Strap on those leg warmers and get ready to break the glass ceiling because we are going back to the 80s and doing a deep dive into the history of Jazzercise!

Learn about the Patron Saint of Sweat, Judi Sheppard Missett, who not only broke the exercise glass ceiling but built it through sweat, tears, and a funky beat.

Rob gives Ray a lesson in the history of female exercise including how women were encouraged not to sweat, the retroactive philosophies of Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein, forgotten “fitness” coach Debbie Drake, the feminist manifesto that built Jazzercise, the franchised exercise program, and why you should bow down to Judi the next time you do Soul Cycle, Barry’s Boot Camp, or Orange Theory.

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TEAM:

Ray Hebel

Robert W Schneider

Mark Schroeder

Billy Recce

Daniel Schwartzberg

Gabe Crawford

Natalie DeSavia

WEBSITES

Jazzercise Official Site

BOOKS

Building a Business with a Beat

ARTICLES

The Atlantic

The New York Times

10 Best

New Yorker

Forbes

Harper’s Bazaar

AUDIO/VISUAL

NPR interview with Judi Sheppard Missett

Jazzercise Compilation

Judi Sheppard Missett Interview

Jazzercise News Story 1986

Debbie Reynolds Workout Video

Debbie Drake

Music and Sound Effects

Ride Like the Wind (Originally Made Famous by Christopher Cross), from "70’s and 80’s Hits Remixed"

Don’t Rain on My Parade (Glee Karaoke Version)

You Can’t Stop the Beat (Karaoke Version)

O What a Beautiful Morning (Instrumental)

Seasons of Love (Instrumental)

And I Am Telling You (From “Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture)

VHS Sound Effect by Allan Hazle

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