Ally Love Joy Rides Reveals Her Shocking Peloton Origin

The Ally Love Joy Rides episode dropped January 28, 2026, and it delivers one of the more candid conversations the Peloton instructor has had in a public setting. Joining Hoda Kotb for Episode 2 of the new interview series, Ally Love cycled alongside Kotb at Peloton Studios New York while covering territory that ranged from her improbable audition story to a fertility journey she largely kept private.

The Ally Love Joy Rides episode covers a lot of ground in a short time. Love shares the story of how she almost turned down her Peloton audition, opens up about a two-year fertility journey she kept largely private, and reflects on what new motherhood has taught her. Kotb, in turn, gets candid about how she handles fear and her approach to sitting with difficult emotions rather than avoiding them. It is one of the more honest conversations either woman has had on a public platform in recent memory.

What Is Joy Rides?

Joy Rides is Hoda Kotb’s digital interview series, hosted on the Joy 101 YouTube channel and presented by QVC. The show launched in January 2026 with new episodes releasing every Wednesday. The format has a clear structure: Hoda leads with five questions on the way out, then the guest flips it and interviews her on the way back.

Joy 101 is Kotb’s wellness brand, which she launched in May 2025 following her departure from the Today show. Joy Rides gives it a conversational, movement-based home, and the Ally Love Joy Rides pairing was one of the most anticipated episodes of the season.

Ally Love Joy Rides: She Almost Said No to Peloton

One of the standout moments in the Ally Love Joy Rides episode is the origin story. A friend suggested she would be a good fit for Peloton, leading to a phone call she did not see coming.

“I’m not an instructor,” Love recalled telling them. “I think you have the wrong number.”

Peloton called anyway, scheduled an audition for the following Thursday, and asked her to prepare 15 minutes on the bike. The catch: she had taken maybe one Peloton class before that audition. She went in, taught without knowing what she was doing, and two days later got the call welcoming her to the team.

“Nine years later, here we are,” Love said. “I’m the VP of instructor strategy. This bike has been a lifeline that changed my life. It was the unexpected thing I said no to.”

Today, Love holds the title of VP of Instructor Strategy and Development at Peloton, in addition to her role as an on-air contributor for the Today show and founder and CEO of Love Squad.

A Fertility Journey Kept Private

Love also opened up about a chapter of her life she navigated quietly. For two years before joining the Today show, she was going to the doctor early in the morning, then to the studio, then to Peloton, working through fertility treatments without making them part of her public story.

“It was a silent struggle,” she said. “I was grappling with so many thoughts while trying to pursue my career.”

When she became pregnant, she described keeping the news close rather than sharing it publicly until she felt ready.

During the Ally Love Joy Rides episode, she described new motherhood as giving her “a renewed sense of humanity,” adding that watching her son reminded her that everyone starts out simply wanting to be loved, safe, and happy. It is the kind of reflection that makes the Ally Love Joy Rides episode worth watching beyond the headline moments.

Since returning from maternity leave, Love has wasted no time getting back to work. She launched her Peloton (Re)Build Program in February 2026 and brought back her beloved Sundays with Love cycling series in March 2026, both of which signal just how fully she has stepped back into her role at Peloton.

Hoda on Fear and Sitting With Hard Moments

In the second half of the Ally Love Joy Rides episode, Love turned the questions on Kotb. When asked how she handles fear, Kotb said she draws a distinction between real danger and the fears that are not actually there.

“You either see your life as a hostile place or a peaceful place,” Kotb said. “I really don’t see it as hostile.”

On finding joy in dark moments, Kotb’s answer was specific: sit in it. Don’t run from it, drink it away, or reach for distractions. Let the feeling move through you.

“Let it start from the bottom of your feet, go all the way up,” she said. “Feel all of it. Don’t avoid it. It’ll pass.”

How to Watch

The Ally Love Joy Rides episode is available now on the Joy 101 YouTube channel. Watch Episode 2 here. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

Both women came to this conversation with real things to say. Which part of the episode resonated most with you?

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