Toxic Diet Culture, Body Positivity & The Death Of Fitness? | P90X & Insanity Workout Visionary Carl Daikeler

In this episode of The Art of Being Well, I sit down with Carl Daikeler, the visionary entrepreneur behind Beachbody (now BODi) and the mastermind behind some of the most successful fitness programs of all time, including P90X, Insanity, and 21 Day Fix. With over 26 years in the industry, Carl has helped millions of people transform their health through structured fitness and nutrition programs. We discuss the evolution of at-home workouts, the myths around strength training—especially for women—and the cultural shifts in wellness from diet culture to body positivity. Carl also shares his thoughts on why free fitness content often falls short, how to stay focused in a noisy wellness world, and what’s next for BODi. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to take their fitness and nutrition to the next level.

Carl Daikeler is a visionary entrepreneur, and the CEO and co-founder of The Beachbody Company, leading innovator in the fitness and nutrition space. With a career spanning over four decades, Daikeler has been a trailblazer, pioneering unconventional and highly effective methods to help individuals reach their health and fitness goals. Daikeler co-founded Beachbody in 1998, now known as BODi, which has expanded into a powerhouse of fitness and nutrition tools under his leadership over the last 26 years. The brand is celebrated for its iconic programs such as P90X, Insanity, and 21 Day Fix, and its profound impact on millions worldwide. Over the years, Daikeler has overseen the development of continued innovation resulting in massive growth, including the creation of Shakeology, the world’s first superfood nutrition shake that has sold over a billion servings. He also hosts "The BODi Experience" podcast, is a successful Broadway theater producer winning three Tony awards, and a tech investor. You can connect with Carl Daikeler more through his instagram at @carldaikeler, LinkedIn or at https://www.bodi.com/.

A few of my favorite things we cover in this episode: 

•   Carl Daikeler’s journey into the fitness, wellness, and nutrition industry and how he built Beachbody (now BODi).
• The evolution of Beachbody’s most iconic programs, from P90X to Insanity, and how they revolutionized at-home fitness.
• How the 21 Day Fix became a game-changer by integrating structured nutrition with fitness.
• The importance of strength training for women and why lifting weights won’t make you bulky.
• How the fitness industry has changed over the past 25+ years and whether those changes have been for the better.
• The downside of over-consuming free fitness content and why structured programs drive real results.
• The cultural shift from restrictive diet culture to “health at any size”—where do we find a balanced approach?
• Carl’s take on cutting through misinformation in the wellness space and staying focused on true health.

Links to things we talked about in this episode: 

• Go to qualialife.com/WILL for up to $100 OFF Qualia Mind, and as a listener of The Art of Being Well use code WILL at checkout for an additional 15% off any purchase. For your convenience Qualia Mind is also available at select GNC locations near you.
• Listeners of The Art of Being Well can claim an exclusive three-month free trial, with no credit card required at www.YNAB.com/willcole.
• SuppCo is currently in beta and users can get 100% FREE access by going to supp.co/WILLCOLE. Podcast listeners will also get early access to SuppCo’s founding membership when it launches in early 2025.
• Go to lumen.me/WILLCOLE to get 20% off your Lumen.
• You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/WILLCOLE and using code WILLCOLE at checkout.

Happy listening and we hope you learned a little bit more on the art of being well!

If you like what you hear, please rate and review the podcast, hit subscribe and pass it along to a friend.

In Health,

Dr. Will Cole