Jillian Michaels Talks Podcast, Richard Simmons, Supplements, and More

Most people hear the name "Jillian Michaels" and probably recall her time on the show The Biggest Loser. Admittedly, that's where my mind went when I heard her name again last week. The fitness expert and TV personality served as one of the trainers on the show since it began all the way back in 2004. Despite last appearing on the show in 2011, she has had no shortage of creative ventures since.

Since then, Michaels has been the star of her own E! show, Just Jillian, a recurring commentator on all things health and fitness, and as of late, the host of her own podcast. Michaels recently announced that her podcast, Keeping It Real with Jillian Michaels, has just expanded to being under the umbrella of Bill Maher's Club Random Studios.

As such, Keeping It Real will be more than just a podcast: it'll have a video component to go along with the audio too!

I had the privilege of chatting with Jillian Michaels this morning. In addition to her podcast, I was curious to ask her what kind of impact, if any, the late, great Richard Simmons had on fitness and exercise as an industry. This led to Michaels opening up about her childhood influences that led her to pursuing fitness and weight loss as a lifestyle:

[Richard Simmons] didn't [have an impact on my work] because I was an overweight kid, so I wasn't watching a ton of fitness stuff as a kid. I got really into martial arts, that's really what turned it around for me [....] that said, I also of course respect him [....] and the Jane Fondas of the world, and Denise Austins that came before me and paved the way. I respect them as businesspeople, I respect them as professionals [....] - Jillian Michaels, per our interview

Michaels' podcast covers a number of significant developments in the health and fitness world, many of which controversial, which is why the partnership with the no-holds-barred talk show host Bill Maher and his podcasting platform was a must. In addition to her podcast, Michaels and I talked about supplements, combatting the human urge to be lazy, and some exercises those with stationary jobs (cough, cough myself) can do in order to stay in good health.

Keeping It Real with Jillian Michaels is available on all major platforms, including YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, with new episodes releasing every Monday. Take a listen to my full interview with Jillian Michaels below!