Rhonda Goode did not set out to become a fitness instructor. She set out to find someone who could kill her in a workout class, and when both of those instructors quit at the same time, she picked up the music and just went. What followed was fourteen years of packed rooms, fogged mirrors, pool classes that exploded out of nowhere, and a teaching style built entirely on refusing to stop moving. 

In this episode, Rhonda walks us through the full origin story: the chaotic Zumba sub that started it all, the Berea College classes that grew from two loyal students to sixty-five people crammed six inches from the front mirror, the YMCA in Richmond that became her home base, and how a woman who freely admits she is not a people person ended up being the person hundreds of people refuse to miss a chance to work out with. This is part one of three special episodes recorded as part of Podcasthon 2026, a global initiative where thousands of podcasts shine a spotlight on a charity of their choice. Our featured charity is the Humane Society Animal League for Life of Madison County, Kentucky, and links to donate and learn more are below.