What if you built a billion-dollar fitness empire — and then had the courage to tear it down for something better?

In this powerful episode of The Big Silence, Karena Dawn sits down with Carl Daikeler, founder of Beachbody (now known as BODi), the man behind household names like P90X, Insanity, Shakeology, and Morning Meltdown 100. But this isn’t just a story of success — it’s a brutally honest look at motivation, body image, entrepreneurship, and the daily mental work it takes to keep going when things get hard.

From growing up backstage in a Pennsylvania theater to running a global health brand with over a million users, Carl shares the emotional, mental, and spiritual tools that have kept him moving forward. You’ll hear about the behind-the-scenes challenges of rebranding from Beachbody to BODi, the surprising role Broadway played in his journey, and his no-BS take on fitness fads, GLP-1s, and tech obsession.

Carl and Karena unpack the myths of the wellness industry — including why the best fitness “tech” is already inside you.

• Carl created Beachbody to help impatient, goal-oriented people get consistent without loving fitness.
• Success didn’t come from being a guru — it came from being a relatable customer.
• “Day one to day done”: Programs need structure, not endless motivation.
• Community was always the secret sauce: message boards before social media.

• P90X’s breakout success during the 2008 recession changed the game.
• Word-of-mouth became the strategy behind the multi-level model.
• “The customer who solves their lifestyle problem deserves the reward.”
• Carl defends the ethics and intent behind Beachbody’s direct sales shift — and why it had to evolve.

• Carl’s stance: These meds are tools — but not solutions without resistance training and nutrition.
• “Lifestyle change is so hard… but if you can monetize your consistency? That’s powerful.”
• The secret pill culture from the ‘90s is back — but smarter wellness demands a full-picture approach.
• Fitness tech is great — until it overrides your intuition.

• Wake-up time: ~5–6 AM, no alarm.
• Lemon water + ginger + olive oil + kefir shot = ritual jumpstart.
• 3.5-minute cold plunge followed by a 45-min workout.
• Weekend DIY meal prep keeps him on track — and surprisingly, he hates vegetables.

• “It’s about the objective — even if it's just influencing one person.”
• Reads company case studies and biographies to stay grounded.
• Avoids victim mindset: “Self-pity invites fear, and fear kills creativity.”
• Expansion, not perfection, keeps him engaged after 27 years.

• Beachbody = outdated ideals; BODi = well-being and “health esteem.
• Carl wanted his kids to grow up with a healthier message around body image.
• Despite board resistance, he pushed the rebrand through for long-term values.
• “Do I want to be known for six-pack abs… or for helping people love themselves enough to take care of themselves?”

(00:33:32) Where Fitness Needs to Go: Simple, Sustainable, and...

What if your anxiety is actually your soul speaking to you? In this episode of The Big Silence, Karena reunites with longtime friends and Almost 30 podcast co-founders Krista Williams and Lindsey Simcik to talk about life transitions, healing burnout, and the emotional power of their first book. From learning to listen to your intuition to rewriting generational body image beliefs, these two best friends open up about the lessons they wish they knew in their late 20s. With 120M+ downloads and a thriving global community, Almost 30 is a cultural phenomenon — and this conversation is a heart-expanding, soul-grounding glimpse into the wisdom behind it.

Krista and Lindsey share the unspoken signs of burnout — and the practices that helped them break the loop of over-functioning and inner criticism.

(00:00:00) Writing the Book That Didn’t Exist When They Were 29

• The Almost 30 book began as a guide for the women they once were: overwhelmed, uncertain, and hungry for more.
• Their Saturn Returns brought identity shifts, career pivots, and deep self-questioning.
• “No one prepares you for this phase of life — and we wanted to change that.”

(00:06:10) The Truth About Intuition and Why We Don’t Always Trust It

• “Your soul already knows the answer. But the noise of life drowns it out.”
• Quiet, prayer, journaling, and time off social media are keys to tuning back in.
• Anxiety often signals you're ignoring what your soul is trying to say.

(00:10:00) Understanding Burnout as a Mind-Body Loop

• Burnout can look like pushing, people-pleasing, and low-level anxiety you can’t shake.
• Their reframes: the inner critic becomes the inner coach; rest isn’t failure, it’s fuel.
• “If you keep pushing energy out, there’s no room for any to come back in.”

They get real about food shame, generational trauma, and how women can reclaim their bodies — not as objects, but as intuitive allies.

(00:21:30) Rewriting Generational Patterns Around Body and Worth

• Krista shares how her mother’s diet obsession shaped her secret eating disorder.
• Lindsey describes numbing through overworking, overexercising, and overgiving.
• “We learned to hate our bodies before we learned to love ourselves.”

(00:25:00) Body as Compass: What It Means to Truly Be in Your Body

• The body gives you signs — a tight chest, a headache, a gut feeling — and we ignore them at our own risk.
• “My body was trying to tell me I was in the wrong life. But I was too anxious to hear it.”

After a decade of building a business together, Krista and Lindsey get raw about friendship contracts, trust issues, and the hard work behind staying connected.

(00:38:00) Friendship in Transition: Divorce, Babies, and Bicoastal Life

• They explore the myth that friendships shouldn’t change — and why letting go is sometimes the most loving act.
• Their tools: therapy, coaching, and “clearing conversations.”
• “Our connection is the foundation of the podcast. But we had to fight for it.”

(00:41:45) Letting People Evolve Without Expecting Them to Stay the Same

• Real friendship means looser grip, fewer expectations, and more grace.
• “Your life doesn’t begin on the other side of a perfect relationship, job, or weight. It begins when you trust yourself.”

Thanks for the support from our

What if your symptoms weren’t “just in your head”? On this heartfelt and hilarious episode of The Big Silence, Karena sits down with Katy and Josh, the powerhouse couple behind the wellness brands Joi and Blokes (now unified under Relon). From four miscarriages and lost sex drives to unexpected weight gain and hormone havoc, they candidly share how their personal struggles with health, marriage, and identity led to the creation of a thriving health movement. Whether you're a woman navigating perimenopause, a man feeling off but unsure why, or a couple trying to make love and business work — this episode is packed with hope, humor, and healing.

• Katy and Josh reflect on nearly 10 years together — and how working together began with money, then real estate, and ultimately hormone health.
• Their health journey began in crisis: low libido, anxiety, perimenopause, and postpartum changes.
• A shared commitment to wellness helped them go from rock bottom to building a company based on lived experience.
• Why men’s hormonal health (and mental health) needs more visibility, especially during Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

• The couple opens up about enduring four miscarriages and the emotional toll it took on their marriage.
• Josh withdrew while Katy powered forward — causing emotional disconnection until they learned how to communicate again.
• How surrendering control (and stress) may have played a role in two natural pregnancies after IVF and surrogacy attempts.
• A powerful reminder: grief affects everyone differently — and healing takes teamwork.

• Josh shares the shame and confusion of low testosterone — and how addressing it changed everything.
• Katy opens up about anxiety, insomnia, and her game-changing experience with progesterone.
• Why checking both partners’ labs is crucial for a healthy relationship.
• Karena joins in on how sleep, stress, and sex drive shifted in her own hormonal journey.

• Katy and Karena talk lifting heavy, protein struggles, and redefining strength after 40.
• Josh lost over 50 pounds in 5 months — not with fads, but with free tools: sleep, movement, mindset, and consistency.
• “Movement is medicine”: how a simple walk can be the gateway to a healthier life.
• It’s not about quick fixes — it’s about reclaiming ownership over your body, one choice at a time.

• Why entrepreneurship as a couple isn’t for the faint of heart — but also deeply rewarding.
• The importance of boundaries (even when they’re broken at dinner).
• Their secret sauce: divide and conquer, communicate often, and trust each other’s zone of genius.
• Joi and Blokes are scaling — and staying true to its mission of helping others feel better.

This episode was Filmed at the Thompson Nashville.

Thanks for the support from our partners, including:

BetterHelp: Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit...