Natalia Mehlman Petrzela

Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, author of Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession, discusses the history of fitness in the US, its impact on national community, industry, security, wealth, and wellness. They delve into the origins of fitness in the US, including the influence of European practices and the role of Muscle Beach in promoting bodybuilding. They also explore the transformation of fitness, the shift in target demographics, and the rise of private organizations. The chapter ends with a discussion on the pandemic's impact on exercising and the speaker's current projects.

Historian and fitness instructor Natalia Mehlman Petrzela discusses the implications of our exercise culture and the lack of access to fitness resources. The podcast explores the importance of exercise for mental well-being, unexpected contributors to the fitness industry, and the inequalities in access to exercise for working-class Americans.

Historian Natalia Mehlman Petrzela and Greg LaBlanc discuss the history and shifts in fitness culture throughout the years, including how fitness has become part of a wellness movement and the inequality in access to fitness. They also explore the changing narratives and motives in fitness culture, the decline of physical education in schools, the connection between fitness and political ideologies, and the journey of yoga in the United States.