I think, that is required of a peloton instructor. Like, you have to have a point of view. It's not like you audition for something and they're like, this is your role. You're the girl next door. You're the hard ass xyz. So you have to have. You have to come with that. And then we can hone it it under the peloton umbrella. But it's not a role because after a thousand classes, you can see that. So it's gotta be like, obviously there's musicality and there's a physical element and you have to be a subject matter expert on, you know, as a trainer, as a wellness expert. But there's like the X factor that you cannot teach. And that's just like a likability period.

[Oliver Hudson]

So do you create your own playlists all the time? Is that all you?

[Robin Arzon]

Yep, all me.

[Oliver Hudson]

And how often are you changing your music? I mean, all the time.

[Washable Sofas Advertiser]

Every.

[Robin Arzon]

I mean, every class has a different playlist, but I would say monthly. I'm kind of. We're like bucketing. Okay. Like, these are rising Latin songs. These are new hip hop things that dropped. And we have a music team, of course, who will say, like, okay, we're sourcing licensing for this, or we think this artist series might be coming down the pike because there's obviously legal things that come into play.

[Oliver Hudson]

I was about to ask that. Is there a license? Is there a license? You have to license these songs.

[Robin Arzon]

We have to get licensing for literally every single thing we play. And then we have, we have great relationships with the artists. So they'll say like, oh, we've got this tour coming up or I've got this album that's dropping. And we have, you know, amazing relationships with the top artists in the world. And they'll do, you know, they'll work with us for really cool, really cool concepts.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Because that can get expensive. I mean, Jesus, you started to license all those songs.

[Robin Arzon]

Yeah. And so we want to be. We want to be super serving what our members want to listen to while also introducing them to cool new stuff. Right. So it's fine It's a balance.

[Oliver Hudson]

So you were sort of a pioneer in this world. Like you've been there forever. How do you work? Do you work yourself up the chain, so to speak?

[Robin Arzon]

I have a hybrid role where I'm an executive and an instructor. So I'm vice president of fitness programming and head instructor. So in that sense, in my VP role, it's like working with marketing and product and working with my boss who's our chief content officer, who essentially runs the network. Like if we were a television network, she would run the network. And then we've got executive producers and you know, there's a lot of hundreds of folks that make make these classes happen, not just the instructors that you see on camera. And so in that vein, I am more than an instructor and I have more responsibilities, more meetings, xyz and then in my. When I'm in front of the camera, the same standard applies to me that applies to, you know, the other 50 something folks. Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

And how often are you in front of the camera these days?

[Robin Arzon]

Four days a week, usually.

[Oliver Hudson]

You are?

[Robin Arzon]

Yeah, I'm live four days a week.

[Oliver Hudson]

Is that how it's always been or have you, have you cut back?

[Robin Arzon]

It's more. I would say we're more nimble and efficient now. I think we cut down from like five days a week to four days a week. But in those four days I'm filming as much, if not more content.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

And then we also have other. We have like social media things, we have press things, you know, so they'll fold that into our schedule where it might be, I might be on, on set for four hours, but only one of those hours is a class.

[Oliver Hudson]

And how many locations are there now where you actually film in New York and London? Okay, and do you still have live. You still have people come in to ride as well?

[Robin Arzon]

Oh my gosh. I mean, ride, run, lift, row. Like the energy. When I tell you it is like SNL meets visiting the Empire State Building meets like, it is a New York moment. Like if you are a peloton member, the people will just walk by and you can see the live class. You know, we'll play the live classes like on the screens and the plaza and whatever. And it is such an exciting moment for people. And then they get to meet their favorite instructors afterwards for like a photo line. And we try to make the experience really special for people. And our studio team is absolutely incredible. They, our member experience team, like really, really cares, you know, for people celebrating anniversaries and birthdays and all that.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, that's part of the craziest shit about this. And I've talked to about my friends because, like, all my friends have pelotons, and we used to. We used to be nutty on them, you know, like. But you guys are famous. You've got personality. You know, you're doing what you love. And the byproduct of it is, oh, now I walk down the street and I'm recognized. You know, how is that? What is that? Like, do you dig it?

[Robin Arzon]

It's such a privilege that anybody gives a crap. The interesting thing that I think makes it super distinct from, like, Hollywood. Right. It's like, you see somebody that you love from a movie or a TV show, like, you know, that they're not the movie role or you should.

[Oliver Hudson]

Sure.

[Robin Arzon]

Whereas this is like, you know, if at. Or Ally or Cody or, you know, Matt Wilper said something in a class that I took of his. Like, oh, I fed my dog. I'm like, hey, I heard about your dog. Like, you know, it's like a very specific, intimate, parasocial relationship, which is a very odd thing to negotiate. Right. Because, like, that is really us. But also it's like a J. It's, like, adjacent to who I am. Right, of course. And so, like, when I'm standing there with my kids or my husband, 99% of the time, it is, like, totally cool and really flattering. And then sometimes you're like, I literally just got to catch a flight. Like, I'm not trying to be rude, but, like, I can't. And there's such an outpouring of emotion often because they are intimate experiences. So we will very, very. It's very, very common for a peloton instructor to hear, like, deep, deep stuff.

[Oliver Hudson]

Right? No, for sure.

[Robin Arzon]

Because they're personal relationships that we have with people.

[Oliver Hudson]

Of course, not only that, but even going back to sort of how you got through your trauma, that's not. You know, you were not on an island there. So many people are using what you do, using your words, your inspiration. They go to Robin because she gets my shit going. And Robin has changed my life. I mean, that's. I mean, obviously, they've done it themselves, but you.

[Robin Arzon]

Yeah, yeah. They put in the work.

[Oliver Hudson]

Right. But you. You've been the inspiration and the impetus for a lot of these people to change their entire lives. So there is an emotional component to meeting you. I'm sure it is, like, the.

[Robin Arzon]

Honestly, the best job on the planet. And I think that, you know, people ask, like, oh, during the pandemic or during this and during that, like, how do you keep going? And it's like, how could I not? Like, what job do I get to like, go to the grocery store or like walk on 6th Avenue and get stopped by somebody being like, holy crap, like, you got me through my divorce. Or like celebrated graduating college by taking your run? You know, like, yeah, that's a wild cascade of impact that I don't think many, certainly not many wellness jobs have.

[Oliver Hudson]

No, I know. You know, I could walk down the street and say I loved you in this movie or this TV show. Like, oh, cool, thanks. But no one's saying you've changed my life, man. Like, you like, brought me through like cancer. I'm like, I did. Like, that's never gonna happen. So, yeah, I'm a golfer. I golf. It's what I do. And Arizona has incredible golfing, especially Scottsdale. And the fall is the best time to go golf in Scottsdale and Arizona. You know what, if you're looking for a serene escape, fewer crowds then that time of year. And the weather is amazing. So the city is always bustling during the major event season, like spring training or the WM Phoenix Open, which I've been to.

[Robin Arzon]

Sometimes you want a more relaxed getaway. And in fall, Scottsdale can be all about you. It's perfect for hiking, yoga, guided meditations, horseback riding.

[Oliver Hudson]

And did you know Scottsdale is home to more than 200 area golf courses? Mm, yeah. Told you. This is why I'm going. Go play golf. World class golf.

[Robin Arzon]

There's also Scottsdale's Old Town district, all walkable with world class shops and restaurants. You won't be bored.

[Oliver Hudson]

There's still tons to do there in the fall. Dreamy Draw Music festival is always a good vibe. Canal Convergence is a cool annual art event at the Scottsdale waterfront. And it gets decked out for the holidays, including Scott's Dazzle when Old Town gets all festive and all lit. So you gotta go visit unwindinscotsdale.com today. October is one of my favorite times to travel with my family. You know, it's not too hot, it's not too cold, and the crowds are lighter. So this year we've been talking about heading to Switzerland because I know the kids would love hiking in the Alps, riding those mountain trains, and of course trying every kind of chocolate they can find. When we do trips like this, I love need to stay in an Airbnb. You get that local vibe. It feels like you actually live there for a little while, which makes the memories that much richer. So if you're traveling this fall, it's also a perfect time to think about hosting your own home on Airbnb. And the best part? You don't have to do it all by yourself. With Airbnb's co host network, you can hire a local co host to manage everything from your listing, guest communications, and even making sure the place looks amazing. Find a co [e-mail] host.

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[Oliver Hudson]

Terms and conditions apply.

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[Robin Arzon]

All I know is what I've been told and that to Half Truth is a whole lie.

[Maggie Freeling]

For almost a decade, the murder of an 18 year old girl from a small town in Graves County, Kentucky went unsolved until a local homemaker, a journalist and a handful of girls came forward with a story.

[Robin Arzon]

I'm telling you, we know Quincy killed her.

[Maggie Freeling]

We know a story that law enforcement used to convict six people and that got the citizen investigator on national tv.

[Better Picks Advertiser]

Through sheer persistence and nerve, this Kentucky housewife helped give justice to Jessica Curran.

[Maggie Freeling]

My name is Maggie Freeling. I'm a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist producer and I wouldn't be here if the truth were that easy to find.

[Better Picks Advertiser]

I did not know her.

[Oliver Hudson]

And I did not kill her or rape or burn or any of that other stuff that y' all said.

[Robin Arzon]

They literally made me say that I took a match and struck and threw it on her. They made me say that I pour gas on her.

[Maggie Freeling]

From Lava for Good. This is Graves County, a show about just how far our legal system will go in order to find someone to blame.

[Oliver Hudson]

America, y' all better wake the hell up. Bad things happens to good people and small towns.

[Maggie Freeling]

Listen to Graves county in the Bone valley. Feed the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And to binge the entire season ad free. Subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Oliver Hudson]

It would be fun to go to the headquarters and see that shit go down.

[Robin Arzon]

You're invited, please.

[Oliver Hudson]

I would love to. I'm actually going to be in New York. I got to do press for a little while in New York for about a week in New York in November. Maybe I'll. Maybe I'll stop by.

[Robin Arzon]

All right, cool. We have members in on the weekends.

[Oliver Hudson]

Let me talk to you really quickly before we get out of here about your, your book, Eat to Hustle.

[Robin Arzon]

Yes.

[Oliver Hudson]

What inspired this?

[Robin Arzon]

So Eat to Hustle, because I assume.

[Oliver Hudson]

Everything like, like I can only see your shoulders, but you're fucking. It's. I'm jealous. You know what I'm saying?

[Robin Arzon]

Well, this is, this is good for plants. It's from plants and lifting weights and doing all the things. Yes.

[Oliver Hudson]

This is what I want to talk about is food and how, how much of this is food and how much of this is actual working out.

[Robin Arzon]

Well, you need, listen like you need a layer, a layer of muscle underneath all of it to kind of bulletproof you for old age longevity. I believe that strength training is the fountain of youth. That is like the, that's the base of my pyramid. If we're looking at a fitness pyramid, somebody might think it's actually cardio, like running and cycling, whatever. Actually it's strength. That's three days a week, non negotiable. And then I'm layering on, you know, zone two, zone three, all different types of modalities. I mix up my modalities quite a bit from a cardiovascular perspective, but from a fuel perspective. I've been plant based for over 12 years and I wrote Eat to Hustle, which is available for pre order now. I wrote Eat to Hustle because I kept getting asked, number one, how do you get your protein? And number two, how do you, Robin, fuel yourself and your family? So this is somewhat, you know, I'm someone who, I consider myself a remix artist in the kitchen and I wanted to simplify plant based eating for people when they say, like, I literally don't even. How do I eat plant based and still get protein? So 75 protein packed recipes that have the macros, you'll know exactly what you're putting into your body and the. I actually attached a dumbbell score each recipe. So if there's one dumbbell, you know, it's easy all the way up to three or four dumbbells for the stuff. That's a little bit more complicated, but it is, you know, I include like what I do for my meal prep, what I feel weekly, like what's on my grocery list. Like these are. This is truly like how I feel in my kitchen for over 10 years. As somebody who trains multiple hours a day.

[Oliver Hudson]

Do you create, you have your meal plans, but do you, do you cook for ahead of time? Like, would you put something in the fridge to sort of. So like that quick sort of grab and go stuff that you need?

[Robin Arzon]

I do, I meal prep over the weekend. My proteins and like roasted veggies and stuff. And then I'll also do like protein breads and things like that. Like, I'll batch make that maybe like once a month or once every few weeks. But for things like this, like, I literally had 12 minutes to fuel before I got on screen with you. And I don't tend to make a meal. My kids are going crazy, you know, so it's like air frying tofu, making seitan, having veggies in the fridge, like just making. Making it harder to make the wrong choice. And I think that that's where people. And my meal prep, by the way, isn't hours and hours and measuring and weighing and whatever. It's literally just having batches of things that I know are going to move the needle for me in the direction that I want.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. Because it can get so overwhelming. You know, I've always. Food has always been a tough one for me because I love to eat, you know, and I can get into it, but it just gets hard. I'll open up the fridge. I'm like, what the fuck am I gonna eat? There's nothing. What am I gonna eat? What am I gonna eat? And I'm starving. I'm like, I'll just have some chips and then leave, you know, because it's, it's always difficult to like find something that is specific to what you're trying to do.

[Robin Arzon]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

So that meal prep is probably huge.

[Robin Arzon]

Well, once you have some things in your rotation. And this is why I wrote Eat the Hustle. Cause I was like, it's not a book for people who exclusively wanna eat plant based. It will get you there. But what I say is I wanna expand people's protein portfolio. So you just put other things in your mix that give you energy, don't SAP it, that aid your recovery, that are better for inflammation, better for longevity, and really great for your gut health too, because all these recipes are packed with fiber. And most people are actually more likely to be fiber deficient than protein deficient.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, this is great. This is good. Now, do you. Do you have cheat days? I mean, do you eat. Do you eat it like a slice?

[Robin Arzon]

I don't consider it a cheat, but yeah, sure. Like, I, you know, my birthday was a few weeks ago. Like, I ate, literally ate birthday cake for breakfast.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Robin Arzon]

And you have to have moments. And I also don't. I want to model for my kids that they don't have to. There's no perfection. There's no, like, hiding. I don't want them to be like 20 downing donuts and eating crazy stuff in college because they didn't let them have birthday cake at a party, you know?

[Oliver Hudson]

Yes, I see that. I see that. Where I see parents who are so gnarly strict that the minute that the kids sort of get out of that world, they are just grinding on the bad shit.

[Robin Arzon]

I'm super mindful of, like, modeling not only, like, healthy eating habits to the extent that I'm, you know, they're healthy for me, but also, like, movement habits. Right. Like, I want my kids to see some balance.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. And do you drink at all?

[Robin Arzon]

I don't drink. I haven't drank in years. Not. And my husband doesn't drink either. So we're. We're a sober family.

[Oliver Hudson]

Clean, clean, clean. Well, I'm not going to tell you.

[Robin Arzon]

Whether I drink or not, so that's your business.

[Oliver Hudson]

I'm not gonna tell you. You will never know.

[Robin Arzon]

Kombucha's on me when you come to New York City for a ride.

[Oliver Hudson]

Great, great. I'm in. I'm in. I'll bring a little airplane bottle or something. Well, this has been so much fun. I'm going to take. I've never even taken a live class ever on. On the peloton, ever. It's always been just the. Just the recorded classes.

[Robin Arzon]

Okay, well, now we're going to level it up.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, I'm going to find you. I got to get into one of your classes, for sure. I've been going to. Now that I know you. But this has been so great. I'm excited to get. I'm excited to. When does it come out? I know it's a for pre order, but when does it actually.

[Robin Arzon]

Hustle comes out in March of next year, so a few months.

[Oliver Hudson]

Okay, let's preorder that. Let's do that. All right. Well, this has been so fun, Robin. I appreciate you.

[Robin Arzon]

Appreciate you having me. Thank you.

[Oliver Hudson]

All right, we'll see you soon.

[Robin Arzon]

Bye.

[Oliver Hudson]

Man, what kind of work ethic? It's just. Just jealous. She's energy, clear muscles, skin looks good. Bang, bang, bang. And here I am in my daughter's room with a tie, dye shirt on, a shitty beard, bags under my eyes, my eyebrow hairs are just growing, you know, a mile a minute. I'm a mess, but I'm fun and I'm funny. I'm a mess, but I'm funny. Gray chest hair, you know, just a belly hanging over my waistband. It's all bad, but, hey, it's me. All right, I'm out of here.

[Robin Arzon]

This is an I heart podcast.