IN CONVERSATION WITH KATIE AUSTIN
interview by JANA LETONJA
Katie Austin is a fitness personality, recipe developer, creator of the Katie Austin App, host and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model and 2022 Rookie of the Year. Katie has grown her workout brand to over 2 million social media followers, a digital app, online programs, and a viral digital cooking show called ‘Come On In’, where she shares simple, healthy recipes. In addition to her fitness brand and current show, Katie co-hosted a show on FOX Sports West for 2 years and has hosted at the Super Bowl, CMA awards, ESPYs and NBA Awards to name a few.
You followed in the footsteps of your mom, Denise Austin, a fitness icon. What was that journey like, and how did it influence your approach to fitness and wellness?
I've been in the fitness industry for a very long time, my first workout video was when I was 7 years old. It was for Fit Kids in Time Square. I’ve been traveling with my mom since I was out of the womb. I watched her do her workout videos and always wanted to follow in her footsteps, but never really thought about it as a career because I was a lacrosse player and wanted to do broadcasts. I combined my love for being in front of the camera and being an athlete and understood that other girls were looking for home workouts without a coach, I subconsciously knew that's exactly what my mom did. It’s a very rewarding industry to be in and I loved how rewarding it was for my mom so I’ve been loving following in her footsteps whether I knew it or not.
From Division I lacrosse at USC to fitness entrepreneurship, what inspired the transition?
Growing up as an athlete with a coach my whole life, I knew there were probably other girls that didn’t know how to work out on their own and felt intimidated by the gym. I started making classes virtually on YouTube and also taught in person and loved connecting with community members and girls in my sorority. I was always so used to team sports so that's what inspired it.
Was there a defining moment when you knew you wanted to build a brand of your own?
It really has been a process over 12 years to be honest, and I’ve had my platform for 10 years. There wasn’t a specific moment where I wanted to build a brand of my own. I think entrepreneurship has always been instilled in me from both my mom and my dad and knowing how many people I can reach online by building the brand online. I’ve been really grateful that I can reach so many people with so many platforms nowadays.
How would you describe your unique approach to fitness, especially compared to traditional workout programs?
My unique approach to fitness is that 20-30 minutes can do a lot and I really approach it with a mental health aspect. I think that’s a really important thing to know that not only physical health affects the course of your life but also your mental health is really important. The other aspect that goes into my unique fitness approach is my app. Nutrition goes hand-in-hand with workouts so I wanted to make everything approachable and accessible. My app is less than $10 per month and so making sure everything is accessible and doable for the busy person on the go is also bringing fun back to workouts that you can fall in love with and look forward to.
What’s one piece of fitness advice you think is underrated or misunderstood?
I think butter is good for you. I think salt is good for you, obviously in moderation. I also think you shouldn’t stick to one type of workout. You need strength training, you need low impact sculpting, and you also need stretching and flexibility. Everything kind of goes hand-in-hand between cardio, strength, and stretching. YOu need all three aspects to progress on your fitness journey.
How do you motivate people who are just starting their wellness journey?
You just need to start with 5 minutes. It's all about progress. The biggest thing is to understand if you're starting out is that it's all about progress. I always say every great athlete starts somewhere so you could always set a goal but make sure it's attainable and you can accomplish it. Once you accomplish it, you will feel really good.
How do you use feedback from your community to evolve your offerings?
This is a really good question because when my mom was doing it, she had a TV show that she would film six months prior to being edited and then it would be put out into the world. She didn’t really have a way to communicate directly with her community and the girls who did her workouts. For me, I feel very grateful and blessed that I can actually interact with my community. Recently, I did a poll and asked my community for a new challenge. I asked what kind of workouts do you like to see: 10 minute, 20 minute, 30 minute or 40 minute workouts and the majority said 20 minute workouts. I also asked if they like strength workouts, pilates, or low cardio and they mostly said strength and pilates. Within a month later I was able to make a program all based on the community’s results they gave me. I can actually tailor my workouts to them because that's who I do it for.
‘Come On In’ has gone viral for your healthy, easy recipes. What inspired you to create a cooking show?
I cooked with my family when I was little and it has been a passion of mine ever since I was in sixth grade. My mom would travel and I would cook for my dad and my sister. I would also cook for my best friends in high school. They would all sit at the bar stools and I would cook for them. I’ve always loved gossiping over the counter and talking to my friends. They always ask questions when I’m cooking like, “what are you doing now?” “What are you chopping up?” I’ve always loved Rachel Ray, she’s been a big inspiration and I went on her show a few times and fell in love with the cooking show. It’s so nostalgic and brings me back to my childhood. It’s always on in the background and I love hosting and cooking for my friends. It’s my love language and so I want to bring viral, easy, healthy recipes to my audience. I do it in a high-quality way like a real show
What are some of your favorite go-to meals that are both nutritious and simple to make?
My favorite go-to meals are probably bowls or skillets, or any one pan meals. For bowls, I put rice, maybe potato, or pasta on the bottom. Maybe chicken, steak, ground beef or turkey. I put 1-2 veggies, I love zucchini, broccoli, and spinach. I will use a homemade sauce, like a tahini sauce, garlic sauce, or balsamic. It's a really great way to meal prep and keep the sauce on the side. One pan meals are always really easy, I call them fridge clean out meals. If I’ve had a long day, I take anything I have in my fridge in a skillet and cook it together in one pan.
How do you balance indulgence and health in your recipes?
I’ve really coined this term “healthified,” especially for someone who is busy or doesn’t think eating healthy is attainable. I try to make sure that when I'm doing my healthy recipes, I'm not sacrificing any flavor. Basically I'm taking your favorite things like burgers, fried rice, chicken alfredo, and figuring out how to “healthify” it. For chicken alfredo, I blend up some boiled cauliflower and that becomes the cream sauce. For fried rice, I use less oil and I put lots of vegetables in, and for a burger it is a lettuce wrap. I always think about how to add nutrients into your diet instead of what you can take away. Carbs are not bad for you in moderation.
How do you stay grounded amid so much public attention and success?
I surround myself with really good people, my amazing family and friends. I don't surround myself with a lot of “influencers” or industry people, I just surround myself with a lot of normal people who bring me back to earth.
Tell us more about yourself outside of your work. What are the things you enjoy in life the most?
Playing tennis with my husband and dad. I love to watch new shows with my husband. We love to cook together and go out together. I love my margaritas and my best friends. I love to walk.
What’s next for you and the Katie Austin brand?
We are planning an amazing retreat at the Austin estate September 25th for my amazing community. It's going to be an all inclusive retreat for them and I’m excited to give back to the community in that way. We have some amazing new programs out, one that we are launching right now. It's for a 20-20 program on the Katie Austin app with 20 minute workouts for 20 days and a 20 minute walk a day. I’m really excited to build and grow my subscriber base to reach more girls.
CREDITS:
photography MEGAN BURCH
