Callie Gullickson and Rad Lopez Join the Peloton Team
Two new instructors are here to help you build—and find—your strength.
The Peloton team just keeps getting stronger, and this time, it’s in the singular interest of helping you get stronger. Meet our two newest additions to the instructor team, and our first strength-focused instructors, Callie Gullickson and Rad Lopez!
Callie is in love with movement. From her many years spent as a dancer to discovering the magic of strength training and the way it makes her feel, Callie’s boundless energy is coming your way in workouts that truly put the “fun” in functional. We know you’re raring to jump into a class with her right now! But first, get acquainted with your new best friend in strength below.
Hey, Callie! We’re thrilled to have you as part of the Peloton team. How did you find your way into fitness?
I’m so excited to be here! I grew up in Florida. I came from this huge athletic family—I'm actually one of six kids! When we were younger, my parents were like, alright, everyone choose a sport. I was actually the only one who decided to go the more creative route to be a dancer, predominantly ballet, which eventually brought me to New York City for school. After I finished school, I found that my love for dance wasn't there anymore, and I started cross training and got into traditional fitness. And I was like, you know what, this is bringing me back to my roots. So I went into teaching group fitness, and now I’m here!
We bet your experience as a dancer informs your perspective on strength training.
Dance, especially ballet, puts an incredible emphasis on technique and the quality of movement. So when it comes to strength training, I like to do the same. It's not just about picking up a heavier weight, but more so knowing where your body is in a space and figuring out where you should be feeling every move so that we can progress, get stronger and learn a little bit along the way. I think there's such beauty in seeing not only your body, but also your mind get stronger.
Our Members will definitely learn a ton from you. Speaking of—what can Members expect from your classes?
I think that energy is everything. It is the first thing that introduces you when you walk into a room. So when you’re taking class with me, I want to create an environment that's warm, encouraging and accessible to everyone. I encourage you to make mistakes and learn to laugh at yourself, because I know I do. I also like to keep it real … Meaning I like to keep things casual! And I never want you to feel pressure to do anything perfectly. Wherever you're at in that moment of time, I want you to meet yourself there. My only wish is for you to finish a workout with me feeling strong, empowered and, most importantly, confident.
We love that! Any words of encouragement for people trying strength training for the first time with you?
In my classes I definitely like to challenge you, but not in a way that’s at all unattainable. There have definitely been times where I'm like, I don't know if I'm gonna make it through this. I don't know if I'm strong enough. And then you make it through, and you're like, oh, look at that, I came out the other side. The only way to get through an obstacle is to go through it. So be ready to feel challenged but have fun while doing it. We’re going to get there together. I’m going to be sweating too!
Count yourself in for Callie’s premiere class.
Rad forged his path through life by way of fitness. Born and raised in the Bronx, Rad brings years of grit and training expertise to every workout, with the ultimate goal of helping you find your inner strength on the other side—and to replicate the profound joy that movement brings him. Get fired up, because Rad dropped some serious gems when we spoke with him. All below.
Rad, we’re so excited to welcome you to the instructor team! First of all—seeing as Peloton is an NYC-based company—tell us what the city means to you.
Growing up in New York has been an adventure. The city is alive! You know how they say, “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere?” I love that attitude that we have. I love the culture, I love that we can learn something different from each neighborhood. I feel like everything New York teaches me helps paint the canvas of who I am.
That definitely resonates. How has New York shaped your fitness journey?
Growing up in the Bronx, in a Dominican household, raised by a single mother alongside my younger sister ... It was kind of difficult to find my identity. Though, I think a lot of my strengths came from the perseverance of my mother, and being raised around women really gave me a nurturing nature. But I found my fire through sports and competing—and that's where I found most of my identity.
As a kid, I had a bunch of friends around the block, and we would gather and play all the sports. Soccer, baseball, basketball, but always some modified version. Like we would play baseball with like, cans and wooden sticks, would play soccer with a goal being some kind of stairway. But I found that I was really athletic and good at sports early on, and a lot of my confidence stemmed from that, which gave me a sense of who I was, and what I wanted to do.
Sounds like such a profound relationship with movement. What’s your teaching style like?
I understand that everyone's at a different level and capable of different things. But I never want to say that just because we're all capable of something different, that I'm not going to challenge you to reach your next level. Your next level. I'm not going to let you quit on yourself, because self-belief is super important, and it’s what gets us where we want to be. It’s a lesson that I’ve absolutely learned myself.
We can’t wait to take your classes. What can Members expect from your workouts?
Members are gonna realize that we're just going up, alright? Whether you're starting at square one or from an advanced level, coming into my class, you're going to learn that it's not about pushing you to your limits, but rather, helping you understand that there are none. Growth is essential! It's not about ego; it's not about comparisons to the person next to you on the Leaderboard. It's all about you and where you want to be, and I'm gonna help you get there.
Count yourself in for Rad’s premiere class.