RECESS: GLP-3s, College ROI for Women, Fake Fitness Influencers, and the Existential Dread of Liminal Spaces

Welcome back to RECESS — our bi-weekly look at what we’re learning, trends we’re seeing in the health and fitness space, and how we’re building more play into real life.

The fitness industry is facing its biggest shake-up yet, and it's coming from a syringe. In this episode of RECESS, we cover a lot of ground: from Caroline's high school graduation and a wild weekend of sports (Knicks championship! Water polo! World Cup!) to the questions keeping health and fitness professionals up at night.

The centerpiece of this episode is a candid conversation about GLP-1, GLP-2, and the newly trialed GLP-3 drug Retatrutide — and what near-30% body weight loss results mean for the future of personal training, nutrition coaching, and the entire weight loss industry. Is weight loss about to become a purely medical intervention? And if so, what does that mean for coaches, trainers, and wellness brands like ours?

We also take on a viral debate about AI-generated fitness influencers crowding out real coaches on social media, break down the data on whether women should skip college in the age of AI (spoiler: the numbers say no), and share our take on Backrooms, the buzzy horror film directed by a local kid who built the concept as a high schooler. If you've ever felt the existential dread of liminal spaces, this one's for you.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why Caroline Starrett's observation that "muscles are the new skinny" might be the most important trend call in fitness right now
• How GLP-3 drug Retatrutide achieved nearly 30% average body weight loss in Phase 3 trials, and what that means compared to Ozempic and ZepBound
• What happens to the fitness industry if weight loss becomes a purely pharmaceutical intervention
• The hidden dangers of GLP-1 drugs: muscle and bone mass loss, weight regain after stopping, and the return of extreme thinness culture
• Why AI-generated fitness influencers are getting millions of views while real coaches struggle for reach, and what to do about it
• The data behind college ROI for women: why the gender pay gap and VC funding stats make a compelling case for staying in school
• Why the most successful female founders (Rent the Runway, Stitch Fix, 23andMe, Tory Burch) share one thing in common
• A local director's Backrooms, worth seeing even if you hate horror

Key Highlights: 

(00:00) Welcome back to RECESS; Caroline's high school graduation and becoming (almost) empty nesters; the "open nest" philosophy

(01:50) A massive weekend of sports: Knicks championship, Stanley Cup, World Cup, water polo tournaments, and shoutouts to Cal athletes competing in European club championships

(05:35) The viral Canadian coach's Instagram post: AI-generated fitness influencers vs. real coaches, the algorithm problem, and a defense of making content that's actually fun

(07:45) Why real coaches deserve your engagement: the difference between AI-driven content and educators who've spent years building free resources

(11:17) College ROI debate: a prominent female entrepreneur suggests skipping college; Juliet and Kelly push back with data — 65–75% higher lifetime earnings for college grads, and the gender pay gap closes with education

(16:00) Female founders and elite credentials: why the women who actually break through in VC-backed startups almost universally have top-tier degrees; notable examples and one cautionary tale

(18:00) Caroline's insight: "muscles are the new skinny" — when anyone can change their body composition with a GLP drug, muscle becomes the differentiator

(19:29) Breaking down the GLP-3 trial results for Retatrutide: 70+ lbs average loss, nearly 30% body weight reduction, and how it compares to GLP-1 and GLP-2 drugs

(20:40) How GLP drugs are splitting the fitness industry: some coaches relieved, some threatened, and the legacy weight loss brands already pivoting

(22:45) The dark side: muscle and bone mass loss, Hollywood's return to extreme thinness, and what happens when people stop taking the drugs without changing their habits

(27:00) The message that still matters: muscle is your longevity organ; building a body for adventure; why GLP drugs and strength training aren't mutually exclusive

(27:29) Backrooms the movie: local Marin School of the Arts alum director Kane Parsons, and why this creepy-beautiful film is worth your time even if you're not a horror fan

(29:10) Wrap-up and thanks for listening