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PODCAST

Shine Stories

SHINE FIT @shinefitco

Introducing "SHINE Stories", a podcast by SHINE FIT, where we invite leaders in our community share their “shine story”. Each guest talks about how they ditched diet culture, healed their relationship with fitness, and transformed their confidence. Hosted by our Founder, Jess Takimoto, this podcast discusses body image, mental health, disordered eating, and the harmful effects of diet culture. Join us in changing the fitness industry narrative of what fitness “looks like”, because STRONG comes in

health & fitness fitness

All Episodes

00:37:14

3.9 CHARLOTTE'S STORY: From No Workout Routine to...

Shine Stories ·

2025/12/09

Welcome back to the SHINE Stories Podcast! 💙TW: This episode discusses body image, mental health, and diet culture.In today’s episode, Jess sits down with Charlotte — an outdoor educator, long-time SHINE member, and absolute beam of joy — whose SHINE journey started in 2020 with four roommates, two cats, one bunny, and a living room-turned-dancefloor during lockdown.Charlotte shares:– How SHINE became her structure, community, and mental reset during COVID– Why she returned to SHINE while living 16

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00:41:21

3.8 RITHIKA'S STORY: From an Inconsistent Routine to...

Shine Stories ·

2025/11/25

In today’s episode, Jess sits down with Rithika, a longtime dancer-turned-young-professional who rediscovered movement after years of inconsistency. After moving to Toronto and searching “dance fitness near me,” she found SHINE FIT—and one free class became a year-long transformation.Before SHINE, Rithika loved movement but struggled to find a workout she truly enjoyed. The gym felt intimidating, workout classes never stuck, and walking was her only form of exercise for nearly six years.Everything

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00:49:18

3.7 EMILY S'S STORY: From Hating the Gym to 5+ Years...

Shine Stories ·

2025/11/11

In this episode, Jess sits down with Emily S, a longtime SHINE member who’s been part of the community for five incredible years.Disclaimer: This episode discusses topics related to body image and mental health.Emily shares how she went from dreading the gym to finding a fitness routine she genuinely loved — one that brought her joy, confidence, and connection during some of the toughest years. From joining free lockdown livestreams in 2020 to making SHINE part of her everyday life, Emily’s story is

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00:30:09

3.6 XIU'S STORY: From ACL Surgery to Working out...

Shine Stories ·

2025/10/28

In this episode, Jess sits down with Xiu, a Toronto-based software developer who rebuilt her physical and mental strength after a major ACL injury.Before SHINE, fitness wasn’t a priority — until a ski accident and long rehab forced her to rethink what her body could do. A challenging hike with her sister became the wake-up call: she didn’t want to feel limited anymore.One Instagram ad later, Xiu walked into SHINE FIT — and found movement that felt fun again, a community that said her name at the

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00:33:37

3.5 MEGAN M'S STORY: From "Fitness Isn't For Me" to...

Shine Stories ·

2025/10/15

In today’s episode, Jess sits down with Megan M, a Toronto student and SHINE FIT Assistant Studio Manager who once believed fitness just wasn’t for her.For most of her life, Megan felt like she didn’t fit the “look” of someone who worked out. Growing up surrounded by diet culture and comparison, she thought gyms were for other people — not her. Then one day, during a low point while scrolling on Instagram, she saw a SHINE FIT ad. One free class later, everything changed.That single step became the

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00:47:44

3.4 CHRISTINE'S STORY: From Fitness as a Punishment...

Shine Stories ·

2025/09/30

This episode includes discussions of body image, disordered eating, and recovery.In today’s episode, Jess sits down with Christine, a Toronto-based product designer, pole-fitness instructor, and now SHINE coach. For years, Christine’s relationship with fitness was shaped by toxic beauty standards and disordered eating. Even after a hospital stay for over-exercising and restrictive eating, she struggled to separate working out from changing how she looked.Everything shifted when a knee injury forced

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00:27:55

3.3 BRANDY'S STORY: From “I'm Not a Fit Person” and...

Shine Stories ·

2025/09/16

This episode includes discussions of body image, divorce, and major life transitions.In today’s episode, Jess sits down with Brandy, a downtown Toronto professional who once believed she wasn’t a “fit person.” After years of IVF treatments, medications that caused weight gain, and a painful divorce, Brandy felt like her spark was gone.What started as one free class turned into a full lifestyle transformation.In this episode, Brandy shares:– How she went from working out once a week to 3–4x per week–

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00:45:12

3.2 EMMA C'S STORY: From Being Picked Last in Gym...

Shine Stories ·

2025/09/02

In today’s episode, Jess sits down with our Content and Marking Manager, Emma C, who moved to Toronto just over a year ago. With no friends in the city and no clear routine, they were searching for both consistency and community.Before SHINE, Emma’s relationship with fitness was inconsistent. They loved biking and swimming but never saw themself as “athletic.” What started as “I’ll just try one intro offer” turned into a 13-month journey of strength, confidence, and friendship.In this episode, Emma

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00:51:35

3.1 MICHELLE'S STORY: From Fitness Burnout &...

Shine Stories ·

2025/08/19

This episode includes discussions of body image, disordered eating, and chronic health issues.In today’s episode, Jess sits down with Michelle, a veterinary assistant originally from Ireland, who shares her powerful transformation story—physically, mentally, and emotionally.Before SHINE, Michelle struggled with consistency. She tried spin, Muay Thai, early morning gym sessions, and even crash diets—none of it stuck. After being diagnosed with gallstones and fatty liver disease and undergoing

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00:38:21

2.10 CHANTEL'S STORY: From Self-Doubt and Anxiety to...

Shine Stories ·

2025/08/06

SHINE Stories: Chantel’s Journey from Anxiety, Perfectionism, and Self-Doubt to Empowerment and Instructor in TrainingContent warning: This episode contains open discussion of body image, mental health, and disordered eating.In this episode of SHINE Stories, Jess sits down with Chantel (she/her), a SHINE FIT member and registered nurse whose journey over the past year has been nothing short of transformational.Chantel opens up about the toxic fitness habits and food restrictions that shaped her

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00:28:16

2.9 EMMA K'S STORY: FROM AVOIDING EXERCISE TO...

Shine Stories ·

2025/07/22

SHINE Stories: Emma K’s Journey to Finding Strength, Community, and HerselfContent warning: This episode contains open discussion of body image, mental health, and disordered eating.In this episode of SHINE Stories, Jess sits down with Emma K (she/her), a SHINE FIT member who shares her incredible transformation — from using the stairmaster as punishment to commuting hours by GO Train just to attend a 45-minute SHINE class that made her feel alive again.Emma opens up about her past struggles with

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00:35:45

2.8 JULIE-ANNE's STORY: From Disordered Eating to...

Shine Stories ·

2025/07/06

Welcome back to another powerful episode of the SHINE Stories Podcast.Please note this episode discusses topics including eating disorders, body image, and mental health.This week, Jess sits down with SHINE FIT member Julie-Anne (she/her) to talk about her inspiring journey from competitive figure skating and disordered eating — to finding true strength, joy, and community through movement.For years, Julie-Anne struggled with an all-or-nothing relationship with exercise. She went from rigid,

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00:28:10

2.7 LEXI'S STORY: From Isolation and Struggling with...

Shine Stories ·

2025/06/22

Welcome back to another powerful episode of the SHINE Stories Podcast.Please be advised that our show discusses topics such as depression, loneliness, and mental health.In this episode, Jess sits down with SHINE FIT member Lexi (she/her), who shares her deeply honest story of navigating depression, moving to a new city alone, and finding connection through movement.When Lexi moved to Toronto for grad school, she didn’t know anyone. Her program was fully online. Her depression made even leaving the

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00:50:38

2.6 INA'S STORY: From Avoiding the Mirror to...

Shine Stories ·

2025/06/08

Welcome back to another powerful episode of the SHINE Stories Podcast. Please be advised that our show discusses topics such as body image, loneliness, and mental health.In this episode, Jess sits down with SHINE FIT member Ina, who opens up about her journey of starting over in a new country—and how one class at SHINE changed everything.When Ina first moved to Canada, she felt isolated, unmotivated, and unsure of where she belonged. But after saying “yes” to a free trial class at SHINE FIT, she

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00:42:17

2.5 RAVEN'S STORY: From 420lbs to a Medical Weight...

Shine Stories ·

2025/05/25

Welcome back to another powerful episode of the SHINE Stories Podcast. Please note this episode contains discussions of body image, PCOS, medical weight loss surgery, and self-esteem.In this episode, Jess sits down with SHINE FIT member Raven to talk about her extraordinary 2-year journey—from avoiding movement entirely to reclaiming her confidence, health, and joy.Before SHINE, Raven didn’t believe she belonged in fitness spaces. She had been dismissed by doctors for years, told to “just lose

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00:41:48

2.4 VAL'S STORY: From Years of Viewing Exercise as...

Shine Stories ·

2025/05/11

Welcome back to another inspiring episode of the SHINE Stories Podcast. Please be advised that our show discusses topics such as body image, mental health, body dysmorphia, and disordered eating.In this episode, Jess sits down with SHINE FIT member Val to share her incredible transformation — from avoiding movement and battling body dysmorphia to rediscovering joy, confidence, and connection through fitness.Before SHINE, Val saw exercise as punishment. Struggling with self-worth and depression, she

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00:36:51

2.3 MEGAN R'S STORY: From Perfectionist to Fitness Coach

Shine Stories ·

2025/04/27

Welcome back to another inspiring episode of the SHINE Stories Podcast. Please be advised that our show discusses topics such as body image, mental health, perfectionism, and disordered eating.In this episode, Jess sits down with SHINE FIT instructor and longtime member Megan R to talk about her 4-year fitness journey—from avoiding workouts entirely to becoming the one leading them. Before SHINE, Meg believed fitness “just wasn’t for her.” A recovering perfectionist, she avoided anything she wasn’t

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00:40:02

2.2 PAULINE'S STORY: from serial groupon user to 18...

Shine Stories ·

2025/04/13

Welcome back to another inspiring episode of the SHINE Stories Podcast. Please be advised that our show discusses topics such as body image, mental health and disordered eating. In this episode, Jess sits down with longtime SHINE FIT member Pauline to unpack her fitness transformation that started with hesitation and ended with 18+ months of consistency and fun! Before SHINE, Pauline tried every class under the sun from yoga to pilates to Zumba but nothing seemed to stick. After seeing a SHINE ad

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00:54:14

2.1 EMILY'S STORY: from a decade of body dysmorphia...

Shine Stories ·

2024/11/10

Welcome back to the Shine Stories show! Please be advised, this episode discusses body image, mental health, and disordered eating.In today’s episode, we’re joined by Emily P, a physiotherapy resident and SHINE FIT instructor, who shares her journey from competitive dance to finding SHINE FIT and transforming her relationship with fitness and body image. Emily opens up about the societal pressures she faced and how her mindset has shifted from seeking external validation to focusing on

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00:44:02

9. married to SHINE?! how 4 years with SHINE is...

Shine Stories ·

2024/03/23

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the SHINE STORIES podcast. Please be advised our show discusses body image, mental health, and disordered eating. On this episode, meet one of our OG community members Meg, who talks about her 4 year journey with SHINE, toxic bridal fitness culture and her dreams for what SHINE could become. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: Being part of the 4 year-evolution that is SHINE FIT You can do anything, but you can't do everything, so choose what matters to you most, and

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30 results

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