Stronger with Don Saladino — Episode Summary

Episode Title:

How Tommy DiDario Built His Own Path in a Cutthroat Industry

Host: Don Saladino
Guest: Tommy DiDario
Date: November 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode, featuring media personality, host, and podcaster Tommy DiDario, delves into the essence of strength—not just in fitness, but through resilience, reinvention, and authenticity. Don and Tommy explore Tommy’s unconventional rise in the world of entertainment and media, touching on setbacks, career pivots, developing a personal brand, and the importance of human connection. The inspiring journey is full of actionable insights for anyone seeking to carve their own path in a competitive industry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tommy’s Origin Story & Career Pivots

[05:17 – 14:11]

• Unclear Dreams and Taking Chances
  • Tommy describes arriving in New York with a "blurry" dream, uncertain about the specifics but driven to be in the arts and communications.
  • “I knew I wanted to always be in the business. I didn’t necessarily know in what capacity, but then when I figured it out, I went for it full force.” (Tommy, 05:26)
• Early Break: Modeling By Accident
  • While working at Abercrombie, he’s scouted by Ford Models, leading to international campaigns.
  • “Suddenly I’m in the fashion world at the top agency in the world. Never saw it coming.” (Tommy, 07:43)
• Transition into Acting and the Limits of the Industry
  • Tommy’s acting credits include “Broad City” and “Gossip Girl,” but negative experiences deterred him from pursuing it full-time. “It sucked the joy out of it for me, which is actually quite sad because I let people take that away from me.” (Tommy, 09:01)
• Corporate Detour: Social Media for Aeropostale
  • Pivot to running social, growing followers from thousands to millions. He learns vital, transferable skills.
  • “[It was] a crash course in social and digital, and I learned it and I rose quickly and I kept getting promoted.” (Tommy, 10:24)
• Launching His Own Brand & Consulting
  • Created a website focused on fitness, fashion, and lifestyle; began making self-financed video interviews for social.

2. Breaking Through: Hosting & The Rachael Ray Show

[12:54 – 14:11]

• Ten months into his self-driven content creation, Tommy gets approached via Instagram DM for a segment on Rachael Ray, quickly becoming a regular contributor.
  • “Rachel looked at me, she’s like, ‘What are you doing next week?’… And then I became a regular. So I did six years on that show.” (Tommy, 14:02)

3. Developing Trust on the Red Carpet

[14:17 – 22:38]

• The Art and Integrity of the Interview
  • Tommy never uses notes on the carpet and focuses on true listening.
  • “One thing I’ve never done on a carpet is look at a note. I won’t.” (Tommy, 15:58)
• Making Interviewees Comfortable
  • Builds trust instantly, leading to candid moments, even with guarded celebrities.
  • Story: Jennifer Lawrence’s team requests only Tommy to interview her after a previous breach of trust. “They called the show and said, ‘We’re gonna give you Jennifer Lawrence, but Tommy has to interview her, or you can’t have her.’” (Tommy, 18:27)
• Highlight: Jennifer Lopez Moment
  • Shares smart tactics for handling high-pressure red carpet moments with JLo, aiming for authentic, non-invasive questions.
  • “I said, ‘Jennifer, you and I have something in common…we both love love.’ …She lit up…Extra ran the headline, ‘Jen opens up about Ben on the carpet.’ I didn’t have to do that.” (Tommy, 21:24)

4. Building a Podcast in a Saturated Market

[26:23 – 34:49]

• Initial Steps: Instagram Live During COVID
  • Launches “Let’s Stay Together” Instagram series, building audience without immediate payback, driven by the urge to connect.
• Big Break: Partnership with iHeart
  • Radio legend Elvis Duran notices Tommy’s work, offers him a flagship show on iHeart: “I’ve Never Said This Before.”
• Viral Moments & Human Connection
  • Invites guests to share something they’ve “never said before”—leading to powerful, deeply personal revelations.
    • “People tend to [share deeply] because it’s their space to put something in the world that maybe they feel like can help somebody else.” (Tommy, 30:15)

5. Power of Short-Form Solo Podcasting

[30:23 – 34:49]

• Launch of “Tommy Talk”
  • iHeart encourages Tommy to add personal, 10-minute Friday episodes—unexpectedly, these outperform even celebrity interviews.
  • “It ripped and it went nuts…it was, you know, just as popular, if not more than, let’s say, the biggest star I’ve had on my show.” (Tommy, 31:41)
• Topics range from friendships to grief, showing the power of vulnerability and relatability.
  • “I almost told iHeart, like, let’s not run [the grief episode]…It was really weird to sit on…but it meant a lot to people.” (Tommy, 35:54)

6. Philosophy on Career, Passion, and Listening to Your Gut

[36:22 – 37:42]

• Don and Tommy agree that trusting yourself, following passion and purpose over safe options, and being open to pivots is the blueprint for authentic success.
  • Don: “I don’t think we trust our gut enough…and I just got. Life’s too short. Yeah, we got to go for it.” (Don, 37:36)

7. Fitness & Nutrition: Structure, Discipline, and Joy

[37:42 – 45:15]

• Early Roots and Family Influence
  • Grew up in a fitness-oriented family; started lifting at 6th grade as an anchor during family turbulence.
• Consistency & Routine
  • Rigid morning schedule: up at 5:30-6; full-body workouts designed by Don; highly structured diet.
  • “For breakfast, I have a shake. Like, I load it up with all the things…And I eat that breakfast seven days a week.” (Tommy, 42:39)
• Nutrition Approach
  • Focus on simplicity and foods that make him feel good; avoids alcohol/sugar out of preference, not just discipline.
  • “It’s not by restriction. It’s just how I like to eat, like how I like to live and what I like to do.” (Tommy, 45:13)

8. Perspectives on Natural Fitness & Expectations

[45:15 – 48:43]

• Tommy discusses the value of staying natural and consistent, noting a cultural shift toward valuing realistic, sustainable approaches to fitness over extreme “enhanced” bodies.
  • “Consistency trumps intensity. We’re not saying it’s going to be 110% workout, but we are. This is part of our lifestyle.” (Don, 47:38)
• The fitness community online is starting to show more respect for attainable physiques and routines.

9. Looking Ahead: Ambitions & Goals

[48:47 – 51:24]

• Tommy shares his dream of selling a romcom movie script, loosely based on his own life: “It’s better than half the stuff I watch on tv.” (Tommy, 50:08)
• Don and Tommy discuss the need for more uplifting stories and laughter in film and TV.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Pivots:
  “I feel like I’ve had 85 careers, so where do I even begin?” (Tommy, 06:12)
• On Interviewing:
  "Why I love my job is because I love people's stories, and I genuinely am interested in your story." (Tommy, 15:18)
• On Integrity:
  “I call this human being one on one. This is about integrity.” (Don, 18:53)
• On Consistency:
  "It's not by restriction. It's just how I like to eat, like how I like to live and what I like to do." (Tommy, 45:13)
• On Fitness:
  "For me, the real turning point…was in sixth grade…I started doing like push ups and sit ups in my room…It became, from that point forward, a big part of my life." (Tommy, 39:20)
• On Trusting the Gut:
  "I don't think we trust our gut enough, and I don't think we go after the things that are meaningful to us enough." (Don, 37:36)

Listener Q&A Highlights

Q1: Elements of a Great Interview

[51:24 – 53:44]

• Tommy’s Tips:
  • Research: “I walk into a room, and I will know more about the person I’m about to interview than I know about myself.”
  • Connect on Common Ground: Find relatable points of connection—hometown, experiences, interests.
  • Listen for Real: Go beyond the standard questions; show your investment in their story.

Q2: Favorite Exercises

[54:49 – 56:17]

• Don emphasizes back training for posture and overall health.
• Tommy champions training glutes: “Many men neglect training their ass…I think butt’s a great thing to train.”
• Both agree: train everything, stay consistent, enjoy the process.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Episode Theme: 01:00 – 02:06
• Tommy’s Origin & Early Career: 05:17 – 14:11
• Hosting Breakthroughs: 12:54 – 14:11
• Red Carpet Techniques: 14:17 – 22:38
• Podcast Journey: 26:23 – 34:49
• Solo Podcasting Success: 30:23 – 34:49
• Passion & Pivoting: 36:22 – 37:42
• Fitness & Daily Routine: 37:42 – 45:15
• Natural vs Enhanced Fitness: 45:15 – 48:43
• Future Goals: 48:47 – 51:24
• Listener Q&A: 51:24 – 56:17

Tone & Atmosphere

The discussion is upbeat, candid, relatable, and infused with humor and friendship. Don’s admiration for Tommy’s willingness to reinvent himself and Tommy’s humility and honesty create an encouraging atmosphere for listeners facing their own uncertainties and aspirations. Practical advice blends seamlessly with rich personal anecdotes throughout.

Recommended For

Anyone seeking motivation to chase a creative or unconventional dream, aspiring interviewers or media hosts, and listeners striving to build resilience, find purpose, or adopt more authentic approaches to health and success.

Listen to this episode for a reminder that strength is about adaptability, integrity, and showing up—over and over—for yourself and your dreams.