CULT OF BODY & SOUL
Original documentary series · Seven episodes
Cult of
Body & Soul
Exploring how SOULCYCLE transcended fitness as it captured the New York City zeitgeist with ritual, candlelight and cult of personality.
About
Cult of Body & Soul explores how SOULCYCLE transcended fitness as it captured the New York City zeitgeist with ritual, candlelight and cult of personality.
We expose the intoxicating power dynamic between riders and instructors, the gate-kept instructor training program, the true story behind founders Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler, and the political scandal that torched the brand’s image.
Featuring interviews with instructors, studio managers, front desk staff, and corporate insiders. This is the story behind the brand that became the SoHo House of fitness.
CREATOR. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER. NARRATOR.
Jess Rothschild creates documentary and interview series that explore cultural obsessions, uncover untold histories and bring compelling personalities to the mic. A native New Yorker with a sharp queer perspective, she develops, writes and executive produces each series, from research and talent booking to production and release.
The complete series
Seven chapters.
Watch each episode or take the series with you on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Episode 1
Made in LA
Julie Rice, Elizabeth Cutler, and Ruth Zukerman co-founded SOULCYCLE, but Zukerman was later iced out as an owner because she did not have proper legal protections in place. We trace SoulCycle's origin story back to the '90s Los Angeles spin craze before it revolutionized boutique fitness in New York City 2006.
Watch on YouTube ↗Episode 2
A Star Is Born
SoulCycle takes off in New York City and The Hamptons, with celebrities like Kelly Ripa & Katie Couric becoming superfans. Co-founder Julie Rice's muse Janet Fitzgerald moves to Manhattan to work with budding talent. A beloved 22 year-old party-girl instructor Clare Veronica Walsh tragically dies on Christmas Day. A "wreck the studio" party signifies the end of the 72nd Street era as SoulCycle grows.
Watch on YouTube ↗Episode 3
Noon on Monday
The gate-kept details of SoulCycle’s instructor training program are revealed for the first time. Servers crash every Monday at Noon during sign-ups. Hurricane Sandy causes chaos when people cannot access classes. Cults of personality form between instructors and riders.
Watch on YouTube ↗Episode 4
You Create Monsters
Instructors make headlines for s*x & cheating scandals with married riders. SoulCycle co-founders Julie Rice & Elizabeth Cutler resign, walking away with $90 Million Dollars each. The 2016 Presidential election and its aftermath causes a great divide at SoulCycle among corporate HQ, instructors and clientele.
Watch on YouTube ↗Episode 5
S*x With An Ex
News leaks that Equinox Chairman Stephen Ross will hold a Trump fundraiser in the Hamptons. Instructors share their pay structures and how they were fired / why they quit. All of SoulCycle's goodwill and reputation for LGBT inclusivity is extinguished. Has anything come close to capturing the zeitgeist the way SoulCycle did?
Watch on YouTube ↗Episode 6
Boogeyman in the Corner
Real Housewives of New York City star Sonja Morgan is banned from the studio. Barry's Bootcamp CEO attempts to poach SoulCycle instructors and is banned. Two hard-charging directors of instructor training use rough, sexual language to intimidate new trainee recruits.
Watch on YouTube ↗Episode 7
Turn the Smile On
We follow three instructors’ careers at SoulCycle, in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City. Christina Aguilera surprises riders at her own theme class. An instructor is recruited after a life of crime, addiction and losing 100 pounds at Soul. While some charismatic instructors are paid $1K+ per class, others max out at $150.
Watch on YouTube ↗Featuring
Instructors, riders, studio staff and corporate insiders.
Master Instructor; Director of Instructor Training
Master Instructor, 8 years
Yoga & Soul instructor 8 years
SiriusXM host
Corporate
Rider, NYS Office of the Governor
Instructor
Instructor
Instructor
Rider
Instructor
Instructor
LIVE
Joe’s Pub · The Public Theater
Jess Rothschild celebrated the success of Cult of Body & Soul with a live cast interview and concert at Joe’s Pub, the historic downtown New York venue inside The Public Theater.
Production Credits
Elizabeth Ziff
Theme song & original music composer
Elizabeth Ziff is a musician, producer and engineer based in New York City. Her band BETTY has 11 studio albums available on all streaming platforms.
hellobetty.com ↗BETTY
Indie-rock trio BETTY is composed of Elizabeth Ziff, Alyson Palmer & Amy Ziff.
BETTY performs “Naughty Nadia” (ep 1), “One of Us” (ep 2), “Two Cherries” (ep 3), “Gangway” (ep 4), “Wishing Well” (ep 5), “Cinderella” (ep 6), as well as instrumentals throughout the series.
Spotify ↗ · Apple Music ↗ · Website ↗Liah Alonso
Liah Alonso has released several albums under the band “Left on Red” and is based in NYC and Mexico. Her solo work and Left on Red are heard throughout the series.
Spotify ↗ · Apple Music ↗ · Website ↗Inquiries
Press inquiries: scott@gorensteinpublicity.com
“Cult of Body & Soul” is a docu-podcast series that explores how SOULCYCLE transcended fitness as it captured the New York City zeitgeist with ritual, candlelight and cult of personality.
We expose the intoxicating power dynamic between riders and instructors, the gate-kept instructor training program, the true story behind founders Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler, and the political scandal that torched the brand’s image.
Featuring interviews with instructors, studio managers, front desk staff, and corporate insiders — this is the story behind the brand that became the SoHo House of fitness.
Presented by:
Broadway Podcast Network
Watch the trailer
About Jess Rothschild
“Cult of Body & Soul” is created, executive produced and narrated by writer, producer and native New Yorker Jess Rothschild.
In 2023, Jess created and exec. produced the GLAAD-Award nominated series "Finding Fire Island," centered on the history, mystique and lore of Cherry Grove and The Fire Island Pines.
Since 2019, Jess produces and hosts “Hot Takes & Deep Dives” centered on queer pop iconography & New York City culture. Guests include Rosie O'Donnell, Sandra Bernhard, Isaac Mizrahi, Bruce Vilanch, Fran Drescher and The L Word creator Ilene Chaiken.
Instagram: @jessxnyc
Featuring:
JANET FITZGERALD
Master Instructor; Director of Instructor Training
STEVIE SANTANGELO
Master Instructor, 8 years
HALLE BECKER
Yoga & Soul instructor, 8 years
JONAH HILL
SiriusXM Host
MILES J.
Corporate
AMIT BAGGA
Rider, NYS Office of the Governor
NOA SHAW
Instructor
LOUISE G.
Instructor
SUMI VATSA
Instructor
CHRIS HALE
Instructor
IAN M.
Instructor
DREW B.
Instructor
Ep 1: "Made in LA"
Julie Rice, Elizabeth Cutler, and Ruth Zukerman co-founded SOULCYCLE, but Zukerman was later iced out as an owner because she did not have proper legal protections in place. We trace SoulCycle's origin story back to the '90s Los Angeles spin craze before it revolutionized boutique fitness in New York City 2006.
Ep 2: "A Star is Born"
SoulCycle takes off in New York City and The Hamptons, with celebrities like Kelly Ripa & Katie Couric becoming superfans. Co-founder Julie Rice's muse Janet Fitzgerald moves to Manhattan to work with budding talent. A beloved 22 year-old party-girl instructor Clare Veronica Walsh tragically dies on Christmas Day. A "wreck the studio" party signifies the end of the 72nd Street era as SoulCycle grows.
Ep 3: "Noon on Monday"
The gate-kept details of SoulCycle’s instructor training program are revealed for the first time. Servers crash every Monday at Noon during sign-ups. Hurricane Sandy causes chaos when people cannot access classes. Cults of personality form between instructors and riders.
Ep 4: "You Create Monsters"
Instructors make headlines for s*x & cheating scandals with married riders. SoulCycle co-founders Julie Rice & Elizabeth Cutler resign, walking away with $90 Million Dollars each. The 2016 Presidential election and its aftermath causes a great divide at SoulCycle among corporate HQ, instructors and clientele.
Ep 5: "S*x with an Ex"
ERROR: same copy as Ep 4
Ep 6: "Boogeyman in the Corner"
Real Housewives of New York City star Sonja Morgan is banned from the studio. Barry's Bootcamp CEO attempts to poach SoulCycle instructors and is banned. Two hard-charging directors of instructor training use rough, sexual language to intimidate new trainee recruits.
Ep 7: "Turn on the Smile"
We follow three instructors’ careers at SoulCycle — in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City. Christina Aguilera surprises riders at her own theme class. An instructor is recruited after a life of crime, addiction and losing 100 pounds at Soul. While some charismatic instructors are paid $1K+ per class, others max out at $150.
Rothschild,
in the wild
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
