From Bike to Mic: What Peloton Can Teach Us About Radio
Right before the world heard the news about the pandemic, I ordered a Peloton bike. At the time, I had no idea how meaningful that decision would become. What started as a piece of exercise equipment quickly became something much more.
During those long days at home, the instructors were broadcasting from their homes too. We were all going through the pandemic together. Their encouragement, honesty, and positivity lifted my spirit in a time when we all needed it.
The instructors began to feel familiar, like personalities you look forward to hearing. They reminded me of what we’ve always known in radio: people connect with people.
When I made it into a live ride class at the Peloton Studios New York, it was everything I hoped it would be. In fact, it was so great that one ride turned into three. I found myself going back again and again, each time reminded of how powerful that in-person connection can be. Meeting the instructors I had ridden with for years and seeing that they were just as real, just as encouraging off camera, mattered.
A couple of years ago, it looked like Peloton might be struggling financially. But they made a strategic reset. They shifted their focus beyond just fitness and leaned into what was already working, the personalities and the experience.
It’s what we’ve always said in radio.
Connection matters.
And Peloton doubled down on that idea in a way that clearly worked.
I can tell you exactly why I connect with certain instructors.
Take Matt Wilpers. He’s from Atlanta, always smiling while I’m riding with him. He talks about loving his mom. He runs races all over the country. He shows up for his friends, and they show up for him, especially in class. You feel that.
Or Jess Sims, a former kindergarten teacher and WNBA player. She shares stories about going to Payless Shoes with her mom, brings a fun, spicy energy, and even taught me how to make “sweat angels” on my mat.
It’s those personal details. Those real-life moments. That authenticity.
That’s what builds connection.
Because whether it’s a Peloton instructor, a morning show host, or someone on social media, the impact is the same. When people feel like they know you, when they feel encouraged by you, they come back.
That’s the opportunity we have every day, every break.
Personalities matter because they’re more than voices, they’re people who share themselves, spark connection, and reflect God’s light in ways that help listeners feel truly seen. When we support, guide, and develop them, the connections they create aren’t just heard, they’re felt, lasting in hearts long after the broadcast ends.
And that’s the work we get to do every day, helping people feel known, helping them shine, helping them carry that light forward.
Beth Bacall is a media personality and talent coach. Catch her on Peloton at @BethBacall.
