Episode 504: Shaun T.: Motivation, Confidence, and the Power of Fun in Fitness

Habits and Hustle

Jen Cohen

Education, Health & Fitness, Business, Self-improvement, Entrepreneurship

4.4 • 800 Ratings

🗓️ 21 November 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How does a college dance teacher end up becoming one of the most recognized names in fitness? In this Fitness Friday episode, Shaun T joins me to share how he went from teaching hip-hop classes at Equinox to creating Hip Hop Abs, Insanity, and inspiring millions of people around the world. We talk about what really keeps people motivated, why fun matters more than fear, and how confidence gets built one rep at a time. Shaun also opens up about his evolution, from being told he’d never hit like a pro to beating Serena Williams in doubles, and how therapy changed his mindset as a high achiever. He shares what it was like to grow through the early days of Beachbody, how Hip Hop Abs was born, and why showing up fully as yourself is what creates real connection. For Shaun, being a gay Black man in the fitness space wasn’t something to hide. It became his strength. Shaun T is a fitness trainer, choreographer, and motivational speaker best known for programs like Insanity, T25, and Hip Hop Abs. He’s also an advocate for mental health, self-belief, and authenticity in and out of the gym. 🎧 Shaun T on Motivation, Confidence, and the Power of Fun in Fitness Tune in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1SXA4en800 What we discuss: (00:35) How a tennis lesson turned into an obsession (03:48) Building confidence by showing up, not being perfect (05:19) Why therapy changed how Shaun sees success (07:57) The story behind Hip Hop Abs and Insanity (16:35) Representation, authenticity, and owning your story (18:22) Finding motivation through fun instead of fear Thank you to our sponsor: Therasage: Head over to therasage.com and use code Be Bold for 15% off Air Doctor: Go to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code HUSTLE for up to $300 off and a 3-year warranty on air purifiers. Magic Mind: Head over to www.magicmind.com/jen and use code Jen at checkout. Momentous: Shop this link and use code Jen for 20% off Manna Vitality: Visit mannavitality.com and use code JENNIFER20 for 20% off your order Prolon: Get 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit https://prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift. Find more from Jen: Website: https://www.jennifercohen.com/ Instagram: @therealjencohen Books: https://www.jennifercohen.com/books Speaking: https://www.jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements Find more from Shaun T: Website: https://www.shauntlife.com/ Instagram: @shaunt X: @shaunt Tiktok: @shaunt Youtube: @shauntfitness

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, guys. It's Tony Robbins. You're listening to Habits and Hustle. Crush it.
0:07.0	Hey, friends, you're listening to Fitness Friday on the Habits and Hustle podcast, where myself and my friends share quick and very actionable advice for you becoming your healthiest self. So stay tuned and let me know how you leveled up.
0:29.5	Before we dive into today's episode, I first want to thank our sponsor, Therisage. Their
0:35.2	Trilite panel has become my favorite biohacking thing for healing my body.
0:41.2	It's a portable red light panel that I simply cannot live without. I literally bring it with me
0:46.7	everywhere I go. And I personally use their red light therapy to help reduce inflammation
0:51.9	in places in my body where, honestly, I have pain.
0:55.9	You can use it on a sore back, stomach cramps, shoulder, ankle.
1:00.7	Red light therapy is my go-to.
1:02.9	Plus, it also has amazing anti-aging benefits, including reducing signs of fine lines and wrinkles
1:09.1	on your face, which I also use it for.
1:11.8	I personally use Therisage Trilite everywhere at all the time. It's small, it's affordable,
1:20.0	it's portable, and it's really effective. Head over to Therisage.com right now and use code be bold for 15% off. This code will work
1:33.0	sitewide. Again, head over to Therisage, T-H-E-R-A-S-A-G-E dot com and use code B-Bold for 15% off any of their products.
1:52.0	When people find a way to stay motivated, they find a way to stay motivated by having fun
1:58.7	and not being overwhelmed or intimidated. And that's what, I agree. That's why people don't, that's why the people who don't go to the gym, don't go to the gym. Well, I'm not fit enough yet to go to the gym. I'm too big. For a lot of women, it's, you know, I need to lose weight for a lot of men. It's just like, well, I'm going to be intimidated by the guys with muscle.
2:18.0	It's insecurity. You don't feel confident in that way. Do you play tennis? Oh, God. Don't you tell me.
2:26.7	Are we recording? Oh, yes, I played tennis. I started playing tennis a little over 11 years ago.
2:33.3	I crashed my husband and his mom and dad's
2:35.9	vacation. Two months after I met him to Australia, I had no idea about tennis. I played football,
2:43.3	track and field, and basketball. Like, they were my sports. And when I got down there, they were like,
2:47.3	oh, we're going to go to the Australian Open. And I remember sitting
	...

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