A New Peter Stern Interview: AI, Gyms and Peloton’s Next Act

Peter Stern Interview Reveals Peloton’s Gym Ambitions and More

In a wide-ranging conversation on Behind the Business, the Peloton CEO explains why the company is betting on gyms, AI and a broader definition of wellness.

Peloton CEO Peter Stern sat down for an extended conversation on the Behind the Business podcast, offering his most detailed public breakdown yet of how he plans to reshape the company he took over in January of 2025. This conversation touches on Peloton’s push into commercial gyms, its AI strategy and how he thinks about balancing Wall Street pressure with long-term growth.

The Peter Stern interview was hosted by Michelle Toh, an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. According to Behind the Business, she has covered many top stories and topics in global business and previously, was with FORTUNE. She has also reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post.

In the interview, Stern said the biggest misconception he encountered when he joined was that Peloton is simply an in-home cycling company. He pointed to strength training as an example, noting that roughly two million members take strength classes in a typical quarter, a figure he said makes Peloton the largest strength subscription service in the world. He also cited rising member interest in Pilates and other formats beyond the bike.

What the Peter Stern Interview Reveals About Connected Wellness

Throughout the Peter Stern interview, he returned repeatedly to what he calls Peloton’s “magic formula”: world-class equipment paired with AI-powered software, human instruction and community. He described his strategy as “refounding” the company around a broader connected wellness ecosystem that spans cardio, strength, mental well-being, sleep and recovery, rather than treating those as separate offerings. This has been detailed in Peloton’s quarterly Earnings Calls.

That framing extends to Peloton IQ, the company’s AI coaching platform. Stern said the tool is designed to give Peloton’s 57 instructors a way to personalize guidance for a member base of roughly six million, using computer vision to check form, count reps and flag when a member should adjust their weights.

Betting on Gyms and Hotels

Stern also discussed Peloton’s expansion into commercial gyms, a move built on the company’s ownership of Precor, which already supplies equipment to 80,000 gym locations in 60 countries. He said gym operators have told him for years that members ask for Peloton equipment by name, and that the company will be able to meet that demand by the end of the calendar year.

He added that hospitality partnerships with Hyatt and Hilton are also being refreshed with newer commercial-grade equipment, extending Peloton’s reach beyond homes and gym floors.

The Clip Out has covered Peloton’s commercial side extensively.

GLP-1 Drugs and Wall Street Pressure

Asked about the rise of GLP-1 medications, Stern said data reviewed by Morgan Stanley showed a positive correlation between GLP-1 use and gym subscriptions, and argued the drugs are pushing more people toward structured exercise rather than away from it.

And on managing quarterly investor expectations, Stern said Peloton’s board has backed his long-term strategy rather than pushing for short-term wins, pointing to the company’s trajectory from break-even adjusted EBITDA two years ago to guidance of $450 million to $500 million as of last quarter.

Check out the whole interview to hear more about his thoughts and direction:

• YouTube: https://lnkd.in/g9a4XW9H
• Apple: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA
• Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB

Stern closed the conversation by describing a company built for the long run, one he wants remembered for changing how people approach fitness and wellness rather than for any single product cycle. In his LinkedIn post, readers can share his energy and excitement for the future and his role in shaping it.

How do you think Peter Stern has been doing so far?

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