Like John Elway or Daniel Day Lewis, Chelsea and Robert left the scene at the apex of their accomplishments.  Before their official term as Athlete of The Season had even expired, these two beloved DBS athletes moved to New York City.  I caught up with them for a make-up interview over video chat many months later in the dead of winter. Though it was bitter cold in their new city, Chelsea and Robert’s warm feelings for The Shop emanated so tangibly that Austin reached a high of 80 degrees only hours later on that day.

“Imposter Syndrome”

Well, lets just jump in here- I’ll record and transcribe this, so if we get into any tawdry personal details, you can just ask for it to be off the record.  The first thing I want to ask is, you both look great, what are you doing for fitness in New York City?

RM:  My workout routines are not what they were when I was in Austin going to Dane’s- sadly.  Graduate school has chipped in to that, but I have a gym a block over from my school building and over the last year and a half I’ve gone there a lot and done a lot more cardio and bodyweight exercises.  When I’ve gotten really pressed for time, I have a workout app on my phone that programs little workouts to do at home- push ups and squats and wall sits.

CB:  Unfortunately, with the added commute time we have in New York, we aren’t able to workout together any more.  In Austin, we really consistently worked out together- went to Dane’s a lot together. I knew that coming to New York, it was going to be really hard to find something like Dane’s.  Ugh… but what I didn’t realize is that it was actually going to be impossible.  So I’ve been doing a mix of strength and conditioning classes through my work and then putting in a lot of cycling classes that have a weight lifting component- I have classpass.  I found a couple “strength” classes, but the most weight we lift is like 15lbs- I pick up the 15lbs and people are like “Oh my god! That girl is lifting 15lbs!”-

Pee check her- she’s on steroids!

CB:  And those were like the lightest weights at Dane’s- so it is different for me.  We miss Dane’s a lot if you can’t tell. *laughs*

Needy ex-boyfriend question: what do you miss the most about The Shop?

RM:  *laughing and then pausing*  You know, you came back just as we left and that was exceptionally cruel.  You were like our first coach that we really bonded with-

CB:  I must have told you this at some point, but when we first started I took a couple classes and I was like “I don’t like this, it is too hard.”  Everyone was being incredibly nice and welcoming, but I just had imposter syndrome. We went to your class and you made a joke about a stretch being really great for when you’re playing Mr. Mistoffelees in your local production of Cats.  We left class and I was like, “Okay, I’ll keep going, but only if we go to that guys class, because he’s making musical theatre jokes and I finally don’t feel like an imposter.” We only went to your classes for a while-

RM:  We went to the Chad Ramsey Wednesday night class.

CB:  Yeah!  Until we finally got comfortable and I felt less imposter syndrome.  But now what’s great is after being at Dane’s so long, I never feel like I don’t belong in a gym setting.

So you’ve carried that confidence with you?

CB:  Definitely in class settings.  Working out just on my own, there are too many dudes trying to tell me which weights I should be using- I’m like “get out!  I know what I’m doing!” The other day I was deciding which kettlebell to use- they weren’t label and all the weights are the same size- so I went for the heavier one and a guy was like, um- I think you want this one and pointed at the lighter one.  I said “no, no- I want the heavier one.”

Bro please!  When did that imposter syndrome go away at Dane’s?

CB:  *Looking at Robert*  I don’t know, did you have imposter syndrome?  That might have just been me.

RM:  I don’t that I felt imposter syndrome exactly.  I do remember the first couple weeks just being in agonizing pain and muscle soreness.  We started with a few introduction classes with John, just learning the movements like kettlebell swings- which I never felt like I got the hang of. (He LIES dear reader!  I can attest that Robert’s kettlebell swing became delightful indeed within a few months of practice!)  After that we had a class where we did this cycle of like forty pull-ups-

CB:  I don’t think we ever had that many pull-ups in a class again.

RM:  So, like just not being able to extend my arms.  The soreness wore off as we became more accustomed to doing the moves.  It is a great community at Dane’s, so once we’d gone to a couple Steak & Wine Nights and gotten to know some of the regulars in our classes- you start to see a lot of the same faces in a given class time- we had our 6:30pm weeknight crew that we got to know and started to feel like part of the community.

CB: Yeah, that’s a good point.  For me, feeling at ease came with feeling more confidence with the movements themselves, but then also just the community.  The people were really nice- seeing the same faces and feeling encouragement.

Do you have any memories of the first people you connected with or times where you had a good interaction with another member?  Or an awkward interaction- those are always fun.

CB:  Ooohh… Awkward interactions.  Off the record? *laughing*

RM:  I remember at one of the first Steak & Wine Nights getting to chat with Matt and Michelle McCartney.  Getting to know them as people with lives outside the gym. At first pass, when you’re first introduced to (the gym) setting, people at the gym can feel a little anonymous.

CB:  Matt and Michelle and Fabiola and Juan and Mark-

Yep, the PM crowd.  I was partying with Juan and Fabiola last night actually-

CB:  Woah!  Jealous!  Juan travels so much, I’m hoping they’ll swing through New York some time soon.

I wanted to take a minute to talk about the two of you as artists- you’re in New York for film school right Robert?  What was the specific degree you’re pursuing?

RM:  Yeah, it is an MFA in film directing.

Can you both just talk for a minute about your artistry and what you do?

CB:  You go!

RM:  So I’m studying at NYU to be a film director; it is a great program with a rich tradition in the film industry.  I get to learn from a lot of great professional filmmakers and it is training us through making films of our own.  Last year, I wrote and directed three films. This year, I write and direct just one which I shot in the fall and now am editing.

Is there a film that you have worked on that you are particularly proud of or intrigued by?

RM:  I really enjoyed the experience of making the film that I’m editing now; it is a psychological thriller set in New York.  I got to work with some very talented actors and a wonderful crew. It was a great experience and I am excited to finish it.

That is really cool.  And you Ms. Bunn, can you talk about what you’re working on?

CB:  In Austin, I was doing quite a bit of improv.  I actually had quite a bit of support from folks at Dane’s!  In New York, I’ve actually shifted gears a bit to focusing on screen-writing.  Working at google is still my day job, but my creative pursuit has been screen-writing.  I’ve also been taking classes at Upright Citizens Brigade to sort of work my way into the community there.  I’m hoping to get more involved in the improv scene. It takes time to earn your way in.

That is very interesting and was a genuine question- I really didn’t know what it was that you were working on creatively in your new city.  I’m always curious how fitness and art interplay. For instance, when I started working out seriously in my mid-twenties, it just opened up a whole other set of characters I was comfortable playing.  I was just more confident in my body and the way that I moved. I was able to play bad guys much easier. On your fitness journey, have you noticed that influencing your art at all?

CB:  One of the last shows I did in Austin before moving was “Funny Ladies of Rassling” which was an improvisational comedy show where we had rassling personas and we actually had a match at the end of each night.  That was the first time I was able to really fully bring fitness into improv and informing a character. That was a fun experience; I briefly thought about throwing comedy away and joining an independent wrestling league- apparently a pretty big one- in New Jersey, but I don’t know if I can hang with that commute.  So I might stick with the soft arts of improv comedy. I would say also that having helped on Robert’s film shoot earlier this year, just having the stamina to get through a long day on set-

RM:  Yeah, filmmaking is a super physically demanding activity, so being in shape is crucial for that.  You are on your feet and moving constantly, so you don’t want physical fatigue taking the edge off of your ability to make creative decisions.  Working out also definitely helps in the more solitary aspects of the process; the writing, the planning- working out on a regular basis just helps just keeps you fresh mentally and helps you to sleep better and just perform better all-around.  I would add to that, that working out- particularly with knowledgeable coaches- provides a great model for developing skills. Working out is just a great metaphor for trying to improve in an enterprise like filmmaking where you are working on improving lots of different skills and repeating them over and over.  Getting feedback and trying to raise your level of performance.

That is a really good point.  I’ve thought about that a lot- as I’ve gotten back to The Shop and been focused on my work there, I have spent less time on my artistic endeavors.  I have had moments of frustration when the juices aren’t flowing, but I’ve had to check myself and remind myself that my lifts would all suck if I weren’t doing them regularly, so of course my writing has not been great because I haven’t been picking up the pen and paper regularly.  You’re right, it is a very good metaphor.

RM:  The idea that any skill is a muscle that can be strengthened is a great life lesson.

That is a very thoughtful observation.  So this is your first time living in a city the size of New York- how has that adjustment been?

RM:  *Looking at Chelsea*  You’re fresh-

CB:  Yeah, you’ve got a year on me.  I would say the thing that has helped me the most has been establishing routine.  One of the first things I did here was to get a gym pass. I didn’t really like the first classes I went to, but I went to keep some semblance of routine and what my life was like before the move.  Honestly, I feel kind of like I’m on some kind of extended work trip or vacation- it doesn’t really feel like home yet.  Routine helps it to feel more like home.  Manhattan is like the world’s best adult playground.  The difference is really just that, outside of daily routine, when you want to go out and have dinner or go to a show, you have some of the world’s best at your fingertips.  There are amazing restaurants and shows- I went with a friend to a broadway show just on a whim. Off the record- or on- I think Robert is giving much better answers here. Just attribute my name to some of them.  *laughing*

RM:  Um… *smiling*… New York is a very exciting place to live.  I definitely miss a lot of things about Austin- the friends, and the food, and soforth-

CB:  The weather…

RM:  Yes, the weather.  Having your own space.  In New York, you can never escape being around other people.  You’re just constantly surrounded in buildings, on the sidewalk, on the train; it is just tough to get a moment to yourself.  But there are so many exciting things happening as Chelsea was saying. You can experience the best of the best.

This is the point in the interview where I just quickly go through some random questions with you- sometimes they have nothing to do with anything and sometimes they have everything to do with everything.  So… if you were on death row and you had a last meal, what would that last meal be?

RM:  Oh wow.

CB:  Oof.

You have to go to that dark place Chelsea.

CB:  Agh… this is such a morbid question.  Really I should say something intelligent about the prison industrial complex and how people don’t actually get last meals.  Theoretically, I get one last meal?  You know what, I’m homesick so all the stuff that comes to mind is from Austin.  I would probably have my last meal at Uchi Ko or Foreign & Domestic, which are two favorites in Austin that I’ve been missing a lot lately.

RM:  Yeah, I would say Uchi and particularly singling out their 72 hour braised short rib.

Do you have a drink of choice?  For me, it is an up Manhattan.

CB: Really?!?!  Bourbon or rye?

Oh, rye.  And yours Robert?

RM:  Oh, we just had Manhattans last night!  Vodka martini with an olive.

Chelsea?  Lukewarm PBR?

CB:  Cowboy cold!  Um… I guess maybe vodka martini with an olive.

You guys are just adorable-

CB:  Actually, bourbon on the rocks is good for me.  I’m amending my answer from cowboy cold PBR to bourbon on the rocks.

Amendment accepted. What is a surprising thing that really annoys you in the world?

CB:  That’s a tough one.  Lots of things annoy me- Robert doing better at interviews than me…

You’re doing fine Chelsea.  He is doing really good though!

CB:  If we’re talking petty annoyances, then people talking on their phone in the bathroom.

Public bathrooms or any bathroom?

CB:  Public bathrooms.

Oh good, because I’m actually sitting on the toilet right now.  It is just out of frame.

CB:  Well you aren’t in public, so it is fine.

RM:  When people smoke cigarettes on subway trains.

I think that is aggressively annoying-

CB:  Like too aggressive.  If my answer is people talking on phones in public toilets and yours is people smoking on trains, then I am going to need to one-up you!

If you had a chance to have dinner with or spend an evening with a historical figure, who would it be?

CB:  *after a surprisingly short pause*  Ann Richards- the former governor of Texas.  I should say someone in entertainment so that I can ask advice, but Ann Richards would probably be a lot more fun to have dinner with.  I actually always thought George W Bush would be fun to have dinner with.

RM:  People say that he is a lot of fun.  Um… Yeah, I would probably say some president.  Like Obama.

That’d be a good hang.  Do either of you guys have a surprising celebrity crush?

CB:  Surprising?  My celebrity crush is Gael García Bernal, but there should be nothing surprising about that.  *slightly nervous laughing*. I have kind of a crush on Phoebe Waller Bridges, but again- not that surprising!

RM:  That is great- I don’t have one on hand, so Chelsea can have mine.

CB:  I’ll have two…

In a similar vein, who would play you in a movie- actually, you should cast one another!

CB:  *zero pause*  It has to be what’s his name from Rushmore-

RM:  Jason Schwartzman?  Sure, I’ll take it.

CB:  Cast me- it better be cute (proceeds to distract Robert by striking various cutesy poses for a delightful uncomfortably long amount of time)

Is this the question that ends your relationship?

CB: Yep, nine and a half years gone!

RM:  *continue to very carefully consider*  Lets just say Tina Fey.

CB:  The last improv show I did, someone told me I reminded them of Owen Wilson.  And I think they meant looks like too.

RM:  I don’t see it…

How many vodka martinis had that person had?

CB:  It was 1pm in the afternoon, so a very sexy time for comedy.

Chelsea, this dovetails with what you talked about earlier regarding professional wrestling- entering in to the ring or just a random room, what would your entrance music be?

CB:  I actually did have an entrance song, but it was for a really weird character.  *thinks for a long moment*

I think I’ve said this in interviews before, but mine would be- and I don’t know why it is this, but it definitely is this- “I Want You to Want Me” by Cheap Trick.  I think I’m just an emotionally very needy person and the song also just rips.

CB: *laughing*  I would maybe say something by The Scissor sisters… or maybe Rico Nasty.  I think maybe “Big Dick Energy” by Rico Nasty. You should look her up.

RM:  Um… Hmm… Maybe the song “I” by Kendrick Lamar.

Good call!  We’ve been talking for about forty minutes here, so I think we’ve covered some excellent ground, but I always like to give the Athletes of The Season- even though it is a couple seasons past in your case-  a chance to impart some words of wisdom to their minions. You are now in the Pantheon of great Athletes of The Season.

CB:  Oh my gosh…  What an honor!

Yeah, your words carry great weight, so any advice, or warnings, or admonishments- this could be the airing of the griefs.

CB:  *long thoughtful pause*  I just don’t think I have a succinct way of saying what I want to say.  Off the top of my head, I like to bring a playful attitude to the gym; whether that is pretending I’m a bear when doing bear crawls or trying to encourage the people around me, I think it is good to not take ourselves too seriously.  I think it is important for adults to play and I think the gym is a very safe place to play like a child on the playground. That has really worked for me and made workouts feel like a space where I belong and can bring my full self. I would also say something to the effect of it is good to be competitive with yourself and not others.  That took me a while. I would get too caught up with something like “that person is ahead of me, but they aren’t doing a full push-up”.  It took me a while to learn to not compare myself with others.  I still do it- I was in the gym today and was looking at other people’s watts and was like “hell yeah, I’m working harder than any of these people!”; I have to fight that urge to compare myself to others.  I feel like I get more competing with myself versus with others. I get more when I bring my full self by being playful.

I think that is an important thing and you definitely brought it to class- that sense of playfulness and not being overly self-important.

CB:  It is so nice to hear that.  Also, the coaches that we were drawn too, like you and Autumn and Keith were all very playful people too, so that creates space for those of us who need the space to be a little silly from time to time.

RM:  I’d say, just appreciate what a great place Dane’s is.  Not having it has really reminded us of how amazing it was.  I would also say, check out Strength class. The last two years I was at Dane’s, I really loved having the balance of Fusion and Strength- I thought it really rounded out my fitness routine in a great way.  And just keep going consistently- as consistently as you can. I broke my ankle the summer before I left for school and even while I couldn’t walk or put weight on it, I still went to Dane’s. I didn’t let the routine slip and that was a huge part of my recovery.  Even though I wasn’t able to do all the exercises, the coaches were really amazing at accommodating me. Keith really went the extra mile creating special workouts and adapting the day’s workout to what I was able to do. I will always be grateful for that. When I got out of the cast and was able to start working out again, I hadn’t let the routine slip.  Just being mentally prepared to set the time aside to go to the gym each day. Even though my muscles had a lot of work to do to rebuild, the consistency was still there.

You guys, those were both killer last answers!

CB:  We can say so many nice things about the community and the coaches and our experience there; the individuals and the collective whole.  It really changed my life. If we had moved to New York before going to Dane’s I would not be like “okay, I’ve been here for a week, I need to go to a fitness class.”  It totally reprogrammed my brain.

That is one of the ways that I can tell you two are staying in shape.  You both look great, but you’re also able to just drop in to class any time you are back home.

CB: I’m going to be there in a couple weeks and I am terrified to come to classes because I just have no sense of how much weight I can lift.  But I know there will be other things I can do to keep up.

RM:  Yeah, every time I go to Austin I email John like six weeks before to make sure stuff is set up so we can take classes.  Shout out to Dane Krager.

Dane Krager… Who dat?  

Before leaving The Shop in 2017, conducting our Athlete of the Month Interviews was one of my very favorite duties; getting to take those reins back from the big fella was one of the reasons coming back was a no-brainer for me.  What a nifty interview to come back to!  In addition to a genuinely engaging conversation with Dom-Dom, I was introduced to an amazing new spot to grab a brew and a bite to eat.  Shouts to Sour Duck on the east side and eternal high fives to my new Houston home girl!

I asked Coach Mitch for a question to ask you when I was leaving Manor just now.  He wanted me to ask how many tattoos do you have?

Oh, okay!  *silently counting for about 15 seconds* I would say roughly 15 and I’m going to keep adding more.

Do you have a favorite current one?

I’m really obsessing over this piece *points to a large mostly floral piece on her arm*.  I’m getting it done at a place called Modern Heart Tattoo on Burnett and it is a girl called Karina; her specialty is flowers and she’s really amazing.

I’m going to have to get something from her because that is exactly what I like.  Okay, so I’m a movie executive and we are in an elevator together and I want you to give me the pitch of what a movie about your life would look like and why it would be compelling before I get off the elevator. 

Originally from Houston- really big Houston sports fan.  I came to Austin and have been a preschool teacher for ten years.  I am now on the cusp of being a travel nanny consistently with families.  I have traveled to Australia, The Hamptons, and a lot of other places this upcoming year.  So like going on vacations with families while watching these children but also getting to explore other countries.

So the film would be about your exploits traveling across the globe?  I think I would greenlight that.  How did you end up working out at Dane’s Body Shop?

I became really close with Stellen and Duke, Dane and Ryan’s sons, and Dane would often propose that I come to The Shop.  I went to a couple free community workouts and the gym that I was at just wasn’t inspiring me.  I had big goals and I felt like Dane’s was the best fit; the community is really amazing and all the coaches are really awesome.  I’ve seen major progress!

So what have you noticed in terms of progress and changes?

I’ve definitely lost weight that I can see.  I feel a lot stronger when running or biking or even walking and hiking.  My mood has changed entirely- I feel a lot more energetic.  I feel like I’m finally taking care of me and that feels really nice.  It used to be a dread to go to workout and now it is a pleasure.

Did you have dread when you first started at Dane’s?

I did because I always got nervous working out around other people.  The things that you think would happen in a workout class that you have nightmares about just didn’t happen.  I felt more comfortable with myself and being around others helped me to feel motivated to push myself harder.  People started telling me that because I was pushing myself to go harder they went harder; so we were motivating one another.

That is cool how that happens.  I had the same experience; when I first started taking classes, even as someone working in the fitness industry, I was terrified of the workouts.  I would come home, go straight to the bathroom, and just wring the sweat out of my clothes over the bathtub.  It was terrifying initially, but like you say then the motivation happens.

It’s the motivation!  I’ve had to step out of comfort zones at Dane’s.  It used to be that I would be shy about partner workouts or getting my name called in class, but now I walk in there with my head held high and I’m just like f*** yeah, let’s do this!  Like it is going to suck, but it is going to be worth it.  I feel like it has helped with a lot of relationships I’ve had.  People see me doing this stuff, people at work or back home in Houston who are asking me for advice on various fitness things.

You’ve brought up the community at large at the Shop- in my experience any athlete of the month or athlete of the season has particularly strong relationships within the community.  Can you talk about some of the relationships you have with people in the community?

I’m going to definitely have to call out Beth Felker because I got paired up with her on some barbell exercises during my 2nd class and I was very concerned that she had asked to partner with me because she is ripped.

She is kind of ripped.

We were doing power cleans or deadlifts and she just kind of took me under her wing and has always been my go to for personal and workout related things.

It kind of blends together doesn’t it?

Yes!  She helped me to realize I could “do it”.  Very motivating and good at giving me pointers.

And that was before she was a coach?

Yeah!

Is it weird that she is a coach now?

No, I love it.  I’ve gone to a couple of her classes and it makes me so happy.  I feel so much more comfortable in class when I know the person I am getting coached by or working out with.  Another person I would say is Coach Beth-

Beth #1?  Beth Reyburn?

Yes, Beth #1!  Another person who would just open up conversations about anything and everything.  I felt a little shy at first but then I put myself out there with her and tried to talk about personal life stuff.  She’s a great person- always checking in on me- and I feel like I need to give her big credit for being a major person in helping through my journey at The Shop.

She was intimidating for me.  I was a new coach and she was just a member, I don’t think she was certified as a trainer or anything yet, but the first class I had was 5am and I couldn’t even process it.  I was like, I don’t know if I’m worthy to be in the same room as this human!  She’s amazing.  Anyone not named Beth you’d like to shout out?

The Kragers of course.  Ryan would always be my partner during workouts.  She and Dane are really amazing people that I’m so happy I’ve gotten to know at preschool and at The Shop.  Stormie is great too and another person who is on the same level as everyone else- doesn’t think she is better than anyone, just there to teach and guide and workout.

Do you have past or current goals that you can talk about and also how you approached those goals? 

I had one goal to be the Body Shop Athlete-

So that is one goal accomplished!  How did you make that happen?

Manifesting it really hard and just constantly getting my face out there.  My next goals are losing a little bit more weight and toning up- so keeping up with strength classes.

Can you talk a little bit about the difference between Strength and Fusion in your experience?

 The way that I explain it to people is that Fusion has more kettlebells and HIIT workouts whereas Strength is more based just on two or three major barbell movements but like really stacking on the weight.  I love both of them.  I love Fusion because I love kettlebells and I appreciate the mixture of yoga and cardio and full body workouts.  I love Strength because I’m curious about the barbell movements and I have weight goals I want to hit.

Do you have any off the top of your head you’d like to share?

Yeah!  Last Community Gains, I shot for 225lbs on the deadlift and I got 210 so this year I’m going to shoot for 220 and will be okay with 215.  I’m just trying to go up in weight- that is why I’ve been going to Strength more.

We touched on your job and we’ve talked about The Shop- what else do you do when you’re not working or working out?

I like to hike, I babysit, I like to go to local art shows; last week I went to a crafts market, just being out in Austin and getting to know the city.  Spending time with my dogs-

Tell me about your dogs- what are their names, what kind of dogs are they?

Soybean and Maddie.  Soybean is a black and white shitzu and Maddie is a white maltese.  Soybean is 13, so he is a senior but he acts like a teenager- he is the love of my life.

I like to round out these interviews with a series of random questions with no relationship to The Shop.  The first one I think you might have just answered- doggies or kitties?

Both!  I’ve come around to cats because I’ve babysat for a lot of families who have cats and those cats just so happen to really like me.  I told myself that I cannot get a cat because I already have two dogs- you can’t let the animals take over.  If something were to happen to one of my dogs (heaven forbid!) I think I would get a cat.

You’re open to both?  You are good swinging both ways?

I am open to swinging both ways and they just have to accept it.

As long as everyone is open and honest with one another right?  Okay, if you were to have a song that would be your entrance song any time you walked into a room, what would that song be?

That’s so funny!  It would be Django Jane by Janelle Monae.  There is a lyric- “sassy, classy, Kool-aid with the kale”.

That is amazing!  I love Janelle Monae- I’m a big fan of “Pynk” off her newest album.  Earlier I asked for the elevator pitch on a biopic being made of your life.  Have you thought about who would play you?

Oh gosh!  I would say Brittany Murphy, but she’s not with us.

I could see that- pour one out for our homie Brittany.  Maybe we could resurrect her? 

I used to have red hair-

And you’ve got similar large eyes.  I like it- she would be great.  It is a shame that she isn’t around because I think this movie is getting made.  If you were a vegetable, what would you be and why?

I would have to say a carrot because there are so many colors and they’re delicious whether you steam them or eat them raw.  They mesh well with different dipping sauces.

Great answer!  We talked about the Shop community earlier and this is a very specific lens for looking at the community.  We’re in primary season and we just had a debate; of all the people at the Shop- coaches or members- who would you nominate to be president of The United States?

I would have to say coach Beth Reyburn.

We can go with that as a thought experiment, but unfortunately she was born in Canada so she isn’t eligible.  I think she would be great though- would Beth Felker be a runner up?

Oh yeah!  I could have called her out as well.  Oh, and Mark Hernandez!  He was the one that I initially told that I would get my name on that board (as Athlete of the Month) and he kept encouraging me and was one of the first ones I told.  He gets along with everybody-

My first reaction is that this is the best answer I’ve ever heard when asking this question, but thinking about I think my honest thought is that he is too good to be president. 

Yeah, because he like gets along with everyone!

That man has a special place in my heart.  Okay, so expanding the focus a bit, you have a chance to have a night out with any person from history alive or dead- dinner or drinks or whatever.  Who do you choose?

 Wow.  This is a big one.  I would probably want to sit and listen to Eckhart Tolle.

Oh yeah- “The Power of Now” right?  Is he a big influence on you?

Yeah, I love motivational books.  I love his view that the present moment is all you really have because I used to always be someone who would think about the future and stress about it and I would also live in the past.  I didn’t realize how much I had been missing until I started being more present- being more like I have to take advantage of now because the future might not be.  So since then I’ve said yes to a lot of things I wouldn’t have said yes to and I’ve probably made some of the best memories and met some of the best people.

That is a very thoughtful answer Dom!  A couple more quick ones- do you have a favourite taco in town?  Me coming back to town I’m trying to get as many tacos in me as possible.

The Baja Shrimp at Torchy’s and there is one at Taco Deli, a breakfast taco, with sirloin steak in it.  You have to add the mashed potatoes to it!

Oh wow!  I will throw that in to my next order at TD.  If you were a super hero, what would your power be?

Telepathy.  Although I think it would get a little stressful and I would want to be able to turn it off.  So maybe teleportation?

Anything that is tele… do you feel like you maybe have a little bit of telepathy? 

Sometimes… but sometimes I think it is just the universe manifesting what I was thinking about.

The last thing I like to ask is, that as the athlete of the month/season, they are all looking at you… all of them-

*laughing* Don’t say that!

What words of wisdom do you have for them- your loyal subjects?

*thoughtful pause* just what I tell myself- just keep pushing yourself.  You’ll be thankful in the end-  it is worth it!  Just keep going.

“Keep Going”, that is great.  It will probably be the title of this interview.  Awesome, Dom- high five!

*while high fiving* That was a lot of fun!

I count myself particularly lucky to have pinned down the jetsetting Manor Athlete of the Month for a spirited and insightful interview at Central Market on a lovely late October evening.  A top notch commercial real estate guru, Ben travels frequently and had just a small window of time in between out of town work trips.  The interview, as you will see, was a dream in a bucket.

The first question I like to ask is to think of an elevator pitch- you’re in an elevator with a movie producer and you have to sell them on making a movie about your life.  What does the pitch sound like?

What I think about is, what is my purpose?  I think about how I can make a positive impact in a community- that could manifest in my work, which is commercial real estate; it can manifest in other communities that I’m involved in as a leader, like the Jewish community; and it can manifest, hopefully, in the fitness community.  I’ve always been involved in fitness in one way or another and one of the things I love about Dane’s- and I’ve been here for almost two years now- is the community.  Although I don’t think I’ve done anything extraordinary in that particular community, I do show up and participate in things like The Field Day (mini-meet) and encourage people.  Just generally getting to know people.

I could see that having the bones of maybe like an Erin Brockovich thing.  Can you talk about something you are proud of in another community?

In the Jewish community, I’ve co-chaired and chaired events for 300 and 500 people and raised significant amounts of money.  There is a national organization that picks one leader from each community for a five year commitment, and now I’m representing Austin.  That will have us traveling quite a bit- last year the group went to Russia because we give money locally and a portion of that money gets allocated to other communities around the world.  This year, we are going to Paris which has, unfortunately, had a lot of anti-semitism going on.  We’ve created this network of people so that when something like the shooting in Pittsburgh or hurricane Harvey happens and the community needs something, we already have relationships in place so that we can be a support group for one another.

So circling back to The Shop, you said you have been year for around two years- how did you come to be at The Shop originally?

I heard about it from two friends- one of them was a coach named Courtney-

Oh Courtney Sugar!

Yeah, we were actually neighbors.  Then I moved to the east side and was looking for a new place to work out and this place was just really close and convenient.

Have you noticed any differences in your life since starting at The Shop?

I feel strong and healthy.  I live a healthy lifestyle- I mean you didn’t think I was 37!  I like routine and this is part of my routine.  For example, being out of town for a week, I wouldn’t say craving, but I was really missing having that camaraderie first thing in the morning.  I’m kind of dreading not being in a position (going out of town) tomorrow and not being able to have that.

I do want to talk about travel and fitness in a bit, but I also noticed when I was subbing your class this morning that you had a high degree of sociality around you.  The 6am and 6:30am time slots tend to be the least social because people have just rolled out of bed.  What do you talk about with people at that hour?

Just everything; we talk about travel, and their kids, and nutrition.  We talk about meeting up for drinks sometimes.  What was I shooting the shit with Sam about this morning?  Just ribbing each other-

Just good natured bro stuff?

Yeah!

This is really just me pointing out to our people in those early classes that it is okay to be social.  Take Ben’s lead and talk it up!  For traveling, do you have any secrets for maintaining fitness inertia while you are away from The Shop?

No.  I struggle when I travel.  I attempt to eat super healthy, but that can be a failure.  I attempt to do this bodyweight workout that I learned a long time ago.  I don’t have any tips- I struggle big time with that.

That is good to hear.  It is useful for people to know that someone who really has their shit together still struggles.  I was impressed when I saw you in class today.  I know that you just got back the day before and you are leaving again tomorrow.  I think most people would have skipped the workout.

I was excited about it!

Another thing I wanted to touch on was the Field Day Mini-Meet that you competed in last month.  Was that the first meet you have competed in?

The second, the first one was at Manor and I think it was a Field Day meet as well.  For this one I signed up last minute because of my travel schedule and they paired me with three other random people and we had a blast together.  Let’s see it was Barrett-

Oh yeah! Barrett and you also had Mark Hernandez and Jacqueline Hummel on your team right?  You were my favorite team!  You had such a great spirit and were so supportive of one another.  It was the right mix of being good at the events and having a good time.  You came in second place right?

Yeah, we were tied at the end and then badminton was the tie breaker.  I’m really good at badminton.

Have you hopped in on any pickleball matches yet?

Yeah!  I love that that is a thing.  I just invested in a racket and shoes; I see posts on the instagram and I go if I can.  7:30am on a Sunday is a little bit of a stretch…

Did you play tennis in high school?

I used to be a tennis instructor as a matter of fact- while I was at UT.  I taught kids and college students.  I was head instructor for the UT Tennis Club.

I’m always curious to hear how coaches react to being coached.  Do you like being coached?

Yeah, being held accountable and having someone thoughtfully produce programming that I find makes sense for me and my body.  I enjoy that and I enjoy the people; all the coaches are super nice and well-informed and qualified.  I’ve been to other gyms where we lifting weights I would constantly get injured-

Less injuries at The Shop?

Totally!

I guess that is kind of important.  The most important question though is do you have a favorite coach in terms of music selection?

Mitch is always playing rap or trap music- Post Malone type stuff.  Stormie has a good mix, Beth has a good mix, you had a good mix this morning!  I like how you triggered “Eye of The Tiger” just as we were getting in to an AMRAP.

Is there anything that you’re particularly proud of in terms of accomplishments at The Shop?

*long thoughtful pause* I pr’d (my 400m) by like one second this morning.  Sam and I were neck and neck three fourths of the way through and he was just like “let’s go!”.

Sam has that extra gear where you see him do something and you’re a little worried for his mental health-

He’s very committed.

That actually wraps up the substantial gym-related questions, but I like to round out these interviews with some more light hearted random questions.  Doggies or kitties?

Dogs.

Do you have an ideal dog?

One that doesn’t shed.  One I can run with- probably a golden doodle.

So wrestler’s have entrance songs when they come to the ring- if you had an entrance song for any time you entered a room, what would it be?

I love music- it’d be something super upbeat like Ghostland Observatory.  My favorite karaoke song is “Friends in Low Places” *sings the first couple lines in a lovely little baritone!*.

Are you a singer?

I dabble.  Music is a big part of my life- right now I am relearning piano.  I try to spend 5-10 minutes a day practicing.  I’m also trying to learn Spanish as well.  I try to meditate 5-10 minutes a day.  If I start my day that way, it will set the course for an awesome day.

So you’re a bit of a polymath?

Like a jack of all trades, master of none?  Yeah, that’s true- except for commercial real estate!

You’re a commercial real estate savant!  That was another question I wrote down- do you have a secret sauce for fundraising?

Yeah man, it is all about relationships.  My mission is to create a lasting impact in the community and that is through building relationships and being involved with the community.  Contributing and finding ways to give back as well as getting other people involved.  Secret sauce?  Working hard, showing up, communicating, and having integrity.

Going back to the elevator pitch of your life as a movie- who would play you in that film?

Based on looks, I like to pretend like it is Dean Cain.  I’d like to be Superman.

Yeah!  He’s a bit long in the tooth at this point, but mid-nineties Dean Cain?  I could totally see it!  If you were a vegetable, which one would you be and why?

I like spaghetti squash, but does it describe me?  Hard on the outside and stringy on the inside.  I don’t know…

I could see that.  Put a fork in you and pull you apart in little noodle shapes?

Maybe a tomato.  It is a unique flavor and it is the vegetable that is on every pizza.  It brings people together.

If you were to nominate a person at The Shop to be president, who would it be and why?

I’m torn right now between Mitch and Ben (Sledge).  Very different options- I respect Ben’s service in the military.  He’s always working hard even though I’m sure he’s tired because he has an infant at home.

Would you put the two of them on the same ticket?

There you go!  Ben for president and Mitch for vice because he’s going to bring some great music and energy and make sure I don’t hurt my back.

Do you have a favorite taco in town?

I like El Chillito down the street.  I do a Cherrywood with no bacon.  If I want to treat myself for a good workout, that is more often than not where I stop.

Very nice.  The last question I like to ask is do you have any words of wisdom for the community?  You kind of answered that earlier in the interview.  

I could rattle off several.  In no particular order: It is better to copy genius than create mediocrity, life is not fair- fair is made up, all we have is the present- let that shit go.  I don’t know if you want to write this or not, but I recently relearned the phrase, “No fucks given”.  What that means to me is not giving a fuck what society says about what you should or shouldn’t do or what you should be doing at a certain age or how much money you should have.  It is all fucking bullshit.  I don’t know if you want to write that, but those are some lessons that I have relearned recently.  This is our life to live.

I am going to put that in the transcript because I think that is an important lesson.  It is actually something I’ve struggled with over the past couple years.  If we were to ever launch a Dane’s Body Shop podcast series, I think we could devote an entire episode to learning how to cultivate that mindset.

It isn’t easy and I don’t have it perfected, but I talk about it more and more lately because I see people holding themselves back because of what they should or shouldn’t be doing. If there is something you want to do, choose it and just go for it.

One final thing I wanted to bring up with you, and I guess we just officially met in class this morning, but I observed you during the Field Day Meet and you were incredibly diligent in thanking people for volunteering.  This and other things people have said about you have made me think “that guy’s mom raised him right”.  Did your mom raise you right?

Yes!  I have amazing parents.  My routine is I hit the gym then go home and take a shower and call my mom when I’m on my way to the office.  She’s just incredibly supportive and loving and wise.

One final thing I wanted to say is that I love being able to share my knowledge with people, so if there is anyone in The Shop community who wanted to learn more about investing and real estate or passive income, I would love to be able to share my knowledge.

For a reasonable hourly fee right?

No man, for nothing- I love what I do.  This is a community I want to leave a positive impact on.

Well, I will probably take you up on that then!  Thanks Ben!