Emily Abbate is a veteran fitness journalist who walks the walk (okay, more like runs). She’s best known as the creator and host of Hurdle, one of the most popular fitness podcasts in the world. Emily has interviewed fitness icons like Tia-Clair Toomey, spent a day in the life of Rich Froning, and asked tough questions of sports celebrities like Alex Morgan. And she’s only getting started.
But her fitness cred goes beyond the podcast space. A contributor to Women’s Health, Men’s Health, GQ, SELF, and many more, Emily has covered almost everything hot, new, and relevant in wellness. That makes her INCREDIBLY good at seeing through the smoke and mirrors to determine what’s legit — and what’s fluff — in fitness and nutrition.
Emily joins the BarBend podcast to discuss the past, present, and future of fitness journalism. She also gives us tips on how to separate the real from the hype online, including which types of fitness influencers to avoid. Emily also opens up about her personal struggles, and how leaning into wellness inspired the creation of Hurdle and fueled its growth.
In this episode of The BarBend Podcast, guest Emily Abbate and host David Thomas Tao discuss:
- Emily’s background in fitness and journalism (2:30)
- The most important differentiators in health & fitness journalism (4:47)
- Why fitness journalists have to play “defense AND offense” (6:45)
- Misconceptions in health & fitness journalism (7:20)
- Emily’s personal fitness goals and journey (9:02)
- Balancing personal fitness goals with the requirements of writing on the space and “walking the walk” with athletes (12:06)
- Emily’s time with Rich Froning in Cookeville, TN (14:45)
- The double-edged sword of strength influencers on social media (19:15)
- How to determine who you should trust online (21:45)
- Is strength training leaving any communities behind? (22:25)
- What’s still missing in fitness media (25:55)
- The Hurdle Podcast and how creativity can stem from personal struggle (28:19)
Relevant links and further reading:
- Follow Emily on Instagram
- Subscribe and listen to Hurdle
- Follow Hurdle Podcast on Instagram
