Photos (Courtesy of Luke Elsman and GymShark)
Growing up born and raised in New Jersey with Puerto Rican and German roots, how did your upbringing and culture shape your personality, humor, and work ethic today?
Growing up in New Jersey with Puerto Rican and German roots had a big influence on who I am today. I have three brothers, and my parents gave us a lot of freedom to explore different interests—whether it was sports, hobbies, or creative pursuits. They supported every hobby or sport we wanted to try and really encouraged us to figure out who we were and pursue the things we genuinely enjoyed. I think a lot of that came from their own experiences. My dad grew up with very stern parents, and my mom was raised in a large family without a lot of resources. Because of that, they made a conscious effort to raise us in a way that allowed more independence and self-expression. They were also great role models for us growing up, showing us the value of hard work, support, and staying true to ourselves. That environment really helped shape my personality, sense of humor, and work ethic today.
You’ve built a massive audience by mixing laughs with lifting — what moment made you realize that comedy was the missing ingredient in fitness content?
To be honest, I didn’t realize comedy was something missing in fitness content at the time. I never expected the goofy skits I was making to be the thing people enjoyed the most or found the funniest. In fact, I didn’t even want to get on TikTok at first—my brother kept trying to convince me, but I thought it was just a platform for corny dance videos. After years of posting lifting content from my home garage gym, I started experimenting with some original, goofy skits. Those were the videos that really started to gain traction, and once I saw how much people connected with them, I leaned into it and ran with it. Mixing comedy with lifting just ended up feeling natural, and it turned out to be what resonated most with people.
In 2021, you intentionally shifted your content toward skits and relatable gym moments. What risks did that pivot come with, and when did you know it was paying off?
Honestly, the shift didn’t really feel like a risk. At the time, I had a full-time job that I’d been working at consistently for about three years, so creating content was always something I did purely because I enjoyed it. I had been posting lifting videos from my home garage gym for years and barely making a penny from them, but I loved the process and especially enjoyed connecting with people through fitness. If anything, the hardest part came much earlier when I first started posting those lifting videos. Back then, I was always a little aware of how the internet—or even people I grew up with or went to high school with—might judge what I was doing. Putting yourself out there publicly can feel uncomfortable at first. By the time I started leaning into comedy skits and relatable gym moments, I had already gotten past most of that. At that point, it just felt fun and natural to experiment, and once I saw how much people related to the skits, it became clear that the shift was working.
Your videos feel like inside jokes for gym-goers. How do you balance being entertaining while still motivating people to take their health seriously?
My skits don’t always dive deep into the serious side of fitness, but that’s intentional. The comedy is meant to capture those relatable “inside joke” moments that people who go to the gym understand. On my other platforms—like YouTube, Snapchat, and my second channel, Thinking With a Pump (my podcast/vlog with Brodie Falgoust)—I spend a lot more time talking about the actual fitness side of things. My main goal with the skits is to make the gym feel less intimidating and more approachable. If someone can watch a video, laugh, and realize that everyone in the gym experiences the same awkward or funny moments, it can make the environment feel a lot more comfortable. That alone can help people feel more confident starting their fitness journey. I’m also fortunate to work with brands in the fitness space like Gymshark and Ghost Lifestyle, for supplements and clothing, which helps keep me connected to the fitness community while continuing to motivate people to take their health seriously.
With nearly 3 million followers, how has your relationship with fitness changed since becoming a public figure — does it still feel personal, or more like a responsibility?
Fitness has always been my number one priority, so it’s always going to be personal for me. At the end of the day, no one else is going to show up for me day in and day out to reach the goals I have for myself. It really comes down to a love for the process—I enjoy being in shape, feeling good, and taking care of my health. That said, fitness is also part of my work now, so I try to create a little separation. I usually film content at a different gym than the one I personally train in, so I can keep my workouts focused and still have a space that feels like my own. With platforms like Snapchat where I share more of my workouts, there are definitely moments where the lines blur a bit—especially when people recognize me at the gym from my content. But honestly, that’s something I’m grateful for. I wouldn’t be where I am without the people who support what I do, so I’ll never take that for granted.
You’re trained in MMA and love spontaneous, informal sports. How does unstructured play compare to disciplined training when it comes to staying mentally sharp and inspired?
It’s a little hard for me to use MMA as the main example because most of my training in that was growing up, and I haven’t done as much of it as an adult. These days, I’d say my structured side really comes from my gym routine and overall fitness regimen. Staying consistent with my workouts and work schedule is what keeps me grounded and focused. At the same time, I think unstructured play—whether it’s spontaneous sports or just doing something active for fun—is important too. It helps keep things fresh and reminds you that being active doesn’t always have to feel like a strict routine. You don’t have to be a kid to have fun. As an adult, it’s still important to make time for that. The key is balance. You can’t prioritize play over your goals, or you’ll never reach them. Discipline is really a mindset. There are plenty of days I don’t feel like working out, but I do it anyway because I have goals I want to achieve. At the end of the day, it comes down to wanting those goals badly enough to stay consistent.
Giving back is clearly important to you, from supporting Saint Jude’s Children's Research Hospital to ALS awareness. Where does that sense of responsibility come from, and how do you choose the causes you support?
I think every creator has their own lane, and while it’s important to use your platform for good, it’s also important to focus on causes that genuinely mean something to you. That’s where you can really make the most impact. For me, ALS awareness has become a big one. My girlfriend’s family has been doing a plunge in New Jersey to raise money and awareness for the cause for about 10 years now, and I joined them three years ago. Being part of that and doing something together for the greater good has been really meaningful to me. I also try to give back in smaller ways whenever I can. As a creator, I’m fortunate to receive a lot of things through sponsorships and partnerships, and I love being able to pass some of that along—whether it’s giving away gear from my sponsors to people at the gyms I go to or doing giveaways for my online community. At the end of the day, no matter where you are in life, there’s always a way to give back to your community or support others. That’s something I’m always trying to get better at year after year.
Outside the gym, you’re into traveling, gaming, music festivals, and big fandoms like Marvel. How do these interests influence your creativity and content ideas?
I really believe you are what you consume. A lot of my content ideas come from the things I watch and enjoy outside the gym—movies, TikTok, YouTube videos, shows, and whatever's trending at the time. If something makes me laugh or is having a big cultural moment, I’m usually thinking about how I could bring that idea into the gym world and turn it into a skit. For example, I watched Love Island last year, and the season was going super viral, so I thought it would be funny to bring that concept into the gym and turn it into a skit. That video ended up getting a few million views. Moments like that remind me that combining pop culture with relatable gym experiences really connects with people. I try to stay open to all kinds of ideas and then run with the ones I feel like I can execute the best or make the funniest. I also get a lot of inspiration from other creators. Not in a copying sense, but because many of us share the same world—fitness—so it’s natural to bounce off each other’s creativity and push the content in new directions.
As a fan of the NFL, UFC, and Formula 1, what lessons from elite athletes or competition culture carry over into your own training and mindset?
I don’t focus on one specific athlete or sport for lessons—it’s more about watching the best of the best compete at the highest level, whether that’s in the UFC, the NFL, or Formula 1. Seeing that level of dedication, focus, and consistency pushes me to bring the same mindset to my own training and approach. It’s a reminder that no matter the arena, excellence comes from preparation, discipline, and the willingness to push yourself beyond what you think is possible.
For someone who feels intimidated by fitness culture, what do you hope they take away from your content — and what would you say to convince them that fitness can actually be fun?
I want people to see that the gym can be a fun and welcoming place. While some of my content is exaggerated for comedy, the truth is the gym is a safe space where you don’t need to know everything to feel comfortable. At the end of the day, everyone is there for themselves, and no one is watching or judging you. Fitness can be enjoyable, and once you start focusing on your own progress, it becomes less intimidating and more about having fun while taking care of yourself.
